WLTZ 38 | Columbus Georgia Regional News & CommunityColumbus homeowner shoots alleged home invader

By Sara Belsole

COLUMBUS, GA - One Columbus homeowner took full advantage of his second amendment rights this morning.

Officials say he shot a man allegedly trying to break into his home on Woodland Drive around 2:30 this morning.

"Georgia law says that you can own a handgun in your home and in your vehicle as an extension as your home," Major Randy Robertson with the Muscogee County Sheriff's Office says.

After shooting the man in the leg, the homeowner and Fort Benning Soldier called police. When they arrived on scene they were able to take the suspect into custody in a neighboring vacant lot.

Melvin Jones was taken to the Medical Center where he is listed in unsatisfactory condition. He is charged with burglary.

The homeowner has not been charged.

"I think that without knowing any other facts than what you told me, I would think chances are the homeowner acted properly," Robertson says.

Neighbors say this is not the first break in the neighborhood has seen.

"A lot of traffic in and out, my house has been broken into twice in the past two years out of the 8 years, I have had an alarm both times and they still kicked in my front door," neighbor Stacy Horan says.

NBC 38 spoke with the homeowner off camera this morning and he says his next step is to install a security system but he says the burglary will not drive him out of the neighborhood.

Under the Castle Doctrine, it is legal for an American to use deadly force to protect themselves in their own home.

And combined with Georgia's 2006 No Retreat Law, victims have even more right to protect themselves.

"In the situation where someone broke into someone's house, that individual was basically trapped in their home, and they had a firearm, I think the way Georgia law would be interpreted is they could use whatever force is necessary to protect themselves, up to and including deadly force," Robertson says.

But there are some restrictions to the law.

"If you were inside your house, secure, and someone came into your front yard, I don't think the law would extend out outside of your home because you're under no imminent threat," Robertson says.

Law enforcement officials say the laws in Alabama and Florida are similar to Georgia's laws.