More could have been done to protect woman: "As the community grieves for the loss of Rebekah Grainger and rallies to try and bring her killer to justice, I sit here wondering why. ... Even sadder is the fact that protecting oneself isn't more encouraged to women who are being victimized in a domestic situation. And I'm not talking about kung fu. If a woman was ever in the position that Rebekah Grainger was in on March 6, and actually had the foresight to be armed and ready in case of a threat, what would happen? Would it really be as simple as protecting one's self or one's family? No. If a woman (or man) ever uses a gun in true self-defense, our society is trained to question it to the bitter end. Proceedings for manslaughter charges would often be proposed in such a situation. It is unfortunate, but our society has trained its girls and women that protecting themselves by deadly force is unladylike, un-Christian and just wrong."

Protecting gun rights vital to Alaskans: "To we Alaskans, gun control is a favorite topic of discussion and the goal of many liberals in the Lower 48. We in the North know better. Guns are needed tools and, secondly, a source of sport. Our progress in defense of the Second Amendment comes from a surprising individual, Democrat Rep. Eric Croft. His legislation to eliminate concealed-carry requirements, House Bill 102, was signed into law in 2004. We should thank him for both his perseverance and support of the right to keep and bear arms. ... Much of America's media is so biased against guns and private ownership of weapons, that we are not told of all the peaceful and legitimate uses of guns in our nation. With the exception of the History Channel and occasional specials on other channels, most young people think of guns as killing machines and only killing machines."

TN: Expanding the right to self defense : "Senate Bill 2672, the Tennessee Castle Doctrine Bill sponsored by Senator Don McLeary (R-Jackson), seeks to expand the right of self-defense. The bill would extend that right to permit a person to use the same deadly force now allowed in a person's residence to the immediate area and buildings around the residence and to other dwellings and vehicles. The bill, also known as the Stand Your Ground Bill, is scheduled for a hearing in Senate Judiciary Committee this week. 'All law-abiding citizens have an innate right to self-defense, whether they are in their home, their barn, or their car,' stated Senator McLeary. A person's home is that person's castle is a long-recognized principle that has been eroded away over the years. This bill will help restore our self-defense zone."



TX: Off-duty guard fatally shoots man : "An off-duty security guard fired at three men who attempted to rob him, leaving one of the men dead and another wounded early Sunday, police said. According to a police report, Rudy Perez, 21, one of the three, died from his injuries. The other two, one of whom was wounded in the thigh, were booked on aggravated robbery charges. The men pulled up in a car at about 3 a.m. in the 200 block of South Navidad, passing the guard, whose friend had given him a ride home after his shift at a local nightclub, the report said. The guard told police that one of the men walked toward him with a pistol pointed at him. He said he feared for his life, pulled his own pistol and fired at the man. He continued to shoot as the man jumped in the car and it sped away, the report said. Police apprehended the men after they arrived at Christus Santa Rosa Hospital."

Like sheep to slaughter: "Unlike in many other states, Hawaii's citizens who are being attacked -- even in their own homes -- can be convicted of murder for protecting themselves. They are not automatically allowed to defend lives and property, as America's Founding Fathers outlined in the U.S. Constitution. A lethal force bill introduced this session at the Hawaii State Legislature, which is modeled after the Florida law allowing law-abiding citizens to use lethal force to protect themselves if they are attacked anywhere, failed. In fact, that proposed legislation did not even get a hearing."


Torn on concealed carry: "I generally lean toward liberal positions, especially as regards social issues. But in the ongoing debate over Nebraska's proposed concealed carry law, I find myself torn, perhaps because I'm dealing with it from a painful perspective that forces me to reconsider my own liberal [sic] outlook. My 24-year-old daughter, Rachel, was murdered on May 28 of last year. The man who climbed in through a bedroom window and killed her and two other young people (and seriously wounded a fourth) had a criminal record; he should not have had -- and indeed was technically not allowed to have -- a weapon. But he did have one, and he used it to take from me the thing I loved most in the world. If any of the victims had been carrying a weapon, the outcome of that tragic confrontation would almost certainly have been better; it could hardly have been any worse. Perhaps my daughter would still be alive. At least she would have had a chance. But she had no chance; no one there was armed except for the killer, who shot each victim (one of them three times) and then simply walked away."


CT: Lawmakers eye victim disarmament "loophole" : "Police and lawmakers are trying to close a legal loophole (sic) concerning gun ownership. Lawmakers and victims spoke out today, calling for a law to make it a criminal act not to report when a gun is stolen. ... All statistics for all the recent gun crimes in Connecticut conclude that most gun crimes are committed by people who cannot legally own a gun. So where are they coming from? ... Police believe many guns are coming from legal gun buyers who buy them to specifically sell them to drug dealers, either for cash or drugs. When police trace the gun to them. ... 'That person simply says; 'I don't know where they went. They were stolen,'' ... says Lt. Robert Lanza."

California nutcase taken out: "The random shootings took less than five minutes, leaving an Elk Grove man dead, two others seriously wounded and a city in shock. Aaron Dunn, 28, is under arrest at UC Davis Medical Center after he allegedly shot three victims whom he didn't know, according to Sacramento County Sheriff's Department Sgt. R. L. Davis. John Johnson, 46, of Elk Grove was killed when he was shot in the face as he stood by his car outside Mandango's Sports Bar and Grill. Another man, also 46, whose name has not been released, was shot in the head through his car window in front of his wife and two young children in the parking lot of Chili's Restaurant. He remains hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. Dunn, who is from the Yuba City-Marysville area, remains hospitalized in critical condition after he was shot by police officers. He will be charged with homicide, attempted homicide and assault on police officers if he survives, Davis said. The first shots were reported to the police at 7:47 p.m. Saturday. It ended minutes later when two Elk Grove police officers shielded innocent bystanders and fired at the suspect when he pointed his shotgun at them. Dunn allegedly opened fire with a 12-gauge shotgun first at Chili's, then jumped into his car and headed east on Laguna Boulevard before crashing. He got out of his car and fired shots at passing cars before shooting another unidentified victim in the back near a McDonald's. He ended up at Mandangos where he shot and killed Johnson. There, Elk Grove police officers shielded bystanders and shot Dunn.


IN: Governor recognizes Hoosiers' rights: "Gov. Mitch Daniels signed into law legislation endorsing Indiana residents' right to use deadly force against intruders, a change that prevents courts from ruling that individuals should flee first before using a gun. The legislation signed into law Tuesday states that Hoosiers do not have to retreat before using deadly force to prevent serious bodily injury to themselves or someone else. Indiana did not previously require residents to retreat before using a gun or other deadly weapon. The new law, however, clarifies state law and prevents courts from determining that Hoosiers should run before using a gun. 'This bill would eliminate any duty to retreat that a court might decide is necessary,' said Rep. Eric Koch, R-Bedford, the bill's author. The law makes Indiana one of only three states, along with Florida and South Dakota, with a deadly force law. Fifteen other states are considering similar legislation, according to the National Rifle Association."


