By Michael Bielawski
A Georgia, Vermont resident was interrupted late on Tuesday night as three home intruders tried to break through a locked door. Like many homes in Vermont, the resident inside was a gun owner.
The break-in attempt did not go as planned. The owner, Gordon Richard Sr., 75, used a muzzleloader rifle to shoot one of the three men, causing the other two to flee. He then secured himself inside the home and called the police.
State police say the man who was shot was 39-year-old Paul E. Brown of Milton and St. Albans, he was seriously injured.
When police arrived, the other two intruders had fled. The police report states, “Responding troopers located Brown in a neighbor’s yard. No other individuals were found at the scene. Brown was transported by ambulance to Northwestern Medical Center in St. Albans and later transferred to the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, where he was listed in critical condition Wednesday afternoon.”
There are not any charges filed yet for this incident. The report states, “Throughout the day Wednesday, troopers have executed a court-ordered search warrant at the home, spoken with individuals and pursued various leads. Richard has been cooperative with investigators. No one has been taken into custody or faces any charges at this time.”
The owner’s son, Matthew Richards, 40, is being sought by police as part of the investigation. He lives in the same building as his father in a separate section.
A similar event occurred last October when a Royalton man with a criminal record tried to enter a locked door at night in a Royalton home belonging to someone else. The homeowner shot at him with a Sig Sauer, thwarting the burglary and leading to his arrest.
Most American homes have guns
As of November, it’s been reported that 52% of Americans either have a gun or live with someone who has a gun within their household according to an NBC News poll. It’s a trend that’s increasing over time. In 2019, 46% of households had a gun, and 42% in 2013.
The Daily Signal recently put out a report titled “Self-Defense Stories Debunk Anti-Gun Activists’ Claims”.
It states, “Almost every major study has found that Americans use their firearms in self-defense between 500,000 and 3 million times annually, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has acknowledged. In 2021, the most comprehensive study ever conducted on the issue concluded that roughly 1.6 million defensive gun uses occur in the United States every year.”
According to a report on ConservativeChoiceCampiagn.com, high gun ownership not only deters home invasions but also terrorism.
“This just makes America safer. Any hostile force dumb enough to try a Hamas-style attack in the United States would be met by an armed populace on almost every street corner,” it states.
The author is a writer for the Vermont Daily Chronicle
Categories: Crime
the judge is the final solution///
You cannot rely on someone else to apply a “final solution” Buckshot at less than 50 yards will be the final solution!
let me explain// the judge is short barrel revolver that shoots 45 long colt ammo or 410 slugs or buck shot // recommend 25 feet or less 410 3 inch number 4 buck shot/// head shots only//
That’s a toy, not a (good) self-defense tool.
I think it a pity that he might not have had time to reload before the other two fled.
Readers should take a look at the account published at VT Digger (linked) to compare Paul Bean’s account with the Digger account. One wonders whether the “reporter” from Digger ever spoke to the participants to get the larger context. It is obvious that Digger either never spoke with Paul or ignored him. Did the Digger “reporter” ever go to reporter school? Comparing these two accounts will illustrate why I – for one – go to VDC for my Vermont news and not Digger. Thank you, Guy Page, for VDC and thank you for hiring Paul Bean. Note – Digger does not take comments like this, as far as I know.
This is interesting and heartening after my neighbors encounter two weeks ago. I am glad to hear that charges have not been filed against the homeowner. But I wouldn’t hold my breath.
Interesting that they searched the homeowner’s home. But he is a suspect until the DA decides whether to press charges or not. The DA is the final authority on who is going before judge (a living person) and possibly a jury.
If anyone knows of any program, organization or individual who will offer classes in handgun training and scenario training now, not in the summer, please do post it here. No one in this state is offering any classes. That is what happens when you start imposing gun restrictions and banning, “militia” training. What a shame. If I am incorrect, please do step up and share. I would appreciate it.
Respectfully,
Pam Baker
I believe that Parros gun shop in Waterbury offers classes year round….
Thank you “Simpleman”. I appreciate that and will look straight into it. The situation with my neighbor is heating up and threats have been made. We are now carrying anytime we are not sleeping.
Respectfully,
Pam Baker
Vermont Tactical in Montgomery VT, Gary Leroux, is an instructor for firearms use as well as conducting scenario training. I believe that he would do it year round as I have been there with my former employer security guard training company. He has also instructed armed guard employees training and certifies them to be licensed in VT as such.
Parro’s Gun shop in Waterbury has an indoor firing range and teaches firearms training. Best of luck to you.
Thank you Mr. Lavallee.
