Ianal but think in many jurisdictions, as long as you are inside your house, you can goatse to your heart’s content without violating such laws.
I did not anticipate that word coming up in this discussion. At all.
Is that a verb these days?
Someone in PA tried that argument a couple years back and as I understand it YMMV. I believe in some cases intent comes into play as well as context. Walk through your livingroom to get the paper and no harm/no foul. Stand full-frontal in a picture window across from the school bus stop and you are going to have issues. If you are standing basically at the door peeing on someone – and the wrong DA gets the case – I could see him/her shotgun charging just to see what (ahem) stuck out.
Cops/DA hereabouts will definitely “apply what laws they can” with no regard for the rest of your quote. In fact in my experience they protect known pedophiles from big mouthed 4th graders. Once someone becomes an unwelcome and disruptive intruder all bets are off. If they end up becoming a corpse, we’ll deal with it on our own. We have dogs, a fireplace, and lots of extra paint. But I am NOT calling the cops.
Actually, if it’s all relatives then shoot on sight. Otherwise they’ll overstay their welcome and eat you out of house and home.
I think the real answer is YMMV depending on location. In some areas I’ve lived in you could do whatever you wanted at that point and say, “I was afraid for my life.” and that would be the end of it.
This approach probably works best if your door isn’t in clear view (or hearing) of human observers.
Here in Utah this is the law that would apply:
“Good afternoon sir! Can I interest you in some personal violence today?”
Don’t let him in! He’s an encyclopedia salesman!
I don’t usually answer the door armed unless I’ve gotten word that there has been a prison escape. About once every few years. Usually a walk-off from a work crew.
I do have a well made umbrella by the front door that I’m pretty sure will penetrate most shoes and the enclosed foot.
My abusive ex did pop the chain on our door to get to me … you are right, it is easy to do.
what I would do now, personally [not recommending anything to anybody] - Step back 2 paces, draw my daily carry sidearm, aim it at them and give them a count of 3 to remove their foot and leave my property. At the count of 3, I shoot their foot.
Look, I am handicapped, I have absolutely no expectation of either escape or evasion, or physical self defense. One would assume that if someone is trying to force their way in, they do not have the plan of redecorating and perhaps reupholstering my sofa in Laura Ashley chinz … [yuck] and as any attempt to break in does in fact make me fear for my continued health, I will defend myself with my best option. There is something like a stated 45 minute response time to our farm, so all the cops would be able to do is string out the barrier tape and call in CSI.
I would invite the individual to contemplate just how much they value a foot that is free from knife wounds.
Could have been worse.
Sounds like this easily qualifies.
Whether or not the police are willing to charge these guys the first few times they hear about it, I’d think that if enough homeowners called 911 on them, the cops would eventually charge them because they were fed up with having to come out to deal with these bozos.
Responding to the OP’s scenario, within easy reach of our front door is a heavy metal-and-ceramic key rack. I grab it off the wall and bring one corner down hard on the offending foot. Repeat until foot is removed from door, then close door and flip the deadbolt. Then track down my phone (probably not within easy reach, or I’d have done that first) and call 911.