TX: Two Cases of Young Adults Using Guns for Self Defense

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On January 15th and January 16th, in Houston, Texas, two young men fired guns in defense of self and others. One young man was protecting himself and his companions in the car he occupied. The other was protecting his pregnant significant other. Both actions appear to be justified. Both young men are reported to be less than 21 years old. The Texas restoration of Constitutional carry, passed in 2021, generally excludes people under the age of 21. Here are the two incidents.  On January 16, 9:30 p.m. on I-610 in northeast Houston. From khou.com:

Police said the 20-year-old driver again tried to get away from the aggressive driver, but the truck drove into the oncoming traffic lanes to swerve in front of him and block them. That’s when HPD said the truck driver got out and ran toward the car with his hands near his pocket. Police said the 20-year-old driver feared for his life and opened fire through the front windshield and through the side of the car, hitting the aggressive driver in the torso, arm and leg.

According to HPD, the 20-year-old driver used to be a security guard and had handcuffs on him. He detained the other driver and contacted police. HPD said he was fully cooperating with investigators.

The alleged aggressive driver was taken to an area hospital where he is expected to survive.

“He’s our victim, but again, more of a suspect, really,” said Lt. R. Willkens with HPD. “Kind of a self-defense thing.”

No charges are expected for the 20 year old.

On January 15, 2025 at 2:40 p.m. at 7050 Inwood Park Drive in Houston, a 19 year old defended himself and his friends. From CityofHouston.news:

The male shooter, 19, was not injured in the incident.

HPD Homicide Division Sergeant N. Lazo and Detective M. Providence reported:

HPD patrol officers responded to a shooting call in the parking lot of an apartment complex at the above address and found a male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was in possession of a firearm. Paramedics pronounced him deceased at the scene.

Officers located the shooter at the scene. He stated that he and his friends were inside a vehicle when they were approached by the armed male, who raised a gun in their direction. The shooter stated he feared for his safety and fired shots toward the armed male, striking him. No one else was injured.

The incident will be presented to a grand jury. Because of an exception in the law passed in 2021, the 20 year old in the incident which started on I-610 was legally in possession of a firearm. The exception is for people possessing firearms in a vehicle or a boat, and on the way to and from the vehicle or the boat. 

The 19 year old’s situation is not quite as clear, as he did not own and was not driving the vehicle. It is unlikely he will be charged with possession, because the prohibition on 18-20 year old people from carrying firearms was struck down in a court case in 2022.  No record of an appeal to the case was found. 

Analysis:

18-20 year old people are part of the people covered by the Second Amendment. As shown in these cases, they face serious dangers which can be mitigated by exercising their rights protected by the Second Amendment. It is expected the Supreme Court will eventually strike down infringements preventing 18-20 year old people from exercising their Second Amendment rights.

©2025 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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