Scum of the earth!!

Just watched the local morning newscast and am still steaming at one of the reports. Unable to find a link at this time, I'll post it when I can find it.

Seems some low life, no good, foul scum of the earth stole a trailer from Boy Scout Troop 330 in Fort Worth.

This is an action that torques me off to a degree that I can not adequately express.

For those not familiar with Scouting, a Troop's trailer is their primary storage of their camping and outdoor equipment. Tents, stoves, dutch ovens, dining flys, ropes, saws, axes, water containers, ice chests; all are usually stored in the trailer.

Scouts use the equipment, clean it, repair it if needed then bring it back and store it in the trailer for their trip. This makes packing and loading less of a logistical nightmare. Camping trips usually start on Friday's after the parents get off work. Keeping the equipment in the trailer allows the Scouts and Scouters (adult scout leaders) to load personal gear into the trailer and get on the road at a decent hour.

Scouts spend thousands of hours working to raise money to purchase their equipment. Very few troops have the resources to simply replace all of the gear at one time.

The dirtbags who steal the trailers aren't after the equipment inside, they are simply after the trailer. Most of the equipment is never recovered.

The troop that I worked with suffered through this twice while my boys were active in the troop. The last time was 6 weeks before a 10 day back packing expedition. I'll save that story and the incredible support from our community for another day. The trailer cost us over $4,500 to replace and that was after getting a terrific deal from a troop supporter. The cost to replace the equipment needed was over $3,000 at the initial outlay.

Today I want to send a message to all the scum who pursue this despicable act---- please never let me catch you!! Make sure you are never spotted by me because I will act with all the legally allowable force to stop you from committing this crime-- read Texas state law

§ 9.42. DEADLY FORCE TO PROTECT PROPERTY.  A person is
justified in using deadly force against another to protect land or
tangible, movable property:
(1)  if he would be justified in using force against the other under Section 9.41;  and
(2)  when and to the degree he reasonably believes the deadly force is immediately necessary:
(A)  to prevent the other's imminent commission of arson, burglary, robbery, aggravated robbery, theft during the
           nighttime, or criminal mischief during the nighttime;  or
      (B)  to prevent the other who is fleeing immediately after committing burglary, robbery, aggravated
           robbery, or theft during the nighttime from escaping with the property;  and
(3)  he reasonably believes that:                                           
(A)  the land or property cannot be protected or recovered by any other means;  or
(B)  the use of force other than deadly force to protect or recover the land or property would expose the actor or
           another to a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury.
Acts 1973, 63rd Leg., p. 883, ch. 399, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1974.
Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, § 1.01, eff. Sept. 1,
1994.


I will scrupulously follow the law, I am not advocating anything other then people
scrupulously follow the law.....but there are actions that should have serious
consequences. The impact to a Troop from type of crime is tremendous. Activities are
 canceled, events are put off, Scouts and Scouters have to work incredibly long hours
 to earn the funds - just because some wretched villain can save a few bucks.