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The Apocalypse Is Here, In Our Homes
The Telegraph ^ | December 5, 2004 | Dominic Lawson

Posted on 12/04/2004 6:11:50 PM PST by quidnunc

Remember Robert Symonds? It is the name of the 45-year-old Putney teacher who six weeks ago was stabbed to death in the hall of his home by a burglar. His body was found by his wife while their two children slept upstairs.

It was as a result of that incident that this newspaper launched our "right to fight back" campaign, which calls for the public to be given an unqualified right to self defence against intruders in their own homes. The point that struck me so forcibly at the time was not just the horror of Mr Symonds's death, but the fact that had Mr Symonds picked up a kitchen knife before encountering the burglar, and managed to get blows in first, then he would now, as the law stands, be facing a murder trial.

The defenders of the status quo argue that a jury might acquit, on grounds that such self-defence was "reasonable force". We argue that such cases should never even be considered as crimes in the first place.

-snip-

In America, where householders have an unqualified right of self-defence, only 12 per cent of burglaries take place while the owners are at home. In this country, the figure is well over 50 per cent, and as the horrible case of John Monckton shows, intruders are now deliberately choosing times when they know they will encounter someone who can be induced to allow entry into a home that is sufficiently secure to prevent an easy break-in.

-snip-

(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Editorial; Extended News; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: banglist
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1 posted on 12/04/2004 6:11:50 PM PST by quidnunc
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To: quidnunc

armed society is a more polite society eh...


2 posted on 12/04/2004 6:14:24 PM PST by lainie
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To: quidnunc

Geee, didn't we tell them that ahead of tiem? Listening to the 'bad' Americans could have saved a few lives.

Go figure.


3 posted on 12/04/2004 6:16:02 PM PST by SFC Chromey (Did 13 months in Iraq and of COURSE I voted for BUSH!)
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To: lainie

I've got a .357 waiting for any intruder...God bless 'em.


4 posted on 12/04/2004 6:16:19 PM PST by weenie ("A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants." -- Churchill)
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To: quidnunc
but the fact that had Mr Symonds picked up a kitchen knife before encountering the burglar, and managed to get blows in first, then he would now, as the law stands, be facing a murder trial.

That is unbelievable, maybe the British should leave their front doors open at night, and place all money and valuable jewelry, etc. in the hallway before going to bed.

5 posted on 12/04/2004 6:18:42 PM PST by xJones
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To: SFC Chromey

That's not just an unqualified right to self defense, that's an unqualified right to self defense with a firearm -- which is a great equalizer for a woman or a middle-aged, out-of-shape guy.


6 posted on 12/04/2004 6:18:53 PM PST by Tribune7
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To: lainie
"Those stupid, trigger-happy Yanks..."

As the more sane in England begin to reassert the right of self-defense, do you think they might come to grips with the fact that, for many (women, elderly, handicapped), the ONLY viable means of reliable self-defense is a firearm? Or will their pride get in the way?

7 posted on 12/04/2004 6:19:21 PM PST by Trailerpark Badass
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To: quidnunc

The British common law lies behind many of the freedoms we take for granted in the United States. The phrase "reasonable force" has always been a part of common law, and until the Labour Party came into power after the Second World War it was never applied in a way that contradicted the ancient principle that "a man's home is his castle." It's not the wording of the law that's at fault; it's the perverseness and moral stupidity of the elite classes, including judges.

It won't do much good to change the wording until you get the people who rule the country to understand that their present attitudes are neither just nor fair nor conducive to the prevention of crime and violence.

I hope this campaign succeeds, or there won't "always be an England" much longer.


8 posted on 12/04/2004 6:24:30 PM PST by Cicero (Nil illegitemus carborundum est)
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To: quidnunc
What's wrong with these Brits? Why don't they just hire bodyguards like us?

</limousine lib'ral>

9 posted on 12/04/2004 6:28:12 PM PST by randog (What the....?!)
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To: xJones
but the fact that had Mr Symonds picked up a kitchen knife before encountering the burglar,and and managed to get blows in first,then he would now,as the law stands,be facing a murder trial

That is unbelievable,maybe the British should leave their front doors open at night,and place all money and valuable jewelry,etc in the hallway before going to bed.

Some of our laws when it comes to personal or home defense are not to far off from this.

10 posted on 12/04/2004 6:31:49 PM PST by carlr
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To: Cicero
Cicero wrote: The British common law lies behind many of the freedoms we take for granted in the United States. The phrase "reasonable force" has always been a part of common law, and until the Labour Party came into power after the Second World War it was never applied in a way that contradicted the ancient principle that "a man's home is his castle." It's not the wording of the law that's at fault; it's the perverseness and moral stupidity of the elite classes, including judges.

It started even earlier than that.

The restrictions on weapons ownership and the use of force started after WW I because the elites became concerned that the hoi polloi might stage a revolution and overthrow them a la Russia.

