Them Lucky Texans

[Bruce FLinch]

Texas signs new self-defense by gun law
Tue Mar 27, 2007 4:15 PM ET

By Ed Stoddard

DALLAS (Reuters) - Criminals in Texas beware: if you threaten someone in their car or office, the citizens of this state where guns are ubiquitous have the right to shoot you dead.

Governor Rick Perry's office said on Tuesday that he had signed a new law that expands Texans' existing right to use deadly force to defend themselves "without retreat" in their homes, cars and workplaces.

"The right to defend oneself from an imminent act of harm should not only be clearly defined in Texas law, but is intuitive to human nature," Perry said on his Web site.

The new law, which takes affect on September 1, extends an exception to a statute that required a person to retreat in the face of a criminal attack. The exception was in the case of an intruder unlawfully entering a person's home.

The law extends a person's right to stand their ground beyond the home to vehicles and workplaces, allowing the reasonable use of deadly force, the governor's office said.

The reasonable use of lethal force will be allowed if an intruder is:

- Committing certain violent crimes, such as murder or sexual assault, or is attempting to commit such crimes

- Unlawfully trying to enter a protected place

- Unlawfully trying to remove a person from a protected place.

The law also provides civil immunity for a person who lawfully slays an intruder or attacker in such situations.

Texas joins several other states including Florida that have or are considering similar laws.

Sympathy for violent offenders and criminals in general runs low in Texas, underscored by its busy death row. The state leads the United States in executions with 388 since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976 by the U.S. Supreme Court.

A conservative political outlook and widespread fondness for hunting also means Texans are a well-armed people capable of defending themselves with deadly force.

It is easy to acquire guns over the counter in Texas and lawful to carry a concealed handgun with a permit.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
© Reuters 2007. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
Close This Window

[durk]

Nice! Oklahoma has had the (Stand Your Ground Law) since Nov. Of 2006.

[Pistolenschutze]

Colorado has a very similar law, usually referred to (by everyone except the liberals ) as the "Make My Day" law.

[pickenup]

<----go ahead........make my day..........

Good for Texas, every state should have a law like this.

Well actually, you shouldn't NEED a law like this, but in this day and age.......

[armedandsafe]

It is a pleasant surprise to see a piece on this type of subject treated in such a balanced and fair fashion by, of all outlets, Reuters.

Pops

[TEXAS 1957]

As a native Texan, NRA Life Member, and TSRA member I am very proud of my state. The bill is generally known throughout the nation as "the castle doctrine" which I think was named such in Florida. There was a lot of state senators and representatives contacted and asked to support the bill. We were supposed to turn into a bloodbath after our CCW bill was signed by then Governor George Bush in 1995 but the liberals just do not understand that CCW is a threat to the law breakers not the law abiding. The advice I would give to all is to make sure YOUR political representatives know your position, in a polite manner, support your states rifle/pistol association and the NRA. They carry the fight to places you cannot.
We also have those of whom we conservative Texans are not so proud, Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, who is putting forth a bill calling for reinstatement of the assault weapons bill. There will always be some in every crowd.

[Lead Lobber]

I know you will initialy think I am trying to get laughs, but Californina has the same law <for fat persons (or anyone, really) so far gone into obesity running is but a fond memory>. Back up as fast as you can, withiin reason, while stumbling over what you can't see behind you and going down anyways, while the felon is steadily advancing. Remember that if you fall down, you are unable to get up; your weight makes that impossible.

I don't want to start an epidemic of attacks on fat persons, I want to remind you all of your rights. I don't care what state you live in, fatty <or skinny, in shape>. Now, when I say CA is onboard, that is not the case.

CA still says you have to run from an encounter with felons in you home or in public and let them shoot you in back. I guess there's many ways of saying it. This is one variation: If threatened, walk toward the attacker and hit him/she/it with the maximum deadly force, if the same is directed to you or those around you, or vice versa. If you have a .45 - but if government demands you go unarmed, you are SOL - which in my mind opens all local authorities to massive class action lawsuits, because guaranteed constitutionl rights were denied of prohibited. Talk about California gold mines .....

Call it "Stand your Ground", or "Don't Back Up", or "Lock and Load", or whatever you like - tell your government representatives that nothing else is acceptable - except the guarantees this county was founded upon. Or, find another job, senator, congresssman, or GOVERNATOR, because your ass is headed south, out of office.

And to those ladies & gentlemen whom make a living representing your constituants (that would be all politicians) remember - if you don't support term limits, start educating your ..... children, pets, children .... we can do without you very nicely, thank you.

Austin City Limits for the Blues ..... those lucky Texans got nothing on us lucky Californians. Do they?

LL

[durk]

Originally Posted by Pistolenschutze

Colorado has a very similar law, usually referred to (by everyone except the liberals ) as the "Make My Day" law.

I'm not sure what all the differences are but Oklahoma also has the (make my day law) next to the stand your ground law. I have herd both terms used. The (stand your ground) law may expand on the (make my day law)?

[Lead Lobber]

Durk,

California wants us to run away from attackers, allowing blades and bullets to be administered from behind. Defending yourself is not allowed; one must be injured or killed by criminals before being protected by police.

Once said to be the land of fruits and nuts (referencing alternate life preferences & exotic nuts), California today is dominated by dumb democrats that demand us to disarm before the enemy.

Don't get sucked into Feinstein anti-gun stuff. Her momma's so fat, she lost her little girl, and her little girl never was that smart - she's trying to make a living as a traitorous politician, selling out our constitutioal rights. Dang her, Hang her.

Editor's note - the preceding paragraphs reflect the sole opinion of the writer, and so are not answerable to Diane Feinstink, her lawyers, or any other political idiots that pop up with big mouths and/or bad taste or breath.

Members of this forum are excluded from the above prohibitions, of course, and are encouraged to speak out.

Thank you,

LL

[Billsnogo]

Wow, this should really be just common law, really. When a man/woman loses the right to defend themselves, the criminals truelly win.
I really like that the family of the said criminals has no right to civially persue the victum in court. You should not lose all that you have worked for just because you were defending yourself/family from a scum of the earth piece of s**t.
go texas/Oklahoma/florida!

[berto64]

"Unlawfully trying to enter a protected place"

Wonder if this can be applied to wetbacks??

[williamd]

No, CA wants us to kindly request that the mugger/robber/burgler/car jacker/..... to please be nice and join usa fro a cup of Starbucks. And, tell them where the gun and extra ammo are in the car/house. Oh, all in Spanish, of course!

[stash247]

"Them lucky Texans" finally got the legislature off it's ass, after 18-20 years, to pass a 'Castle doctrine' law, wherein is NOT the responsiblity, of the offended, to retreat!
This is how it should be; kick my door, in the dark of the night, and come into my home, and YOU become the hunted! I have the right to defend my home, my castle, without responsibility to first plead with you to 'spare me' !
This is how it should be, everywhere.
Nothing on the lot is the property, or fruit of the labor of someone else, so I feel like it is my perrogative to advance, not retreat, in the defense of it!
Been my feelings, forever, and now the law is in line, with that.