I'd suggest that the picture of self-defense in Britain is not fairly represented without discussing the law concerning tools that can be used for self-defense.
Peaceable citizens cannot carry lock-back knives or firearms for the purposes of self-defense. In fact, a lock back knife that I routinely carry in the U.S. (a Beretta with a 3" blade) is regarded in Britain as an offensive weapon. One attacker responds with a knife in his premises, but if he were to be attacked on the street and responded with the same knife that he carried on the street, what would have been the legal outcome? Shannon used scissors to defeat an attack. Having receive a threat, if Shannon had armed himself with a serious knife instead of scissors, he might have been judged as having gone looking for trouble and his self- defense claim dismissed by the jury. The questioning about why he had the scissors is reprentative of trying to determine the motive for his being armed (e.g., did he place himself in a position where he could kill and claim self-defense). In most places in the U.S., arming yourself in response to threats is considered a prudent action. So long as you don't provoke and attack, your claims of self-defense should be upheld. I guess, given the facts in Shannon, some of us wonder why a trial would have been necessary. There were witnesses that Shannon was attacked and had been threatened previously by the attacker. The attacker had a record of violent action. I'd guess, that had Shannon not been carrying the scissors, but had instead found them during his struggle, there would have been no prosecution. The fact that a prosecution was made in this case is an illustration of the hostility in Britain to self-defense. Phil > "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 > > -- The Art of war is simple enough. Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike at him as hard as you can and as often as you can, and keep moving on. -- Ulysses S. Grant _______________________________________________ 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
