# Please Swallow Their BS, They're FAMILY... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 20, 2014, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-swallow-their-bs-theyre-family/679292 "2014-01-20T18:09:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-swallow-their-bs-theyre-family/679292/81 "2014-01-22T00:15:07Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > Remind me again how many people the OP’s sister in law killed? Because I thought she just vented her revenge fantasies to family members. Remind me where I said she did? Oh, yeah, I didn’t. What did I say, now? > [@j666](#): > > And you know what **I** thought when **I** remembered **we** have a gun? “Thank God it’s in the safe where he can’t get it.” It never crossed **my** mind to try to kill someone for trying to steal **my** property. You know why? \*I \*don’t think **my** damned laptop is worth more than another human. I described my reaction to an event in my life - I did not refer to the OP’s sister at all there. > [@j666](#): > > I do not think **Foxy40** handle the situation in the most tactful manner, but, no, I have no damned patience with people who want to spread their little action-movie fueled fantasies of the world and, quite possibly, get some poor bastard killed and I will not defend them. I agree, she was venting some nasty little revenge fantasy. But stupid talk can lead to stupid actions. Over nothing. Nothing. Not even a real scare, just nothing. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-swallow-their-bs-theyre-family/679292/82 "2014-01-22T00:28:04Z")
> [@Foxy40](#): > > Unfortunately, these people have an arsenal. As a matter of fact, when my brother told me they got burglarized, he told me the first thing he checked was his gun cabinet and his safe to make sure they didn’t get his weapons. That was the responsible thing to do; nothing less than a dead body in the way should have prevented him from doing that. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-swallow-their-bs-theyre-family/679292/83 "2014-01-22T01:03:58Z")
I would’ve just told them I didn’t believe what they were saying. If they really felt that way, they could say they “wished they were there so they could shoot the kids” to the teen thieves and their parents when they see them in court. Until someone does that in these situations, I thin they’re full of it. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-swallow-their-bs-theyre-family/679292/84 "2014-01-22T01:09:51Z")
> [@The Great Sun Jester](#): > > they are talking about ending the lives of children because of what amounts to a disrespectful action. > [@RTFirefly](#): > > it’s about the desire to end a life or two over relative trivialities. Sometimes I just think the SDMB is some crazy, upside down place with totally inexplicable opinions. A home invasion is in the top five worst crimes that can be committed against someone. It goes murder, sex crime, battery, a blank spot for the inevitable thing I forgot, and then home invasion/burglary. Trivialities? Disrespectful? Are you kidding me? The _only_ sensible reason someone could disagree with the sister in law is because the boys were juveniles. It’s a close line, though, because they’re 16, and therefore should know better. If they were adults, then there’d be no question that for something so horrible and despicable, their lives are forfeit. Gun rights have nothing to do with that. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-swallow-their-bs-theyre-family/679292/85 "2014-01-22T01:51:22Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > Sometimes I just think the SDMB is some crazy, upside down place with totally inexplicable opinions. A home invasion is in the top five worst crimes that can be committed against someone. It goes murder, sex crime, battery, a blank spot for the inevitable thing I forgot, and then home invasion/burglary. Trivialities? Disrespectful? Are you kidding me? > > The _only_ sensible reason someone could disagree with the sister in law is because the boys were juveniles. It’s a close line, though, because they’re 16, and therefore should know better. If they were adults, then there’d be no question that for something so horrible and despicable, their lives are forfeit. Gun rights have nothing to do with that. Two teenagers broke into a house when **no one was home** and stole a camera and laptop. I just can’t see that as one of the top five worst crimes. (I think the one you left out is maiming someone, but I’d put that at 2) ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-swallow-their-bs-theyre-family/679292/86 "2014-01-22T02:29:22Z")
> [@j666](#): > > Two teenagers broke into a house when **no one was home** and stole a camera and laptop. I just can’t see that as one of the top five worst crimes. > > (I think the one you left out is maiming someone, but I’d put that at 2) Still. You’re supposed to feel safe in your home. That’s your sanctuary. If you get mugged on the street or your car is broken into in the mall parking lot, it’s a different story. You can avoid those places. But if your home is violated…there’s nowhere else to go. ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-swallow-their-bs-theyre-family/679292/87 "2014-01-22T02:49:15Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > Sometimes I just think the SDMB is some crazy, upside down place with totally inexplicable opinions. A home invasion is in the top five worst crimes that can be committed against someone. Yeah a home invasion would be terrifying. That’s not what happened here. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-swallow-their-bs-theyre-family/679292/88 "2014-01-22T03:05:32Z")
