JOE HORN POLL (For Gun-Owners and Non-Gun-Owners)

[THUNDER HANDS]

Question: Was Joe Horn justified in shooting the two men who were robbing his neighbor's house?

I'm curious if the views of gun owners and non gun-owners would differ on this.

[slackmaster]

1. Two areas of uncertainty are preventing me from taking a firm stand

1. I am not certain of exactly what happened, and

2. I don't have a detailed understanding of the applicable Texas state laws.

I can tell you with near certainty that it would not have been a lawful shooting in California.

[Union Thug]

2. Gun owner, not justified:

Deadly force should be reserved for self defense only.

But I'm not against taking action. A healthy tap across the kneecaps with a louisville slugger would have been justified. I'm not against a good beating when it is earned, but taking a life is another matter entirely!

[Scriptor Ignotus]

9. yup yup - nt

[napi21]

3. I voted that I'm a gun owner and I believe he was justified, but

there are still a lot of unanswered questions. I've hear a lot of things, but none have been confirmed.

ie: There had been a lot of burglaries in his neighborhood, and so far the cops haven't been able to stop them. These two fellows had quite a few priors but were still running free.

I don't know what I personally would have done. My instincts tell me that I would have most likely given more than ONE warning before shooting them, and propably a warning shot, but IF I believed my neighborhood had been invaded by burglers and the authorities wouldn't, or couldn't, but HADEN'T done anything about it, my fear and anger certainly would have risen! My home was burglarized once and the thieves stole thousands of dollars worth of guns and several pieces of antiqaues jewelry that belonged to my Grandmother. I can't tell you how violated and threatened we felt! It really does alter your mental attitude!

You may disagree with TX. law, but as I understand it, what he did was perfectly legal there!

[SunDrop23]

4. Help me out here...

"Don't go outside the house," the 911 operator pleaded. "You're going to get yourself shot if you go outside that house with a gun. I don't care what you think."

"You want to make a bet?" Horn answered. "I'm going to kill them."



How is this not premeditated murder?


(non gun owner, thinks he went too far)

[THUNDER HANDS]

5. seems that way to me

in New York, he'd be charged.

I don't know if he'd be convicted, but I definately think he'd be charged with something.

[inthebrain]

6. The law in Texas doesn't cover his actions

You have to take all measures to ensure that lethal force is necasary. Horn did not do that.

As a matter of fact, he stated on the phone numerous times his intentions to kill them. As soon as he walked out the door he said "Boom you're dead". That's not exactly ensuring that you've exhausted all options.

Looking at the law this guy is completely fucked.

[THUNDER HANDS]

7. but he's not charged yet, right?

[inthebrain]

8. autopsy shows he shot them in the back

He will be.

The DA is all over this.

[SunDrop23]

11. Keeping fingers crossed for the DA...

Good luck and may justice prevail.

[polichick]

10. Seems pretty clear from the tape that he was trigger-happy...

...and not concerned with the letter of the law.