Posted on 02/20/2002 12:30:06 AM PST by Tanya Featherstonehaugh
An advertisement with similarities to the case of farmer Tony Martin, who is serving a prison sentence after shooting two burglars, has been criticised by the industry watchdog. The advert, for a security system, appeared in Countryside magazine, showing a farmer holding a shotgun.
The drawing has the farmer smiling and giving a thumbs-up sign with the shotgun still smoking and cartridges in mid-ejection.
A member of the public who complained said it was "irresponsible" because it "condoned the use of a shotgun to protect private property".
Martin killed one burglar and injured another with a shotgun after they broke into his farmhouse at Emneth Hungate, Norfolk, in August 1999.
He was initially convicted of murder by a jury, but that conviction was reduced to manslaughter by the Court of Appeal last year.
The company behind the campaign is Maxtec Electronix, of Kneesall, Newark, Nottinghamshire.
It said the same advertisement had appeared in magazines targeted at the farming community for six years. It was part of a series reflecting vandalism and theft on farm yards, estates and at pheasant shoots, said the firm.
The cartoon character in the advert represented the client group in the farming community, it said, who are friendly, professional people, who "appreciated the dry humour of the cartoon".
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upheld the complaint, because it implied the farmer had fired the gun against intruders and therefore condoned the use of a shotgun.
The ASA said this was "irresponsible" and asked the advertisers to amend it with the help of the Committee of Advertising Practice Copy Advice team.
Thank you! I love living where I do and it has such ancient roots as an independent kingdom (Northumbria). There's a lot of history around here and don't even get me started on those Scots! ;-)
Hark, was that the sound of a sheep bleating in the distance?
In fact, in the spirit of maintaining good across-the-pond relations with our English cousins, I'd say to any English FReepers, if you're ever in Atlanta, ping me, and we'll see if we can't arrange a range trip. There's a good indoor pistol range less than 10 miles from the house, and rifle ranges within an hour.
Anything for an excuse for a range trip! ;-)
Where is William Wallace when you need him???????
What's wrong with the Scots?, oh, er, never mind. Best not to get started on that list.
Nice post and welcome aboard.
It is sad to see the state that the nation that practically invented both freedom of speech, and the right for the common man to bear arms has come to this sorry state. I'm afraid that we're headed down the same road ourselves.
Oh, they're OK when they're not herding people into buildings,locking the doors and then burning them down.
It is sad to see the state that the nation that practically invented both freedom of speech, and the right for the common man to bear arms has come to this sorry state.
Things will change eventually, I hope. At the moment, there's no sign of them taking away my shotguns, or my right to shoot small-bore rifles. What really got my goat about this issue was some small-minded idiot complaining to the magazine about the illustration!
You have no idea how refreshing it is to hear an actual voice of reason from the UK. Please relocate to the United States promptly, and bring all like-minded Englishmen with you as well. We'll send over the populations of Berkeley, CA and Amherst, Mass. That should make everyone involved happy.
And by the way, I'm not an Englishman.
Oh, give me a break.
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