Jackson Jambalaya

Fire Department spokesman on TV also said, "We were suspicious because there were no clothes in the house".

Is a man prohibited from burning down his own house in this country? I cry, "Tyranny!"

Duh...which way did he go, George, which way did he go?

10:50 - you can't even burn leaves without a permit :-)

10:50 - you can't even burn leaves without a permit :-)

I was always told the only people out at that time of the morning were cops and crooks.

Wonder if it's considered an arson crime if you own your home outright, burn it down and don't file an insurance claim?

Wonder if it's considered an arson crime if you own your home outright, burn it down and don't file an insurance claim?

Why not read this and figure that out for yourself?

MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972
As Amended

SEC. 97-17-1. Arson; first degree; burning dwelling house or outbuilding.

Any person who wilfully and maliciously sets fire to or burns or causes to be burned or who aids, counsels or procures the burning of any dwelling house, whether occupied, unoccupied or vacant, or any kitchen, shop, barn, stable or other outhouse that is parcel thereof, or belonging to or adjoining thereto, whether the property of himself or of another, shall be guilty of arson in the first degree, and upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to the penitentiary for not less than two nor more than twenty years.

SOURCES: Codes, 1942, Sec. 2006; Laws, 1932, ch. 272.

1997 Amendment:

SECTION 1. Section 97-17-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

97-17-1. (1) Any person who willfully and maliciously sets fire to or burns or causes to be burned or who aids, counsels or procures the burning of any dwelling house, whether occupied, unoccupied or vacant, or any kitchen, shop, barn, stable or other outhouse that is parcel thereof, or belonging to or adjoining thereto, or any state-supported school building in this state whether the property of himself or of another, shall be guilty of arson in the first degree, and upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to the penitentiary for not less than five (5) nor more than twenty (20) years and shall pay restitution for any damage caused.

(2) Any person convicted under this section shall be subject to treble damages for any damage caused by such person.

(3) Any property used in the commission of the offense of arson in the first degree shall be subject to forfeiture as provided in Section 97-17-4.

SOURCE: 1997 Laws, Chapter 473, Sec. 1, HB631, Effective March 27, 1997.

http://www.mscode.com/free/statutes/97/017/0001.htm

So did the arson law come from a concern about not being able to contain the fire? I can destroy, disassemble, fail to maintain until it collapses but not burn it...seems weird if I own it and am not trying to commit insurance fraud.

7:21 seems a bit overly arrogant. I burned down my own 80 year old barn ten years ago when it became unstable and was about to collapse. According to the statute, I should have served jail time.

I owned it. It was on my property. I supervised the burn. No damages occurred (except for a few rats).

19 firefighters having just died fighting an out of control fire might be the answer for some of you.
The knowledge exists that some expertise is needed to ensure a fire is controlled.
That conclusion is not unreasonable despite the fact that some believe no expertise is necessary.
Perhaps, you did check weather conditions,knew what flammable materials existed in the area over time including spills and in the original construction and had all the equipment at hand necessary should the fire " jump" as fires can do. Perhaps, you are a good judge of when the burn is truly over and there are no embers to reignite.

There is no freedom to endanger your neighbors .

The rats are gonna sue....