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New Hampshire man arrested for firing gun into ground while catching suspected burglar
foxnews.com ^ | February 21, 2012 | Joshua Rhett Miller

Posted on 02/21/2012 4:09:20 PM PST by Repeal The 17th

Dennis Fleming, 61, of Farmington, New Hampshire,
who fired his handgun into the ground to scare an alleged burglar...
is now facing a felony charge...

The single grandfather had returned home to find that his home had been burglarized
and spotted Joseph Hebert, 27, climbing out of a window at a neighbor's home...

Fleming said he yelled "Freeze!" before firing his gun into the ground,
then held Hebert at gunpoint until police arrived...

...when the police arrived, they made two arrests.
Hebert was charged with two counts of burglary and drug possession...
Fleming is scheduled to be arraigned March 20 on a charge of reckless conduct,
which could potentially land him a sentence similar to the one Hebert faces...

Fleming's collection of seven rifles and a .38-caliber handgun were seized by police...

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; US: New Hampshire
KEYWORDS: armedcitizen; banglist
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To: E. Pluribus Unum; HiTech RedNeck; Balding_Eagle; APatientMan; Lazlo in PA; I see my hands; ...

“He should have just plugged the perp...”
“He wasted a bullet...”
“why you try and kill the perp...”
“when there aren’t enough criminals, one makes them...”
“live free or die...”
“Never summon nor speak to the police...”
“Shoot, shovel, shut up...”
“He’s screwed...”
-
How do the cops know a shot was fired?
Did Flemming admit it? (big mistake)

So, when faced with this situation, what should a free man do?
Shoot the perp, and go back home like nothing ever happened?


21 posted on 02/21/2012 4:28:03 PM PST by Repeal The 17th (We have met the enemy and he is us.)
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To: Repeal The 17th
...to scare an alleged burglar he caught crawling out of a neighbor's window

So much for looking out for your neighbor!!


22 posted on 02/21/2012 4:28:43 PM PST by Brandonmark (2012: Our Hope IS Change!)
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To: HiTech RedNeck
"And rinse and repeat when the lawyer says you should notify authorities?"

No. Your lawyer calls the police.

Some things are simple. Simple to understand a burglar remaining free and you remaining free is better than both of you being incarcerated. Or like shutting up and remaining free versus talking and digging your own grave.


23 posted on 02/21/2012 4:28:49 PM PST by I see my hands (The old sod ne'er shall be forgot.)
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To: Repeal The 17th

Could’ve hit a gas pipe?


24 posted on 02/21/2012 4:29:46 PM PST by Libloather (The epitome of civility.)
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To: HiTech RedNeck

Maybe.

But, unfortunately, he did not find the criminal on his property.


25 posted on 02/21/2012 4:30:31 PM PST by Jonty30 (What Islam and secularism have in common is that they are both death cults.)
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To: Repeal The 17th

Point the gun, holler, but don’t shoot unless shot at? Beats me. It’s a crazy quilt depending on what state and sometimes, city you find yourself in.


26 posted on 02/21/2012 4:30:45 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck (Sometimes progressives find their scripture in the penumbra of sacred bathroom stall writings (Tzar))
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To: Jonty30

Like the burglar cared about that? All that mattered was being accosted by the occupant of the house he had burglarized.

It’s sad when we are reduced to “staring at our hands” in such a circumstance.


27 posted on 02/21/2012 4:33:25 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck (Sometimes progressives find their scripture in the penumbra of sacred bathroom stall writings (Tzar))
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To: Repeal The 17th
"So, when faced with this situation, what should a free man do"

Can you read? Don't pretend I didn't offer the alternative to let it drop if possible, if not then call a lawyer.


28 posted on 02/21/2012 4:35:02 PM PST by I see my hands (The old sod ne'er shall be forgot.)
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To: Repeal The 17th
So, when faced with this situation, what should a free man do?

He should not fire a "warning" shot. "Warning" shots endanger innocent bystanders and expose you to legal repercussions for no particular purpose.

