-Caveat Lector- > 'Invade a home and invite a bullet' South Carolina attorney general > backs > armed home defense > http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=21478 > > By Jon Dougherty > > In declaring an "open season" on burglars who break into homes, South > Carolina Attorney General Charlie Condon has instructed all > solicitors, > sheriffs and police chiefs in the state to refrain from arresting > "citizens > acting to defend their homes" with a firearm or other weapon. > > In a statement released yesterday, Condon's office said the attorney > general sent a memorandum to all state prosecutors and law > enforcement > officials warning them not to arrest or prosecute people who defend > themselves with "deadly force" against a "home invader." > > The statement said the policy was necessary to protect citizens "in > the > wake of a rash of recent home invasions in North Charleston and > elsewhere > throughout the state." > > "As chief prosecutor of South Carolina, I am today declaring open > season on > home invaders," Condon said. "That season is year round. Citizens > protecting their homes who use force -- even deadly force -- will be > fully > safeguarded under the law of this state and subject to no arrest, > charge or > prosecution. > > "In South Carolina, would-be intruders should now hear this: Invade a > home > and invite a bullet," said Cordon, a Republican. > > The state's chief law enforcement officer also said "a recent rash of > home > invasions by gang members and other criminals" led to his decision, > noting > that gang activity "is rising sharply in South Carolina." > > He cited a string of recent break-ins in North Charleston, as well as > an > incident in Columbia -- the state capital -- "where a victim managed > to > fight off home invaders with a sword," the statement said. > > Also, Condon said that in Richland County, sheriff's department > officials > believe four men have been responsible for over 90 home invasions in > the > past year alone. > > The policy serves as a warning to potential burglars, Condon said, > about > what "faces them" > if they attempt to break into a home. And, he said, the policy would > serve > "to let homeowners know their rights." > > The attorney general said existing case law in South Carolina "gives > ironclad protection to the citizen in safeguarding his or her home. > > "Inside the citizen's home, there are no legal technicalities for the > criminal to rely on," he said. Courts have ruled that even deadly > force > may be used against a burglar "if such degree of force be reasonably > necessary to accomplish the purpose of preventing a forcible entry > against > his will." > > Condon said the new policy would actually help the state's police > officers. > > "Law enforcement officers cannot be everywhere at once," he said, > noting > that armed citizens protecting their homes would serve as a deterrent > to > crime, and lower crime rates and property loss. > > "Home invaders will think twice and even a third time" before > breaking in, > he said, "knowing [they] risk . their own death . on the other side > of the > innocent homeowner's door." > > "The home is the family's fortress of protection," > he added. "When at home, people rightfully feel they are standing on > sacred ground. The citizen's home is the line in the sand where > criminals > dare not cross." > > Condon's policy appears to reflect the sentiment of most police > chiefs and > sheriffs across the country. > > According to a 1999-2000 annual survey conducted by the National > Association of Chiefs of Police, 93 percent of police chiefs and > sheriffs > who responded believe law-abiding citizens "should be able to > purchase a > firearm for self-defense or sport." > > Perhaps ironically, almost 95 percent of respondents did not believe > the > media is "fair and balanced" in reporting the news about police, > firearms > and other issues. > > While most gun-control groups believe fewer firearms in circulation > -- as > well as increased restrictions on private firearms ownership -- would > do > more to reduce gun deaths and the violent crime associated with them, > survey participants overwhelmingly disagreed. > > Most police chiefs and sheriffs said better enforcement of existing > laws -- > not new gun laws -- would do more to reduce violence and gun deaths. > Also, > 88 percent said persons convicted of violating state or federal > firearm > possession laws should receive the maximum prison term for the > offense. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? 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