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hoss4570 wrote:He was sentanced to five years, did three and is now out. I hav'nt seen him nor do I want to.

He probably found the Lord while in prison. Most of the scum seem to do that. Which is fine, but unfortunately they tend to forget about it once they're back in the real world...

hoss4570 wrote:

govnor wrote: You said he was screaming at your daughter's house. Did you know this guy?

He was screaming at my sisters house, who lived in our rent house next door, and no, I did'nt know him. I had seen him a time or two, but did'nt know his name. He was apparantly looking for the guy that lived with my sister. OH YEAH, he was out on parole for robbing and beating a 80 year old woman out of Tarrant county................REAL nice guy.

I guess I should have re-read. For some reason I thought it was your daughter's house...

Well, after this knowledge and what we know now about him beating you up with a 2X4, yes, it would have been in your best interest to shoot the guy. Of course hind sight is 20/20. I'm sorry that happened to you and I'm also sorry that guy is still alive...

NcongruNt wrote:

Venus Pax wrote:

govnor wrote:Now, had it been a 14 year old kid then I wouldn't shoot unless there was an obvious threat such as a gun pointed at me. Guy in his mid twenties should know better. I say take him down. If you're worried about lawsuits then you could always just clean up the mess and bury him in the back pasture

A 14-year-old kid will kill you just as quickly as a 20-something, if not quicker. Although most kids I've taught are great, every so often I get a sociopath.

Very true. My mother was murdered by a 16 year-old. I'd also say that because of a lack of history of thinking things through, someone younger is more likely to panic and do something very stupid if they feel trapped. Teenagers are also much more likely to perceive themselves as invincible and try to take on someone with a weapon.

Well, if I saw a gun, it doesn't matter how old you are...which is what I was pointing out. 16 year old with a screwdriver...I dunno... If he was approaching fast, then yes, empty the clip and add another.

hoss4570 wrote:You got to "go with your gut" but like I posted earlier, I had three chances to kill the guy, and did'nt (you'd be surprised what goes through your head at times like that, like how much trouble will I be in, and how much is it gonna cost to kill this creep) but the gut I LET LIVE came back and beat the compound krud out of me with a two by four, darn near killing me. I think I will act differently in the future. I HOPE I NEVER have to make that decision.

I see a couple of differences in these two scenarios. In TXrancher's scenario, the guy was obviously scared. He probably really did just want to get out of there. If you're on someone's property, stealing their stuff, and they walk up pointing a gun at you...it doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out that they could legally blast you into oblivion. I seriously doubt that guy would even drive down the same road again.

In Hoss's case. The guy was obviously nuts. Facing down a man with a pistol, on his own property, and still not caring about it is downright crazy. That guy is one that is a real threat to life and limb, as you unfortunately found out. Especially after he came back a couple of times. I don't know the exact legalities, but if you're crippled and the guy is in your face then I don't see a jury convicting you of defending yourself. I'd be willing to bet anything he was also a drug user.

I was also wondering about something, Hoss. You said he was screaming at your daughter's house. Did you know this guy? Was it a former boyfriend of your daughter's or something? If so, that would explain your hesitation about shooting him.

Tough call, but I probably would have shot him before he had a chance to drop the screwdriver. Just the fact that he rounded on you with it meant he would have used it on you if you were unarmed. What if it had been an unarmed family member that just walked up on this guy. Who knows what he would have done.

It's hard to say in split second decisions like that, but one less piece of trash walking the street is a good enough reason for me. Now, had it been a 14 year old kid then I wouldn't shoot unless there was an obvious threat such as a gun pointed at me. Guy in his mid twenties should know better. I say take him down. If you're worried about lawsuits then you could always just clean up the mess and bury him in the back pasture