Booby trap 'was illegal firearm'

[Standard Dave]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/l...re/7200759.stm

A home-made booby trap which exploded in the hand of a 12-year-old boy who trespassed on private land was an illegal firearm, a jury has been told.


Jack Clarkson, 63, installed the alarm gun at his mill in Worsthorne, near Burnley, Lancashire, after he suffered a spate of thefts and fire damage.

Jack John Ashley, known as JJ, was badly hurt when he set the trap off.
Mr Clarkson denies charges of possessing a prohibited firearm at Burnley Crown Court.


If convicted he faces a minimum five-year jail term.
The court was told how JJ and three other youths entered the mill on 6 April 2006.


JJ, of Worsthorne, needed surgery on his damaged hand after he triggered the device he took from private land belonging to skip firm owner Mr Clarkson.

Mr Clarkson had installed the alarm gun device, which fired a live 12-bore shotgun cartridge, to scare off trespassers at Worsthorne Skip Hire.

Mr Clarkson, of Water Street, Worsthorne, was arrested by police the next day along with fellow defendants Derek Kokocinski, 56, of Salterford Lane, Cliviger, Burnley, and Peter Smith, 51, of Gordon Street, Worsthorne.

Mr Kokocinksi, who admits making the alarm gun and giving it to Mr Clarkson, is accused of manufacturing a prohibited firearm, and Mr Smith is charged with possessing a prohibited firearm, after a similar alarm gun was found on his allotment.
All deny the charges and the trial continues.

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I assume some of you will be horified that a man cannot defend his own property from a gang of kids trespassing.

I though well if the boys hadn't been there then it wouldn't have happened.

[MonsterMash]

JJ, of Worsthorne, needed surgery on his damaged hand after he triggered the device he took from private land belonging to skip firm owner Mr Clarkson.

I say tit for tat.

[Ducky]

Little shits shouldn't have been stealing. I wouldn't necessarily have used a gun, but then I've got beaver traps at my disposal. The old fashioned type, similar to bear traps. Thieves can't often run far with a broken leg in one of those.

[Five-0]

[Old crabby man voice on]

In my day we strung up fish hooks using fish hooks and planted toe poppers. And we liked it!!!! [Old crabby man voice off]

[MacLean]

Eh, I'll take a different point of view.

While I think the firearms charge is a blatant civil rights violation (and yes, I know the UK tramps that right don't get into it), the charge of laying a trap has merit.

We have such a law in Washington State as well, and although this time it got a kid with his hand in the jar, it could also get a fireman, policeman, etc. responding to a legitimate call for service.

Dopers also trap their grow ops and labs.

I think the trap charge is legit.

[jmur5074]

Setting a spring gun, pit fall, dead fall, snare, or other dangerous weapon or like device is a misdemeanor in MN punishable by up to 6 months in jail and a $1,000.00 fine.

There is also a statute relating to negligent storage or firearms that are accesible to a child under 14 yoa. It is a felony if a child accesses the firearm and suffers an injury, but the owner of the firearm is not liable if the access was the result of illegal entry on part of the child (burglary).

[Motorwaycop]

To help the whole firearm thing can be a little misleading.
Anything that is a lethal barreled weapon can be a firearm, tube with black powder from a firework for instance.
Our CS gas also falls into a firearm category. Hence we can only carry on duty and the Cs spray must stay at work secured in your locker or other secure storage.
It is and always has been an offence to lay traps or booby trap even your own property.(For exactly the reasons given by Maclean)I remember a local business that got into trouble for wiring up his doors to the mains!
Whilst sympathising with the so called offender, fed up with ongoing burglaries and the lack of the judicial system to help no doubt, it falls to us to enforce the laws that are currently in place.

[Five-0]

Eh, I'll take a different point of view.

While I think the firearms charge is a blatant civil rights violation (and yes, I know the UK tramps that right don't get into it), the charge of laying a trap has merit.

We have such a law in Washington State as well, and although this time it got a kid with his hand in the jar, it could also get a fireman, policeman, etc. responding to a legitimate call for service.

Dopers also trap their grow ops and labs.

I think the trap charge is legit.

I agree. I was just trying to make lite of the situation. The dope growers are where I got the devices I mentioned from. Not to mention all the things the Viet Cong came up with.

[mack]

While much is made about the millowner and the guy who made the booby trap, what about the kid. Is he going to skip any charges because he got hurt? Poor baby, attempted a burglery and got hurt doing it.

JJ, of Worsthorne, needed surgery on his damaged hand after he triggered the device he took from private land belonging to skip firm owner Mr Clarkson.

He just "took the device", I'm sorry, the little turd stole the device!!! He should be prosecuted more that the millowner who was trying to protect his propery.

[Car 4]

FYI....In Washington State, those devices are called Coyote Getters and have been banned for decades due to folks getting tangled up in them and/or shot while they were just minding their own business.

Hey, if you are pissed enough to shoot someone, best to do it in person. That way they get the message first hand.

Car 4

[armsmaster270]

They have been illegal here for years too. But the little shit deserved it.

[Shoestring]

They have been illegal here for years too. But the little shit deserved it.

+1

Dont wish harm upon anyone but sometimes it does a shit good

[Trojan 42]

The 'best' booby trap (apart from some IRA ones I encountered) was a push type lawnmower, which was hung upright above a door. When the door was opened the lawn mower swung down and tried to take your head off. Fortunately, not being stupid, when we breached the door we were to the side.