Yeah, livestock isn't a problem, and it's provided for in the law, but I don't know about taking our 20 lb. terrier for a walk in an urban neighborhood when some 80 pound mutt gets out of the yard and charges full speed straight towards us. What am I supposed to do, wait until it mains or kills our dog before I decided it's "dangerous"?
Search found 3 matches
Return to “One more time (defense against animals)”
- Mon Dec 17, 2018 7:13 pm
- Forum: General Texas CHL Discussion
- Topic: One more time (defense against animals)
- Replies: 14
- Views: 3454
Re: One more time (defense against animals)
- Mon Dec 17, 2018 12:32 pm
- Forum: General Texas CHL Discussion
- Topic: One more time (defense against animals)
- Replies: 14
- Views: 3454
Re: One more time (defense against animals)
Thanks for the replies so far.... one source of ambiguity is the code. It constantly makes references to a "person" or implied person, against whom one is using deadly force:
"...a person is justified in using force against another ..." "another" obviously meaning "another person."
"...the person against whom the force is used..."
...and so on.
Nice video from [pre-paid legal] up there. Kinda sad that the laws are so vague. Dealing with a dog could be a real legal Pandora's box. I have 60 years of experience owning and training dogs, and I've found that in general how two dogs will interact is very unpredictable. Sometimes a strange dog will run up to your dog (on a leash) and not bark or growl, but still be threatening in "dog language," standing right in his face, and inch from his nose. Then nothing could happen, or a fight could suddenly explode before you could lift a finger. It may appear to be a friendly encounter at first, and then explode. You just can't tell.
A really violent, savage attack is pretty much unstoppable, without physically disabling the attacking animal. I've read stories of attacking pit bulls getting .223 rounds (55 gr. Vmax) smack in the chest and not even slowing down, so forget pepper spray or sticks.
Other times, a dog can charge right at you or your dog, growling with fangs bared, like a hysterical demon, and then suddenly stop 3 feet away and stand there and bark. So what are you supposed to do when it's coming at you, wait and see if it stops? Wait until it tears a chunk out of you before you shoot it? Granted, it's much more convincing to the dog's owner and/or to a judge to have pictures of you standing there with blood running down your leg....
"...a person is justified in using force against another ..." "another" obviously meaning "another person."
"...the person against whom the force is used..."
...and so on.
Nice video from [pre-paid legal] up there. Kinda sad that the laws are so vague. Dealing with a dog could be a real legal Pandora's box. I have 60 years of experience owning and training dogs, and I've found that in general how two dogs will interact is very unpredictable. Sometimes a strange dog will run up to your dog (on a leash) and not bark or growl, but still be threatening in "dog language," standing right in his face, and inch from his nose. Then nothing could happen, or a fight could suddenly explode before you could lift a finger. It may appear to be a friendly encounter at first, and then explode. You just can't tell.
A really violent, savage attack is pretty much unstoppable, without physically disabling the attacking animal. I've read stories of attacking pit bulls getting .223 rounds (55 gr. Vmax) smack in the chest and not even slowing down, so forget pepper spray or sticks.
Other times, a dog can charge right at you or your dog, growling with fangs bared, like a hysterical demon, and then suddenly stop 3 feet away and stand there and bark. So what are you supposed to do when it's coming at you, wait and see if it stops? Wait until it tears a chunk out of you before you shoot it? Granted, it's much more convincing to the dog's owner and/or to a judge to have pictures of you standing there with blood running down your leg....
- Mon Dec 17, 2018 11:07 am
- Forum: General Texas CHL Discussion
- Topic: One more time (defense against animals)
- Replies: 14
- Views: 3454
One more time (defense against animals)
This has come up before, but it seem to drift into vague discussions and never reach a conclusive answer. So I'll try again:
Do you have a defense against prosecution if you use a firearm to defend yourself against a dog that is attacking you (i.e. attempting to bite, not just standing off and barking), say while you're taking a walk around your neighborhood?
Similarly, what if you're walking your dog, on a leash, around the neighborhood, say down the street or down a public sidewalk, and a dog comes tearing from out of nowhere attempting to attack it?
Do you have a defense against prosecution if you use a firearm to defend yourself against a dog that is attacking you (i.e. attempting to bite, not just standing off and barking), say while you're taking a walk around your neighborhood?
Similarly, what if you're walking your dog, on a leash, around the neighborhood, say down the street or down a public sidewalk, and a dog comes tearing from out of nowhere attempting to attack it?