How Well Do You Know Your Roommates?

I bet that some of you live or have lived with roommates. If you have and no longer have one, consider yourself fortunate.

If you still live with any, I'd keep watching...

Imagine hanging out at home on a sunny day, when all of a sudden you hear what sounds like a car crashing into a house. You go out to check it out only to see one of your ex-roommates running towards you with blood gushing from his head and screaming at you incoherently.

Your instincts tell you to run back into the house and shut the door. You hear your crazed ex-roommate trying to force the front door open. He then heads over to the yard where all the garden tools are just laying around. He grabs a Pickaxe, makes his way in and starts chasing the other roommates.

The others manage to escape, but you are sheltered in your room with the door locked hoping he'll give up and leave. unfortunately, he decides to go after you. You're terrified as you hear the pickaxe repeatedly beating down your door. You have no way out and are thinking "this is my time."

Eventually, your insane ex-roommate manages to break down your door and enter the room pickaxe in hand ready to strike. You're now face to face with a drugged lunatic holding a pickaxe and intent on using it against you. What are you legally allowed to do according to the Florida Concealed Carry Law?

Let's ask ourselves the big questions...

1. Could this situation have been avoided?

Not really. You can't control someone elsewhere lunacy, and in this case, running back into your house, locking the door, and hiding in your room is quite the effort to avoid confronting this madman. Could you not leave your garden tools laying around? Yes, in hindsight, but we know all about hindsight, don't we?

2. What level of force may you use?

In Florida, you may use deadly force if you reasonably believe you may die at any second because of the attack, experience great bodily harm, or stop a forciblefelony in progress. Does this scenario qualify?

Most definitely. That kind of attack is a forcible felony that can easily cause great bodily harm and death. So, you could certainly use deadly force as soon as the attacker attempted to enter the locked home unlawfully and by force, you would be justified to use deadly force. However, even though you had no duty to retreat further and still did, your case, had you used deadly force would have likely been strengthened.

3. Does this scenario fall under the castle Doctrine law?

F.S. 776.013 (4) A person who unlawfully and by force enters or attempts to entera person's dwelling, residence or occupied vehicle is presumed to be doing so withthe intent to commit an unlawful act involving force or violence.

Was the attacker entering or attempting to enter your residence?

Yes!

Is the attacker entering or attempting to enter unlawfully?

Yes!

Is the attacker entering or attempting to enter by force?

Yes!

Is the use of deadly force a reasonable response?

Most definitely!

This is a true story that happened in May of 2023. The police didn’t arrive at the scene until after the fact. A most common scenario. Until they arrive, you're on your own.

Is your home secure enough to make entry by evil doers as difficult as possible?

If someone entered or tried to enter your home unlawfully and by force, would yoube ready to protect yourself and your loved ones?

Do you have a home defense plan in place, and does everyone know their part?

Are you knowledgeable of your state and local laws of use of force in self defense?

What would you have done, and more importantly, what are you trained to do in this situation?

Train Hard, Often, and SAFELY, and I’ll see you at the range.

Watch the video here