Texas Burglary Suspect Shot Dead: "A recent rash of burglaries in the east Oak Cliff area of Dallas may be over after a suspect was shot dead on Wednesday morning. The incident started Tuesday night, when someone threw a brick through the window of a home, located in the 2200 block of Scotland Drive in the east Oak Cliff area of Dallas. The home belongs to an elderly father by the name of Otis Fagan Sr. According to Fagan Sr., he's been burglarized six times in the last six months. His son, Otis Fagan Jr., had come over on Tuesday to help board up the window. He drove past the house again several times Tuesday night to keep an eye out for any suspicious activity. While driving past the house at about 6 a.m. Wednesday morning, Fagan Jr. noticed a beam of light coming from the backyard. He stopped to check things out and discovered a man inside the backyard tool shed. Fagan Jr. confronted 43-year-old Gerald Foley, the suspected burglar, with a gun. Police say Foley had $2,000 worth of Fagan's property. According to police, the suspect then attacked Fagan Jr., who fired off possibly four bullets. After the encounter, the suspect fled the scene down an alleyway and fell dead into Bakari Thomas' yard, a neighbor on Locust Street. Both generations of Fagans were taken to police headquarters on Wednesday for questioning. Police have said that this appears to be a legal shooting."


Pennsylvania woman scares off intruder: "A burglar fled a West Hazleton home when a resident got a pistol and took a shot at the man Tuesday evening, borough police said. The incident happened at an East Broad Street home just before 7 p.m., according to the victim, Terri Gavinski. She and her husband, Dave Gavinski, who was at work when the home invasion occurred, talked about her frightening experience Tuesday night. Terri Gavinski she was relaxing watching TV, when she heard a noise and saw the figure of a man standing at the edge of the hallway leading into her living room. She said to the man, "Please don't hurt me." He responsed by referring to her in a derogatory manner. She said the man's head was completely covered with a forest green bandana and it partially covered his face. He also wore dark gloves, possibly black and dark pants, she said. Terri Gavinski estimated he was roughly 6 feet tall and a bit more muscular. The intruder apparently gained entrance through the side door of their home in the 200 block of East Broad Street. The victim said that while the intruder went through their stuff, she went into another bedroom where she spotted a loaded gun her husband had on the gun cabinet. As he was about to go out the side entrance where he came in, she said she took the gun out of her housecoat, raised it and fired a round. The intruder, she said, dropped the bag of coins and ran out."


Unarmed is dangerous: "Some students (and professors) naively suggest that we simply eliminate all illegal gun sales. But if we could do that, why not go all the way and eliminate crime altogether? Some liberals seem to forget that crime is already illegal. On the other hand: If we let trained students carry their licensed weapons on campus, as they're allowed to in the rest of the city, we'd at least have a chance of defending ourselves and our friends."

20 dead this month in Illinois spree killings, but the state's gun-grabbers will never get it: "How long does this have to happen? How many of my home state brethren have to die? When will people like Chicago Mayor Daley and Governor Blagojevich realize they are leaving their citizens at the whim of thugs and the deranged? The sad truth is they will never get it - they will never learn that their draconian gun policies don't work. Chicago leads the nation in murders nearly every year, yet Mayor Daley doesn't get that criminals know Chicagoans are disarmed. The same is true for colleges where students are easy victims, left to die in masse without the ability to defend their life. The ivory tower is instead becoming akin to the Town of London, where people go to die in tragic and often gruesome ways. Ever wonder why mass shootings don't take place at rallies in favor of the NRA? Ever wonder why people don't go on spree killings with a gun in Israel? It's because the common thugs and mentally deranged people know where to find defenseless victims. You would think the outcome of the recent church shootings in Colorado would make the point more clearly. But the anti-gunners don't get it now and never will."


Vulnerable schools need protection: "Thirty-nine students attend my American literature seminar this semester. Our classroom is the first one you see on the left, as you enter the unlocked humanities building. If a psychotic gunman were searching for a tight cluster of multiple bodies -- an easy target for seeking revenge, casting out demons, achieving immortality or whatever else his perverse purpose happens to be -- he would find my classroom door wide open. He could assume a position straddling the threshold and blocking the exit, so that he could fire at the trapped students at will, reload his weapon and fire once again. We would be sitting ducks in yet another American schoolhouse tragedy. But if I were packing a loaded automatic pistol in a shoulder holster beneath my jacket, we might have half a chance. I am no Rambo. I am a middle-age English professor with no military background. But as an outdoorsman, I have a passing acquaintance with the use of firearms, experience which could be refined to a skill of safety and competence, with adequate training."


