Castle Doctrine law needed
The report in the July 6, 2008 local section titled "EXPERT: LEAVE JUSTICE TO COPS" points out a desperate need in Pennsylvania. That would be the passing of a so-called "CASTLE DOCTRINE" law, which protects an innocent victim from both criminal and civil penalties when defending themselves or other innocent victims from criminal attack.
The idea of letting the police handle situations like the one reported interprets to let the criminal do what they want, and hope you survive to testify against them in court, if they are ever caught.
For the rest of his life the "good Samaritan" in this situation must deal with the emotional aspects of having taken another person's life. That will already be more penalty then he deserves. He should not have some public official second-guessing what this obviously enraged and out of control attackers next actions might be.
David Titus
Windsor Township
