Comments by "Psiberzerker" (@Psiberzerker) on "The Shotgun Booby Trap (The Case Of)" video.

  1. The burglars have no expectation of safety committing the high risk act. The decision was on their part, and he turned the knob. The Brineys didn't wound him, he wounded himself. If he had slipped on a loose rug, and fallen down the stairs, then there would be no question. He knew what he was doing was dangerous, and considered the risk (Or arrest) worth the reward. I suppose he was wrong. It's their property, they can decorate it any way they want Assuming the decor isn't illegal in, and of itself. Does Iowa have any laws specifically against lethal force in a trap? (Some jurisdictions do, for Poachers.) So, it's not a question of the law, it's a question of State law, possibly county as well. On it's face, there's nothing federally illegal about it, in America. Local laws may vary on these fine points.
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  2. "It couldn't be murder, because they aimed at non-vital organs." It's still assault with a deadly weapon, and manslaughter. A lawyer would know that, in this case Pre-meditation is a factor, but intent to Kill is not, and nobody was murdered. This is not a legal argument. Say for the sake of argument that there was a gas leak, and the blast ignited it causing an explosion, and a wildfire that swept over the town. It could have happened, and would have posed a serious public danger, but 1: is unlikely, and B: Was not the homeowner's Intent.
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