Originally Posted by Pengy:
I believe that when people enter your house, they have broken the law and a person should have the right to defend themselves.
I actually agree with this. However contrary to public perceptions, that is generally how the law pans out in practise.
Consider the Tony Martin case: a man with a history of firearms offences obtained an illegal shotgun, then hid in wait for potential burglars, only to shoot one in the back while he was trying to escape. The burglars were unarmed and at no time was Martin physically threatened. In the cold light of day, I think most would find it difficult to consider that "self defence" or "reasonable force".
However shortly after the Martin case, there was another, less-publicized incident where two men were surprised in their home late at night by an armed burgler. The men were attacked, and in the scuffle the burglar was stabbed with his own knife. The jury had no trouble in finding the men not guilty on the grounds of self-defence...