Stop. Don't read the post yet. Just check the visuals. Sorta telegraphs the outcome and damn if I'm not just plain weary of that.A Pasadena, TX grand jury has declined to indict Joe Horn on any criminal charges stemming from a Nov. 14, 2007 incident when he shot and killed two black hispanic men who were robbing his neighbors home. Horn observed the robbery taking place from inside his home and called the police. Despite repeated instructions from the police dispatcher to remain in his home, Horn insisted on going outside and confronting the thieves. When he attempted to stop them, they tried to run and Horn shot each one in the back with his shotgun, killing them both.
This stands in stark contrast to the fate of 53-year-old John White,
convicted of manslaughter and now serving time for the August 9, 2006 killing of 17-year-old Daniel Cicciaro during a confrontation in the front yard of White's home. Cicciaro and his friends had come to intimidate and potentially assault Aaron White, John's son. They called his home and told him they were coming for that purpose. John and his son armed themselves and waited, rather than calling the police. When the guys arrived, they confronted them and in the ensuing confrontation, John White shot Cicciaro in the face, killing him. The white man in Texas who confronted burglars robbing his neighbor's house completely unnecessarily killing two men with shotgun blasts to the back will not face a single charge or consequence, and in fact is lauded as a hero on many fronts, though in fairness the City of Pasedena appears to at least have some awareness that this result is not quite right.
The black man who confronted a group of teens in his own front yard, teens who called his home at least 30 minutes in advance to say they were coming to physically harm his son and who rather than call the police, armed himself and waited for them to arrive to confront them, and shot a foolish, perhaps malovelent teenager? He's in jail, serving a maximum term of 5 to 15 years in prison.
In both of these cases, the shootings were not justified in my opinion. Both men had ample opportunity to avoid harm and allow the authorities to address the situation. In both cases, each man chose confrontation and reckless, unnecessary self help tactics to address the situation with tragic results. Both should have faced a consequence. The results of the justice system handling of these two cases has been depressingly predictable in its disparity of result.
Do you agree with me? Aren't both of these guys wrong? Or were they both justified? Or have the courts sorted it out correctly?
Sounds like John White didn't get a good attorney. I'll bet John White was a bully. That's the breaks, but:
ReplyDeleteJoe Horn is a hero. He obeyed the law. If you don't want folks shooting intruders on their property, then move to Chicago where you can't have a gun in your home. You can just stand by while the intruders rape your family.
Both Columbian illegals had criminal records, and one had done time for drug dealing. These were the scum of society. One must wonder the future murders, rapes, and other crimes that were prevented by popping caps on those two thugs; additionally, his quick and brave actions probably paid back the two criminals for unmentionable crimes that they probably had never paid for.
Good shooting Joe! You can be my neighbor anytime!
I think you're way off base. Joe Horn was not in harms way and I would argue he did not obey the law. Listen to the 911 tape, its linked. He was safe inside his own home. He called 911 and he was in no danger, nor was his neighbor in danger either. He was repeatedly told to stay inside, and he disregarded that and he stated out of his own mouth he was going to kill them. He went outside and provoked a confrontation in order to give himself an excuse to shoot them. Listen to his call, he starts out so calm and gradually works himself into a frenzy. There was no need. We consider the idea (well maybe you don't) that cutting off a man's hand for stealing is a barbaric form of justice, not really justice at all, certainly not in the context of our society. This is akin to the same thing. And Horn was acting in direct contravention of the guidance of law enforcement that HE called. Explain to me how how you figure Horn is a hero for shooting burglars of an empty home of a neighbor he didn't even care about, but White's a bully when he shoots a kid who called his house to threaten him and his family, and comes over with his boys and is in the man's yard threatening to hurt him in the middle of the night? I mean, if Joe Horn justice is okay for you, then at least apply it to everybody, otherwise I can only conclude that you think self help justice is okay when a white homeowner is shooting black guys, but not when the black homeowner is defending his home from white guys.
ReplyDeleteWell what state did the African American family live in. It's too simplistic an argument that the decision was based on race alone and you know that. Despite what the media would like us to believe most of America really isn't that ignorant any longer. We don't know the whole story only the people involved do.
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