MD: Robbery victim identified "The owner of at least one gasoline station has now been identified as the man who turned the tables on a gang of violent bandits Friday in a parking lot at the Village of Cross Keys. Police confirm that Mark Beckwith of Bel Air was the man being beaten as he left his car, apparently on his way to a Columbia Bank branch in the Cross Keys shopping center off Falls Road in north Baltimore Friday afternoon. Beckwith was able to get back to his sedan and get his handgun, which he fired. One of the attackers soon died at Sinai Hospital, while another one was wounded in the hand. That man, 29-year-old Corey Mcleaurin, was treated at two hospitals and has been charged by police in connection with the attack on Beckwith, who is 57. Authorities say that Beckwith has a permit to legally carry a handgun. While the specific reason he was issued such a permit has not yet been released, in Maryland concealed carry permits are given to persons who carry quantities of cash or valuables or who have reason to believe they may be under threat."

Kansas House overrides veto; gun bill is law: "Kansans can apply for licenses to carry concealed firearms in July and begin toting hidden guns in public next year. Thursday, the House overrode Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' veto of the concealed carry bill in a 91-33 vote, seven more votes than needed. The Senate voted to override the governor's veto on Wednesday evening with three votes to spare. It is the first veto override in Kansas since 1994. The votes ended a 14-year effort to get concealed carry passed in Kansas. Sen. Phil Journey, R-Haysville, a leading gun rights advocate, said he expects about 48,000 Kansans, or 2 percent of the population, to obtain concealed-firearm permits in the first four years. "The people of Kansas have waited a long time for this," he said, a gold handgun pin through his tie and a National Rifle Association pin on his lapel.... Supporters say concealed carry is necessary to allow residents to defend themselves. The bill was called the Personal and Family Protection Act. Rep. Candy Ruff, D-Leavenworth, who promoted the bill in the House, said she immediately made three phone calls after the vote on Thursday. One to her husband, a Leavenworth police officer who supports the concealed-firearms bill. And the two other calls went to rape victims who had contacted Ruff saying they want to carry guns to feel safer. "People now have the right to defend themselves if they want to," said Ruff, adding she doesn't plan to get a concealed-gun permit. "I've never had a desire to carry a concealed gun," she said. "I pushed it because two rape victims in my district asked me to."


NY: Shots rout two teens in heist : "Two teenage boys attempted to rob a Vulcan Street credit union at gunpoint Tuesday morning, but ran out empty-handed when a retired Buffalo police officer, working as a security guard, fired three shots at them. The robbers apparently were not struck by any of the bullets. ... Just after 11 a.m., two robbers, described as 14 to 17 years old, entered the credit union, armed with a black handgun, according to Northwest District police. One of the robbers ordered the security guard to his knees and told him not to move, police said. When one of the robbers approached the counter, the security guard fired three shots at the robbers, police reported. 'When the security guard was going down on his knees, he took advantage of the opportunity and fired,' Salas said."


CA: Big cat shot: "A man who shot a mountain lion in his backyard won't be criminally charged because he acted in self-defense, prosecutors said. In January, Bill Hill of Rancho Santa Margarita fired two rounds at the animal with a 9 mm pistol after his wife saw it and screamed. The 90-pound cat fled from the residence into a ravine near an elementary school, and authorities killed the animal 90 minutes later. State authorities had recommended a misdemeanor charge be filed against the 52-year-old Hill, a former Stanton police officer and now a private investigator. But prosecutors said Friday they will not file charges. "He was shooting in self-defense in the sense that he was worried about the community and children walking to school at the time," said Deputy District Attorney Steve Yonemura."

NY: Father shoots man pointing gun at son: "A Buffalo man who was supposedly buying rims for his truck at a Liddell Street residence was shot about 11:15 p.m. Tuesday when he attempted to rob the seller, Buffalo police said. Darius Spates, 23, of Northland Avenue pointed a gun at the seller, identified as Tony Winans, 21, of the Lidell address, and Winans' father, Tommy Travis, 44, of the same address, shot Spates, detectives said."


MI: Man holds female intruder at gunpoint while wife calls police: "A Clinton Township man woke from a deep sleep Wednesday morning to find a woman sitting on his living room couch counting his money. The man grabbed a loaded handgun and told the woman to freeze. He then ordered her at gunpoint to the ground while his wife called police."


South African gun owners at the cross roads: "There is a new pro-gun, pro-self defense organization in South Africa, and none too soon. Gun Owners of South Africa (GOSA) was publicly launched on January 26 in Cape Town. It was my pleasure to be on hand for the auspicious event. South African officials, including Communist Party Member and now Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula just days before the GOSA launch, made it clear that the purpose of the new law requiring reapplication for gun licenses was to disarm the public of all legal guns. Nqakula should know since his Ministry is in charge of administering the Firearms Control Act."

John Lott comments on the New Orleans confiscations "In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans' residents got an idea of what life is like without the rule of law. They had no telephones, no way to call 911. Even if they had, the police who reported for duty were busy with rescue missions, not fighting crime. Citizens had to protect themselves. This was made rather difficult by the city's confiscation of guns, even from law-abiding citizens. After five months of denial in federal district court, the city last week made an embarrassing admission: in the aftermath of the hurricane, the severely overworked police apparently had the time to confiscate thousands of guns from law-abiding citizens."


NH: House rejects stand your ground bill : "House lawmakers on Tuesday voted down a proposal that would expand people's right to use deadly force in self-defense. The 194-138 vote comes two weeks after the Senate approved its own bill to allow people to use their guns in self-defense in any place they have a right to be. It would remove the requirement that a person retreat when it's safe to do so. The vote was a close one, however, with 12 senators in favor and 11 opposed. One later said he'd mistakenly voted in favor."

TX: "I ... have no remorse now for killing a man" : "Bill Harvey can't explain why he's alive to tell how he wrestled a gun from a robber, shot the man and then survived a barrage of bullets from the suspect's three accomplices. The violent scene unfolded about 6 p.m. Saturday inside Harvey's west Houston home in the 2200 block of Woodland Park Drive while his wife and five children watched. 'I don't know what to think,' Harvey, 34, said Sunday. 'I absolutely have no remorse now for killing a man, and I'm trying to figure out if that's right or wrong.' Police said Harvey would not face criminal charges. He was shot in the neck, side and lower back. The wound to his neck barely missed his carotid artery."


KS: Gov vetos concealed carry legislation: "Citing opposition from law enforcement and business leaders, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as expected vetoed a bill Tuesday that would have allowed qualified Kansans to carry concealed guns. Supporters promised a swift attempt to override her veto. The governor spiked a similar bill in 2004, and said repeatedly she didn't believe the measure would make Kansas safer. ... If the Democratic governor's veto stands, Kansas, along with Nebraska, Wisconsin and Illinois, would be the only states where concealed guns are banned."


