Grossly disproportionate

[Sergei's Celebration]

So the Govt wants to change the law saying a house holder can tackle a intruder and protect their home with anything other than 'grossly disproportionate force'.

Now i would protect my home and family like the next man but i have no idea what grossly disproportionate means? Knife, frying pan on top of head, hit them with the rolling pin an extra few times to stop them moving? Who knows?

 

[banjo]

The only meaning I can find for disproportionate is, out of proportion. So just use the frying pan you should be ok with that.

 

[Simster]

I'm with them on this one. Surely it is to remove any doubt that you are not using excessive force to disarm a burglar and/or ensure he remains unable to commit further crimes.

I.e. let any prospective burglar do the worrying about what might happen if he's caught, as opposed to the victim.

 

[albion534]

What if the burglar is a monster and it take more than 1 hit? Then the second hit over the head kills him?

Burglars are scum and deserve everything they get if they break into someone's house

 

[TWOCHOICEStom]

Burglars are scum and deserve everything they get if they break into someone's house

This.

 

[Hamilton]

But what is grossly disproportionate? As originally stated, what's the definition.

Is manslaughter grossly disproportionate or is that ok?

Maybe there's some size weight ratio between burglar and victim that they will apply? If armed then can you disarm and not worry about consequences if you kill the burglar.

Even more disturbing, is this more likely to result in burglars arming themselves if they perceive the potential threat to themselves increasing? Are you, as a result of legislation, now proportionately more likely to face an armed burglar.

As always, smacks of reactionary politics playing to the Mail and The Sun.

 

[strings]

Will this just result in Burglars going in 'tooled up' because they know householders are more likely to defend their property?