Joe Horn

[EE-BO]

To third what srmom and TexasWSP said- this is just a nonissue down here.

That said, I have had some friends from up north ask me about it and express astonishment with the Texas laws. These are intelligent and educated people, and so it is really about a completely different mindset. I find the idea there are states in the US where I could not shoot someone who broke into my home equally ridiculous. So I am not being any more open-minded than my buddies in NY and Chicago.

My personal philosophy and defense of this law is this- When a person illegally enters my homestead, they are invading my privacy and sense of security in a way that goes far beyond something like mugging me on the street. And they are putting my family at risk as well. Home and family are the core of anyone's existence- whether you live in an apartment with a goldfish or on a family estate with 40 relatives within spitting distance.

And so on that basis, I feel totally justified in shooting first and asking questions later if I think it is warranted.

From a general societal perspective, I wonder (I have no idea) what the home break-in stats are in states like Texas versus states which do not have laws like ours. It would be interesting to know if the Texas law is also a true deterrent in addition to being in line with how most people down here think.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by EE-BO

From a general societal perspective, I wonder (I have no idea) what the home break-in stats are in states like Texas versus states which do not have laws like ours. It would be interesting to know if the Texas law is also a true deterrent in addition to being in line with how most people down here think.

You can look at the UCR and similar reporting agencies of crime stats for comparisons. Even if Texas does have less burglaries, it isn't necessarily because of this law. Only a longitudinal study of crime statistics, and additional factors, before this law and after this law was implemented could find this. My educated prediction is that a study would not conclude this law is a deterrent.

With laws such as this people need to be honest about the (desired) effect. It's a very retributive law.