Joe Horn... Hero or vigilante? A 61 year old man kills two black illegal aliens who are burgularizing his neighbor's house. What would you do? Should he be charged with murder?
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ANSWERS: 40
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what do you mean aliens ?
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He should have called the police, in my opinion. I do not think it matters that they were black or illegal aliens. I am not sure if he should be tried for murder.
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Who cares if they are illegal aliens and black. They were uninvited guests in my neighboors house trying to steal their sh**t. I wouldn't hesitate popping a cap in their asses either.
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He went too far. He was not protecting himself or another life, he was protecting "stuff". He should have listened to the 911 operator and stayed in his house. B&E is not a capital offence.
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It doesn't matter that they were illegal aliens or not, they were intruders. You have a right to defend yourself from intruders on your property. I don't feel he should be charged with murder, because he could've easily been murdered himself (i.e. Sean Taylor).
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Anyone who burglarizes a home should be dealt with accordingly, whether they are black, white, translucent... As to the being charged with murder part, I think it's not applicable in this case since it's self-defense. But that's something the authorities would determine.
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No, should not be charged with murder. I believe Texas law allows the use of deadly force if anyone threatens you, your property, and/or your neighbor's property. Yes, it may have just been stuff, but that stuff did not belong to them. If criminals realize there is a good chance they could lose their life to steal someone's else's stuff maybe they will decide crime doesn't pay and it's not worth losing their life over.
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Shoot them, and he should be given a medal.
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Whats the problem??? He's just a good neighbor
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The Justice system exists for a reason -- "to ensure that justice is dished out fairly." Allowing everyone to run amok "delivering justice" wily-nily -- is anarchy. Joe Horn is a vigilante emboldened by the on-going "racist anti-immigrant" rhetoric. He took Texas justice into his own hands and committed pre-meditated murder, and he must be charged and prosecuted. More here: http://www.afroarticles.com/article-dashboard/Article/Texas-Vigilante-Joe-Horn---A-Cold-Blooded-Murderer-/66852
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It'd depend on how/when he shot them. Were they running away? Did they have their hands up in surrender? Did they also have a gun? To be self-defense (or defense of others), Joe Horn must have had reason to believe that the burglars were also willing to kill. Put simply: 'Life vs. Life' = Not guilty of murder. 'Life vs. Stuff' = Guilty.
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A commendation along with a plaque. No murder charge.
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I think he should be reimbursed for his ammunition expenses and named "neighborhood watch captain"... We can piss and moan all we want about vigilante justice. The bottom line is that people molest other people's sense of security every single day, and while the penalty for robbery shouldn't be death, the penalty for stealing someone's right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness should be very harsh. Breaking into my house is going make my family scared, insecure and they will feel violated forever. Their right to a secure home will be violated. People die defending the constitution, so shall they die violating it. I guarantee you my neighbors are paying attention, and have done so for so long, that my doors are never locked. My neighbor's door is not locked, because he knows I am doing the same. The bad guys don't come, because they know all of the above.
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Hero - all the way - don't care whether they are here legally or not - the fact that they weren't - already they were criminals - breaking into someone's home and robbing it just made them worse criminals - not to mention the fact one had already been deported for major drug crimes. Come on people wake up - cuz if you don't you will be the next victim - and maybe you will be home and end up dead - better a dead criminal then a dead victim.
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He is a vigilante that should be charged with murder. Unless his life or safety was in danger, he shouldn't have acted with lethal force. The last I checked, burglary wasn't punishable by death, nor was it up to someone's neighbor to dole out punishment and justice. I have no clue what someone's skin color or immigration status has to do with anything. Last I checked on those two, being black isn't a crime, and illegal immigration isn't punishable by death.
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Of course he should be charged with murder because that is what he did. Furthermore, what has the colour of the alleged burglars got to do with anything?
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There are very important points that need to be addressed in the question before I could give you a fair answer that reflects how I feel. Was he or anyone else in danger? Was lethal force necessary? What were the facts during the altercation? Was it done out of hate or fear?
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Regardless if it's 2 black illegal aliens or 2 white legal teens doing a break and enter and theft there is no reason this man shouldn't be charged with murder. Murder is murder. Unless someone is in the situation of kill or be killed there's no excuse for this type of behavior. Richard Shines
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Well he had witnessed them breaking into his neighbor's home already, and they were on his property heading towards him. The gun didn't even seem to scare them off. I'd say that in this case, he had the right to fear for his life and use deadly force. If he had chased them down and shot them in the back, then that would be vigilantism and would not be OK legally(although personally I wouldn't give a crap).