11 posted on 12/04/2004 6:35:34 PM PST by quidnunc (Omnis Gaul delenda est)
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To: quidnunc

by Rajeev Syal
(Filed: 05/12/2004)

Police investigating the murder of John Monckton, the City financier who was stabbed to death at his home last week, have disclosed that one of his attackers gained access by posing as a postman.

At least one intruder wore a Royal Mail uniform, according to witnesses. Detectives believe that the uniform may have been used to trick Mr Monckton into opening the door to his house in Chelsea, west London, on Monday evening.


John Monckton

Mr Monckton, 49, was fatally wounded and his wife Homeyra, 45, very seriously injured in the attack, which took place at Upper Cheyne Row, in one of London's most affluent areas.

Isabel Monckton, the couple's nine-year-old daughter, found her parents lying injured after the two attackers had fled, and she called the emergency services.

Yesterday police initially said that both of the attackers had gained entry to the house dressed as postmen, and had then "ferociously attacked Mr Monckton and his wife".

Later, however, a police spokesman said that only one of the youths was dressed in a postal uniform. It is thought that Mr Monckton went to answer a knock at his front door and opened it to find a "postman". He then struggled to close it again after one or both of the attackers attempted to force their way inside.

The Metropolitan Police has now issued a fresh appeal for information from the public. "Officers are appealing for witnesses, for anyone who can recall seeing two males, one dressed as a postman, in the area at approximately 7.30pm on Monday, November 29," a spokesman said.

Police have gathered DNA evidence from a trail of blood thought to be that of one of the intruders, who might have been wounded in the struggle with Mr Monckton, said the spokesman.

"It is believed that one suspect may have sustained an injury during the attack, as a trail of blood has been found leading from the house."

Detectives said that the youths made their way to the Kings Road, Chelsea's busy main shopping thoroughfare, after the stabbing. More information emerged last night, when they said that one "important" witness had since come forward.

An e-fit image of one of the suspects is now expected to be released in the next 48 hours. One of the attackers was black, and the other is described as being "light-skinned" but of an unknown ethnic background. Both were described by officers as youths between 5ft 3in and 5ft 6in tall.

House-to-house inquiries continued in Chelsea yesterday and officers have set up a mobile police station in the area.

Detectives are still waiting to interview Mrs Monckton, who is recovering in hospital. Mrs Monckton's older daughter, Sabrina, 12, is staying with relations.

Mr Monckton, the managing director of Legal and General's highly successful fixed income bond division, was said by friends to be a modest and intensely private family man. He had deep Christian convictions and devoted much of his spare time to Catholic charities.

Mr Monckton was a cousin of Rosa Monckton, the wife of Dominic Lawson, the editor of The Sunday Telegraph.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/12/05/nmonc05.xml


12 posted on 12/04/2004 6:37:55 PM PST by TooBusy
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To: quidnunc
No questions.

No warning.

BANG.

Next?

Pit Bulls are also a very effective home defense. They get along great with the kids, virtually take over "the palace" when the Alpha Male leaves town, but they do come with a down side. They like to eat, they lick a lot and their tails are like steel rods.

Where is "Glock Rocks"?

So does S & W and Ithaca.

Not in my house.

LVM

13 posted on 12/04/2004 6:39:22 PM PST by LasVegasMac (If it ain't smoked, it ain't worth puttin' on the table!)
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To: LasVegasMac

A burgler better hope I get to my pistol before the wife gets to her machete.I wonder if hacking an intruder apart with a large razor sharp blade is considered reasonable force.


14 posted on 12/04/2004 7:17:34 PM PST by edchambers ("Pajama clad Neocon footsoldier of the Haliburton Death squad Digital brown shirts")
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To: LasVegasMac

A burgler better hope I get to my pistol before the wife gets to her machete.I wonder if hacking an intruder apart with a large razor sharp blade is considered reasonable force.


15 posted on 12/04/2004 7:22:26 PM PST by edchambers ("Pajama clad Neocon footsoldier of the Haliburton Death squad Digital brown shirts")
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To: LasVegasMac

The other down side to pit bulls is that they are being outlawed in a lot of places. There are few towns in our area of the state where they can be kept legally.


16 posted on 12/04/2004 7:29:44 PM PST by Vor Lady
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To: quidnunc

We're allowed to use deadly force in Texas if the homeowner is in fear of violence.

Translation. If you shoot someone who breaks into your house, fire a shot into the ceiling to tell the police you fired a warning shot.


17 posted on 12/04/2004 7:34:24 PM PST by Stratman
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To: edchambers

As long as you hack him apart in the house and not outside. Of course you could, bring the various parts back inside...


18 posted on 12/04/2004 7:34:50 PM PST by montomike (Gay means happy and carefree...not an abomination against nature's check valve.)
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To: Trailerpark Badass

"for many (women, elderly, handicapped), the ONLY viable means of reliable self-defense is a firearm?"

God made man, but Sam Colt made them equal.


19 posted on 12/04/2004 8:19:55 PM PST by dsc (LIBERALS: If we weren't so darned civilized, there'd be a bounty on them.)
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Comment #20 Removed by Moderator


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