Posted on 03/29/2012 6:55:45 AM PDT by marktwain
A law that gives Texans rights similar to those offered the shooter of Trayvon Martin if they are at home is causing controversy. The law covers when you can use lethal force to defend yourself.
Jimmy Hooks fired two shotgun rounds toward a man he says was stealing from his pickup truck. The incident happened Monday night around the 500 block of Berry Street.
And several of his neighbors say they feel good knowing that they can legally take matters into their own hands if they feel threatened.
"We never locked our doors, never locked our cars. We left our keys in them." Jimmy Hooks said.
For the majority of his 30 years in his home, Hooks was able to live peacefully.
But crime has risen in the neighborhood since those days.
"My alarm goes off, I go outside and there's a guy in my truck. He sees me and takes off running and I tell him, you need to stop. He didn't so I shot in the air and then shot twice," Hooks said, describing the incident from Monday night. .
But Hooks says the same burglar has stolen from his vehicles two other times.
The burglar stole pistols from him and he was scared the burglar was armed Monday night.
Neighbors call most of the crime in the area petty theft.
"Lately they been getting into the vehicles and there been guns and purses. all kinds of personal stuff stolen," Darren Jacobs said.
But Jacobs and other neighbors say they would have taken the same action as Hooks.
According to the Castle Doctrine in Texas, Hooks had the right to fire at the burglar.
The law says that a person can use lethal force in self defense or in the defense of another person, to protect their own property, or to protect another's property.
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office says it's important for Texans to know the law can be broad.
"You have to be justified. Just make sure if you use deadly force, you have a reason to use deadly force," Jefferson County Sheriff Deputy Rod Carroll said.
Hooks says he felt justified but if someone needs something, he and his neighbors offer a friendly alternative.
"If they need something, come talk to us. But don't be stealing it," Hooks said.
The Castle Doctrine also states that a person is justified in using force, but not deadly force, against another person if it's to keep them from committing suicide or hurting themselves. Deadly force is legal in that instance only if it is an emergency.
No arrests have been made in connection to the burglary of hooks truck.
But a neighbor tells12 News HD they will be doing a photo line up of a person of interest tomorrow.
Shot the fleeing perp in the back?
I can’t belive that is the intent of the law.
I don't care if they are running towards me, or away from me ... they took my stuff, and I am fixing to get it back. Frankly, I care more about a used Kleenix on the floor of the pickup, than I care about the life of a burlar. There is a real simple rule here - "If it ain't yours, leave it alone".
When I lived in Austin, we used to see a lot of signs that said "There is nothing I own, that is worth your life."
God Bless Texas. All the states need laws like this.
“We never locked our doors, never locked our cars. We left our keys in them.” Jimmy Hooks said.
Thats real smart....
“We never locked our doors, never locked our cars. We left our keys in them.”
My family never did that, even back in the 50s. It’s 1,000x worse out there now, so that’s just plain stupid to do, if you value your/your family’s safety.
I’ve explained thievery to my son this way. When you steal from someone, you’re not just taking “stuff”. Someone spent time out of their life to work to get that “stuff”, time that they can never, ever get back.
So while whatever you stole may be replaceable, the time it took for them to earn the money to buy that stuff isn’t replaceable, ever. God isn’t going to say “Oh, someone stole your car and it took you 3 years to earn the money to pay for it so I’m going to add 3 extra years to your life.” That ain’t the way it works.
Theft isn’t just taking someones stuff, it’s stealing time out of their life and it’s long past time we start looking at it that way.
Zip, zero, nada.
“Theft isn’t just taking someones stuff, it’s stealing time out of their life and it’s long past time we start looking at it that way.”
Bravo. Nailed it.
Might I add that having to live in fear is the antithesis of living in freedom. Some might see not having to lock your house or car as stupid, but many of us grew up in neighborhoods where this was the norm.
We were safe in our knowledge that it was unnecessary. And it was no coincidence that neighbors looked out for each other, and almost all were armed.
Peace of mind is a wonderful thing.
Exactly. Zimmerman's situation was 'Stand Your Ground', or plain old Self-Defense and Justifiable Homicide.
Considering that 'little angel' (6'-2" athlete, druggie, thief, and 'gangsta') Trayvon was pounding Zimmerman's skull on the street and getting beat to the face, anyone else in that situation would defend themselves too, in any way they could. (And IMO all because Trayvon likely felt 'disrespected' by Zimerman's questioning)
So someone was going to die that night. Bad luck for Trayvon that it was him.
/johnny
If the fleeing perp is armed he is a danger that needs to be eliminated.
I can’t belive that is the intent of the law.
If that perp is running away with your property, you betcha! Texas is a dangerous place to be a crook.
Thats real smart....
If you've never lived in a community like this, you have been deprived. In some small communities in Texas, it would not be uncommon for the house to be unlocked and your keys in your car. Why, your neighbor might need to come in to borrow some flour, or might need to borrow your car to run into town for groceries! Of course, that is far less common now, but it used to be pretty normal.
And neighbors watched out for each other, so if your neighbor saw someone he didn't recognize going into your house while you weren't home, that person would be greeted by a loaded shotgun when they came out.
I really like the way you put that. But, it's more than just time, it's also a matter of what sacrifices did they make, not only in time, but things they either did without - or cut back on; in order to pay for that 'thing'. Was this sacrifice skimping on meals? Bypassing a family get-together? Doing without a vacation? Working over-time, or double-shifts?
But, you are 100% correct. The rightful owner spent hours of his life to buy the origional, that can never be replaced. Plus, some number of hours working with the police/insurance getting it back. And untold more hours worrying what else will be taken, when, and how they will be taken next time.
You’ve apparently never lived in a small community. I grew up on a farm, we had a lock built into the front door, but no lock on the back door, and not even a place to install a lock on the cellar/basement. Never felt the need to lock the house.
We kept the keys in the cars/trucks/tractors; because if the key was in the ignition, we couldn’t lose them. As kids, we always felt odd using the car locks when we went to the “big city”, as opposed to our little town with a population of 126 souls.
It’s a very calm, safe feeling - knowing that everyone around you is watching out for you, and expecting you to do the same for them.
It's still normal here in my neighborhood. We watch out for each other and take care of each other. And yes, I confront people in the neighborhood that I don't know to find out their business.
/johnny
I have lived in a small community, I just don’t think it is smart to leave your keys in your vehicle and leave your doors unlocked. It is very simple to just lock both when you are away.
Well, in a small community there are 2 schools of thought.
1) The hassle of locking/unlocking your door when the odds are extremely remote that anyone will come around. If someone does come to your door; odds are fair that a neighbor saw an unfamiliar or familiar person go by.
2) You are so remote, that if the door is locked, they will simply break in. No one is going to hear a farm door getting trashed - no one around to hear it. So, now you have a broken door/window, on top of what ever was stolen.
Times have changed, unfortunately. Isn’t diversity grand?
So let the little thugs walk around your neighborhood and do absolutely nothing about it, until your daughter gets raped, your home is burglarized 3 times in a year, or your next door neighbor is brutally murdered then. You are a simple person with no respect for people’s right to defend themselves from idiots like the insects you preport to defend.
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