UK: Overwhelming support for campaign to protect householders who confront intruders

[GreenStormCloud]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/7004471/Overwhelming-support-for-campaign-to-protect-householders-who-confront-intruders.html

Overwhelming support for campaign to protect householders who confront intruders
The public overwhelmingly backs The Sunday Telegraph campaign for a change in the law to give better protection to householders who confront intruders.

An ICM opinion poll shows that 79 per cent of all voters believe householders should only face prosecution if they use grossly disproportionate force against burglars.

Only 17 per cent back keeping the current law – which permits prosecutions and convictions if "reasonable force" in tackling intruders is exceeded.

The findings – a major boost for The Right to Defend Yourself campaign - come as the Conservatives prepare to make a firm commitment to change the law if they win power in this year’s general election.

SNIP

The campaign also continues to attract high-profile backing.

Myleene Klass, the broadcaster and musician who was told by police that she shouldn't have waved a knife at burglars on her property, today backs this paper's campaign

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Progressives should not allow Conservatives to take away votes on issues like this. We should be out in front in protecting lawful, peaceful, citizens who have to defend themselves. Violent criminals act against everything that Progressives stand for. They are violent, selfish, predatory, and evil. They contribute nothing to society, but only degrade it. It is the victims that are the contributors to society and who need legal protection. Why should Progressives care if a burglar comes out on the very short end of the stick while threatening a family in their home?

Self-defense, and defense of one's family, is a basic human right. Progressives should act to ensure that right.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

1. So this wuld be like a push for Castle Doctrine in the UK?

That would be excellent.

[oneshooter]

2. It won't happen, the agents of the goverment

control the people, they are given no means to fight back.

Oneshooter
Livin in Texas

[TPaine7]

3. There is room for hope

If you have the vast majority of the voters behind you, you can win elections and change the rules.

The relevant issues are:

1. How much do the people care about this as opposed to other issues?
2. How vocal are they with their representatives?
3. How willing are the powers that be to abandon democracy through deception (like voter fraud) or simple dictatorship?

Anytime that many people want something, you may rest assured that there are ambitious politicians planning to give it to them. The UK may be ready to swing back towards sanity.

[benEzra]

5. That's ironic that they have to fight for it...

since the Castle Doctrine cames to us via England:

And the law of England has so particular and tender a regard to the immunity of a man's house, that it stiles it his castle, and will never suffer it to be violated with immunity: agreeing herein with the sentiments of ancient Rome, as expressed in the works of Tully;<25> quid enim sanctius, quid omni religione munitius, quam domus unusquisque civium?<26> For this reason no doors can in general be broken open to execute any civil process; though, in criminal causes, the public safety supersedes the private. Hence also in part arises the animadversion of the law upon eaves-droppers, nusancers, and incendiaries: and to this principal it must be assigned, that a man may assemble people together lawfully without danger of raising a riot, rout, or unlawful assembly, in order to protect and defend his house; which he is not permitted to do in any other case.

---Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England, Book the Fourth - Chapter the Sixteenth : Of Offenses Against the Habitations of Individuals

[taurus145]

4. I thnik they can. I think they can. I think they can.

But they probably won't, which is an utter disgrace.

[cowcommander]

6. How can you defend yourself in a country that bans knives?

Britain is a lost cause. They've done such an awesome job disarming law-abiding citizens!

[FunkyLeprechaun]

9. We don't ban knives here in the UK

It's too impossible to do. However, the sale of kitchen knives and things like that are restricted to only 18s and above, which I do question because my kitchen knives are out in the open in their block.

Shotguns and similar hunting rifles are not banned here either, but using the excuse of "self defense" bars you from ever purchasing a gun here.

[Tim01]

7. They gave up their rights way too easily. Now they are paying.

I feel bad for them. I'm sure they never thought a few nanny-state laws would go this far down the slippery slope.

[Glassunion]

8. It's a shame, but I think they too far down the road.

I feel bad for them and would love to see this pass and about 500 other things repealed. But the toothpaste is out of the tube, and they have shitty dental care.