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Armed State Senator Foils Burglary

VAopencarry

Regular Member
Joined
May 9, 2006
Messages
2,151
Location
Berryville-ish, VA
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State Sen. Tim Burchett says he foiled a burglary of his warehouse on Wednesday and held the suspected teenagers at gunpoint until authorities arrived.

The Knoxville Republican said the warehouse where he keeps old motorcycles and parts had previously been burglarized and he was trying to catch the perpetrators by staking out the woods nearby, The Knoxville News Sentinel reported on its Web site.

The teenagers had broken off the lock and were about to go inside when he confronted them with his pistol.
"I got four of them. One got away," Burchett said, although deputies told him the fifth was arrested later.

"I think that's pretty good. I'm sick of crime. I'm sick of being a victim. I've been staying up at night trying to catch these guys."

Knox County Sheriff's department spokeswoman Martha Dooley confirmed that the teenagers were arrested, but said a report had not been filed and she could not give details.

Burchett told the newspaper that three motorcycles and a security camera had previously been stolen, apparently after school hours.
When he spotted the teens Wednesday, he said he called 911 to tell them he was armed and planned to confront the suspects.

"The lady said, 'Are you going to shoot them?' and I said, 'No, I'm not going to shoot some kid over a dad-gum motorcycle,'" he said.
Burchett said he told the youths to "put your hands up" and then to "put your hands behind your head."

"One of them said, 'Well, which one do you want: Hands up or behind the head?' and I said, 'Either one,'" he said.

The senator was re-elected last week without opposition and has served in the state General Assembly for eight years. He holds a concealed weapon permit and owns two pistols: a 9 mm Glock and a .25-caliber Keltec.
WKRN Nashville
 

Tomahawk

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4 hours south of HankT, ,
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This is interesting. While personally I think this guy was in the rights, my understanding of VA law is that you can't draw up on somebody just to protect property. And if that's the case, telling the cops ahead of time you're going to do just that may not be the brightest thing to do. He staked it out and then initiated a confrontation?

I'd like to get more details.

And we should get this guy to sponser or co-sponser a stand-your-ground law in the new session. He of all people should be receptive. Anybody here live in his district?

EDIT: This is TN, not VA. Sorry...
 

hirundo82

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May 10, 2006
Messages
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Location
Houston, Texas, USA
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Tomahawk wrote:
And we should get this guy to sponser or co-sponser a stand-your-ground law in the new session. He of all people should be receptive. Anybody here live in his district?
It looks like he is a Tennessee state rep, not Virginia.

And I agree on it not being a smart idea to wait around to try to catch burglars. If you think that they will be there that night, best to let the cops deal with them. We should concentrate on using firearms for protection of ourselves and others.

And I know he said he wasn't going to shoot them, but I'm a firm believer in not drawing a gun unless you are justified and willing to use it.
 

ConditionThree

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May 22, 2006
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2,231
Location
Shasta County, California, USA
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In California you may use a firearm in the course of making alawful arrest.

12031. (a)(1) A person is guilty of carrying a loaded firearm when he or she carries a loaded firearm on his or her person or in a vehicle while in any public place or on any public street in an incorporated city or in any public place or on any public street in a prohibited area of unincorporated territory.

(j)(1) Nothing in this section is intended to preclude the carrying of any loaded firearm, under circumstances where it would otherwise be lawful, by a person who reasonably believes that the person or property of himself or herself or of another is in immediate, grave danger and that the carrying of the weapon is necessary for the preservation of that person or property. As used in this subdivision, "immediate" means the brief interval before and after the local law enforcement agency, when reasonably possible, has been notified of the danger and before the arrival of its assistance.

(k) Nothing in this section is intended to preclude the carrying of a loaded firearm by any person while engaged in the act of making or attempting to make a lawful arrest.
 
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