If I had to shoot someone who invaded my home...

[CompVest]

Keep your firearms secured so that no unauthorized person can gain access to them. If anyone wants access without your permission call your attorney.

[MoJo]

Sorry, but I'm not qualified to give specific advice.

If I were worried about legal involvement, the least of my concerns would be replaceable merchandise.

Besides, I don't own any fancy weapons -- just plain old serviceable ones.

- Jim[/quote]

You are going to have a lot more to worry about after shooting someone than the police taking your guns. I think the police would only take the one you used to shoot the perp with, but INAC (I'm Not A Cop) if your guns are in plain sight they may take them. If they are locked in a safe etc. they may not. My first worry would be the safety of me and my family and the well being of the person I shot, not property. (Did I say that right Charles? See I did listen up during your class at PSC)

[karder]

While I am not qualified to give legal advice, I think the best thing to do in a shooting situation is be 100% honest. Don't move anything, change anything, or make any adjustments whether they directly relate to the shooting or not. If the cops take all my guns, so be it, I will borrow one of my brothers Sigs until I can get mine back. There will be a DA looking to prosecute you and probably another attorney looking to sue you civilly. If you get caught doing anything which could possibly be considered questionable or if your honesty can in any way be called into question, there will be some highly educated and highly paid lawyers who will use it to paint you in a very bad light. Personally, I would say and do as little as possible until I had legal counsel and I would not remove anything from the scene.

[5thGenTexan]

Both cases of where I have been acquainted with some one that has used a gun in self defense, the weapons were back in hand in a couple of weeks, after they were nobilled.

[PUCKER]

This was a few years ago in Dallas from what I recall...do you folks remember the older gentleman who kept on having break-ins at his house...well, one night he got the bad guy with his shotgun. The police took it (from what I recall it was his only weapon) as evidence. He went and bought a replacement shotgun (the next day or VERY soon thereafter) and one of the "ace" reporters from Fox 4 (I think) was harassing (I mean trying to interview, but it really was harassment and in VERY POOR taste) him outside of the store where he bought the replacement shotgun...well, anyway, I believe she got fired and/or reassigned for that awful behavior.

[Keith B]

This was a few years ago in Dallas from what I recall...do you folks remember the older gentleman who kept on having break-ins at his house...well, one night he got the bad guy with his shotgun. The police took it (from what I recall it was his only weapon) as evidence. He went and bought a replacement shotgun (the next day or VERY soon thereafter) and one of the "ace" reporters from Fox 4 (I think) was harassing (I mean trying to interview, but it really was harassment and in VERY POOR taste) him outside of the store where he bought the replacement shotgun...well, anyway, I believe she got fired and/or reassigned for that awful behavior.

This was the story of Able Walton who owned a machine shop and shot an interuder that was brekaing into his shop while he slept in the back. Mr. Walton was no-billed on the shooting, however police had confiscated the shotgun as evidence. Rebbecca Agular, a reporter for DFW Fox 4 ambushed the guy outside of Academy when he had bought another shotgun to replace it, and made him break down on camera, then televised it. See http://www.texaschlforum.com/viewtopic. ... 88&start=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. She disappeared from the station after the backlash and outcry of folks berating her for her terrorist tactics as a reporter against the poor guy.

[nitrogen]

Terrorist tactics?

Yeah, it was rotten, and yeah she deserved to be fired, but "Terrorist tactics"
That's overblown, don't you think?

[PUCKER]

Yes, Keith, that's it...forum rules prevent me from saying anything much further on her....it made my blood BOIL!

Man I felt bad for that guy! It was bad enough he had to shoot someday and then to make a spectacle of him.

To get back on topic...I'd loan (I mean "sell" for a pittance) a back-up weapon to friend/family if they had their weapon(s) confiscated after an incident.

[Keith B]

Terrorist tactics?

Yeah, it was rotten, and yeah she deserved to be fired, but "Terrorist tactics"
That's overblown, don't you think?

OK, probably overstated, but asking a poor senior citizen who has had to shoot (and killed) two burglars within the past three weeks "Are you a trigger happy kind of person? Is that what what you wanted to do? Shoot to kill?" while placing herself between the man and the open door of his car is definitely antagonistic, sensationalist and just downright cruel.

[Keith B]

I'd loan (I mean "sell" for a pittance) a back-up weapon to friend/family if they had their weapon(s) confiscated after an incident.

In the case of the Missouri CHL who was shot while defending himself and his friends, a forum took up a collection for him and he was able to purchase a new gun.

[PUCKER]

Yes, I read that, sounds like a bunch of stand-up folks!

I'd loan (I mean "sell" for a pittance) a back-up weapon to friend/family if they had their weapon(s) confiscated after an incident.

In the case of the Missouri CHL who was shot while defending himself and his friends, a forum took up a collection for him and he was able to purchase a new gun.

[RPB]

In some of the northeasterrn states (Rhode Island, New Jersey, etc.), that might be true. I have not heard of any such thing happening in Texas.

A lot of this kind of talk is loosely based on the current or obsolete laws of other states. My favorite is "every bullet will cost you $20,000," or whatever amount. Many defenders never hired a lawyer, never saw the inside of a courtroom, and were no-billed.

I have heard that some people keep a weapon or two and their ammunition in places that would be very difficult to find. I wouldn't know anything about that.

- Jim

Probably wouldn't happen in Texas, but anyway, at my age, I'm not sure I could remember where they are all if asked, though I'd try to remember and honestly tell them all I knew of, there might accidently be one or two I'd find later after they leave. Old age memory ....

[gigag04]

I probably wouldn't cooperate at all with a criminal investigation until I was represented. I'd keep my mouth shut and wait for my TMPA lawyer to show up. I can't speak for all LEOs but I would understand if I was on scene and the victim who had shot a assailant didn't want to speak with me.

I can't see why they would take other, non-involved guns. They are no more relevant to the shooting than a coffee cup full of spare change or my dress shirts.

[bizarrenormality]

Probably wouldn't happen in Texas, but anyway, at my age, I'm not sure I could remember where they are all if asked, though I'd try to remember and honestly tell them all I knew of, there might accidently be one or two I'd find later after they leave. Old age memory ....

If the police started asking questions like that it would remind me I have the right to remain silent.

[cougartex]

There is so much misinformation about what will happen if you ____________________ fill in the blank. That I have quit listening to most people including so called "experts" Do what you have to do and worry about the consequences later. It's better to be alive and unharmed than to be dead or injured because you were afraid of losing your guns, being sued, having seven years bad luck, or a bad hair day.

"It's better to be judged by 12 of your peers than carried by six of your friends."