As reported, a would-be burglar was shot in self defense as he tried to enter a St. Martin, Florida apartment:
Police say that a burglar attempted to break in to a unit at The Reserve apartment complex in St. Martin, Florida. The resident of the apartment is said to have fired in self defense, striking the intruder in the arm, according to news reports. Jackson County, Florida deputies reportedly arrested a suspect and transported him to the hospital, then to the county jail, where he was held in relation to an attempted residential burglary charge. No injuries to the apartment renter or any bystanders were reported.
Those who are unarmed, or who are armed with an inferior weapon, will often end up overpowered by the criminal, with dire consequences. Nor can a citizen rely upon the police for protection, as they are minutes away while it takes a criminal who is breaking in just seconds to harm their victim. It is also important to note that the police will sometimes fail to help even when asked repeatedly, and they are not legally liable for that failure. Adding to the problem, police are 5.5 times more likely than an armed citizen to shoot the wrong person, meaning that there is a certain degree of danger anytime there are armed police coming to the aid of a citizen.
Fortunately, this crime victim was prepared for self defense, and as a result survived unharmed.