A FATHER who armed himself with an unloaded rifle during a home invasion has been left wondering what he could have done differently, after having his guns seized.
Police took David Dunstan’s three firearms from his farming property at Bungowannah on Thursday afternoon.
Mr Dunstan, who has a gun licence, went to his nearby gun safe and grabbed a .22 rifle after finding the man outside his home.
He said he didn’t point the weapon at the offender, and essentially used the gun as a “prop”.
The father of three forced the man into his vehicle and drove him towards the Albury police station, and was met by officers nearby.
Police seized his guns, which he uses for pest control at his property, later that day.
“I just don’t know what I should have done, what would have been the right way to do it,” Mr Dunstan said.
“My gun licence is for vermin control.
“I suppose, technically, trying to protect yourself is not classed as that.
“I’ve always done the right thing, but I feel like I’ve done the wrong thing.”
It followed an incident at a property in Splitters Creek three hours earlier where the man allegedly smashed his way into a home and tried to enter a child’s bedroom.
That owner had armed himself with a hockey stick.
Mr Dunstan's firearms licence will undergo a review following the incident.
Police did not want to comment on the development, but had earlier urged people to call Triple-0 during emergencies.
The alleged offender has been denied bail and will return to court November 6.
