A rural homeowner who was hailed as a hero after saving his wife’s life by shooting an alleged home invader has had his firearms licence revoked, sparking calls for Castle Law.
Keith Blessing, 75, was allegedly slashed across the abdomen, and his wife Di, 72, stabbed in the chest, by Joshua Dylan Trethewy, 34, after he broke into their home in the tiny town of Torrington, northern NSW, in June.
Keith fought back with a kitchen knife, forcing the intruder outside, then called Triple-Zero, loaded his legally owned rifle, and shot Trethewy when he tried to re-enter the house. He and Di were then flown to Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition where they underwent emergency surgery.
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NSW Premier Chris Minns praised Keith as a “hero” after the incident, but was criticised in Parliament this week by Shooters Fishers and Farmers MP Mark Banasiak, who revealed Keith’s gun licence has now been revoked.
“In June, Premier Chris Minns called Keith Blessing a hero. He said Keith saved his family and himself. Keith’s local Labor MP, Janelle Saffin, joined the chorus, saying Keith had acted heroically in protecting his family. Those are wonderful and warm words,” he said.
“But, unfortunately for Keith Blessing, words from this Premier are apparently not worth much, because he has now had his firearms licence revoked.
“Diane later said, ‘Without him, I believe I would not be alive today’. The Premier agreed. He said, ‘I think Keith acted like a hero’. Apparently the Premier’s Firearms Registry thinks differently. Hero in June, unfit in September – that is what the Premier’s praise is apparently worth.”
Mr Banasiak also raised the issue in an interview with libertarian activist Topher Field on Thursday, where he said Keith had been deemed “not a fit and proper person by the Commissioner of Police to hold a firearms licence”.
“There is an element of procedure, but the procedure is not a suspension, which implies a temporary removal, it is a revocation letter,” the MP said.
“And now Keith has to apply for an internal review, and most internal reviews fail.”
On his social media pages Mr Banasiak wrote that the case showed that NSW needed Castle Law-style legislation – the Use of Force Against Intruders Bill – he introduced in June, which would “provide protection and immunity to persons who defend themselves and others against intruders”.
The revelations generated widespread calls for Castle Law online, including from Aussie hunting influencer Voiceofthehunter, who said “I think we need Castle Law here in Australia”, asked his followers to contact their local MPs and tell them they wanted the right to defend their homes.
“Castle Law is a must. A government’s first responsibility is to protect its citizens. Our government is currently unable and unwilling to do this,” wrote one Aussie.
“The irony is they gave the Bondi shooters firearms licences despite being on an ASIO watchlist and having terrorism links, yet they’ll take firearms off a law-abiding citizen for defending himself and his wife from an armed home invader with a knife,” a second said.
“Castle law is a basic, human right…and necessary when our politicians and courts insist on prosecuting victims of crime and protecting the perpetrators… enough of this nanny nation nonsense!” said another.
Trethewy was placed in an induced coma after the shooting, and was later charged with two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to murder, and one count of aggravated break and enter, and committing an indictable offence.
Mr Blessing has not been charged.
Header image: Left, Keith Blessing. Right, Keith with wife Di (supplied).
