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While many anti-gun politicians and organizations love to say that armed citizens never successfully defend themselves with their firearms, that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, we easily find numerous reports of Americans defending themselves and their families with a gun every day and all throughout the nation just by cruising local news reports.

One of the latest such incidents happened last weekend in Missouri when an intruder who kicked in the back door of a home was shot and killed by the home’s armed occupant. According to police reports, the mid-afternoon home invasion occurred in Scott City, Missouri, on August 24.

Scott City Police Chief Chris Griggs said the incident was an unfortunate one.

“It’s terrible,” Griggs said. “It’s a tragedy for everyone involved. Someone lost their life, and someone’s home was broken into.”

In truth, it was more than unfortunate for the homeowner who was forced to shoot an intruder in his home—an eventuality that we all hope will never happen. Fortunately, the resident was prepared for just such an incident.

According to Griggs, the intruder, Jason Vermillion, kicked in the back door of a home on the south side of Scott City.

“He was confronted by the homeowner which demanded that he left,” said Chief Griggs. “He said that he was not leaving, and the altercation occurred and resulted in him being fatally wounded.” 

The homeowner called 911, met arriving officers at the door and directed them to the intruder. Emergency responders began life-saving measures, but to no avail.

Fortunately for the homeowner, Missouri has both a stand-your-ground law and a Castle Doctrine law on the books. Consequently, Chief Griggs said the homeowner will not face any charges because it was a clear case of self-defense.

“Someone’s home was broken into and had to use lethal force, but was justified in doing so,” Griggs said. “Your home is your domain, it’s your property, you do whatever force you feel is necessary to stop the threat.”

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34 COMMENTS

    • *looks around* *sigh*

      Fine, I’ll do it.

      *clears throat* (in deadpan voice) “This was such a tragedy. He was just turning his life around. The world lost a future doctor. There was no reason to kill him. The home owner could just replace anything that was taken. It wasn’t worth killing him over.”

      I think that is all the usual bs.

      • He just wanted to be a rap star.

        He was just looking for Skittles and grape soda.

        He was looking for his baby brother and knocked on the wrong door.

        He was on his way home from visiting his sick grandmother and going to the library.

      • He was probably a junkie. His family is begging for money to bury him.

        The fundraiser has set a goal of $3,000, and as of now, $320 has been raised through six generous donations.

        • Was expecting to see some of the typical anti liberty nonsense in this thread and have been pleasantly surprised to see good sense reasoning, objective critical thought, and general humor. Today was a good day.

  3. It’s never ever sad when an invader is killed. Especially when they break into private property.

  4. “Your home is your domain, it’s your property, you do whatever force you feel is necessary to stop the threat.” — Scott City Police Chief Chris Griggs

    I caution everyone about that statement. My research indicates that you are clear to do whatever a reasonable person thinks is necessary to stop the threat. If your thoughts/feelings exceed the “reasonable person” standard, there is a good chance that you will get an all expenses paid multiple year vacation at a gray-bar hotel.

    • I would have provided more detail in my above statement, including a disclaimer that I am not a lawyour, but this God-forsaken website (technically the WordPress software that this site and probably thousands of other websites use) kept hiding my comment until it could clear human scrutiny.

    • It looks like WordPress automatically sends a comment to “moderation” jail if your comment is several lines long and you mention the words lawyer, attorney, and/or legal.

      • uncommon: Several of my comments have gone to moderation in the last month and most did contain a link, e.g., I just tried to post a comment about the Louisiana Second Amendment Weekend Holiday this coming weekend in which No state or local sales tax will be charged for weapons related purchases including ammo and other hunting supplies. It was sent to moderation and most likely will appear later this afternoon as seems to be the norm for some of my posts.

        • Several of mine have simply not posted and disappeared. Fortunately AMMOLAND runs articles on the same subjects and isn’t as anal about the truth/facts being a part of them. Regardless of what words you use.

      • I think the moderation is also part lottery. From time to time Ive had very short posts with no buzzwords go to moderation

    • “it’s your property, you do whatever force you feel is necessary”

      Don’t shoot at people walking through your yard or turning around in your driveway. If it becomes an issue where you live, put up a fence and no trespassing signs.

      • Of course you can .I’ve watched hundreds of officer involved shooting videos and mag dumps seem to be standard practice.

    • “My research indicates that you are clear to do whatever a reasonable person thinks is necessary to stop the threat.” ”

      “reasonable person” whatever that means.

      Am pretty sure everyone thinks thenselves to be a reasonable person. And the estimate is that at least 50% of the population see no reason to possess a firearm. Thus the reasonable person sees no need to use a firearm in self defense; objects around the house will suffice as defensive weapons.

      All to say, having legal services available for the gun owning person (who apparently is not reasonable) is a serious decision to understand, and act upon, reasonably.

  5. Home carry is a must.

    However, there are other measures you can take to secure your home against invasion. Security doors on every access to your abode, and a bolt-locked garage door are necessities. Invaders will think twice about breaking a window to gain access to your home, but if they do they will be hampered in any action, and the breaking glass gives you warning. Garage doors are vulnerable; invaders can use a flexible rod to unhook the door from the opener drive. I bolt my garage door shut at night, and when I’m going to be gone for more than 24 hours. And I live in the boonies.

    Driveway gates, exterior lighting, strategic use of vegetation and fences, are also good ideas.

    These measures also look good to a judge and jury; you took the time and expense to secure your home, and the invader still forced his way in, leaving you no choice but to exercise your right to self-defense.

    • In my experience as a home surveyor, I’ve encountered many homes where the resident had planted large rose bushes around windows to deter intruders. These bushes work very well. I can assure you no one wants to tangle with these things.

    • Johnny LeBlanc,

      Unless your fencing is 10-feet tall and/or has razor wire on top, I am having a hard time seeing how fencing would do anything. You are probably well aware that it is very easy to climb over a low fence. And a car can easily drive through almost any fence.

      In terms of vegetation, keep vegetation of any size away from your home–that provides concealment for a home invader to hide behind.

      Your best bet, though, is to build a mote around your home complete with sharks in there with laser beams strapped to their heads!

      • Plant thorny blackberries, raspberries or sweet briar rose bushes around your house. Especially under the windows. Regardless of the voracity of a criminal hoping to break in, those dreams will soon be ripped asunder in a very painful manner.

        • Aside from occasional bears this has worked out well up my way. Also even minimal fencing can be enough to guide drinks/crazies to more readily accessable homes to be someone else’s problem. As to other considerations delay detect and alert features can always be mixed in to make the response more effective.

  6. The armed homeowner ordered him to leave and he refused? This was the luckiest burglar in the country, getting handed the opportunity to call off his mistake and go home to reconsider his life choices. There’s just no helping some people.

  8. Here’s how it goes in states that don’t have adequate self defense laws –

    The suspect who lives across the street, used a front-end loader to ram multiple cars into their home along Waianae Valley Road after a dispute.

    Officials said multiple victims tried to flee when the suspect opened fire, striking the victims.

    HPD said at some point, a 42-year-old male resident of the home fatally shot the suspect with a handgun.

    Upon arrival, HPD found that five people sustained gunshot wounds. Three of the five victims did not survive.

    The victims include three women — ages 34, 36, and 29. These three victims were reported dead at the scene.

    The surviving victims are a 35-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman. They were were rushed to a hospital after being shot multiple times, officials said.

    The 42-year-old male resident who shot the suspect was arrested for second-degree murder.

    @HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246

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