Home invasion suspect shot to death

[oneshooter]

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A home invasion suspect is dead. He was reportedly shot by the person he was trying to victimize in southwest Houston. That shooting happened at an apartment complex on Moonmist at Fondren at about 8am.
A husband and wife were in their second-story apartment at the time with their three-year-old child. They heard a knock at the door followed by some banging. They looked out the window and saw two men. One of the men had a gun, and began to force his way inside.
The family was inside calling the police," said Sgt. J.C. Padilla with the Houston Police Department. "They also pushed a loveseat next to the door to block it and they still managed to swing it open."
Police say one man pointed a gun at the tenant. The tenant opened fire, shooting the suspect in the chest.
Police say the wounded suspect ran outside, collapsed on the balcony and died.

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=7684895

When will the goblins learn? A legal use of a firearm to defend ones family.

Oneshooter
Armed and Livin in Texas

[Bold Lib]

1. Based on the description of what happened I find myself wondering. . .

Why THIS apartment? I'm thinking they might have targeted someone for some reason and went to the wrong place. Just my speculation on the topic. I guess the argument can be made that the picked the wrong place irregardless.

[Tace]

2. Odd Turns Of Phrase In The Story

Anyway, looks like a dope deal, or some other illegal activity, gone wrong to me. For starters, why did both parties have guns?

[old mark]

3. Well, I don't know about them, but if someone froces their way int my home, I

will certainly have a gun.


mark

[Tace]

8. I'd Want One, Too

I was wrong to pre-judge what was happening in the OP.

[Bold Lib]

4. I have many guns. In fact, when there is a knock at the door that I

am not expecting I answer it with gun in hand. All my friends know that it is rude to just "stop by" and call ahead of time. That means right off the bat if there is a knock at the door I don't know them.

So the guy have a gun at home for home defense is not odd to me. The way that they tried to kick in (and did)in the door with a gun in hand makes me believe that the really, REALLY, wanted into THIS apartment. Had this been a drug dealing place with lots of cash and dope the cops would have figured that out pretty quick (they are really good at that part of their job). No, I'm suspecting that these people breaking in THOUGHT this was a drug place by mistake.

[Tace]

9. Makes Sense

I can envision your scenario.

It also makes sense that the police can figure out these things pretty well.

Cheers

[spin]

5. Why did both parties have guns?

I live in Northern Florida. Most honest people here are armed as are the criminals. When I lived in Tampa before I retired, most of the people I worked with had firearms and a high percentage had concealed weapons licenses.

I wouldn't see anything unusual in the fact that a homeowner had a handgun.

[Tace]

7. I Respect A Person's Right To Be Armed

I have no idea what happened in the OP, and I shouldn't necessarily have speculated.

I prefer not to own a handgun.

Please don't aim at me. : )

[spin]

12. To own a handgun or not, is and should be your choice ...

I always advise people that before they purchase a firearm for self defense they need to carefully consider the decision. Firearms are not for everybody.

The first and possibly the most important question you must ask yourself is, "Can I shoot someone who is attacking me or my family with the intent of causing severe injury or death realizing that I might kill or severely injure them." It's far more difficult than most people realize to actually shoot someone. It's almost against human nature. If you hesitate, the attacker can disarm you and use your weapon against you.

But there are even more questions to answer.

1) Do I tend to abuse alcohol or drugs?

2) Do I suffer from anger management problems?

3) Do I suffer from a serious mental condition that might cause me to endanger others if I owned a firearm?

4) Do I ever think of committing suicide?

5) Do I have young children in the house and if so, am I willing to properly secure my weapons?

6) Am I willing to take the time and effort to learn how to be safe with my firearm and proficient with it?

The chances of ever having to use a firearm for self defense depends on a lot of factors. Obviously if you are unlucky enough to live in a bad neighborhood, your chances are higher than if you live in a gated community.

I know of very few people who have ever actually had to use a firearm for self defense. One is my daughter who stopped an intruder who was breaking into our home in Tampa, 21 years ago. She pointed a large caliber revolver at him as he was attempting to force a sliding glass door open. He ran. Not shots were fired. She had considerable experience shooting this handgun on the pistol range and when she drew down on the intruder, he probably felt her confidence.

[jazzhound]

15. Your position is absolutely respectable.

Unfortunately, others who choose not to provide for their own protection take an authoritarian posture and insist that others be compelled to adopt their viewpoint.

Thank you for your healthy attitude.

[oneshooter]

6. Which one would you rather be armed? n/t

[Tace]

10. I Didn't Realize, At First, That I Was Commenting In The Gun Forum

Many would argue that we have a responsibility to defend ourselves.

Cheers

[oneshooter]

11. "Many would argue that we have a responsibility to defend ourselves."

And do you hold to that argument, or would you prefer a unarmed populace, relying on Law Enforcement to protect you.

Oneshooter
Armed and Livin in Texas

[SteveM]

13. Thanks for dropping by -- and no one shot at you!...

The subject of self-defense is nearly always covered in questions about the Second Amendment and the laws, proposed or otherwise, which affect that right. Gandhi, and others, certainly argued that people have the right to defend themselves. He was also certainly aware of the distinction between a political strategy of non-violence, and the individual nature of self-defense; but in both cases he argued that self-defense was a duty, whether violence was employed or not.

[GreenStormCloud]

14. Its Texas. That's why the homeowner had a gun.

The bad guy had a gun because that's what bad guys do, regardless of the state.