Either let the perp run if that's what he is going to do, or shoot him while he is still facing you and say "I feared for my life" and nothing more.

29 posted on 02/21/2012 4:38:51 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (Government is the religion of the fascists.)
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To: HiTech RedNeck

I know and agree.

At some point, the average Joe is going to become so frustrated, that people are going to form shadow vigilante groups, where criminals simply disappears and nobody knows a thing.


30 posted on 02/21/2012 4:39:09 PM PST by Jonty30 (What Islam and secularism have in common is that they are both death cults.)
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To: Lazamataz

It sounds like he just tripped on a stone and accidentally discharged the gun . No problem.


31 posted on 02/21/2012 4:39:09 PM PST by Mark (Don't argue with my posts. I typed while under sniper fire..)
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To: Repeal The 17th

“So, when faced with this situation, what should a free man do?”

You get to the meat of it. I’ll waver like a p*ssy and answer with questions of my own:

What would a free man do if he knew we had his back?
What does a free man do when he’s facing reality - that we’re all on our own?

Just ask Mr. Flemming.

Who votes that Mr. Flemming gets a flash of the obvious and fights back?
Who votes that Mr. Flemming slinks into line and hopes it all goes away?

I’m guessing Mr. Flemming slinks.

Somehow, I justify this sh!t and look in the mirror every day. So will Mr. Flemming.


32 posted on 02/21/2012 4:46:05 PM PST by APatientMan (Pick a side)
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To: Repeal The 17th
What's up with this?

He fired a weapon when his life wasn't in danger.

If his life was in danger, he was justified in shooting the perpetrator, center mass, until the threat stopped.

As it was, he didn't feel threatened enough to shoot the perpetrator. Under the law of many states, this is a blatantly illegal act, clearly spelled out in the criminal code.

See also: "brandishing".

33 posted on 02/21/2012 4:47:19 PM PST by mountainbunny (Seamus Sez: "Good dogs don't let their masters vote for Mitt!")
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To: All

Ten years ago this would never have happened in New Hampshire.

Never.


34 posted on 02/21/2012 4:49:31 PM PST by warsaw44
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To: Repeal The 17th

It wasn’t his fault.....the damn gun just ‘went off’. (Hey, that is how the bleeding heart anti-gun liberals phrase it!!).


35 posted on 02/21/2012 4:50:35 PM PST by bobby.223 (Retired up in the snowy mountains of the American Redoubt and it doesn't get any better than that!)
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To: Lazlo in PA

So much for live free or die.

New Hampshire needs to put a sarcasm tag after their motto.


36 posted on 02/21/2012 4:53:24 PM PST by freedomfiter2 (Brutal acts of commission and yawning acts of omission both strengthen the hand of the devil.)
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To: Lazamataz
You have no defensible interest in your neighbor's property. Only your own. If he had acted in defense of his own property, the shooter still would have had to demonstrate that he had not fired his firearm recklessly and in disregard of his neighbors' safety. That is not entirely unreasonable.
37 posted on 02/21/2012 4:58:12 PM PST by andy58-in-nh (America does not need to be organized: it needs to be liberated.)
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To: freedomfiter2

Maybe NH could sell their motto to a more deserving state.


38 posted on 02/21/2012 5:16:43 PM PST by Lazlo in PA (Now living in a newly minted Red State.)
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To: Polynikes

Does the shooter have to fear for his own life? Or could he fear for the lives of his neighbors who were having the home invasion?

He might have saved a whole family from murder.


39 posted on 02/21/2012 5:27:28 PM PST by UnwashedPeasant (Don't nuke me, bro)
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To: Polynikes
He can only hope the DA drops charges because he is in a bind.

He should demand a jury, possibly a speedy trial, right after his friends write letters to the editor complaining about the rash of burglaries and robberies.

It only takes one juror to nullify.

40 posted on 02/21/2012 5:32:23 PM PST by Navy Patriot (Join the Democrats, it's not Fascism when WE do it. (plagiarized))
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