This has been flying around military e-mail Lans.  Thought it was interesting.


THIS IS WHERE WE ARE HEADING
By Robert A. Waters

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. The blast knocks both thugs to the floor.
One writhes and screams while the second man crawls to the front door and lurches outside. As you pick up the telephone to call police, you know you're in trouble. 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 choir boys. Their friends and relatives can't find an unkind word to say about them. Buried deep down in the article, authorities acknowledge 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. As the days wear on, the story takes wings. The national media picks it up, then the international media.
The surviving burglar has become a folk hero.  Your attorney says the thief is preparing to sue you, and he'll probably win. The media publishes reports that your home has been burglarized several times in the past and that you've been critical of local police for their lack of effort in apprehending the suspects. After the last break-in, you told your neighbor that you would be prepared next time. The District Attorney uses this to allege that you were lying in wait for the burglars.
A few months later, you go to trial. The charges haven't been reduced, as your lawyer had so confidently predicted. When you take the stand, your anger at the injustice of it all works against you. Prosecutors paint a picture of you as a mean, vengeful man. It doesn't take long for the jury to convict you of all charges.  The judge sentences you to life in prison.  This case really happened.
On August 22, 1999, Tony Martin of Emneth, Norfolk, England, killed one burglar and wounded a second. In April, 2000, he was convicted and is now serving a life term.  How did it become a crime to defend one's own life in the once great British Empire?
It started with the Pistols Act of 1903. This seemingly reasonable Law forbade selling pistols to minors or felons and established that handgun sales were to be made only to those who had a license.
The Firearms Act of 1920 expanded licensing to include not only handguns but all firearms except shotguns.  Later laws passed in 1953 and 1967 outlawed the carrying of any weapon by private citizens and mandated the registration of all shotguns.
"..It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds.." --Samuel
Adams.

Interesting. The lesson of the story is ! Don't call the cops and don't ---------------(fill in the blank) [:D]

[V]

Funny you should post this, I just heard on Paul Harvey today that England has a higher crime rate than the US. But he must be old and senile because that can't possibly be true, after all they've banned all guns! It would stand to reason that there crime rate would be near non-existent, Especially when compared to violent gun-totin' cowboy americans!

I also have to highly recommend the books that Robert A. Waters has written. "The Best Defense", and "Guns Save Lives", I think is what they are called.  The are true life accounts of citizens defending themselves with firearms.  They are easy to read and excellent material.



Good post.
Sorry Old England.

"A loud bang?  No - I didn't hear anything.  Did I see anyone?  No - I was sleeping."

Absolutely.  Those bad guys with their unregistered gun - must have been a murder/suicide or something.....

Give it time, it will happen here. The state loves rule through anarcho-tyranny. It's always easier for the state to criminalize and prosecute those who follow the laws than those who are career violent criminals against other citizens.

Can you imagine living in a liberal country.  If the liberals get their way then it would be complete chaos.  The crime rate would be sky-high because the only people with guns would be the criminals.  We would have no way to defend ourselves.  What is this world coming to?  Damn I'm glad I live in Texas.

The insane kicker to the UK episode is that the surviving burgler has been given the right to sue over being shot, and gets state disability money, bewcause he can't practice his trade any more.

The lunatics are running rhe asylum in the UK.

It's all a bunch of tree huggin hippie crap!  As I have said many times...  Read the statistics on gun vs no gun areas...  DC high crime,  just across the river where they are permitted,  less crime...  Im for the Colorado law called "make my day law".  Read about it.  God knows I pray that I would never want to have to shoot someone in my home.  But if it means protecting my family from harm.  That's an easy choice..  Read a similar thread about this, & the best defense from someone actually getting in your house,  "mans best friend".  

[sleep]

prosise

I came to the U.S. for college (and stayed!) and was amazed at how different the attitude was toward the general role for government.  Though this attitude does vary from state to state to some extent, it is much different than what is seen in the Commonwealth Countries (the name itself should give you pause) Britain, Canada, Australia, etc.  Unfortunately, the vast majority of people in these countries live under the delusion that the government is responsible for your safety and 'welfare'.  This explains their government's heavy-handed approach to gun control.  

When I tried to get a 'restricted weapon's permit' in Canada to buy a pistol, the police chief's response was that he considered them 'two pound paper-weights'.  I went from looking at pistols behind a plexiglas case at a gunshow (which are now banned) to walking into a store in the U.S. and the only restriction (other than the 21 age limit/background check) was money.  I was like 'OMFG, you mean I can buy any of these guns?'.  I have an Armalite and a Colt AR, and a Bushy is soon to join the club.  

Guys, all this to say that you should join the NRA/GOA (I've joined both) and write to your representatives/congressman.  Otherwise we'll be dealing with the same crap as in the story above.  
 

Good for you!  Welcome to the land of freedom and PERSONAL responsibility (for now anyway).

Alex

Jeez, how many naysayers are on these forums. This country is in the best position it could possibly be for gun rights.

Just a hint, imagine what it would be like if Gore won the election and the Democrats had majority in both houses. Then we would have a problem.