Vigilante or Hero?

Vigilante or Hero?

A lot has been made in these parts of the world about a very simple trespassing and firearms case. Nine months ago, in a small community nearby called Burton is where all of this took place. Around 2:30 in the morning, a neighbour of Lawrence Manzer heard trespassers going through his yard. Now in this community there had been vandalism being applied to homes, so naturally the owner wanted to get rid of these trespassers. As this gentleman was confronting the three trespassers, Lawrence Manzer decided to assist him like any good neighbour would. So, Lawrence Manzer grabbed his shotgun and shells and proceeded to assist his neighbour. The sixteen year old involved were sitting on the ground when police officers arrived. Lawrence Manzer’s neighbour asked him to put away the gun shortly before they arrived. The youths involved were ticketed for a liquor offense, the neighbour for assault (later dropped) and Mr. Manzer was charged also for “possessing a weapon for a dangerous to the public peace.” Here is where the whole case gets interesting. Follow me on this one.

There has been a huge public outcry that has actually hit the west coast of Canada. I live on the east coast and Canada is a very big country. This gentleman has been getting support and funds from all over. Now let us look at the facts of this.
1] The kids were drinking and no harm was done to the properties in question.
2] They were drinking and were ticketed for such by the police offers that finally did arrive.
3] Mr. Manzer did not call the police and decided to take matters in his own hands.
4] He brought a shotgun and in no way was his life even close to being threatened.
When a person just looks at the facts, what Mr. Manzer did was illegal. Instead of calling the police and letting them do their job, he took matters into his own hands. Once of the defense used was he was protecting his property. The kids were not on his property.
If this were me or anyone else, we would have been charged because what we did was illegal. For him, it was illegal too. The most frustrating part of this whole crime is that Mr. Manzer has gone on record as saying he has won the public opinion. Well I would like to know what percentage of the public actual supports him and are they going to be bringing out guns whenever something happens. I do not want to live there.
It reminded me of a huge legal case up here involving a gentleman called Robert Latimer. If you want look this one up but I will say he went to jail even though he had the full country’s support. He went to jail because euthanasia is illegal here in Canada.

Now you may think this is an extreme example however I think that he honestly believes he was in the right even though the law states he is not. In the end all he is going to get is a fine. The same as the kids that night who were breaking the law too. I bet they actually were very sober when the police were finally called in.

Changes

I do not know about you but I wake up every morning and I have to get a cup of coffee before the thoughts of speaking to anyone enters into the equation. It has been this way for over twenty years and I do not plan on changing that tomorrow. Can you imagine what it would be like if I had tea, cocoa or water? I shiver at the thought of that.

I think we all are programmed to do the same. Think about it. When you wake up in the morning, you kiss your partner, get in the same car and go to the same job.

Now what if it all was different for us?

The one reason that that sends a shiver down our spine is an old phrase, “The devil you know, not the devil you don’t”. A lot of us stay in places because we know what to expect when we arrive there. It does not matter if we want to be there or not.

A lot of us stay in relationships we do not want because we know what to expect. Same with our jobs and the things that make us unhappy or unfulfilled. It is easier than not know what to expect at all. This goes with anything that we do truly.

Now with this in mind, I have a friend who is trying to change her exceptional life. I have to say not only is she trying to change her mindset but she is documenting it on a blog also. EVERYDAY!!! Her name is Tilly Rivers and lend her support in doing something that most of us are too scared to do.

The blog address is this……. http://pulse.yahoo.com/_HUR33NJ3ZHEDUWGTCXOCJU2BYA

I read it in the morning while having my coffee.