Open carry in Utah? "If a bill proposed by Utah lawmakers passes, U students with concealed weapons permits won't have to cover up their guns when they go to class. Current U policy requires weapons carriers to keep their guns concealed, a position administrators argue is backed up by state law. House Bill 473 would amend the firearm code to ensure that permit holders are allowed to visibly carry firearms statewide, including the campuses of state universities and public schools. A committee of representatives in the Utah State Legislature unanimously passed the bill Monday. The measure will now move to the full House. U administrators are opposing the bill because they say allowing students and others to visibly display their firearms on campus would intimidate students, especially in light of recent "horrific shootings" on college campuses. "We're concerned about the feeling that could create on campus," said Kim Wirthlin, the U's vice president for government relations. "We believe that having students...carry their weapons in the open is not good policy." Wirthlin said allowing open carry on campus could cause the U to lose some of its faculty members. Gun-rights activists, including the Second Amendment Students of Utah, complain that the U's policy prohibiting open carry violates state law.

California: Cheapskate room-mate shot dead: "William Lenox, 31, hadn't paid rent in a few months and was in a rage when he kicked in the door to his Bay Point residence Feb. 19 and threatened his roommate, prosecutor Harold Jewett said today. The argument ended when Lenox's roommate Andrew Mahler, 33, fatally shot Lenox in the abdomen inside their residence at 44 Pensacola St. in the unincorporated community of Bay Point. Mahler was arrested for murder, but Jewett, supervising attorney with the Contra Costa County District Attorney's office, declined to file charges Friday saying that Mahler shot Lenox in self-defense. On the day of the killing, Mahler, who had apparently locked out Lenox, had been in the kitchen eating spaghetti when Lenox, a 6-foot 3-inch-tall, 250-pound man with a history of violence and methamphetamine use, broke through the door and started punching holes in the walls. The dispute over Lenox's failure to pay rent had been ongoing and a couple weeks earlier, Lenox had "kicked Mahler's ass," a witness told investigators, Jewett said, a fact that made Mahler believe Lenox planned to follow through on his current threats. Mahler, who was also a large man, retreated to his bedroom, Jewett said, but Lenox kept coming at him. He punched a hole through Mahler's bedroom door and continued to threaten him. Mahler grabbed a gun, which he owned legally, and fired a warning shot into the floor, Jewett said, but Lenox kept coming at him. Mahler fired one shot into Lenox's abdomen, dropped the gun on his bed and went to their neighbor's house to ask them to call 911, since Mahler and Lenox did not have a telephone, Jewett said."


California: Motorcycle Shop Owner Shoots At Intruder: "Police are still looking for a burglar who may have been shot by a business owner in central Bakersfield Tuesday morning. The Bakersfield Police Department said an alarm tipped off the owner at about 4:30 a.m. at a motorcycle repair shop on Chester Lane. Police said when he arrived, he noticed someone inside the garage. They said the man then charged at the owner, who managed to get off several rounds from a pistol. It's unknown if the man was hit. The man escaped."


States consider gun-access laws: "Some companies in several states could be barred from telling their employees to keep their guns at home if lawmakers prevail in a battle that pits gun rights advocates against private businesses. At least six states - Alaska, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi and Oklahoma - have passed laws that bar some employers from forbidding workers to leave guns locked in their cars in company lots but don't give workers the right to carry firearms into the actual workplace. Now, several more states are considering such laws. Supporters say licensed gun owners should have access to their weapons in case they need them for self-defense on the trek to and from home. If employers can ban guns from workers' cars, "it would be a wrecking ball to the Second Amendment," which governs the right to bear arms, says Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president of the National Rifle Association (NRA)."

