Irony of Ironies: Guns campaigner stabbed to death

[DoubleActionCHL]

Guns campaigner stabbed to death

The grandson of prominent anti-gun campaigner Pat Regan has been arrested on suspicion of stabbing her to death.

Mrs Regan, 53, was discovered at the property on Marlborough Grange in the Hyde Park area of Leeds on Sunday.

The mother-of-six started campaigning against gun crime when her son Danny was shot dead in 2002.

The 20-year-old man was being held on suspicion of murder, police said. It is thought he had been arrested earlier in the day over another stabbing.

A 45-year-old railway worker was treated in hospital for a stab wound to his arm after challenging a man for trespassing at Leeds station on Sunday morning, British Transport Police said.

Mrs Regan set up a Leeds branch of Mothers Against Guns after her son Danny, 25, was shot at his home in Haydock, near St Helens, Merseyside in December 2002. His killer has not been found.

She had met government officials to discuss how to tackle the problems of guns and gang-related crime.

Dee Edwards, co-founder of campaign group Mothers Against Murder and Manslaughter, said Mrs Regan would visit schools and give talks about the dangers and consequences of getting involved in crime.

She said: "She made such a big difference to so many people's lives. This is an absolute tragedy for so many people."

Mrs Edwards said she had known Mrs Regan for about six years and described her as the "most incredible woman".

"It's just the most dreadful news for everyone. She's just an amazing woman," she added.

'No grudges'

Mrs Regan's friend Sylvester Johnson, 74, said: "She didn't want any young people to get caught up in the trouble that her son got caught up in.

"She was very brave and I don't know of anyone who would have a grudge against her."

In February, Mrs Regan was involved with the launch of a DVD warning about the dangers of gun and knife gang culture.

Speaking at the time, she said: "Things are reaching a critical point. Kids are dying before us, but we shouldn't have to bury our own children."

In the same month, Mrs Regan was at the then Prime Minister Tony Blair's side at a Downing Street summit on tackling problems relating to gang-related crime.

Her campaigning work was also praised by Princess Anne during a visit to the city earlier this year.

Labour minister Hilary Benn, who is the MP for Leeds Central and knew Pat Regan, said he was upset by the news of her death.

"I'm shocked, and greatly saddened to hear of Pat's death," he said.

"She made a huge impression on me and on many people that she met. She was determined to do all that she could so that other mothers didn't go through the experience that she went through when her son, Danny, was killed."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/england/west_yo ... 430668.stm

[TDDude]

Guns campaigner stabbed to death
Dee Edwards, co-founder of campaign group Mothers Against Murder and Manslaughter, said Mrs Regan would visit schools and give talks about the dangers and consequences of getting involved in crime.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/england/west_yo ... 430668.stm

Now just who in the heck would be against anyone who is against Murder and Manslaughter.

I know I'm a bit cynical when it comes to these types but come on...... What a joke!

And just what does Manslaughter, which is by definition an accident?? I think?? have anything to do with gun CRIMES??

And besides, aren't all handguns illegal in the UK?

I'm not a lawyer but my ex-wife married one so that makes me eminently qualified to comment on all things legal.

[The Annoyed Man]

The 20-year-old man was being held on suspicion of murder, police said. It is thought he had been arrested earlier in the day over another stabbing.

What on earth was he doing out of jail already?

[Skiprr]

Mrs Regan set up a Leeds branch of Mothers Against Guns...

I suppose now I'll have to stop abbreviating "magazines" when referring to an ammunition feeding device.

[cynicism]But the article clearly shows why Great Britain should proceed with the immediate ban of all knives, mortar trowles and grouting spoons, any saw blade larger than a standard hacksaw and, of course, ballpoint pens because they, too, are dangerous, sharp, pointy things...[/cynicism]

Prayers for Mrs. Reagan. It's a shame her son decided to make her a clear illustration of the reason we say, "Guns don't kill people; people kill people."

[Liko81]

And just what does Manslaughter, which is by definition an accident?? I think?? have anything to do with gun CRIMES??

The difference between murder and manslaughter is specific intent. In order to be guilty or murder, you had to have intent to cause harm to your victim, such harm causing the victim's death. In addition, murder one requires "malice aforethought"; not only did you need to intend to hurt your victim, you planned it. "Specific intent" can mean you intended to hurt a single person or whoever happened to be standing nearby; school shooters, if caught alive, are guilty of murder one even if they did not know the names of the people they killed, because they specifically intended to hurt or kill people around them.

Manslaughter in the first degree implies recklessness, gross negligence, or other non-specific intent. You should have known what you did or failed to do was likely to result in SOMEONE being hurt, but you did it anyway and a person died because of it even though you did not intend to hurt or kill anyone. Manslaughter two generally implies either a state of mind such that you could not know whom you were hurting (intoxication, insanity, temporary insanity), or a death as the indirect result of a criminal action such that the link between criminalized act and its result would not have been reasonably apparent at the time (for example, starting a campfire, not knowing a burn ban is in effect, and it starts a forest fire resulting in a death). That's the closest to an "accident" you'll ever get in U.S. criminal law. If a death is ruled accidental, no criminal charges can be filed for the death of the person (that doesn't mean whoever caused the death, however indirectly, can't be sued for everything they're worth). Criminal charges CAN be filed for breaches of law found while investigating the homicide but those are generally a consolation prize for a DA who can't prove mens rea.

Now, in the UK, any death caused by another is criminal. Manslaughter can be an accident; an ND that kills the person in the next room is a criminal act. That means that being against murder and manslaughter is synonymous with being against homicide of any kind. A valiant goal, but many in power in the UK fail to recognize that there are things worth killing for.