Veteran Has His AR-15 Confiscated By Police For Fending Off Burglar

30 May, 2013 by John Hawkins

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Medford, Oregon — This story is so outrageous that it’s almost beyond belief. How can the police confiscate the weapon of a crime victim who did nothing wrong?

An Oregon man has had his rifle confiscated and is facing criminal charges after he attempted to stop a wanted felon from breaking into his home by firing a warning shot.

…Authorities say 40-year-old Jonathon Kinsella, a wanted felon, was attempting to flee the scene when he was arrested on outstanding warrants, including for burglary and assault.

…Military veteran Corey Thompson, 36, told KDRV-TV that the wanted felon was trying to beak into his home via the back door. Defending his property, Thompson said he warned the criminal that he was armed and he was giving him his one and only warning shot.

“This is the end result. You break into someone’s house, there’s consequences,” Thompson said.

Wielding his AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, the veteran made good on his threat and fired one warning shot. The bullet did not strike the suspect or anyone else.

…However, police later determined he wasn’t justified in firing his weapon. Medford Police Lt. Mike Budreau said “there was nothing that the suspect was doing that was aggressive enough to justify the shooting.”

Apparently, for police in Medford, a wanted felon trying to break into a law-abiding citizen’s home isn’t enough to justify a warning shot.

Thompson was charged with unlawful use of a weapon, menacing and reckless endangering. The veteran’s AR-15 was seized by police because they claim it was used in the commission of a crime.

Does this felon have to be stabbing Thompson in the throat before he’s allowed to fire a warning shot? This should not be allowed to stand. The behavior of this police department is outrageous and completely disgraceful. Everybody involved in this decision at the Medford Police Department should be sued, fired and even more importantly, Corey Thompson should be cleared of all charges and given his AR-15 back immediately.