I’d love to hear from commenter Eric about this one. A group of masked eco-freaks terrorize a researcher’s home:

A demonstration by six masked protesters in front of a UCSC scientist’s Westside home Sunday afternoon turned violent when the group pounded on the door and were confronted by the researcher’s husband, police reported.

Seems it was more than just pounding on the door:

“By that time he hears pounding,” Escalante said. The man returned to the front door, locked the dead bolt, checked on the kids and went back to the door. “He can see the [door] frame moving.”

His kids were inside having a birthday party with friends. My question: With your own 10-year-old in the house, plus several others for which you are responsible, and a mad mob trying to get in, what if this guy had blasted away with a shotgun as his door was being pushed? Just asking.

ADDITIONAL COMMENT: It’s sad that this is even a question. There was a time when you could defend your home from someone trying to break in and no one would question whether that was appropriate. Nowadays you have to have legal counsel on the premises to make decisions for you. No one should be asked to confront a mob unarmed and try to plead with them to leave your home and loved ones alone. What a pass we’ve come to.