I was listening to a talk radio station yesterday from Jackson (our Mississippi state capitol.) The hot topic of the day was an incident where the owner of a convenience store saw a man take a case of beer and run outside to his car. The owner ran after the man and fired two shots. The thief was fatally shot.

The question was: Was the convenience store owner guilty of murder? I was surprised that about half the callers who phoned in had the opinion that the owner should be indited for murder--they cited the Bible "Thou shalt not kill."  The other half said give the owner a medal for reducing the law breaking gene pool by one. In other words, the beer thief got what was coming to him.

Convenience store owners are frequent targets for criminal activity and I side with the owner. After a while you just get fed up. One caller said if the thief had taken a loaf of bread, or milk, you could make allowances for hunger, maybe. But beer, no way. I wonder what your take is on this?         susil

Comments:

I can see both sides of the argument and truly can't side at this time.

I think he will likely end up being charged at least with manslaughter- if not murder. His life was not at risk when he shot the thief. The whole thing is downright tragic.

Too bad he had to choose that store to steal from but I am with the owner who shot him. I despise thieves.

comment by elderjane on Aug 21, 2008 11:59 AM ()

Hi Jeri; I side with the owner too.

reply by susil on Aug 22, 2008 5:35 AM ()

comment by marta on Aug 21, 2008 4:12 AM ()

Hi marta--that was truly a horrible crime--what is our society
coming to? I am aghast.

reply by susil on Aug 22, 2008 5:40 AM ()

Several years ago in Chicago, a store owner was arested and charged
with firing a gun within the city limits, while trying to protect
himself from a robber.

comment by redimpala on Aug 20, 2008 6:25 PM ()

Hi red; Since they were both running, I think the owner just
got off a lucky shot..and I imagine if he'd only winged the
thief, he'd have had to pay his hospital bill or something!

reply by susil on Aug 22, 2008 5:49 AM ()

I think stealing is wrong.The thief wasn't armed and was running away.
I have to say the store owner should of just called the police.I just think it is sad that a man is dead now over a case of beer.Laurie

A thief running away does not pose bodily harm or any direct threat to the store owner. He should have called the police. I think shooting the guy just got him in a bunch of trouble.

comment by bumpedoff on Aug 20, 2008 1:44 PM ()

The widow married the State Trooper, who proved to be a drunken abuser. She left him to marry another. They got into an auto accident that killed her. Things have a way of evening out.

reply by bumpedoff on Aug 24, 2008 8:38 PM ()

Hi bumped--very clever of that State Trooper--I hope someday
he gets what's coming to him, too.

reply by susil on Aug 22, 2008 6:00 AM ()

Aim to kill. If you only wound a thief or intruder, he can sue you. Here you must wait until a burglar is inside your house before you are allowed to shoot or brain him with your nine iron. If any part of the criminal is outside, you are in the wrong. I say, kill him then drag him in. But I don't get along with thieves, so there.