Shooting thieves

[Rackat]

Before you read the discussion, please go to the link below to see what it says.

http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/PE/htm/PE.9.htm#9.41

OK, so now you have a good understanding of what Texas Law allows when being burgled either in your home, on your property or in your moveable property (ie: vehicle).

Let me set the stage.

I live in a 1400+ home development that is on the outskirts of Fort Worth. Because we are in the City Limits, we are supposed to get police patrols. Let me tell you, they are few and far between. Most of these homes were bought by first time homeowners during the heyday of Fannie and Freddie before the bubble burst. There are a lot of teenagers in the neighborhood, and since we live 6 miles from the nearest "fun" things to do, they tend to roam the neighborhood.

As teenagers do, they get into trouble vandalizing, breaking into cars, smoking, etc. The neighbors are getting tired of it, and the lack of police patrols. So, what is their answer? Buy a shotgun and shoot the "little hoodlums" if they catch them in the act. No, I am not joking.

A couple of them are beyond reasoning with. Trying to explain that the only way to get more police patrols is to CALL the Police doesn't seem to get through. Their response is "It's bird shot, it won't kill them".

I just wonder what they would do if someone shot one of their kids.

 

[Dallas]

If they are inside the home and burgling it, then the owner has a right to protect his property, teen or no teen. I don't care about you bleeding heart crybabies. Its the owners home and he should have the right to defend it. If the kids are outside kicking garbage cans or smoking in his yard, I highly doubt any person is going to charge out and pull a gun on the kids nowadays unless the kids threaten the home owner w/ violence. Then I could see the home owner letting them know that Smith and Wesson are home and is in no mood for Twilight trivia and Tosh.0 jokes.

People spout off a lot. Especially in Texas. That doesn't mean they are going to run off and pull guns on some teeni-boppers popping firecrackers to late in the evening.

What you told me about the bird-shot is just about verbatim what my family/cousins/uncles/aunts would say they would do. It doesn't mean they are actually going to go out and buy some #9 shot and load some kid up w/ it.

There isn't much worse in this world than a lousy thief. I guess you might feel different if you came home and see some strange person in your childs bedroom ransacking his closets.

I got ZERO problem w/ anyone having a shotgun for home defense purposes. Load that baby up w/ all it can handle and just.....












WAIT........ :laugh2:

 

[DasTex]

Breaking into my home, I'll protect the family at all cost....

In my yard messing things up? Not worth someone's life.

 

[Keystone_Heavy]

Define "smoking".

If you mean cigarettes, then I think they would make national news and be hailed as the biggest A-holes ever for shooting someone else's kid for that.

Hell, even if you meant pot, shooting someone for smoking pot around your neighborhood is still really extreme.

 

[SacredStar]

When I lived in Wisconsin....Janesville specifically, there was a burglar who entered a home thru the roof. The homeowner awoke and confronted the burglar in the hallway and told him to leave the house. The burglar then turned and went into the bedroom of his child, so the homeowner shot him in the leg.

The burglar sued the homeowner, who happened to be a doctor. He said he entered the home, thinking it was his own place, to use the bathroom. He won. The homeowner had to pay the burglar's medical expenses and pay out a large amount for future pain and suffering.

 

[burmafrd]

When I lived in Wisconsin....Janesville specifically, there was a burglar who entered a home thru the roof. The homeowner awoke and confronted the burglar in the hallway and told him to leave the house. The burglar then turned and went into the bedroom of his child, so the homeowner shot him in the leg.

The burglar sued the homeowner, who happened to be a doctor. He said he entered the home, thinking it was his own place, to use the bathroom. He won. The homeowner had to pay the burglar's medical expenses and pay out a large amount for future pain and suffering.

sounds to me like someone got to the jury; normal people would have called BS on that

 

[Rackat]

The kids are breaking into cars and taking items from them like GPS, iPods, iPads, CD's, money, etc. They're not talking about shooting them for smoking cigarettes or weed.

As for bleeding heart crybaby, I am far from it. But, in a mostly rural setting where the cops are 15-30 minutes away, I would hate to se a 12-14 year old get shot for being a dumb snot.

 

[burmafrd]

The kids are breaking into cars and taking items from them like GPS, iPods, iPads, CD's, money, etc. They're not talking about shooting them for smoking cigarettes or weed.

As for bleeding heart crybaby, I am far from it. But, in a mostly rural setting where the cops are 15-30 minutes away, I would hate to se a 12-14 year old get shot for being a dumb snot.

kill em before they breed more stupid snots

 

[Reality]

The problem is that when someone enters your home without permission, you have no idea what their motives are, how many there are of them and what if any weapons they possess.

It's real easy to say, "oh they're just harmless misguided kids" but if you assume that and they end up physically or sexually assaulting one of your family members how would you feel then?

I am not a gun fan nor am I anti-gun. A few years ago near where I live, a guy's house had been broken into several times over the last year and when he heard someone making noise in his house in the middle of the night, he shot at them without seeing who it was. He killed his 4 year old nephew.

