Gun law changes and reality

[Maj. Stress]

This just happened to be in the news today. http://www.khou.com/topstories/stori...d.d53dd22.html

[LD]

Originally Posted by Maj. Stress

This just happened to be in the news today. http://www.khou.com/topstories/stori...d.d53dd22.html

I was just watching that story on the news. Man, that's wild. The guy shot two people in the back with a shotgun...while talking to 9-11 on the phone. And the jury found did not convict him, either. Don't mess with Texas...

But I do think guns are used in legit self defense from time to time. If someone pulls out a gun to protect themselves, and no shots are fired, you will not hear about it since it doesn't make the news. how often this happens is hard to say....gun proponents say it happens all the time.

[DangerDave]

Originally Posted by LusciousDelight

I was just watching that story on the news. Man, that's wild. The guy shot two people in the back with a shotgun...while talking to 9-11 on the phone. And the jury found did not convict him, either. Don't mess with Texas...

Fucking Hell... what sort of society is that in that area?? Killing two people with a shotgun over stolen property, and he walks free.... I am shocked that this could happen, that he could get off, and that it is just accepted!

[SirMoby]

Originally Posted by DangerDave

Fucking Hell... what sort of society is that in that area?? Killing two people with a shotgun over stolen property, and he walks free.... I am shocked that this could, that he could get off, and that it is just accepted!

It's in Texas. People are different there.

[Maj. Stress]

Originally Posted by SirMoby

It's in Texas. People are different there.

We are very different. We don't put out welcome mats for people who want to invade our homes, kill our families and steal our belongings.

How do people in your part of the world handle those situations, call 911 and hope for the best?

[Zel II]

Originally Posted by Maj. Stress

We are very different. We don't put out welcome mats for people who want to invade our homes, kill our families and steal our belongings.

How do people in your part of the world handle those situations, call 911 and hope for the best?

Well - its not that different in these parts. Then again, our house burglars are not that violent either - usually they take more time to make sure no one sees them doing' their "business", and if they get spotted, they hit the road instead of trying to kill.

Over here you are allowed to shoot without warning only to prevent physical damage to yourself or others, but not to stop a theft or anything else that does not involve violence against person. You have to fire at least a warning shot in the air first.

As far as this case with Joe dude goes - thats obviously an overkill - he shot the bad guys in the BACK. Thats beyond self defense by miles IMHO.
They were not breaking in his house, though they were committing a crime, and while he had the right and obligation to stop them, shooting them without at least shouting something like "Hey you - stop!" is too much, and he should get at least few years in prison "on paper".

My 2¢

[SirMoby]

Originally Posted by Maj. Stress

We are very different. We don't put out welcome mats for people who want to invade our homes, kill our families and steal our belongings.

How do people in your part of the world handle those situations, call 911 and hope for the best?

What does this have to do with the issue at hand? As I understand it, he shot 2 guys in the back that were NOT trying to invade his home, kill his family or steal his belongings.

[LD]

Originally Posted by SirMoby

What does this have to do with the issue at hand? As I understand it, he shot 2 guys in the back that were NOT trying to invade his home, kill his family or steal his belongings.

It's fucked up for sure. In states where deadly force is allowed, it's only for self defense, and somehow they were able to convince the jury that this was self defense. I think the fact that they were illegal immigrants probably swayed the jury's decision.