It's 9:30 PM. Joe hears some noises outside, so looks through his window. He sees two young boys stealing apples from a tree in his neighbors yard. The boys start to run away with their stolen apples.
Joe grabs his trusty .30-'06 and puts a round through each of their heads, killing them instantly.
What law has Joe broken?
In Texas, Joe has broken no laws at all.:facepalm:
"A person is justified in using deadly force against another to pervent the other who is fleeing after committing burglary, robbery, or theft during the nighttime, from escaping with the property and he reasonable believes that the property cannot be recovered by any other means; or, the use of force other than deadly force to protect or recover the property would expose him or another to a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury. (Nighttime is defined as the period 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise.)"
Protection of the Property of Others
"A person is justified in using force or deadly force against another to protect the property of a third person if he reasonably believes he would be justified to use similar force to protect his own property, and he reasonably believes that there existed an attempt or actual commission of the crime of theft or criminal mischief."
http://www.self-defender.net/law3.htm
Joe grabs his trusty .30-'06 and puts a round through each of their heads, killing them instantly.
What law has Joe broken?
In Texas, Joe has broken no laws at all.:facepalm:
"A person is justified in using deadly force against another to pervent the other who is fleeing after committing burglary, robbery, or theft during the nighttime, from escaping with the property and he reasonable believes that the property cannot be recovered by any other means; or, the use of force other than deadly force to protect or recover the property would expose him or another to a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury. (Nighttime is defined as the period 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise.)"
Protection of the Property of Others
"A person is justified in using force or deadly force against another to protect the property of a third person if he reasonably believes he would be justified to use similar force to protect his own property, and he reasonably believes that there existed an attempt or actual commission of the crime of theft or criminal mischief."
http://www.self-defender.net/law3.htm

