Ironic: New Hampshire’s state motto – “Live Free or Die“. Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils.
Try breaking into my home...
New Hampshire man arrested for firing gun into ground while catching suspected burglar
Fox News: A New Hampshire man who fired his handgun into the ground to scare an alleged burglar he caught crawling out of a neighbor’s window is now facing a felony charge — and the same potential prison sentence as the man he stopped.
Dennis Fleming, 61, of Farmington, was arrested for reckless conduct after the Saturday incident at his 19th century farmhouse. 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.
“I didn’t think I could handle this guy physically, so I fired into the ground,” Fleming told FoxNews.com. “He stopped. He knew I was serious. I was angry … and I was worried that this guy was going to come after me.”
No one was injured in the incident, but when the police arrived, they made two arrests. Hebert was charged with two counts of burglary and drug possession. He faces up to seven years in prison if convicted. Fleming, meanwhile, 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.
“I didn’t know it was illegal [to fire into the ground], but I had to make that guy realize I was serious,” Fleming said. “I’ve got a clean record. I really don’t want to be convicted.”
County Attorney Tom Velardi told Foster’s Daily Democrat he will review the case and determine if the charge against Fleming is appropriate under the state statutes regarding self-defense and defense of property.
Fleming, meanwhile, is hoping to catch a break. “I have 14 grandchildren, I don’t want to be a felon and go to jail,” he said. “I’m kind of wound up about it.”
Fleming’s collection of seven rifles and a .38-caliber handgun were seized by police. But Fleming said he’s not entirely defenseless: “I’ve got a Louisville Slugger here, but I would call the police,” he said.
Calls seeking comment from Farmington Police Department Chief Scott Roberge were not immediately returned. Penny Dean, a spokeswoman for the Gun Owners of New Hampshire, said her organization is “absolutely outraged” by Fleming’s arrest. “This homeowner fired at the ground, from all accounts, in a safe direction and held a burglar for police and did things correctly,” Dean told FoxNews.com. “The fact that this man would be charged is an outrage. Burglars in New Hampshire must know it’s open season, since homeowners cannot defend themselves, as evidenced by this case. This is charging the victim.”
I fear for our future and Second Amendment rights. Property owners cannot detain a burglar caught in the act of stealing by shooting a bullet into the ground to scare them? Utter madness.
Maybe New Hampshire should change their state motto to “Live Free or Go to Jail”.
DCG
I live in Ma. and I’m looking for a house in N.H. when I heard this last night I couldn’t believe it!! It seems the Ma. liberal disease has been spreading faster than I thought. I guess I may have to re-think where to locate:( I was going to buy a gun there as well. Maybe Alaska???
Forget going to New Hampshire with authorities like that.
Ya I guess, but where to go………
Come on down South for a visit, where we all love our Bibles and Guns!!
Hi Wendy, I love the south, maybe I should:)))
I live in a small seaside burb of Pensacola. Real pretty here. White sand beaches, summer, fall and spring they hold free beach concerts of all types of music. Most in Northwest Florida Panhandle are Conservatives. I could email ya more if I knew how
P.S. Noreen, I also LOVE New England. I lived on Cape Cod for 4 years in the early 70′s and New Hampshire for a winter job at a ski area. I’ve also skiied lots of places up there, including Vermont. Beautiful!!! My typical vacation is to hit the Cape in the fall for some great “Whale Watching”.
Hi Wendy I’m actually from Cape Cod!! I live closer to Boston now but I go home as much as I can. I used to ski in Vermont as well. It would be very had to leave N.E.
But I must admit the people in the south are much friendlier, sorry to any yanks on the site:))
I was in Pensacola when I was 13, loved the beaches!! I’ve thought about heading back down. I could email you my email if I had your email lololol.
P.S. Florida has NO State taxes!!! Dr. Eo~ just sent me your email. I’ll identify myself in the heading
Oh yea, Florida doesn’t require gun registration either!!!
Hi Wendy did you send me an email?? I didn’t get it:)
I like no state tax!
In Arizona you don’t need a license or to register your gun either. They make a call to make sure you are not a felon and you walk out with it after purchase. You can conceal carry as well!
I love that Patriot! I believe that’s what the founding fathers intended, along with free ammo!
I would hope the people in this state rally behind this guy big time. This is a bunch of nonsense,he should of just shot the little ——-! You go breaking into someones home- your asking to get shot.
Tina so far thousands have sent their support and that was just yesterday. I hope they mention this again tonight on the news!
Noreen,thanks for the info. Happy to know people are standing up for him.
If good men do nothing………………..
Everyone should be outraged at this!!!!
….remember: I was in fear for my life …he went for a weapon…
It went off accidentally (until the clip was empty)….I ‘m in shock
and need to speak to my lawyer.
How dare this reckless person have a firearm in the first place.
What if the bullet ricocheted and hit a poor defenceless gofer.
This is why we have laws that protect us from people like him in the performance of our seeking a supplemented living from fat cat rich folks belongings in there undeserved houses.
Just because somebody works hard to acquire this ill gotten gain off the backs of our less fortunate lifelong welefare recipients this doesn’t mean he has a right to keep it.
That’s why we have a President like Barak Obama who is doing his best to protect and redistribute to all of us finacially challenged social engineers from getting what we deserve.
Removing needed items from the rich is not just a necessary it is mandatory. Obama! Obama! Yo mamma!
Poor old gentleman. The police were completely stupid to arrest him for protecting his property and that of his neighbor. I’m dumbfounded that this would even go to court!!!
Ridonkulous!!