Castle Laws

Jeff H

Well-Known Member
With today's news of the St Louis couple defending their home against protesters I'm wondering what other states have "castle" laws and how strong they are. I've read through Missouri's and it seems to be pretty strong but I'm not accustomed to reading legal script. I'm left to take my advice from friends who are and have been in Law enforcement. Any attorney's/ Law enforcement folks here want to weigh in on how one should react given the same situation outside our own homes? The possibility seems more real now than ever before in my lifetime.
 
I don’t know about anyone else, but if I’m in fear for my, or my family’s life, I don’t much care what the law says. Probably wouldn’t take a life over property, but damn sure would if it came to kill or be killed.
Texas law says you can shoot a thief if you have reason to believe that you will never get your property back, but I think that’s what insurance is for. If you did, you would spend more money on lawyers than the stolen article was worth in all likelihood. The “castle doctrine” is alive and well in The Lone Star State.
 
While I am all for the 2nd amendment and the right to defend one's family, this discussion on a deer hunting forum indicates somethings needs squaring up. The real solution here is to make political life hard for these joke mayors and governors who sit on their butts while our cities burn. I called my mayor and city councilmen and explained that if I had to call the police because I was dealing with a riot in my neighborhood, I would expend whatever effort needed to get them voted out. I am calling my local Republican organization tomorrow and offer to help in any way that I can. I realize that many areas are controlled by liberals but it time to start effecting change.
 
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While I am all for the 2nd amendment and the right to defend one's family, this discussion on a deer hunting forum indicates somethings needs squaring up. The real solution here is to make political life hard for these joke mayors and governors who sit on their butts while our cities burn. I called my mayor and city councilmen and explained that if I had to call the police because I was dealing with a riot in my neighborhood, I would expend whatever effort needed to get them voted out. I am calling my local Republican organization tomorrow and offer to help in any way that I can. I realize that many areas are controlled by liberals but it time to start effecting change.
I realize this is not a political forum. I have no political statement to make nor any political interest. I value the opinions of the members of this forum. On everything. We are a like minded group with many common interests and I feel it's more important now than ever in my life to keep communications open, especially with those who hold the same values as myself but the other side as well. You guys are the best and I appreciate you all more than you know!
 
The bad thing is....there is the law as it's written and then there is the law as it is applied. Look no further that 2A and see how some have a more black and white view of those words, while others have a more liberal interpretation of what those words mean.

Unfortunately - we are no longer ruled by common sense. Before if someone threatened your property, you defended it. That was just the way it was. Now....now we protect the offender seemingly more than we do the victim! Heck in most cases they try to turn the offender into a victim.....especially if they are some sort of minority! He was ONLY throwing bricks and setting the building on fire...to express his opinion which is a constitutional right....they have no right to keep him from doing that. WTF?!?!? Yes they do! Your rights STOP the second they infringe on someone else's! If it ain't your building....you have no business setting it on fire or throwing bricks at it!!! Freedom of expression is fine....but you don't have unlimited rights in doing so!

Sit on a jury sometime....you will see how lawyers try to twist words and the intent of the law or try to build empathy for the accused. What I saw wasn't what you see on TV....but at times it was almost comical to see someone represent a person who was obviously guilty of the charges brought forward and how they tried to find every little grey area they could to try to to get this guy off the hook. In conservative, small-town USA.....that didn't fly. He was sent up the river.....Again.
 
I realize this is not a political forum. I have no political statement to make nor any political interest. I value the opinions of the members of this forum. On everything. We are a like minded group with many common interests and I feel it's more important now than ever in my life to keep communications open, especially with those who hold the same values as myself but the other side as well. You guys are the best and I appreciate you all more than you know!
Thanks for starting the discussion. Sportsmen as a whole are hands on common sense outdoors people who have balanced opinions, and I enjoy discussions with those type of people on topics other than big antlers sometimes.
So what's my viewpoint on the castle laws? I believe that it's the Government's duty to execute wrath in the evildoer and keep it's citizens safe, and hopefully our elected officials will take their God given responsibilities seriously, once there are all ungodly people in Government a democracy can't function anymore.
I'm not going to say defending your family yourself is wrong, however, using force to do this should be a very last resort, I don't think any of us want to return to the wild west. Once a shot is fired it's really difficult to get it back, as us hunters learn after we shoot the wrong deer. I'm a mennonite as my handle portrays, and although we don't always do as we should, the one thing that true mennonites really try to live by is to help others and to be peacemakers, to try to go the second mile with someone that is threatening us, which can be very difficult to do and can take more courage than walking into a conflict with a loaded gun. Not trying to preach to anyone, this is just my position.
 
