Posted on 07/03/2008 8:44:57 AM PDT by mnehrling
God knows I try–I really do–to keep an open mind when reading the less-than-conservative opinions put forth by columnists and editorial board writers of the Houston Chronicle.
But then, in the midst of trying to argue a supposedly centrist, reasonable, moderately progressive argument about Texas’ Castle Doctrine and the many complex issues surrounding property rights, personal protection, the criminal justice system, and the inherent regret most humans feel upon taking the life of another, they include a howler like this: What if Horn accidentally had killed a pair of teen-age boys engaged in an illegal graduation prank? What if one of the intruders had been a mentally ill, wounded or economically desperate war veteran, committing his first crime?
What?
WHAT?
The “teen-age boys playing a stupid prank” thing has at least some sort of logic to it, as we’ve seen actual cases where teen-age boys (not known for their prudence or judgment) have gotten shot while in the midst of doing something stupid.
But is anyone out there aware of a “mentally ill, wounded or economically desperate war veteran” who, while in the process of committing their very first crime, was gunned down by an adrenaline-pumped civilian?
And even if that has happened, is breaking into other people’s homes and stealing their crap some sort of veteran’s benefit we now hand out along with Purple Hearts? Can the editorial board writers of the Houston Chronicle really be asking us to factor into our moral calculus the possibility that the criminal who is threatening the lives and property of ourselves and our neighbors might have served in Iraq or Afghanistan?
If the burglar had been a prison guard at Abu Ghraib, would it be OK to shoot them then? Maybe the thug standing in my front yard is a former CIA agent responsible for water-boarding an innocent Pakistani goat-herder? Would it be less-wrong to pull the trigger if he had just dumped massive amounts of carbon emissions into the atmosphere while driving to my neighborhood in his 1983 Pontiac Grand Am?
Here’s a tip: If you’ve got a case to make, try to win using logic and moral suasion… not idiotic pandering to the patriotic sensibilities of the overwhelming number of Houstonians who simply disagree with your liberalism.
Self, do I really want to live in a state in which homeowners can summarily execute burglars caught stealing from someone else's house?
Yes Self, I do!
My pro-NRA, WWII vet father taught me that a TV wasn’t worth a person’s life.
Along similar lines there’s a socialist (D) state legislator in Mass that has been caught multiple times attempting lewd acts with women. He is being defended to the hilt by the moonbats using similar “what if” reasoning e.g. “what if he has a brain tumor” etc. Anything but to place responsibility on the creep. Gotta defend those libs.
Do you think that maybe he was trying to tell you not to watch too much television and go outside to play?
The sole purpose of purple prose like this in an editorial is to manipulate or influence the reader into agreeing with the premise.
Now all that said, whom does the editorial board think this will influence? I can't believe I'm saying this, but even college sophomores are too sophisticated for this tripe.
I can see both sides, but I prefer to believe a person's life is worth more than an appliance.
What if…what if…what if…
Yeah, and IF my aunt had balls, she’d be my uncle.
The guy in Texas did the right thing, those are two a**hats who will never harm any one, ever. More power to him and of course he feels bad about it but he would do it again if he had to.
I hope every state, and I think they will sooner or later, adopts a castle doctrine. The states that have them have lower violent crime rates.
Calex,
Although, like the good doctor, I would regret the need for shooting someone, in the end it’s really the fault of the would-be thief. I saw a photo on FR a while back of a well-armed neighborhood “association” next to their sign, “U Loot, We Shoot!” That says it all for me!
The Castle Doctrine is the least we law-abiding citizens should have in the face of the growing viciousness of criminals.
I will never forget coming home from vacation with my five year old daughter, and having her say "Daddy, what happened to our house ?" as we surveyed the wreckage left behind by burglars. They'd taken EVERYTHING not nailed down.
It amounted to some $30K worth, in actual cost to me. How many years does it take to generate $30K of disposable income? More than one, at least for me. How can I ever replace my grandfather's gold watch? Answer - I can't.
They stole a good chunk of my life.
I'd shoot 'em dead in a heartbeat. Horn did the right thing.
My TV is worth more than any ILLEGAL ALIEN, thieving home invader. They had better stay out my country and particularly out of my house!!!
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