A Texas mother’s legal battle after defending her home with deadly force has sparked a new bill aimed at protecting renters from eviction. The legislation, known as the Aleah Wallace Act, was filed by State Rep. Carrie Isaac to ensure that renters who use justified force to protect themselves or their families cannot be evicted.
A Self-Defense Nightmare Leads to Legislative Action
According to Shaun Rabb of FOX 4 News, the bill was inspired by Aleah Wallace, a single mother of four from Fort Worth who, in December 2023, shot and killed an intruder attempting to climb into her 8-year-old daughter’s bedroom window. Despite being cleared of any wrongdoing, Wallace received an eviction notice just days later, as her lease prohibited firearms on the property.
The Aleah Wallace Act (HB 2879) aims to prevent landlords and property managers from punishing tenants for lawfully using force in self-defense. With support in the Texas House and Senate, the bill could soon become law.
The Fort Worth Case That Started It All
Wallace’s situation was as unjust as it was alarming. Liberty Doll, a YouTube commentator who covered the case, noted that Wallace had already suffered multiple burglaries before the night of the shooting. On that December evening, it was actually the second break-in attempt within a few hours.
When Wallace heard someone trying to enter through her daughter’s window, she acted immediately, firing her gun and killing the intruder. Unfortunately, the suspect turned out to be a 14-year-old boy, a fact Wallace couldn’t have known at the time.
As Liberty Doll put it:
“If it’s 2 or 3 a.m. and someone is climbing in your child’s window, does it really matter how old they are?”
Despite acting in self-defense, Wallace soon found herself facing a different kind of attack – one from her own landlord.
Eviction for Self-Defense?
Within days of the shooting, Wallace was informed that she was being evicted because her lease prohibited firearms on the property. As Shaun Rabb of FOX 4 News reported, this eviction could have forced Wallace and her four children into homelessness just for defending themselves.
Liberty Doll emphasized that Wallace’s eviction highlighted a major flaw in renters’ rights:
“A person shouldn’t lose their Second Amendment rights just because they’re poor.”
The case gained national attention and drew the support of Rep. Carrie Isaac, who saw it as a violation of fundamental rights.
HB 2879: Protecting Renters’ Rights
Rep. Isaac’s bill, HB 2879, directly addresses the injustices faced by Wallace and other renters in similar situations. According to FOX 4 News, the bill would:
- Prevent landlords from evicting tenants for using justified force in self-defense.
- Prevent condominium associations from imposing fines on residents who use force lawfully.
- Define “justified force” as any self-defense action that results in no criminal charges, a grand jury declining to indict, or a prosecutor deciding not to pursue charges.
Isaac emphasized that the bill is not just about renters’ rights, but also about upholding the Second Amendment:
“I had no idea we had citizens in Texas who were not able to exercise their Second Amendment right. Now this just makes it clear – your landlord does not have the right to take away your Second Amendment.”
Legal Battles and Pro Bono Support
Wallace’s eviction was ultimately halted, thanks to North Texas attorney Mark Melton, who took her case pro bono. But without his intervention, Wallace and her children could have been left without a home.
This highlights the unequal burden placed on renters – while homeowners have the legal right to defend their property, renters can be punished for the same actions.
A Discrepancy Between Rights
Liberty Doll pointed out the discrepancy between property rights and Second Amendment rights:
“Law-abiding citizens have the right to own guns. But under most state laws, private property owners have the right to ban guns from their property. What isn’t clear is whether that extends to renters.”
The Bigger Debate: Second Amendment vs. Property Rights
One notable gap in the Aleah Wallace Act, as Liberty Doll pointed out, is that it does not prevent landlords from banning guns on their properties.
This means that while renters cannot be evicted for using a gun in self-defense, they could still be evicted simply for owning one – a major loophole that could undermine the bill’s impact.
There is also the broader legal question of whether a landlord’s right to restrict firearms on private property overrides a tenant’s constitutional rights. Courts have generally ruled that public housing cannot ban guns, but private landlords have more legal leeway.
Support and Political Outlook
Rep. Isaac is confident the bill will pass. As she told FOX 4 News:
“I’ve got a lot of support from my fellow legislators, and I’ve been told that this is going to move pretty fast.”
If approved by the Texas House and Senate, the Aleah Wallace Act would go into effect on September 1.
Given Texas’ strong history of gun rights advocacy, the bill has a high chance of becoming law – but it remains to be seen if additional protections (such as preventing landlords from banning firearms outright) will be added.
What This Means for Renters and Gun Owners
If the bill is passed, it will mark a major victory for renters’ rights and gun owners in Texas. Renters would have:
- Clear protections against being evicted for acting in self-defense.
- Legal recourse if landlords attempt to penalize them for using justified force.
- Stronger recognition of their Second Amendment rights.
However, the fight isn’t over. The loophole regarding firearm ownership bans still puts many renters in a precarious position, especially in private housing.
A Step in the Right Direction
The Aleah Wallace Act is a critical step forward in ensuring that renters don’t have to choose between defending their families and keeping their homes.
Wallace’s case exposed a major flaw in Texas property law, and State Rep. Isaac’s response shows a commitment to fixing it.
But as Liberty Doll pointed out, there’s more work to be done:
“Sure, it says that you can’t be evicted for using deadly force in self-defense – but that wasn’t what Wallace was being evicted for. She was being evicted for owning a gun in the first place.”
For renters across Texas, this bill is a step in the right direction – but the fight for true firearm rights in rental housing is far from over.
A former park ranger and wildlife conservationist, Lisa’s passion for survival started with her deep connection to nature. Raised on a small farm in northern Wisconsin, she learned how to grow her own food, raise livestock, and live off the land. Lisa writes about homesteading, natural remedies, and survival strategies. Whether it’s canning vegetables or setting up a rainwater harvesting system, Lisa’s goal is to help others live more sustainably and prepare for the unexpected.