The right to self-defense is the citizen’s most important right

Many people, especially liberals make the claim that the right to free speech is our most important right. Others believe it is freedom of the press. Still others assert freedom of assembly, or the right to free elections. In contrast, I assert that as important and fundamental as those rights are, there is one right more fundamental still, and that is a right to self-defense.

This right, or rather, the absence of this right is illustrated by the Ian Thomson case. As I detailed in a post a couple of weeks ago, Ian Thomson is an unemployed person living in Port Colborne who woke up early last August 22 to what he thought were gunshots. They turned out to be not gunshots but explosions from Molotov cocktails that were thrown into his house by three armed thugs. While assaulting him with deadly force, they yelled death threats at him to get him to stay inside and burn to death. Most properly it can be said that Ian Thomson’s life was in deadly danger.

To respond, he grabbed a handgun that was legally registered to him and stored in accordance with the Firearm Act’s safe storage requirements and proceeded outside to face God knows what. He fired three warning shots at his would-be murders and they fled. For his troubles, the cops charged him with “unsafe use of a firearm,” “pointing a firearm” and “careless storage of a firearm”.  

Apparently the Crown Prosecutors thinks what Ian Thomson did was wrong. I ask, so what is Ian Thomson supposed to have done? Is it his duty as a Canadian citizen to throw himself at the mercy of firebombers? And if they decide to not be merciful is it his duty to let his murderers kill him? Or is he allowed to resist, but only after every option for defending himself is no longer possible? Hey, Mr. Prosecutor! Isn’t that too late?

From this case, and from the David Chen case last fall, it is clear that our prosecutors’ answers to the above question are: submit, yes, yes, yes and yes. As I said about the David Chen affair, “Public safety is not the main motivating factor in the police department’s disapproval. Rather, cops don’t like spontaneous citizen action because it infringes on their monopoly on force. They look at citizen arrests the way unionized city garbagemen view private contractors who haul away the trash for less money.” 

It can be seen that, from Ian Thomson’s point of view at 6 AM on August 22, his right to self-defense trumped his right to say what he wanted, operate a printing press, assemble in a crowd or elect a city councillor. We must understand that the difference between Ian Thomson and any one of us is circumstances, at least if the prosecutors – theoretically our servants – have their way. We are all Ian Thomson because if he loses his case, we will live in a country where it is everybody’s duty to be a victim. And if you are about to be a murder victim, who cares about anything else?

Columnist Lorne Gunther has related thoughts.

There is a rally to support Ian Thomson tomorrow put on by the Canadian Shooting Sports Association (CSSA). The following is copied from the CSSA press release.

“CSSA members are encouraged to attend a rally of support for Ian Thomson on March 2nd at 9:00 a.m. in Welland, ON. Mr. Thomson (of Welland) was recently charged with numerous firearms offences when he defended himself again three masked men throwing Molotov cocktails at his home and dog house. While Mr. Thomson was not injured, one of his dogs suffered burns.  CSSA General Counsel and noted firearms lawyer Edward L. Burlew LL.B., is defending Thomson. If you feel Canadians must be allowed to protect their own safety and property without being forced to defend themselves against criminal charges, come and show your support. The rally will be held at the Welland Court House, 102 East Main Street, Welland, Ontario L3B 3W6 and all caring citizens are encouraged to participate.”

As I already mentioned in my last article on this subject, Mr. Thomson has now been reduced to poverty by this persecution. For this reason, Mr. Thomson’s lawyer, Ed Burlew is urgently soliciting donations for Mr. Thomson’s defense. Details of how you can help out can be found by calling Mr. Burlew’s office at 1-888-486-5677.

 

 

Comments

[dmorris]

It would be interesting to hear from the "authorities" exactly WHAT they want you to do when confronted with a situation as the Thompson case.

I suppose the government/police want you to call 9-11, but in many cases it could take an hour or more before they respond.It looks like you ARE supposed to allow yourself to be killed,secure in the knowledge that the full weight of Canadian justice will bear down on the perpetrators.

Unless they have a good lawyer,in which case a plea of manslaughter, and a claim the perp thought the house was uninhabited,should result in at least three years in a Corrections facility.

Meanwhile,you'll be permanently dead.

I hope complacent Canadians will get the hell out and attend the rally for Thompson,as nothing gets politicians attention like a few thousand pissed off voters.

[Alex]

Ever seen the thief warning sign "we don't call police" with pistol on it?

If this had happened to me I'm not sure I would have called police. Look what happened. Stories like this ruin the police monopoly on violence, not strengthen it. We are on our own in a leftist police state.

[Steven Fraser]

This case is illustrative of how police forces and Crown prosecutors view law-abiding firearms owners. All of us are watching this one closely, and many have contributed to Ian Thomson's legal fund.
Small correction- the rally is not being put on by the CSSA, it's being organized by Mr. Thomson's lawyer Ed Burlew.
Anything less than total exoneration of Mr. Thomson, with all his legal expenses reimbursed by the Crown, will be seen as a massive slap in the face and a miscarraige of justice. Far from being charged, Mr. Thomas should have been given a medal for restraint: his attempted murderers should have been shot dead rather than being given warning shots.

[jhy]

All I ever hear about this is the words "the crown" or "the police" or "the prosecutors".

Maybe we should hear some NAMES as well as office phone numbers and e-mail addresses.

[bmatkin]

Security of person is the most fundamental right and leads to all others.

It is hard to speak out if you are just about to be attacked for doing so.