Tipped off by pet parrot, Dallas homeowner shoots burglar in the act

CastleHills, says:

...and in further news, local pet stores reported a run on "watch-parrots."

kirk, says:

I am so glad that Dallas-area residents are skipping that pesky step of calling the police when there is a suspected intruder on their property.

Every man, woman and child in Texas should feel free to fire a gun when someone has trespassed on his or her property. If an intoxicated neighbor or musician happens to get in the way, well so be it. It's our Constitutional right to be armed, and our right as Texans not to have to retreat or even warn anyone before responding with deadly force when faced with an intruder in our home, vehicle or business.

Shoot first, and let the grand jury ask pro forma questions later, if they feel like it.

Any truth to the rumor that we're going to outsource our policing to Blackwater?

viva_la_malcriada, says:

Let's hear some love for our feathered brethren! All you need are a couple of parrots and a gaggle of attack geese and security-wise, you'll be set for life. Cool...

bryan1788, says:

@Kirk - Hmmm...Retreating in my own home and leaving the fate of myself and loved ones to an intruder. Spoken like a true patriot!

Scott, says:

I think it's fair to at least give an intruder a warning shot--say, to the abdomen.

amandax9362, says:

Kirk, if a intoxicated neighbor bangs on my door and rattles the door knob like he is trying to get in, I am going to defend myself. I don't care if he is a beloved local musician or not. Carter's death was a result of his own actions. As for giving no warning, Carter did get warnings. I don't know if the man in this story did. It doesn't matter because it's HIS PROPERTY! The warning should have been the man he shot 3 weeks ago. I am tired of people not being held accountable for their own actions. You live in Texas, people have guns. If you don't break into their homes, they wont shoot you.

kirk, says:

Hell, no, Scott! They're the ones in my garage or my warehouse, or standing on my back porch. Why the hell should I bother with a warning shot, or yelling at them to get off my property, or going after them with a baseball bat, or using mace, or calling the cops who are probably going to take an hour to come anyway? I'm gonna shoot to kill, because you know how dangerous a wounded person can be, especially if he doesn't follow the rules. And most especially if he don't speak English.

kirk, says:

Amandax9362:

"You live in Texas, people have guns. If you don't break into their homes, they wont shoot you."

Yep. Take, for example, this guy http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedconte... who was breaking into someone's home. This is exactly why every Texan should have a gun in their home.

amandax9362, says:

Sorry Kirk but that is a big difference in circumstances. That link is for a cops going to a criminals house, and the criminal being a CRIMINAL shot the cop. Not some innocent person thinking the cop was wanting to rob/attack them.

Scott, says:

I always thought De Sica's "Bicycle Thief" would've been much more engaging, had the protagonist been well-armed.

kirk, says:

"Pee-Wee's Big Adventure," too!

SonyaBlade, says:

Kirk Brewer? Seriously? I mean, you are joking right? Seriously? Kirk? 'Cmon, really? Kirk!!! 'Cmon!!!! Seriously???

Bemused, says:

*I've been robbed and I've also been taken hostage by someone with intent to kill me*

Gilliand, I don't know whether to be horror stricken or charmed by your stark honesty, if, in fact, you write with veracity. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and remain in awe of your epic experiences. You really must compose an autobiography, the groundwork of which you have dilineated in these blogs.

I agree with Gilliand that the media's treatment of the fellow in question is grossly unacceptable. I concur also that the media's approach would have been drastically different had the gunslinger been a minority female assailed by a white male. Based upon the extant evidence, this chap had every right to pull the trigger.

Bemused, says:

but there are some real nut-cases out there- more than there used be.

These are dark, uncertain times, and people are confused and afraid. The family unit has dissipated, and our sense of community has waned. Isolation of spirit breeds misanthropy, a condition that produces self-righteous madness. It's only natural that manifold loons are among us. This is why our solidarity as a species is imperative.