To be scared of not using reasonable force

[WalkingBlind]

In an emergency situation. Im horrified by stories of people getting mugged/raped/burgled and counter-attacking the perpetrator just to end up locked up themselves.

I have really high anxiety so the scenario of being burgled goes through my mind a lot. I was physically abused most of my life from childhood to late teens and don't respond rationally to danger. If I'm in a "fight or flight" situation I can be unpredictable like im sure many others would be. But my experience is that I won't consider at the time what I'm doing.

For example if someone broke in and was going for the baby, I'd probably not think twice about grabbing my hockey stick from school or a knife or anything at all to protect them.

I actually sit and wonder what household objects I can claim "I just grabbed the closest thing to me" with

AIBU in thinking we shouldn't be punishing the people who are being attacked to the point where we fear defending ourselves

I do wonder if a lot of the 'facing gaol' newspaper reports are more over-egging of a reality where the person has been interviewed under caution as much as anything to maintain the chain of evidence.

fasterthanasnake your aunt and uncle sound brilliant.

OP it really Doesn't happen much that people get broken into, rarer that they manage to attack the burglar at all, and extremely rare they got prosecuted/ convicted.

I used to have one of those expensive big halogen Maglite torches by the bed. My rationale was that I could use it to blind an intruder first, then hit them over the head with it (it was heavy) if necessary. For a while I had a hammer under the bed as well, but that was a bit more tricky as I had no need for it to be there except in case someone broke in. The torch was a far better option.

I don't think about this stuff very often although I have considered what I might do if I found an intruder in the middle of the night.

I'm oldish and disabled and pretty feeble physically so have discounted the baseball bat/hockey stick/hammer idea as it more likely that I would be disarmed and then they could be used against me. Same with a knife and chances are the intruder would be wearing multi-layers of clothes and I wouldn't have the strength to push the blade through. So have decided just to pretend to be asleep, breathing deeply and hope the intruder was satisfied with taking whatever.

As others have said, it's very unlikely you would be arrested because of using force in self defense against an intruder, unless you continued to assault them after they became unconscious.

Can I just add, if you keep a knife under the bed then you better know how to use it. If you don't and they take it off you then they are going to use it on you. Most people don't know how to use a knife and the people who do tend to be criminals.

You're best protection is strong locks and secure doors. Most breaking and entering is all about stuff, they ate only interested in grabbing your laptop and running away. You may love your laptop but do you love it enough to fight to the death for it. Let it go, claim it on the insurance. If you have something that is of such sentimental value that you would risk your life to save then get a safe and put it in the safe(this doesn't apply to DC's).

Completely agree with travelling^ why would you even bother unless your safety is threatened?

The safe is a good idea! Although would they not stick around longer to try and open in assuming that the most valuable items are inside?

I think PP is right about the knife being a bad idea, I wouldn't have any idea how to use one properly and would probably get stabbed.... Although I'd rather have one that not if absolutely necessary.

I wouldn't attack anyone stealing only if they went for whichever room I was in with the kids. Although it makes me feel sick that someone could just take a life time's worth of memories from a phone/computer/camera just to sell it I had my phone stolen and lost baby photos which made me devastated

Honestly I'd rather transfer someone a large sum of money that equates to more than the resale value of the objects they want to take than lose sentimental items (like irreplaceable heirloom jewellery, etc) most of which looks more valuable than it is

Wouldn't it be good if they just nipped in and asked if you'd rather take a credit card transaction 😂

We have an axe under the bed. Primarily so that if there's an earthquake and the doorframes get warped such that the doors won't open, we can chop through the walls to get to the boys. However if someone broke in it would be the first thing DH would grab.

I'd more rely on a burglar not expecting a family whose main joint hobby is karate 😄

Many years ago I ran pubs when mangers were on holiday. One manager was a friend and he had shotguns locked up legally in a gun cupboard. I went shooting with him a few times. I heard people in the bar one night who obviously had broken in. I cannot tell you how frightened I was. This was long before mobile phones and the main phone was in the bar. I unlocked the cupboard and loaded a shotgun. As I went down one of the burglars started to come up the stairs. I discharged the gun into the ceiling. The noise of a shotgun going off is loud but in a stairwell is increadable! Burglars left at speed. Called police who came quickly. Luckily this was is the days when the police had more "discretion" (Fueled by 2.00am g & t' s!). All was written up so the gun discharge was ignored. Fast work by plastered next day repaired the damage. Thank God this was circa 1983 not now or I would have done time! However sympathy with anyone in this situation. It is terrifying and too this day I will not have ant firearms near me in case similar coconuts!

"Thank God this was circa 1983 not now or I would have done time! "

I doubt it

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1475087/Farmer-who-shot-burglar-backed-by-judge.html

Occours Damon bloody predictive text!

Depends on the police and CPS I guess but interesting article