Stop Church Gun Grabbers: "Some church bureaucrats of various denominations have joined the ranks of extremist gun grabbers in promoting bans or restrictive controls on the private possession of firearms. This undermines the right of self-defense and the right to life itself. To stop these ecclesiastical extremists, the St. Gabriel Possenti Society, Inc. works with law-abiding gun owners of various religious persuasions to oppose church gun grabbers. ... Send the churches a message! Download, print and cut out this coupon. Deposit it in church collection baskets! Ask your friends and relatives to do the same."

VA: Guns OK in glove compartment : "Licensed gun owners can now keep a firearm locked in the glove compartment or some other locked container inside their car without a concealed weapons permit under provision adopted by the legislature last week. If stopped by police, the gun owner would have to notify them of the gun. Before, a gun had to be in plain sight, in line with Virginia's nonconcealed carry law, unless the owner had a permit. Del. Clay Athey Jr. (R-Front Royal), who sponsored the change, said he could have a gun at his home and his temporary hotel room during the legislative session, but he noted the law was 'gray' when it came to carrying a gun in his car. He said it was a 'reasonable' extension of the Second Amendment."


DE: Bill would make getting permit for concealed gun easier: "Legislation to make it easier for law-abiding Delawareans to obtain permits to carry concealed handguns was introduced today in the state House -- with enough sponsors to guarantee its passage in both chambers. Under current law, applicants must demonstrate a compelling need for a permit and convince a Superior Court judge to issue it. House Bill 359, which is backed by the Delaware State Sportsmen's Association and the National Rifle Association, would require the judge to issue the permit if the applicant meets the requirements and no grounds are presented for denying it. The legislation 'would level the playing field for all the applicants,' said John Sigler, a retired Dover police captain who is first vice president of the NRA. Many current permit-holders were approved because they must carry large sums of money in their jobs, and Sigler said the right to self-defense also needs to be recognized. 'Single moms have got a right to protect themselves and their family, just like the small-businessman' who carries the day's receipts to the bank, Sigler said."

PA: Proposed changes to gun laws : "Gun owners and sportsmen gathered in Harrisburg Tuesday to support two proposed laws to end gun registration and broaden self-defense rights in Pennsylvania. State Representative Steven Cappelli of Williamsport and two other state lawmakers announced a proposal to make it a felony for anyone to maintain a gun registry. The state police already has one. The three also introduced a House Bill which would strengthen laws dealing with the use of lethal force in self defense."


AL: Deadly force bills lined up for passage: "The Alabama House and Senate are now in position to approve legislation that would expand the instances where a person can kill someone to protect a home, business or vehicle. On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 7-3 to approve a deadly force bill that passed the House last month. The bill now goes to the Senate. A nearly identical bill passed the Senate earlier in the session and has cleared a House committee. It is awaiting a vote in the House. Current state law allows a person to use deadly force if someone breaks into his home and the resident feels threatened, but also says deadly force should not be used if the resident feels he or she can 'avoid using force with complete safety.' The legislation removes that language, but says a person must feel threatened at the time they use deadly force. ... Sen. Hank Sanders, D-Selma, said he voted against the bill because he is concerned that people will be shot when someone thinks they are breaking in a house, but they are really not."


CA: Good riddance to a dangerous nut: "A 54-year-old man was shot and killed by an El Dorado County sheriff's deputy Saturday night after he pointed a gun at the deputy, according to a Sheriff's Department news release. The incident occurred at 9:25 p.m. on Vallecito Court in the rural community of Garden Valley, where deputies responded to an emergency call that the man, who lived in a motor home on the property, was making threats to others on the property. The property owner said the man had been drinking and had fired a gun, the Sheriff's Department reported. Deputies attempted to contact the man for about 35 minutes. When he emerged from the motor home with a gun pointed at his own head and then at a sheriff's deputy, the deputy shot him, according to the news release."

TX: Trailer park owner talks about shooting: "The Silsbee trailer park owner who admits pulling the trigger in a fatal shooting says he wants to set the record straight. Lonnie Brown calls what happened Saturday self-defense. It seems everyone agrees this started when a pit bull chased Brown's step-grandson. Brown says he went to the trailer of the dog's owner to find out what happened. Witnesses say Brown shot one of the dogs there. He says what they may not have seen is that dog bit his leg. Brown denies some witnesses' claims that he shot the dog's owner, Justin Slider, as soon as Slider came outside. Brown says Slider threatened to kill him and began hitting him. Brown's attorney calls his 65 year old client's actions 'survival mode. What would you do if you were being hit in the head? [Slider] was 19 years old. He was, I think, a bricklayer.' ... 'He's muscles,' Mr. Brown said, 'He [was] nothing but muscles. I couldn't push him away, I couldn't control him,' says Bo Horka, Brown's attorney."


New Orleans thugs admit gun thefts: "In a stunning reversal, the City of New Orleans revealed today to attorneys representing the Second Amendment Foundation and National Rifle Association that they do have a stockpile of firearms seized from private citizens in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The disclosure came as attorneys for both sides were preparing for a hearing in federal court on a motion filed earlier by SAF and NRA to hold the city in contempt. Plaintiffs' attorneys traveled to a location within the New Orleans city limits where they viewed more than 1,000 firearms that were being stored. 'This is a very significant event,' said attorney Dan Holliday, who represents NRA and SAF in an on-going lawsuit seeking to enjoin the city from seizing privately-owned firearms. 'We're almost in disbelief,' admitted SAF Founder Alan Gottlieb. 'For months, the city has maintained it did not have any guns in its possession that had been taken from people following the hurricane. Now our attorneys have seen the proof that New Orleans was less than honest with the court.' Under an agreement with the court, the hearing on the contempt motion has been continued for two weeks, the attorneys said. During that time, according to Holliday and fellow attorney Stephen Halbrook, the city will establish a process by which the lawful owners of those firearms can recover their guns."




FL: Prostitutes hunting serial killer: "Women involved in prostitution in Daytona Beach, Fla., have reportedly armed themselves and are searching for a serial killer behind the slayings of three residents, according to a Local 6 News report. 'Rather than run from the man police labeled a serial killer, streetwalkers here in Daytona Beach along Ridgewood Avenue say they are seeking the serial killer out,' Local 6 reported Tarik Minor said. 'They believe the man responsible for murdering three women here is someone they have come in contact with.' ... 'We will get him first,' streetwalker Tonya Richardson said. 'Yeah, we are going to get him first. When we find him, he is going to be sorry. It is as simple as that.' Richardson said she and other women are carrying weapons on the streets after Laquetta Gunther, Julie Green and Iwana Patton were found dead in the city."

