Posted on 08/12/2009 1:27:13 AM PDT by chuck_the_tv_out
This may be closer to reality than you think
You’re sound asleep when you hear a thump outside your bedroom door. Half-awake, and nearly paralyzed with fear, you hear muffled whispers. At least two people have broken into your house and are moving your way. With your heart pumping, you reach down beside your bed and pick up your shotgun. You rack a shell into the chamber, then inch toward the door and open it. In the darkness, you make out two shadows.
One holds something that looks like a crowbar. When the intruder brandishes it as if to strike, you raise the shotgun and fire.
[..]
In your country, most guns were outlawed years before, and the few that are privately owned are so stringently regulated as to make them useless. Yours was never registered. Police arrive and inform you that the second burglar has died. They arrest you for First Degree Murder and Illegal Possession of a Firearm. When you talk to your attorney, he tells you not to worry: authorities will probably plea the case down to manslaughter.
"What kind of sentence will I get?" you ask.
"Only ten-to-twelve years," he replies, as if that's nothing. "Behave yourself, and you'll be out in seven."
The next day, the shooting is the lead story in the local newspaper. Somehow, you're portrayed as an eccentric vigilante while the two men you shot are represented as choirboys. Their friends and relatives can't find an unkind word to say about them. Buried deep down in the article, authorities acknowledge that both "victims" have been arrested numerous times. But the next day's headline says it all: "Lovable Rogue Son Didn't Deserve to Die." The thieves have been transformed from career criminals into Robin Hood-type pranksters.
[..]
This case really happened.
(Excerpt) Read more at examiner.com ...
Quite a controversial case - his background (losing his licence because of a firearms offence) didn’t help either.
If they’re running away, you can’t shoot them.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/norfolk/3009769.stm
What would Britain's own stout forefathers have thought of this kind of condemnation? Laughed their arses off???
The burglars said they were running away, poster. That’s what the burglars said.
What a sad story.
I like this comment below the article:
“Subsequent to edicts issued and initially acting under no orders from any Militia leader, thousands of privately-Armed American Patriots descended upon and laid siege to the British troops stationed in Boston.
The fortuitous outcome of the ensuing brutal and bloody American Revolutionary War for Independence, resulted in no less than ending the ‘divine right of Kings to rule’ over Americans, and forever forged-through-fire the establishment of individual and inviolable ‘Rights’ of all American FREEMEN.
Why Britons and their descendants chose to remain subjects of the Crown rather than achieve equal station as Freemen,—if necessary by taking up Arms as Colonial Patriots were forced to do as a result of acts by King George III and his minions—is a question only they can answer…but the consequences to their inaction are now clearly self-evident.”
Backing out, of cuss.
Criminals be they polidiots or not will have lots of “personal” issues’n worries if they try that crap here in the US of A ............
Three “S” rule and homemade supressors and or the hog farm down the road will rule the day that law is passed.
Just my opinion of course.......
Parole boards seem to live in a world of their own - John Wesley Hardin, Kenneth Mcduff?
Yes, our forefathers would probably have laughed their arses off.
Why Britons and their descendants chose to remain subjects of the Crown rather than achieve equal station as Freemen,—if necessary by taking up Arms as Colonial Patriots were forced to do as a result of acts by King George III and his minions—is a question only they can answer…but the consequences to their inaction are now clearly self-evident.”
> Why Britons and their descendants chose to remain subjects of the Crown rather than achieve equal station as Freemen...
Most Britons are not “subjects of the Crown”. I’m not — I’m a British Citizen. My passport says so.
“As I see it there’s a couple reasons why they never took up arms
First, they had no arms. After firearms replaced the long bow the peasants were pretty much left unarmed. Only the nobility were allowed arms. Pitchforks, homemade pikes and knives aren’t much good against firearms.”
That is incorrect. The United Kingdom and it’s predecessors did not have any form of gun control until the 20th century. It was imposed, modestly, starting in the 1930’s. Guns were not completely banned until the over reaction to the Dunblane massacre in 1996 led to the passage of the Firearms Act, which, while stupid, was hugely popular.
The comment you refer to is incorrect.
The powers of the Crown have been curbed repeatedly since the Magna Carta. The Crown of England slowly lost many of it’s powers until the 1640’s.
England, Scotland, and Ireland were a bloody battle ground from 1641 to 1688 in a power struggle over the powers of the Crown versus the powers of Parliament.
In that time you saw:
Two Civil Wars
The Execution of King Charles I
The establishment of an English republic (The Commonwealth of England)
Parliament abolished and the imposition of a military dictatorship
The collapse of the dictatorship and anarchy
The restoration of the monarchy by General Monk and King Charles II
The deposing of Charles’ successor James II & VIII by Parliament in the Glorious Revolution of 1688
Parliament selecting a King by bringing in King William III & Queen Mary II
The final establishment of Parliamentary Supremacy
Remember, the Patriots did not invent the rights they sought, the sought “the rights of Englishmen” which are the foundation of our liberty today.
I say lets break him out!
Apparently this is not the only such case of people in England...er Great Britain defending themselves and getting the shaft. Of course many of these people just want a tooth extracted and since you need to wait 18 months unless your in prison it becomes a viable option. “Defend yourself, go to jail and get the health care we have always promised”!
Should our townhall revolution infect our English cousins, the elite will feel the heat. Being unarmed, it’s their best shot to take back their country from the fascists and socialists.
Good article but for the fact that Tony Martin’s conviction was appealed, the charge reduced and he was released in 2003.
My understanding was that it was more draconian. I’ve seen articles about UK Olympic shooters having to go to France to train.
“No, they weren’t completely banned - and still aren’t completely banned, just highly restricted in their use. Legal handguns must be kept at shooting clubs or ranges. Before Dunblane in 1996 (?) they were severely restricted”
Partly right; handguns ARE banned with a couple of exceptions: classics (IIRC pre 1945 section 7)I believe need to be kept at Bisley National Shooting Centre. Also, if your profession (eg Vet) involves humane destruction of animals, but that’s about it.
correct
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.