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When Rebecca Attacks...

JayDavis said:
Truthfully, I always believe in shoot to kill, if someone is breaking into your property. It will save the taxpayers the cost of a trial.

Not to mention the costs involved of housing an inmate for 10 to 20 years.The fact, is the costs are high even for 18 months to 2 years or so. I agree, Jay.
 
Yes, I also forgot about the cost involved about the inmate while he is in jail awaiting trial, plus the long term cost associated with prison time. Thanks for pointing that out.
 
Im in total agreement, The 2nd amendment allows us a freedom rarely affored in other places on this planet. From what ive seen and heard, this guy was holding his own in a really shady neighborhood. More than likely, this guy will be no-billed by a grand jury and allowed to continue his life. Maybe we need more of these "heroes" to stand up and defend their property so that these wackjobs will get the point...
 
If she'd done me that way, I think I would have closed the door and drove off. He shouldn't have let it go as far as it did.

As for Rebecca, that was tasteless. Has KDFW fallen to the point of having to do stories like that in order to produce a newscast? Shameful. I'm sure Chip is rolling over in his grave on that one.
 
JayDavis said:
Truthfully, I always believe in shoot to kill, if someone is breaking into your property. It will save the taxpayers the cost of a trial.
Someone came into MY blog a while back and asked about 'shooting to wound', why don't cops shoot to wound or shoot em in the leg...

After I got done LMAO I informed them that wounding was only done by accident, that if you had to shoot, whether as a cop or a citizen, you shoot to KILL...

I spent the better part of 30 years carrying a gun for a living, and I lived to tell about it too, and you know what, I never heard of shooting someone to make em feel better...

One other thing, you're not nearly as likely to be sued over a dead body as you are a live one that's wounded...
 
Oh what a sad topic this is.
Blaze Foley was playing the sofa circuit. His friend's son didn't know Blaze was staying there. When Blaze came in early one morning, the son shot him dead. The grand jury no-billed. Music fans still mourn.
And you'd be amazed how much it costs to treat a gunshot wound. The gang wars of the 80's left county hospitals providing literally millions of dollars worth of charity care, cuz the crips, bloods and other gangs don't provide health coverage....
 
You know, we could ramble endlessly about this old man who friggin' lived at the salvage yard... so imagine, the trashy brat punks aren't breaking into a junkyard, it's a home... but let's look at the facts, some of them aforementioned.

1. There is no such thing as Maverick reporting. That is left for the big boys in Atlanta and NYC (nationals, not locals, for those scoring at home). Rebecca had to get approval for that piece BEFORE air. She followed her checks and balances, that's how she got the secondary news desk in studio to wrap the piece.

2. How she went about it was aberrant. Blocking his car door, mindlessly poking her umbrella on the ground while he whimpers and asking him if he "shoots to kill". Hell, this old man is fortunate if he hits his target when applying the Preparation-H. Shoots to kill?! That was so bush league.

3. FOX local took a page out of the FOX national handbook - react later and cover. The piece went on-air, and if this onslaught wasn't in Maria Barrs inbox the next day, Rebecca would be covering the recent rain we have had. However, they backpedaled and no Rebecca is enjoying a vacation...er...uh...the recipient of an indefinite suspension.

4. "Indefinite suspension" is media code for "until this fracas and imbroglio blows over."

Oy!
 
My question is: which Texas does Rebecca live in? Most Texans ardently support gun rights. Didn't she anticipate this kind of reaction to her story? You're definitely not going to get much support for ambushing the poor old guy.

I live in Arizona -- which is Far West Texas as far as gun rights go! ;) I would never think of ambushing someone who shot/captured someone who was trespassing on private property.
 
TexasFred said:
After I got done LMAO I informed them that wounding was only done by accident, that if you had to shoot, whether as a cop or a citizen, you shoot to KILL...

When you go before the grand jury you had better tell them you shot to STOP THE THREAT to person or property, not that you shot to kill them.
 
Most current and former cops, including my dad, will tell you the only reason you use a gun is to kill you target, plain and simple.
 
I will not get into debate on a TV board on the subject, but my comment above was about what the intent was when shooting. You shoot to STOP THE THREAT, and yes someone may be killed.

If you your only reason for shooting someone was to kill them, you have committed a crime. If you shot to stop the threat to person or property, that is your defense.
 
I agree, OTT. This is not a forum for the NRA and ACLU to get into a bickering match about "shoot to kill." The only reason that phrase came into play here is because of the bush league tactics Rebecca used on an old man... and the producer used for the piece... and the news director permitted for air.

Granted, it's news and the questions should have been asked - but nowhere near like that.
 
People who suggest anyone might "shoot to wound" have seen too many movies, and have probably never handled a firearm. Unless you are expertly trained and practice under high-stress situations, the adrenaline is simply pumping to fast to be that accurate. The opportunity seldom presents itself in real life, if ever. Even less so with a shotgun - involved in these incidents - which may be loaded with magnum buckshot or a slug. I have a 20 gauge that I keep in my home for protection (the word "shotgun!" and the sound of racking a shell hard is a powerful dissuader alone). I once used a tree for target practice. It was about 10 inches in diameter. I fired three slugs at the trunk from about 15 feet, and felled the tree. I hope to high heaven I nor anyone else ever has to use such a weapon on a human being. Generally speaking, to stop a threat you target the motor (chest), computer (head), and then the wheels (legs). A large caliber weapon makes all three targets potentially fatal, and you never even buy a gun for defense if you aren't prepared for that result.

In defense of the grand jury review...where were the fatal wounds? Were the intruders shot from in front, or behind? What were the loads, and from what distance were they fired? There are many more aspects and evidence that will be examined, and the man will probably be no-billed. The problem with Rebecca's questions is 1) they were unduly provocative ("Are you...trigger happy?"), and 2) ignorant ("Did you shoot to kill? Is that what you wanted?") They might be fine coming from a prosecutor, but prosecution isn't usually the domain of a reporter.

And Veritas...I hate to say this...but in many cases the only question a reporter will get from a newscast's producer is "how long is it?" Many stories air without ever being seen by anyone other than the reporter, photographer and editor - which raises perhaps even more serious questions.

One question that wasn't asked and should have been? On the form you fill out to buy a firearm I recall a question to the effect of "Are you currently facing felony indictment...?" Did anyone think to ask Academy how the gentleman answered? The man seems like the salt of the earth, and probably is. God bess him, I can't imagine how he must feel throughout all this...and I think Rebecca messed up royally. But some questions need to be asked. Just not the way it happened, by any means.
 
jdean said:
And Veritas...I hate to say this...but in many cases the only question a reporter will get from a newscast's producer is "how long is it?" Many stories air without ever being seen by anyone other than the reporter, photographer and editor - which raises perhaps even more serious questions.

Well, shoot. It sure was more dramatic the way I had it plotted out in my non-TV mind ;D. Thanks for the clarity, JD.
 
I know. Mine, too. Very often it's only those stories that need to be "run by legal" that get any preview at all. Heavy leads...yes. Investigative stories, leads in the second block...maybe. Third and fourth stories in a block, rarely if ever.
 
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