Legal trouble for forum members

[HKtexas]

This just occured to me because I was fixing to post a reply to a thread about racking the slide on a shotgun to give an intruder a "warning" so to speak. My problem is not the thread but with my answer....what if someone did break in my home and I shot them, could my answer to that thread or any of the others I've posted replys to be used by a prosecuting attorney against me. If so, am I
shooting myself in the foot, sorry for the pun, by answering these types of threads.


i

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[djp9747]

How would anyone know who you are? How could any attorney proved that it was you behind a computer that posted a response to a particular thread? In my opinion, you have nothing to worry about.

[Kerbouchard]

HK, this comes up every once in a while, and I, personally, do not believe it is an issue. I was going to start a thread about stuff said on the internet being used as evidence, but I found one back in November that got pretty heated so I refrained.

I have searched and searched the internet for countless hours trying to find 1 single case where they allowed an answer to a hypothetical question by a defendant prior to a crime/trial to be used as evidence, and couldn't find anything. At all. Much less a hypothetical question answered on an online forum where identity and state of mind cannot be verified beyond a reasonable doubt.

They can't use prior convictions as proof of motive or predisposition, so I don't see how they could use an answer to a hypothetical situation, where the mind set of the person typing, is not known. Hence, I am drinking a beer right now, am I qualifed to say what I would do sober? I think my attorney could prove I am not. But that's not the point. How many people have cookies enabled? Do you clear your cookies every time you walk away from the computer, and retype all of your passwords? Nope, me either. Could I access your computer and use your username? Yep. Can our posts be edited by admin? Yep. Could somebody get access to your username and password, or crack it? Yep. Could I be drunk or on drugs or have any other mental condition when I answer a post? Yep. Could I have a fantasy life on the internet and use a fake personality to answer questions? Yep.

It goes on, and on, and on...Could the prosectors find stuff I had written? Absolutely...could they prove beyond a reasonable doubt that I, personally wrote it and prove my state of mind when I wrote it? I don't think so.

In any case, I don't believe an answer to a hypothetical situation could even be entered into evidence. The only hypothetical quesitons that are usually allowed are in regards to expert testimony.

While anything is possible, I sincerely doubt this would be a concern...especially in Texas.

Just my .02.

[calmp9]

This just occured to me because I was fixing to post a reply to a thread about racking the slide on a shotgun to give an intruder a "warning" so to speak. My problem is not the thread but with my answer....what if someone did break in my home and I shot them, could my answer to that thread or any of the others I've posted replys to be used by a prosecuting attorney against me. If so, am I
shooting myself in the foot, sorry for the pun, by answering these types of threads.


i

Well, I would think that it depends on what and how you post. If you come off as some gun crazy yahoo, then your posts can be used against you.

If you post with common sense and a commitment to self-defense and firearm safety, you should have no problem.

[sniper58]

If the prosecutor wants you, he'll likely use what color your underwear was before and after the shooting. If it's a good shoot in self-defense - especially if a BG breaks into your home - I wouldn't worry too much about it. To quote Dirty Harry, "When a naked man is chasing a woman through an alley with a butcher knife, I figure he isn't out collecting for the Red Cross." If a guy breaks in, he's not there to watch TV, hence the Castle Doctrine in many states. Let the prosecutor deal with that.

[atctimmy]

HK, this comes up every once in a while, and I, personally, do not believe it is an issue. I was going to start a thread about stuff said on the internet being used as evidence, but I found one back in November that got pretty heated so I refrained.

I have searched and searched the internet for countless hours trying to find 1 single case where they allowed an answer to a hypothetical question by a defendant prior to a crime/trial to be used as evidence, and couldn't find anything. At all. Much less a hypothetical question answered on an online forum where identity and state of mind cannot be verified beyond a reasonable doubt.

They can't use prior convictions as proof of motive or predisposition, so I don't see how they could use an answer to a hypothetical situation, where the mind set of the person typing, is not known. Hence, I am drinking a beer right now, am I qualifed to say what I would do sober? I think my attorney could prove I am not. But that's not the point. How many people have cookies enabled? Do you clear your cookies every time you walk away from the computer, and retype all of your passwords? Nope, me either. Could I access your computer and use your username? Yep. Can our posts be edited by admin? Yep. Could somebody get access to your username and password, or crack it? Yep. Could I be drunk or on drugs or have any other mental condition when I answer a post? Yep. Could I have a fantasy life on the internet and use a fake personality to answer questions? Yep.

It goes on, and on, and on...Could the prosectors find stuff I had written? Absolutely...could they prove beyond a reasonable doubt that I, personally wrote it and prove my state of mind when I wrote it? I don't think so.