> [@raspberry\_hunter](#): > > Yeah, this. I have a good friend (who owns a gun) who likes to talk about how he’d like to go back and pull a gun on the guys who bullied him in grade school. \ Is [this your friend?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3JMYEKvm8Q) 😃 > [@j666](#): > > Two teenagers broke into a house when **no one was home** and stole a camera and laptop. I just can’t see that as one of the top five worst crimes. > > (I think the one you left out is maiming someone, but I’d put that at 2) That’s the wrong attitude, in my opinion. I wouldn’t downplay what the two 16 year olds did; it is a serious crime, and it could have gone much, much worse (for them and for the homeowners). You don’t get to break into someone else’s house just because they have something you want; that is not acceptable. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-swallow-their-bs-theyre-family/679292/89 "2014-01-22T03:13:31Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > Still. You’re supposed to feel safe in your home. That’s your sanctuary. If you get mugged on the street or your car is broken into in the mall parking lot, it’s a different story. You can avoid those places. But if your home is violated…there’s nowhere else to go. Nah, I’ve had my car broken into multiples times and I felt the same blind murderous rage. People who break into other peoples’ cars should be shot on sight. A lot. You know the way the cop was executed in the first Robocop movie? Like that. Shot until their arms and legs fall off. Shot in the genitals until there’s no chance of their ever reproducing. Then set of fire until they look like Anakin Skywalker after Obi Wan was done with him. That’s emotion for ya. ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-swallow-their-bs-theyre-family/679292/90 "2014-01-22T03:27:42Z")
> [@astro](#): > > This is not a political issue. I am not particularly conservative, but I have zero latitude for home invaders. If you break into my house I don’t care what your back story is I will damage or disable you if I am able, and if you get killed in the process that’s a risk you are taking as the intruder. Absolutely right. If you invade my house, I will confront you with extreme, brutal violence if I don’t almost instantly assess you as not a physical threat to my wife or me. I will not hesitate. My threat assessment will be almost instinctive and _fast._ Any advantage I may have will be lost if I hesitate. Invading my home will instantly trigger a fight response. I will not flee my home. I don’t care if you are a kid looking to score a Playstation 4. My assessment of your uninvited presence in my home defaults to you wanting to harm us. Me confronting a home invader would be ugly for everyone. The answer is simple: Don’t invade homes. ---
**Author:** ![Foxy40](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Foxy40](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foxy40)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-swallow-their-bs-theyre-family/679292/91 "2014-01-22T03:34:28Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > Sometimes I just think the SDMB is some crazy, upside down place with totally inexplicable opinions. A home invasion is in the top five worst crimes that can be committed against someone. It goes murder, sex crime, battery, a blank spot for the inevitable thing I forgot, and then home invasion/burglary. Trivialities? Disrespectful? Are you kidding me? > > The _only_ sensible reason someone could disagree with the sister in law is because the boys were juveniles. It’s a close line, though, because they’re 16, and therefore should know better. If they were adults, then there’d be no question that for something so horrible and despicable, their lives are forfeit. Gun rights have nothing to do with that. Being juveniles makes her opinion worse but shooting ANYONE that is unarmed and is in your house rather than attempting to detain them and call the police is what is despicable, immoral and inhumane. I clearly don’t want to walk into my home being robbed but I would much rather they leave than using my “right” to kill them for being in my home uninvited and up to no good. And yes, property compared to a human life is trivial. Property can be replaced. I think your opinion is upside down and as much as I try, I can’t wrap my head around it. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-swallow-their-bs-theyre-family/679292/92 "2014-01-22T03:36:52Z")
> [@Foxy40](#): > > Being juveniles makes her opinion worse but shooting ANYONE that is unarmed and is in your house rather than attempting to detain them and call the police is what is despicable, immoral and inhumane. \ I’m not advocating for killing home invaders (or burglars), but breaking into other people’s houses is despicable, immoral, and inhumane to me. ---
