Farmer accidentally shoots burglars

Wonder what happened to the burglars - probably let of with a caution and given legal aid to sue the farmer.

Farmer should be congratulated not charged.

In contrast

Police shoot suspected robber in the throat

Suspects arrested and police get a pat on the back for a good job - as it should be.

'The extraordinary story only came to light after investigators told Mr Tibbs he would face no further action.'

Well you posted it......

I have no problems with a man defending his life and property. Using reasonable force against a clear threat is to be supported.

But firing a shotgun into the darkness at "movement" he had just spotted ?

In his own words it was dark and he could not see anything.

Defend yourself against a threat by all means but at least identify your target ( and any possible collateral issues near your target ) before you fire.

He fired at a fox, on his own land.

You've never fired a gun i the darkness?  Never been out bunny shooting at night or foxing?

Here's another way of looking at it, if the burglars hadn't been there trying to break into his property they wouldn't have been caught in the shot pattern meant for the fox would they?

both very good points , I'm kinda split on this one , defending ones property = good , shooting into the dark = bad.

still its the result that counts



 

"It was pitch black. Black as your hat. There are no lights here at all. I came out of lights, the house, and saw the fox. I know which way they go and saw movement and fired three times at it and that was that."

This statement implies he couldn't even see the fox any more but shot where he expected it to be. I have no sympathy for the druggies whatsoever but I think he should count himself lucky and stop talking.

Yeah, the blindly shooting bit makes me go a bit.  Good job it wasn't Joe Pasquali doing the Daz Doorstep Challenge.

As for the the Burglars.......  karma sucks

Fox might have crossed the light given out by the house making it visible and then passed into the shadows where it couldn't be seen, and the burglars were doing their thing.  Doesn't he say that he saw the burglars are assumed he was being robbed, juts that he heard a noise and saw a fox.  Seems reasonable.  Might not be true but without being there we can't say.

Fact remains, it's his land, he shot his gun lawfully at a legitimate target (not necessarily how you or I would have done it) and bagged a couple of badguys without even knowing they were there.  Win.

Not without 1. aiming it at something I can see 2. taking consideration of what the backstop is.

This could have easily gone the other way... People are only 'OK' with it because the people were 'bad'. What if it had been a couple of kids out mucking about, or a motorist who was lost  & needed some help, or ramblers?

There are no shades of gray with this in my view..Unless you you know (in so far as is reasonable) where a shot is going to end up when you pull the trigger then you shouldn't pull it.

 

Or Joe Pasquali on the Daz Doorstep Challenge...

Thanks for the safety lecture. Like I said, it's not a shot I would have taken.


So do you think he should have been charged?

Sorry, don't mean to be a pedantic arse... but this kind of thing always worries me because it has some much potential go badly wrong for our sport that's all.. I can't count the number of times I've been out of the last couple of years and come across people (usually rambler or mountainbikers) in places the shouldn't be.. Concerns me always...  

Fair enough.

Seems like only yesterday we were criticising Ms Palin for shooting and not knowing where her rounds were ending up. Or maybe it would have turned out ok had she hit a couple of bad guys ?

Yes, I have shot in the dark but with the aid of a lamp. I have NEVER shot in complete darkness at a target I could not see. Or without knowing whats near / behind said target.

Yes, its great that burglars have gotten a punishment of sorts. But fact remains that its a perfect example of total disregard for the basics of safe shooting.

Should he be charged ? Dont know about that. What I do know is that from what he has said, he appears to have a blatant disregard or ignorance for the basics of shooting safely. If I were his FEO I would bear that in mind when considering whether he is fit to be entrusted with a shotgun / rifle.