Iraq: Families prepare to fight: "Om Hussein, who was reluctant to give her full name, and her Shiite family are preparing for war. They've stocked up on food. They bought a Kalashnikov rifle and a second car -- so that there is space for all 13 members of their extended family should they need to flee in a hurry. 'We are afraid of what will happen in the coming days,' she says. 'Maybe there will be a monthlong curfew, or maybe fighting in the streets will force my family to stay in the house for days at a time.' In the past week, President Bush has tried to assure Americans that Iraq has stepped back from the brink of civil war. 'Iraqis have shown the world they want a future of freedom and peace,' he told the Foundation for Defense of Democracies on Monday. Few Iraqis, however, share Bush's view that the crisis has been averted. They are readying themselves for the worst, fleeing likely flash points, stockpiling weapons and basic foodstuffs, barricading their neighborhoods, and drawing lines in the sand delineating Sunni and Shiite territory."


SC: Self-defense law would recognize citizens' rights: "Sen. Hugh Leatherman of Florence is a strong believer in the rights of everyday citizens. That's why he said he's proposing a bill in the state Senate that would make self-defense laws in South Carolina a little less strict. Sen. Brad Hutto, an attorney in Orangeburg, said laws in South Carolina require a person who is being attacked to retreat, or run away, if at all possible, before using any type of deadly force on the attacker. Under Leatherman's bill, the requirement to retreat would be deleted and deadly force could immediately be exerted on the attacker to prevent bodily injury to or death of the victim."


AL: Home invasion ends in shoot-out : "A home invasion ended with a shoot-out. William Tony Gross' home on Benton Lane in Arab was broken into early Thursday morning while Gross was at home. But the 62-year-old didn't let the intruder just walk away with his belongings. He got a gun. In the end, though, Gross was shot in the stomach with a small caliber rifle. The suspect fled the scene. People who live in the area say they don't blame Gross for fighting for his property."

KS: House advances Senate-passed concealed guns bill : "Law-abiding Kansans can carry concealed weapons under a bill passed Tuesday by the House. The 90-33 vote returns the bill to the Senate. Sponsoring Sen. Phil Journey, R-Haysville, said he would ask the Senate when it meets Tuesday afternoon to accept House changes and send it to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who vetoed similar legislation in 2004. If Sebelius spikes this year's bill, her veto could be overridden by a two-thirds majority of the Legislature -- 84 votes in the House and 27 in the Senate. The bill passed the Senate 29-11."


Victim disarmer Daley "delusional" : "An Illinois gun rights group Tuesday called Chicago Democratic Mayor Richard Daley 'delusional' for demanding that all 1.5 million firearm owners in the state appear before him and explain why their weapons should not be banned or confiscated. While acknowledging that Daley's statement comes in the wake of a pair of shootings in the city that left two young girls dead, Richard Pearson, executive director of the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA), nevertheless said that the mayor's outburst 'suggests strongly that it's time to pad the walls' of his office with rubber. 'I have a message for you, Mr. Mayor,' Pearson added. 'The Revolutionary War was not fought so that we could unseat King George and install King Richard. The Bill of Rights is not a stick of salami that you can slice and dice at your whim.'"


NC: Mother shoots home intruder : "A Cumberland County mother shot and killed an apparent home intruder Tuesday afternoon, authorities said. ... Strickland was inside the house when she heard tapping on an outside window. When she went to investigate the noise, she either saw or heard the intruder, who was armed, trying to kick in the front door, authorities said. Strickland then got her gun, shots were exchanged and the intruder was hit. The intruder, whose name was not released, left the scene in critical condition, but died shortly before arriving to a local hospital. ... Strickland, who is 9 months pregnant, has two other children: one 3 years old and another 1 year old."

OK: Guns for judges: "Oklahoma judges could carry guns in courthouses under legislation approved today by the Oklahoma House. Tulsa state Representative Daniel Sullivan allows district judges and associate district judges to have firearms in a courthouse. It was approved 94-to-4 and sent to the Senate for a vote. The measure arose from an incident in Tulsa in which a judge became concerned that a defendant had overpowered a deputy sheriff, prompting the judge to arm himself in self-defense."



MO: Court hears arguments on gun permit case : "A man who was denied a permit to acquire a gun after being evaluated at a mental health facility argued Monday to the state Supreme Court that his constitutional right to due process was violated. David Nelson was sent to a mental health center for a 96-hour evaluation in September 2003 over fears he would harm himself. He was evaluated and released with no finding of mental illness or need for further treatment. Last year, he applied for a permit to acquire a weapon. The Callaway County sheriff's office denied the request, citing a section of law barring people who were committed to a mental health center from obtaining a permit."

TX: Southwest Side man fights off intruder: "A man walking home from a neighborhood nightclub had to defend himself from an intruder that followed him to his Southwest Side apartment. Police said the man was walking to the apartment in the 400 block of Cropsey Avenue, near General Hudnell Drive, at about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, when he noticed someone behind him. The man ran to his apartment, went inside and slammed the door. The suspect kicked in the door and knocked the victim to the floor. The victim got a gun, fired a shot and missed. The intruder ran away. Police are searching for him."


Homeowner shoots intruder in the chest: "Police in northwest Houston think a homeowner grabbed a gun to defend himself against a suspected intruder. It happened at a home on Arncliffe at Antoine late Friday night. Police say the suspected intruder was shot in the chest and rushed to a hospital. His condition is unknown. The homeowner was questioned but there's no word if he'll face any charges.

THE PERSECUTION OF ANGEL SHAMAYA

"I suspect there's not a person interested in Second Amendment matters out there who doesn't know by now that Angel Shamaya - the founder of KeepandBearArms.com - has been arrested on firearms charges in Michigan. Activists have already stepped forward to offer character references* for his first hearing and to organize the collection of donations to cover his legal fees.

According to the sketchy information available, Shamaya is accused of having four unregistered guns in Michigan. Shamaya, who only recently relocated, is said to have been in the process of registering the firearms when a complaint brought a SWAT team to his door. The charges against Shamaya are (fortunately, under the circumstances) misdemeanors, and he's currently free on bond.

It's been suggested that the original complaint against Shamaya was filed maliciously. I have no reason to argue with that supposition. Malicious or not, however, the only question the authorities will be asking is whether or not Shamaya broke the law, and it doesn't matter to them whether or not he was in the process of arranging for compliance at the time....

Angel Shamaya hasn't really done anything wrong. But then a lot of people who haven't really done anything wrong somehow find themselves in trouble, too. Let's hope that Shamaya's notoriety and his numerous supporters will bring some attention to such miscarriages of justice as he's now enduring. And let's hope that, should the case make it to a jury, the jury does nothing. Meanwhile, if you're inclined to do anything, offer whatever support you can to Shamaya."

More here. More comments on the Shamaya case here and here.






