One-Man Posse
What makes a man who has lived three-score years in the comfortable sanctuary that is the United States, and specifically Texas, feel that the possessions he has amassed over a lifetime of living are more valuable than the life of a human being? Make that two human beings.Two unfortunates who had the unmitigated temerity, if not downright stupidity, to feel somehow that they were entitled through the misfortune of their downtrodden lives to challenge those with property - to some portion of it. A decision that would cost them their lives. Of course they wouldn't have known this before they embarked on their little adventure.
Who among us, after all, might imagine that to venture onto the property of a stranger for the purpose of purloining something that the stranger owns would result in a great black void of non-existence? Perhaps we should, but we don't. Most of us, in any event, would never think of venturing where we obviously don't belong. And most people would never conceive of the idea that defending property is worth forfeiting a life.
"I've got a shotgun. do you want me to stop 'em"?, asked this eager-beaver caller to 911 on discovering that two strangers had been attempting a break-in through a neighbour's home. "Nope, don't do that. Ain't no property worth shooting somebody over, OK? was the response from the emergency dispatcher. Something he said repeatedly to this slow learner, who asked a question whose response wasn't what he was looking for.
So he grabbed his shotgun, went looking for the intruders, confronted and shot them. Vigilante action that obviously fulfilled a deep longing in this man's soul. Joe Horn is his name. He cold-bloodedly shot two would-be thieves whose skin colour identified them as so unlike himself that it would be all right; no big deal. Thieves, after all. And a man has a right to defend his castle - or his neighbour's.
He was frightened, according to his lawyer. He was protecting his life. Actually, Mr. Horn lectured the dispatcher who kept trying to instill some common sense in him, trying to persuade him to sit tight, not to go outside, just to wait until the emergency responders, the police who were dispatched arrived. Mr. Horn reminded the dispatcher that the law gives him the right to protect himself, that "the laws have been changed in this country since Sept.1 and you know it and I know it".
The police arrived to find the two men, Miguel Antonio DeJesus and Diego Ortiz dead of their mortal wounds; they had attempted to flee but in vain.
Labels: Justice, Political Realities
posted by Pieface @ Friday, December 07, 2007
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