The rule of thumb is never assume anything. It's what keeps policemen alive when they enter houses and stop cars. People should use the same line of thinking.

#reality

 

[Dallas]

The kids are breaking into cars and taking items from them like GPS, iPods, iPads, CD's, money, etc. They're not talking about shooting them for smoking cigarettes or weed.

As for bleeding heart crybaby, I am far from it. But, in a mostly rural setting where the cops are 15-30 minutes away, I would hate to se a 12-14 year old get shot for being a dumb snot.

Its sketch, I agree. Outside the home is something entirely different. I think a jury would give jail time to anyone shooting a teenager who had broke your car outside. Would it be a large amount of jail time? Not so much. Most likely some jail time w/ a large part being probation based on his PAST criminal history if any.

Those outside instances you just call the cops, if you are not in jeopardy. You can't call the cops when the stranger who broke into your home is 20 ft away from you. Someone has to make a decision here. It best be me in those situations.

Its an entirely different situation outside. Nobody should shoot someone stealing an ipod out of your car. Make some noise or shine some lights on them. Call the cops!!

 

[Cythim]

We had some neighborhood kids trying to break into cars a few years back. We found out where they lived, called the cops, and after a long talk the kids stopped messing around.

 

[Larry73]

[URL="http://i54.tinypic.com/2a8pxee.jpg"] [/URL]

If anyone breaks into my Ford Focus we've got some major problems.

 

[YosemiteSam]

When I lived in Wisconsin....Janesville specifically, there was a burglar who entered a home thru the roof. The homeowner awoke and confronted the burglar in the hallway and told him to leave the house. The burglar then turned and went into the bedroom of his child, so the homeowner shot him in the leg.

The burglar sued the homeowner, who happened to be a doctor. He said he entered the home, thinking it was his own place, to use the bathroom. He won. The homeowner had to pay the burglar's medical expenses and pay out a large amount for future pain and suffering.

He should have shot the judge / jury next.

 

[trickblue]

What ever happened to rock salt loads in a shotgun? That's what was used when I was a kid to deter vandals and thieves outside your home...

The rock salt lightly penetrates the skin but burns like a mother... then the salt helps it heal... you certainly get the message...

Inside my home, I shoot to kill... not that I want to...

I know a guy that killed someone in his home. Found out later the guy he killed had a LONG rap sheet including rape, assault, burglary... even given that, the guy that shot him had a lot of guilt and remorse for taking a life even though he knows he did the right thing...

 

[Khartun]

When I lived in Wisconsin....Janesville specifically, there was a burglar who entered a home thru the roof. The homeowner awoke and confronted the burglar in the hallway and told him to leave the house. The burglar then turned and went into the bedroom of his child, so the homeowner shot him in the leg.

The burglar sued the homeowner, who happened to be a doctor. He said he entered the home, thinking it was his own place, to use the bathroom. He won. The homeowner had to pay the burglar's medical expenses and pay out a large amount for future pain and suffering.

I doubt you would get the same outcome in Texas.

 

[YosemiteSam]

What ever happened to rock salt loads in a shotgun? That's what was used when I was a kid to deter vandals and thieves outside your home...

The rock salt lightly penetrates the skin but burns like a mother... then the salt helps it heal... you certainly get the message...

We had this large field on one side of our neighborhood. A guy grew maze there. On the far side of it was these convenience stores that kids used to hang out and play video games.

You had a choice. Walk around the guys farm (adds about a 3/4 of a mile each way) or walk (read: run) across it. If he saw you on his land, out came the rock salt! :laugh2:

 

[JIMMYBUFFETT]

I defend my home with a large frame .357 revolver (looks like a damn Dirty Harry gun) and a short 12 gauge double barrel side by side. I've got much nicer guns, and guns I'd choose instead in a true defense situation (AR-15, Springfield Armory .45 ACP, etc...) but I choose these because of the intimidation factor. Nothing looks scarier than a double barrel 12 gauge pointed at you. My hope is that if I ever had to point one of my guns at a home intruder/burglar, the sight of the gun alone would scare them away. That's pretty much how I'd handle a vehicle invasion too. No way am I'm shooting somebody over stealing my massaging seat cover, Elvis bobble head, and Air Supply CDs. I would however come tearing around the corner with my shotgun in hand and put the fear of ***** in them.

 

[DFWJC]

Breaking into my home, I'll protect the family at all cost....

In my yard messing things up? Not worth someone's life.

This is how I feel.

I'm also not opposed to rock salt if they are breaking into my car...or else a serious butt-kicking...or both.

 

[Doomsday101]

I have the right to protect my home and property and will do so. I would prefer not to shoot anyone but that really ends up being their choice.

 

[CliffnDallas]

A Ten year old can kill you just as fast as a Fifty year old. Either would get shot if they broke into my home.