Man Cleared for Killing Neighbor's Burglars - 'Castle Doctrine' Gives Texans Unprecedented .....

ABC News ^ | June 30, 2008 | CHRIS BURY and HOWARD L. ROSENBERG

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

'Castle Doctrine' Gives Texans Unprecedented Authority to Take Action Against Intruders

A Texas man who shot and killed two men he believed to be burglarizing his neighbor's home won't be going to trial. A grand jury today failed to indict Joe Horn, a 61-year-old computer technician who lives in an affluent subdivision in Pasadena, Texas.In the Lone Star state, where the six-gun tamed the frontier, shooting bad guys is a time-honored tradition, and Horn's case centered on a Texas state law based on the old idea that "a man's home is his castle." The "castle law" gives Texans unprecedented legal authority to use deadly force in their homes, vehicles and workplaces. And no longer do they have an obligation to retreat, if possible, before they shoot.

"I understand the concerns of some in the community regarding Mr. Horn's conduct," Harris County District Attorney Kenneth Magidson told reporters at the courthouse. "The use of deadly force is carefully limited in Texas law to certain circumstances. ... In this case, however, the grand jury concluded that Mr. Horn use of deadly force did not rise to a criminal offense."

'I'm Gonna Shoot!'

Horn called 911 in November to report a burglary in broad daylight at the house next door.

[No Truce With Kings]

“Don’t mess with Texans.”

Beat me to it.

[yorkie01]

This is illegal amnesty I can live with.

[Thud]

I recall a Pasadena area story on this incident with two details which are almost always omitted from national coverage due to being very inconvenient:

1) Horn was on his own property when he killed the two perps;

2) The perps were on Horn's property too.

I.e., it doesn't matter why Horn went out there with a shotgun. When he killed the perps, he was defending his OWN property from felonious intruders.

[jaz.357]

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

[Eagle Eye]

Joe shot these guys in the back with a shotgun and got by with it.

[XR7]

Mr. Good Neighbor

Joe Horn

[smaug6]

I view my person as my castle in this case. I’m just saying in my mind the space I occupy at any given time is legally occupied as long as I’m not breaking the law. What the law says about this I am not sure. But better to be tried than buried so to speak.

[ebiskit]

What about that rancher that lost his ranch to the illegal perps in much the same situation, except that they unfortunately happen to have survived and then sued? Can he sue for recovery? I don’t remember the details, if anyone does, please share.

the Deets

[ebiskit]

What about that rancher that lost his ranch to the illegal perps in much the same situation, except that they unfortunately happen to have survived and then sued? Can he sue for recovery? I don’t remember the details, if anyone does, please share.

the Deets

[potlatch]

[Unprecedented ]

Like yeah, it’s novel, never been done before........!!
The libs just had to stick that word in there. I live in Texas and I have a gun and I’m a woman.

I will use it if necessary.

[seoul62]

So different from the Peoples Republic of New York, we would try to analyze the problem. I love it: the Southern People and People of Texas just stop the mutants right in their tracks./Just Asking - seoul62.......

[Tunehead54]

Reference bump! ;-)

[Onelifetogive]

Man Cleared for Killing Neighbor's Burglars

I totally DISAGREE with decision! It is horribly wrong.

I can't believe our society has come to this.

This person who killed his neighbor's burglars had no right. He should have gotten his own burglars to kill. He should be made to pay triple damages and provide his neighbor 6 burglars to kill.

This is just plain wrong. Get you own damn burglars to kill and leave mine alone...

[Nuc1]

Good!

[ErnBatavia]

My stuff is my stuff. Stay away if you value your life.

I'll never forget the time I was at work and a couple of teens jumped the wall into our very small condo yard, 25 years ago...wifey called the Monrovia PD, and the two officers asked if we were home-armed; not having lived there long, she replied "no"....both told her to get weapons, learn how to use 'em, and suggested - in the event of a deadly showdown - to shoot/kill and simply tell the police that you were verbally threatened....."automatic case dismissal".

If burglars or attackers aren't "around" to dispute you, any DA will accept your word that you were threatened, and "in fear".

[TXnMA]

I graduated from Pasadena (TX) High School in 1955 — and haven’t been back since. My classmates tell me that it is now totally “Hispanicized” and is, essentially, unrecognizable as the place where we grew up...

[devere]

Grand Jury nullification.

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

August 19, 2005

Two Illegal Immigrants Win Arizona Ranch in Court Fight
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1466446/posts

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[PA Engineer]

Stephanie Storey, De Jesus' fiancée, wanted to see Joe Horn prosecuted.

They were illegal. She is an accessory to the crime. Why is she walking free?

[TexasCajun]

shooting bad guys is a time-honored tradition,

I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as soon as I could.