Submitted by Alex Birch on Fri, 07/18/2008 - 18:05.
Home owners and “have-a go-heroes” have for the first time been given the legal right to defend themselves against burglars and muggers free from fear of prosecution.
They will be able to use force against criminals who break into their homes or attack them in the street without worrying that "heat of the moment” misjudgements could see them brought before the courts.
Under new laws police and prosecutors will have to assess a person’s actions based on the person’s situation "as they saw it at the time” even if in hindsight it could be seen as unreasonable.
This is a victory for personal liberty. Now when the government has failed to protect us, we as citizens must have the right to defend ourselves against people who want to rob us, rape us, beat us up or otherwise threaten our life and possessions. It's insane to be locked up for defending yourself against a criminal. The more people dare to stand up against burglars, the more the criminals will understand that they can't run us over anymore. As social isolation grows in modern society, we as citizens have to protect ourselves and our families against intruders.
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then why is this news?
If they're rare, we hear about those rare occurrences too often. the point is, it shouldn't take a legal act for people to be told they can defend themselves against intruders, and NO homeowner should ever be taken to court - civil or criminal - for harming some moron burglar trying to steal from/rape/kill them. the fact that we even needed to see Britain stress this is a problem in and of itself.
The Right was already yours
What? the state is now "giving" you the most fundamental god given right of all, the right to defend yourself... People, you already had the right to begin with! How in the world did you allow the state to criminalize you for defending yourself? Next favor they'll give you is the right to walk down your street without a walking permit! No wonder native Brits are leaving in droves...
Thats good to know
So next time I am attacked for no reason I can legitamely defend myself.
Yet it takes wall to wall and ceiling to floor crime out of control to get to this point...
wow
are we sure this is britain and not just some other town/city/country named britain in a distant galaxy?
this is EXCELLENT news. you can get sued in the States for rigging a shotgun to go off when someone opens your door if you're not around, or if a criminal falls down and bumps his knee when he's in your house. hopefully the US learns from this, cuts some of the fat out of what we jokingly call a "justice" system, and reminds people w/ legislation that it's okay to defend yourself, your home, and your family.
Having a civil action
Having a civil action brought against you by a home invader is hardly the equivalent of your self-defense not being legally protected. The rare, blown out of proportion cases where civil awards are granted under ridiculous circumstances hardly represent the totality of the system's operation in criminal matters. The way in which these criminal matters are enforced varies from state to state in the first place.
Castle Doctrine