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Archived Press Releases 2008 13th April 2008

CRIMINAL FRIENDLY LEGAL SYSTEM CLAIMS ANOTHER VICTIM.

(13th April 2008)

A man found guilty of shooting at fleeing burglars is the latest victim of a criminal centred, offender friendly legal system says the Sensible Sentencing Trust.

Trust Spokesman Garth McVicar was commenting after Mr Gadsby was found guilty of shooting at two fleeing burglars after they had broken into and trashed houses in the Wairarapa township of Ngawi.

Crown prosecutor Grant Burston said Mr Gadsby was a vigilante but Mr McVicar said Gadsby was just doing what any community minded citizen would do.

"Garth Gadsby was protecting his community from low-life scum who were burgling and trashing houses, these thieves know that even if they were caught they would get a smack on the hand."

"Criminals have been given the upper hand for too long. Mr Gadsby is just the latest in a long line of community minded citizens who have had enough of sitting back and putting their faith in the law."

"Law abiding members of the public have had enough of this criminal friendly mentality, as people continue to lose faith in the law to protect them, more people will be prepared to take the law into their own hands."

In my opinion the Crown Prosecutor was being over-zealous in calling Mr Gadsby a vigilante, but if law-enforcement agencies continue to protect the rights of criminals over the rights of the community then vigilantism will become an everyday reality.

Regards,

Garth McVicar
National Spokesperson,
Sensible Sentencing Trust.