A National Post report released that Niagara Regional Police are charging Port Colborne's, Ian Thomson, with 2 counts of careless storage and pointing a firearm. Who was he pointing his Smith and Wesson at? This past summer, Mr. Thomson interrupted 3 masked, property invaders while they were throwing 6 Molotov cocktails at his home and dog. The former Firearm Instructor grabbed a handgun from his gun safe, ran outside and fired over the heads of the cowardly intruders.
Nobody was injured in the attack, but the National Post article stated that police later pressed charges against Ian after he (Ian) submitted his surveillance camera videos to the police.
My Thoughts
This is a bad call by police. It is very hard to give police the benefit of the doubt on these charges. I also admit that my initial reaction may still be pre-mature as more details are still being uncovered. That being said, unless this was a case of some kind of 'thug vs. thug' argument, I only know how I would react.
If I detected 3 masked punks throwing Molotov cocktails at my home, you can bet I would NOT be sitting inside my house waiting for police to intervene. I would call 911 - but I would also tell the operator that I am about to enter 'aggressive negotiations' against the invaders with my friend, Winchester Defender.
Vigilantism? Maybe. Protecting my family? That is the more important question.
If watching 3 people throwing fire bombs at your house does not justify a booming response from your home defence firearm - how should a terrorized citizen react? How many of you would like to stay inside your house for the entire time somebody is deliberately trying to set it on fire from the outside? How could I take my family outside when masked idiots are out there, potentially, trying to burn me? If police are 10 - 20 minutes away - it could feel like an eternity.
The court case has awaken Canadian discussion about American-like 'Castle Doctrine' measures. I say bring on the debate and turn the tables on criminals and the 'criminal-friendly' courts they run with.
At least start a Molotov cocktail registry...
Check out the YouTube video below to see some of the surveillance footage of the attack.
Ontario Out-of-Doors magazine has posted a good article on safe firearm storage -here-
