Review of Self Defense Deadly Force Rules & Dogs

Q: What are the deadly force rules for defending myself against a dog? A: Since a dog is not a human being, the rules of "deadly force" as such do not apply....

[GPM]

This is an important question. Back in the late 1970's I was living near Lorton, VA in southern Fairfax County, VA. In the back side of my neighborhood a man heard a child screaming and ran outside to see the child being attacked by several Dobermans. He grabbed a pistol and shot several of the dogs saving the child's life. The surviving dogs ran off. The Fairfax County police arrest him for shooting in a residential area and shooting domestic animals. I have no idea what happened to him after that. I left to work in Saudi for five years and didn't hear any more about his case.

[RustyS]

I would like to think that guy got an award - I'm sure the parents of the child thought so. I would have kicked in for a fine and/or a defense lawyer.

[GPM]

That's because you aren't a knuckle-dragging Neanderthal cop in 1970's Fairfax County*. That was before VA was a Shall issue state. Even now, they routinely harass open carry and that has been legal since the Commonwealth of VA was incorporated.

* Not all FFX Co. cops were bad. Many were. not all are bad. Many are though. Unfortunately Northern VA is too close to the source of Socialistic infection: DC.

[RustyS]

GPM wrote:

That's because you aren't a knuckle-dragging Neanderthal cop in 1970's Fairfax County*. That was before VA was a Shall issue state. Even now, they routinely harass open carry and that has been legal since the Commonwealth of VA was incorporated.
* Not all FFX Co. cops were bad. Many were. not all are bad. Many are though. Unfortunately Northern VA is too close to the source of Socialistic infection: DC.

Must an east/west coast thing. Although SD did manage to come up with tom dashle.

[GPM]

No Rusty, I've found bad cops everywhere I've gone in the US. I've found some good ones too! Unfortunately for the good ones, it is the bad ones who grab our attention.