Sign up for 5280's weekly e-newsletters. Want the latest restaurant scoop? The latest happenings around town? Access to exclusive events and deals just for 5280 readers? Something is wrong with this picture. Funky Buddah owner Christakes Christou is in jail for shooting a burglar during a 3 a.m. robbery attempt at the popular Denver lounge. He is being held for investigation of first-degree assault.
What about the “Make My Day Law?” It only applies to homeowners and residents of personal dwellings, not businesses. I don’t see the difference. If I’m working at 7-11 and a robber comes in, I can’t defend myself until I believe I’m in imminent danger of being killed? By the time I make that realization, given the stress of the situation, I doubt I’d be able to react in time. If the robber had a gun or a knife and the inclination, I’d be dead.
What if during the manhunt for serial rapist Brent J. Brents, whose face I had seen on TV, he had broken into a store where I was working? Had it been my house, I could shoot him. But at work, I’d have to take my chances he’d beat me up, rape, or kill me .
I think business owners and workers who find themselves alone during a robbery should be able to invoke the same defense as a homeowner or resident. What do you think?
Posted 1/4/2006 at 11:46 pm by Jeralyn Merritt
Crime :: Permalink :: Comments (2)
It’s not surprising that these laws are cropping up now. After all we have a national policy of shooting first and investigating later. They call it pre-emptive warfare.
I’m pretty confident the state legislatures that enacted these laws are swamped with Republicans, the party of cheap life.
But, you’re right. These laws should pertain to business also.
Property being much mre valuable than human life, it stands to reason that small business owners should be allowed to shoot to kill. Otherwise, how could they possibly take advantage of the lower inheritance tax rates, which, we’re told, were designed to protect them?
Lurch, you are so clever. To bad it won’t save your life when it counts.