OH: Central-city homeowner shoots, injures intruder: "Toledo police said a man was shot by a homeowner early Saturday after the man allegedly broke into the central-city home. Police, responding to a burglary-in-progress call at 1566 Buckingham St., found resident Darron Doss and the suspect, John Curry, of 643 Nebraska Ave., on the rear porch. Mr. Doss told police that Mr. Curry broke into his residence about 2:30 a.m. on Saturday. Mr. Doss said he armed himself with a shotgun and fired a warning shot. Police said Mr. Curry was wounded and he was taken to Toledo Hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries. A hospital spokesman said she had no information on Mr. Curry yesterday.


WY: Laramie shooting was justifiable homicide: "A man won't be charged for shooting another man through the door of his home, the county attorney has decided. James Martino, 55, of Laramie, told investigators he fired a single shot with a rifle. The bullet hit Brandon Martinez, 19, killing him. Police Chief Robert Deutsch said all the evidence pointed to self-defense. The police report said Martinez had been trying to force his way into the house. Martinez's teenage girlfriend, who lived nearby, had gone to Martino's house after an argument with Martinez."

IL: Homeowner shoots home invader: "Police are searching for a man after a home invasion that ended with gunfire and a police chase in the Metro East. Police say two men fired two shots and tried to break down the door of a home on Third Street in Madison around 11:00 Wednesday night. The homeowner returned fire, hitting one of the men in the stomach. The two men sped off, and police gave chase before the suspects ditched their car in East St. Louis. Police caught the suspect who was shot. The other man got away."


Gun control reduces violence? "Our friends across the pond in England have enacted fairly strict gun control measures in recent years in response to rising violent crime rates, and have an extensive network of cameras to keep a governmental eye on the populace. In fact, things are so peaceful in this now gun-free utopia that schoolchildren are sent to class in body armor to protect against being stabbed."

PLENTY OF "CONCEALED CARRY" FOR BLACKS ONLY IN GUN-CONTROLLED BRITAIN

Two hitmen attempting a gangland execution were killed themselves yesterday when armed pub customers chased and shot them dead in front of children playing football. Police were called to the Brass Handles pub in Fitzwarren Street, on the notorious Langworthy estate close to Salford shopping precinct, after gun shots were heard.

They arrived to find the bodies of two men of mixed race about 20 yards apart on playing fields known as The Croft. Both died where they fell. Two other men, who had also been shot, were taken in a private car to Hope Hospital, Salford, where they were treated overnight for their injuries.

As armed police flooded the area, it emerged that the incident was an escalation of a turf war between gangs vying for supremacy on the Manchester and Salford border. The shootings were witnessed by young children who had been playing football on the playing fields between the pub and a Lidl supermarket. They were said to have been deeply traumatised.

Witnesses suggested that the incident happened shortly after 2.30pm when two men of mixed race entered the pub during the busy lunchtime period. They appeared to single out and shoot two white men in the crowded bar before fleeing from the pub and across the playing fields to their getaway car, a black Mondeo, parked some distance away.

At this point a number of people in the pub, obviously armed, gave chase. One of the fleeing men was shot in the back of the head. The second man stopped and turned to see what had happened and was shot in the side of his body. Then, witnesses suggest, he was shot in the head "execution-style".

The two bodies remained on the playing fields, covered by a white tarpaulin, as darkness fell. One father, whose child was playing football on the parkland, said: "The children were having their usual Sunday kickabout when there were two men running from the pub. "One was shot in the back of the head as he knelt down. The other then turned to see how his friend was and he was shot in the side, and then in the head. Then the men from inside the pub disappeared....

Last night police from the Tactical Aid Unit mounted a highly visible operation on the estate. Officers, who fear a further escalation in the turf war, urged calm and tried to reassure residents. The Langworthy estate is a mix of high-rise flats and terraced housing, many of them boarded up...

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Nuisance lawsuit knocked on the head: "On Monday, Federal District Court Judge Audrey B. Collins used the "Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act" as the basis for dismissal of a reckless "public-nuisance" lawsuit against firearm manufacturer Glock and distributor RSR. In doing so, Judge Collins became the first judge in the country to use the new law to counter the anti-gun lobby's shameless attempts to hold the lawful firearm industry responsible for the acts of criminals. The suit sought to blame Glock and RSR for the horrendous criminal actions of deranged white supremacist Buford Furrow. In 1999, Furrow shot and killed postal worker Joseph Ileto, and wounded three children at a Jewish Community Center in Grenada Hills, California, after illegally acquiring firearms. What is not often reported is that, while a Glock pistol was used in Furrow's heinous crime, the gun was originally sold to a police department, which subsequently sold it to a licensed dealer, who in turn sold it to a collector, who finally sold it to Furrow. Glock is being targeted, but did nothing illegal, and RSR never owned, sold, or possessed the firearm.


Store owner good shot -- downs 2: "Three men tried to rob a store at 28th Street and Broadway, but the store owner fired at them, shooting two of them. The third would-be robber robbery suspect escaped in a white Jeep Cherokee and is still on the loose. He dropped the money and it was returned to the store owner. The store owner did suffer some minor injuries. One robber was shot in the chest the other in the head."

AZ: Armed woman sends robber fleeing: "A robber got some spare change and a scare when he threatened a woman in Midtown on Monday morning. The 56-year-old woman was walking near East Fort Lowell Road and North Country Club Road when a man dressed in black approached her and demanded money, said Officer Dallas Wilson, a Tucson Police Department spokesman. The robber implied he had a gun, so the woman complied with his order and gave him $1.50, hoping he would leave, Wilson said. Then, thinking her life was in danger, she drew a Smith & Wesson revolver and pointed it at the robber, who ran away."


State of emergency ...: "A lot of non-gun owner households may not have noticed, but there is a lot of activity in state legislatures about barring authorities from confiscating personal weapons during an emergency. ... The individual is the asset of the community, and communities make up the nation. The sovereign individual is the authority of the country. These mean that the person is at once the beneficiary of the nation and its authority in one. Officials tend to forget this, and freeze people out of their neighborhood's disaster recovery. Confiscation of weapons in time of emergency is one such example. Illegal or not, it works against the interests of the community. It stomps on the rights of the people. It delays recovery, and for what?"

TX: Houston homeowner fatally shoots suspected robber: "The homeowner, who was not injured, found two armed men dressed in black about 3:30 a.m. after pulling into the garage of the house in the 9500 block of Almeda Pines. The accused robbers forced open the back door and began shooting at the homeowner in the living room. He returned fire, police said, fatally striking one of the men who collapsed and died in the back yard. The other man fled the scene. Police said the homeowner is licensed to carry a concealed weapon."