Best,
Pam Baker
Hopefully there were warrants for the thieves homes as well. I’m sure it would be prudent to search for additional stolen property. Not gonna hold my breath either on that one…
Check out the local organization “Well Armed Women”
Clock is ticking and the fuse is lit. Is it a long fuse, or a short fuse?? Time will tell. Tock tock, tick tock goes the clock.
Black powder and lead ball! A fine, honored and valued Vermont tradition for keeping evil doers, creeps, and “Yorkers” off your property since before the French and Indian War. Good on Gordon Richards, Sr.
Pam, Lamoille Valley Fish & Game Club in Morrisville offers several events for new firearm owners from basic safety & handling up thru competitive and situational practice. Excellent, safe range with lots of experienced gun owners and excellent coaches. A bit further north than Parro’s and out in the weather. I use both.
Excellent “mrgpete”!
Thank you so much for the info. Will check them out posthaste.
Regards,
Pam Baker
The assailant is lucky to be alive, most muzzle loaders are large caliber and slower than modern rifles… the result, a big clean hole for rapid blood loss.
Oh, by the way I’d like to see any prosecutor convince anyone that a 75 year old shouldn’t have felt threatened and in fear of his life against three intruders.
Federal makes a 12ga 3.5 inch shell that contains 18, 32cal 00 buck shot. Trust me, this will be the final solution for anyone breaking into this old man’s house. Congrats Gordie. I will make every effort to call the PD,ASAP as I should.
do not forget the federal 10 gauge 3.5 inch buck shot/// costs about 4.00 dollars per round/// make every shot count//
There are certainly firearms better suited for dealing with a multiple-person home invasion but perhaps this man was federally prohibited from possessing a gun and used the “muzzleloader loophole”, which for the purposes of federal law regarding “prohibited persons “are NOT considered firearms.
If all this man had on hand was a single shot muzzleloader to deter 3 home invaders, he is darned lucky that the other 2 who were not shot did not recognize that fact.
The scenario of 3 maggots invading the home of a 75-year old man is the main reason to not be restricting the use of semiautomatics or the capacity of their magazines. If some State’s Attorneys have a problem exercising their legal responsibility to deter crime through enforcement, then private citizens need to be given broad latitude to manage their own safety, particularly in the home.
Excellent point Mr. LaChapelle.
Given staffing issues, large territories to cover and a vocal but powerful minority that cries, “defund the police” every chance it gets, all of which discourage our LEO’s, does anyone wonder why Joe Citizen is well armed?
If you can’t or won’t defend it, you don’t own it. Simple, crudly elegant and true.
Well, well now I bet that got their attention when criminals enter your home, you need to take action as he did…… call the police when the smoke clears !!
All crooks & criminals understand is force, they don’t care or worry about any laws that are on the books, and they know law enforcement will be late to the party, your home is your castle………………. defend it.
Let’s see how Vermont’s liberal prosecutors react……………………………………..
As soon as LaLonde & Baruth see this the .50 cal Hawkin will be put on the “assault weapons” list.
Judges, shotguns, ARs, pistols or rifles. The most powerful gun in the world does not make up for lack of accuracy. – 1st page US Navy Gunnersmate Manuel
The property owner/occupant has a God given right to defend himself and his property. Every human has the right to defend themselves and their property. No man has the authority or right to take it away or punish for doing so. The land of the free and home of the brave will not be told or sold otherwise. Decent Americans didn’t pick this fight waged against us. However, we have a duty and all the rights to end it and will do so with honor. Declared and decreed.
accuracy is important///.17 hmr is very accurate/// you can hit push pins at 100 feet every time/// about 16..00 per box of 50/// again head shots only/// very deadly///
A trained soldier in the revolutionary war was able to maintain aimed fire at three rounds per minute . By the US Civil war with modern rifles of the day they could maintain four rounds per. A muzzleloader can be an effective weapon even today
“troopers have executed a court-ordered search warrant at the home”
What the hell are they searching for?
I would guess drugs. I think the 3 individuals were looking for his son and had an overdue bill.
Well, until proven otherwise, our homeowner is guilty, sadly. Hate to say it that way but he’s the shooter and unless he has footage of three individuals breaking in to his home, it’s his word against the man in the critical care unit. So before anything else happens, he is treated as a suspect. Sad state of affairs.
While this case seems it might have extenuating circumstances, nevertheless the VT Constitution provides: “That the people have the right to bear arms for the defense of themselves….” That being said, since Constitutional rights are being trampled in Vermont by leftist politicians – it remains to be seen how this will end.
search warrant/// i have the same question///
search warrant/// yes , now i believe there is more to the story/// lets see if tel/// lie//// vision will report the news/// i am sick of animal stories///