Concealed weapons bill passes in Virginia: "The House of Delegates on Thursday passed a bill to allow people with a concealed weapons permit to bring a hidden handgun into a restaurant if they do not drink. The measure sponsored by Sen. Emmett W. Hanger, R-Mount Solon, won House approval on a 62-36 vote and now goes to the desk of Gov. Timothy M. Kaine. Delegates in both parties said they expect Kaine to veto it. A spokesman for the governor said he would have to review the bill's details before deciding whether to sign it. Gun-rights advocates have sought the bill for years. It passed the Senate by a 24-15 vote last week, so neither chamber passed the measure by a veto-proof two-thirds margin. Virginia has nearly 150,000 residents who hold concealed-carry permits, said Del. C. Todd Gilbert, R-Woodstock, who spoke for the bill and said those who hold concealed-weapons permits "are among the most law-abiding citizens in Virginia."


UNL Bans Toy Guns After Classroom Scare: "A long University of Nebraska-Lincoln tradition came to an abrupt end this week after a student brought a Nerf gun into a classroom. University officials said on Thursday that the game "assassin" has been banned on campus, along with all toy guns. In the game, players use a Nerf gun to hunt down another player. When it spilled into a classroom on Wednesday, people got nervous. "All of a sudden, I saw five or six officers rush into the room," said student Arthur Scott. Scott was the in class at Oldfather Hall when, he said, a student had the toy gun on his desk. Another student became concerned and text messaged a friend, who called police. "They said put the gun down. They started yelling then," Scott said. UNL police said they had to treat the situation like it was a real weapon because some guns are now painted to look like toys. Fliers were put up in residence halls announcing the ban. Vice Chancellor Juan Franco said they're not overreacting. "If you had asked me that 10 years ago, I would have said yes, but under the current circumstances, with everybody very sensitive to what's been happening on campuses, I think we need to be safe," Franco said. The game had become an annual event at Neighardt Hall. The honors students housed there say it was a fun way to get to know other students".


We need students, teachers better-armed: "Another tragic, senseless shooting, this time at Northern Illinois University, has again brought the gun issue to the forefront. However, have you ever thoughtfully considered just how we got to where we are regarding the ownership of firearms? Our nation was founded and evolved as a uniquely free society during the same time that modern firearms were invented and became readily available due to the Industrial Revolution. Combine those two events with our founding fathers' genuine fear of tyrannical government along with a need for protection on a dangerous frontier and you have the answer -- a modern society with an estimated 250 million guns. These recent shooting tragedies have renewed an irresponsible call by some to further restrict or repeal the Second Amendment. However, vicious criminals are freed every day because of "technical violations" by authorities of the Fourth Amendment (prohibiting illegal searches), Fifth (self-incrimination) and Sixth (right to an attorney). As a result, thousands of citizens are later murdered, raped or assaulted. We as a nation hold those three amendments so sacred that we are willing to pay that price. The Second Amendment should be no less sacred".

Indiana homeowner shot a man in alleged self-defense: "Metro Police say a homeowner shot a man in self-defense outside his eastside home Saturday morning. But it's not the man's first time using a gun..... Metro Police were called by a homeowner, Richard Burns, who said he had just shot a man behind his Brookville Road home. "Apparently he heard a noise outside, went outside to see what was going on, and related to the detectives that this individual came at him with a knife, and which time he fired a shot," IMPD Sgt. Paul Thompson said. Burns told detectives the man he shot was coming out of his car, perhaps trying to steal it. The victim was hit in the chest and taken to Wishard Hospital in serious condition. While doctors work to save the victim's life, detectives work to figure out a complex case. Police will determine if this shooting was indeed self-defense. What they'll also look at is the fact that Mr. Burns has been involved in two other shootings, this year alone.... Metro Police tell 24-Houre News 8 that Richard Burns does have a valid gun permit. As for the victim, he didn't have any identification on him, so police haven't identified him, but they do say his injuries are not considered life threatening."


GA: Reward offered: "There is a $1,000 reward offered for the capture of a burglary suspect in Columbia County. That reward is being offered by the West Lake Homeowners Association. Investigators say the thief was confronted by a homeowner. When the thief pulled a gun, the homeowner shot at him. The thief then ran off. Investigators say the suspect's gun was stolen from another car in the subdivision."


