GEORGIA, VT – In a late-night defensive action, a homeowner used a muzzleloader rifle to critically wound an intruder during an attempted break-in.
The incident took place just after 11:30 p.m., when the homeowner encountered three armed individuals attempting to force entry into his residence through a locked door. Reacting to the imminent threat, the homeowner opened the door and fired his muzzleloader rifle at one of the intruders, effectively stopping the attempted break-in.
The wounded suspect was found in a neighboring yard and subsequently transported to a medical center, where he was listed in critical condition. The other two suspects fled the scene before law enforcement arrived. Vermont State Police have been actively investigating the case, executing a search warrant at the residence, conducting interviews, and following various leads. The homeowner has been cooperating with the investigation. As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with the incident.
This event underscores the critical importance of home security and the potential role of firearms in protecting yourself and loved ones. Muzzleloader rifles, often associated with historical reenactments or hunting, are not commonly cited in modern home defense scenarios, making this incident particularly noteworthy. It also highlights the unpredictable nature of home invasions and the split-second decisions homeowners may be forced to make in the face of danger.
Interesting that he had a muzzleloader standing by all charged and ready to shoot. I suppose he could have taken the time to load it, but that wouldn’t have been ideal if the bad guys were in the process of breaking into the house while he did it.
It also demonstrates that you don’t need high-tech bullets to do a number on someone. Getting hit in the chest with a ,60 caliber musket ball will ruin your day.
Gee, maybe I need t get a different muzzle loader. My handgun is only a 44 cal.
IIRC muzzleloaders may be the only firearm defense for a felon out of prison.
Own a musket for home defense, since that’s what the founding fathers intended. Four ruffians break into my house. “What the devil?” As I grab my powdered wig and Kentucky rifle. Blow a golf ball sized hole through the first man, he’s dead on the spot. Draw my pistol on the second man, miss him entirely because it’s smoothbore and nails the neighbors dog. I have to resort to the cannon mounted at the top of the stairs loaded with grape shot, “Tally ho lads” the grape shot shreds two men in the blast, the sound and extra shrapnel set off car alarms. Fix bayonet and charge the last terrified rapscallion.He Bleeds out waiting on the police to arrive since triangular bayonet wounds are impossible to stitch up, Just as the founding fathers intended
Modern surgical staples and surgical glue are likely much more effective at closing that type of injury. Still…ouch!, and I would hypothesize a large triangular blade injury would be more likely to cause damage to more tissues and organs and any such damage would likely be more extensive. Thus, even if the injury could be effectively closed up, the internal damage still would be more lethal.
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Dastardly Mime said, “He Bleeds out waiting on the police to arrive since triangular bayonet wounds are impossible to stitch up, Just as the founding fathers intended”
Strange that the cops execute a search warrant on the home owner. I can only assume they need to find some reason to vilify the act of self defense at this point.
Possibly they wanted to find some way to charge him under modern handgun and longgun federal laws, which I have read in some articles they GENERALLY exclude muzzleloader weapons, but can under certain specific situations be fitted into the modern category with subjective findings like, “can be easily converted” to a rifled barrel and/or similar “rifle” features. Note the phrasing is “can be converted”, not “is converted”. For example, such findings might make him eligible to be charged for mandatory minimums and other modern firearm laws that otherwise wouldn’t apply.
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Sam Willy’s earlier comment said, “Strange that the cops execute a search warrant on the home owner. I can only assume they need to find some reason to vilify the act of self defense at this point.”
Just as the founding fathers intended.