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The burglars are no worse because they were black and illegal. Odd to make that part of their description when "intruders" would have sufficed. Joe Horn did the right thing when he called 911. Then he was cautioned several times by dispatch not to exit his house and not to confront the burglars. He stated he had every right to defend property. After a last plea from 911 not to get involved as officers where on the way, Horn exited and confronted the two unnarmed men. He told them not to move and immediately fired his shotgun. One man was shot in the back running toward the road. Being shot in the back is not self defense. And no property will ever equate the worth of human life. Horn was a guy who'd 'had enough' and thought he could play God, or at least a judge and jury. Imagine if we all did that. Horn deserves to be prosecuted as a man who took two lives while facing no threat to his personal safety whatsoever.
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Give that man a medal.
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I really dig his name, first of all. He came to the aid of an elderly lady. He didn't know if the poor dear had been harmed or not. My understanding is that she is a somewhat fragile woman. I say he is a gentleman and a hero. I would want him as a neighbor for my daughters, mother or myself. Too many men have lost touch with their protective instinct especially towards women.
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I noticed the way the question is worded, what if it where two white intruders. Regardless, if the intruders where posing a threat of causing serious bodily injury or death to another party, I agree you have the right to defend your life and the life of a third party.
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hero. He was in full complaince with the law.
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Joe Horn left his home to engage these individuals and shot them. Most states have a duty to retreat statute that requires you to get out of the way of danger and not engage it. He should have let the police handle the matter. If they were in his house and he shot them while they were in the act of burglarizing his home and he had no other recourse but to defend himself than what he did would be acceptable. His actions in this case however are not commendable. Vigilantism should be prevented, not encouraged.
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no they should not have been there to start with not to mention they are illegal aliens
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I'd say both, and I'm not supporting anarchy, but I'd say it's refreshing to see that some people aren't afraid to take care of things themselves. He probably saved the taxpayers $80,000 a year to house those two in prison.
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In 1948 he'd be given a badge & a party; in 2008 he'll be given a fine & a jail sentence. Where have we gone?
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Considering that everyone says "understand the criminal," "show compassion they probably had a hard upbringing" and, due to current sentiment the perpetrators would have gotten away with a slap on the wrist, I say... Good for him for shooting two BURGLARS. Who cares what their skin color was or about their immigration status. They were BURGLARIZING his neighbor's home. Until the "justice system" starts prosecuting the CRIMINALS instead of the VICTIMS like it does now, good on people like him.
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Does any one consider God's Law in this? Specifically those commentors, who may profess to be Christians and support this action and the Grand jury's decision. Do you ever consider what Jesus Christ said about the matter? "If someone takes your cloak give him your coat too. Luke 6:29" Where does it say if he's taking your next door neighbor's stuff (Not even yours) mow him down with a shot gun? We should love our neighbor as our self not mow then down over property. Treat the immigrant kindly remembering how we started out.(Exod 23:9) I am sure the Native Americans would have something to say about illegal immigration to most all of us. Lets learn to Love even our enemies(& thieves) rather then to hate. America America, my heart hurts for my country, woe to you "The great city of Babylon has fallen". (Rev 14:8)
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If i saw them stealing from my neighbors house, i would shoot them in the back also. It's time that the people in the USA become more vigilant. After all, the prisons are overcrowded and they are letting criminals out now. Give Joe a hero's welcome.
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"Justice" doesn't work except to side with the criminal. I don't give a damn about the perp's skin color. They were criminals. I'd call this guy a hero.
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I'd do the same thing Joe Horn did, and not think twice about doing so. He should be presented with an award.
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Yes, he should be charged with murder. The law has a dim view of killing people for protection of property. Deadly force is only acceptable when a life is at stake, not valuables. If the man confronted the two intruders, pointed a gun and told them to leave and one of them reached for their waist, it would be a different story. But no, shooting two men for the protection of property is and should be illegal. So yes, he should be charged with murder and should plead down to a lesser charge, say manslaughter.
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Why is 'black' part of this question? What does this tell us about the author of the question?
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Only in self defence!
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he should have called the police and stayed on the phone to give description and where abouts of the burgulars and discription of the vehicle they are driving. and yes, he will go to prison for a double homicide. how long, depends on the jury and the verdict and how strong his defense lawyer is. Joe Horn is not a vigilante nor a hero, just a murderer. yes, he should be charged for the heinous crime.
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situational, you cannot give an answer unless you were 'there' you don't know if they were running away, or going for their guns, therefore you can't give an opinion on if he's guilty or not for what he did. He could easily be either innocent or guilty.
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Hero. I think unless its a homeless similar person stealing food or items of necessity in a similar situation then a defender should be allowed to kill the thief. I also think that in the same circumstances if the law catches the thief first their hand should be cut off.
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If his neighbors lives were in danger,no murder charge.Iknow in texas you can use reasonable deadly force to protect property.
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