There is a great video of a recent Knob creek machinegun shoot in Kentucky here

Florida Homeowner Shoots, Kills Intruder: "A 17-year-old [black] suspect was shot and killed in Altamonte Springs early Saturday morning after deputies said he ran from them and into a nearby home. According to the Seminole County Sheriff's Department, the incident began when Ryan Realford approached a uniformed deputy in an unmarked car. Police said he appeared to be selling drugs. When he saw the officer's uniform, he ran down the street. According to the sheriff's office, Realford ran to a house on the 600 block of Lake Mobile Drive. The homeowner said Realford removed a locked screen door and was trying to enter his house through a sliding glass door. The homeowner said he asked Realford to leave. When he would not, the homeowner told deputies he shot him. According to deputies, the investigation continues and the homeowner likely won't be charged."


North Carolina guards chase off robbers: "About 8:55 p.m. Tuesday, an Inter-Pol guard spotted two men scaling a fence at a business with a history of break-ins, Guarascio said. He declined to name the business, citing confidentiality. But an official with county dispatch said Inter-Pol officers said they were at a business in the 300 block of Chesterfield Road. Guarascio said that address is near his client's business, but isn't where the incident occurred. Inter-Pol's armed guards, who don't have arrest powers, chased the suspects into the woods, Guarascio said. When the guards cornered the suspects, one turned and charged at them with what appeared to be a shotgun. After shouting multiple orders, a security guard fired three shots. The incident was over shortly after 9 p.m., but Inter-Pol continued to canvass the area until 11:30 p.m. Inter-Pol officers returned Wednesday morning but found no blood trails, and no one had checked into New Hanover County hospitals with a gunshot wound, Guarascio said."


Virgnia Guard Fatally Shoots Man After Scuffle at Restaurant: "A Fairfax County man, involved in a brawl outside a Springfield area restaurant, was shot to death early yesterday by a security guard who told police he was acting in self-defense. The incident started inside Cafe Milano, in a shopping center just off Backlick Road, shortly before 1 a.m. Police said that a fight started in the bar area of the restaurant, and that a uniformed private security guard hired by the restaurant escorted one of the fighters outside. When the 23-year-old guard and the man stepped outside, the guard told police, he was jumped by three or four other men, at least one of whom wielded a knife. Fairfax Officer Don Gotthardt said the man holding the knife was Yordy Adaud Salguero Urmeneta, 27, of the Springfield area, and that he had advanced toward the guard, whose name was not released. The guard said that he feared for his life and fired one shot, striking Salguero Urmeneta in the stomach, Gotthardt said. Salguero Urmeneta fell, and the other men picked him up, placed him in a white van and fled. Officers found the van parked outside of Salguero Urmeneta's house on Cather Road, with the wounded man and two others inside, Gotthardt said. Salguero Urmeneta was taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital, where he died at 5 a.m., police said. The two men with Salguero Urmeneta when he was found were interviewed and released, and Gotthardt said they were considered suspects. The security guard, who police said was legally carrying the gun, was not charged"

Arkansas invader dead: "A Dardanelle man is dead after he and an unidentified accomplice apparently broke into a residence off State Highway 22 near Dardanelle late Wednesday night, authorities said Thursday. Yell County Sheriff Bill Gilkey confirmed one of the home’s occupants shot and killed Mike Jensen, 44, after Jensen and another man allegedly entered the residence by kicking in the front door. Four people were inside the home at the time of the break-in, Gilkey said. Jensen — who after entering the home made his way down a hallway and was at the point of entering a bedroom when he was shot — was armed with an SKS assault rifle investigators later learned was not loaded, Gilkey said. The other intruder fled the scene in a vehicle authorities recovered Thursday morning, Gilkey said, adding investigators were working to process the vehicle in hopes of learning the second man’s identity. Gilkey said authorities do not expect any charges will be filed against the homeowner — who Gilkey said used “a shotgun” to deter Jensen — in connection with the matter."


CA: Intended burglary victim shoots at 4 suspects, wounding 1 : "An intended burglary victim shot at four men breaking into a business in the Harbor Gateway area early this morning. Los Angeles Police spokesman Richard French said the suspects reportedly entered a building at 18710 S. Normandie Avenue at about 5:30 a.m. Someone in the building, who was described as a victim, fired an unknown amount of rounds at the suspects, French said. One of the suspects was shot in the hip and taken to a nearby hospital after police arrived. A second suspect was taken into custody, but two suspects got away, French said. The victim was not injured. French did not say whether the suspects were attempting to burglarize a marijuana dispensary that is located in that building."


