Can you shoot an unarmed intruder who refuses to leave?

[MarikinaMan]

Can you shoot an unarmed intruder who refuses to leave your home?

So you’re at a standoff, you have the sights on an intruder and issue the following command “I have a gun, get out of my house!”. The intruder says FO and stands his ground.

Can you shoot? I know if he advances, you can. If he turns around and attempts to exit, you can’t. But what do you do if the muzzle is not enough to scare him off and he gets verbally combative?

Is that enough to say that mortal danger was apparent?

[Citadelgrad87]

No.

[DaveInOroValley]

Until they come toward you and you feel your life is in danger, no, but realistically who is just going to stand there and stare at you when your armed and pointing a weapon?

It would be an interesting story if he or she just stood there and mouthed off while you covered them and 911 was called. I'm guessing they would bolt.

[Glo3k]

If you did shoot, don’t leave a survivor to tell their side of the story.

[jeremiah12]

That is when you call 911 and wait for the police. I would also strongly consider not pointing the muzzle towards the person if you can maintain a safe distance. Keep the gun at the low ready position. You do not want the intruder to use some BS story that he was in fear of his life and he had no weapon and you were brandishing. It also prevents a ND from creating all sorts of problems for you.

In the real world, most trespassers would remember they had some other place more important to be at that moment when the home owner is point a gun at them and would be tripping over their feet to get out of there ASAP.

[ar15barrels]

The simple answer is NO.

You need to be in fear of your life or others lives to be justified in using lethal force.
Perhaps your wife or kids are with you and you fear for THEIR lives, but not your own?
That could also be a valid justification.
It would be very uncommon for a sober unarmed intruder/assailant to not respond to having a firearm pointed at them.
Behavior such as that is usually a sign that they are under the influence of some controlled substance.

Dead men tell no lies, but live ones can.
If you are left alive and he is not, he was advancing.

[ar15barrels]

who is just going to stand there and stare at you when your armed and pointing a weapon?

Someone on drugs.

[ESPONDA]

It happened to my boss! He woke up to some wacked out kid breaking into his home and my boss pulled a gun and told him to stay put and not advance toward him or move or he will be shot, and the kid just stood his ground and said, go ahead I dare you to shoot me and started talking back to my boss for like 20 minutes before the police showed up. They arrested the punk and took this crazy wacked out kid away, the cop in charge told my boss that they wish he could have shot him! See cops are humans too and know how people are fearful of criminals and our lives!

Refuse to be a victim!!

[brian5271]

If you are in fear of loss of life or great bodily harm,to yourself or others, you are justified to use deadly force.

[TMB 1]

What if they reach for waist or behind their back? Works for cops to shoot, but does it work for anyone else?

[Foebia]

Not without regret, sound like you need to call n the big league chews, just get your dog or they will light it up.

[tradecraft]

But what do you do if the muzzle is not enough to scare him off and he gets verbally combative?

Is that enough to say that mortal danger was apparent?

"Officer, he was hurting my feelings with bad words, I swear!"

[Reecek]

I saw him flinch! Sooooo I dropped him!

[OCEquestrian]

If you did shoot, don’t leave a survivor to tell their side of the story.

^^^^ THIS. If the guy is dead there is only you to tell the story. Furtive hand movement to the waistband anyone???

[45guru6918]

Sounds similar to when i had to kick my brother in law out. Lol