Liquor, Guns, Lottery Tix, Smokes all under one roof...No place like Texas...my home....
Can we all say FREEDOM!
Posted on 10/17/2006 1:37:41 PM PDT by kiriath_jearim
Some East Texans are supporting a proposed bill from a state legislator that would give more rights to individuals defending their life and property against attackers. The proposed bill is authored by a Republican state senator from San Antonio.
"The victim is clearly not the intruder the lawbreaker. It's the homeowner. This is just common sense that's what this bill is about," senator Jeff Wentworth told KLTV 7 News.
Wentworth's proposed bill would give the right to use deadly force, without having to suffer the repercussions of a lawsuit from the intruder or intruder's family.
For some like Mickie Clotz, who's had her Longview home burglarized several times, the bill makes perfect sense. "Why should we live in fear that if we're protecting our family or property that they, who are in the wrong for being where they don't belong, have the right to sue us," says Clotz.
A recent case in point is the Parade of Homes shooting, where a homeowner fatally shot a teenage intruder. A grand jury did not return an indictment.
Some say the laws already on the books are enough. "We now have in the penal code, eight separate sections dealing with defense of persons, third parties, property... This bill seems to me to be somewhat overkill or a flash point bill that's probably not necessary," said Longview attorney Ken Walker.
"We've always had a law on the books that allows people to basically protect themselves, their property, someone else. Should it be passed, I just hope it doesn't become one of those bills that's widely abused," said Longview Police Department Sergeant Shaun Pendleton.
"I don't think if it were you or I if we're in our home and it's being broken into by a lawbreaker we should have to decide whether that person is armed or the gun is loaded," Wentworth said.
But some worry that this bill goes too far. "Someone could contrive 'I have the right to stand my ground', and use deadly force when I see fit," Walker said.
The proposed bill has not become law. Wentworth will submit his bill in November, and it could go before legislators in the spring session of 2007.
The U.S. continues to buck the trend within the so-called "civilized" Western communities by promoting individual rights to self-defense and justice.
The Europeans have always associated effeminate behavior with civilized behavior, whereas Americans think of such beliefs as utterly suicidal and moronic. In Europe they consider the height of civilization as represented by aristocrats wearing perfume and ruffled dresses.
(Okay, so I'm over generalizing Europeans, but really - they do idolize decadence and luxury characteristic of the days when nobles abused their positions and power.)
What's an East Texan?
Attorney Walker knows that a dead intruder will not have to hire a lawyer, so he clearly has a vested interest in defeating this bill.
"What's an East Texan?"
****
The last time I was there (1997-2000), it was anything east of the imaginary line running north to south from Dallas to Houston.
clearly we need more federalization of gun laws in order to
reign in this widespread gain of freedom.
You should have the right to stand your ground in your own home.
You should have the option of using deadly force to defend yourself in your own home without having other people second guess if your life was really threatened by an intruder.
These laws are being passed in response to liberal prosecutors, who believe that only police can use deadly force, persecuting those who are forced to defend themselves due to the criminal actions of others.
They should also extend the law to make prosecutors who act in bad faith to persecute those who defend themselves can be held criminally and civilly responsible for the harm their actions cause.
You'd have to be one to know one--LOL!
Folks who live in the very first part of Texas that was settled by folks from the U.S.
Me, for one...
Liquor, Guns, Lottery Tix, Smokes all under one roof...No place like Texas...my home....
Can we all say FREEDOM!
LOL in the "Pineywoods".
Resently, a group of people with too much time on their hands (read: tourism folks), decided that "Pineywoods" was not an "attractive" nickname for our region of Texas.
They decided the region should be called the "Forest Country".
I intend to keep calling it the Pineywoods as that is what it has been all my life. Besides it will give me great pleasure to thumb my nose at these idiots!
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