OH: Grandma greets intruders with loaded gun: "A local great-grandmother faced danger head on as intruders entered her home. But as they quickly discovered -- she could hold her own. Eleanor Lynn, 75, said she keeps her 3-80 [sic] handgun loaded and nearby at all times. 'I already had the gun out,' she said. 'Somebody was breaking into my house so I took the gun out and went to the door. They flew.' That's why she was ready when the suspects entered her west Akron home Monday morning. She'd been robbed before and wasn't about to let it happen again. 'All I got to do is hold this trigger and it goes six times without stopping,' Lynn explained. 'I just bought this one and this one has never been used I'd like to have a chance to use it.'"

SC: Winners decline AK-47 raffle prize : "Two winners in a drawing for an AK-47 assault rifle declined the prize given away by a Clemson University conservative newspaper. A third person in line for the weapon says he is unsure what he will do with his controversial prize. The drawing came after about 150 raffle tickets had been taken without donations by people opposed to giving away a weapon. Andrew Davis, editor of The Tiger Town Observer, said the gun was offered to bring attention to the Second Amendment right to bear arms as well as to raise money for the paper and other charitable causes. Davis said the event Thursday raised about $500 through ticket sales and about $800 more through direct contributions from people who didn't want tickets. That's what happened with the original winner, Laura Kaiser. She said she made a donation to the project, but did not want a ticket."



VA: Delegates void property rights for gun "rights": "The House of Delegates voted 77-22 to pass a bill prohibiting any property owner, including employers, to enforce regulations barring legally-possessed firearms in a locked vehicle. Sponsored by Del. L. Scott Lingamfelter (R-PW) and known as the 'parking lot bill,' the legislation would hold no liability for the property owners if the firearm is locked and secure inside the vehicle, according to The Washington Post. This law would not apply to public school property and limited access parking lots. Supporters feel that this law would be important to protect the citizens' second amendment rights. The National Rifle Association has been pushing hard for this bill, according to The Washington Post. Philip Van Cleave, president of gun-rights organization Virginia Citizen's Defense League, said, 'If this law is not passed, law-abiding citizens who have guns in their vehicles are now stuck. They are either disarmed and now helpless, or they have to secure their firearms at home before going to work.'"

Guns in demand as Iraqi seek protection: "Like most Iraqis, Abu Ali has long kept a Kalashnikov assault rifle hidden in his bedroom. But it was not until sectarian violence pushed Iraq to the brink of civil war these past two weeks that the 56-year-old engineer thought that one automatic weapon was not enough. 'Danger is everywhere,' said Ali, a short, stocky man. 'I always had a Kalashnikov at home but after the violence I bought a 9mm pistol. I carry it with me all the time.' Fearful of sectarian attacks since the bombing of a Shi'ite shrine on Feb. 22, Iraqis are barricading homes and stocking up on weapons in a country already awash with guns. Under Saddam Hussein, Iraqi households were allowed to own one Kalashnikov, part of a home defence plan during years of wars. After his ousting, looters ransacked barracks, taking with them anything from ammunition to anti-aircraft missiles."


FL: Man shoots, kills home intruder: "When Edward Lucas Sr. checked to see why the neighbor's German shepherd was barking at Sunday at 5:40 a.m., he had no idea that minutes later an intruder would be lying dead on his living room rug. Lucas, 63, of the 3900 block of West Mallory Street, never wanted to have to use his .22 caliber rifle that way, but Tyrone Fyoungious Preyer, 29, would not stop breaking through the door, he said. 'I yelled 'Get out of my house,' but he kept coming,' said Lucas, a retired Sears employee who resided at that house for almost eight years. 'I was scared to death.' Preyer, who died at the home when Lucas fired at him more than four times, tried to break into at least three other surrounding homes, Escambia County Sheriff's Office investigators said."

ARROGANT NAGIN IGNORES COURT

The Second Amendment Foundation and the National Rifle Association filed a motion on Wednesday to have New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and Police Superintendent Warren Riley held in contempt of court. The city leaders have refused to comply with a federal injunction to stop illegal gun confiscations and return all seized firearms to their rightful owners. The Second Amendment Foundation and the NRA sued the city in federal court in September, following reports of gun confiscations from law-abiding citizens in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Second Amendment Foundation founder Alan Gottlieb said the contempt-of-court motion was filed only after attorneys exhausted all attempts to get the defendants to cooperate voluntarily.

Nagin and Riley essentially have ignored the federal court order, Gottlieb said. "If Ray Nagin and Warren Riley think this lawsuit, and the court order, will just go away by pretending they don't exist, they are sadly mistaken," Gottlieb said. "Authorities in nearby Tammany Parish complied with the injunction immediately, and have agreed to the permanent restraining order. Counsel for New Orleans signed a consent order last Sept. 23, so they know this case is on the table."

New Orleans officials deny that any guns were seized, but that's just not true, Gottlieb said. "Our attorneys have provided the New Orleans attorney with evidence of the confiscations, including witness statements, and that information has been ignored. Authorities in New Orleans have made no attempt to comply with the consent order and return the firearms seized by police. "Mayor Nagin seems to be suffering from the same denial that possessed him before the hurricane hit, and in the days afterward, when he blamed everyone else on the map for his failure of leadership," Gottlieb said. "We want Nagin and Chief Riley to appear in open court and testify under oath why they should not be held in contempt. They have been given every opportunity to comply with the court order and they have done nothing. They are not above the law."

Ray Nagin is a colossal disappointment," said Chris W. Cox, the NRA 's chief lobbyist. "During a federally declared emergency, he abused his power and abandoned the very people he was sworn to protect. He took away the victims' freedom and their basic means of self-defense during an ill-fated and perilous time." As Cybercast News Service previously reported, images of law enforcement officers confiscating legally-possessed firearms from New Orleans residents were played on video screens at a recent gathering of conservative activists. Addressing attendees of the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington in mid-February, National Rifle Association Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre urged the audience to "Remember New Orleans!" "New Orleans was the first place in American history to disarm peaceable citizens, house-by-house, at gunpoint," LaPierre said. "And I promise you this standing here today: We at the NRA are going to make sure it's the last place it ever happens."

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WHAT NOT TO DO WHEN YOU BUY A TASER

So, there I sat in a pair of shorts and a tank top with my reading glasses perched delicately on the bridge of my nose, directions in one hand, taser in another. The directions said that a one-second burst would shock and disorient your assailant; a two-second burst was supposed to cause muscle spasms and a major loss of bodily control; a three-second burst would purportedly make your assailant flop on the ground like a fish out of water. Any burst longer than three seconds would be wasting the batteries. All the while I�m looking at this little device measuring about 5? long, less than 3/4 inch in circumference; pretty cute really and loaded with two itsy, bitsy triple-a batteries, thinking to myself, �no possible way!� What happened next is almost beyond description, but I�ll do my best�..

