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Texas 'Self Defense' Shooting - Was It Worth Two Lives?
Blackvoices.com ^ | 2 July, 2008 | Madison J. Gray

Posted on 07/03/2008 5:15:19 AM PDT by marktwain

Not even a week after the Supreme Court decided that gun bans are unconstitutional, a man accused of shooting to death two burglars who were robbing his neighbor's home has been set free despite the viciousness of his act.

If you'll remember the story, Joe Horn, a 61-year-old Pasadena, Tex., resident spotted two burglars breaking into his neighbor's home in Nov. 2007. He dialed 911, but despite being warned to stay in his home, he declared that he has a right to use deadly force to defend his neighbor's property and that he was going to confront the robbers.

He does just that and then shoots them in their backs, killing them. A huge controversy ensued over whether he should stand trial in the deaths of do RiascosDiego Ortiz, 30, and Hernan Torres, 38, both Columbian immigrants.

Yesterday, a grand jury cleared him of all wrongdoing. Score another one for the gun nuts.

On Tuesday, family and activists called the killing "premeditated murder." ...

I'm not defending the two men who robbed the neighbor's home of about $2,000 in jewelry and cash. But was this worth their lives? These men were not armed, and they posed no threat to Horn, although he claims that they came into his yard.

But if you hear the 911 tapes, Horn was warned to stay in his home and let the police handle the issue. He ignored the dispatcher's orders and if you listen to the tapes you'll see that he had every intention of killing those men.

Even though Horn has expressed regret over the incident, there are supporters who swear Horn should have sawed the men's heads off and impaled them on a lamppost at the edge of his driveway. These are the people who I lose sleep over.

These are the people who love guns far more than they love anything else and are waiting for their chance to kill someone, and far too often they are looking for a nonwhite in order to get their chance. For example, the 1992 killing of Yoshihiro Hattori, a 16-year-old Japanese exchange student in Baton Rouge, La., who simply rang the wrong doorbell when looking for a Halloween party. The homeowner, Rodney Peairs, opened fire on Hattori, mortally wounding him. Peairs was later acquitted under a Louisiana law, similar to one in Texas that allows people to shoot burglars if they feel threatened.

Here's my question: If people like Horn and Peairs -- who are white -- can shoot people they feel threatened by, why is it that John White, a Long Island, N.Y., man -- who is black -- gets a jail term for defending his home when he thought a mob was coming to harm his son, which also resulted in a death.

None of the losses of life are right. The deaths are senseless, and could have been avoided if cooler heads had prevailed. But in Horn's case, he had no intention of calming down. He took the law into his own hands and now, with a Supreme Court gun decision having just passed, every firearm freak in the country will feel emboldened.

Well, here's what I have to say to them: a person who would shoot someone because they feel a gun empowers them is a sociopath with a murderous mentality. It has nothing to do with self defense, it is the mark of a weak person who would feel castrated without having a gun somewhere in their vicinity.

Point blank: If you actually love your gun, you're a punk. It takes a man to preserve life. It takes a weakling to snuff it out.

Horn, by his own admission, is an eternal victim of his weak moment.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: banglist; barfalert; horn; shooting; texas
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To: Izzy Dunne
If people like Horn and Peairs -- who are white -- can shoot people they feel threatened by, why is it that John White, a Long Island, N.Y., man -- who is black -- gets a jail term for defending his home when he thought a mob was coming to harm his son?

Liberals!

41 posted on 07/03/2008 5:47:36 AM PDT by gr8eman (Everybody is a rocket scientist...until launch day!)
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To: Tuscaloosa Goldfinch
That being said, I wouldn't shoot someone running away.

Unless I had just seen them run away after robbing someone I knew, carrying a bagful of loot.

42 posted on 07/03/2008 5:48:52 AM PDT by BlazingArizona
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To: marktwain
Here's my question: If people like Horn and Peairs -- who are white -- can shoot people they feel threatened by, why is it that John White, a Long Island, N.Y., man -- who is black -- gets a jail term for defending his home when he thought a mob was coming to harm his son, which also resulted in a death

I think it has more to do with the cultures of New York, where self-defense is not regarded as an unalienable right, vs Texas and Louisiana, where the castle doctrine is held pretty much sacred, than with the colors of the assailants and the shooters.

43 posted on 07/03/2008 5:49:52 AM PDT by VRWCmember
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To: marktwain
You enter a dwelling that you have no permission to be in,even if you plan to do nothing more than steal a bag of chips,and you put your life in grave danger.I see no problem with that.It kinda changes the odds,however,if you,the homeowner,forget you keys and try to break into you own house.
44 posted on 07/03/2008 5:50:44 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative (The problem with the rat race is,even if you win you're still a rat.)
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To: marktwain

The author is asking the wrong question:

It should be “How bad do you want what you intend to steal, is it worth your life?”


45 posted on 07/03/2008 5:51:50 AM PDT by 5Madman2 (There is no such thing as an experienced suicide bomber)
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To: eyeamok

I’m voting YES. These are/were two low-life, criminals who had CHOSEN this predatory path. We don’t need more predators. The libs would maybe prefer having a meeting?


46 posted on 07/03/2008 5:52:56 AM PDT by bboop (Stealth Tutor)
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To: marktwain

The article makes a case that “Blackvoices.com” should be renamed “Criminalvoices.com”.

