Recently a jury refused to convict Northland farmer Paul McIntyre for shooting at thieves who had stolen his quad bike and were escaping from his farm.

If the jury had followed the letter of the law then the decision may have been different.

But they saw common sense and acquitted him.

Juries of ordinary sensible people have refused to convict in nine out of ten similar cases.

The law is out of step with the realities of life.

If you live in a rural area and there are criminals stealing your possessions and threatening your family it has always been your right to defend yourself.

Not any more.

Current police advice boils down to “do nothing”. Take no risks. Try to get a look at the thieves – if you can without offending them. Call the police and, in the morning, your insurance company.

If you choose to defend yourself, then you will be charged with an offence.

They want to let the courts decide what you should have done.

They want to be fair to the criminals who were stealing from you or threatening you.

You could spend between $20,000-$300,000 to defend yourself in court.

You’ll lose your firearms license, and the criminals will target your family.

This is wrong, and sane thinking juries around the country are saying that it is wrong.

I am on a mission to reinstate the traditional principles of self-defence as a step toward correcting this law that is plainly out of step with the community.

These principles include:

* Taking responsibility for the consequences of our own actions.
* Honouring the police and those who put themselves at risk for the sake of others.
* Encouraging people to help themselves and their neighbours without the fear of court action against them.

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