Defense Of Self And Home Protected By Law

By Jennifer Loren, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Defending yourself and your home with a deadly weapon is legal in Oklahoma.  And, the man who had to shoot an invader on Thursday night is thankful the law is on his side.

Steve Manning spent Friday cleaning up the mess an intruder left on his front porch.  He was also trying to come to terms with the scariest night of his life.

"I've never in my 57 years seen anybody as angry as that.  His rage was seething," said Steve Manning.

Manning says he was forced to shoot 21-year-old Robert Wickham in the leg to keep him from breaking down his front door.

Thursday night wasn't the first time Manning had fired his gun.  Several years ago he took a gun training course just in case.

"I just always hoped that preparation would be something I would never have to use.  I'm just in shock that I had to do this.  That I actually had to pull a trigger with a gun aimed at another human being," said Tulsan Steve Manning.

Having an intruder in your home is just one of many situations they teach you to deal with at shooting academies.  Some have a live fire shoot house where they teach you self defense in your own home.

"The thing that most people don't realize is that the police do a great job, but they can't always be there for you. They can't be there quick enough," said Mike Seeklander with U.S. Shooting Academy.

And, that's why gun owners are taking advantage of their 2nd Amendment right to bear arms and learning how to use those weapons.

"Unfortunately in today's day and age, especially with the economy going down, we're probably going to see more of these types of crimes. We would tell everyone to be aware of it and be ready for them," said Mike Seeklander with U.S. Shooting Academy.

Manning may have also had Oklahoma's Stand Your Ground Law to protect him.

That law says Oklahoma citizens have the right to expect absolute safety in their own homes.  A person is allowed to use defensive force if the suspect is unlawfully or forcefully entering the home or if they were trying to remove a person from the home against their will.

Related Story:

10/17/2008  Man Shoots Intruder During Attempted Break In