There are threes guns mounted on the wall at chest level by the door. Two are non shootable replicas. One is an old reliable working 12 gauge shotgun with five shells very close by. I hope it never happens but if some person or people come and threaten us or try to burn us out he/she or they won’t be invited in for coffee. Reasoning things out is the better choice when it is viable option but at that point reasoning things out won’t likely cut it.
 
a few simple rules:
1 - an empty gun is a paperweight
2 - better have a gun and not need it vs need it and not have it!
3 - a gun is only as dangerous as the person holding it
4 - never seek a fight....but be prepared in case one seeks you
5 - your best weapon is between your ears....use it often
 
a few simple rules:
1 - an empty gun is a paperweight
2 - better have a gun and not need it vs need it and not have it!
3 - a gun is only as dangerous as the person holding it
4 - never seek a fight....but be prepared in case one seeks you
5 - your best weapon is between your ears....use it often

Words to live by J-bird...
 
Ill chime in here with something I think Is overlooked by many gun owners. Training and practice. In my opinion owning a gun comes with the responsibility practice and training. It always amazes when people rush out purchase a firearm for self defense shoot it a handful of times then never look at it again. I shoot all the time. Google training drills and tactical techniques. You owe it to yourself and especially those you are trying to protect to be proficient. How many times have you practiced reloading in the dark? God forbid it doesn’t come to it but if it does you’ll be ready. Just remember it’s better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war.
 
Ill chime in here with something I think Is overlooked by many gun owners. Training and practice. In my opinion owning a gun comes with the responsibility practice and training. It always amazes when people rush out purchase a firearm for self defense shoot it a handful of times then never look at it again. I shoot all the time. Google training drills and tactical techniques. You owe it to yourself and especially those you are trying to protect to be proficient. How many times have you practiced reloading in the dark? God forbid it doesn’t come to it but if it does you’ll be ready. Just remember it’s better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war.
You have no idea how timely and perfect your comments were. I was talking with my oldest son Saturday evening . He'll be 21 in August. He asked for a pistol for his birthday. I told him that I would buy him a pistol but first he'd have to meet with two friends of mine (married couple) who shoot competitively for some basic safety instruction. Secondly he'd have to commit to going to the range with the same couple for two months for further instruction. At the end of my proposal I received an email that you had commented on the post. They were the perfect words at the perfect time. Thank you for that.
 
Ill chime in here with something I think Is overlooked by many gun owners. Training and practice. In my opinion owning a gun comes with the responsibility practice and training. It always amazes when people rush out purchase a firearm for self defense shoot it a handful of times then never look at it again. I shoot all the time. Google training drills and tactical techniques. You owe it to yourself and especially those you are trying to protect to be proficient. How many times have you practiced reloading in the dark? God forbid it doesn’t come to it but if it does you’ll be ready. Just remember it’s better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war.

I will second this advice. I don’t shoot nearly as much as I used to but I’m a lifer. I started with my first handgun at 16 and I’m now 73. Can’t see as well as I once did, so squirrel hunting with iron sights are a thing of the past, but they make these things called reflex sights.............;)
 
I will second this advice. I don’t shoot nearly as much as I used to but I’m a lifer. I started with my first handgun at 16 and I’m now 73. Can’t see as well as I once did, so squirrel hunting with iron sights are a thing of the past, but they make these things called reflex sights.............;)
I remember squirrels, iron sights and single shot .22's
 
You have no idea how timely and perfect your comments were. I was talking with my oldest son Saturday evening . He'll be 21 in August. He asked for a pistol for his birthday. I told him that I would buy him a pistol but first he'd have to meet with two friends of mine (married couple) who shoot competitively for some basic safety instruction. Secondly he'd have to commit to going to the range with the same couple for two months for further instruction. At the end of my proposal I received an email that you had commented on the post. They were the perfect words at the perfect time. Thank you for that.

You are welcome. I’ll have to give credit to my late father. He was always a consistent force in my life to push harder. That’s one of the biggest things I miss the most about him. I’m sure your son will say the same thing some day too and let’s be honest ripping off several hundred rounds every session is a hell of a lot of fun!!!!!
 
You are welcome. I’ll have to give credit to my late father. He was always a consistent force in my life to push harder. That’s one of the biggest things I miss the most about him. I’m sure your son will say the same thing some day too and let’s be honest ripping off several hundred rounds every session is a hell of a lot of fun!!!!!
 
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