It was winter 1994 in Boston, and large snowdrifts were everywhere. On February 18, Doug Burnes was returning from checking on test results from a routine physical. Doug is 5'6 and weighs less than 140 pounds.

A large group of pedestrians came out of the nearby T station. Because snowbanks made the sidewalks narrow, Doug turned sideward to let them pass. A large man, estimated to be 6'3 and 300 pounds, crashed into Doug and snarled something as he did so (he later testified it was "get the f___ out of my way"). Doug said calmly, "There's no call for that" and kept walking towards the T station.

Seconds later Doug heard an approaching pedestrian say "look out" or "watch out" and turned to see this large man (we'll call him Bruce) running after him. Bruce was less than 20 feet away running at Doug with large steps. Doug could not flee this huge man who was chasing him on the icy sidewalk. Doug turned and stated, "Halt where you are, I am a licensed firearms owner." He repeated it again, as Bruce kept on coming. When Bruce was just a few feet away, Doug pulled his firearm, for which he was licensed.

Doug then began calling out to passersby and made it very clear to all that he was a licensed gun owner who had been assaulted and asked for the police to be called. Police later reported receiving four to six calls from people stating that a licensed gun owner had been assaulted, would the police please come, etc.

Unfortunately for Doug, Bruce was a Deputy Sheriff. Perhaps that's why funny things began to happen. The state police, not the Boston police showed up. One of the state police immediately snarled at Doug, "Who did you think you were, a police officer?" The helpful folks who had run off to call 911 came back to see if Doug was all right, and were told--in no uncertain terms--to leave.

Doug and Bruce were both placed under arrest. However, Doug was the one interrogated, fingerprinted and photographed. One state cop then told Doug, "What you did was wrong. It is illegal in the state of Massachusetts to protect yourself from assault unless you are a police officer. Now take your clothes off (except for your pants)." The police took off Doug's glasses, and put him in a filthy cell. A bail bondsman was called, and agreed to post bail for Doug, even though he only had $19.00 on him. The bondsman asked Doug to sign the papers, but Doug said he could not read them to sign them, and refused. The state police tried convincing him the glasses were broken, and then threw him his unbroken glasses. Doug was never read his Miranda rights with regard to this arrest.

Doug has not only been treated shamefully by the state police, he also received shoddy treatment from lawyers.

To Be continued because, believe it or not, this saga of abuse continues until today-seven years later. In Doug' words, "Stay tuned for the Hardy Boys Series."

Linda Hamilton

Many of you, I'm sure, will remember my own saga with the truck driver last March. If you have lost touch with my story you can catch up with it at the following web sites. www.billstclair.com www.berkshireagle.com & http:freecitizen.freeservers.com/frontpg.html

Doug & I have both, of course, suffered huge financial losses and emotional trauma. Help in any form is greatly appreciated and we both need your prayers.

I could certainly use volunteers who would take ten or twenty e-mail addresses to forward stuff for me. To send donations &/or words of encouragement.

Douglas Burns P.O. Box 380400 Cambridge, Ma. 02238

Linda Hamilton Defense Fund 9 Wilde Rd. Shelburne Falls, MA 01370