TexasCHLforum.com

Sounds like this guy needs a CHL so he doesn't have to go into this house, retreive his gun, LOAD IT, and then give chase.

Of course, if I did not have a gun on me when I walked in, I would've just let them go once they ran and thanked God that they did run. And I certainly wouldn't have shot at their car tires. But that's just me.

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/man ... 86939.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

He's lucky to be alive, walking in on two burglars.

Maybe he needs a burglar alarm.

- Jim

I am a bit confused on this one. He shot at their tires as they drove away? He gave chase to them? It sounds to me that he put himself in harms way. Good thing he left his gun in his car. If he had taken it with him that could have caused more problems.

I am all for protecting your property but when a strange car is in your driveway...get a plate number. As soon as the thief drove off in his car Coles was no longer in fear for his life and was not justified in shooting...IMO.

I am not sure that he needs a CHL but he definitely needs to know the laws better.

Somehow, this seems like one of those times when a full bottle of Fox 5.3 emptied into the driver's side would have been perfect.

Clue the rest of us in - what is Fox 5.3?

TIA

SIA

It appears that good sorta' overcame evil in this instance. However, I don't think shooting down the middle of a residential street is recommended procedure, is it?

Did I miss something...again?

The homeowner is lucky to be alive after walking in on two burglars during a crime in progress.

With my experience as a burglary squad commander and a veteran of countless building searches for suspects, crime scene investigations, and interviews with burglars, I absolutely wouldn't enter my own home if I saw a strange car backed up to the house and a door that I had left closed now open. I've seen plenty of what can happen to people who do, and I don't plan on making it easy for somebody to make those things happen to me.

Despite my ownership and knowledge of the property, from a tactical standpoint, I'd be the attacker who is at a 10:1 disadvantage if he walks on in. The folks inside have the defender's advantage, and can set up a very effective ambush. They can easily triangulate on my position and attack from two directions at once, knowing that nobody's going to help me because nobody will know I'm in trouble until somebody comes upon whatever's left when the bad guys are done.

That's the time to get the tag number, call for the guys with the radios, dogs, and backup teams, and take up a safe observation position outside until they arrive.

surprise_i'm_armed wrote:Clue the rest of us in - what is Fox 5.3?

Industrial-strength pepper-CS spray: http://foxlabs.com/pepperspray.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I wasn't going to comment further, but I can't help it.

We can't punish criminals. Not even LEOs can do that.

IMHO, if a non-LEO stops a crime before it is accomplished, that is the whole point of self defense. If he can get information that leads to arresting the criminals, that's even better.

According to Texas law, we can arrest a suspect who committed a felony (such as burglary), but the danger of trying to arrest an offender or multiple offenders has been discussed many times.

We simply can't shoot at fleeing empty-handed criminals, regardless of what they tried to do or might do in the future. I understand the impulse; and unfortunately movies and TV programs show too much of this kind of retribution.

In this case, the defender was fortunate not to have injured an innocent party or caused property damage, or had the injured driver do the same.

- Jim
[Excaliber and I were typing at the same time.]

Considering this was in the day and in Austin, I am surprised he was not arrested.

Day or night time has nothing to do with burglary.

As for arresting the defender, they know where he lives.

- Jim

surprise_i'm_armed wrote:Clue the rest of us in - what is Fox 5.3?

TIA

SIA

I should buy stock. :) It's heavy duty pepper spray, with 5.3 milliion Scoville units of heat, plus a a UV dye that glows under a blacklight.
Something vision intensive like driving, would be nearly impossible.

http://foxlabs.com/pepperspray.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for info

youtube activity
" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Note: Most youtube videos have lots of swearing and screaming in them.

lrb111 wrote:

surprise_i'm_armed wrote:Clue the rest of us in - what is Fox 5.3?

TIA

SIA

I should buy stock. :) It's heavy duty pepper spray, with 5.3 milliion Scoville units of heat, plus a a UV dye that glows under a blacklight.
Something vision intensive like driving, would be nearly impossible.

http://foxlabs.com/pepperspray.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for info

youtube activity
" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sounds quite painful

philip964 wrote:Considering this was in the day and in Austin, I am surprised he was not arrested.

PC §9.42. DEADLY FORCE TO PROTECT PROPERTY. A person is
justified in using deadly force against another to protect land or tangible,
movable property:
(B) to prevent the other who is fleeing immediately after committing
burglary, robbery, aggravated robbery, or theft during the nighttime
from escaping with the property

Cant say it was the smartest move, but it was legal...IMHO...IANAL

What this story tells me is that John Doe has decided that the police are not going to help and he needs to take down the bad guys himself.

I don't see where the suspects had any of the defender's property.

This story would read very differently if the homeowner had shot an innocent party or an innocent party had been injured during the car chase. As I said above, the guy was lucky.

- Jim