Posted by
Dave Kooker on Monday, November 19, 2007 2:46:57 PM
I absolutely commend and applaud the gentleman in Pasadena (South Houston) Texas who defended his neighbor’s property, who was not there at the time of the robbery, by shooting at two escaping house robbers at a range of less than 15 feet with blasts from a 12-guage shotgun. The robbers were injured from shotgun wounds and both died. That is two less criminals taking a celestial dirt nap and off the streets. Both robbers were in their 30's. One had identification indicating he was from Puerto Rico, the other had paper indicating he may have been from Puerto Rico, Colombia or the Dominican Republic. Surprisingly, the article does not report whether or not if the robbers are American citizens or illegal aliens.
This story came to my attention from the Sunday morning local news talking about National news. I did some research to find the article. The wife or girlfriend of the killed robber was sobbing while holding her baby, ‘How could someone kill my husband?’ I wonder if she felt guilty about the stolen items from her husband’s line of work, robbing homes? Probably not. I certainly was not overwhelmed with feelings of sympathy for the sobbing woman.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5303222.html
Texas law allows people to use deadly force to protect their own property to stop an arson, burglary, robbery, theft or criminal mischief at night, or to prevent someone committing such a crime at night from escaping with the property.
But the person using deadly force must believe there is no other way to protect their belongings and must suspect that taking less drastic measures could expose themselves or others to serious danger.
Sen. Jeff Wentworth, a San Antonio Republican, said the so-called castle doctrine law he wrote doesn't apply to people protecting their neighbors' property
Here in Florida, a citizen may also use the ‘castle doctrine’ with the same restrictions.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,155303,00.html
I personally am going to follow this case very closely. I believe that this case is going to start a national debate over how much effort a private citizen can defend the private property of others if the protection is requested or not. How far can private citizens can go to defend himself or herself if police are un-aware or not responding to crime?
Today’s justice, news reporting, and civil rights leaders are not going to be kind to this gentleman.
· A white man shooting two black robbers.
· A man shooting robbers caught in the act but the committed crime is not on the owner’s private property.
· He took the initiative to fight crime without the assistance of Law Enforcement, he is a vigilante.
I seriously question if the law enforcement would have even responded to the 911 call. Here in Jacksonville, you can call about crime and you would be lucky if they respond within 90 minutes, if they decide to respond at all. Only if the shooting involves a under age child does the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) race to get in front of the news television cameras.
If in fact the story is 100 percent factually true, I will support this man with my own monetary contribution if this incident goes to trial.
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[ Go to the main blog of Dave Kooker at http://dmkooker.townhall.com ]