# If I was a store owner in Ferguson, MO.... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 19, 2014, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-was-a-store-owner-in-ferguson-mo/705039 "2014-11-19T03:11:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-was-a-store-owner-in-ferguson-mo/705039/21 "2014-11-20T02:46:03Z")
I hope this question isn’t a harbinger of what’s about to happen with the release of the grand jury findings. ---
**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:** [November 20, 2014, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-was-a-store-owner-in-ferguson-mo/705039/22 "2014-11-20T02:52:00Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I hope this question isn’t a harbinger of what’s about to happen with the release of the grand jury findings. So do I. How were the store owners at Watts recompensed? ---
**Author:** ![SanDiegoTim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-was-a-store-owner-in-ferguson-mo/705039/23 "2014-11-20T13:04:15Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > SanDiego, was your weapon returned? Yes, upon completion of the investigation, the results of which found me within my rights. ---
**Author:** ![davida03801](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@davida03801](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davida03801)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-was-a-store-owner-in-ferguson-mo/705039/24 "2014-11-20T13:23:14Z")
If I was in Ferguson, be saying adios about now. Some things like your life, living without fear of retribution, and not having it on your conscious that you actually harmed someone are more important than defending property. I know easy words to say if your not there. Hellofa choice for those property owners. ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-was-a-store-owner-in-ferguson-mo/705039/25 "2014-11-20T14:01:11Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Even if you never see the inside of a cell. Even if the local Police Department awards you their sharpshooter junior police medal. Even if all that, you at some point will probably feel bad when the dude’s children’s pictures are shown in the press. But there is a difference between feeling bad because you did something wrong and feeling bad because you were forced to harm someone to protect yourself, your family and/or your livelihood. Would a shop owner who shot someone who broke into his store and started looting feel bad? No doubt. But I have no sympathy for looters. They assume that risk when they decide to throw a garbage can through the window and enter someone else’s property. That store owner very likely invested his life savings and years of working long hours. Any cretin who breaks in to steal and destroy his stuff deserves what he gets. Put me on that jury and there would be no conviction. I’m completely serious. Anybody who is looting assumes the risk of not only being arrested, but also of much worse. ---
**Author:** ![SanDiegoTim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2014, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-was-a-store-owner-in-ferguson-mo/705039/26 "2014-11-21T13:34:47Z")
I’m with you on looters. Up to me, it would be open season on them. ---
**Author:** ![EdwinAmi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5fc32e/32.png) [@EdwinAmi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EdwinAmi)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2014, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-was-a-store-owner-in-ferguson-mo/705039/27 "2014-11-25T01:46:53Z")
> [@](#): > > It’s not that complicated. You can’t use deadly force solely to defend property - and in fact, this is true in pretty much every jurisdiction with some exceptions for residences Indeed, and the exception for residences is there solely as a practical matter for homeowner safety. As in, it wouldn’t be reasonable to expect the resident to wait and determine and see if the intruder would be willing to be violent. It is safe to assume that the intruder would be willing to be violent, and too much of a risk to the residents to expect them to hold back and make a determination instead. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2014, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-was-a-store-owner-in-ferguson-mo/705039/28 "2014-11-25T03:34:58Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Even if you never see the inside of a cell. Even if the local Police Department awards you their sharpshooter junior police medal. Even if all that, **you at some point will probably feel bad when the dude’s children’s pictures are shown in the press**. That’s the fault of the looter/rioter. If a robber robs a bank, people shouldn’t refrain from use of force against him just because he has kids. ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2014, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-was-a-store-owner-in-ferguson-mo/705039/29 "2014-11-25T14:26:09Z")
And the looting and arson came right on schedule. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-was-a-store-owner-in-ferguson-mo/705039.md?page=1)