The intruder, 25-year-old Haivan Michael Thurman of Ardmore, Oklahoma, was recently sentenced to 45 years in prison after pleading guilty to a January 2022 burglary of a habitation with intent to commit a felony.

But as Parker County District Attorney Jeff Swain explained, the conviction tells only half the story.

“Had our victim not had a firearm and returned fire at Mr. Thurman, we believe that we would have been prosecuting a murder,” Swain said. “This case is a perfect example of why our Second Amendment rights are so important.”

The Night of the Attack

Around 2 a.m. on January 29, 2022, the peace of a neighborhood near Wright Elementary School in Weatherford was shattered by rapid gunfire.

Neighbors’ doorbell cameras captured over 20 shots fired by Thurman—first outside the home, then inside, as he forced his way in.

The homeowner, inside with his girlfriend, her mother, and two young children, responded by returning fire six times with a 9mm handgun.

Both the homeowner and Thurman were shot in the chest, but both survived. They were taken by EMS to the same Fort Worth hospital, where they were treated in emergency beds next to each other.

The Verdict: 45 Years

Thurman admitted guilt in court, acknowledging he used a deadly weapon during the home invasion. A Parker County jury imposed a 45-year sentence, and because of the deadly weapon finding, he must serve at least half of that time before becoming eligible for parole.

It’s a case that underscores what a properly applied Stand Your Ground law can mean when prosecutors defend liberty instead of politics.

But not all Texans are so lucky.

The Danger of the Courtroom After the Attack

While self-defense was vindicated in Parker County, other Texas jurisdictions are far less friendly to gun owners.

Take the case of a young attorney in Austin, who found herself under criminal prosecution after presenting—but not firing—a legally owned firearm to scare off a violent fugitive attacker who followed her to her apartment.

Despite the attacker fleeing and no shot ever being fired, Soros-backed District Attorney Jose Garza charged her with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Thankfully, Texas Gun Rights Foundation (TXGRF) stepped in, and the charges were dropped.

But the legal system still punished her—she’s still fighting to recover her $10,000 bond, paid just to defend herself in a case that should’ve never existed.

Then there’s Army veteran Justin Avery Clarabut, now appealing a wrongful conviction for what TXGRF attorney CJ Grisham described as a clear case of self-defense.

Clarabut was chased to his own home after a road rage altercation and fired in defense when threatened.

Instead of thanks, he got prison time—and his case now sits before the Ninth District Court of Appeals.

When Self-Defense Becomes Financial Ruin

Even when criminal charges are avoided, the legal system still punishes gun owners.

Kyle Carruth, cleared of wrongdoing by a grand jury in 2022 after shooting a trespasser during a confrontation on his property, was forced into civil court.

Though he acted lawfully, the lawsuits drained him financially—over $500,000 in legal fees—and cost him his business.

To prevent similar injustice, Texas Gun Rights pushed for Kyle’s Law (HB 170/SB 1730) in the 2025 legislature. The bill would have provided civil immunity and reimbursement of legal costs for gun owners exonerated in court.

But despite public support, the bill died before the session ended—leaving the next generation of self-defenders vulnerable.

“Gun Owners Must Remain Vigilant”

Chris McNutt, President of Texas Gun Rights, warned that these cases are more than isolated injustices.

“It’s not enough to survive the attack—you also have to survive the prosecution,” McNutt said. “Gun owners must remain vigilant—not just of criminals, but of a system that’s increasingly hostile to self-defense. That’s why we fight at every level—to defend liberty in the courtroom, the legislature, and beyond.”

In Weatherford, a father was able to protect his family because the law was appropriately applied.

But in too many Texas counties, gun owners are discovering that justice ends where politics begins.

That’s why the work of groups like Texas Gun Rights and the Texas Gun Rights Foundation is essential. 

Because the Second Amendment doesn’t just protect your life—it protects your ability to stay free after doing so.