The financing company does not own the vehicle. They have a lien which gives them an interest in the property. They can use that lien to gain ownership if the debtor does not pay off the loan.
If the debtor pays it off, the creditor loses any rights to the vehicle.
Failure to pay off a debt is not stealing. That is why we do not have debtors prisons in the U.S.
Yeah ok, don't pay your property taxes and see what happens, don't pay your home loan and see what happens. You only think you own these things, you don't. You feel good about saying you do, but think about it, don't pay your property taxes and what happens?
As far as stealing, please!!!!!!!!! What is the difference between a person who takes clothes out of a store without paying for it and a person who does not pay their car loan?
I deal with deadbeats every day, most are just bums who are looking for any loophole or excuse not to pay for the goods or services rendered on their behalf.
And before you jump on me, don't for a minute think you are not paying for the acts of these people in many other ways.
As far as your statement of self defense is concerned, Texas is not like most places. In most places, not all, you can not defend property alone with deadly force.
He obviously has a very limited viewpoint. He thinks the way things are, or at least he thinks they are, in his location is the way they are everywhere. We've clearly shown him it's not true with regards to lawful use of lethal force, and I'm sure you could show him the statute law showing it's not true about the repo business either.
I'll bet he doesn't break into houses to collect debts either. That's what making off with a vehicle without the registered owners permission is equivalent to doing.
BTW, at least in Texas, the loan company keeps the original title to a vehicle until it's paid off, at which point the state issues a new "clear" title to the owner. So it's sort of "joint custody" until then. Been there, done that, at least 7 times now. Plus wo still in the "joint custody" state (both 03 Mazda 6s, one my wifes, the other my daughters).