Search found 2 matches

by Skiprr
Sat Jan 19, 2013 11:14 pm
Forum: The Crime Blotter
Topic: Shooting through the front door at night.
Replies: 15
Views: 2095

Re: Shooting through the front door at night.

C-dub wrote:
PC §9.32. DEADLY FORCE IN DEFENSE OF PERSON. (a) A person is justified in using deadly force against another:
(1) if the actor would be justified in using force against the other under Section 9.31; and
(2) when and to the degree the actor reasonably believes the deadly force is immediately necessary:
(A) to protect the actor against the other's use or attempted use of unlawful deadly force; or
(B) to prevent the other's imminent commission of aggravated kidnapping, murder, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, robbery, or aggravated robbery.
(b) The actor's belief under Subsection (a)(2) that the deadly force was immediately necessary as described by that subdivision is presumed to be reasonable if the actor:
(1) knew or had reason to believe that the person against whom the deadly force was used:
(A) unlawfully and with force entered, or was attempting to enter unlawfully and with force, the actor's occupied habitation, vehicle, or place of business or employment;
(B) unlawfully and with force removed, or was attempting to remove unlawfully and with force, the actor from the actor's habitation, vehicle, or place of business or employment; or
(C) was committing or attempting to commit an offense described by Subsection (a)(2)(B);
(2) did not provoke the person against whom the force was used; and
(3) was not otherwise engaged in criminal activity, other than a Class C misdemeanor that is a violation of a law or ordinance regulating traffic at the time the force was used.
(c) A person who has a right to be present at the location where the deadly force is used, who has not provoked the person against whom the
60 TEXAS CONCEALED HANDGUN LAWS
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 as described by this section.
(d) For purposes of Subsection (a)(2), in determining whether an actor described by Subsection (c) reasonably believed that the use of
deadly force was necessary, a finder of fact may not consider whether the actor failed to retreat.
It isn't the exact wording, but isn't that what the part I've emboldened means?
Nope.

There is no mention in PC §9 of the word "fear" or any synonym. Plain and simple.

Being in fear for your life may be a factor to the first responders or to the DA on duty, but it has no relevance to the Texas Penal Code.

Give PC §9 another read.
by Skiprr
Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:01 pm
Forum: The Crime Blotter
Topic: Shooting through the front door at night.
Replies: 15
Views: 2095

Re: Shooting through the front door at night.

philip964 wrote:There have been questions about whether it would be legal to shoot a BG on the other side of your closed front door if it was at night.

Well it appears the BG's have settled this question once and for all, yes you are in danger and now can be in a fear of your life if BG's are at your front door.
You do know, of course, that "in fear for [or of] your life" appears nowhere in the Texas Penal Code?

The closest is §29.02(a)(3) AGGRAVATED ROBBERY: "Causes bodily injury to another person or threatens or places another person in fear of imminent bodily injury or death, if the other person is:
  1. 65 years of age or older; or
  2. a disabled person.
And:

§42.01(e) It is a defense to prosecution for an offense under Subsection (a)(7) or (9) that the person who discharged the firearm had a reasonable fear of bodily injury to the person or to another by a dangerous wild animal as defined by Section 822.101, Health and Safety Code.

We see "in fear of [for] your life" frequently on this Forum.

In fact, "fear" is not a justification for use of deadly force.

And understandably so.

Fear is an emotional response. If you ever need to defend yourself with a firearm, you'd better be able to substantiate your actions with more than "I was afraid."

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