2 teens killed after allegedly breaking into home;

[TTS]

Asking... because I'm reading from a lot of folks in Texas that if it happened there it would be dismissed.

You break in and get shot, that's your dumb arse fault... don't break into people's homes. Think about it, had they not been there in the first place they'd be alive and well posting on Facebook today how much their teacher sucks or whatever teens talk about now days, and this guy wouldn't be facing a murder charge or two. It's not like he went looking for trouble, trouble broke into his home and came down the steps to greet him.

The problem legally isn't that he shot them, the problem is that after there was no more threat he killed them (he has admitted this). He had the right to use deadly force, but that force had to be "reasonable" under the law. By your logic, we should be cutting off the hands of people that steal as well...

[Thunder71]

Not my logic... People from Texas responding on other forums isn't my logic, I'm just providing a perspective from some who live outside of this state.

[JoeH]

Thankfully most gun owners are not in favor of shooting people that break into their homes. I see the bravado here with "break into my house and you will get shot" and it saddens me.

I know that deadly force is allowed to prevent the commission of a felony in one's place of abode. This does not make it right or moral in my mind. I will only use deadly force to protect life, never to protect property or to punish. This guy killed to punish these kids.

Had he only shouted "I have a gun. The police are on their way. Get out of my house." those kids would be alive and he wouldn't be in jail charged with murder.

[TTS]

Not my logic... People from Texas responding on other forums isn't my logic, I'm just providing a perspective from some who live outside of this state.

My fault, I thought you were agreeing with them.

Honestly I think this case would have played out the same way in Texas, it wasn't a problem of using deadly force. It was a problem of executing someone after they had been shot and were unarmed. Additionally he moved the bodies and didn't contact police.

[Thunder71]

Thankfully most gun owners are not in favor of shooting people that break into their homes. I see the bravado here with "break into my house and you will get shot" and it saddens me.

I know that deadly force is allowed to prevent the commission of a felony in one's place of abode. This does not make it right or moral in my mind. I will only use deadly force to protect life, never to protect property or to punish. This guy killed to punish these kids.

Had he only shouted "I have a gun. The police are on their way. Get out of my house." those kids would be alive and he wouldn't be in jail charged with murder.

I agree completely... well said. I live by the laws of this state and my own upbringing wouldn't put me in this situation. If anything I'm too hesitant, at least on my own behalf.

[Humphrey Bogart]

I think I AM going to put a strip of Duct Tape on the back of my Carry Permit...reminding me to STFU.

"Here officer, here's my permit" as I attach the Duct Tape to my mouth.

[texasprowler]

I know that deadly force is allowed to prevent the commission of a felony in one's place of abode. This does not make it right or moral in my mind. I will only use deadly force to protect life, never to protect property or to punish. This guy killed to punish these kids.

Now we can't use lethal force to protect property either?

This guy didn't kill them or punish them. He 'stopped' them from continuance of felonies, something the police failed to do after repeated notice.

[plblark]

so you're OK with the multiple shots after down and the finishing shot? the whole concept of "when someone laughs at you after you've shot them, you go again" (paraphrase)?

Just trying to be clear ...

[Heffay]

Is this guy for real?

[JoeH]

The complaint

114525666-Criminal-complaint-for-Byron-Smith-charged-in-Little-Falls-shooting.pdf

(299.16 KB) Downloaded 321 times

[Thunder71]

Nightmare On Elm Street

OK, so it was over 24 hours later! Holy smokes...

I think he listened to too much Ted Nugent "I don't like repeat offenders, I like dead offenders."

So the finishing shot was to end her suffering...

It does say he feared they may have a weapon, and asked his neighbor to call the police.

[texasprowler]

Just curious about cultural attitude- had the intruders been middle-age drug dealing gang-bangers with a long rap sheet, would sentiment about the victim be different?

[TTS]

Just curious about cultural attitude- had the intruders been middle-age drug dealing gang-bangers with a long rap sheet, would sentiment about the victim be different?

Nope, if you execute someone who is not able to harm you.... you deserve to fry. We are either a culture that values life or we are not.

If his actions were justifiable then we need to institute the death penalty for theft, B&E and trespassing.

[VikesFan1]

so you're OK with the multiple shots after down and the finishing shot?

I know this was directed to someone else but I will give my .02 worth... With multiple assailants running around his house, code red/frenzied panic, to say I'm "OK" is a stretch, but I do understand. Maybe someone with better tactical knowledge can step in here, but my guess is he was probably operating in the correct mode in terms of eliminating threats.

the whole concept of "when someone laughs at you after you've shot them, you go again" (paraphrase)?

Just trying to be clear ...

In that situation, I could see the laughter taken as, "Haha, I'm still going to do what I came here to do..." A continuance of the threat. ... I mean really, how's it supposed to be interpreted under those circumstances?? I'm all ears.

Monday morning quarterbacking is easy.

[Humphrey Bogart]

Tried to copy and paste the account but the pdf won't convert to text....

Read it....it's what NOT to do.

Do the 'Certified Firearms Instructors' here emphasize 'Verbal Commands'....This guy could have backed off the 18 year old boy with some angry language, I think.

Since the Trayvoon Martin Assault I've been 'reconsidering' the 'Warning Shot'....but that's a nasty kettle of worms itself.

Read the Document, visualize yourself there and don't do what this guy did.