to think it's not illegal to keep a baseball bat under our bed for the purpose of self-defence?

[startingmylifeagain]

Had a spate of burglaries in our area lately.
Two nights ago our next door neighbour was burgled. She's elderly and traumatized. They took everything.
We're all a bit worried as you can imagine and taking extra precautions.

So last night I asked DH where our baseball bat was (he used to play and kept it in the wardrobe) and he reminded me that we'd put it in the attic a while back.
This is how our conversation went:

Me: "Oh so let's get it down and keep it under the bed."
DH: "Why?"
Me: "In case we're burgled and need to defend ourselves against thugs!"
DH: "You can't do that."
Me: "Why?"
DH: "It's illegal to keep something like that for the purpose of self -defence."
Me: "Wait, what?"

So who's right, any advice?

[Haffdonga]

I think the intent thing matters. e.g If a chef goes to work carrying his set of kitchen knives - no problem.

If the same chef walks down the same street with the same kitchen knife on his off duty night with the intention of finding his enemy and threatening him with it -it's a crime to carry the knife and to threaten anyone with it.

[ladyofthelake84]

haffdonga, that is correct for offensive weapons in a public place. You need to have a "good reason" for having the item in your possession. Going to work, going to a martial arts class..all good reasons. Self defence is not a good reason.

But that does not apply in the home. We can keep our homes stuffed full of offensive weapons if we choose. (with the exception of regulated items - such as guns).

OP, if an intruder breaks into your home, you may use all reasonable and proportionate means to defend yourself, your family and your property.

[RuggerHug]

Yup, depends on intent. Which is why my Dad always said it was better to have a cricket bat lying around(legitimate first thing to hand), as a baseball bat said looking for violence(who in jaysuses name have you ever seen play baseball around here?/had one for sports reason).

[startingmylifeagain]

Thanks for the advice and the kind messages.
Just off to book some baseball lessons.

[Haffdonga]

Thanks lady I love MN for the way the way people who actually know what they're talking about can drop by.

(How much would we have to pay per minute for a criminal barrister's advice on this subject if we needed their services? )

[TheSnowFairy]

I'd have to batter them with a pillow.

[ratspeaker]

I have a large heavy torch down the side of the bed, in case of power cuts obviously.

There is also a long wooden pole that we use to open and close the sash and case windows, the fact that DH is trained in the use of wooden staff weapons is merely a coincidence.

[cingolimama]

GreenTomato that is a quite a self-righteous post. Yes of course people (even criminals) are worth more than "things", but the problem with your argument is that you have no idea what intentions this burglar has. If some stranger (possibly high on drugs) breaks into my home, then I don't assume they'll just nick my toaster and be off.

[megletthesecond]

original it reminds me of this.......

[MaidOfStars]

I have one in the divan drawer on my side of the bed.

I was recently told this was illegal as it's only purpose was as a weapon.

I was advised to swap it for a hefty Maglite. Perfectly reasonable to have a truncheon like torch in your bedroom.

[gleekster]

I used to train police officers ( but wasn't one myself, long story) and was told that the best thing to keep by bed for tackling burglars is a bloody great maglite torch.

If anyone questions why it was there, it's obviously so you can see in the event of a night time power cut. perfectly legitimate reason to have a heavy weapon at your side.

[Topseyt]

We have DH's Dad's old police truncheon in our house. Quite a museum piece it is too, though we wouldn't hesitate to use it if we were being threatened in our own home.

It looks a bit like a short-ish baseball bat.

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

ladyofthelake that's raessuring. I have a golf club under my bed, and DSes hockey stick in the hall, on the basis they aren't 'weapons' but our 'sporting' equipment. Good to know I don't have to justify it like that.

[OfaFrenchmind2]

I have Japanese swords as decoration in my flat, quite sharp. If I use it to defend myself against an aggressor in my own home, would it be lawful?

[Quoteunquote]

This must be the advantage of living in a tiny house (I knew there had to be one) , everything such as baseball bats are always close to hand, I don't think I could stand anywhere in this house without been able to reach something that could be used as a lethal weapon.

Not that I have ever locked my doors in over twenty years, but then if anyone had got as far as our door they would have to be pretty committed and a lock wouldn't stop someone like that, plus there is always a large pack of dogs to get through.

[shutupandshop]

I have one cos someone bought fir dh from their holiday obviously wouldnt use it on selfencr.

[TheGonnagle]

We have a massive maglite by the side of the bed. Obviously only there for power cuts, not it's weighty potential.

[Pufflehuff]

No, it's fine. You are able to, and always have been able to, defend yourself and property.

What you cannot do is run and attack someone as they flee. This tends to be the small-print in all those 'prosecuted homeowner' stories. The assailant was fleeing. One did a DMSF after he'd got in his car and driven around the streets looking for his burglar, then attacked him when he found him. You pay not pursue, you may not turn vigilante. There was another one prosecuted because he suspected a drug dealer was coming for him so he kept a harpoon gun by the door, and then shot the dealer with it as soon as he knocked. He moved too soon; found it difficult to prove self-defence when he'd pre-prepared the weapon and couldn't prove he was actually about to be attacked.

But if they pose a threat to you, go for it.

[YesterdayOnceMore]

We have a slightly damaged baseball bat in our bedroom because DH used to play. It is only because it has sentimental value and not for any other purpose.

[Bananalanacake]

If someone breaks into your home with the intention to steal then they are a piece of shit who deserves everything they get.

In our kitchen cupboard we have a raclette set (hope I spelt that right, fellow Germany residents should know) it has a very heavy granite slab, if that slab were to be dropped on someone's head it would do some damage, but it's in a cupboard with a child lock so would take me a while to get to it.

[Dotandethel]

Well said banana. If someone comes into my home, threatens my family, wants to take what we've worked for they will reap the consequences. They lost their human rights the minute they decided to violate our home.

[StillStayingClassySanDiego]

We have a wooden, ceremonial Jujitsu sword by our bed, dh's side.

If some twat came into our house I'd beat the crap out of him before he did the same to us, I'm taking no chances.

[specialsubject]

as someone mentioned, the problem is that you risk it being taken off you and used against you.

apart from the distraction type, most (not all) burglars want to be in an empty property and don't want to risk a confrontation. This is because (as we know) burglary has a low clear up/conviction rate, but once you get into attacks on the person there is a lot more legal interest.

look at the security of your home, the valuables visible from windows and the kids telling everyone on facebook that you are off on holiday or out for the day.

[lizzydrippingsghost]

i have a bb gun under my mattress it looks like a hand gun
in the middle of the night , with a stranger sneaking around my house i dont give a shit about the law