Justified Shooting

[joe simerly]

how is it viewed through the eyes of the law if you have to shoot an attacking dog such as a pit bull?

[Keith B]

how is it viewed through the eyes of the law if you have to shoot an attacking dog such as a pit bull?

First off, welcome tothe forum.

Your post is has been covered multiple times on the forum. Here is one of the latest threads http://www.texaschlforum.com/viewtopic. ... 51&start=0&" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[USA1]

My wifes uncle was attacked by 3 pit bulls the other day.

He is 80 something years old but tuff as nails and a big ole boy. There have been 3 pits roaming around his rural home for several days growling and barking. The other day they attacked him in his front yard. At one point he was pulled to the ground and was struggling to keep them away from his neck and face while yelling to his wife to get his gun.

Well, she brought out his gun but no bullets. Finally with bullets in hand he loaded his gun, all the while with 3 pits tugging and biting his legs. He was finally able to get a shot off and hit one square in the head and the other two scrambled off from the gun shot. It didn't take long for them to come at him again. He shot the second one in the head and dropped him instantly. The third pit kept his distance and my uncle (in law) made it inside the house covered in blood from his arms to his legs.

The next day he went to the neighbor which was the owner of the third dog to inform him of what had taken place.
The owner immediately and without hesitation put down the dog.

My uncle (in law) is country boy raised in the mountains and will not even consider Legal Actions for whatever reasons.
I don't know what kind of gun was used because I wasn't there to ask when he was telling my wife about what happened.

She told me that besides being all tore up on his arms and legs, that he was in good spirits considering what happened.

So to the original question about "how is it viewed in the eyes of the law?"
I won't be thinking about the law if I'm being attacked by Pit Bulls.

[SQLGeek]

Wow! I wish your wife's uncle a good and quick recovery.

[USA1]

Wow! I wish your wife's uncle a good and quick recovery.

Thanks.

When I say he's tuff, I mean it. He's been doctor'in his wounds with moonshine.

[joe817]

Incredible story USA1 ! Wow! Thanks for sharing. Hope he's doing well, and kudos to him!

[Medic218]

Wow! I wish your wife's uncle a good and quick recovery.

Thanks.

When I say he's tuff, I mean it. He's been doctor'in his wounds with moonshine.

Old folks are just a whole other breed. Goodness. He does sounds like one tough ol cuss. Kinda brings Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino to mind.
Glad he's ok.

[karder]

I am glad your Uncle is ok USA1. That is an amazing story. As good ol' Hank Williams Jr. says, a country boy can survive!
To the original OP, if you are being attacked by any animal, you are going to be safe to take it down. As always, be careful about innocents standing around as discharging a weapon is always dangerous for that reason. I might be hesitant to shoot without a good reason so as not to create a greater danger than the animal itself, however, a dog clamped to my person definitely counts as a good reason!

[SQLGeek]

Wow! I wish your wife's uncle a good and quick recovery.

Thanks.

When I say he's tuff, I mean it. He's been doctor'in his wounds with moonshine.

Now that we know he is OK, in a kind of morbid curiosity, I would've loved to have seen his reaction when his wife brought out an empty gun.

I'm picturing my wife's grandfather in this role... *click click click* "Oh what in the heck...! These guns need boolits! Why did you bring me a metal club?! Now go inside and bring me the box of silver tips before fido turns me into lunch!"

[WildBill]

I am glad your Uncle is ok USA1. That is an amazing story. As good ol' Hank Williams Jr. says, a country boy can survive!
To the original OP, if you are being attacked by any animal, you are going to be safe to take it down. As always, be careful about innocents standing around as discharging a weapon is always dangerous for that reason. I might be hesitant to shoot without a good reason so as not to create a greater danger than the animal itself, however, a dog clamped to my person definitely counts as a good reason!

In the situation of a dog clamped onto the person, one would have to be very careful not to shoot themselves in the foot or leg.

[glbedd53]

To me the worst part of this story is the gun with no bullets

[casingpoint]

3 pits roaming around his rural home for several days growling and barking

That's when I put them down in my neck of the woods. In the eyes of the law hereabouts, that's the common law. I imagine if your mountain man uncle were to check with another mountain man, say for instance a one Raylan Givens, it'd be Justified.

(please somebody remind me next week not to watch that show again. lawdy, that's some powerful bad acting and one of the worst shows to ever hit the boob tube)

[glbedd53]

My question would be what if you shoot a Pit Bull for just walking through your yard.

[GOP]

A few years ago a pit bull wandered into my front yard. I live out in the country so this isn't uncommon. My father-in-law recommended a third eye immediately, but the dog seemed sort of gentle. I gave it some food, and began to bond with it. A few weeks later I came home and the dog jumped a fence and tore the throat out of one of our goats. So it got its' third eye. From now on, all pit's, and their ilk, get shot on sight. None of my neighbors have them, so if one shows up more than likely it's some hug hunters wayward pooch. I don't care though, I won't ever trust them again. That goat could have been one of my children.

[GOP]

(please somebody remind me next week not to watch that show again. lawdy, that's some powerful bad acting and one of the worst shows to ever hit the boob tube)

I never got past the halfway point in the first show. Too bad, cause I really like the actors in it. Deadwood and The Shield are some of my all time favorites. Ah well....