Posted 3/21/2007 10:22:00 PM by Douglas

Speaking of Texans and their guns, um, don't mess with Texas.

It's not official yet, but Texas is likely to join the ranks of 15 other states where a person can shoot an intruder or a perceived attacker, be it at his home, workplace or automobile.

That's because with little opposition Tuesday the House of Representatives gave the final approval to a Senate bill that extends the current "castle doctrine" under which a homeowner has the right to protect himself and his family from an intruder.

"We feel this is a good bill," Rep. Joe Driver, R-Garland, said after the House voted 133-13 in favor of Senate Bill 378, which is similar to his own House Bill 284. "This basically says that Texans have the right to defend themselves without having to worry that they will be prosecuted." Driver had said in an earlier interview that he opted to push for the Senate's bill, authored by Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, because it would ensure quick passage since the upper chamber had already approved it last week. The bill is the second that the Legislature has sent to Gov. Rick Perry for his signature and the governor is expected to sign it.

The entire Panhandle and South Plains delegation voted for the legislation on grounds that Texans need to know that they don't have to retreat when threatened.

Keep in mind: A reasonable Texan "never retreats."