Category: News and Views
Texas signs new self-defense by gun law
By Ed Stoddard
Reuters
Tuesday, March 27, 2007; 3:42 PM
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.
this is crazy! i mean, come on! if those are the laws, no one is safe anymore.
Gives a whole new meaning to "road rage".
Hotdog!
Finally, someon euses a small amount of common sense. What could make a criminal have more second thoughts about raping a woman or murdering or mugging someone than the thought that he might not live to try it again.
I totally agree with the law. If someone is properly trained and responsible, there should be no reason he/she shouldn't be able to defend him/herself.
Firearms are tool which equalizes woman and gives them the means of protecting themselves.
Again, totally agree.
That would be great if what you said was true about everyone being trained. But what are the odds that even trained most know how to handle the stress level of their regular days. What is to stop someone from just flying off and shooting someone who angers them. I for one don't like it. I am sure that in your world, at school, at your office, you can think of people whom you wouldn't want packing heat. Remember If your a uni student, or a community student, the campus counts as your professor's office. That's just scary.
I agree with you to some extent, definitely not everyone should carry a gun. Bu if we outlaw guns for honest citizens, then only hte criminals will have them. Rememeber, criminals are criminals for a reason. By definition, they don't follow the laws. I don't understand how people think that criminals, who are already breaking laws, will follow a gun law that's passed.
I am not even worried about the ones who won't follow the law. I am worried about the ones who can't follow the law. The ones who get mad at the slightest thing and cannot control their anger.
That's 90% of the american public then no wonder you are worried
So vigilantism is now legal in Texas then?
no, not vigilantism. People can only use guns for self-protection, they can't deal out justice on their own unless their own or a family member's life is threatened.
Goblin, that's 90% of the people, not just Americans.
Bob
What ever happened to bats? Why don't Texan's arm themselves with bats? Don't they realize that the office is any place, and I mean any place anyone gets paid for doing a job? I can think of a few places I don't want to see a gun. How about for example the nurse at the hospital, or the ticket taker at the airport. Here's one for you all, how would you like for your child's second grade teacher packing heat? It's a crazy law to pass.
you woulnd't even have to see the gun if it was carried concealed. People aren't going to run around with a huge revolver hanging in plain sight off their belts.
I'm not worried I don't live in texas .
jamesk, it's not the fact that people can see it that worries us. It's the use of it, and who's got the right to use it. I mean if the person is imune to the law if they kill in self deffence, then how is anyone to prove it was actually self diffence, if the offended is dead and can't deffend him or herself? IT is an insane law, because as a hole, people can't be trusted, that's why we have laws in hte first place, to have some kind of social order. This completely blows that idea out of the water. Note to self, take texis off the places to visit list.
I am ashamed totally.
In some cases, citizens need the means of protecting themselves from criminals.
If a criminal is breaking in to your home or trying to do you bodily harm, the police can't always arrive in time to prevent the crime and the criminal isn't going to wait for them, lol.
I think if you are responsible, you should have the right to protect yourself.
Does that include if your car is being car jacked?
Bob from Texas
I don't see why it wouldn't, but each needs to be judged on an individual basis.
"you woulnd't even have to see the gun if it was carried concealed" how is this a valid argument? That is the thing that scares me the most about it all. You don't know who's got the gun. That could be the unstable guy who is just pissed off at his boss or his wife who snaps. Do you really want this guy hiding a gun which he could pull out at any time at work or on the way to work even? What about all the road rage, and inpatient people who gripe about being in lines. Do you really want these people caring concealed weapons? As far as car jackings go, when did it become so inportant to protect material possessions? Is your life not worth more than a car? Finally, everyone has guns, but few are willing to shoot and kill another person. Just think, two people square off with the firearm. One shows his weapon to intimidate the attacker. The difference between the attacker and the civilian is that the attacker has probably shot someone before and won't hesitate to fire his weapon. Why, simple, the foolish person who pulls a weapon and does not intend to fire the weapon is asking to be shot. Think about that.
Nem-
I totally agree with you about trying to bluff, Nem.
If you carry a gun, you are acepting the responsibility that you may have to kill someone. If you can't or don't want the responsibility, leave the gun at the store.
Also, you should never draw a gun unless you are willing to shoot someone.