The Winkler County News (Kermit, Tex.), Vol. 80, No. 8, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 5, 2015 Page: 2 of 8
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Page 2
The Winkler County News
Thursday, March 5,2015
On The Beat with
Sheriff George Keely
Pull up a chair and let’s talk
a bit, west Texas style. I have
some important information to
pass on to you.
Many of you have requested
that I explain the Texas “Castle
Doctrine” and why that law was
passed.
Prior to Texas passing its
Castle Doctrine eliminating the
requirement of a “duty to retreat”
the Texas self-defense law had
its limits tested! Prior to 2007,
the actual use of deadly force
may not have been justified in
Texas if the victim had the abil-
ity to retreat! Many prosecutors
would make the argument in a
homicide case that the defendant
who was claiming self-defense
could have ran away or driven
off rather than standing their
ground and employing deadly
force.
Most people think of Texas
as the “ultimate gun owner’s
state!” However, for decades,
retreat was not only an option
but a requirement even if you
were in your own home! Even
today there are many “limits” in
Texas of what constitutes a law-
ful shooting. The shooter must
be lawfully at the place, must
not have provoked the confron-
tation, and must actually be in
“reasonable fear” of his life!
Enter the Texas Castle Doc-
trine. If you are in your home the
law now allows for an automatic
assumption that the family that
dwells in that residence is in fear
for their lives if confronted by an
unlawful intruder in that home!
A reasonable person would
agree that if someone is in your
home at night uninvited you
most likely are going to feel
afraid, intimidated, and threat-
ened automatically! However, if
you are outside you will not get
the benefit of this presumption.
The Texas Castle Doctrine
puts the burden of proof on the
prosecutor to actually prove a
shooting wasn’t self-defense in-
stead of the home owner having
that burden of proof!
If you are in your home and a
criminal comes in uninvited and
he gets past you then your fami-
ly is at his mercy. However, if he
comes in your home uninvited
Weekly Crossword Puzzle
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ACROSS
DOWN
1. Hook
1. Collar
5. Keep
2. Air (prefix)
9. Nurture
3. Willing
10. Herb
4. Pointed sticks on the rampart
11. Opera solo
5. That girl
12. Souvenir
6. Muslim’s God
13. Tuna fish
7. Singing need
15. Genius
8. Surpass
16. Book bag
10. Elementary particle
18. Person who gives up
14. Ballroom dances
property
17. Peaks
21. Aced
18. Opp. of good
22. Granite-like rock
19. Slack
26. Folded sheet of paper
20. Cove
28. Bod
23. Hawkeye State
29. Drug doers
24. Air pollution
30. Duces
25. Back talk
31. Allows
27. Internal Revenue Service
32. Droops
We Are
Proud
to
Support
Our
Local
Winkler/
Loving
4-Hers
TOOL COMPANY
P.O. Drawer J
Kermit, Texas 79745
(432)586-6023
Located on South Hwy 18
KERMIT. TX 7<
the law is going to give you the
benefit of the doubt that you are
“fearful for your life and that of
your family” and you may stand
your ground and defend yourself
and your family! You still have
the option to retreat but you are
not “required” to do so.
I get asked all the time if
a person is breaking into your
home do you actually have to
wait until the criminal is inside
before you defend yourself and
your family. If you actually
shoot that attempted intruder
should you drag them inside?
If a criminal is in the act of
breaking into your home you
naturally are going to be afraid
and will be fearful of your life
and your family’s life. As long as
the evidence shows that that per-
son was attempting to break into
your house you could use deadly
force to stop that criminal. Do
not drag them inside. Just tell
the truth. Most law enforcement
agencies will be able to process
the crime scene and determine
that the criminal was trying to
break in and they will be able
to determine exactly where the
criminal was when you actually
shot them!
In summary if you are in
your home and an uninvited in-
truder comes in you have the
right to stand your ground and
defend yourself and your fam-
ily! The Texas Constitution and
the United States Constitution
both give you the right to be
secure in your own home. Both
constitutions give you the right
to “keep and bear arms” as well!
Nobody in their right mind
wants to kill anyone ever! How-
ever, nobody in their right mind
wants to be killed by some crim-
inal that comes in their home,
ever! The Texas Castle Doc-
trine makes it less complicated
for you to defend you and your
family’s life at home in a self-
defense situation.
MR. AND MRS. JOSEPH TAYLOR
Crawford, Taylor
exchange vows
Elizabeth Crawford and Joseph Taylor were united in marriage
on January 17 at 7F Lodge in College Station with her uncle, Jerry
Bertrand Jr., officiating.
The bride is the daughter of Kris and Laurie Crawford of
Kermit. She is a graduate of Kermit High School and Texas A & M
University.
The groom is the son of Tom and Jane Taylor of Las Cruces,
New Mexico. He is a graduate of Mesilla Valley Christian School
and New Mexico State University.
Maid of Honor was Elizabeth’s sister Ashley Crawford of
Kermit. Bridesmaids were Kate Vincent of Austin; Dana Haynes
of Ruidoso, NM; Bethany Dunn of Lubbock; and Taylor Cone of
San Antonio. Best Man was Nate Pelzel of Las Cruces. Groomsmen
were Dave Taylor of Montrose, PA, Forrest Powell, Luke Smith, and
Brian Patterson all of Las Cruces.
Miss Harper Cone of Cedar Park was their flower girl.
The couple had a wedding trip on a Caribbean cruise and now
make their home in Round Rock.
SPEAKS TO ROTARY—Public Works Director John Shepard was guest speaker at last week’s
meeting of Kermit Rotary Club. He discussed Kermit water and methods of handling discolored
water. Program chairman was City Manager Gloria Saenz.
Business Card Review
KINO
Lubricant & Fluid Supply
E. Hwy. 302 in Kermit Open 7-5
(432)586-3593
YOU NEED IT. WE BRING IT.
Mary’s Flowers
Kermit ’s Professional Florist
COMING
November 16th
Christmas
Open House
Rodney Hayes
TMF, AAF
609 E. Austin 586-6667
Kermit, Tx.
39 YEARS EXPERIENCE
Personal. Income Tax Re rums
AH Scate Pasoud Income Tax Rencms
Parmer ship Income las Returns-C oiporate Tax Returns
Federal & State Employment Returns
Quarterly Reports & Sales Tax Returns
Bookkeping Done For ALL Type of Businesses
Notary Public - Fa: Sem:es
Office open year-round.
We do Federal and State Taxes.
‘SPECIALIZE IN FILING BACK TAXES’
Creating Memories Photography
452 N Ave. B - Kermit
Call
432-816-6349
“The little white studio on the
Complete Home Furnishings
115 East Winkler - Kermit, Texas
(432) 586-3740
‘Proudly Serving West Texas
with Quality, Style & Affordability’
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Parks, Phil. The Winkler County News (Kermit, Tex.), Vol. 80, No. 8, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 5, 2015, newspaper, March 5, 2015; Kermit, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1118265/m1/2/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Winkler County Library.