Similar cases in Massachusetts and Texas Shootings, Different Outcomes

Ammolandhttp://www.ammoland.com/2016/07/similar-cases-massachusetts-texas-shootings-different-outcom ^ | 29 July, 2016 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

On 16 July, a homeowner in Chicopee, Massachusetts was confronted with three men who were attempting to break into his house. It was an hour past noon, in broad daylight. He called the police to report the attempted break in. He tried to get them to leave,  but one persisted in pounding on the door.  When the would be intruder broke glass, he shot one shot through the door. That intruder died.  It turned out that the intruder was 15 years old and had been illegally drinking with his two friends. Afterwards, the surviving young men claimed they were “confused”.

The homeowner was charged with first degree murder.

In San Antonio, Texas, a remarkably similar circumstance happened on 21 July, at about 10 a.m. In this case a man is attempting to break into the house.  The homeowner is there with his wife.  They called the police to report the attempted break in.  The told the intruder to leave.  The intruder continued to pound on the door. The intruder broke the door handle. The homeowner shot through the door, and the intruder died. It sounds very similar.

An intruder, or in Massachusetts, three intruders, attempted to break into a house in broad daylight.  The homeowner called the police and demanded that the intruders leave.  They continued to pound on the door.  One broke glass, the other broke the door handle.  Both homeowners shot through the door, and one intruder in each case died. But Texas is not Massachusetts.  Instead of being charged with first degree murder, the homeowner was congratulated.  From mysanantonio.com:

[marktwain]

Two similar shooting, two completely different responses by the authorities. Know your local laws and culture.

[Snowybear]

In MA what you do is wait for them to break in. Meanwhile you are sitting in a corner with your gun. As they approach you shoot. After that you go put on some rubber gloves and grab a kitchen knife. Mark it with their finger prints. CSI does the rest.

[Texas Eagle]

Things sure have changed in Massachusetts since 1773.

[Elderberry]

Of course you grabbed a kitchen knife hurriedly that matches the knife set in your kitchen.

And your story of how he happened to get the knife apparently, subtlety changes.

[Sans-Culotte]

Two similar shooting, two completely different responses by the authorities. Know your local laws and culture.

I live in Texas, but I would never fire through a door. I could miss the perp, and a stray bullet could strike an innocent bystander or neighbor. If I were in position in the situation described, I would wait until I could see the perp and then start firing.

[djpg]

Elect Hillary and we will all be like MA.

[JPJones]

MA utterly sucks if you’re an honest hardworking private-sector non-minority.

Lot’s of white people on the streets begging for money these days.

[Manly Warrior]

Very bad advice.

Not only do you mess with the crime scene, you deliberately plant false evidence to try to make the guilty appear more so, you place a knife that can easily be traced back to your kitchen in the hands of someone who by your story could not have obtained it as you describe. Once the CSI determines that you manipulated the scene, they begin scrutinizing it even more closely, to find any other evidence of an unreasonable shoot.

Your comment was fine up to the point you instruct folks to commit felonies after the fact. Shame.

Better scenario- direct the attmetping intruders to leave, tell them the cops ar eon the way, stay on the line or leave it open if you can’t. Seek a covered location, defned yourself if need be and do not ever mess with the evidence or disturb the crime scene other than to attempt to render aid if the situation appears to be secured.

Then tell the cops that you were in fear for your life and that of your family and that you will give them a full statement after you have your attorney present. Then shut up and say nothing more related to the incident. Detectives/”CSI” will determine the exact chronology and obvious facts about the whole thing. Your story will back it up once your attorney advises you.

[Fido969]

I’ve heard a shot into the door frame will usually discourage most robbers. That “Shoot only to kill” is cr@p that cop lawyers come up with.

[HotHunt]

The solution to this disparity is so obvious.

Move out of the United Socialist Republic of Massachusetts to Texas and leave your liberal baggage behind.

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

In Mass?

Shoot
Shovel
Shut-up
Plenty of room in the backyard garden.

[napscoordinator]

New Hampshire too. A lot of white are on drugs and begging for money. It was even a concern for GOP candidates during the primary. Apparently an epidemic in majority white northeast states. Hopefully something is done. Very sad.

[JPJones]

“New Hampshire too. A lot of white are on drugs and begging for money. It was even a concern for GOP candidates during the primary. Apparently an epidemic in majority white northeast states. Hopefully something is done. Very sad.”

It is epidemic, and it’s disproportionately white.

Whites being targeted for destruction, by Mexican drug cartels...?

[T-Bone Texan]

You raise a valid issue.

It is incumbent upon all responsible citizens to maintain a “drop knife” that does not match your other flatware or knife block.

[angryoldfatman]

The only problem is leaving survivors, who then rat you out (see “confused yoots” in above OP).

Those got Bernie Goetz in trouble too.

Solution? No survivors. Shoot ‘em all, let God sort ‘em out. Sort ‘em out beneath the gardenias, that is.

[Snowybear]

That too. Humans make wonderful fertilizer.

[Snowybear]

Agreed.

[cpdiii]

Break into my home and there is an extremely high probability that will be the day you die. This is Texas!

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

In MA what you do is wait for them to break in.

Exactly. In MA, the perp(s) have to be inside the house.

Your suggested actions post-perforation are my default should the need arise. I keep several sizable pocket knives handily stowed for any such eventuality.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Of course you grabbed a kitchen knife hurriedly that matches the knife set in your kitchen.

So did the dead perp before he attacked you.