Interesting story out of Pasadena, Texas. A grandfatherly man called 911 to report a burglary in progress next door. He gave play-by-play to the dispatcher while waiting for the police to arrive. Minutes pass. He desperately does not want the robbers to get away. Finally, against the dispatcher's emphatic instructions, he goes outside with his shotgun and shoots both the burglars just before the cops arrive.
The incident may prove a test for a new law recently passed [Sept 1] in Texas which expands the right of citizens to use deadly force. Under Texas law, people may use deadly force to protect their own property or to stop arson, burglary, robbery, theft or criminal mischief at night.
But the legislator who authored the "castle doctrine" bill told the Chronicle it was never intended to apply to a neighbor's property, to prompt a "'Law West of the Pecos' mentality or action," said Republican Sen. Jeff Wentworth.
"You're supposed to be able to defend your own home, your own family, in your house, your place of business or your motor vehicle."
I understand and agree with the argument that human life is worth more than property. And I understand and agree with the right to protect your own life and property. And I understand and agree that in Texas, it's more shoot first, ask questions later, than in, say, Massachusetts. And I don't like someone going out with his shotgun to shoot people dead. I also don't like that all you're allowed to do as an American citizen is sit and watch two guys loot your neighbor's house and hope the police show up in time to stop them. And I really like that somewhere people are still looking out for their neighbors.
I don't really know what to make of this story. Do you?
3 comments:
This is a tough one. As a prosecutor, I would probably seek to bring charges but as a jurist, I would look for any reason to acquit.
I think the big question is whether or not the intruders were armed. The neighbor did everything right but the cops just never showed. I like to empower the citizenry at this point. A guy with a shotgun should be able to get the perps on the ground and hold them. If they were armed, I don't even have a problem with him killing them, but if they were unarmed, it makes the old man look awfully trigger happy.
If the cops want to participate they have to get there. The wild west was much more wild in the days before Shane came to town to defeat the desperados. I doubt burglars will go into this neighborhood again. I certainly wouldn’t vote to convict this man.
And considering the previous post on Sean Taylor, a neighbor could have saved his life.
Horray for the old man! The cops are too busy harassing innocent law abiding citizens and giving out useless speeding tickets, when you really need them, where the hell are they? A friend of mine at work (prison) had a home invasion and were held at gun point for about 2 hours before the stupid cops arrived that he'd called 2 hours before. If I were the old guy, I would have shot the robbers, reloaded, and shot them again! Horray for the average citizen! HORRAY FOR JUSTICE DONE!!
Post a Comment