No, it's not an Onion piece, as much as it sounds like one. The BBC reports that U.K. lawmakers are going to "clarify" that it is in fact not a crime to defend yourself from someone who breaks into your house. I guess it's a step in the right direction:Justice Secretary Ken Clarke has said a householder who knifes a burglar will not have committed a criminal offence under plans to clarify the law on self-defence in England.
He told the BBC people were entitled to use "whatever force necessary" to protect themselves and their homes.
David Cameron recently said the issue should be put "beyond doubt"...
"It's quite obvious that people are entitled to use whatever force is necessary to protect themselves and their homes," Mr Clarke said.
Asked about what this would mean in practice, he said: "If an old lady finds she's got an 18 year old burgling her house and she picks up a kitchen knife and sticks it in him she has not committed a criminal offence and we will make that clear."
He added: "We will make it quite clear you can hit the burglar with the poker if he's in the house and you have a perfect defence when you do so."
Mr Clarke said legal protection would not extend to anyone shooting a burglar in the back when they were fleeing or "getting their friends together to beat them up".
Guess that's bad news for these guys:
Wes Messamore,
Editor in Chief, THL
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