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Message: <blockquote data-quote="apoptosis" data-source="post: 5716928" data-attributes="member: 3226">He cant chase them because of the loot. You cannot use lethal force to protect items in that way. According to every state, that would almost definitely get you thrown in jail. He could use nonlethal force (pointing a gun at them even as a bargaining tool is considered using lethal force) and try and make an arrest, but that can have its own issues. In Texas, you can protect your neighbors property (home) as long as you can make the case that you believe you are protecting it and there is reasonable fear of imminent danger to yourself or your neighbor.But it is consistent across states that you cannot use lethal force to protect personal property.While there are cases where they have upheld self defense there are many where they haven't and have successfully prosecuted the 'defender.' My guess is that the overwhelming claims of self defense are not upheld (mostly because that is the most common claim in any battery); i do not know if this is necessarily true, just my thought based on what i read.While laws need to be able to protect someone defending themselves, it almost by nature is going to be very murky. Size of defender vs assailant, weapons involved, ability to escape, intention of defender, provocative actions of defender etc all play a role in whether they will prosecute you for self defense.</blockquote>