Texas FTW: Gun Laws in the Lone Star State

**asianator365** · 02-25-08, 04:22 PM

I found this story by ABC to be very interesting. It talks about the Castle Laws, and how in Texas it has resulted in many burglars being blown away. This guy, Joe Horn, blew away two illegal immigrants when they broke into his next-door neighbors house. I recommend that anyone read the story and watch the video clips here: http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=4272882&page=1 The same story also talks about how Damon Barone shot and killed a man breaking into his house.

**Shade-of-Grey** · 02-25-08, 04:48 PM

This is why I love TX. He's protecting his neighborhood, community, and himself. No sympathy for victims in such cases. Don't do the crime, simple as that. As stated - for criminals, the occupational hazard is death. If you're lucky you'll get arrested and go to jail.

Amen.

**Too Much Damage** · 02-25-08, 06:02 PM

There needs to be some actual punishment for people who break the law. Time in jail is just networking, bail is just money, some people stay in jail as protection essentially making the jail a castle. legitimately if someone is breaking in they intend to cause some form of malice and clearly do not have the victims best interests in mind.
People should be able to defend their property from illegal intrusion by any means they see fit. The exception might be high caliber weapons in a densely populated area.

**Axeager** · 02-25-08, 06:18 PM

I'd have to disagree with this law. Might just be me, but I don't think that whatever this robber was going to take was worth his life. That's why we have police and law enforcement. There should definitely be punishment for the man who shot the robber.

**BigHub** · 02-25-08, 07:09 PM

Your crazy and your not a Texan... Come in my house and see how many bullets get put into your ass.

I have the right to protect myself, third party, or my belongings. God i love this state.

Shouldn't be breaking into houses. Plain and simple.

**Toker** · 02-25-08, 07:15 PM

Axe, seriously dude, wtf....

I'm not going to shoot someone because I know they want to take my TV. But, I will shoot someone, because they are in my house, unwelcomed, and my daughter/family is sleeping 15 feet away from this asshole...

Would you risk the lives of your family for a tweaker?

**BigHub** · 02-25-08, 07:17 PM

exactly.

**Shade-of-Grey** · 02-25-08, 07:34 PM

Originally Posted by Axeager

I'd have to disagree with this law. Might just be me, but I don't think that whatever this robber was going to take was worth his life. That's why we have police and law enforcement. There should definitely be punishment for the man who shot the robber.

I believe he was entirely justified. He called it in, confronted the two thieves who where just leaving the house, and they started to progressively advance towards him. He was afraid for his safety and did what needed to be done. He did not have an opportunity to make a conscious decision, only to react, and that was to protect himself.

Originally Posted by BigH?b

Your crazy and your not a Texan... Come in my house and see how many bullets get put into your ass.

I have the right to protect myself, third party, or my belongings. God i love this state.

Shouldn't be breaking into houses. Plain and simple.

Seriously - the right to protect yourself, your belongings, and even third parties... this state is great and others should learn from it. In all honesty, if you fear for your life in any way, use force. Conceal carry. I know if someone were to step through my door without my permission, there is no oral confrontation, only lead. You see someone getting trampled in a parking lot and you fear for them? Use deadly force to protect them. That's the way it should be everywhere.

**Axeager** · 02-25-08, 07:39 PM

Your right, I'm not a Texan, I'm a New Yorker and don't for one second think you have any more crime then we have up here. I guess that explains why the South has had the highest murder rate since 1976. I wonder what we do that's so different up here in the north.

Grey you don't know that, they could have been running away, but I guess taking the law into your own hands is great. I also have to wonder what this country would become if everyone was given to a license to kill.

**BigHub** · 02-25-08, 07:59 PM

These figures are put together by the FBI in 2006 in the UCR (Unified Crime Report) - (2007 figures are not ready yet)

http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2006/data/table_04.html

Texas

Population - 23,507,783
Violent Crimes - 121,378 total - 516.3/per 100,000
Murder - 1384 total - 5.9/per 100,000
Robbery - 37,254 total - 158.5/per 100,000

New York

Population - 19,306,183
Violent Crimes - 83,966 total - 434.9/per 100,000
Murder - 921 total - 4.8/per 100,000
Robbery - 34,489 - 178.6/per 100,000

New York's rates are really not that much lower than Texas... But look what's highlighted. Look who has more robberies. I rest my case.