Pilot and others,

I just listened to a live interview with Joe Horn. He sounds like a contrite and remoresful man whether you are for or against him. I don't think he is a vigilante, he never was. As I said yesterday I believed he was acting from his heart and beliefs he had been taught all his life.  The purpose of the interview was not to ask you to move to his side or not.  This is just part of his story.

The day after the incident, he wanted to make a public statement as to what he was thinking and why he acted at the time. The attornies told him not to do so.  That is why Joe has been silent all this time. As a a result, he has had to to listen to all of the hateful diatribe, racist comments, and has even received death threats -- threats which are still active.

His concept of the person on the telephone was that the person was not a policeman (911).  He was caught up in the adrenaline and energy. He believed he was doing the right thing, stopping thieves. As I postulated, he was no more concerned with color, etc. when the actions were occurring -- the incident happened.

He wishes that he could site down with each person one on one that has spiteful things to say --so that they could understand him as a man. Where he came from and who he is.  He believes he is truthful and loyal human being.  He was caught up in a situation an reacted. You may or may not agree with that reaction.  This is a stain on his life that he cannot go back and change.

He is tired.  His family is devistated with all that has happened.  They too have been threatened.  He wishes everyone would leave them out of the issue, all actions were his own.

As of now his future is uncharted.  One of the wives (who knew her husband was stealing) is considering a civil suit.

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Discussion on the radio is mostly pro-Joe. Whether you like it or not the situation happened. Most of the protesters are hispanic and there are some blacks.  I think the protestors are making the event racist.  He did what he legally could.  Quite frankly if I had people on my property that had been trying to breakin and then took of running -- I think I'd shoot too.  But all of this boils down to what we will do when our backs are against a wall. 

The Goliadchica keeps attacking the town and people.  As I said before, I have met good and bad in Pasadena and in Goliad. So please skip all the racist points-- When I visit I see it in Goliad too. And I have a question?  What did you try to do when you were there?  What did you contribute?  If you are the same one from the other night Your icon is of violence, an orange arm with a saber-- so are you not on some base level where there appear to be predisposed opinions and prejudices?  Right or wrong they are there? Since you are supporting the illegal thieves -- are you legal or illegal?

We never know what monster will show up at our door tonight.  Infact a friend had someone try to do a kickin of the door two nights ago in wonderful Goliad. They were prepared to blow them away. Finally the person ran.  So who would have been the bad guy.  There were children and women in that house.  It was 3:00 am.  We know it was not a social call.  Theives better realize that more and more homeowners are arming themselves and that is not entrapment.  It is love of family.  And any one showing up in the middle of the night better be prepared to pay the price of lights out.

Okay, I have heard some of the interview with old "regular guy" Joe now. Kinda sounds a bit muted and even sweet old retired dude-ish, eh? Sorry this wasn't a gunfight, and I don't think old Joe's life was in danger, or that even he thought it was. I think he commited an act of possibly inebriated self indulgence. I sensed stubbornness, and redneckness in his voice in the 911 call, as one commenter said, like his mind was made up, and he was building a case on the phone to justify what he was hell bent on doing. The two guys he shot, may well have been scumbags. Without a doubt, they turned to crime to fund something. Maybe it was a drug habit. Maybe it was desperation to buy gas, food, or milk for their families. That doesn't make stealing right, but they were unarmed, and fleeing when they were executed for their horrible lack of judgement. Unfortunately, their flight took them across Horn's property and I would be willing to bet at a time when he may have been a bit impaired himself. Think about it for a moment, all of you. If a human being, a living breathing soul, thief or not had his back to you, and wasn't threatening your life or that of someone else, but only running away, scared. Could you point, no.....aim a shotgun at them from ten twelve feet ayay......closer than from one end of most of your kitchen counters to the other, and over the course of what...... say twenty seconds, shoot them with their back to you? Not a shot......but three shots, watching them fall as they were fleeing for their life? No, I thought not........more was working here than self defense, or even frontier justice I believe. I'd like to see where old Joe picks up his libations, and how often. I can see why the NRA hasn't come to his camp and taken up his cause.

I may be wrong.......could be he just showed some judgement as bad as those he killed.........but I'd like to know..........a little more about old Joe.

Some people won't understand. And they are the type to shoot folks in the back. Unarmed people, leaving the scene of the crime. Also, you are right  they were most likely scumbags.  

"Shotgun Joe" had all the info he needed to get them arrested. Description, car type, license number. Ethnic coloration.  And he was close enough to kill someone with a shotgun.  Joe wasn't in a war and he sure ain't no Marine. Not even a good security guard.  Guards know better.

If they broke into his house and he was home.  Go on shoot'em. He went out side and stuck his nose right in it.  He may or may not be sued now. Either way, I would not want to be in his shoes. Bob Ford was a real person.  And I am glad I am not in his shoes either.

Code of the West rule  #9:  Don't shoot hombres in the back.  Arrest them, give them a fair trial. Then Hang them. Or maybe 5 years in prison. 

Roy Rogers nor Randolph Scott ever shot any one in the back.  Bruce Dern shot John Wayne in the back and ended his career.  Well maybe not his whole career.

Bob Ford shot Jesse in the back and they wrote songs about him.  You know, " that dirty little coward that shot Mr. Howard and put poor Jesse in his grave."

 Excerpt:  Ford had a business going again in a couple of days under a make-shift tent.  A day later a man by the name of Edward O. Kelly stepped into the Tent with a sawed off shotgun.  He approached Bob Ford and leveling his weapon, fired both barrels point blank. He became the man who killed the man who killed Jesse James. 

I guess that's what happens when you shoot folks in the back.

Sticking strictly to this case, I will try to give my opinion to your well-thought-out questions.

1)The undercover officer said he did not want to be mistaken for the pickup man.

2) A civil suit is unlikely because the deceased were in the country illegally.

3) One poster is consistent,he said the burgler of the Victoria Boys Club deserved Joe Horn justice.

4) Since the police were on the scene in a relatively short time,if Joe Horn would have held them at bay(they were unarmed) he would have been seen as a hero.

5) Why did he call 911, he had his mind made up?

6)911 was called the police arrived on the scene in a reasonable time, so the criminals, would have been apprehended,tried, and punished……Speaks for itself