California: DA won't press charges in Oakland shooting: "The Alameda County District Attorney's Office has decided not to charge an Oakland man in connection with a February shooting on the man's property. Patrick McCullough reported he felt threatened by a group of people when he shot Melvin McHenry at McCullough's home at 585 59th St. on Feb. 18, Alameda County Deputy District Attorney James Lee reported. After reviewing police reports and witness statements of the incident, the district attorney's office concluded that it was unable to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that McCullough had not acted in self-defense. Since McCullough was on his own property at the time, he cannot be charged with weapon possession violations, according to Lee."


Florida: Gunfire erupts in jewelry store: "One employee was injured during a wild shootout Wednesday inside an Orlando jewelry store. It happened at the Magic Mall on Colonial Drive, WESH NewsChannel 2 reported. Police said four people stormed into Singh's Jewelry, and at least two of them had guns. Gunfire erupted and one worker was hit in the leg. The store owner also had a gun, officials said. Weapons were fired inside and outside of the store, and all four suspects fled. At least one of the bandits suffered an arm injury while smashing glass to access the jewelry cases."

Gun violence falls 63%: "In spite of all the hoopla regarding gun violence in America, a study by the US Department of Justice appears to dispel claims of rising gun deaths. The government study received minimal if any mainstream media attention. Estimates from the National Crime Victimization Survey indicate that between 1993 and 2001 approximately 26% of the average annual 8.9 million violent victimizations were committed by offenders armed with a weapon. About 10%, or 846,950 victimizations each year, involved a firearm."