'cause in Texas potted plant purloiners are legitimate targets

idea · Feb 22, 2012

Skwim said:
"SAN ANTONIO -- Police say a homeowner on the city's northwest side shot a man in the head Wednesday morning for trying to steal a potted plant from his front yard.

The suspect, in his 40s, was taken to an area hospital. Police said he will be charged with theft and possibly burglary.

[Police sargent] Benavides said the homeowner is being questioned but will not likely be charged."
source

Does this really require that I say something interesting? .................................................. Okay.

San Antonio is "one of Americas safest and best 'walking' cities."
source

I live in Texas, and something similar happened to one of my friends - she likes to garden in the front yard because that is the sunny side of her house, and she does container gardening - one morning this guy drives up in a fancy Mercedes car, and starts loading all her planters into the trunk of his car!!! so they're all running out of the house after him yelling "Don't steal our plants man!!!!" and the guy was like, "They were on the curb, I thought you were throwing them away!!" which is not that far fetched because we often do the "for free" stuff on the curb - but usually there is a sign on it if it is free, or you go knock on their door to ask if it's free before you grab the "curb alert" item

- true story! (no guns involved though)

Badran · Feb 22, 2012

Kathryn said:
You do know that the plant thief is alive and well, right? He was only grazed by a bullet.

It still means that the guy was shooting like a maniac, he could've just as easily killed him. Its just a matter of luck. Don't you think that warrants some legal action?

Kathryn · Feb 22, 2012

Dammit, idea, this story is no good. It's set in Texas and it involves NO GUNS!

Can't you embellish it just a little to appease those who can't imagine Texans settling anything without pulling out a gun?

Kathryn · Feb 22, 2012

Badran said:
It still means that the guy was shooting like a maniac, he could've just as easily killed him. Its just a matter of luck. Don't you think that warrants some legal action?

I don't know all the facts and neither does anyone else on this forum. Already we see how quickly things can be implied by a little selective editing.

I'd like to point out that this story made the news BECAUSE it is so unusual and weird. I mean, no one was seriously hurt - what makes the story interesting is the weirdness of it. Folks - this is an uncommon occurrence, to say the least.

Kathryn · Feb 22, 2012

I'd love to continue posting tonight, but I've got to go patrol my perimeter with my Glock and my pit bull by my side. Where's my cowboy hat? Can't go out without that. In fact, I'm foolish to even think about going outside in Texas - what with all the bullets flying thru the air all the time.

Maybe I'll just sit here and watch "Dallas" reruns instead, while my hair dries on really big curlers...

Badran · Feb 22, 2012

Kathryn said:
I don't know all the facts and neither does anyone else on this forum. Already we see how quickly things can be implied by a little selective editing.

I agree, its certainly possible that other relevant facts are missing. If there aren't any though (crucial ones), i think if no legal action is taken then thats quite disturbing. He was too irresponsible and almost killed a person without his life being in any serious danger. One would expect that to be a pretty serious crime.

9-10ths_Penguin · Feb 23, 2012

Kathryn said:
I don't know all the facts and neither does anyone else on this forum. Already we see how quickly things can be implied by a little selective editing.

I'd like to point out that this story made the news BECAUSE it is so unusual and weird. I mean, no one was seriously hurt - what makes the story interesting is the weirdness of it. Folks - this is an uncommon occurrence, to say the least.

Funny, from the rhetoric that you and others were using, one would think that this sort of behavior is to be expected. "Don't mess with Texas", right?

Kathryn · Feb 23, 2012

9-10ths_Penguin said:
Funny, from the rhetoric that you and others were using, one would think that this sort of behavior is to be expected. "Don't mess with Texas", right?

You SHOULDN'T "mess with Texas." Why would you want to?

Kathryn · Feb 23, 2012

Speaking of Texas, today I get to go to work wearing jeans and cowboy boots. We have a big sales rally this evening, and the theme is Western. So later in the day, I'll complete my ensemble with a big cowboy hat, a belt with a huge buckle, and a lasso!

Funny thing about all that is that everyone around here already has that stuff in their closet - it's more a matter of deciding WHICH boots to wear rather than going out and buying a "costume."

I chose my really bad *** pointy toed ones. YEEE HAW! But I wish I had a pair of these:

Revoltingest · Feb 23, 2012

I have one vintage 'Hawaiian' shirt with warriors (Japanese) riding horses.
Would that work?

9-10ths_Penguin · Feb 23, 2012

Kathryn said:
You SHOULDN'T "mess with Texas." Why would you want to?

Do you seriously not understand how this rhetoric that sends the message "this is a place of violent retribution" undermines your argument that it's a lovely, peaceful place?

It reminds me of an ad I saw recently on a dating site. The woman described herself as kind, sweet and funny, but ended her description with "... BUT IF ANYONE MESSES WITH MY KIDS, I'LL KILL THEM." And yes, it was all caps in the profile. Now, I would never be one to hurt a child, but her profile - especially the way she put her propensity for violence up front almost as some sort of selling point - gave me the distinct impression that she was someone I was better off avoiding.

