American Flag Burned Outside Dallas Home, Again

[thundley4]

Dallas neighborhood is up in arms after another attack on the American flag has reignited anger among residents. The incident happened at Preston Valley Villas off of Spring Valley Road.

Two weeks ago, a homeowner came home to find his American flag in ashes on his front yard. Last night, it happened again.

Preston Valley Villas has become a noticeably patriotic neighborhood. But some of the American flags are now flying as a message to whoever is burning them. "It's kind of an 'in your face' type of situation," said resident Bill Sendelback. "If people are going around burning the flag, I'm not about to take mine down."

Sendelback does not plan to remove his flag, even though someone set fire to one outside of Ed Jordan's townhome for the second time in two weeks.

"It makes me sick to think about anybody having that sort of disrespect," said Jordan. "Soon as I looked at it and touched it, I could tell it had been burning."

Jordan's first burned flag got the attention of an Iraq war veteran, who donated a special flag just days later. That flag flew over a base. Fortunately, neighbors said that was not the flag that was flying Sunday night, which is now ashes.

  Link

Time for an armed neighborhood watch to form.

[NHSparky]

Memo to assclowns: If you want to burn the flag, please wrap yourself in it first.

[Eupher]

Yet more proof that, at least so far, the cops are impotent when it comes to dealing with vandalism. If they don't catch the little bastards in the act, they get away scot-free.

I can't see taking a life for this kind of disrespect, but a severe beating may have a lasting effect. The only problem with severe beatings is that far too many times, the perp becomes the victim and the victim pays the penalty.

When the law breaks down to the point that vigilantism deals with crimes against the common man, what's that saying about the law?

[thundley4]

Yet more proof that, at least so far, the cops are impotent when it comes to dealing with vandalism. If they don't catch the little bastards in the act, they get away scot-free.

I can't see taking a life for this kind of disrespect, but a severe beating may have a lasting effect. The only problem with severe beatings is that far too many times, the perp becomes the victim and the victim pays the penalty.

When the law breaks down to the point that vigilantism deals with crimes against the common man, what's that saying about the law?

What if the home owner approached them in the act, and then they threatened him.  Doesn't Texas have that little law allowing home owners to use deadly force for self protection?

[Texacon]

Someone braggin on DU about burning some repukes flag in 3 ... 2 ... 1 ...

KC

[JohnnyReb]

Memo to assclowns: If you want to burn the flag, please wrap yourself in it first.

...and I got some stale diesel fuel I'll donate. We'll call it a "Pigs in a Blanket" party.

[Thor]

Yet more proof that, at least so far, the cops are impotent when it comes to dealing with vandalism. If they don't catch the little bastards in the act, they get away scot-free.

I can't see taking a life for this kind of disrespect, but a severe beating may have a lasting effect. The only problem with severe beatings is that far too many times, the perp becomes the victim and the victim pays the penalty.

When the law breaks down to the point that vigilantism deals with crimes against the common man, what's that saying about the law?

The police seem to be more interested in violent crimes and traffic tickets, at least up here. Since there's little violent crime, they spend their time chit-chatting with each other or running speed traps. I just dunno The cops here in Denison almost always neglect patrol at night. They're basically impotent when it comes to vandalism or petty theft. They appear to do NO "investigation". They most certainly don't seem to take their job as seriously as they did when I was 16/17.

What if the home owner approached them in the act, and then they threatened him.  Doesn't Texas have that little law allowing home owners to use deadly force for self protection?

Actually, Texas law permits that a homeowner CAN use deadly force against any trespasser, vandal, thief, or any other criminal. The fear of Great Bodily harm or Death isn't required. This also applies to any property under the homeowner's jurisdiction, such as a neighbor's property, when the neighbor has asked that the other homeowner keep an eye on their property. While I might agree that deadly force isn't always the answer, it's a well known fact here in Texas. Criminals BEWARE!!! (I WISH it had been that way in Minnesota because I ALWAYS had inconsiderate golfers trespassing in my yard. Some even had the balls to come up to the house without asking.)

I DO recall the days of my youth when shotguns loaded with rock salt was a common remedy against trespassers. That knowledge got around real quick and kids KNEW who to beware of.

[Eupher]

The Castle Doctrine varies from state to state; Thor says that Texas has a rather unrestrictive law about protecting one's property. That's a good thing, but apparently the perps who are burning flags are either unaware of that law or don't care about possibly winding up dead.

In situations like this, and I hope Thor can verify this, vandalism occurs by jerks who are not inclined to confront their victims. IOW, they run and hide after they do what they do.

Therefore, it would be almost freakish to catch a perp burning a flag. If the perp doesn't run away at the moment he's caught and he's threatening the homeowner, you betcha.

Rock salt up the ass would be just for starters. It'd get ugly after that.

[Thor]

The Castle Doctrine varies from state to state; Thor says that Texas has a rather unrestrictive law about protecting one's property. That's a good thing, but apparently the perps who are burning flags are either unaware of that law or don't care about possibly winding up dead.

In situations like this, and I hope Thor can verify this, vandalism occurs by jerks who are not inclined to confront their victims. IOW, they run and hide after they do what they do.

Therefore, it would be almost freakish to catch a perp burning a flag. If the perp doesn't run away at the moment he's caught and he's threatening the homeowner, you betcha.

Rock salt up the ass would be just for starters. It'd get ugly after that.

True, they have to be caught in the act before one can draw a bead on them. Most vandals are chickenshit MOFOs that do their evil deeds covertly. There ARE a number of articles in the various Texas newspapers about some vandals getting shot. One was toilet-papering a house.

IMO, I wouldn't necessarily shoot someone just for trespassing. However, were there an imminent threat, I would be inclined to eliminate that threat. In my mind, and what I was taught as a reserve police officer, I'm only going to shoot in self defense or to preclude a felony. Trespass and vandalism don't usually fall into that category. That said, were the perp in my house, they're fair game.

[thundley4]

True, they have to be caught in the act before one can draw a bead on them. Most vandals are chickenshit MOFOs that do their evil deeds covertly. There ARE a number of articles in the various Texas newspapers about some vandals getting shot. One was toilet-papering a house.

IMO, I wouldn't necessarily shoot someone just for trespassing. However, were there an imminent threat, I would be inclined to eliminate that threat. In my mind, and what I was taught as a reserve police officer, I'm only going to shoot in self defense or to preclude a felony. Trespass and vandalism don't usually fall into that category. That said, were the perp in my house, they're fair game.

Sure , vandals usually run when caught, but even a few weasels try to fight when cornered. 

[Ptarmigan]

What if the home owner approached them in the act, and then they threatened him.  Doesn't Texas have that little law allowing home owners to use deadly force for self protection?

Yes, Texas has a law to use deadly force. It does not matter if that person is threatening or not. Recently, some wheelchaired bound person shot a teenager after he was threatened after he took his drug paraphenelia away and was tresspassing.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/moms/6485129.html