“If you’re going to bring a knife to a gun fight” should have been a country song written by the Honky Tonk Hero of country music, Billy Joe Shaver.
This week, in Waco’s 54th State District Court, Shaver goes on trial for the March 2007 shooting of Billy Bryant Coker outside Papa Joe’s Saloon just north of Lorena, Texas.
Shaver is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon but claims Coker pulled a knife on him, hence the self-defense plea. According to conflicting reports however, Shaver allegedly asked Coker “Where do you want it?” before shooting him in the cheek and driving away.
No one knows better than Shaver that faith, religion, freedom and fighting have a place in this world, in fact, if the linear notes from some of country music’s greatest outlaws, like say, Waylon and Willie, don’t lend credence to the legend of Billy Joe (He probably penned most of your favorites) than he just may not have a chance in hell.
follow the trial here.
support Shaver here.
live tweets here.
