Brass knuckle umbrella?

Here's a combined umbrella and brass knuckle, from what I can see called an Umbuster (umbrella and knuckle buster - geddit?).

Although it may potentially be a handy protection gadget (perhaps something for the James Bond wannabe?), I would definitely check my local laws first.

I do suspect this would be classified as an illegal weapon many places.

Martial arts and self-defense

There are so many cases where people have signed up for what they thought were the greatest martial arts/self-defense combo - only to find this is not the case.

When you have signed a contract for yourself and/or your child, then basically, you're stuck.

My advice? Be very wary of what sort of art you seek out, and above all - check all the fine prints before signing anything.

Here's a case from orlandosentinel.com which ought to drive the point home...

Lured with free iPod

Luckily the intended victim was aware of the set-up - being able to spot this legitimate nut-case before things got terribly out of hand.

And I do really wonder if the defense lawyers really believe in the unbelievable dribble that some times tend to fall, like perfectly polished manure, out of their mouths?

Read and judge for yourself ... and weep accordingly. "Just a rape fantasy..." my a**!

A man of God ...

No jail?
I suppose it's because this religious man/creep is called Love (what a "fitting" name) ...

Story:
Alabama -- A Circuit Judge sentenced a 51-year-old Huntsville man to 15 years on each of three first-degree sodomy charges. But she followed the prosecutors' recommendation, ordering the man to spend five years on probation and undergo treatment in a sex offender program.

The an unordained minister pleaded guilty to charges of sodomizing three young boys he and his wife adopted. In exchange for the guilty pleas, the prosecution dropped ten counts of sodomy and three counts of sexual abuse against Love.

The man allegedly abused the boys multiple times over several years. The boys are now 13, 14 and 16.

Source

Hazards at work, 45

Community order and no jail for an assault like this?

Story:
A drunken man who beat up a taxi driver for kicking him out of his cab has walked free from court. He was given a 12-month community order.

The 21-year-old man punched the driver after being ordered out of his taxi because of his unruly behaviour, leaving the victim nervous about carrying out his work, particularly at night and when passengers had been drinking.

The driver said he picked up five customers at 11:10 p.m in Burnley. The defendant sat in the front passenger seat and persistently knocked the taxi out of gear and interfered with the victim's radio. He pulled on the handbrake of the vehicle, tore a sticker off the dashboard and threw cards into the back of the cab.

The driver stopped, told the group he did not want to take them any further because of the defendant's behaviour and told them to get out.

As the defendant left the taxi, he elbowed the driver and the driver walked around the front of the vehicle to try to close the door. The defendant was standing in the way and punched the driver around the left eye, making him fall backwards. Two of the other passengers then joined in and the victim was again floored and thought he was briefly knocked unconscious.

Source

Murder charge

Seems to me this is a reasonable law paragraph.
I'd also like to pay my respect to this woman for fighting back.

Story:
Police say a 30-year-old Cleveland man has been charged with murder in the death of his friend, 25, who was killed while the pair participated in a break-in.

The two men reportedly broke into a woman's house early Wednesday and assaulted her. The 20-year-old woman told police that the intruder punched her repeatedly and that she fought back by stabbing him with a kitchen knife. She said that the older man stood in the doorway of the kitchen and prevented another female resident from helping her fight off the intruder.

The 30-year-old then drove the stabbed man to a hospital, where he later died. The doctors were told that the man had injured himself while breaking through a door, the report said. Doctors believed the wounds were from a stabbing and contacted police.

Even if the defendant didn't directly cause the death, Ohio law allows prosecutors to file a murder charge against an accomplice to a crime in which someone dies.

Source

Australian changes

Australia -- Rape victims will be more inclined to come forward and seek justice under reforms to the law covering sexual assault, NSW Attorney General Bob Debus says.

Under the changes, judges and police will be asked to attend education seminars as part of the reforms.

Victims will have access to one-stop sexual assault centres so they no longer have to separately visit hospitals, police and community service organisations following their ordeal.

The changes also reduce the number of times victims have to give evidence and face cross-examination, and some will have the option of giving evidence through a third person.

Source

No crime?

Attempted rape not a crime?
Oh boy - do we still have some way to go!

Story:
India -- The Supreme Court has held that unlike the charge of attempt to murder, the Indian Penal Code does not recognise the charge of attempt to rape. Rape is said to have been committed only if a man inserts his sexual organ into the victim. Any other act only qualifies for the offence of outraging a woman or child’s modesty.

Highlighting this difference, the Supreme Court has said that a man who is caught preparing to rape a woman cannot be charged under section 376 of the IPC, which provides for a minimum punishment of seven years in prison.

He also cannot be charged with attempted rape under section 511 of IPC, which deals with attempts to commit offences, like murder, that carry a minimum penalty of life in prison.

Source

15 voted against

I'm kind of curious how 15 senator can vote against something as utterly ridiculous like this.
Maybe they were reasoning that these criminals are professionals on the job, and should be protected as such?
Can someone get a hold of these people and ask where they have their brains tucked away? I know they are on vacation somewhere in political la-la land - but where precisely?

Story:
The New York State Senate passed a bill in Albany on Tuesday banning felons from suing for civil damages for injuries received while committing a crime.

"It is just plain ridiculous that a criminal can sue and collect money because he got hurt while trying to mug or rob someone in their home," Senator Michael Balbon said in a statement.

The bill would change the law to prohibit a criminal from recovering any damages from a crime victim or other parties for injuries received while the crime was committed. The proposal passed on the Senate floor with 44 votes in favor of it, while 15 voted against it.

Source

Sudan

Four girls were attacked by two armed militias in uniform whilst collecting firewood outside the camp on 7 March 2006, around 11:30 a.m.

During the attack, one of the men assaulted one of the girls and attempted to rape her. When the girl resisted, the man began to beat her.

In defence, she grabbed the knife she had been using to cut the firewood and stabbed the attacker in the stomach. The four girls then managed to escape and returned to Seraif camp. Allegedly the girls reported the incident to police officers inside the camp who refused to file the case.

In the afternoon of the same day, police officers inside the camp were informed of the death of a stabbing victim - the man who was stabbed by the girl.

Following this news, the police officers immediately arrested the four girls on suspicion of murder. The girls were initially detained for five days and charged with murder.

Three of the girls were later released, but it is reported that Ms. Amouna Mohamed Ahmed (17), remains in detention and is awaiting trial for murder.

Source

A fine line

There's a fine line between self-defense and revenge or going too far. This story from Kewaskum, Washington could possibly prove this point.

In said case a 40 year old woman gets close to being charged with assault after punching a man. The 43-year-old man has been a real pain in the posterior for quite a long time, even grabbing the woman's breasts.

When three men finally throw the idiot out of the bar, the woman goes after him and punches him hard in the face.

If she had hit him as he grabbed her, or directly after, this would have been a clear-cut case of self- defense. However, if you go after someone and then retaliate, you may very well end up being charged with assault.

Luckily for this woman the Assistant District Attorney decided not to press charges.