Protecting a Gun Law, or a Family

NTY ^ | Feb. 7, 2003 | CLYDE HABERMAN

[Blood of Tyrants]

IN all likelihood, most New Yorkers would find it hard not to sympathize with Ronald Dixon. No, that's too soft. In all likelihood, most New Yorkers would find it close to impossible not to sympathize with Mr. Dixon, or question his right to do what he did.

Here's what happened one December morning in his two-story house in Canarsie, Brooklyn. His account is uncontested by law enforcement officials.

Mr. Dixon was upstairs, in bed, when he heard a noise in the hallway. Half asleep, he opened his eyes and saw a man at the top of the stairs heading toward the bedroom of Mr. Dixon's 2-year-old son, Kyle.

That was enough for the father. He grabbed a 9-millimeter pistol that he kept in a closet, walked toward the man and asked what he was doing there. This man, Mr. Dixon said, ran at him, screaming. That's when he pulled the trigger. He shot the intruder twice, wounding him seriously but not mortally.

[Snip.]

Mr. Dixon's gun was illegal. He had no New York license for it. He also lives in a borough whose district attorney, Charles J. Hynes, considers the prosecution of illegal-gun charges a supreme virtue.

Mr. Hynes wants Mr. Dixon to do jail time — not much, but at least some. If convicted of the misdemeanor charge against him, Mr. Dixon could get as much as a year. Mr. Hynes is offering a plea bargain that would involve four weekends, tops, on Rikers Island.

[Blood of Tyrants]

"No question, he had the right to shoot the guy in his house. But he had no right to have an illegal weapon.

Typical gun grabber attitude.

[Vic3O3]

ping! At least he protected his family!

[Vic3O3]

ping

[E. Pluribus Unum]

"No question, he had the right to shoot the guy in his house. But he had no right to have an illegal weapon.

Translation: He had a right to defend himself, but he did not have a right to a means of defending himself.

[newgeezer]

Mr. Dixon has appeared on The O'Reilly Factor and Hannity & Colmes.

Unless I'm mistaken, even the incorrigibly liberal Alan Colmes believes Mr. Dixon did the right thing.

[11th Earl of Mar]

I would fight any sentence, but would also do the time with pride.

[philman_36]

Mr. Hynes wants Mr. Dixon to do jail time — not much, but at least some.
Should this man also say hello to Butch while he's there if he is convicted and doesn't take the plea bargain?

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

And if he's convicted or pleads guilty the fact that he could get a year in prison for the offense means he forfeits his right to possess a firearm under the violence against women act.

Any offense, even misdemeanors, that carry a penalty that could result in a year in jail result in loss of your firearms rights.

[robertpaulsen]

He can give Butch your regards, but don't let him talk to Bubba.

[Blood of Tyrants]

We can't have people going around defending themselves, now can we?

[Travis McGee]

How does this case stack up as possibly a perfect RKBA 2A case to take to the USSC?

[Shooter 2.5]

It sounds like it would be a perfect case for the following reasons:

1. It's my understanding that he was waiting for the licensing procedure. That would show he tried to register but it was incompetence by the authorities that prevented that. Why would anyone have to "wait" for a license?

2. The gun and the act was in the confines of his "castle". Whatever a person owes should be safe from governmental intrusions in your dwelling. A similar case would be like driving a car on your own property without a license or plates.

3. A handgun is the weakest of firearms. The authorities can't argue that he should have traded downward in order to protect himself.

[Centurion2000]

bump

[connectthedots]

The Second Amendment is his license. Once a franchise has been granted, there can be no lawful infringement without due process of law. This would be a great test case. I suspect the prosecutor realizes that he is in a no-win situation because no jury is going to convict this guy.

[Eagle Eye]

Is the NRA all over this?

If not, why not?

[philman_36]

He can give Butch your regards, but don't let him talk to Bubba.
More like your regards. I'm not the one hoping they meet, you are.
Just plain sick mindedness on your part.

[William Terrell]

The NYT wants me to register and give information that will most likely end up on a mailing list sold to those who mail out spam. Unless I do, I can't read the article. If you've already signed up, why don't you post the entire article? The ban on whole articles applies only to the LAT and WP.

[Travis McGee]

Good points!

Plus he is a minority (A/A) so the libs will have a harder time painting him as a slobbering gun-toting white redneck Lee Harvey Oswald type.

[Shooter 2.5]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/837373/posts