UT: Senate votes for fewer restrictions on where guns allowed: "Business owners wouldn't be allowed to prevent employees or customers from storing guns in their vehicles as long as the weapon is hidden and properly stored, under a bill the Senate approved Wednesday. Senate Bill 67 is sponsored by Sen. Mark Madsen, R-Eagle Mountain. It passed in the Senate 23-4 and will now be heard in the House. Madsen says his bill is intended to keep gun owners safe while they commute to work or drive around town. He says some people feel vulnerable to attack if they can't have a gun nearby. Opponents say Madsen's bill erodes the rights of private property owners and could threaten public safety. Madsen's bill would not apply to churches, schools and government property."

North Carolina: Would-be robber shot at restaurant: "A would-be robber had life-threatening injuries after being shot by his intended victim at a northern Charlotte restaurant late Wednesday, police said. The suspect was taken to Carolinas Medical Center after the 9:20 p.m. shooting at Floyd's Homestyle Cooking restaurant on Graham Street. Some of his bloodied clothes were strewn in the parking lot of the restaurant. Nearby, two guns lay on a sidewalk. Police haven't released an account of what happened during the shooting, but Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Spokesman Officer Hassan Peterson said the restaurant was closed when the first officers arrived. Police interviewed the man working at the restaurant and homicide investigators planned to interview him again late Wednesday. It was the second time in less than three months that someone working at a business shot a potential robber. In December, a man shot a teenager who was trying to rob his west Charlotte convenience store. On that day, two teens walked into the Bradford Food Mart demanding money and at least one of them was armed. So was the store's owner. The owner and one of the suspects fired their weapons, and one of the suspects was hit in the stomach. The owner wasn't hurt and the injured teen survived." [See also here]


British police to use Tasers on children: "Police have been given the go-ahead to use Taser stun guns against children. The relaxing of restrictions on the use of the weapons comes despite warnings that they could trigger a heart attack in youngsters. Until now, Tasers - which emit a 50,000-volt electric shock - have been used only by specialist officers as a "non lethal" alternative to firearms. However, they can now be used against all potentially violent offenders even if they are unarmed. It is the decision not to ban their use against minors that is likely to raise serious concerns. Home Office Police Minister Tony McNulty said medical assessments had confirmed the risk of death or serious injury from Tasers was "low". But he failed to mention Government advisers had also warned of a potential risk to children. The Defence Scientific Advisory Council medical committee told the Home Office that not enough was known about the health risks of using the weapons against children"


WY: Self-defense bill approved: "The Wyoming House of Representatives gave strong initial approval to a bill that would specify that homeowners couldn't be prosecuted or sued in civil court if they kill anyone who enters their home illegally. The House voted 54-6 Friday to introduce a so-called 'castle doctrine' bill. It's named after the old English common law saying that a man's home is his castle."

Australia: Tradesman shoots mad pitbull with nailgun: "A suburban tradesman saved the lives of two women being attacked by a pitbull - by shooting it between the eyes with a nail gun. The man, who did not wish to be named, said he acted on instinct when he killed the animal, which was attacking a 17-year-old girl and her 43-year-old female relative in the front yard of a home in Greystanes yesterday. The tradesman said he and his business partner were working in the area just after 2pm when they heard cries for help .... she started yelling for help and a woman from the street went down and I went up and we could see there was a dog attached to her leg and there was blood everywhere." The man said he and his partner had little choice but to intervene. "My partner grabbed a lump of timber and started hitting the dog and I grabbed a nail gun that we had, just as self-defence really, because the dog was going to attack anything that was near it," he said. Despite being cornered, the dog would not be subdued and continued to attack witnesses. "My partner and another woman pinned it up against a brick wall and it was still trying to eat anything and that's when I shot it in the head," the tradesman said. "It wasn't premeditated - it had finished having a go at her and it was trying to bite everyone." The victims were taken to Westmead Hospital with lower leg injuries. Both were in a stable condition."


Tennessee security guard takes down robber: "An armed security guard at the AutoZone Store at 1363 Getwell shot a man attempting to rob the store tonight, Memphis police said. The robbery suspect came into the store at 7:30 p.m., police said. He was taken in critical condition to the Regional Medical Center at Memphis."