In any case, I don't believe an answer to a hypothetical situation could even be entered into evidence. The only hypothetical quesitons that are usually allowed are in regards to expert testimony.

While anything is possible, I sincerely doubt this would be a concern...especially in Texas.

Just my .02.

Wow! Great post. Well articulated and well thought out.

[dukalmighty]

It's a moot point in Texas If somebody breaks in your house uninvited he just volunteered to be target practice

[obxned]

Either the facts support a good shoot or they don't.

[Natureboypkr]

It's a mute point in Texas If somebody breaks in your house uninvited he just volunteered to be target practice

Same in NC, if some breaks into your home you have every right to fire.

[Ram Rod]

what if someone did break in my home and I shot them, could my answer to that thread or any of the others I've posted replys to be used by a prosecuting attorney against me.

Surely you jest............just how many of us do you reckon they'd subpeona for witnesses?

[QKShooter]

To answer your question directly...
What would it matter one way or the other if you posted that you either would or would not rack a shotgun slide to either warn an intruder or not forewarn an intruder?
Either you would or you wouldn't.
And a good prosecutor could make it terrible that you said that you would or awful that you said that you would not.

I have said this before.

We are an upstanding firearm forum.
We have members here who are active and retired military.
We have active and retired Law Enforcement represented here.
We have trainers who train Law Enforcement here.
We have Paramedics here and we have Firefighters here.
We are a forum FILLED with respectable law abiding citizens from all walks of life here.
And you are a member here.

We do not allow posts containing mention of illegal activity here.
We do not allow wacko extremists here.
We promote legal responsible firearm carry for the purpose of self protection.
There is no porn here.
There is no foul language here.
There are no threatening posts permitted here.
We treat females equally here.
We do not allow racial or ethnic insults or slander here.

Be proud to be here.
Being a member here can only help you.
And should you really type something totally stupid that will harm yourself or DefensiveCarry - you can be certain that it won't stay posted here for too very long before it gets deleted.

[HKtexas]

Thanks for all the detailed and informative replys, I wasn't sure if that subject had ever been addressed before. I guess the odds are astronomical and I am lucky enough to live in Texas.

[Craiger]

To answer your question directly...
What would it matter one way or the other if you posted that you either would or would not rack a shotgun slide to either warn an intruder or not forewarn an intruder?
Either you would or you wouldn't.
And a good prosecutor could make it terrible that you said that you would or awful that you said that you would not.

I have said this before.

We are an upstanding firearm forum.
We have members here who are active and retired military.
We have active and retired Law Enforcement represented here.
We have trainers who train Law Enforcement here.
We have Paramedics here and we have Firefighters here.
We are a forum FILLED with respectable law abiding citizens from all walks of life here.
And you are a member here.

We do not allow posts containing mention of illegal activity here.
We do not allow wacko extremists here.
We promote legal responsible firearm carry for the purpose of self protection.
There is no porn here.
There is no foul language here.
There are no threatening posts permitted here.
We treat females equally here.
We do not allow racial or ethnic insults or slander here.

Be proud to be here.
Being a member here can only help you.
And should you really type something totally stupid that will harm yourself or DefensiveCarry - you can be certain that it won't stay posted here for too very long before it gets deleted.

The only time I see posting in a forum as court evdence is if you actuallyplanned a crime with details being posted online or posted details after the fact of an incident that could be used.

Far as knowing who we are on the forum well thats easy once the computer is seized and examined and a persons forum name is uncovered a court order can be issued to the forum for further details on that person. Also remember computers very seldom truly delete things totally one of the jobs of a examiner is to undelete evidence.

But I feel QKShooter is correct in all of his above statements and I have seen this forum take very good care in helping members from posting things not in our own best interests or that of the forums.

Also be advised I'm not a legal attorney and nothing in my post is to be ment as legal advice, always check with an atorney for true legal advice.

[JonInNY]

Let me preface my comment also that this is an opinion, and in no way should be construed as legal advice.

I believe there have been instances where prior written information, or even private phone calls and memos as to "state of mind" have been used successfully to prosecute crimes. With the FISA law enacted by this administration, which makes it legal to subpoena telecom companies for private information to be made available to prosecutors, I think it may not be a stretch for any Internet forum to be forced to divulge who it's members are, along with their signon information, if the authorities needed more information.

While highly unlikely, I would be sure to preface any hypothetical discussions that they are, as such, just that!

[retsupt99]

I know one thing for sure, if the dirtbag who breaks into my home was reading any threads from this forum, the prosecutor will probably not be able to interview him.

Stay armed...stay outta' my house (uninvited)...stay safe!