Posted on 06/30/2008 5:14:58 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
A Texas man who shot and killed two men he believed to be burglarizing his neighbor's home won't be going to trial. A grand jury today failed to indict Joe Horn, a 61-year-old computer technician who lives in an affluent subdivision in Pasadena, Texas.In the Lone Star state, where the six-gun tamed the frontier, shooting bad guys is a time-honored tradition, and Horn's case centered on a Texas state law based on the old idea that "a man's home is his castle." The "castle law" gives Texans unprecedented legal authority to use deadly force in their homes, vehicles and workplaces. And no longer do they have an obligation to retreat, if possible, before they shoot.
"I understand the concerns of some in the community regarding Mr. Horn's conduct," Harris County District Attorney Kenneth Magidson told reporters at the courthouse. "The use of deadly force is carefully limited in Texas law to certain circumstances. ... In this case, however, the grand jury concluded that Mr. Horn use of deadly force did not rise to a criminal offense."
Horn called 911 in November to report a burglary in broad daylight at the house next door.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
.Unprecedented Authority????
Dont’ mess with Texans.
Right on!!!!!
But watch the race baiters go bananas!
I wish I had a neighbor like Joe Horn. I mean, my neighbors are nice people and all, but they are timid folks. If they saw bad guys breaking into my house they’d hide under their bed covers.
You think Texas has a good law, you should read Florida’s castle doctrine.
If you’re gonna be an idiot, don’t be one in the sunshine state!
“His wife, baby daughter and 6-year-old son were asleep when Barone heard a commotion and grabbed his Glock handgun.”
What cal? 9mm, 40s&w, 45? Great shot!
7.62
TEXAS — STILL a Republic!
Nice choice of future husband there Ms. Storey...Idiocracy, here we come.
Fortunately, Joe Horn fared better than Tom Horn.
I’m all for it. My stuff is my stuff. Stay away if you value your life.
He "believed" they were burglarizing his neighbor's home because he watched them break in and start carrying property out.
She should be kissing the guy’s feet. He saved her from marrying jailbait.
I’ve seen plenty of relationships where people have married such. Once in a blue moon the guy learns his lesson, gets out, and devotes himself to making sure his kids have a better life than he was headed on.
More often I’ve seen the woman end up years later with nothing and unimpressive, emotionally damaged children.
Perhaps the reason it didn’t rise to a criminal offense was a 1:1 ratio of bullets used to perps shot? :’)
Wikipedia:
*****************************
**********************Intro*************************
A Castle Doctrine (also known as a Castle Law or a Defense of Habitation Law) is an American legal concept derived from English Common Law, which designates one's place of residence (or, in some states, any place legally occupied, such as one's car or place of work) as a place in which one enjoys protection from illegal trespassing and violent attack. It then goes on to give a person the legal right to use deadly force to defend that place (his/her "castle"), and/or any other innocent persons legally inside it, from violent attack or an intrusion which may lead to violent attack. In a legal context, therefore, use of deadly force which actually results in death may be defended as justifiable homicide under the Castle Doctrine.
Castle Doctrines are legislated by state, and not all states in the US have a Castle Doctrine. The term "Make My Day Law" comes from the landmark 1985 Colorado statute that protects people from any criminal charge or civil suit if they use force - including deadly force - against an invader of the home.[1] The law's nickname is a reference to the famous line uttered by Clint Eastwood's character Dirty Harry in the 1983 film Sudden Impact, "Go ahead, make my day".
Burglars are now going to think twice before burgling houses in Texas. Taking actions such as this is certainly risky, but the upside is you end up doing everyone else in the community a huge favor.
next
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.