Consider the case of Joe Horn, the Pasadena, Texas, homeowner who employed our Castle Doctrine by shooting two burglars who were breaking into his neighbor's house. He shot them in the back, clearly as they were running away, with a shotgun.

Our law clearly dictates that one has the right to defend his own property if the invader is attempting to enter the property; it says nothing about protecting one's neighbor's property, however. Horn called 911 and watched the two men enter his neighbor's house and decided to take matters into his own hands. The grand jury refused to have the case tried. You can bet it was made up of a host of gun-rights advocates who clearly have more sympathy for the "spirit" of the law than the strict reading of the law as written. And I don't suppose it would do any good to point out that the two burglars killed by Horn were illegal immigrants, too.

Was Horn right to do what he did? I don't know. I do know that his action is not technically protected by the law.

Conservatives are no more free of emotional investment in legal cases than liberals are. They aren't any more objective than anybody else.

BritBailey:

Consider the case of Joe Horn, the Pasadena, Texas, homeowner who employed our Castle Doctrine by shooting two burglars who were breaking into his neighbor's house. He shot them in the back, clearly as they were running away, with a shotgun.

Our law clearly dictates that one has the right to defend his own property if the invader is attempting to enter the property; it says nothing about protecting one's neighbor's property, however. Horn called 911 and watched the two men enter his neighbor's house and decided to take matters into his own hands. The grand jury refused to have the case tried. You can bet it was made up of a host of gun-rights advocates who clearly have more sympathy for the "spirit" of the law than the strict reading of the law as written. And I don't suppose it would do any good to point out that the two burglars killed by Horn were illegal immigrants, too.

Was Horn right to do what he did? I don't know. I do know that his action is not technically protected by the law.

Conservatives are no more free of emotional investment in legal cases than liberals are. They aren't any more objective than anybody else.

What you said is only half true. You forgot to explain that when the burglars were shot Horn confronted them after they left the neighbors house and only after they entered his property. He gave them a verbal warning to stop or he would shoot and only after they made movement towards him did Horn shoot. The whole scene was witnessed by a plainclothes detective who was waiting for back-up. The 2 criminals were shot in the "back" as they had veered off and turned their back to Horn. Horn was advised by the 911 operator not to confront the burglars and horne disregarded taht advise however it was just advise andot a legal order by a peace officer. So the Castle doctrine was protecting Horn at the time of the shooting and that is why the Grand Jury failed to indict.

TexasPete