Cited on HN 3 times, 2021–2023, never outright recommendedscore 0
Years with an HN recommendation, 2007–2026
HN cites it as a source on the illegality of lethal booby traps, including in discussions of trapping hackers.
LegalEagle analyzes Katko v. Briney, the Iowa case about a homeowner whose shotgun booby trap injured a burglar, and the limits on deadly force in defending property.
“Potentially lethal boobytraps left in derelict buildings are mostly illegal in the US[1]” (HN, 2022)
It's also illegal to set a trap in your own home in the US as well, decided when a property owner, tired of people breaking into his property while he was away, set up a shotgun booby trap that injured a burglar. [this video] I wasn't sure if it is the same or similar principle in Russia or a different one that requires active care for a burglar. Unlabeled chemicals causing liability for a burglar seems extreme to me
Legal case on a shotgun booby trap that injured a burglar.
Depending on the jurisdiction you might end up paying quite a lot of money. Potentially lethal boobytraps left in derelict buildings are mostly illegal in the US[1] and in other western countries shooting a thief is generally illegal unless you can prove fear of bodily harm since you are escalating a situation from damage to property to damage to body. While the US is rife with stand your ground laws - most of the rest of the western world finds using potentially lethal force in response to property damage abhorrent. 1. [this video]
Source on illegality of lethal booby traps in the US.
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