Without lawful, proper, or sufficient purpose . . .

Police have charged Mr Carvell after he shot a machete-wielding man who had entered the Small Arms International Gun Shop in July."

"The alleged offender survived the .45-calibre shot to his stomach and has been charged with assault with intent to rob."

"Mr Carvell faces a charge of possession of a firearm without lawful, proper, or sufficient purpose. ..."

http://www.times.co.nz/cms/news/2006/11 ... 014036.php

 

I was rather surprised when I discovered that running a gun store is not a lawful, proper, or sufficient purpose for having a firearm!

Talk about an invitation to robbery!

 

What's not to get? People rob stores with edged instruments all the time, even in places where it is legal for the storeowner to be armed. If the robber lives in a place where it is not likely that the storeowner will be armed (although the robber guessed wrong in this case - the storeowner broke the law to arm himself), the odds are pretty good that the menacing presence of a machete will inspire submission in your intended victim.

Some gangs here in America are using machetes just for the terror they induce.

Trust me, robberies with sharp instruments are common occurrences.

 

From the original article:

Trust spokesman Mr McVicar told the Times the shop owner “deserves a medal†instead of criminal charges.

 

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4085909a10.html


Oh, but:

 

They are going after him again.

http://www.tv3.co.nz/News/NationalNews/ ... fault.aspx

"The Crown says it is considering further action in the case against an Auckland gun shop worker who shot a machete-armed intruder."

"Crown Prosecutor Simon Moore says he should know by next week whether they will take the case further."

"Two Justices of the Peace yesterday ruled there was insufficient evidence to commit Greg Carvell to trial on one count of unlawful possession of a pistol."

 

"The Council for Civil Liberties says the police should have laid a stronger charge against a gun shop employee who shot an intruder with a machete last year."

"Greg Carvell ... was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm ..."

"The charge was dropped yesterday by Justices of the Peace at a depositions hearing in the Auckland District Court."

"Council for Civil Liberties president, Tony Ellis, says a more serious charge should have been laid."

http://www.newswire.co.nz/main/viewstor ... 2&catid=35

 

"A court decision to clear a man who shot an armed intruder in his gun shop is worrying some lawyers and police as shopkeepers are warned not to keep loaded guns for protection." ...

"Mr Carvell was not charged with shooting Beckham ... but he was charged with the unlawful possession of a firearm under a law which does not allow people to keep loaded guns for protection."

"Yesterday police said the dismissal of the charge did not say to other shopkeepers it was okay for them to arm themselves against possible intruders."

"'The dismissal of the charges should not be seen to carry the message that people ... should have weapons at the ready for self-defence,' police spokeswoman, Noreen Hegarty said ..."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4088175a11.html