>> >> Subject: Fw: A mind blower…and it is a true story! >> >> >> >> >> I sincerely ask that you read every word and then realize what >> the consequences can be. >> >> >> >> >> You’re sound asleep when you hear >> >> a thump outside your bedroom door. >> >> Half-awake, and nearly paralyzed with fear, >> >> you hear muffled whispers. >> >> At least two people have broken into your >> >> house and are moving your way. >> >> With your heart pumping, you reach down >> >> beside your bed and pick up your shotgun. >> >> You rack a shell into the chamber, then inch >> >> toward the door and open it. >> >> In the darkness, you make out two shadows. >> >> >> One holds something that looks like a crowbar. >> >> When the intruder brandishes it as if to strike, >> >> you raise the shotgun and fire. >> >> The blast knocks both thugs to the floor. >> >> One writhes and screams while the second >> >> man crawls to the front door and lurches outside. >> >> As you pick up the telephone to call police, >> >> you know you’re in trouble. >> >> >> >> In your country, most guns were outlawed years >> >> before, and the few that are privately owned >> >> are so stringently regulated as to make them useless. >> >> Yours was never registered. >> >> Police arrive and inform you >> >> that the second burglar has died. >> >> They arrest you for First Degree Murder >> >> and Illegal Possession of a Firearm. >> >> When you talk to your attorney, he tells >> >> you not to worry: authorities will probably >> >> plea the case down to manslaughter. >> >> >> >> “What kind of sentence will I get?” you ask. >> >> >> >> “Only ten to twelve years,” >> >> he replies, as if that’s nothing. >> >> “Behave yourself, and you’ll be out in seven.” >> >> >> >> >> The next day, the shooting is the lead >> >> story in the local newspaper. >> >> Somehow, you’re portrayed as an eccentric >> >> vigilante while the two men you shot >> >> are represented as choirboys. >> >> Their friends and relatives can’t find >> >> an unkind word to say about them. >> >> Buried deep down in the article, authorities acknowledge that >> both “victims” have been arrested numerous times. >> >> But the next day’s headline says it all: >> >> “Lovable Rogue Son Didn’t Deserve to Die.” >> >> The thieves have been transformed from career criminals into >> Robin Hood-type pranksters. >> >> As the days wear on, the story takes wing. >> >> The national media picks it up, >> >> then the international media. >> >> The surviving burglar has become a folk hero. >> >> >> >> >> Your attorney says the thief is preparing >> >> to sue you, and he’ll probably win. >> >> The media publishes reports that your home has been burglarized >> several times in the past and that you’ve been critical of local >> police >> for their lack >> >> of effort in apprehending the suspects. >> >> After the last break-in, you told your neighbor >> >> that you would be prepared next time. >> >> The District Attorney uses this to allege >> >> that you were lying in wait for the burglars. >> >> >> >> >> A few months later, you go to trial. >> >> The charges haven’t been reduced, >> >> as your lawyer had so confidently predicted. >> >> When you take the stand, your anger at >> >> the injustice of it all works against you. >> >> Prosecutors paint a picture of you >> >> as a mean, vengeful person. >> >> It doesn’t take long for the jury to convict >> >> you of all charges. >> >> >> >> >> The judge sentences you to life in prison. >> >> >> >> >> This case really happened. >> >> >> >> >> On August 22, 1999, Tony Martin of Emneth, Norfolk , England , >> killed one burglar and wounded a second. >> >> In April, 2000, he was convicted >> >> and is now serving a life term. >> >> How did it become a crime to defend one’s >> >> own life in the once great British Empire ? >> >> It started with the Pistols Act of 1903. >> >> This seemingly reasonable law forbade selling pistols to minors >> or felons and established that handgun sales were to be made only to >> those who had a license The Firearms Act of 1920 expanded licensing >> to >> include not only handguns, but all firearms except shotguns. >> >> >> >> >> Later laws passed in 1953 and 1967 outlawed the carrying of any >> weapon by private citizens and mandated the registration of all >> shotguns. >> >> >> >> >> Momentum for total handgun confiscation began in earnest after >> the Hungerford mass shooting in 1987. Michael Ryan, a mentally >> disturbed man with a Kalashnikov rifle, walked down the streets >> shooting >> everyone he saw. >> >> When the smoke cleared, 17 people were dead. >> >> >> >> >> The British public, already desensitized by eighty years of “gun >> control,” demanded even tougher restrictions. (The seizure of all >> privately owned handguns was the objective even though Ryan used a >> rifle.) >> >> >> >> >> Nine years later, at Dunblane , Scotland , Thomas Hamilton used >> a semi-automatic weapon to murder 16 children and a teacher at a >> public >> school. >> >> >> >> >> For many years, the media had portrayed all gun owners as >> mentally unstable, or worse, criminals. Now the press had a real kook >> with which to beat up law-abiding gun owners. Day after day, week >> after >> week, the media gave up all pretense of objectivity and demanded a >> total >> ban on all handguns. The Dunblane Inquiry, a few months later, sealed >> the fate of the few sidearms still owned by private citizens. >> >> >> >> >> During the years in which the British government incrementally >> took away most gun rights, the notion that a citizen had the right to >> armed self-defense came to be seen as vigilantism. Authorities >> refused >> to grant gun licenses to people who were threatened, claiming that >> self-defense was no longer considered a reason to own a gun. Citizens >> who shot burglars or robbers or rapists were charged while the real >> criminals were released. >> >> >> >> >> Indeed, after the Martin shooting, a police spokesman was quoted >> as saying, “We cannot have people take the law into their own hands.” >> >> >> >> >> All of Martin’s neighbors had been robbed numerous times, and >> several elderly people were severely injured in beatings by young >> thugs >> who had no fear of the consequences. Martin himself, a collector of >> antiques, had seen most of his collection trashed or stolen by >> burglars. >> >> >> >> >> When the Dunblane Inquiry ended, citizens who owned handguns >> were given three months to turn them over to local authorities. >> >> Being good British subjects, most people obeyed the law. The few >> who didn’t were visited by police and threatened with ten-year prison >> sentences if they didn’t comply. >> >> Police later bragged that they’d taken nearly 200,000 handguns >> from private citizens. >> >> >> >> >> How did the authorities know who had handguns? >> >> The guns had been registered and licensed. >> >> Kind of like cars.. Sound familiar? >> >> >> >> >> WAKE UP AMERICA >> >> THIS IS WHY OUR FOUNDING FATHERS PUT THE SECOND AMENDMENT IN OUR >> CONSTITUTION. >> >> >> “It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an >> irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people’s minds..” >> –Samuel Adams >> >> >> >> >> If you think this is important, >> >> please forward to everyone you know. >> >> You need to wake up, because our new >> >> president intends to do this very same thing >> >> over here if he can get it done. >> >> And there are idiots in Congress, >> >> in the media, and on the street >> >> who will go right along with him, >> >> ignoring and changing the Constitution >> >> to suit their whims. >> >> Do you have a gun, and any thoughts on this? >> >> Who wouldn’t prefer to have a gun to use? >> >> >> >> >> >>
mark mekenas mark@cannonbeachguns.com www.cannonbeachguns.com 503-436-0345