Well that was scary !!!

[petris]

Here in NY you would wind up with a 9mm in your brain if you broke my window.  That stuff doesn't fly - nor is it funny.  Those kids are lucky your a nice guy - especially trying to break-in and enter, thats grounds for termination.

[eek!]

I can appreciate your feelings for protecting yourself, however, I

have grave doubts a judge and jury might agree that shooting another

person under these cirumstances is valid. Generally, only "imminent"

(defined as unequivocally likely to happen; Example: Someone IS

shooting at you with a firearm, and not "I felt he might hurt me")

threat to life or bodily harm to oneself or another (might) find a

sympathetic audience. Even this may not be enough as in the case of

Harold Fish.

In Summary: The defendent (Mr. Fish) was nearly

attacked by two large dogs, then the owner (an adult male) came after

him. The defendent felt bodily harm was imminent. He shot the man who

later died. Mr. Fish went to prison for 10 years, accused of 2nd degree

murder. I hope you would not pull out a gun and shoot someone without

considering the likely ramifications found in our (U.S.) courts. Not

making any sort of judgement on current laws, rather for the shooter

best to think first what this one moment will do to his/her life and of

course yours.

Trail of Evidence: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15199221/page/6/ 

[Tamiya1/10]

I think the solution to the problem could only be solved based on the local conditions, habits, practices etc... Use of fire arm, maybe a solution in this case for the USA while not appropriate in Europe, and the non use of force may not be appropriate in the USA so is hard to say who is right or wrong.  The right to bear arms have their valid reasons and equally valid reasons why guns should not be allowed.

[cianhanrahan]

TC, have you a Communtiy Alert, or Neighbourhood watch scheme in your area? They would be the best people to talk to regarding what you can and cannot do to deter these scumbags. I'm guessing you've already had a chat with the local constabulary, but a monitiring setup with Lights, Camera and IR switch might be enough to get evidence to slap a bunch of Asbos on 'em. Shame that we have to even discuss this. There is a case ongoing here in Ireland regarding a farmer who shot a Traveller on his property, he initially got 8 years, though a retrial has since been announced , so he's out again.

[Slyp Dawg]

I say get all of the stuff previously mentioned, like CCVT camera, secitury lights, ect, but keep a gun in the house, just in case all of that does not deter these chavs and they manage to get into your house, you can defend yourself. at the very least invest in a nice metal baseball bat or a golf club, even if you want nothing to do with either sport. a pair of play handcuffs wouldn't hurt either, so after you rend one of the chavs unable to do anything you can handcuff him and prevent him from going anywhere before the police get there

[pleiku68]

WELL THAT WAS SCARRRRRY!!!!

I am 60 years old and I can tell you that the odds of a home invasion in these times is pretty darn good.

In the next 20 years this will be one of the top crimes in the United States..I believe in home protection and I will tell you why.

In 1969 I returned home to the US after spending a year in Vietnam. I was combat infantry and was sick of weapons..Killing and maiming is a terrible ungodly thing.  I swore that I would never pick up a weapon again for the rest of my life..

Now enter 1979..I was at a birthday party and returned home..My home was in a nice residential area in Coventry Rhode Island..My three children at the time asleep down stairs and my wife and I had a bedroom on the second floor..Around three in the morning I heard a noise in the kitchen..Got up and there was a young man with a knife in my kitchen..Another man was downstairs removing my stero..You know what the first thing that cross my mind was????I wish I had my M-16..and also the safety of my children downstairs..My refrigerator had an ice maker and the ice just happened to fall into the tray..Knowing there were two guys in the house I turned to see if someone was behind me where I heard the noise..As I turned the kid ran by me down the stair and out the front door..His buddy in fast retreat behind him..Called the police but they were never caught..

Two day latter I purchased an AR-15 which is the civilian semi- automatic M-16..I also purchased an pump shot gun and a .38 revolver..We had a 14 day waiting period in RI at the time for a hand gun but rifles you could take with you from the store..

That said guns are not for everyone..They can be taken away if you are not prepared to use the weapon..Personally I know I can shoot someone because I have done so in combat but I've seen others freeze but not for long.[]lol They alway get controll and return fire..The first time is the most difficult..for most people it will alway be the first time...

