Comments on: Evening Buzz: Justified Killings?

By: michelle

michelle — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:10:30 +0000

I don't know if the killings were justified or not because I was not on the Grand Jury and not privy to all of the evidence presented. However, if the law in Texas allows you to defend yourself and your property, and if the Grand Jury found him to be doing that, then Mr. Horn had the right to shoot them. I'm sure he will remember this day for the rest of his life.

By: Lanny

Lanny — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:09:50 +0000

Anderson,
Am I allowed to go around shooting people that I think are breaking the law? Are people not innocent until proven guilty? If someone were a threat to this man, why would he have to shoot them in the back? Did the shooter interrogate these men first, or did he assume the worst and kill them? By finding this man innocent, is Texas basically condoning its citizens to go on shooting rampages against those assumed to be breaking the law?

Disgusted citizen

By: Lisa

Lisa — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:09:40 +0000

Since when has the death penalty applied to burglary? I am embarrassed that our legal system would allow this man to get away with murder! The two men deserved to go to jail for burglary not to die. I would be surprised if Mr. Horn knew they had any issue with cocaine or whether or not they were in this country legally when he pulled the trigger, he intended to KILL them the moment he picked up his gun. Everyone will be held accountable for his/her choices one day!

By: sarah

sarah — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:09:27 +0000

i don't care what it is, everything happens for a reason.
Those were just plain bad men, and they were doing bad
deeds,which i believe will catch up with you. mr. horn warned those
men not to move while he was holding a shot gun at them! and they still approched him in his yared! If there a family or
someone vonerable was in the home when they went to burglarize it
i don't think those men would have gave anyone a warning that they were about to rob the place, Did Mr. Horn
have the right to protect his neighbors property? yes. the neighnors asked him to. Does Texas law back him up? yes. people need to
stop being so narrow minded and bigoted by calling it something
its not(race, a set up or whatever) and just see they were just bad men. that someone does not have to be afraid of anymore.

By: Stan

Stan — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:09:11 +0000

Interesting case but I kind of wonder about the 911 call and what the operator had in mind. We only got bits and pieces. I was wondering why did it take the police so long to get to Horns house. I kind of wonder if it had ben the 911 operators home would he have acted a little different. I read the other comments and I would suggest to the people who made some of the interesting remarks take a look at Texas law. Was he justified? I don't know! I was not there.

By: Chris Hensley

Chris Hensley — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:08:52 +0000

He was asked by neighbors to look out for their property, period .They came onto his property. As far as I am concerned (as a victim of two break ins into my home) he couldnt have more justified in his actions. When is this country going to stop defending the criminals and start defending the victims. I am beginnig to feel less and less like a patriot when people who feel that they can make entry into ones home and take what an american has put their sweat, blood and ambition into acquiring and take what they have. Thieves can make entry clean you out of your valuables prized posessions aqnd heirlooms in a matter of minutes because they know how ineffective police are regarding these situations. Primarily because they chose to live a thiefs life instead of that of that of the working man. They dont pay taxes since they obviously dont work and dont want to. I think that pawn shops should be abolished as well. They provide a steady corse of income for thieves and make money off of other peoples misery. Hey Joe have you ever considered moving to Arizona? DONT FORGET YOUR 12 GAUGE.

By: Robert

Robert — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:08:44 +0000

Anderson, i was born and raised in Texas. However, you have more rights as a landowner in Colorado ( have land there ) than in Texas.

In 1994, i called the police to report crack dealers whom were dealing crack to children 10 an under as well as adults. They would NOT respond to the call what-so-ever. So, i called TWO private investigators, who said they couldn't do anything, because it is a police matter.

I did take a shotgun and confront them.

Two weeks later, the dealers came into a truck stop and started threatening me. I pulled a pistol on them.

Now, here's the kicker! The police charged me with three felony counts of Terroristic Threat. Arrested me three different times, in which i had to bail out three different times.

After having to move, get a new place to live, pay three times to bail out of jail, pay an attorney $1500 dollars, pay another $1000 for the fine (after plea bargaining).

This man is extremely fortunate. The criminal has more rights than an upright citizen in that state as well as in too many others. We can't even protect the children!!!

