Will Grigg?s Liberty Minute

February 22, 2012

On February 19, Dennis Fleming of Farmington, New Hampshire discovered that his home had been robbed. Spying a suspicious-looking man with a backpack, Fleming grabbed his handgun and strode off in pursuit.

Shortly thereafter, the 61-year-old grandfather saw the same suspicious man jumping out of a neighbor?s rear window. Holding out his handgun, Fleming ordered the intruder to freeze, firing a single round into the ground. He detained the suspect until the police arrived. The man was found to be in possession of a number of stolen items, including antique watches and silver coins. There is evidence that the same suspect had been involved in a string of robberies elsewhere in town.

A few hours later, Fleming called the police to find out if the suspect had been released on bail. To his amazement, Fleming discovered that he was going to be charged with reckless endangerment by discharging his handgun ? a Class B felony that could result in a prison sentence of the same length confronted by the robber he had detained.

It says a great deal about the social utility of police that they did nothing to prevent the robberies or catch the burglar ? but they may succeed in imprisoning the private citizen who did.

Let us take back the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free.