It was no ordinary Father’s Day for a father in Wilson Mills, NC, where a father and homeowner fas forced to fatally shoot an intruder who had attempted to accost his 11-year-old daughter. The Wilson’s Mills Police Department and the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office responded to the incident for a report of someone shot during a breaking and entering in progress.
According to the local police chief, Chief A.Z. Williams, the suspect entered the home’s backyard, where the kids were playing. As the suspect attempted to accost the 11-year-old girl, the other children who had been at play with her ran into the house to alert the father and mother as to what was going on in the backyard.
The suspect then attempted to follow the other children into the home, shaking the door handle and attempting to enter. Fortunately, the father was ready to defend his hearth and home. Armed, he confronted the home invader and shot him dead. The incident occurred around 9 pm on Father’s Day. The shot suspect was 23 years old.
According to the News & Observer, no charges have been brought against the homeowner by the police, as the case appears to be a clear one of defending one’s family from an invading predator. Further, that outlet noted that the homeowner has fully cooperated with the investigating sheriff department detectives.
In North Carolina, “Castle Law” provides that deadly force can be used to protect one’s household. Under that law, if an intruder invades a person’s space, the property owner or renter can legally use deadly force against that intruder and there is no legal obligation to back down or retreat first.
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office also announced recently on its Facebook page that, henceforth, no pistol purchase permit will be required in North Carolina, and sheriffs across the state will not be issuing them. Announcing that in a press release posted to Facebook, the office said:
“Sheriff Steve Bizzell announces that effective March 29, 2023, pistol purchase permits will no longer be issued by any Sheriff in North Carolina. The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office has stopped processing pistol purchase permit applications including pending applications. All state laws regarding the issuance of pistol purchase permits by sheriffs in North Carolina were repealed on Wednesday moring following a vote by the General Assembly to override the Governor’s veto of Senate Bill 41. Guarantee 2nd Amendment Freedom and Protections. This means any person who wants to purchase or transfer a handgun in North Carolina no longer has to apply to the sheriff for a pistol purchase permit. However, any person who wants to purchase a handgun through a firearms dealer will still undergo the background check required under current law, at the time of purchase, and either be sold the handgun or denied sale if the background check indicates the person is disqualified from possessing a firearm.”
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