God! And I thought we over here were nuts

[Arvon]

Found this today...
British government lawyers arguing to deny
parole to imprisoned Norfolk farmer Tony Martin claimed May 1 that burglars are members of the public who must be protected from violent householders. Martin's rural home had been burglarized and robbed at least two dozen times when on the night of Aug. 21,1999, he heard burglars and confronted them with a shotgun. He wounded one thief and killed another, A third criminal escaped.
Despite the fact that the three burglars had been hauled before the court on criminal offences more than 110 times between them, it was Tony Martin who was prosecuted with the greatest zeal. He was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison. The conviction was later reduced to manslaughter and a five-year prison sentence.
Home Office lawyers disputed Martin's contention that he poses no risk to the public because he only represents a threat to burglars and other criminals who trespass on his property.
According to The Independent, Martin's legal-representatives attacked the decision "to use the case as a platform for setting out its position on burglars' rights," and said any risk Martin poses "is significantly diminished since he no longer owns a gun and has agreed to fit an air-raid siren to his home,"
Legal experts say the case for treating criminals as ordinary litigants will have been boosted by the arguments raised by the Home Office lawyers in the Martin case.

[Epona]

This is the UK, not the wild west. We have laws about shooting people. Especially when it involves an illegally owned shotgun, and shooting kids in the back as they are running away. I hope he stays in prison for a long time - this was not self-defence.

[Grojlach]

1) The situation sketched above is a rather simplified version of what really happened; it's a bit more complicated than all that. It fails to mention that, for instance, Tony Martin had been shooting at people who he thought were stealing his apples (!) a few years before the killed a burglar; and lost his gun license in the process. He's got a "history" of being trigger-happy, and there are some doubts about his mental state just the same (also see below).
2) We've discussed this case before; see this topic for more information. Read and learn.

[ 06-20-2003, 05:05 AM: Message edited by: Grojlach ]

[Desdicado]

I'm from the UK too, I say if someone breaks into your home, kill the b*****d.

[WillowIX]

Originally posted by Desdicado: I'm from the UK too, I say if someone breaks into your home, kill the b*****d.

Yes and if somebody hits your car, kill him! And if somebody loiters kill him! And finally if someone looks at you the wrong way, kill him! Wow, that would be the answer to all life's hardships. Anywho, I totally agree with Epona.

[Faceman]

In fact we should all kill each other and the sole survivor would have an nice life!

[Ramon de Ramon y Ramon]

Arvon, the next time you post something taken from a publication, would you please have the courtesy to provide us with the source. Thank you. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Iron_Ranger]

Originally posted by WillowIX: quote: Originally posted by Desdicado: I'm from the UK too, I say if someone breaks into your home, kill the b*****d.

Yes and if somebody hits your car, kill him! And if somebody loiters kill him! And finally if someone looks at you the wrong way, kill him! Wow, that would be the answer to all life's hardships. Anywho, I totally agree with Epona. [/QUOTE] Willow you know good and damn well thats not what he said.

[Bardan the Slayer]

Originally posted by WillowIX: quote: Originally posted by Desdicado: I'm from the UK too, I say if someone breaks into your home, kill the b*****d.

Yes and if somebody hits your car, kill him! And if somebody loiters kill him! And finally if someone looks at you the wrong way, kill him! Wow, that would be the answer to all life's hardships. Anywho, I totally agree with Epona. [/QUOTE]Don't be absurd. A person who crashes into my car cannot be said to pose a oredetermined threat to me and my family while we are vulnerable. A person who is loitering is not in a position to cause intentional harm to me and my family while we are vulnerable (sleeping). A person who looks at me the wrong way cannot be said to have a predetermined plan to cause harm to me or my family.

However, if someone breaks into my house, they have comitted an illegal act, and are obviously intending to commit other illegal acts. I, as an innocent man, do not know whether this illegal act includes theft, or deliberate murder. When it is a choice between leaving the criminal alone and hoping he is not intending to kill everyone in the house, and twatting him on the back of the head with the heaviest thing I can find, then it's goodbye Mr Intruder.

Or should I confront an intruder with "Ah, hello. Mr Intruder Sir. Are you planning to kill us all, in which case I shall resist, or are you just stealing, in which case I shall call the police anhd ... ugh!" *stabbed todeath by armed intruder*

Be serious.

[Arvon]

Originally posted by Ramon de Ramon y Ramon: Arvon, the next time you post something taken from a publication, would you please have the courtesy to provide us with the source. Thank you. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Sorry about that...When I scanned it I didn't get the publication. It was the American Rifleman.