TexasCHLforum.com

bridge wrote:As a new "junior" member of this forum, I'm a little shocked at the level of criticism a person receives for protecting his personal property on his land...whilst he and his family are home.

The problem is that the perps were fleeing, posing no threat to him, his family, or his property, and thus it was not justified by law for him to discharge a firearm at or in the direction of those guys.

Unfortunately, there are laws that have the effect of protecting the criminals... If someone is stealing your garden hose in broad daylight, you cannot walk outside and pop him... if it is at night, then you are justified by law if you think that it is the only way to get that hose back. This is the law, like it or not. If you act outside the law, you could end up in jail, and how safe are you from criminals in there?

Russell wrote:Tallinthesaddle:

I guess you can say us "senior members" get so used to offering advice to each other, we don't try to sugar coat it first

Eh, I'm guilty of that one... sorry, i'll do better.

well, congratulations, you have committed a 3rd degree felony, and admitted to it in a public internet forum. (pc 22.05 b)

The only time you have a defense to prosecution regarding shooting someone as you have described is if it is at night, and you believe that the only way that your huge trailer with identification plates and serial numbers can be recovered is by killing a human. You can technically shoot a 10 year old while running away after stealing your rake at night if you think that's the only way to get it back, but is it really worth it? (pc 9.42)

needless to say, what you did was unwarranted, unnecessary, unjustified, and most of all... A FELONY!!!!!

oh, and your wife is also in trouble for pc 38.171

Have a safe night.