**Author:** ![Collaborator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Collaborator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Collaborator)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-swallow-their-bs-theyre-family/679292/93 "2014-01-22T03:37:03Z")
Criminals love that there are people out there so willing to be victimized. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-swallow-their-bs-theyre-family/679292/94 "2014-01-22T03:37:19Z")
I’m stunned that objecting to the killing of unarmed people is being labeled as “political.” It’s barbaric. ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-swallow-their-bs-theyre-family/679292/95 "2014-01-22T03:42:31Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Nah, I’ve had my car broken into multiples times and I felt the same blind murderous rage. People who break into other peoples’ cars should be shot on sight. A lot. My car was broken into a bunch of times in a very short period of time. They broke windows a couple times, fucked up my steering column/key thing (I don’t know cars…) by trying and failing to hotwire it, stole my stereo, all my CDs, and someone slashed all my tires. Repairing all of this was NOT a small expense to me. I was a broke student/single mom. All of these times the car was parked at my apartment so there was no avoiding it. Anyway, I hate those bastards and wish they would have been caught and faced some very harsh consequences. But I never regretted that I hadn’t been able to shoot them to death because that would be psycho. Not to mention it would cause me a lot more psychological harm than the physical damage that was done to my car. But then, I guess I’ve never had any interest in killing someone. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-swallow-their-bs-theyre-family/679292/96 "2014-01-22T03:59:08Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > That’s the wrong attitude, in my opinion. I wouldn’t downplay what the two 16 year olds did; it is a serious crime, and it could have gone much, much worse (for them and for the homeowners). You don’t get to break into someone else’s house just because they have something you want; that is not acceptable. Is it one of the top five worst crimes? Is it worth their death? I don’t think so, and I will argue my case as long as anyone cares to listen to me. They are kids. Kids make mistakes. They do not deserve to die for every mistake. Being the victim of a crime is no fun. Having some-one break into your home when you are not there and steal two items is not the worst thing that can happen to you. Having someone break into your house while you are there is very, very scary. However, attempting to kill the person is not a universal response. I cannot believe that anyone can ignore that no-one, homeowner or teenager, was hurt, and that it is a good things, not a missed opportunity. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-swallow-their-bs-theyre-family/679292/97 "2014-01-22T04:05:06Z")
Seems to me the only way to know someone is unarmed is if they’re naked. How on earth could someone know without a shadow of a doubt? Detaining them and calling police? How exactly do I detain them?? Someone comes uninvited into our house, it’s the last thing they’ll do. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-swallow-their-bs-theyre-family/679292/98 "2014-01-22T04:31:19Z")
> [@Helena330](#): > > Seems to me the only way to know someone is unarmed is if they’re naked. How on earth could someone know without a shadow of a doubt? > > Detaining them and calling police? How exactly do I detain them?? > > Someone comes uninvited into our house, it’s the last thing they’ll do. So much this. It isn’t about my laptop being worth more than someone’s life. It’s about my safety. If I catch a burglar red handed, there is no guarantee that he is just going to tip his hat and bid me farewell. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-swallow-their-bs-theyre-family/679292/99 "2014-01-22T04:37:34Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > It isn’t about my laptop being worth more than someone’s life. It’s about my safety. But it’s not; you’re not there. You are not in the house when the break in occurs. To go back to the OP, would you wish you had been, so you could shoot two teenagers? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-swallow-their-bs-theyre-family/679292/100 "2014-01-22T04:46:37Z")
> [@j666](#): > > Is it one of the top five worst crimes? Maybe. It is a serious one. > [@](#): > > Is it worth their death? No. > [@](#): > > \ > They are kids. Kids make mistakes. They do not deserve to die for every mistake. Doing serious crimes is not a mistake; it’s a choice. A bad, selfish, misguided choice that victimizes other people. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-swallow-their-bs-theyre-family/679292.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-swallow-their-bs-theyre-family/679292.md?page=6)