No sooner had a South Carolina homeowner exercised his Constitutional rights to self-defense by shooting two burglars during a home invasion than local law enforcement decides to get snarky--and misleading--concerning the law.
Early Tuesday morning Lamont Dawkins shot and wounded two burglars who broke into his home at 4 AM. The two men were arrested and charged with burglary after showing up with gunshot wounds at a local hospital.
Local law enforcement officials were quick to state that Dawkins would not be charged with any crime in the incident.
Yet when interviewed by local mainstream media reporters a law enforcement official stated that 'homeowners should avoid using deadly force and dial 911 in most circumstances.'
Perhaps the local police need a refresher course on the specifics of South Carolina law when it comes to self-defense. The law states that residents of SC have the right to use deadly force if they feel their lives are endangered at home, at work, or in their vehicles. Further, citizen-victims are protected against lawsuits brought by perpetrators or their families.
Never once did the law enforcement officer mention South Carolina's clear laws on self-defense and deadly force.
This seems to be the modus operandi of 'the only ones' in this area of the country. Not long ago the Sheriff of Spartanburg County spoke to a group of citizens in Boiling Springs concerning the very same issue. He stated, 'If the burglar is in the process of fleeing the scene in your home, you should not shoot.'
Excuse me, Mr. Almighty One, but the law does NOT say that. Further, what is to prevent the fleeing burglar from changing his mind, turning around, and blowing the homeowner to smithereens?
Perhaps South Carolina is in the same boat as Texas which, despite laws passed by the legislature, is subject to the whims of local law enforcement and district attorneys who decide they are above the law and proceed to prosecute homeowners who use deadly force to defend their lives and property.
If this is the case, The Liberty Sphere will be watching. And each time law enforcement shows its ignorance, flying in the face of state law, we will expose it right here.
Showing posts with label South Carolina self-defense laws. Show all posts
Showing posts with label South Carolina self-defense laws. Show all posts
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
South Carolina Man Shoots Two Burglars
Lamont Dawkins of Spartanburg, South Carolina was sleeping peacefully in his home early Tuesday morning when he heard noise coming from the backdoor. It did not take long for Dawkins to realize that his home was being invaded.
Arising from bed, Dawkins instinctively went to his closet and reached for his gun.
As Dawkins made his way through his dark home he found himself face-to-face with two men dressed in black. Dawkins fired his gun at the burglars, wounding both.
The two men fled.
As police investigators were searching the Dawkins home for evidence, a local hospital was treating two men with gunshot wounds in its emergency department. The medical staff at Mary Black Memorial Hospital in Spartanburg became suspicious concerning the nature of the wounds and the story the two men told concerning how they sustained those wounds.
The hospital called police. The officers who were dispatched to the hospital ER discovered that the nature of the gunshot wounds on the two men fit the description that Dawkins gave police concerning the shots he fired.
The two men were placed under arrest and charged with burglary.
As for Dawkins, the homeowner states that he did not intend to hurt anyone but that he was placed in a position where it was the only course of action he could take.
Police state that no charges will be filed against Dawkins. In fact, South Carolina law is very clear about these kinds of incidents. According to SC law, citizens have the right to use deadly force if they feel their lives are threatened at home, at work, or in their vehicles. The law further states that citizens who use deadly force in these circumstances are protected against lawsuits filed by perpetrators or their families.
Thus, South Carolina has one of the strongest Castle Doctrine-self defense laws in the nation, similar to measures recently approved in Texas.
Every state in the nation should have such laws.
Arising from bed, Dawkins instinctively went to his closet and reached for his gun.
As Dawkins made his way through his dark home he found himself face-to-face with two men dressed in black. Dawkins fired his gun at the burglars, wounding both.
The two men fled.
As police investigators were searching the Dawkins home for evidence, a local hospital was treating two men with gunshot wounds in its emergency department. The medical staff at Mary Black Memorial Hospital in Spartanburg became suspicious concerning the nature of the wounds and the story the two men told concerning how they sustained those wounds.
The hospital called police. The officers who were dispatched to the hospital ER discovered that the nature of the gunshot wounds on the two men fit the description that Dawkins gave police concerning the shots he fired.
The two men were placed under arrest and charged with burglary.
As for Dawkins, the homeowner states that he did not intend to hurt anyone but that he was placed in a position where it was the only course of action he could take.
Police state that no charges will be filed against Dawkins. In fact, South Carolina law is very clear about these kinds of incidents. According to SC law, citizens have the right to use deadly force if they feel their lives are threatened at home, at work, or in their vehicles. The law further states that citizens who use deadly force in these circumstances are protected against lawsuits filed by perpetrators or their families.
Thus, South Carolina has one of the strongest Castle Doctrine-self defense laws in the nation, similar to measures recently approved in Texas.
Every state in the nation should have such laws.
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