Two-Fold (old) News post - Part 1

I've finally gotten rid of the first batch of deadlines, so now I can come back and write stuff again.

Just going to write two posts discussing some recent events that I've missed the good time to think about. First up is just a link to what I consider an appropriate outcome of a home burglary in the dark.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/4/27/nation/6135896&sec=nation

Long story short, a regular-citizen 60 year old man successfully defended his home from several armed intruders in the early morning of April 26 with a legally owned firearm. He only woke up after the robbers had already tied up his son and daughter-in-law as well threatening to kill them if they resisted, yet just this one man was able to repel a whole gang by himself and protect his family, his home, and himself. He had a shotgun under his bed, and he used just 4 shots to effectively repel 4 (I would assume) much younger and thus stronger men right out of his house without taking a scratch.

The four robbers came broke into the house and armed themselves with knives, and left screaming with their tails between their legs when the cool old guy decided to exercise his right to self defense. That, and to add on more praise, he was commended by the police for his bravery and was told that he was well within his rights to defend his home. WELL WITHIN HIS RIGHTS.

Alright, my point is that while the law viewed him in a favorable manner, what I want to see is more of these kinds of stories being reported, such exploits emulated by people of ALL ages and backgrounds. I want more people to be allowed to take up arms and make these situations happen, instead of the opposite where people face violence, pillage and rape by unhindered criminals.

When the news media reports that someone has successfully defended his home, you can say that it is one more criminal who fails and gets sent packing off to jail or a coffin; Which is obviously the preferable outcome if given a choice between the innocent citizen suffering or the guilty criminal learning that crime does not pay.

Looking at this situation in the anti-gun and totally-unarmed context, what would happen if that grandfather was not allowed to possess his shotgun? Those criminals were a well-known gang who had already built up a reputation as career criminals, and were willing to >kill< their victims to keep them silent. In such a helpless situation, there would be no other choice for one man but to lay down and take the injustice up the rear. Even then, what guarantee was there anyway that they would not bash your head in or other nasty things even if you groveled at their feet? I mean, there's nothing holding them back if they already don't care about the law, and the police are too far away (and they are -always- too far away).

This story basically proves that a law-abiding civilian with a firearm can bring a good result out of even the worst case scenarios, and I argue that without legal firearms we would be unable to bring ANY good out of such as situation, with the bad outcome being the -only- outcome. I argue that with less strict (but still reasonable) firearms restrictions/licenses and more widespread awareness and knowledge about this subject, we Malaysians can turn the daily stories of tragedy in the news into a continuous wave of bravery, heroism and justice, where the good people with guns in their hands win against those who are evil and make each and every day safer and better for everyone else. Just what is wrong with that?

End Part 1. In part 2 I will respond to a friend of mine on the recent, in my personal opinion, unjustified shooting of a teenage, underage, runaway driver. Hoo boy.