Guard your pipes!

[Flatland2D]

Wonder if Miles is second guessing his vote against the Castle doctrine??

I'm also very interested to see how this pans out.

[Venus Pax]

"We have to put some laws into effect for the back-end -- the end users -- whoever is buying the copper. We'll do something to penalize the ones who are actually buying it," Miles told FOX 26 News.

He appears to completely miss the fact that a thug threw a knife at him & that he shot him. He's more concerned with his copper wiring than the fact that the BG's family could have sued for wrongful death had he died.

[phddan]

Typical politician

Dan

[Charles L. Cotton]

Have I ever mentioned I hate the media?

We could start a club -- it would be a big one!

Chas.

[Paladin]

I see why he didn't vote for the "castle doctrine", 'twas 'cause he didn't understand it.

The BG had already thrown his weapon down, why did he shoot? [/sarc off]

Too funny!

It would be amuzing if he did get sued. I can just see it in court now... "my client no longer had a weapon... he no longer presented a threat... but was shot anyway" "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, is copper pipe really worth shooting a man?"

But who knows, maybe this will change Rep. Miles perspective in the future?

[stevie_d_64]

"We have to put some laws into effect for the back-end -- the end users -- whoever is buying the copper. We'll do something to penalize the ones who are actually buying it," Miles told FOX 26 News.

He appears to completely miss the fact that a thug threw a knife at him & that he shot him. He's more concerned with his copper wiring than the fact that the BG's family could have sued for wrongful death had he died.

Interesting perspective though...

Some of the big scrap recievers in Houston don't really bother much in regards to the source of the scrap coming to them...

I would agree that everytime they see a big heavy metal storm drain grate that has "City of Houston" on it would be a pretty good tip off...

Holmes Road is notorious for replacing, and losing, and replacing again and again those same grates every few months...And soon afterward one, two or more dissapear right afterwards...

Theres a big scrap metal recievership right across from the front gate where I work...Kinda makes me scratch my head from time to time...

Not sure if the solution I actually have would curb the average scrap criminal or not...Mr. Miles kinda hit on something that might be a deterrent though...

[KD5NRH]

This case does not meet the requirement of 1st degree felony burglary. I don't even see ANY level or burglary, as they were OUTSIDE.

No, but it does rise to the definition of aggravated robbery:

29.02. ROBBERY. (a) A person commits an offense if,
in the course of committing theft as defined in Chapter 31 and with
intent to obtain or maintain control of the property, he: ...
(2) intentionally or knowingly threatens or places
another in fear of imminent bodily injury or death...

29.03. AGGRAVATED ROBBERY. (a) A person commits an
offense if he commits robbery as defined in Section 29.02, and he: ...
(2) uses or exhibits a deadly weapon; or




[/b]

[Paladin]

Looks like this went national:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,288737,00.html

Texas State Lawmaker Opposing Deadly Force Bill Shoots Would-Be Thief
Monday, July 09, 2007

HOUSTON — A state lawmaker who opposed a bill giving Texans stronger right to defend themselves with deadly force pulled a gun and shot a man he says was trying to steal copper wiring from a construction site, police said Monday.

Rep. Borris Miles told police he was fixing a leak on the second floor of the Houston house he's building Sunday night when he heard a noise downstairs and saw two men trying to steal the copper. After Miles confronted the pair, one of the men threw a pocketknife at him, Houston Police spokesman Victor Senties.

Miles, a former law enforcement officer, shot the man in the left leg, police said. The wounded suspect was being treated at a Houston hospital. Police were trying to identify the other suspect.

Charges of aggravated robbery are pending against the wounded suspect, Senties said.

Police said Miles, who is in his freshman term, is licensed to carry a concealed weapon. No charges have been filed against Miles, Senties said.

Miles, a Democrat, voted against a bill that gives Texans stronger legal right to defend themselves with deadly force in their homes, vehicles, and workplaces. The so-called "castle doctrine," passed by the Legislature this year, states that a person has no duty to retreat from an intruder before using deadly force. The law goes into effect Sept. 1.

Excellent write up by FoxNews! With his vote on "castle doctrine", he does come off as an elitist.

[txinvestigator]

This case does not meet the requirement of 1st degree felony burglary. I don't even see ANY level or burglary, as they were OUTSIDE.

No, but it does rise to the definition of aggravated robbery:

29.02. ROBBERY. (a) A person commits an offense if,
in the course of committing theft as defined in Chapter 31 and with
intent to obtain or maintain control of the property, he: ...
(2) intentionally or knowingly threatens or places
another in fear of imminent bodily injury or death...

29.03. AGGRAVATED ROBBERY. (a) A person commits an
offense if he commits robbery as defined in Section 29.02, and he: ...
(2) uses or exhibits a deadly weapon; or




[/b]

Yep.

I saw it actually called that in the Houston Chronical the other day.