By: Rory McShane

Rory McShane — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:08:40 +0000

pete – you bring up Mr. Horn's consicese, did it ever occur to you that had he not shot the men it would haunt him that he had passed up the opportunity for doing the right thing for the easy thing.

mokio – If this was al a big conspiracy then why would he have called the police, had he killed them with out calling the police that would have given him greater range in the story he "made up." If your going to be paraniod be better at it.

By: Jon

Jon — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:02:06 +0000

I have two questions: Since Mr. Horn stated to the dispatcher that he's going to kill them, isn't that premeditated murder? Also, Mr. Horn can be heard warning the men that if they move they're dead. Did these guys speak and/or understand English?

By: hacketack

hacketack — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:01:48 +0000

Their were no signs that the shooters life was in danger, Deadly force must only be used against Deadly Force. This guyshould face Murder charges or at least Man Slaughter. Texas residents are too gun happy, this shooter, had allready made up his mine to kill these two suspects, and that my friends, is Preimeditated Murder.

By: y breaux

y breaux — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:01:38 +0000

He shot these two men in the back. How did he feel threatened by two men who were running away? The 911 call lasted for several minutes., so this is nothing less than premeditated, calculated murder. He was certainly not in any immediate danger- He just wanted to kill these men

By: Peter McConnell

Peter McConnell — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:01:12 +0000

Clearly the jury decided he was within his legal right according to Texas law, which represents the will of the people. And it would seem that the people of Texas still believe robbery warrants the death penalty. Pretty extreme. Either the law should be rewritten or criminals should consider the job hazard.

By: Phil (in IRAQ)

Phil (in IRAQ) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:01:02 +0000

Absolutely! Two less criminals if you ask me. Crime shouldn’t pay, and in this case it didn’t. If there was more people like Joe Horn criminals would re-think their profession. Good shooting Joe, but I would have taken those criminals out in 2 shots. Your neighbor owes you a beer.

By: igal e

igal e — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:00:57 +0000

o.k
i am a business owner in florida .
if tomorrow , someone going to shoplift in my store – can i chop his hands off ? ? ?
thats too much to take the law to yourself .
leave it to the cops . thats why we have law enforcement . . . !

By: steve

steve — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:00:37 +0000

I live houston. My mother was shot to death gunpoint by a black man trying to steal 50 dollars. He is still at large. I do not condemn Joe Horn.

By: Kenny

Kenny — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:00:22 +0000

I think Mr Horn was totally wrong for shooting two men in the back. He had called the police, they told him not to go outside they were on the way. Mr Horn knew the law and he took advantage of that law and got away with murder, but who cares they were just illegals right.

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 02:59:52 +0000

What has not been discussed is the civil ramifications of Mr. Horn's actions. Although the Grand Jury chose not to indict him, he will probably be sued in civil court by the families of the decedents for wrongful death. He will likely lose everything he owns and be destitute before it is all over. The sadest part of this story is the death of the burglars, but it is also sad that Mr. Horn's neighbor's belongings were probably covered by insurance. Mr. Horn used very poor judgment and will pay in more ways than one.

Kimberly
Austin, Texas

By: John

John — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 02:59:46 +0000

Continuing with the last...the founding fathers recognized the 2nd amendment as an individual right for self-defense. Too many times it is only mentioned in terms of hunting. During the course of elections, the 2nd amendment is frequently only referenced in terms of hunting. It is not only about hunting. Similarly, the first amendment is not only about free speech in certain circumstances, but all circumstances. Protection from illegal search and seizures is not just for some searches, but all, etc.

By: Wilson

Wilson — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 02:59:41 +0000

I think Mr. Horn was quite justified in his actions. WAKE-UP America! It seems that we are just walking around with our heads in the clouds. I think America would be a much safer place if we were all more observant about our surroundings, and held people accountable.

By: Donald Granchi

Donald Granchi — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 02:59:09 +0000

It sounds like citizen induced capital punnishment for a crime other than murder. Didn't the supreme court just rule that capital punnishment was unconstitutional if the crime did not include taking a life earlier this month in a case which the crime was child rape. So how can it follow that it is legal to shoot 2 people in that back for robbing a neighbors house when it was clear that the shooter's life was not in danger. What happens the next time when the neighbor had given premission for the items to be taken from the house. This will certainly make the repo-man's life more exciting!