Pasadena, TX: Man shoots intruders

[ArkansasHunter]

I bet Texas will change that clause to read day or night and too after rereading all this I'm glad the guy thought enough about his neighbor to defend thier property.
And by the names were these illegals ? Then I think he shouldn't even go to trial because our laws are for legal citizens arn't they ?...A.H

[CrazyIvan]

A.H. No word on their citizenship as of yet. There has been rumors, but rumors are like a**holes right? If they are illegal, I doubt we'll ever hear about it. But other than the fact that if they were illegal and if the govt. had been doing their job, the guys wouldn't be there, it has no bearing on the legality of Mr. Horns reaction to the situation.

[alan c.]

Originally Posted by ArkansasHunter

I bet Texas will change that clause to read day or night and too after rereading all this I'm glad the guy thought enough about his neighbor to defend his property.
And by the names were these illegals ? Then I think he shouldn't even go to trial because our laws are for legal citizens arn't they ?...A.H

That's the key -- (night time). I thought the guy was a little excessive. I mean come on - a shotgun outside.
I really don't see how his life was in danger.
Just my 2 cents.

[JBS]

when it first came on glen beck he said they were illegal aliens from colombia

[gunney_m]

Originally Posted by alan c.

That's the key -- (night time). I thought the guy was a little excessive. I mean come on - a shotgun outside.
I really don't see how his life was in danger.
Just my 2 cents.

Really your right, I would have waited since he said( he heard them talking about his house too), let em come on in....

[Coeloptera]

This is a toughie for me, I'll admit. While I totally understand and approve of his impulse to just do something about the crime, he is pushing the law a bit by going over to his neighbor's property to kill the guys. That's the biggest problem. He deliberately went over and offed them. Then again, if it had been his home, he could have ventilated them at will as soon as the breaking in began.

I dunno...my gut tells me he shouldn't be punished harshly but that he should get at least a little something. Slap on the wrist.

Man 2 with probation? Don't go killin' anyone who doesn't need it for the next two years? But then we don't want him to have a felony conviction, because then he can't own a firearm.

Anyone more familiar with the specifics of the law care to tell me what would be appropriate in this case for what I'm thinking?

I can't imagine anyone will be dumb enough to try a burglary in that neighborhood again anytime soon, but them, some crooks are pretty dumb.

- Coeloptera

[alan c.]

The guy admitted that he didn't know those neighbors very well. Protecting one's castle is one thing but going to that extreme is another.

[pistolwhip]

Originally Posted by Coeloptera

This is a toughie for me, I'll admit. While I totally understand and approve of his impulse to just do something about the crime, he is pushing the law a bit by going over to his neighbor's property to kill the guys. That's the biggest problem. He deliberately went over and offed them. Then again, if it had been his home, he could have ventilated them at will as soon as the breaking in began.

I dunno...my gut tells me he shouldn't be punished harshly but that he should get at least a little something. Slap on the wrist.

Man 2 with probation? Don't go killin' anyone who doesn't need it for the next two years? But then we don't want him to have a felony conviction, because then he can't own a firearm.

Anyone more familiar with the specifics of the law care to tell me what would be appropriate in this case for what I'm thinking?

I can't imagine anyone will be dumb enough to try a burglary in that neighborhood again anytime soon, but them, some crooks are pretty dumb.

- Coeloptera

I think the story reads that Horn's lawyer stated that Horn was startled to find them 15' from his porch. Not in the neighbors yard. It sounds to me like he may not have had a choice once he left his home.
I also wonder if they were coming to break into his home.
Either way I would'nt want to be in his shoes.

[troy2000]

Originally Posted by pistolwhip

I think the story reads that Horn's lawyer stated that Horn was startled to find them 15' from his porch. Not in the neighbors yard. It sounds to me like he may not have had a choice once he left his home.
I also wonder if they were coming to break into his home.
Either way I would'nt want to be in his shoes.

Who the heck is that rabbit in your avatar, pistolwhip? Bun-Bun from the Sluggy Freelance comic strip?

[Windwalker]

I think the man did the right thing and the prosecuting attorney would not want me on the jury.

[LiveToShoot]

Rckymtnboy... Here's what our Idaho statute stipulates on defending our person, other persons and property. It's a very good statute to protect the person doing the protecting...

Here, I'll include the Idaho statute this time... Idaho Statutes

[Deersniper]

A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone!

[gunney_m]

Originally Posted by Deersniper

A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone!

Aint it.

[alan c.]

I live in the town that this happened. There were two different attorneys on the local news advising only to shoot in self defense. One attorney was a ccw permit instructor and the other has a web sight defending self defense shootings and has his ccw. A typical self defense trial can cost as little as $8000.00. A murder charge can set you back between $75,000-$100,000.
I do not agree with this logic but I will make darn sure of the circumstances befor I pull the trigger on some one.

[gunney_m]

Originally Posted by alan c.

I live in the town that this happened. There were two different attorneys on the local news advising only to shoot in self defense. One attorney was a ccw permit instructor and the other has a web sight defending self defense shootings and has his ccw. A typical self defense trial can cost as little as $8000.00. A murder charge can set you back between $75,000-$100,000.
I do not agree with this logic but I will make darn sure of the circumstances befor I pull the trigger on some one.

Same here but im glad I live where I do, one officer told my brother in law when he asked him: if you do shoot him make sure he's in the house, just dont leave any drag marks.

[Coeloptera]

I must admit, I do find this particular quote from the dispatcher ironically amusing:

"Mr. Horn, do not go outside the house. You're going to get yourself shot if you go outside that house with a gun,"

Guess someone didn't have much faith in Mr. Horn's aim, hm?

I wasn't aware he stated they were 15' from his porch. That is awfully close and if forensics back him up, it will certainly go a long way towards the self-defense angle, won't it?

- Coeloptera

[gunney_m]

Originally Posted by Coeloptera

I must admit, I do find this particular quote from the dispatcher ironically amusing:

"Mr. Horn, do not go outside the house. You're going to get yourself shot if you go outside that house with a gun,"

Guess someone didn't have much faith in Mr. Horn's aim, hm?

I wasn't aware he stated they were 15' from his porch. That is awfully close and if forensics back him up, it will certainly go a long way towards the self-defense angle, won't it?

- Coeloptera

Yes it would, they were asking for it.

[troy2000]

Originally Posted by Coeloptera

I wasn't aware he stated they were 15' from his porch. That is awfully close and if forensics back him up, it will certainly go a long way towards the self-defense angle, won't it?
- Coeloptera

Maybe. On the other hand, it's hard to argue self-defense when he left his house and confronted them, having first told the dispatcher he was going to kill them.

If they were fifteen feet from his house, it's a shame he didn't have a little patience; maybe they were going to hit his house next and he could've gotten them on the doorstep.

Unlike some people, I have little sympathy for someone who gets killed committing a burglary; it's an occupational hazard in their chosen profession. But it doesn't look like it was really necessary in this case.

[gunney_m]

Originally Posted by troy2000

Maybe. On the other hand, it's hard to argue self-defense when he left his house and confronted them, having first told the dispatcher he was going to kill them.

If they were fifteen feet from his house, it's a shame he didn't have a little patience; maybe they were going to hit his house next and he could've gotten them on the doorstep.

Unlike some people, I have little sympathy for someone who gets killed committing a burglary; it's an occupational hazard in their chosen profession. But it doesn't look like it was really necessary in this case.

You are very right on point, if I seen it happening I would wait for them to come on in where they're ''Paid For''.