TX law change?

[glummer]

I just read a piece in Guns & Ammo (a letter, I think) stating that there was a recent change in self-defense laws in Texas. The claim is that you have to shoot ONCE & ONCE ONLY; then look to see the effect. Only if the threat is seen to persist, can you fire again. No "double taps", or "shoot to slide-lock." Anyone know if this insane idea is true?

 

[gregthehand]

No this is not true. You shoot until the threat is stopped. There is absoloutly no law that details this. Infact courts in TX have made the ruling that when deadly force is authorized, any way which can be brought that force to bear are authorized. In other words it does not matter if you shoot him, stab him, hit him in the head with a club, etc etc. The ruling in-fact for this case came from a police officer using a car to run over a person who was trying to shoot him. Don't believe everything you read, especially in gun mags. If those things were true, every gun they ever reviewed would be terrific and "a great shooter!"

 

[Thefabulousfink]

I remember reading about a case (can't remember where) where a police officer fired at a suspect who was trying to run him over with a car. The suspect's family tried to sue claiming that the first couple shots were justified, but the last 5(or so) were an excessive use of force. The court found that, had each shot been fired individually they would have been excessive, however the incident happend so fast that the officer had finished firing before he could register that the threat had passed.

I think that case (and probably others) sets a precedent that if you are justified in shooting, you may continue shooting until a reasonable person would determine that the threat had ended.

So, pulling the trigger as fast as you can as the BG charges you=OK.
Walking up and putting one in the brain pan= Not OK.

**edited for clarity