Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
It’s officially porch-pirate season. Amazon boxes are stacking up, Ring cameras are working overtime, and thieves are cruising neighborhoods like it’s Black Friday every day. It’s frustrating. It’s infuriating. And this holiday season, it’s also getting people arrested.
A recent case out of Atlanta is a loud, flashing reminder of a hard truth for gun owners: you can’t shoot someone over stolen packages.
According to police, two teenagers approached a home on Celeste Lane after spotting packages freshly dropped off by a delivery truck. Before they ever made it to the porch, the homeowner opened fire.
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Both teens were hit. One in the torso, one in the foot; both were rushed to the hospital. One remains in critical condition but is expected to survive, per FOX 5 Atlanta.
The homeowner? He’s sitting in the Fulton County Jail facing two counts of aggravated assault, plus additional charges.
Atlanta police were blunt about it. Yes, a property crime was occurring. Yes, packages were being stolen. But deadly force to stop a theft? That’s a fast track to prison.
This case popped up the same week NBC News highlighted just how massive the porch piracy problem has become. An estimated 104 million packages were stolen last year, averaging 250,000 packages a day, costing Americans roughly $15 billion. Chicago, New York, Miami, Houston, and Baltimore top the list.
It’s easy to understand the anger. You work hard, order gifts, and some dirtbag helps himself. But none of that changes the legal reality: deadly force is for stopping an immediate threat to life. Not protecting Amazon boxes.
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No matter how good your aim is or how righteous you feel in the moment, pulling the trigger over property almost always ends the same way: criminal charges, financial ruin, and a lifetime of regret.
And here’s the kicker. These cases become ammo for anti-gun narratives. Every bad shoot over a pizza box full of stolen packages gets used to paint all gun owners as reckless. Meanwhile, the actual law-abiding majority gets stuck cleaning up the mess.
There are smarter options. Cameras with lights and sirens. Delivery instructions that keep packages out of sight. Package lockers. Trusted neighbors. Even letting the thief walk and filing a report beats explaining your actions to a prosecutor.
So this holiday season, remember the rule that keeps gun owners out of headlines and behind bars:
If it’s just stuff. Don’t shoot!
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
Experience:
– Licensed Bowhunter, Hunter, and Trapper – Experienced in ethical hunting and wildlife conservation.
– Concealed Carry Permit Holder (NYS & AZ) – Trained and licensed to carry in multiple states.
– 2A Journalist – Covering firearms legislation, Second Amendment issues, and gun rights for over a decade.
– Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) – Certified to provide emergency medical care in the field.
– Field-Tested Gear Reviewer – Hands-on experience with firearms, optics, and hunting tech.
sounds like gun control to me……..you can have a gun but you can’t use it! how about some laws that state if you come onto private property you can be shot and end all brandishing laws!!! what if the package has life saving medicine or device that can be legally stolen?