Should the British Government change this law?

The law on how far householders can go involving burglars.
So far, you are only allowed to defend yourself, not attack them. If you have the first move, you can get sent to prison. If they have the first move, or run at you with a weapon, you can do pretty much anything except kill them to defend yourself.

Personally, I think you should be able to attack them.
One of Englands top judges said 'Burglars have rights too'
I say I have a right not to be burgled. Anyone breaks into my house, I'm gonna hit them in the head with a baseball bat.

It takes alot more to kill someone that you would think.

So a swift smack in the head with a baseball bat may suffice. I do believe attack should be allowed first.

-AC

I would have thought the Burglar already made the first move by coming into your home.

As for the baseball bat to head, that can actually kill someone and since you're not allowed to kill them...

No, if they dont attack you, you're not allowed to attack them... its dumb. I wouldnt let people walk out of my house with my stuff. Wouldnt wanna kill them, maybe I could hit them in the legs instead?

I think you should be allowed to attack them too, what are we supposed to do follow them around waiting for them to attack you or your family?

Although I am sure that I would be charged for it, if someone attacks me they would have to first sort it out with my Irish Wolfhound, as lovable as he is, he does not take kindly to people attacking me. And if someone ever hurt my dog I would indeed mess them up rather severely.

Like RebelPhoenix said, if they trespassed on your property, they have made the first move, i would rather knock the S.O.B. out before I find out that he has a gun and is prepared to use it.

I am sick of laws that protect people who are already in the process of violating the rights of others. What a messed up world.

I say defend your home and just say he made the first move.. pff.. its not like the burglar's word is gonna matter.. (especially after breaking in someones home).. they have no rights after they cross that line IMO.

depends. I'm not in favor of changing the law. Just like satsujin said, more of the police and judges not caring that hard (unless you go too far ofc, which is why I wouldn't change the law)

An Irish Wolfhound would be enough to put me off a burglary. Those things are Bears in Dog clothes.

-AC

Yeah, there was a case of this farmer called Tony Martin who actually marched two 16 yr old burglars to his barn and shot them in the heads with a shotgun. I dont think I'd go that far.

He never marched them to his barn to shoot them in the head, he shot them inside his house.

One was running away, he shot him in the back, one he marched to his barn and shot.

I think he shot them in his house at the time when they were trying to get away, don't think he marched them out to a barn, didn't see anything on the news at the time about that.

Personally, I think you should be able to defend your home in any way you want to, even if they don't attack you. They have come into a place where you are suppose to be ALWAYS safe, not come into contact with negativity like Burglers.

I would hope that people would be able to think before hand though, if they don't attack you and you manage to tie them up somehow till the police get there, then do so.

But if they try to attack you, hey do what you want to protect, if they die, it's their fault for being in the house where they shouldn't be. You shouldn't be punished at all for defending yourself.

I have a baseball bat under my bed, and I collect knives and swords which are in my bedroom, if someone was in the house, I wouldn't have any problem using any of the above to protect myself and family if attacked.

Same here, I have a baseball bat, three golf clubs, 5 bowie knives, a machete, and a katana set in my room.

Ignore the Martin stuff, posted it after everyone mentioned it.

I cant remember where I heard the thing about Martin shooting one in the head, I'll ask my dad.

Alpha, Wolfhounds are pretty great dogs, great with kids and pretty lovable. But I ran into a bear once while hiking and my wolfhound got right in it's face.

I found out that they are very protective of their family when threatened.

I think they should change the law. People should have the right to defend there own property

If there gonna steal my crap and/or hurt my family, I'm gonna hurt them.
Only person that lives with me is my mum, whos disabled with arthiritis, and probably wouldnt even notice burglars in the house.

If some crazy bastard broke into my house and got within 30 feet of my family I beat him with a steel pipe and break his neck