IA: Officials cool toward guns-in-school idea: "A Wisconsin lawmaker's call to arm teachers and other school administrators in the wake of school shootings across the nation has incited criticism from local education officials, who insisted such a measure would not succeed here. ... But local and state school officials find the idea of guns in schools alarming. 'I think it would be absurd to [arm teachers to] stave violence at school,' said Jerry Arganbright, the principal of West High. ... Kathi Slaughter, a spokeswoman for the Iowa Department of Education, said school violence prevention starts at a young age, with children being taught to respect each other using classroom exercises, guest speakers, and role playing."


OH: Illegal to shoot car thief?: "Bennie D. Hall Jr. legally owned the gun that police say he used Monday to shoot a teenager who tried to steal his car. Hall also had a permit to carry the gun as a concealed weapon. But Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters said neither of those facts might matter when he decides whether to pursue criminal charges against Hall. Deters said Tuesday his office could prosecute Hall if the police investigation finds his life was not in danger when he pulled the trigger. “I don’t want to live in a community where we’re opening fire on shoplifters,” Deters said. Police say Hall fired on 14-year-old Quavale Finnell as he attempted to drive off in Hall’s 1994 Ford Taurus, which had been parked and running in front of Hall’s Kennedy Heights home. They say the car was taken around 6 a.m., after Hall, 61, went outside to warm up his car and then returned to his house. As the teen drove off, police say, Hall went back outside, saw someone driving off in his car and opened fire. Ohio law allows people to protect themselves and their property, but the use of deadly force is permitted only when someone is defending his home or business, or he believes he is about to be killed or seriously hurt. Because the shooting Monday occurred in the street – not inside Hall’s home – the legal standard for self defense requires that he feared for his life."