I'm so happy!!

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Last night my wife started asking about firearms for home defense.

In the last few days a farmer has gone to trial because he shot and killed a burglar. The farmer had been burgled twice previously and 3 large guys turned up on his remote farm in the middle of the night and were stealing chainsaws, quad bikes, various other easily sold farm gear from his shed right next to the house. The farmer grabbed his shotgun, shouted at them, fired a warning shot and when one of the three ran with his chainsaw he shot the guy in the legs. Unfortunately he severed the BG's femoral artery. The other 2 guys ran off. The farmer called the cops and the ambulance, told them there had been a shooting and that one person was in critical condition. It took the ambulance 45 mins to arrive, the cops arrived 10 mins later. The BG was dead when the ambulance arrived.

All sorts of debate is raging at the moment and although our police are extremely anti when it comes to home defense with firearms (officially at least) there are a surprising number of people (particularly rural people) who support the idea of home defense. There seems almost to be a redneck undercurrent within the PC institution (hooray, I'm not alone!! )

Anyway, last night wifey (who is not particularly fond of guns) started asking questions. She asked me to open the gun safe and explain the various guns, how to load them, the strengths and weaknesses of each, which would be best for a home defense situation and why, how to load it, how to unload it and make it safe, what would be the best plan if an unknown number of BGs invaded the house, etc. She even asked what was involved in getting a firearms licence.

I'm so proud!!!

We sat down and had a good chat about the two shotguns and to my surprise she selected the semi-auto (Win 1400) over the O/U. She felt it fit her better and found it more logical, easier to operate and liked the 3 shot capacity ....... personally I thought the O/U was as simple as you could get, but go figure. She agreed that the best way to get familiar with shotguns was to use them so she's going to come shooting with me to see what its all about.

I'm pretty confident that she's going to enjoy shooting clays. In school (around the age of 15-16) she was shooting .308 target rifles at 300 yards and was apparently quite good, although the bug apparently never bit her. Let's hope busting some clays interests her enough to want to BA/UU/R.

I think that 870 Marine Magnum that I've been secretly desiring just got a whole lot closer to finding a place in our home

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[AJ Dual]

It's allways great when a family member sees the light on home defense.

However, even in the U.S. the farmer would probably be in some trouble. Shooting at a fleeing robber, even if he is carrying away your property is a no-no in most jurisdictions.

The only exception I can think of is Texas, where shooting at treaspassers after dark is legal, as the legislature there (wisely) deemed it unreasonable for the homeowner to determine the intruders intentions.

Personally, I think that's just fine.

Good luck with your wife! I notice that the shotgun sports seem to have the most women represented around here in Wisconsin, at least when I go to various ranges around here.

 

[P95Carry]

I can appreciate your feeling of pleasure ....... good move. Build on that.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Glad to hear this. Another person has read the writing on the wall. WE are responsible for our defense.

By all means, let her pick out what she wants to shoot. And, some lessons from another source than thee are in order. Spouses have trouble teaching spouses.

Keep the loads light, the sessions short, and make it fun. Too bad you're not closer, the Saturday sessions at PGC have been productive.

 

[ShaiVong]

Isn't that sad? You can get in trouble by shooting a theif fleeing with your property.

Scumbags; I may move to Texas JUST for that law!

 

[tc300mag1]

I just finsh a CCW class for renewal and they made sure to hammer it home even though the cops here dont really have a problem with us having guns.

That do not shoot for property you will goto jail by our laws here.Sad you cant protect your property but its considered just that property that can be replaced.

 

[Spinner]

Actually I can see both sides to the argument.

Its only property and that's what insurance is for and its hard to justify taking someone's life over a coupla hundred dollars worth of stuff.

On the other hand, this guy's in the middle of nowhere, on the receiving end of repeated burglaries, he gives plenty of warning, thinks he's making a non-lethal "I'll teach this turkey a lesson" shot and ends up killing the guy. It's hard to understand why the BG would risk his life over a coupla hundred dollars worth of stuff.

Maybe frustration over repeated burglaries and lack of justice got to this guy .... I'm not saying it's right but I can empathise. At the end of the day there's one guy who's burgling career is over and I'm picking his two friends would now think twice about it too. 3 fewer burglars is a good thing ..... maybe the means to the end wasn't ideal.

Its got a lot of folks thinking about home security though and a lot of people are thinking of home defense with firearms ..... which might make potential BG's stop and think a little ........ maybe.

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[ShaiVong]

It's hard to understand why the BG would risk his life over a coupla hundred dollars worth of stuff.

See, thats what I think. Why do people always shift the wrong doing onto the innocent land and property owners?

The question shouldnt be "is it worth killing somebody for an ATV or bike?" to the victim. It should be "do you think its worth dying for an ATV?" to the prospective thief.

If somebody breaks into your house and you defend yourself, or they get shot while pilfering through your fridge, THEY were the ones who CHOSE to gamble their life for money, not you. (wow what a run on sentance!)

 

[Gordon]

I will now consider Texas too! Any states allow trap guns and other active anti burglar devices? "After all it is just property" is the biggest load of horse manure I've ever heard come out of the sallyfied left since the clear headedness of the 50's went south with the pot smoke! :banghead:

 

[Sven]

> She asked me to open the gun safe

Step 1: Teach wifey the codes! You may need her to know them one day!

 

[Brian Dale]

Its only property and that's what insurance is for and its hard to justify taking someone's life over a coupla hundred dollars worth of stuff.

It isn't, actually. Not in my view. My viewpoint is this:

Do you have the right to live your life without being murdered, or not?
Do you have the right to live your life without being raped, or not?
Do you have the right to live your life without being robbed, or not?

Do you have the right to earn money, decide how to spend it, and then buy and maintain your possessions without their being plundered at someone else's whim, or not?

Do you have the right to act to defend your life and the lives of those you love, or not? Even when the intentions of an intruder are unclear? Even if it hasn't been and cannot be proven before the fact that the particular thief that you're watching is willing to kill you?

Or is it enough that — because intruders have so often committed murder, rape, robbery, arson, malicious destruction, kidnapping, mayhem, and other foul crimes — you as a human being have the fundamental right to take action (given that time is of the essence and the future cannot be predicted) to stop the threat to your well-being?

I believe so.

 

[Lovegasoline]

What has happened to the farmer, what has he been charged with?

 

[Spinner]

What has happened to the farmer, what has he been charged with?

I believe he's been charged with shooting and injuring the "victim" with reckless disregard. He is also charged with discharging a shotgun without reasonable cause.

At this stage its only gone to a depositions hearing, so they're still trying to decide whether its worthwhile following thru on the prosecution.

Interestingly there is some debate regarding the accuracy of the ballistics evidence provided by the expert witness ..... its being contested by experienced field and target shooters who have done their own reconstruction of events.

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[ShaiVong]

He is also charged with discharging a shotgun without reasonable cause.

Huh. To me, discharging a shotgun at a criminal is a reasonable cause.

 

[Spinner]

Step 1: Teach wifey the codes! You may need her to know them one day!

Actually its a keyed safe and she knows where the keys are kept. At least one and maybe more duplicate sets of keys will shortly be made ..... if she takes to shotgunning she may have her own set of keys and I may have to give her one of the shotguns (just an excuse for me to replace my now missing shotgun with an 870 Marine Magnum )

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