Houston Self Defense Trial

[rev210]

CHL holder on trial in Houston.


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[speedsix]

...stick a fork in him...he's done...and we get to live it down...

[johncanfield]

A complete setup for failure. A phone call to a LEO dispatcher would have been the appropriate action instead of confronting party goers about loud music.

[philip964]

guilty

[Purplehood]

Wow. Bring a video camera and a gun. I know that as a Juror my first thought was that this guy was hoping for a confrontation.

[Kawabuggy]

I agree with "guilty". He went outside looking for trouble, found trouble, got up in troubles face, provoked trouble, and then when trouble got prodded enough times it reacted, and Rodriguez could not wait to shoot someone. Oh wait, could not wait to shoot THREE people. This guy needs to get the chair, or the needle. Right now.

[barstoolguru]

"They're going to kill me," he says as the group is apparently moving away and calling police.

Logan told jurors in her opening statements that Rodriguez was being sure to use all of the "CHL buzzwords" that he learned in a concealed handgun licensing class.

they are buzz words now....he should have never left his property...murder...no but not quite self-defense either

[snatchel]

This is aggravating. I hate to arm-chair quarterback, but this guy is making us look bad....

1. CHL Buzzwords. Yes we are taught them, and yes we should use them. However, this guy used them at an inappropriate time and gives reporters and the like the ability to make them sound cheezy, prepared, and sarcastic.

2. The kind of guy who takes a holsterd gun and clip. I take a holstered gun and extra magazine.... does not mean I am looking for a fight, but this guy makes it look that way. Jerk.

[Heartland Patriot]

Does anyone know anything about State Judge David Mendoza? I'm curious if this will be adjudicated fairly on the ACTUAL events that occurred (and if the dude with the CHL gets convicted of murder, so be it, as long as it is done properly according to the LAW)...OR if this will be turned into some liberal gun and CHL bashing press propaganda moment. It seems as if the antis are running a full agenda to get the USEFULNESS of the CHL to be limited since they have been unable to get their dream of a "gun-free utopia" enacted. I want everyone to understand that I didn't always believe in "conspiracies" and tin-foil hattery but the way the "mainstream media" operates in this nation today, well...

[Purplehood]

I know it plays into the "anti's" hands, but when CHL holders do a no-no, they should get spanked for it.

[Heartland Patriot]

I know it plays into the "anti's" hands, but when CHL holders do a no-no, they should get spanked for it.

I agree, but it should be done according to the law and not according to the sneaky, side-winding antics of a mainstream media that has an agenda to further...the rate for CHLers committing crimes is still VERY low, this horrible incident not withstanding...will THAT FACT be presented by the press? I'm not going to hold my breath for those people to tell the truth...

[XinTX]

I'm not going to pronounce the 'guilty' verdict as I don't know anywhere near all the facts. But from what I've seen, he had more than ample opportunity to de-escalate the situation. And in the CHL class I took, there was a BIG emphasis on de-escalating situations. And I've read elsewhere (and some of the audio seems to imply) that he drew his gun fairly early in the encounter. If that's true, it shows a pattern that de-escalation was not in his thought process. If that is true (again, I don't have all the facts) then I think the prosecutor can convince a jury that he went over with the intent to provoke a situation. It may or may not be true, but the prosecutor could likely paint that picture.

But keep in mind all we have at this point are just SOME of the facts of the case. But when confronting a group of liquored up young men, there's not a lot of good outcomes.

[johncanfield]

Does anyone know anything about State Judge David Mendoza?

I think it was Judge Mendoza that spoke at the Texas Concealed Handgun Association's annual meeting two or three months ago that I attended. If it's the same guy (and I think it is), he is very supportive of CHL and 2A in general. I liked what I heard coming from Judge Mendoza. Of course justice is supposed to be blind and if he is the one hearing the case, I'm sure he will do the best job possible for the state and the families involved.

...But when confronting a group of liquored up young men, there's not a lot of good outcomes.

Ain't that the truth! I saw some of the video on the noon news and it seemed to be like you say, liquored up young men and I'll add probably some testosterone induced bravado. It certainly appeared to me the CHL guy had plenty of opportunity to a) avoid the situation completely, or b) retreat when things started to spin out of control. If I remember correctly, the CHL holder apparently had either that night complained about the noise to the PD without lasting resolution or had been through this previously with his neighbors. Not a good situation for those involved and for every CHL or CC licensee in the country. The Brady crowd is going to play this (and Zimmerman) for all it's worth.

When you pack a bunch of people into a relatively small area (like a sub division or apartment complex) odds are good there will be at least one jerk within earshot of your house, that's one reason we're out in ranch land on acreage.

[tomtexan]

This man might just be one that slipped through the cracks.

[Heartland Patriot]

Does anyone know anything about State Judge David Mendoza?

I think it was Judge Mendoza that spoke at the Texas Concealed Handgun Association's annual meeting two or three months ago that I attended. If it's the same guy (and I think it is), he is very supportive of CHL and 2A in general. I liked what I heard coming from Judge Mendoza. Of course justice is supposed to be blind and if he is the one hearing the case, I'm sure he will do the best job possible for the state and the families involved.

...But when confronting a group of liquored up young men, there's not a lot of good outcomes.

Ain't that the truth! I saw some of the video on the noon news and it seemed to be like you say, liquored up young men and I'll add probably some testosterone induced bravado. It certainly appeared to me the CHL guy had plenty of opportunity to a) avoid the situation completely, or b) retreat when things started to spin out of control. If I remember correctly, the CHL holder apparently had either that night complained about the noise to the PD without lasting resolution or had been through this previously with his neighbors. Not a good situation for those involved and for every CHL or CC licensee in the country. The Brady crowd is going to play this (and Zimmerman) for all it's worth.

When you pack a bunch of people into a relatively small area (like a sub division or apartment complex) odds are good there will be at least one jerk within earshot of your house, that's one reason we're out in ranch land on acreage.

John, well it is good to hear that the judge himself is not an anti. Hopefully he will ensure this case will get a straightforward adjudication however it goes. And I tell you, even though I don't have bad neighbors at the moment, I cannot wait to get a piece of land where I don't have to worry about a neighbor being darned near on top of me. Enjoy your land and home.