# Do Europeans have different attitudes than Americans about the sanctity of property?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-europeans-have-different-attitudes-than-americans-about-the-sanctity-of-property/455271>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [July 4, 2008, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-europeans-have-different-attitudes-than-americans-about-the-sanctity-of-property/455271 "2008-07-04T06:01:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 8

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\
**Post date:** [September 29, 2008, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-europeans-have-different-attitudes-than-americans-about-the-sanctity-of-property/455271/141 "2008-09-29T08:20:04Z")

</div>

No I don’t. Unpredictability about a situation is no grounds to end someone’s life. As I’ve noted, we’re not talking about someone lunging towards you with a knife (deadly force justified), we’re talking about someone entering your premises unauthorised. Life is unpredictable. People feel threatened for whatever reasons. _Feeling_ threatened and _worrying_ about your loved ones is not nearly enough a reason to kill a man.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\
**Post date:** [September 29, 2008, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-europeans-have-different-attitudes-than-americans-about-the-sanctity-of-property/455271/142 "2008-09-29T09:54:42Z")

</div>

> [@Toxylon](#):
>
> As I’ve noted, we’re not talking about someone lunging towards you with a knife (deadly force justified), we’re talking about someone entering your premises unauthorised.

I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m talking about someone entering your premises unauthorized, not knowing if he’s going to kill me or not–either to eliminate a witness, or for “fun”… oh yes, that happens. These things happen fast. If you intrude on someones private residence, you have signed off and will accept any and all consequences of your actions. You can’t treat the unlikely as impossible in this situation IMO.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Torpor\_Beast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/71e660/32.png) [@Torpor\_Beast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torpor_Beast)\
**Post date:** [September 29, 2008, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-europeans-have-different-attitudes-than-americans-about-the-sanctity-of-property/455271/143 "2008-09-29T18:21:07Z")

</div>

[http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gQaQF39EbtehzlGgDJF34yEYviEwD93F8OD00](http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gQaQF39EbtehzlGgDJF34yEYviEwD93F8OD00)

In related news, execution is apparently a suitable punishment in Texas for a 13 year old caught stealing snacks. It’s beyond despicable that people were publicly defending the killer and he finally got away unpunished.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [September 29, 2008, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-europeans-have-different-attitudes-than-americans-about-the-sanctity-of-property/455271/144 "2008-09-29T22:26:30Z")

</div>

> [@Torpor\_Beast](#):
>
> execution is apparently a suitable punishment in Texas for a 13 year old caught stealing snacks.

I can see an older guy feeling threatened, but making the kids kneel down while pointing a gun at them is irresponsible as hell.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-europeans-have-different-attitudes-than-americans-about-the-sanctity-of-property/455271.md?page=7)