Given that American blacks are suffering most from black on black crimes of violence, the author of the article under discussion is a disgusting apologist for black criminals.


47 posted on 07/03/2008 5:55:28 AM PDT by GladesGuru (In a society predicated upon freedom, it is essential to examine principles,)
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To: marktwain
I'm not defending the two men who robbed the neighbor's home of about $2,000 in jewelry and cash.

BullS#*+!! That is exactly what this idiot of a writer is doing.

48 posted on 07/03/2008 5:55:47 AM PDT by VRWCmember
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To: marktwain

I’m with the saw-their-heads-off-and-put-them-on-pikes crowd. Don’t go to sleep tonight, Madison Gray.


49 posted on 07/03/2008 5:56:09 AM PDT by A_perfect_lady
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To: Dick Bachert

Oooooh, I like it.


50 posted on 07/03/2008 5:56:11 AM PDT by bboop (Stealth Tutor)
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To: marktwain
I'm not defending the two men who robbed the neighbor's home of about $2,000 in jewelry and cash.

BullS#*+!!

That is exactly what this idiot of a writer is doing.

51 posted on 07/03/2008 5:56:22 AM PDT by VRWCmember
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To: marktwain
I'm not defending the two men who robbed the neighbor's home of about $2,000 in jewelry and cash.

Sure you are, liar.

Otherwise you wouldn't be on the silly rant that you're on.

52 posted on 07/03/2008 5:56:47 AM PDT by OldSmaj (Death to islam. I am now and will always be, a sworn enemy of all things muslim.)
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To: marktwain

Typical thinking for an angry black woman (she brought up race first). In a nutshell, yes I think it’s justified because I believe, no matter what lawmakers or this demented woman says, that as soon as someone makes up their mind to commit a crime, they have voided their rights. She also makes the assertion that they were unarmed....so what? You mean if you go up against a criminal it has to be a fair fight? “Oh wait a minute...you brought a screwdriver and here I am with a pistol....silly me. Better make this fair so I’ll just pop into the garage for a sec, you mind waiting? Help yourself to some of my property until I get back.....” Yeah right...Come into my home uninvited and armed, or unarmed, you’ll be going out in a bag by either myself or my dog, or both.
In addition, she laments that the guy in NY went to jail....she should be lauding that because she’s all for gun control and it is the gun laws of NY that put him in the slam.


53 posted on 07/03/2008 5:57:52 AM PDT by domeika
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To: marktwain

More yhan yes, it saved thetaxpayers a fortune in law enforcement, court, and prison expenses.

The government should at least replace his shotgun shels out of appreciation.


54 posted on 07/03/2008 5:58:47 AM PDT by dalereed (both)
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To: marktwain

> Texas ‘Self Defense’ Shooting - Was It Worth Two Lives?
Answer: YES, it was!!!


55 posted on 07/03/2008 6:00:07 AM PDT by BuffaloJack
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To: Bulldawg Fan
Sounds like the definition of young black male.

Yes it does but that's not the politically correct thing to say is it.

The truth is minorities commit most of the crime in this country. Liberals know this because its a documented fact but it doesn't go over well with their fan base.

We have just about destroyed ourselves with political correctness and if it continues (as I believe it will) the US will become nothing more than large 3rd world country with its own dictator ala the magic negro.

56 posted on 07/03/2008 6:00:07 AM PDT by Snurple
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To: commonguymd
That is getting more and more common since the media is firmly on the side of criminals and gun control and loves the drama of weepy relatives crying about their dear, dead thug. The cops should start going after the criminal's relatives as well.
For example, this relative should have been prosecuted as an accessory and for receiving stolen goods. She undoubtedly knew of his criminal activities and probably aided and profited from them.
57 posted on 07/03/2008 6:00:43 AM PDT by Little Ray (I'm a Conservative. But I can vote for John McCain. If I have to. I guess.)
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To: marktwain
But was this worth their lives?

Certain career choices carry heavier personal costs. They chose poorly.

"I didn't kill you, you did that yourself. I just carried the bullet a while..." - Capt. Malcom Reynolds. Firefly- The Message

58 posted on 07/03/2008 6:01:05 AM PDT by Dead Corpse (What would a free man do?)
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To: marktwain

“Peairs was later acquitted under a Louisiana law, similar to one in Texas that allows people to shoot burglars if they feel threatened.”

“Here’s my question: If people like Horn and Peairs — who are white — can shoot people they feel threatened by, why is it that John White, a Long Island, N.Y., man — who is black — gets a jail term for defending his home when he thought a mob was coming to harm his son, which also resulted in a death.”

Had nothing to do with skin color you moron. It had to do with what you clearly already understand. TX and LA recognize the right to self-defense and NY recognizes no such right other than to call 911 and die.

Who is this race baiting jackass author?!


59 posted on 07/03/2008 6:05:41 AM PDT by woollyone (100 rounds per week totals over 5000 rounds in a year. Just thought you'd want to know.)
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To: lrb111

Call OSHA, then the pandering for making criminal activity as acceptable labor will have standing. /cue crickets


60 posted on 07/03/2008 6:06:03 AM PDT by lrb111 (Minutemen - Doing jobs the White House won't do.)
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