Texas lawmaker opposed to change in deadly force law

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Rep. Miles voted against a bill that would not require a person to retreat from an intruder before using deadly force. In this situation he was not confronted by the intruder, he on the second floor of the house while the thieves were on the ground floor. Miles was in no physical danger. He created the incident by confronting the thieves and then shooting one. By his stand on the legislation he would expect you to avoid the confrontation (stay hidden upstairs and keep quite and if the thieves come up stairs jump out a window). What does he do? He confronts the thieves and ends up shooting one of them.
 
Anti-Gun Rights Politician Shoots Thief

Sorry if this has been posted already.

HOUSTON — A state lawmaker who opposed a bill giving Texans stronger right to defend themselves with deadly force pulled a gun and shot a man he says was trying to steal copper wiring from a construction site, police said Monday.

Rep. Borris Miles told police he was fixing a leak on the second floor of the Houston house he's building Sunday night when he heard a noise downstairs and saw two men trying to steal the copper. After Miles confronted the pair, one of the men threw a pocketknife at him, Houston Police spokesman Victor Senties.

Miles, a former law enforcement officer, shot the man in the left leg, police said. The wounded suspect was being treated at a Houston hospital. Police were trying to identify the other suspect.

Charges of aggravated robbery are pending against the wounded suspect, Senties said.

Police said Miles, who is in his freshman term, is licensed to carry a concealed weapon. No charges have been filed against Miles, Senties said.

Miles, a Democrat, voted against a bill that gives Texans stronger legal right to defend themselves with deadly force in their homes, vehicles, and workplaces. The so-called "castle doctrine," passed by the Legislature this year, states that a person has no duty to retreat from an intruder before using deadly force. The law goes into effect Sept. 1.
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A state lawmaker

a former law enforcement officer
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He just didn't want peasants to have the law on their side. He knew he'd be safe from prosecution.

Lousy shot, to boot. :banghead:
 
The right to defend yourself is reserved for the "elites" only. We peasants should only be able to call the national prayer hotline(911).:rolleyes:
 
Holly Crap, He Responded To My Email

HIS REPLY:

The Castle Doctrine is a solution in search of a problem because current law already provides a good balance between a person's right to self-defense and the value of human life.

I voted against the final bill put forth in the 80th session for the following reasons

* First, it eliminated the duty of one to retreat which could in turn increase the number of people who used deadly force and then claimed it was "justifiable" under the law; and,

* Secondly, it expanded the bills original parameters from the home, to the work place and the car

I would have voted for this bill had the language inclusion of "the vehicle" and "workplace" not been added. I do appreciate your comments, and look forward to hearing your opinions in the future. As I have said on many occasions since taking office, I am here to represent the people of District 146, so please continue to provide me with your thoughts.

Sincerely,

Borris L. Miles

State Representative District 146
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MY EMAIL:

From: E.C.
Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2007 8:44 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Castle Doctrine, anyone ???

Dear Mr. Miles,
Recent news reporting brought to my attention the situation you found yourself in. You defended your life and property against dangerous criminals. You even shot one of them in defense of your life and in the defense of your secret castle: Your home. And I'm glad you did. Those criminals got what they deserved.

I however am puzzled by your voting record. You Sir voted against Castle Doctrine in Texas. A law which gives more power to the victims of violent criminals. The power you yourself exercised while defending yourself.

Sir, with all due respect, I wanted to let you know that your hypocritical stands on the issues is not going unnoticed.

Respectfully,

E.C.
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HIS REPLY:

The Castle Doctrine is a solution in search of a problem because current law already provides a good balance between a person's right to self-defense and the value of human life.

I voted against the final bill put forth in the 80th session for the following reasons

* First, it eliminated the duty of one to retreat which could in turn increase the number of people who used deadly force and then claimed it was "justifiable" under the law; and,

* Secondly, it expanded the bills original parameters from the home, to the work place and the car

I would have voted for this bill had the language inclusion of "the vehicle" and "workplace" not been added. I do appreciate your comments, and look forward to hearing your opinions in the future. As I have said on many occasions since taking office, I am here to represent the people of District 146, so please continue to provide me with your thoughts.

