Are you for or against Texas allowing people to shoot criminals?

Question

Recently a Texas man shot two illegal criminal aliens robbing a neighbor's house. The Family's house he was protecting were themselves LEGAL immigrants so there is clearly no racial motive. Even the Black Panthers have not claimed in their protests any racial motives.

Also the Police now say that the man who fired was also confronted on his own property as well.

The question is really do you think that the rest of the nation should follow Texas' lead in this area or should the rest of the Nation condemn Texas Law?

http://www.drudge.com/news/100926/audio-texas-man-kills-neighbors-burglars

Please let me know what you think

Gabriel, respectfully you are incorrect. Don't feel bad though I saw the interview only last night where the Pasedena Chief of police said that the 61 year old home owner was confronted on his own property and that right before they were shot one of the men moved closer to him AFTER he'd ordered them to not move.

Why should I as a homeowner have to allow robbers to come and go as they please? Have we lost our collective minds?

BTW These two violent felons it turns out had rap sheets a mile long each and were part of a gang. They'd been in America illegaly and for years were on a criminal rampage.

I think they got off easy. At least tehy don't have to spend years (at my expense) locked up and suffereing in prison.

At least we can take solace in the certain knowledge that they died doing what they loved...

Rey Del la Tlerra,

Did you not see this on TV or read it in the news paper? the robbers that were shot were illegal criminals on a rampage. One of them had been deported before and both had felony arrest records. Both were from Columbia and were part of an alien ID fraud and robbery gang.

Der Lange,

you are wrong on several counts. You can just google the story anywhere Drudge was just the easiest so I posted that link but it is everywhere.

You are also wrong abotu not having the right to kill someone for violating your property or your neighbor's, under Texas law you can and that's what my question is about. These laws exist in several States and are commonly referred to as Castle Laws.

Answer 1

I am for it. Our neighbors look out for us and vice versa. If I caught someone in their home robbing them, I'd shoot first and ask questions later and the exact same is true for my own property. Why should illegals or any other criminal be allowed to pillage and plunder another's home? I suppose some may say let them have it, I say hell no that's what's wrong with our nation today. There are boundaries that should not be crossed much like our borders!!

Answer 2

I agree with the Texas law. It is a great deterrant to petty theft and crime. No burglar is going to rob a home of a $50 DVD player if it could mean his life.

Answer 3

I say its hard to accept. Someone being allowed to shoot someone, who is breaking in a house a crime. I would hope my neighbor like me enough to help me protect my family and possessions. I say that being allowed to do so like in TX is a great way to send the proper message. You commit a crime you will pay for it. I personally know a old woman that a man broke into her home and fell from the roof and sued her for his injury.

Answer 4

If the weapon holder is in danger or has a reasonable belief that he or someone else is in danger then he/she should be able to respond with deadly force. Even animals use deadly force to protect themselves or their offspring. This is not really a immigration issue but rather one of being able to protect your self. When we place our self in a position of intruder/thief often bad things happen whether we are a citizen or a illegal alien. The man in question thought he was in danger and probably would have been harmed if he wasn't armed.

Answer 5

I believe a person has a right to defend their property. Don't know enough about the Texas case to say whether it was a righteous shooting or not, that call is made by the responding officers.

Burglary can so often lead to more serious crimes, so many rapes and murders are perpetrated by burglars who break in, get caught, and flip out. IMHO a person in my home without my permission is on VERY THIN ICE.

Personally, the two occasions I have used my own weapon to defend myself or my home I did not have to fire a shot. The bad guys saw my weapon, saw I was ready to use it, and ran away.

I am not a backshooter, I let them leave. In both cases they did NOT come back.

Answer 6

It looks like an open and shut case of premeditated murder to me and the State ofTexas should execute this Joe Horn for committing it,
Listen to the tape the 911 operator [who did a spectacular job btw ] repeatedly tells this guy to stay in his house and not to go outside and confront these guys because that's what the cops are for .Mr Horn already has his mind made up about how this all going to end and he repeatedly chooses to ignore the 911 operators excellent advice telling him not to do what he was about to do.Mr Horns subsequent actions would come under the heading of malice aforethought .
All the other nonsense side issues about the victims rap sheets and immigration status are just that ; nonsense issues
This issue here is simply what Mr Horn actually knew at the time this happened
1)He knew that a house that was not his was being robbed
2) He knew that the occupants of that house were not being threatened by the robbers
3) He knew that the local cops were on their way
4)He knew that the 911 operator repeatedly and strongly advised him to stay at home and let the cops handle it .
5)He knew that if he walked outside to confront the robbers with a loaded shot gun that something negative could happen as a result of his actions .
And one more thing: He should have known that the use of deadly force is only legally justifiable if one is confronted with deadly force.Had Mr Horn stayed in his house as the 911 operator so wisely suggested then he never would have had the possible confrontation with the robber in his front yard.
I think that if Mr Horn doesn't get at least tried for first degree murder thenTexas law should definetly be comdemned by the whole nation .

Answer 7

Criminal Records Search : http://SearchVerifyInfo.com

Answer 8

Illegal or not I'd still shoot someone if i thought they were going to harm me, my family, or my neighbors. My Dad asked a Police officer one time "if someone was to rob our house would i get arrested if i were to shoot and kill him on my own property?" The police officer's response was "say you saw a flash so you reacted to it and thought your life was at stake. Just make sure you don't shoot them in the back. It's one less criminal the tax payers have to take care of."

I am a white American. ******* come in all colors. If they were Caucasian i'd still shoot them if my life was at stake.

It's in the constitution we have the right to bare arms.

Answer 9

The Castle Doctrine is alive and well in Texas as well as the state in which I live.
These were bad guys with rap sheets proving it.
The way the law in written in Texas the homeowner was well within his right to do what he did on at least 4 points of the new law.
It is my hope that the grand jury will throw this inquiry out. It may send a message loud and clear to any theif or thug that thinks what is yours is also theirs.

Answer 10

I think that if you are protecting yourself, your family, or your property, and the use of deadly force is necessary (and if they are in your house, I do not care if they are leaving) then shooting criminals is warranted.

pplz1st...so by your logic, he should have held them at gunpoint and robbed them. That would have been equal, right?

John L....if you walked in on your young daughter being raped by a man who, if you did not shoot, would snap you in half or shoot you, would you kill them? You say it is never okay....are you going to watch someone rape your small child, wife, whoever? I don't think so.