Homeowner Shoots Burglar
- An 80-year-old tavern owner in Englewood believes it's "unjust" that he is facing charges after shooting a burglar, but believes he will prevail in court.
"It's wrong," Homer "Tank" Wright said as he walked into his bar after being released from jail this afternoon. "Unjust that I can't protect me."
Awakened by his 75-year-old wife, Wright confronted a 19-year-old burglar who had broken through some plywood over a bathroom window in hopes of stealing liquor, according to police. Wright grabbed his 38.caliber pistol, loaded with four rounds, and shot the intruder in the leg.
The suspect was arrested -- but so was Wright. Because of prior weapons convictions, Wright was charged with unlawful use of a weapon, sparking calls by his family and neighbors for prosecutors to back down.
The judge released him on his own recognizance, and that was probably the right call. But arresting him was also the right call. He has a felony record. The law doesn't give us much wiggle room where gun felonies are concerned. Sorry, but that's the way it is. Yeah, it's Englewood so allowances might be in order, but that's the purview of the legislature.
Labels: gun issues
posted by SCC at 12:02 AM
40 Comments:
The articles I read also state that Mr. Wright runs a bar/tavern next to his house. How does he have a liquor license if he has felony convictions on his record?
Damn right it was the right call. When you're a convicted felon, you forfeit the right to bear arms,
even for home defense. Something criminals
should consider before committing crimes.
Just remember Tank; Better to be judged by twelve than carried by six buddy.
If Mr. Wright had not had that gun the jagoff would probably beaten him and his wife to death. No witnesses. This man should not have been charged. What kind of message does this send to the Thugs. Who gives two shits about a past arrest, at least him and his wife are still alive. And I bet Homer will get another gun to replace the one he lost. Good shooting Homer!
I don't know what his felony is, perhaps its in that class for which lifetime ban makes sense, but I am not a fan of this life-long disenfranchisement bullshit for anyone who makes a mistake in their past.
It should be: serve your time, then after 7 years without any more trouble, you get all your rights back.
Either way, I fundamentally disagree with the idea that a man loses his right to self defense. Regardless of what Scalia tried to hedge in the majority opinion, if something is a fundamental constitutional right (the Second Amendment), then it applies to all free men. You shouldn't be able to take away a free mans Second Amendment rights no more than you should be able to take away his 1st or 4th Amendment rights.
How did he get a liquor license....hint hint wink wink
To bad the wife didn't shoot!!
But doesn't the supreme court say a convicted felon does not have to register their guns because its a violation of their 5th amendment
rights. Come on all you liberals, you can't have it both ways! Oh well, the little scumbag burglar got shot. This guy ain't gonna be on the news or loose his house. That's not the way it works in this country!
I am guessing Mr. Wright has the liquor license in his wife's name. Who cares. An asshole Thug broke into his home to steal. He shot the prick and that is that. Homer will get another gun and wait for the next chump to invade his space. Shooting these criminal bastards is what DETERS crime!
The guy wasn't arrested for almost 20 years. With all the variables; age, location, and current threat of the burglar should of been enough to use judgement in this case. Sure, do a case report to document the uuw, inventory the weapon and let the detective division close out the report either go in front of grand jury and seek an indictment or just close the case out. My opinion the boss on the scene made a poor judgment call
Mr. Wright lost his right to protect himself from people like.....him.
He apparently led a life that perpetuated the problems he now faces. He did not make 'one little mistake'. He was a thug. Now he reaps what he has sown. No sympathy.
Felons weren't denied gun rights until 1968. Hell, there was even an episode of Andy Griffith where a robber Andy shot came back to Mayberry and presented him with a hunting shotgun, after righting his life.
If the self defense is a basic human right, then it should apply to anyone not incarcerated.
The idea that you lose your right to defend yourself is fucking ridiculous, since it basically demands you subject yourself to potential death, for the sake of some soaring social ideology.
The arrest was fine, the shoot was fine. The law is fucking ridiculous.
If the NRA wants to grow a pair and challenge it federally, this would be the perfect case.
I would imagine that when this case goes to court the weapon will be one belonging to Homer's wife. Perhaps one that she found on the street that very day and was going to turn over to the police as soon as possible.
The only tragedy here is that dude did not take one between his running lights.
Put me on his jury and I'll will make sure he walks free!
This city is totally fucked up as it is! He did the right thing! Since when does Chicago and this No. 1 corrupt state in this country care about a technicality with all the thieving Politicians in office!
Da Pelon
"If Mr. Wright had not had that gun the jagoff would probably beaten him and his wife to death. No witnesses. This man should not have been charged. What kind of message does this send to the Thugs. Who gives two shits about a past arrest, at least him and his wife are still alive. And I bet Homer will get another gun to replace the one he lost. Good shooting Homer!"
MR. WRIGHT WAS/IS A THUG TOO, he has previous felony convictions....i'am the first one to stick up for a persons right to bare arms... and I refuse to arrest a normal person for chicago's bull shit gun registration charge.... BUT THIS GUY IS A FUCKING FELON..... HE LOST HIS RIGHT TO HAVE A GUN WHEN HE COMMITED HIS FELONIES
He should have had a razor sharp machete,then he could have cut the morons leg clean off. Guns seem to make liberals and media people hysterical, machetes, not so much.
Why was Mr Wright's background even checked? Do we name check all our victims? Sounds like Phil Cline is still around. He liked locking up victims.
Maybe the arresting officer can be on vacation when the prelim comes around. Motion State Nolle Pros.
Nice looking joint, he's got there. I might have our next wine tasters meeting there if the reds are at the proper temp. What do you guys think?
license in wife's name...
Yeah... I understand you guys are in a tough spot. But he prior felonies were gun charges in the 90's right?
