"Ron Moore" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > From what I've read about modern Britain, I don't think I would feel > very safe there.� I feel safe in Los Angelse and New York.� I feel > safe in the wilds of Namibia.� But, I don't think I would feel safe > in London.� I am unclear as to what I could do if set upon by some > street tough.� I mean...what if I hit him in the head with my camera > while he is trying to rob me...do I go to jail?
Perhaps it's because the folks spinning the tale that self-defence is outlawed there never ever tell you about cases like this one: Faced with a robber's empty shotgun, a `bloody great big hero'. Cahal Milmo. 22 June 2000 The Independent - London Richard Watkins is not a typical village postmaster, as a biker of 6ft 4in with long grey hair, a bushy beard and a talent for electronic wizardry. But yesterday, in Wolverley - a picture postcard village near Kidderminster - he was a celebrated postmaster and, in the words of one resident, "a bloody great big hero". The previous morning, Mr Watkins, a 50-year-old bachelor described as "a gentle giant", found himself fighting off with a knife an armed robber. Scott Griffiths, the jobless plasterer who had burst into the post office wearing a balaclava and waving a sawn-off shotgun, died later from his stab wounds. Griffiths, 28, who had convictions for burglary, assault and theft, received a fatal stab wound to the chest when Mr Watkins grabbed the four-inch lock-knife he uses to open bundles of newspapers, and lunged at his attacker. Griffiths was found dead within an hour, in the back of a blue Ford Sierra used as a getaway car. The two men who were allegedly with him were nowhere to be seen. West Mercia police announced soon afterwards they were treating the sub-postmaster as a victim of a "terrifying and life-threatening" crime. His customers, friends and neighbours agreed yesterday that he was the victim. Ms Watkins said she would be "very surprised" if charges were brought against the postmaster, adding: "He was really acting in self-defence. He didn't know initially that the gun wasn't loaded. -- Tim _______________________________________________ To post, send message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, unsubscribe, change options, or get password, see http://lists.ucla.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/firearmsregprof
