Originally Posted by Roger

One quite valid point that has been made on many occasions is that how can the police protect you from a person who has broken into your home and is now posing a real threat to the lives of your family or a mugger that is threatening to kebab you with a knife. The next time the police appear is when they are taking you and your family away in body bags. The right to defend yourself is one of the most basic human rights. Even in good old Blighty we have the right to use reasonable force to defend ourselves, even killing in self defence.