I get a similar impression from your posts here: that Texas is a beautiful place witha rich culture and interesting people... who won't think twice about shooting you in the face if you look at them sideways.

I don't know if that's the message you're intending, but that's how it's coming across.

Reverend Rick · Feb 23, 2012

9-10ths_Penguin said:
Do you seriously not understand how this rhetoric that sends the message "this is a place of violent retribution" undermines your argument that it's a lovely, peaceful place?

It reminds me of an ad I saw recently on a dating site. The woman described herself as kind, sweet and funny, but ended her description with "... BUT IF ANYONE MESSES WITH MY KIDS, I'LL KILL THEM." And yes, it was all caps in the profile. Now, I would never be one to hurt a child, but her profile - especially the way she put her propensity for violence up front almost as some sort of selling point - gave me the distinct impression that she was someone I was better off avoiding.

I get a similar impression from your posts here: that Texas is a beautiful place witha rich culture and interesting people... who won't think twice about shooting you in the face if you look at them sideways.

I don't know if that's the message you're intending, but that's how it's coming across.

We agree big time here. No offense, but I would not live in Texas because of the attitudes of many Texans.

The difference between us is, I champion their differences and applaud them for running their state how they see fit.

Kentucky is like a Texas light. We all carry guns but do not shoot trespassers and thieves.

The law assumes citizens have guns and does not freak out about it like many other states do if your stopped for something.

Revoltingest · Feb 23, 2012

Reverend Rick said:
We agree big time here. No offense, but I would not live in Texas because of the attitudes of many Texans.
The difference between us is, I champion their differences and applaud them for running their state how they see fit.
Kentucky is like a Texas light. We all carry guns but do not shoot trespassers and thieves.
The law assumes citizens have guns and does not freak out about it like many other states do if your stopped for something.

Kentucky - land of the Hatfield McCoy feud.

Reverend Rick · Feb 23, 2012

Someone once said, "An armed society is a polite society".

9-10ths_Penguin · Feb 23, 2012

Reverend Rick said:
Someone once said, "An armed society is a polite society".

As someone who comes from an unarmed* country that's renowned for its politeness, I respectfully disagree.

*We have plenty of long guns, but we use them for hunting, not personal defense, and virtually the only people with handguns are cops and armoured car drivers.

Duck · Feb 23, 2012

Skwim said:
"SAN ANTONIO -- Police say a homeowner on the city's northwest side shot a man in the head Wednesday morning for trying to steal a potted plant from his front yard.

The suspect, in his 40s, was taken to an area hospital. Police said he will be charged with theft and possibly burglary.

[Police sargent] Benavides said the homeowner is being questioned but will not likely be charged."
source

Does this really require that I say something interesting? .................................................. Okay.

San Antonio is "one of Americas safest and best 'walking' cities."
source

Many, if not all, jurisdictions in Texas would have allowed the homeowner to pursue the thief and shoot him in the street. I believe that the pursuit limit is something like 10 miles if I remember correctly, there may be some limits regarding having the stolen property on their (the thief's) person, and I also believe (IIRC) that there are limitations regarding daylight versus nighttime responses and pursuits.

Texas has some interesting laws regarding defense of home and property.

Duck · Feb 23, 2012

Father Heathen said:
Why would he be charged? For protecting his property?

Criminal charges aren't likely.

He is likely to be sued by the man and/or his family. Several years ago (20ish now, gods I forgot it was that long ago...) there was a case in Houston where a man had surprised a robber in his house with the man's property in his arms. The homeowner shot and killed the robber. No criminal charges were brought, but there was a civil lawsuit against the homeowner from the family of the robber, suing for among other things, loss of income (!), wrongful death, etc. I don't remember the outcome of the lawsuit, but I do remember being very annoyed that it had been brought, particularly the loss of income allegations.

Revoltingest · Feb 23, 2012

9-10ths_Penguin said:
As someone who comes from an unarmed* country that's renowned for its politeness, I respectfully disagree.
*We have plenty of long guns, but we use them for hunting, not personal defense, and virtually the only people with handguns are cops and armoured car drivers.

You say you're unarmed & then proceed to describe how you're armed.
Me confused!

9-10ths_Penguin · Feb 23, 2012

Revoltingest said:
You say you're unarmed & then proceed to describe how you're armed.
Me confused!

Rick's quip focused on the threat from guns: the implication was that you'd be polite because impoliteness would get you shot.

Unless you're an impolite *bear*, that's generally not the case here.

Revoltingest · Feb 23, 2012

9-10ths_Penguin said:
Rick's quip focused on the threat from guns: the implication was that you'd be polite because impoliteness would get you shot.
Unless you're an impolite *bear*, that's generally not the case here.

Hah! You still have a whole lotta guns.
To speak of a particular use does not eliminate other uses.
No wonder Canuckistan is so polite!
(It's all those rifles & shotguns.)

'cause in Texas potted plant purloiners are legitimate targets

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