Is this the rape of our rights?

A BURGLAR breaks into your home and you take him on.

Upstairs, your wife and daughters are huddled in a corner, quaking with fear. How much force do you use against the criminal?

The politicians have been debating this over the last week. Labour believes that the current law is adequate. The Tories want to stiffen existing legislation. But the two main parties are in broad agreement that the householder should ultimately show restraint.

How? When was the last time you found yourself in such a situation? It would be amusing were it not so serious.

So. Do you inform the raider that you are prepared to abide by the Queensberry Rules, nothing below the belt, no biting or scratching? Perhaps, when one of you has a bloody nose, the encounter ends with a gentlemanly handshake.

None of us really knows how such an horrendous eventuality might end. The idea that someone would have the presence of mind to make a considered evaluation of the position is nonsense.

Such notions only confirm how utterly out of touch are our politicians.

Burglary is home rape. People should be free to protect themselves from such violation. And not worry about the consequences.