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I've never heard a discussion about the reasoning for such a law, but I can make a fair country guess. Dealing with criminals at night is dangerous because you need light to see their hands. Hands are life - or death. When you can't see the hands, you are in a lot more danger. Police officers are taught about light in dark places. A lot of non-LEO don't even think you need a light at night. Maybe the lawmakers understood that?

jmra wrote: How did we get from blocking the drive to shooting the guy just because he shot your horse isn't justified?

I think someone besides the OP asked. My experiences had nothing to do with shooting persons, but property. I saw a brand new pickup that belonged to a trespasser that had been turned into Swiss cheese by a rancher and his hand who had him outgunned - significantly. Charges only brought against the trespasser.

Things are done a bit differently out where ranches are frequented by people who get a kick out of shooting a ranchers' cattle. That is why I suggested the county authorities. Where I am now, it's probably the letter of the law. When I lived in the Trans-Pecos area, there was a more "code of the West" attitude. Lots of discretion when there are no cell phones or witnesses around. I'll let you be the judge of right or wrong, but a lot of those counties became known as places not to trespass posted land.

I suggest talking about the incident with your county Sheriff or county Commissioners. When ranchers in the western parts of the state post their land, they are VERY serious about those who trespass and shoot at their livestock.

Of course horse stealing/killing used to be a capital offense.