... a long way, Bryan. The reason is quite simple, really. With no human there to control the trap, an innocent person could be injured, rather than a bad guy. The classic case (the name of which escapes me at the moment -- help, Travis or Peter) involved a shotgun rigged to shoot anyone who entered a home. Granted, the likelihood that an innocent person will be injured by such a trap is relatively small, it is nevertheless a real possibility.

On the other hand, I'm in favor of laws which bar crooks from recovering damages when they are injured by such traps. I think I remember reading that some states have passed such laws. The trap-setter, of course, can still be prosecuted for any crime he might have committed (such as negligent homicide).

----- jim o\-S