I Guess It's True - Don't Mess With Texas!

"By JUAN A. LOZANO, Associated Press Writer Tue Jul 1, 5:14 AM ET
HOUSTON - Ever since he fatally shot two men he suspected of burglarizing his next-door neighbor's home, 62-year-old Joe Horn has been both praised and vilified for his actions."

If you remember this story from last year you'll understand the title of this post. Joe Horn was cleared by a Grand Jury of any wrongdoing for shooting and killing two burglars last November 14 as they crawled out of his neighbors window in Pasadena Texas. The two men killed were illegal immigrants from Colombia. One had a criminal record with a drug related conviction.

Many years ago my late Father-In-Law shot a man breaking into his house. He (my Father-In-Law) repeatedly warned the man he was armed and would shoot, but the idiot came through the kitchen door/window anyway. Pops shot the jerk with a 9mm at nearly point blank range in the shoulder. It dropped him and stopped him. It was later determined the man was on PCP.

Anyway, Pops was put through the wringer by the legal processes here in L.A. for protecting himself and his home. His handgun was seized and they ran a trace and ballistics test on it. He was eventually cleared when it was determined the man he shot was coming through his kitchen door. After a long process the LAPD returned Pop's handgun.

I always thought that it was a cut and dried situation that when you protect yourself you are allowed to use deadly force. Not so in Los Angeles. My late Father-In-Law was a decorated WWII combat veteran but he was treated like a criminal in this case. At least common sense reigns in Texas.

The question in the Joe Horn case was he was NOT protecting his property but the property of his neighbor. Even in that situation Texas allows some wiggle room. One thing is for sure. No one will ever screw with Joe Horn after this. At least not in Texas.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080701/ap_on_re_us/burglary_shooting