This link which puts to bed the case of the man who whacked two Goblins, even though they were burgling his neighbor’s house and not his own. Of special note should be this part of the DA’s statement:

I can tell you that the grand jury conducted a thorough review of the evidence and testimony. They considered the relevant criminal statutes in Texas, including those pertaining to homicide, use of deadly force, self-defense, and defense of property. In short, before making their decision, they were as well-informed on the facts and circumstances of this case as any deliberative body could be.

One of the more interesting features of Texas law is that when you are “looking after” a neighbor’s property, you actually have greater leeway, when it comes to violence, than when you’re defending your own.


If you see a goblin coming out of a broken window of your neighbor’s home, for instance, you can take out your scoped rifle and put a .308 bullet into the goblin’s chest—which is more or less what Our Hero did—and generally not be in any trouble with the Law. (If the goblin has just escaped from your house and is running down the road, and you pop a bullet into his back, you will be in trouble. Like I said, interesting.)


So to all the Pissers & Moaners who want Our Hero stuck in jail, the Texas expression is, I believe, “You’re SOL”.


In the specific case above, the Texas expression would be: ”If you feel like burgling a house, you may want to do it in your own country first, before considering Texas.”

Around here you'd be hanged legally.

A armed man kills 2 unarmed men who were committing a robbery, by shooting them in the back with a shotgun.

Ok, whats the lesson of this story that I guarantee every criminal in Texas has learned today:

Since robbery has now become a Capital Crime in Texas, all you criminals better arm yourselves too. And that's its better to shoot your victim first, rather take the chance he draws down on you.

The one thing this wont do is reduce crime, just look at the Murder rate in Dallas if you don't believe me on that one...

Personally I think its a matter of time before some moron claiming Castle Doctrine shoots his neighbors TV repairman.

Originally Posted by 5.56X45mm

So to all the Pissers & Moaners who want Our Hero stuck in jail, the Texas expression is, I believe, “You’re SOL”.

In the specific case above, the Texas expression would be: ”If you feel like burgling a house, you may want to do it in your own country first, before considering Texas.”

Right on!

MMarsh I respect your opinion but do not believe your assesment of what the future holds.

That's why I love Texas......

You know what the lesson of this story is?

The criminals in Texas that DON'T have guns (like the two people Mr. Horn shot) ought to go out and get one.

If I was a criminal in Texas I as sure as hell would carry.

Originally Posted by tomtom22

Right on!

MMarsh I respect your opinion but do not believe your assesment of what the future holds.

And I respect yours.

I hope you are right, but I am pessimistic. I know if I was a criminal in Texas I would be getting a gun now, in fact I'd probably already have one. I don't think this case will reduce crime an iota.

Also, morally there is just something not right about being legally able to kill 2 unarmed men that really bugs me, -regardless of the circumstance. I get the distinct impression that some people are looking for an excuse to shoot someone.

If you listen to the 911 call, there is a certain enthusiasm in Mr Horn Voice which I find extremely disturbing.

If you want to listen to the actual 911 call (where you can hear the gunshots) link is below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLtKCC7z0yc

I think that the fact that two crims caught in the act, came to a very sticky end is a great solution,... for those two.

However I think that giving everyone the right to do it, is a really bad idea. It's slippery slope with lots of possible ugly consequences, as previously mentioned in this thread. Hell, we could just do away with the legal system altogether and deal with crime ourselves. It would certainly reduce the problem of overcrowding in prisons.

"There's those pesky kids from next door retrieving their ball from our yard again. Trespassers!!!.. so that's who's been stealing our pecans, Blat! Blat! problem solved".

You know no matter how hard I try I can't find any reason to be upset that two guys were killed in the commission of a crime and while it may not deter crime it sure as hell curtails re-offending.

However I agree the problem is going to come when someone shoots the next door neighbours kid for climbing through his bedroom window at 2am because he was locked out.

I don't do studies of crime rates worldwide but Texas is a pretty bad place to go with a criminal occupation. If the neighbors don't get you, death row will. Remember "he needed killin' " is still a valid defense plea.