Took long enough - Prepare for more dead criminals!

[Madison]

Governor Approves Self-Defense Law


Gov. Rick Perry signed a bill to update the Castle Doctrine Tuesday.

The bill gives Texans the right to use deadly force to defend themselves in their homes and cars and at work. The old law included a clause that requires victims to make an attempt to flee before using deadly force.

The law will take effect Sept. 1 and is based on the idea that a person’s home is their castle and can be defended.


Texas joined 15 other states with similar laws.

This makes me happy and should clean off my record. I got kicked out of jury duty one time because I was asked what I should do if someone broke into my home while I was there, and I replied that they were in my home, on my property, and a criminal, so their life belonged to me and I could use whatever force I wanted and do whatever I pleased to stop them. They dismissed me from jury duty for that, and I'm sure it went down on some file on me. No more worries now.

[ironman]

So you could shoot them dead, so long as you were running away from them?

[Madison]

So you could shoot them dead, so long as you were running away from them?

If they were gaining on you or pulled a gun, yes.



Basically you had to make an attempt to flee and save yourself. If you couldn't, then you could use deadly force to protect yourself.

Now you can sit on your couch, load your gun while they fiddle with the lock on your door, and as soon as they open it....BAM! Dead criminal.

[Art Vandelay]

Does this give people the right to use deadly force in defense of their property as well? The article that was posted says they can defend themselves, but doesnt' mention their property: "The bill gives Texans the right to use deadly force to defend themselves in their homes and cars and at work."

I read that to mean that you can use deadly force to defend yourself against someone attacking you in your car, home, or work, but you couldn't, for instance, kill someone who is trying to steal your car. Is that accurate?

[Madison]

Does this give people the right to use deadly force in defense of their property as well? The article that was posted says they can defend themselves, but doesnt' mention their property: "The bill gives Texans the right to use deadly force to defend themselves in their homes and cars and at work."

I read that to mean that you can use deadly force to defend yourself against someone attacking you in your car, home, or work, but you couldn't, for instance, kill someone who is trying to steal your car. Is that accurate?

That's not the way I read it due to this:

the idea that a person’s home is their castle and can be defended.

Specifically states defending the home.

Since the article also mentions car and work, then if I see someone breaking into any of my cars or trying to steal them, I'll shoot them and let you know how it goes.

[5]

well at the very least this should help us toward a great goal - population control

[Coppermine]

So you could shoot them dead, so long as you were running away from them?

I think it's a five second rule. Or is that floor pizza?

[Art Vandelay]

I dug up a little more on this, and it turns out that you have to believe your life is in danger. Sorry Mad, you can't shoot them for trying to steal your Hyundai...unless they actually attack you while they're trying to take it. Also, a person must fit all of this criteria in order to legally be able to kill someone who they think may be trying to kill them.

•Has a right to be present at the location – habitation, motor vehicle or place of business – where the deadly force is used.

•Has not provoked the person against whom the deadly force is used.

•Is not engaged in criminal activity at the time the deadly force is used.

So, for instance, you couldn't invite a mormon who comes to your door in, then pick a fight with him and kill him.

Also, it looks like you won't be able to shoot anyone during any of the cock-fights you host in your basement Madison.

[Coppermine]

So how is this any different than a justification for people to have guns at home before? I mean, I thought the whole self defense aspect of gun ownership was that if someone broke into your home and tried to kill you, you could shoot them. Was that illegal before?

[Madison]

I dug up a little more on this, and it turns out that you have to believe your life is in danger. Sorry Mad, you can't shoot them for trying to steal your Hyundai...unless they actually attack you while they're trying to take it. Also, a person must fit all of this criteria in order to legally be able to kill someone who they think may be trying to kill them.

•Has a right to be present at the location – habitation, motor vehicle or place of business – where the deadly force is used.

•Has not provoked the person against whom the deadly force is used.

•Is not engaged in criminal activity at the time the deadly force is used.

So, for instance, you couldn't invite a mormon who comes to your door in, then pick a fight with him and kill him.

Also, it looks like you won't be able to shoot anyone during any of the cock-fights you host in your basement Madison.

Is that the old doctrine, or the new one that will take effect in September? If it's the new one, got a link?

Regardless, you'll see a few extra dead criminals, and less perfectly good citizens punished for killing them.

And I don't do cock-fights. Never even been to one.