I�m sitting there alone, Tabby looking on with her head cocked to one side as to say, �don�t do it master,� reasoning that a one-second burst from such a tiny little ole thing couldn�t hurt all that bad.. I decided to give myself a one-second burst just for the heck of it. I touched the prongs to my naked thigh, pushed the button, and HOLY MOTHER, WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION@!@$@$%!@ *!!!I�m pretty sure Jessie Ventura ran in through the side door, picked me up in the recliner, then body slammed us both on the carpet, over and over and over again. I vaguely recall waking up on my side in the fetal position, with tears in my eyes, body soaking wet, both nipples on fire, testicles nowhere to be found, with my left arm tucked under my body in the oddest position, and tingling in my legs. The cat was standing over me making meowing sounds I had never heard before, licking my face, undoubtedly thinking to herself, �do it again, do it again!�

Note: If you ever feel compelled to �mug� yourself with a taser, one note of caution: there is no such thing as a one-second burst when you zap yourself. You will not let go of that thing until it is dislodged from your hand by a violent thrashing about on the floor. A three second burst would be considered conservative. SON-OF-A-.. that hurt like he**!!! A minute or so later (I can�t be sure, as time was a relative thing at that point), collected my wits (what little I had left), sat up and surveyed the landscape. My bent reading glasses were on the mantel of the fireplace. How did they up get there??? My triceps, right thigh and both nipples were still twitching. My face felt like it had been shot up with Novocain, and my bottom lip weighed 88 lbs. I�m still looking for my testicles? I�m offering a significant reward for their safe return.

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Judge rules Pa. can't demand Social Security numbers for guns : "A federal judge ruled Monday that Pennsylvania cannot require Social Security numbers from those purchasing guns or obtaining a concealed-weapons permit. U.S. District Judge Juan Sanchez ruled that the state law violated the federal Privacy Act. 'This ruling is about privacy, not guns. We weren't looking to circumvent gun laws,' said J. Dwight Yoder, who brought the case on behalf of a retired U.S. Army officer from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Lawyers for the Pennsylvania State Police are reviewing the decision, and may appeal it, spokesman Jack Lewis said."

ID: Concealed weapon law may change: "Senator Gerry Sweet and Ada County Sheriff Gary Raney are at odds over concealing guns in a vehicle. 'This law doesn't do anything regarding the bad guys,' said Sen. Sweet. 'This is only to protect law-abiding citizens.' 'Our issue is that this bill allows criminals to possess weapons just as easily as law abiding citizens,' Sheriff Raney said.Sweet has introduced a bill in the senate that would allow Idahoans to carry a loaded gun anywhere in their car, whether it could be seen or not. Right now a loaded weapon must be in plain view unless the owner has a concealed weapons permit. 'The wording would allow gang members or criminals on the way to their crime to legally conceal those guns,' Raney said."

HISTORIC GUNMAKER FORCED OUT OF BUSINESS

From the January 2006 issue of "Sporting Gun" magazine:


"After a 200 year history of making guns and over 80 years of manufacturing air guns Webley & Scott Ltd have appointed administrators to manage the company and attempt to find a buyer for the business. The company cites government paranoia about guns, impending changes in legislation and adverse publicity in the national press for their decision".


Webley as it used to be:

With origins that can be traced back to 1790, Webley and Scott has had a long and varied history, supplying guns to the public and to the government for over 200 years. Based in Birmingham, the city that during the 1800's was the UK centre of gun production, Webley and Scott was originally founded by William Davies, who ran the business making bullet moulds until it was taken over in 1834 by Philip Webley, William Davies' son-in-law, who focussed instead of on bullet moulds on the production of guns, particularly revolvers. The current name dates to 1897, when the company amalgamated with shotgun manufacturers W & C Scott and Sons, becoming The Webley and Scott Revolver and Arms Company Ltd of Birmingham. The name was shortened in 1906 to the now familiar name of Webley and Scott Ltd.

Since that time, business has grown for the company, seeing peaks supplying weapons for use during both World Wars. It was in fact between the wars, in 1924, that Webley produced its first air gun, the Mark I air pistol, which was available in .177 and .22 calibres. Demand for air guns increased rapidly in the 20's, due mainly to the restrictive new Firearms Act. Webley ceased production of firearms in 1979, concentrating instead on its range of air pistols and rifles.




CA: Glendale may ban gun sales on city land: "The city could follow Los Angeles County's lead by outlawing gun sales on municipal property, a move that would make this weekend's Civic Auditorium gun show the last of its kind in Glendale. The Glendale Gun Show has been held at the Glendale Civic Auditorium for the past 15 years. Its operator has four shows scheduled at the auditorium this year, including the one planned for this weekend. The auditorium is across the street from Glendale Community College. 'We are one of the safest cities, it's not the crime that really concerns me,' said Mayor Rafi Manoukian, who has proposed the ban. 'But ... having a gun show at city facility across the street from the community college just sends the wrong message to the youth and our community, (and) communities around Glendale as well.'"

TOP COPS BACK GUNS

The following was released today by the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA):

The very foundations of the gun control movement were rocked today by the results of a survey taken by the National Association of Chiefs of Police (NACOP). In a nutshell, the survey shows that the nation's top law enforcement officers believe that average citizens can be trusted to responsibly own firearms; that criminals ignore gun control laws; and that concealed carry laws reduce crime.

These revelations come as a stark contrast to gun control movement propaganda that asserts that police officials feel that our streets would be safer if law-abiding citizens were disarmed.

Specifically, the survey revealed that 93 percent of chiefs and sheriffs felt that citizens should be able to purchase firearms for sport and self defense; 73 percent opposed so-called "one gun a month" laws; 96 percent believed that criminals ignore gun control laws and; 63 percent supported laws that allow citizens to carry defensive firearms as a means to control crime.

"These survey results are important and timely for the law- abiding Illinois firearm owner," said ISRA Executive Director Richard Pearson. "The General Assembly is currently considering HB2414 which would ban most of the guns owned by law-abiding citizens in Illinois. The legislature is also considering legislation that would shut down most of the lawful gun shops in the state. The supposed justification for these two bills is that they would result in a safer society. Well, based on the chiefs' survey, it would appear that the gun control movement is standing all alone on that assertion."

"I hope that the Illinois General Assembly is paying close attention to what our top cops have to say," continued Pearson. "It's time for the legislature to stop trying to find ways to harass the law-abiding gun owner and start finding ways to keep criminals in jail and off our streets.

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IN: Homeowner shoots at, captures burglary suspect: "Brian Stevenson is not Doc Holiday, but the gun owner's quick draw stopped a man who invaded his home Saturday night. 'I could shoot a fly across the room like it ain't nothing,' said Stevenson, an avid marksman. 'I don't know how I missed the guy. It never really crossed my mind that I would actually shoot toward a human being.' Stevenson fired one shot from his 9mm handgun at William Tyrone Griffin Jr., 40, 302 N. Hackley St., after the twice-convicted burglar climbed through an unlocked window at Stevenson's home at Shipley Avenue and Eighth Street, according to court documents. The shot sailed high into an exposed board in a storage room, but gave Stevenson enough authority to order Griffin to the ground until police arrived five minutes later, he said."

