From a tactical perspective it would have been smarter for the elderly man and his wife to simply LOCK THE DOORS when the intruder initially left. They could have then telephoned the police and wouldn't have the hassle of dealing with publicity and the courts...not to mention the unpleasantness of shooting someone.
The elderly man could have just as easily sat in his kitchen with the firearm and the telephone and not have to contend with this huge interruption in his life.
~ Blue Jays ~
I agree. I think we are not reading all that there is to this story.
Exactly right.
You're right, but it's Texas, and I don't think he deserves any punishment worse than what you mentioned. I doubt he'll see any court time either. It's Texas.
Sounds like a drunk to me. He left the house when first confronted by the unarmed homeowner and then hangs around the yard as though he was confused about his whereabouts.
I disagree.
Think about it.
Think about going to bed, knowing there might be some nut case still wandering around. Will he break in? Has he moved on? Will I have the courage to do what needs to be done if he does break in? What if he's quiet and I don't hear him. Will he still be here when I go to the store tomorrow? Will the wife be safe when I leave?
Those questions now ALL have definitive answers in regard to the intruder. PLUS, he knows he's got what it takes to defend his home and wife. AND his wife has seen it done, so now she knows how it's successfully done.
Not sure I could classify this justified shooting as "unpleasantness". In fact, I find it quite pleasant that there will be no more waste of taxpayer monies to incarcerate him, feed him, clothe him, etc. Great ending as far as I am concerned. Same thing would happen here, except I don't play video games.....Mr Remington lives here for a reason, folks.
An aside, this scenario should be played out any time this situation occurs so the homeowners who pop the perps aren't left feeling like the lone ranger. They could form a support group ;^)
FGS
Yep. Just because you can, doesn't mean you ought to.
Good for the man, I'd have shot the guy too.
You're missing a key part of the facts:
"When the elderly man discovered the intruder in the backyard, a struggle ensued"
Without anything more, it would be just as much a leap to assume he was doing NOTHING in the backyard as to assume he was destroying property or doing something else destructive.
I agree. They should have locked their doors and called the police. This situation could have ended with the deaths of an elderly couple in Texas.
Yeah, and the perp may have lived to kill his next victim's family. No need to bother the cops when you can handle the situation yourself. That's half of what's going wrong with this country.