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(No) Gun crime
Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2013 9:37 pm
by Gob
A farmer accused of attempted murder after catching an intruder red-handed has been banned from keeping firearms - despite being cleared of any crime.
Bill Edwards, 21, caught unemployed criminal David Taylor on his land stealing metal and fired his shotgun at the thief's vehicle as it was speeding towards his mother Louisa Smith, 50.
He then chased the van until it was stopped in the next village by police.
But it was Mr Edwards who endured a horrendous ordeal at the hands of police who arrested him on suspicion of attempted murder and confiscated his guns.
Taylor, from Scarborough, later walked free from court laughing with just a £100 fine for theft, after claiming he was 'traumatised' by the incident.
But Mr Edwards' firearms certificate has been revoked by North Yorkshire Police, who branded him 'a danger to public safety or the peace'.
The former boarding school pupil has appealed against the decision to a crown court judge and faces ruin if it fails.
'It will stop me farming,' he said. 'If I can’t get my certificates back soon I won’t be able to continue farming. I have also lost my only hobby - shooting.
'In addition to losing my own farming, much of my work is for other farmers who expect me to control pests for them too.
'Not doing this makes me much less employable in a place where there are already too many farm workers and not enough jobs.
'I am really struggling to find any work, and if it wasn’t for my father’s support I’d have had to stop already.'
Re: (No) Gun crime
Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2013 10:18 pm
by TPFKA@W
No no, you don't get to shoot at vehicles speeding away from your home: You shoot the bastard and then drag him in the house and then call the police.

Re: (No) Gun crime
Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 1:59 am
by Jarlaxle
You DID see that the vehicle was speeding towards his mother Louisa Smith, right? The perp wasn't running, he was TRYING TO KILL THE GUY'S MOTHER!
Re: (No) Gun crime
Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 2:12 am
by dales
Thank God for the 2nd Amendment and that I live in the United States of America!
Even in the Peoples Republic of California, one has the right to use deadly force against a driver of a car speeding towards you.
Make sure it's a load of 00 Buckshot fired from a 10 gauge goose gun.

Re: (No) Gun crime
Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 2:42 am
by TPFKA@W
Jarlaxle wrote:You DID see that the vehicle was speeding towards his mother Louisa Smith, right? The perp wasn't running, he was TRYING TO KILL THE GUY'S MOTHER!
Actually no I did not see that as I read it too quickly.
Re: (No) Gun crime
Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 4:15 pm
by Sue U
TPFKA@W wrote:Jarlaxle wrote:You DID see that the vehicle was speeding towards his mother Louisa Smith, right? The perp wasn't running, he was TRYING TO KILL THE GUY'S MOTHER!
Actually no I did not see that as I read it too quickly.
"Towards his mother" is obviously and intentionally vague -- a typical Daily Fail ploy. (His mother may have been in the next county, or shire, or whatever the hell they call it over there.) And in any event, the gunshot didn't prevent the thief from doing anything; if he had wanted to run the old lady* down, he still could have.
This guy shot a firearm at a fleeing thief. It was unnecessary and reckless. He deserves to have his permits revoked.
*She's five years younger than I am.
Re: (No) Gun crime
Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 4:25 pm
by dales
"Towards his mother" is obviously and intentionally vague
to·ward
[prep. tawrd, tohrd, tuh-wawrd, twawrd, twohrd; adj. tawrd, tohrd] Show IPA
preposition Also, to·wards.
1.
in the direction of: to walk toward the river.
Re: (No) Gun crime
Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 4:34 pm
by Sue U
dales wrote:
to·ward
[prep. tawrd, tohrd, tuh-wawrd, twawrd, twohrd; adj. tawrd, tohrd] Show IPA
preposition Also, to·wards.
1.
in the direction of: to walk toward the river.
True statement: I'm walking toward the river. Also true: The river is two miles west and five floors down.
Re: (No) Gun crime
Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 5:38 pm
by TPFKA@W
Re: (No) Gun crime
Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 7:09 pm
by Rick
True statement: I'm walking toward the river. Also true: The river is two miles west and five floors down.
I suggest the stairs first...
Re: (No) Gun crime
Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 7:17 pm
by Sue U
Rick wrote:True statement: I'm walking toward the river. Also true: The river is two miles west and five floors down.
I suggest the stairs first...
Oh hell no, I'll wait for the elevator.
Re: (No) Gun crime
Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 7:21 pm
by Rick
I sure had you pegged for a walk down run up the stairs type...