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The Dallas Morning News reports that an intruder was killed this morning about 1:30 AM in Baltimore. Not with a gun. It was done using a sword. (I have at least a dozen thoughts I want to express.) Here is the link...
http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/w ... dc164.html
I guess what I really wanted was to respond to was the last sentence in the news article. This really bothers me....

Police are interviewing the student and his roommates, and are talking to prosecutors about whether to file charges.

...a couple of hours later...
I found some more information
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryla ... 7961.story
and now it really bothers me...

Department Spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said it is legal to possess a sword in Baltimore...

Charles Cashion
Plano TX
NRA Member
9/11/09 Plastic arrives

Hi Charles, welcome to the forum! There's already a topic started on this.

Welcome to the forum Charles.

And, actually Joe, Charles started the topic first.

I think this is the original thread??? I didnt see any older ;)

Anyways, my thoughts:

If that happened here in texas, the guy probably wouldn't have even been detained this long, if at all. Seems Completely justified to a T here to me.
In the Texas Deadly force statutes, it doesn't specify gun.. deadly force is justified by any means possible. If this means whacking the dude in the head with a cinder block.. still justified.

I am saddened that the newspaper apparently didn't have any respect for the victim's privacy, and printed his name, age, and residence willy-nilly.

The Perp had a record of 29.. yes TWENTY-NINE Convictions... why was he even out on the street?!?!

I'd like to shake this gentleman's hand, and buy him a beer. Unfortunately, he's not old enough yet to drink.
I think we should get him to move down here to Texas! we could use more people like him down here!

Sorryyyyyy Charles.

The guy that was killed had a rap sheet a mile long for B&E and theft. They had already had a break-in earlier and lost a couple of laptops and a Play Station. Sounds like the guy with the sword was justified to me from all aspects I have read.

Keep trying to figure out different scenarios on this, but all that keeps running through my head are reruns of the John Belushi 'Samurai skits' on SNL.

Under sec. 46.02. does this mean you can own an illegal knife or club but just don't carry it unlawful? Thanks.

I think it's because he's young that they are considering "[filing] charges". Maybe they thought he was acting rashly and on a whim.

Regardless of what they say in the article after the fact, assuming the story is true, I don't see any way how he could be nabbed for anything.

Baltimore is in Maryland. In any sane state, the DA wouldn't even be considering filing charges.

I believe that any time someone is killed there should be an investigation where "criminal charges" are considered. Then shake the heroes hand.

It sounds like the BG lunged with his hand out front and the young swordsman properly executed a downward "chop", slicing through the wrist and cutting open the BG's abdomen. The BG was basically gutted like a fish and never had a chance. Boo, Hoo.

Back in my martial arts days, that stroke was the first offensive sword move that I learned. If done properly, it's a very powerful stroke and very little can defend against it.

I guess that state doesn't have a "three time loser" law like Texas does. I guess we still do.

karl wrote:I think it's because he's young that they are considering "[filing] charges". Maybe they thought he was acting rashly and on a whim.

Regardless of what they say in the article after the fact, assuming the story is true, I don't see any way how he could be nabbed for anything.

This happened at 1:30AM. By the time the newspaper came out the police were probably still trying to figure things out.

TDDude wrote:I believe that any time someone is killed there should be an investigation where "criminal charges" are considered. Then shake the heroes hand.

I believe this investigation could have gone like this:

"Hmm. Letsee. Broken in door... Dude in garage, Dead on ground. Rap sheet a mile long, many for exactly this crime. Homeowner(renter) admits to chopping dude with sword. Yea, that's about it. Open and shut case."

Regarding who posted first? If it was me, I posted to the wrong forum. So it should be me saying "sorry".
Charles Cashion
Plano TX
Plastic since 9/11
Member NRA

I knew shoulda bought some stock in Cold Steel yesterday.

dicion wrote: I believe this investigation could have gone like this:

"Hmm. Letsee. Broken in door... Dude in garage, Dead on ground. Rap sheet a mile long, many for exactly this crime. Homeowner(renter) admits to chopping dude with sword. Yea, that's about it. Open and shut case."

Well, perhaps. Or maybe they knew each other. Maybe they both had rap sheets. Maybe the dead guy was hired to kill the others girlfriend/wife and wasn't being paid. He wanted his money and that's why he had broken in.

The investigation doesn't have to be lengthy, just legit.

Or maybe I've read too many Harry Bosch novels. :)