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Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 4:07 am
by KBCraig
Thanks, Chas.

No offense, but I am not greatly comforted that the attorneys present agreed that "with force" means "opening an unlocked door", when that is not defined in either statute or common law.

Kevin

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 9:48 am
by KD5NRH
Charles L. Cotton wrote:one of the Senator's stated
:roll: Bad lawyer. Write "I will not use apostrophes to pluralize" on the dry erase board (somehow, it's just not so much of a punishment without chalk, darn it) two hundred times.
He testified that, for purposes of unlawful entry, burglary, etc., pushing a door open constitutes the use of force.
So, how would this differ from the above mentioned panhandler opening the car door?

(Personally, I'd be going for the gun as soon as he reached for a door handle, but unless something was wrong with the power locks, he wouldn't get in that easy.)

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 10:29 am
by stevie_d_64
KD5NRH wrote:
Charles L. Cotton wrote:one of the Senator's stated
:roll: Bad lawyer. Write "I will not use apostrophes to pluralize" on the dry erase board (somehow, it's just not so much of a punishment without chalk, darn it) two hundred times.
Ohhhh, you are soooooo going to get a big noogie for this one!!! :smilelol5:

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 10:44 am
by Charles L. Cotton
KD5NRH wrote:
Charles L. Cotton wrote:He testified that, for purposes of unlawful entry, burglary, etc., pushing a door open constitutes the use of force.
So, how would this differ from the above mentioned panhandler opening the car door?
:thumbsup: More after the bill passes.

Chas.

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 10:56 am
by Charles L. Cotton
KBCraig wrote:Thanks, Chas.

No offense, but I am not greatly comforted that the attorneys present agreed that "with force" means "opening an unlocked door", when that is not defined in either statute or common law.

Kevin
No offense taken and there are many times I reject contentions offered by other attorneys, just as I'm sure they reject mine. However, when a good number of attorneys who practice criminal law agree on what constitutes "force," I have to believe their opinions are based upon case law. I'll try to do some research, but I won't have time for a while.

Chas.

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 4:04 pm
by Charles L. Cotton
Charles L. Cotton wrote:When SB378 passes the House next Monday, . . .
Chas.
This was wrong. The 3/19/07 (Monday) floor debate will be the second reading/vote, not the third and final reading/vote. Monday will see all of the speeches from the opposition, so that's when all of the fireworks will occur, but final passage will be a formality on Tuesday.

Sorry for the misinformation.

Chas.

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 4:28 pm
by seamusTX
Is there any question at all about the Governor signing this bill?

I would certainly expect him to, but he's been doing some strange stuff recently. :???:

- Jim

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 7:18 pm
by srothstein
Charles L. Cotton wrote:
KBCraig wrote:Thanks, Chas.

No offense, but I am not greatly comforted that the attorneys present agreed that "with force" means "opening an unlocked door", when that is not defined in either statute or common law.

Kevin
No offense taken and there are many times I reject contentions offered by other attorneys, just as I'm sure they reject mine. However, when a good number of attorneys who practice criminal law agree on what constitutes "force," I have to believe their opinions are based upon case law. I'll try to do some research, but I won't have time for a while.

Chas.
Charles, when you do the research, one case that might help is about resisting arrest. I don't remember the citation, unfortunately, but the argument was that the statute says force against the officer and the court ruled that just pulling away from the officer was force but not against the officer since it was in the opposite direction as the officer. It was a court of Criminal Appeals decision. I hope that helps you find it though.

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 8:16 pm
by Charles L. Cotton
seamusTX wrote:Is there any question at all about the Governor signing this bill?

I would certainly expect him to, but he's been doing some strange stuff recently. :???:

- Jim
No chance at all. The Castle Doctrine Bills have enjoyed huge support, as evidenced by the number of co-authors that signed-on. SB378 would be veto-proof, so why alienate NRA and TSRA members. Plus, Gov. Perry has been the most gun-friendly Governor we've had in decades. His speech at the NRA Annual Meeting in Houston sounded like I had written it.

Chas.

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 8:21 pm
by Charles L. Cotton
srothstein wrote:
Charles L. Cotton wrote:
KBCraig wrote:Thanks, Chas.

No offense, but I am not greatly comforted that the attorneys present agreed that "with force" means "opening an unlocked door", when that is not defined in either statute or common law.

Kevin
No offense taken and there are many times I reject contentions offered by other attorneys, just as I'm sure they reject mine. However, when a good number of attorneys who practice criminal law agree on what constitutes "force," I have to believe their opinions are based upon case law. I'll try to do some research, but I won't have time for a while.

Chas.
Charles, when you do the research, one case that might help is about resisting arrest. I don't remember the citation, unfortunately, but the argument was that the statute says force against the officer and the court ruled that just pulling away from the officer was force but not against the officer since it was in the opposite direction as the officer. It was a court of Criminal Appeals decision. I hope that helps you find it though.
Thanks, I'll look for that as well. The resisting arrest cases may be very fertile ground to farm. What better area of the law to find the courts setting a very low standard for what constitutes "force" than cases dealing with conduct against a LEO?

Great idea.
Chas.

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 3:45 am
by kauboy
Chas,
After the final reading on Tuesday, and after the following signing, how long before this is "on the books"? I vaugley remember laws having a September "active" date. Am I right, or will this be immediate? Believe me, its not that I want to "try it on for size", I'm just curious.

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 10:39 am
by Charles L. Cotton
kauboy wrote:Chas,
After the final reading on Tuesday, and after the following signing, how long before this is "on the books"? I vaugley remember laws having a September "active" date. Am I right, or will this be immediate? Believe me, its not that I want to "try it on for size", I'm just curious.
Sept. 1, 2007.

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 11:54 am
by immadmacs

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 2:12 pm
by kauboy
Thanks for the update MadMacs. And welcome to the forums. Hope you enjoy it here.

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 11:06 pm
by Roger Howard
Charles L. Cotton wrote:When SB378 passes the House next Monday, I’ll post some comments on the change in the Civil Practices & Remedies Code dealing with civil suits. I don’t want anyone to think there is skunk buried in the bill, so let me say SB378 is an excellent bill that dramatically protects innocent persons justifiably using deadly force. It's provisions are felt in both the criminal and the civil arenas.

“Civil Immunity� does not mean a person cannot be sued. It means the plaintiff cannot win, if the elements of the immunity are present. It also means the defendant will get a summary judgment in their favor, early in the case.

Chas.
I don't know any lawyer that will file a suit they have no hope of winning. Am I wrong?