FL: Man shoots, kills robber: "A man shot and killed another man trying to rob him at a gas station early Tuesday morning, according to Miami-Dade County police. Police said the victim was approached by an armed man at a BP gas station on West Dixie Highway at about 4 a.m. Gas station employees said the robber was a 22-year-old man who went by the street name 'S.P.' A witness said S.P. came into the parking lot, saw the victim wearing a gold chain, pulled a gun and demanded that he hand over the chain, NBC 6's Jeff Burnside reported. The victim was also carrying a gun. Police said he shot and killed the robber during a confrontation. ... The victim was taken to Miami-Dade Police Department for questioning. Detectives believe the robbery attempt was random and the shooting was apparently in self-defense. An investigation continues."


VA: Self-defense bill struck down: "A Senate committee on Monday rejected legislation specifically authorizing the use of deadly force against anyone who breaks into a home and physically threatens the occupant. The bill would have written into the Virginia code the common law theory of self-defense. Del. John J. Welch III, R-Virginia Beach, said his bill would make it clear to Virginians that they have a right to kill an intruder who threatens bodily harm."

KY: Non retreat bill passes House: "House Bill 236 passed the Kentucky House on Friday on an 84-to-4 vote and will now be reviewed by the Senate. The Non-Retreat Bill would make it to where you wouldn't have to retreat when someone is breaking into your home or vehicle, and would protect you from being prosecuted or sued for opening fire on intruders. 'It provides the homeowners and the general public with alot better protection under the law in circumstances where there might be obvious evidence one was about to try to take someone's life or create physical harm,' says 6th District Representative J.R. Gray, who is backing the proposed bill. 'It's been kinda understood for years that you have a duty to retreat more or less to the farthest corner of your house before you use the force against an intruder. We decided it was about time to put and end to this and give people protection from lawsuits in case someone (an intruder) wanted to bring one in the case of an accident (being shot or injured).'"


CA: Homeowner shoots "ninja" attacker: "An armed man wearing a black, ninja-style mask was shot to death by a Healdsburg man this morning after he attacked the man's wife outside their home and chased her inside, police said. ... The woman was about to take the couple's two Wheaton terrier dogs for a walk when the masked man jumped her outside her garage, police said. The woman struggled, broke away and ran screaming into the house, with the attacker in pursuit. Her screams awoke her husband. The man, whom police identified only as a man in his 60s, 'grabbed their handgun, probably a .357 ... and fired more than one shot,' Police Chief Susan Jones said. The intruder 'had what looked like a firearm in his hand,' Jones said. He died at the scene."

MD: Would-be robber injured: "A man shot and seriously injured an intruder looking to rob his home in a quiet neighborhood on Old Ocean City Road early Sunday morning, police said. John Steve Collian, 48, underwent surgery and was listed in stable condition at Peninsula Regional Medical Center, according to state police from the Salisbury barrack. They said Collian was shot in the abdomen after he allegedly broke into and tried to burglarize a home on the 3300 block of Old Ocean City Road just before 1 a.m., but was interrupted by the homeowner. The victim, James Joseph Rozaieski, 36, shot Collian one time before calling 911."


MI: Bill allows use of force in cases of self-defense: "If your home is your castle, can you use force -- even deadly force -- to protect it without getting sued or arrested? The answer would be yes, under legislation to be discussed today at a hearing before a state Senate committee. The bill has sparked debate: The head of the Michigan Sheriffs' Association says the concept raises questions about taking another person's life, and gun-control advocates contend it's too broad and could apply even to bar fights and playground squabbles."

PA: No charges in fatal tavern shooting: "A security guard who fatally shot two people while being attacked by a mob inside a Lawrenceville tavern last year cannot be charged with the deaths, Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. said today. The guard, identified Tuesday as Gregory Stewart, 30, opened fire in self-defense early May 7 inside J&K's Place after being assaulted with objects thrown by an unruly crowd, including a bottle thrown by Aaron Alston, 23 of Garfield, Zappala said during a news conference announcing his decision. The first bullet struck and killed Alston. A second bullet hit bartender Janice Kemp, 63, who ran the bar. Although Kemp, who died several days later, was an innocent bystander, Stewart cannot be charged with her death due to a 1998 state Supreme Court ruling in a similar case in Easton, Zappala said. Once someone begins shooting in self-defense, the court ruled, the shooter is not criminally liable for injuries to others nearby."



WY: Retreat bill amended: "The necessity of a bill that would specify that people have no duty to retreat from an attacker before using deadly force was questioned in a House Judiciary Committee meeting Monday. Despite negative testimony from the public, the committee decided to further consider the bill later in the day. Tom Jubin of the Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association testified that years of case law had clarified the issue in Wyoming. He said Wyoming citizens already had the right to defend their homes without a duty to retreat. ... The bill was amended so a person would have the duty to retreat in a public area. Byron Oedekoven, executive director of the Wyoming Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police, suggested the amendment because law enforcement was worried that shootouts might start occurring in the middle of the street if the bill became law. ... The committee also heard testimony on two bills related to concealed weapons during its morning meeting. The first would allow anyone in the state of Wyoming -- as long as they are over 21, are not alcoholics, on drugs or not a felon -- to carry a concealed firearm without a permit."

FL: Guns at work bill fails after heated debate: "Legislators and business leaders could not reach an agreement on a proposed bill that would have allowed employees to keep firearms in their vehicles at work. A tentative compromise two weeks ago had suggested that house bill 129 was on the track to passage, but Wednesday, a one and a half hour debate led to the bill being temporarily postponed. When it came down to the specific language, no agreement was reached, said Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, who had sponsored the bill. 'I feel very strongly about property rights and about my responsibility for safety, but I also care deeply about the second amendment,' he said. Some opponents saw the outcome as a defeat for the NRA."


LA: Man saves cop: "No arrests will be made in the death of 24-year-old George Temple II, a local businessman shot and killed by a witness during a scuffle with a Baton Rouge police officer on Friday. ... Perry Stephens fired a shot to Temple's head after witnessing a fight between Temple and Officer Brian Harrison ... Stephens walked out of the AutoZone and got his weapon after hearing Harrison, who was fighting with Temple on the ground, yell for help. As Stephens, who was wearing a neck brace and using a cane, walked toward the men, he heard shots and Harrison again call for help. At that point, Stephens asked Temple to get off Harrison, Phares said. When Temple did not comply, he shot Temple four times in the chest. Stephens ordered Temple again to get off Harrison. When he did not comply, he shot Temple in the head, killing him, Phares said."