A Contrast of Coverage

On December 14, 2007, while most gun owners who follow such things were focused on the Joe Horn case, another fatal shooting occurred that would ultimately go before another Grand Jury in Harris County Texas.

Damon Barone, a Houston homeowner, was working in his home office when he was disturbed by a loud noise outside. Realizing a home invasion was beginning, Barone alerted his wife and children and sent them to the bathroom. Then he got his Beretta handgun from his car in the garage. Upon entering his bedroom, Barone spied a dark figure crawling through the shattered window. Barone fired several shots. The suspect, Steven Dunbar, 44, was a repeat offender with multiple felonies. Stopped by Barone's defensive gunfire, Dunbar died at the scene, halfway in Barone's window.

The case was referred to a Harris County Texas Grand Jury. They have spoken. This week, the Grand Jury handed down a no-bill, clearing Damon Barone of any wrongdoing.

Both Barone and Dunbar were black. Dunbar was entering Barone's home forcibly and illegally through a window at night. Barone was protecting his family in his own home. By contrast Horn was a white man who shot and killed two black men after they had burgled his neighbor's home. There was a preliminary 911 call asking for police assistance in the Horn case. Both cases went before a Harris County Grand Jury. Both Grand Juries passed down no-bills.

What should be taken from this comparison is not a feeling of outrage that one homeowner/shooter or the other was brought before the Grand Jury and now walks free. Others can judge these shootings and no-billings by racist standards, or they can understand that race only plays a part as the mainstream media stirs up the race cauldron to garner viewers. What should be taken from this comparison is that most civilian shootings will go before a Grand Jury. A shooting is rarely so clear cut that a District Attorney will jeopardize his reputation by refusing to prosecute. What a person should take from the comparison of these two shootings is that in Harris County Texas, at least, any homeowner can righteously defend himself, his family and his home from attack, and walk free after doing so. Race has nothing to do with the equation. The actions of the defender is the standard for judgement.

Know what self defense actions are legally available to you in your area. Understand how your local District Attorney runs his office and prosecutes cases. Do not be influenced by media manipulation. Get training, get facts and successfully defend yourself, your home and your family, with force if need be.