Man shot burglar in own house, arrested, burglar released

[philip964]

Can you say Chicago.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/loca ... 5723.story" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Homeowner and businessman is African American and is 80 years old. He and his wife awoke to 19 year old burglar breaking into their house at 6:30 in the morning. Shot the burglar in the leg, who was released after treatment at the hospital.

Homeowner arrested and charged with felony discharge of a firearm.

[Beiruty]

This case should be an NRA supported case! I hate Chicago and Illinois laws!

[speedsix]

...where's Royce West and Dianne Ragsdale and about 8 others...we'll send them up there to sell Tshirts and march and maybe it'll be all better...he didn't shoot the BG good enough!!!

[Jumping Frog]

The article said he had three prior convictions, two of which were weapons charges. It does not say, however, whether they were felony or misdemeanor convictions. It is a little harder to get out the peasants with pitchforks and torches if he's a convicted felon.

[philip964]

The article said he had three prior convictions, two of which were weapons charges. It does not say, however, whether they were felony or misdemeanor convictions. It is a little harder to get out the peasants with pitchforks and torches if he's a convicted felon.

One of the problems with being 80 is you have a lot of history. But he was inside his own house.

Yeah I know this is Chicago, to have a gun in your house in Chicago you have to have a permit pay, $100 per year fee and be faultless in your conduct for everyday of your life.

[OldCannon]

Speaking to reporters Tuesday at an unrelated news conference, Mayor Rahm Emanuel declined to talk about Wright's arrest. "I cannot comment on it in the middle of an investigation. It would be inappropriate," he said.

Maybe Rahm should talk to his buddy Obama then? Hmm?

[mamabearCali]

I'll get out the pitchforks if he was guilty of anything less than murder 1! It was his house...the sorry piece of entrails that broke into it was not there for sweet tea. IMHO your home is your castle, people invade it at their own risk.

[Jumping Frog]

If his prior convictions included a felony, then he would be under federal disability and forbidden to possess firearms or ammunition.

We could debate whether that law is just or not -- in fact it has already been discussed many times in these forums. But unless or until that law is changed, it is a felony for a felon to possess a firearm -- whether he is in his own home or not.

Thus, I am curious about his record.

[mamabearCali]

I know that, but in general it irks me that we brand people for life for often very very small mistakes. Sometimes for almost nothing---this is OT, but why I feel this way.

My mom nearly got taken out by an idiot book keeper. My moms bank changed one of her draft #'s on her check and sent out a notice, but it did not get to my mom till after she had written a few more checks. She immediately tried to contact everywhere she had been to get them a good check. One person did not return her calls and would not keep appoints my mom made through staff and was never at her place of work when she said she would be. After my mom chased her around for 3 months trying to give her company $$ she had the nerve to try and charge my mom criminally for writing bad checks. It went to court and my mom won, the other lady was there literally in pajamas. That is how serious she took the situation. That would have been a felony, and it would have had nothing to do with anything but a terrible bookkeeper. Now lets say it was with someone less experienced at documenting her trying to chase this woman down, they would have been tagged. And for what--a lousy employee doing a lousy job.

Rant done

Anyway. I know it is illegal to own a firearm if you have a felony, but somehow I find it hard to swallow that a homeowner was taken in and the burglar got away (And can now come back with no fear whatsoever!).