So basically he cant have a gun, because he kept guns in the City throughout the gun ban that has now been struck down by the supreme court?
I know cops just follow the law as it is written and applied. But you then dont have to be a jagoff about it.
Also understand that your badge buys you leeway on things that civis dont gget (Ignore the gun charges for a minute). THere aer tons and tons and tons of felonies out there that would make you laugh.
Block your caller ID in Michigan? Felony. Carry a case of beer in your truck into a dry county.. Felony. Put a fish in your live well and travel back across state lines from fishing in indiana... Better damn sure know what type of fish and the laws around it.
see what I mean. How 'bout not being a dick.
I believe that if it's not a violent felony, there is no reason someone that has paid their time to society can't own a gun. As a friend of mine says, "If you can't be trusted with a gun, you can't be trusted without a custodian."
The liberals with their "give them what they want" crap forget to ask themselves one question, what if what they want is your life?
for the license it might well be in his wife's name or a relative's
as for the firearm that i on't know
if he is a felon and lost his right to a firearm it does hurt his case i guess
but, he still enjoys the right to defend his family and property
i feel if he served his time he should have some rights back
but i'm no lawyer
as for him i would seek a trial by jury and let the a jury of my peers decide
i'd roll the dice with that and take a chance
To bad the wife didn't shoot!!
3/28/2012 02:03:00 AM
Hey stupid not that I agree with arresting the old man but he didn't get arrested for shooting the kid, he got arrested because he is a convicted felon having a gun in the house. Now go back to your desk job because it's obvious you don't work the streets.
Would this not fall under the Justifiable use of Force?
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=072000050HArt%2E+7&ActID=1876&ChapterID=53&SeqStart=8200000&SeqEnd=9700000
I get it, he was a Felon with a firearm, but who cares by what means or media one uses to protect themselves, family and dwelling.
Is there no pre-emtion existing here?
Not a Cop!
Nuance (this offense makes you scum for life, but after this offense you are considered rehabilitatable) is frequently going to be at least somewhat in a gray area. Non-violent vs extremely violent is easy, but sorta-violent or threatening, a while back...not so cut and dried.
This is why we need judges, judicial review, etc, despite the flaws in that system. No law, as written, can cover all possible circumstances, and since we are dealing with people's lives, it's not an unimportant topic.
But damn...the asshat BROKE INTO Mr. Wright's home and he defended himself and his wife. Cut Homer some slack.
It will all get worked out in court. 19p
do you really think the judge is going to send an 80 year old man to jail--- confiscate and destroy the gun and nolle prosse the case....
I would have been ashamed to be the copper who arrested this homeowner. What's right is right. Just because something is illegal doesn't make it wrong, especially in Chicago where a bunch of laws are unjust.
So you can shoot an unarmed man making entry to your house even though he hasn't attacked you. But a white guy shoots an unarmed thug who attacked him and he's the in the wrong.
Anonymous said...
He should have had a razor sharp machete,then he could have cut the morons leg clean off. Guns seem to make liberals and media people hysterical, machetes, not so much.
3/28/2012 07:23:00 AM
EXCELLENT!!! Ya nailed it. Hack the little fucker to pieces as he's climbing into your castle!!! Last home invasion he'll ever do!!!
Anonymous said...
So you can shoot an unarmed man making entry to your house even though he hasn't attacked you. But a white guy shoots an unarmed thug who attacked him and he's the in the wrong.
Hey dumbass, ya don't have to wait for the pos to attack you. You rush up to him, give him a hug and ask if you can make him a sandwich.
What a libtard!!!!
I'd rather be tried by 12 than carried by 6. Chicago needs to stop thwarting the 2nd Amendment... Then again, since that one is one of the main guardians of our Constitutional rights, it makes complete sense in light of the refusal to grant a parade permit to some NATO protesters...
This sounds like a great way to remind judges that there is a "JURY NULLIFICATION" ruling that is available to them. Attorneys cannot bring Jury Nullification up in court, BUT, judges are supposed to inform the jury but in all my time in court I've never heard it mentioned. The basics are 'if a jury thinks the law application is wrong they can refuse to convict.'
There is a process to restore a federal felon's civil rights.
BUT congress DEFUNDED it many years ago.
That is a travesty in itself.
Better to be judged by 12 then carried by 6 any day. But why does a convicted felon have a license to sell booze?
I’m thinking his real problem is that he out lived his Chinamen.
I'm thinking your real problem is that you don't know 92% of Chicago liquor licenses are in names of people other than the actual owners. C'mon! It's not like I was raised by hoods. Everybody knows this stuff.
Sorry but there should be a statute of limitations on a felony charge and it should also noted that white collar crimes are NOT the same as violent felony charges.. I have to go with this guy at 80 does have the right to protect himself and his property.. and the young PUNK he shot deserved it.. I didn't notice where in the 2nd amendment it has a loophole for IF you did this than that.. besides the fact that MOST of the other FELONS that have guns in CHICAGO don't seem to give a hoot about that FELON law now do they..?? lets add that IF you got caught with a gun.. even if you lived in another state and were only traveling through CHICAGO with it and got stopped YOU are now considered a FELON even though it was against the law for CHICAGO to stop people from owning guns in their own city...
Felon or not, I'd love to see more homeowners shoot some burglars.
Anonymous said...
I'm thinking your real problem is that you don't know 92% of Chicago liquor licenses are in names of people other than the actual owners. C'mon! It's not like I was raised by hoods. Everybody knows this stuff.
3/29/2012 05:04:00 PM
I dont know if it is 92%, but I do know the number is very high. I spent a lot of time in the district writing citation to taverns. I was warned to back off by the district commander and a deputy chief. Most of the citations I wrote were lost at the license commission. All on the legit.
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