@Shiroyasha the fucking idea that i should care about someone breaking into my home is so mind boggling bullshitty.
a few years ago there was a case here in germany where a gang of 5 youths broke into the house of an ~80 year old man and robbed him. he killed one with his pistol while they were fleeing. there was a trial about this and he was sentenced to 9 months jail, suspended on probation. the reasoning was that "he should have fired a warning shot!1" and "he should have aimed for the legs!11".
really, complete insanity.
@DerSauerkraut i'm not for hanging everyone for petty crime, but saying this old man is guilty of manslaughter is just so against the sense of justice of the populace it's insane. the whole judicial system is utterly crazy and constructed in ivory towers. i know it's broken everywhere, but i think the jury system in common law is a good idea. at least you'd have some normal people there who can decide _against_ the law (jury nullification) if the law is unjust.
@DerSauerkraut yes, we won't see common law here, the same as we won't have direct democracy. both can't be steered well enough.
i guess my main point regarding the old man in self-defence is that it's batshit crazy to regard him as accountable as the state would be. i think those judges and prosecutors would've done _exactly_ the same in his situation.