Guns are now part of my life just as Tamiya..I am an avid collector and shoot regularly

In Rhode Island because of the nature of my business, precious metals, I had a license to carry a cancelled weapon and I did..I can carry one in Florida also but I choose not to at this time but that can change.

Florida protection laws are the best in the country...If some one is on your property and you "believe" he means you deadly harm you have the right to use deadly force..This law was passed last year...and to this date no-one has "taken advantage" of it to the best of my knowledge..Home invasion crime is down from a year ago in Florida...

"The Gods do not subtract the hours spent from a mans life while playing with his toys

[Guest joelvardy]

I think that if a loved one, well anyone really was under threat (deadly threat) then the adrenaline would kick in and the thought of you killing someone would not even be considered.

although I can imagine that the thoughts going through your mind would be full of 'what if he was mental, didn't know what he was doing, I have killed him.) - sorry if this doesn't make sense I don't know how to phrase it.

[ChrisB]

I think this thread really shows the differences in culture / law / attitude to guns between Europe and the US. In my opinion, (and it is just that), its one of those cultural differences that means that what works for people in one place is not appropriate / viable in another.

You may not agree with the law, but you will be judged by it and have to face the consequences even if you don't agree with them. If everyone could pick and choose which laws they obey and those they ignore the whole system would break down.

If you ignore the law on issues like this you could well spend the rest of your life paying the price, not to mention having to pay compensation to the very people (or their families) that have made your life a misery. Imagine not only giving up your freedom for most of your adult life for shooting someone (even if you felt it was justified), but also then having to spend the rest of your life paying them or their family compensation..... enough to drive someone mad or worse I'd say.

 

 

 

[minijosh]

I say get a dog.  Doesn't really matter on which size it is but the bigger is better.  Makes you sad when you have to defend your property from anal kids. Not all kids are like this but in Arizona, when the criminal breaks into your house, as long as he's trespassing, he's fair game.  My pops packs a .38, .357, 12 gauge, 2 SKS's, a few .22's and a few hunting rifles. Needless to say the 2 hand guns are ready and willing with both he and my mom. Makes the house safer? No. Helps with peace of mind? Yes. I got broke into 3 times living in Mildenhall village, a gun would not have helped since it was snatch and grab but we had spot lights up, large gate with a lock and 2 cats. Needless to say we got a dog. No more trouble because we moved on base. Now I got 18 year old kids driving Hummers with M-16's patrolling. Safer? Maybe. Peace of mind? Maybe. Any more crime? None!!!

[minijosh]

In a country with no guns, I find it funny to see how many people in the UK are killed with bullets.  Criminals must be throwning them very hard. I swear I hear of a death everyother night in Notts by guns. Would it make sense to make guns legal? Take away the guns from the law abiding citizens and you are left with a butter knife to protect your family.

Give the law abiding person a gun and it levels the playing field. I bet the criminal will think twice when he sees the NRA sticker on that houses front door and windows.

[DJTheo]

Nice album btw: 

Cheers 

[Wireless]

That's terrible. I feel bad that this sort of stuff happens. Where about in the country are you...?

 I have one of these in the house. Packed with 6 D-size Duracells, when I whack an intruder with it, they stay whacked.

 

[MikeT]

Is that a Maglight Roop?

All aluminium body?

[Wireless]

Hi Mike . Yeah, it's a Maglite - it's all alloy so weighs nothing, but this is completely negated because when you put 6 D size Duracells in it, it weighs a ton...! It's a nice flashlight, but unless you want a kosh, you are better saving a load of money and getting a cheaper 3 cell Maglite or even a clone. They aren't worth the money they cost in my opinion, you are just paying for the name a lot of the time. Some of the clones are every bit as good as the reflector quality and bulb location in the Maglite is hardly what you could call precision...!

Is that a Maglight Roop?

All aluminium body?

[MikeT]

Yep, i know. My dad has one!

Bet you could deliver a fatal blow with a 5-Cell version

Mike

[benidormboy]

just been on the net and the u.k version of pepper spray is called, farb gel spray. it is only a dye which cannot be washed off 4 5 days. by law you cannot use any toxic liquid. i know the law stinks. p.s in spain everything is legal. dont know if thats good or bad.