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Brits have gained some right to self-defense
September 21, 2008 | Tagged British right to self-defense, presumtion of innocence, Second Amendment | 1 Comment
In July of this year, before my last post bemoaning their state of helplessness in the face of crime, British subjects appear to have been given some ability to legally defend themselves from burglars and assailants. On July 15th, authorities authorized crime victims to fight back against attack without having to prove their innocence in a court of law. This step was apparently taken when British rulers realized that their passive approach to crime was failing and that public pressure was mounting for a positive change.
In the U.S., we are used to the presumption of innocence and tend to forget that most other countries lack that fundamental right, just as they lack the fundamental right to arms recognised by the Second Amendment that provides our citizens with a capability for self-defense against crime and tyranny. According to the story in The Daily Telegraph, a British crime victim who defends him or herself with force will be judged on his or her perception of the danger at the time of the attack.
Muggers may also be attacked with their own weapons, assuming one is young enough, agile enough, and bold enough to disarm the felon. The Brits haven’t reached a full appreciation of the need for legal, armed self-defense. (For that matter, neither have we.) This is, however, as the anti-gun fanatics in this country are fond of saying when they succeed in eroding our rights; a good first step.
If you want U.S. residents to look more like free citizens and less like British subjects, vote Republican. Make your vote count.
Def Mech
Comments
1 Comment so far
It really is appalling how few rights citizens have in other countries.