Sincerely,

Borris L. Miles

State Representative District 146
Click to expand...

MY EMAIL:

From: E.C.
Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2007 8:44 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Castle Doctrine, anyone ???

Dear Mr. Miles,
Recent news reporting brought to my attention the situation you found yourself in. You defended your life and property against dangerous criminals. You even shot one of them in defense of your life and in the defense of your secret castle: Your home. And I'm glad you did. Those criminals got what they deserved.

I however am puzzled by your voting record. You Sir voted against Castle Doctrine in Texas. A law which gives more power to the victims of violent criminals. The power you yourself exercised while defending yourself.

Sir, with all due respect, I wanted to let you know that your hypocritical stands on the issues is not going unnoticed.

Respectfully,

E.C.
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Interesting. Technically thought the castle doctrine hasn't gone in to effect here yet. So technically he still had a duty to retreat because the home was not yet his habitation (he wasn't living there). Hmmm
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Absolutely. Write the Harris County DA and demand he be prosecuted!

--wally.
 
not suprising boxer and feinstein have both had ccw permits at one point in time, in CA, no less

one set of rules for the royals one set for the peasants
 
Though not a resident of his district, I am a Texas resident. I went ahead and sent him a letter, too. I pointed out the hypocrisy of his actions and asked if he felt that the right to defend one's home/property/life was only reserved for current/former police officers and politicians...
 
You must ALWAYS defer to your betters.

It still sounds like a bad shoot, but Texas law is strange.
 
The most important part of that new law is the civil liability protection. That is also where this guy is most vulnerable from that shoot.
 
If the guy actually threw a knife at him, I don't see how that would be a bad shoot.
 
Why? How does him being a cop have to do with him shooting a burgler?
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Because -every- LEO I've met, save my bro's father in law, is staunchly anti-gun in regard to civilian ownership... so I dont find Mr. Miles' hypocrisy the least bit unusual.
 
Grant48 wrote
Because -every- LEO I've met, save my bro's father in law, is staunchly anti-gun in regard to civilian ownership... so I dont find Mr. Miles' hypocrisy the least bit unusual.
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Surprised that's true in Ft. Worth -- a shame. It's certainly true in Philadelphia; though I can't claim to have done a survey (it's a bit like gum commercials which talk about Dentists Expressing a Preference ;)), the few Philly cops I've heard express an opinion are dismissive and suspicious of ordinary citizens (by that, I mean "not cops") owning guns. Hopefully, the quiet ones disagree ...

timothy
 
Grant48, my experience is the opposite of yours. FWIW, look up Johnny Guest. He's in Denton. Matt Guest is a cop in a nearby town...

IMO, there are a lot more Jim Wilsons than there are Darryl Gates.

Art
 
Texas Castle Doctrine

Texas already had a very good castle doctrine law. The new law is more of a "stand your ground" law. Texans never had a duty to retreat on our property. If threatened, shoot.

Rep. Miles was well within legal limits when he used a handgun for self defense. He owned the property so it was under his control. The incident happened at night which, in Texas, means you can use deadly force in defense of property, and the BGs threatened him with a knife.

Good shoot, and I also emailed him and suggesting he re-examine his actions. I pointed out that he took an oath to defend the constitution and that that included the second amendment.

After his handlers screen his email he probably will not see it anyway.

Anygun
 
Good Lord, I hate it when a Stand Your Ground law is in the news.
* First, it eliminated the duty of one to retreat which could in turn increase the number of people who used deadly force and then claimed it was "justifiable" under the law; and,
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I still do not understand this reasoning, and never have. The smirking thug who just offed his gang rival still has to prove that he was in fear of his life, that he was not committing another felony, did not escalate the situation, and that a reasonable citizen would do the same in his shoes. It only removes the requirement to prove that you were unable to retreat before using deadly force. I just don't see it helping the bad guys that much.

* Secondly, it expanded the bills original parameters from the home, to the work place and the car
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I think this is quite reasonable, and here in the nation's spear point on self-defense law :)p) they added "anywhere one has a right to be." He's allowed to disagree on this, even though it's stupid, but the first point always boggles my mind.
 
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