Posted on 12/11/2020 10:16:12 AM PST by george76
Austin, TX – Texas lawmakers are considering a bill that would require homeowners to “retreat” before using deadly force in certain situations.
Under Texas’ “castle doctrine,” citizens have the right to use deadly force to defend their “land or tangible, movable property,” KPRC reported.
House Bill 196, filed by Rep. Terry Meza (D-Irving) earlier this month, would require homeowners to be “unable to safely retreat” before they could legally use deadly force against a perpetrator.
Property owners would also no longer be able to use deadly force to stop aggravated robbery or robbery crimes under the bill, according to KPRC.
“A person who is in the person’s own habitation, who has not provoked the person against whom the deadly force is used, and who is not engaged in criminal activity at the time the deadly force is used is not required to retreat before using deadly force,” according to the proposed legislation.
Critics have accused Meza of trying to repeal the state’s “castle doctrine” by forcing people to surrender their property and flee before resorting deadly force.
But Meza said she is just trying to stop people from being so quick to shoot criminals on their property.
“My bill HB 196 and my position on the Texas Castle Doctrine has been misrepresented in the news as of late,” she lamented in a series of tweets on Nov. 19. “It does not repeal the Castle Doctrine, and it does not restrict homeowners from using firearms in self-defense as applicable to current Texas stand your ground laws.”
Meza said her bill “would require a homeowner to exhaust the potential of safely retreating” into their own home before they could legally use “deadly force in defense of themselves or their property.”
She explained she filed the bill because the current “castle doctrine…emboldens people to take justice into their own hands.”
“While theft is obviously wrong, we have laws to address that,” Meza reasoned. “I don’t believe that stealing someone’s lawn ornament should be an offense punishable by death.”
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said he has no intention of backing the bill.
“Let me be clear,” he tweeted on Wednesday. “The Castile Doctrine will not be reduced. We won’t force Texas homeowners to retreat. Especially with the crazy ‘defund police’ ideas, homeowners need to protect themselves now more than ever.”
“We will protect 2nd Amendment rights,” Abbott wrote.
And the chance of this passing the Texas legislature?
Probably only slightly more than zero.
Only a complete fool would come up with something like this. If someone enters your home without your permission, then their fate rightfully belongs in your hands. You think you’ll have an opportunity to stop and ask them what they’re doing in your home?
I tried to retreat, but he was in my way!
Retreat, get killed, and the invader gets possession of your house. Sounds like the democrats are in control.
Retreat is BS. The best defense is a vicious offense, preferably with deadly force. Retreat is not on the table.
In New York State, Criminal Procedure Law says if someone breaks into your house, and you have an “avenue of egress,” you must take it before using deadly force on the perp. That was what was taught to us as Correctional Officers/Peace Officers at our yearly weapons training class. I retired in 2003. I can’t imagine the law has changed since this is NY State.
Just keepin’ Austin weird.
“Dead on arrival....”
Like home invaders should be:)
Filed by a Democrat. There’s a shocker.
Even in CA such a law would not pass.
In CA if somebody enters your home you can presume ill intent and blow them away.
Retreat? Yes. If you are right handed, retreat your right foot so it is behind your point of balance. This will steady you and keep you righted during weapon recoil. Left handers opposite.
How insane is the world when liberal run Maryland has a better castle doctrine than Texas?!?
Just take one step backwards so that the intruder’s body will fall inside the threshold of your door. NEVER turn your back to the enemy.
Is the homeowner required to help the thieves load their household goods in the crooks car?
The return of the Jim Crow laws forbidding a black person from defending himself or his family when the KKK came calling. He must flee out the backdoor, and guess who would be waiting for him.
Oh HELL NO!
Someone wants your home, so they force their way in and
you oblige?
Wow, Soviet Russia anyone?
This is just legalized squatting for the collective, made
simple.
Boob bate for Bubbas. No possibility of it ever passing either the Republican controlled Texas House or the Republican controlled Texas Senate or being signed into law by the Republican Governor. But it plays well to the democrat representative’s far left wing constituents.
I give it zero chance of ever even making it to the floor of either chamber of the legislature for a vote.
Mesa is demonstrating an inability to perform her job and should be recalled ASAP. He inability to think through consequences (inspiring more crime, placing Texans property and lives at risk) is inexcusable and arrogant. Her Pollyannaish rationalization for this law is childish and irrational.
The only “peaceful transfer” that should occur when a home is broken into is the coroner hauling a criminal to the morgue. If that’s too difficult to understand, she needs to resign.
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