WA: Drug thief shot. Accomplices share the blame: "Cops say they're responsible for their friend's death. And they're not the ones who pulled the trigger. The sheriff's office now says Marcus Bradford would still be alive if he and two others didn't go into the Terrace Heights home with guns last week. Investigators think the trio intended to steal drugs and money. It's not to say the guy living at the house, Luis Acevedo, is off the hook. But the sheriff's office believes he was just protecting his friend and baby last Thursday morning... When Bradford, Khiry Jackson and Lawrence Adams showed up at the door. Investigators say Acevedo admitted he used to deal drugs with the suspects, but swears that stopped 8 or 9 months ago. Jackson and Adams now have murder charges thrown on their drug and gun charges.... Campbell says it's possible another person's involved. Cops are looking into it--as well as Acevedo's past. But they say a pair of gloves found on the victim and in the getaway car indicate this was a burglary."

Tennessee: Neighbor runs to women's aid, shoots and kills attacker: "A Brighton man shot and killed a 44-year-old registered sex offender who attacked two women in their home early this morning, officials said. According to Dist. Atty. Gen. Mike Dunavant, David Fleming charged into the home of two women at about 3 a.m. Fleming bound the women but one escaped and ran to a nearby home. Dunavant said Fleming, who lived in Munford, intended to rape the women. The woman who escaped went to the nearby home of Keith Ingram for help, Dunavant said. Ingram, carrying a .40-caliber handgun, ran to the house and found Fleming attacking the other woman, officials said. When Fleming tried to attack Ingram, Dunavant said Ingram shot Fleming once. Tipton County Sheriff's deputies and Brighton Police officers found Fleming dead on the front porch of the home. Fleming had been convicted of attempted rape in Tipton County. He's listed on the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's sex-offender registry. Dunavant said Ingram has no criminal record and has a permit to carry the handgun."


Alabama: Burglary suspect shot as he flees: "A 19-year-old man was shot in the back Sunday evening after he was caught rifling through an older model Chevrolet Caprice sitting in a Mobile auto body shop lot, police said. The wounded man apparently didn't find much in the car, and as he fled he lost his tennis shoes, said the business owner who shot the man. The teen was taken to the hospital, but another man with him escaped, police said.... the 19-year-old man suffered non-life-threatening injuries, police spokesman Officer Eric Gallichant said. Isaac Taylor said he was inside his business when he heard something outside. Taylor, 44, said he opened the door and surveyed a dark parking lot full of vehicles he had been hired to fix. He said he spotted a man sitting in the Caprice. There was another man moving around inside a black four-door Honda Civic, Taylor said Monday. Taylor said he fired his .38-caliber pistol as the two men fled. He said he then caught and tackled the 19-year-old in the driveway that the auto shop shares with Aramark Uniform Services. Police declined to release the 19-year-old's name Monday. The man will be arrested and charged once he is released from the hospital, Gallichant said. In addition to the 19-year-old's tennis shoes, one of Taylor's employees found jumper cables lying in the parking lot Monday, he said."


Wisconsin convenience store owner stops two robbers with own gun: "A convenience store owner who was robbed earlier this month stopped two would-be-robbers before they even reached the service counter Friday afternoon when he pulled out a handgun. Numan Pasqualine, the owner of Quick Market at 4303 16th St., said he saw two men approaching his store on the video surveillance camera. "I thought there was something wrong," he said. "They had their heads down, so you couldn't see their masks." The men entered the Quick Market, and one of them waved a gun. Pasqualine said he grabbed his own gun from behind the counter. "I told him to get down twice," he said. The man, who was standing in the corner near the entrance, and the second suspect, who was already by the door, then fled the store and ran south on Indiana Street. They didn't take anything from the store."

Armed Michigan bystander stops a beating: "Pittsfield Township police arrested three people accused of attacking a man in traffic after he earlier tried to intervene in a dispute. The victim was outside Falsetta's Market at 2200 Pittsfield Blvd. at about 4 p.m. Wednesday when he saw a man loudly arguing with a woman and trying to push her into a van, said Detective Lt. Steve Heller. The victim said he asked if everything was OK and told the woman she didn't have to get into the vehicle. He said the man told him to mind his own business, and they left in the van. The victim went into a nearby store and called police before he left. While stopped at a red light at Carpenter and Packard roads a few minutes later, the victim said the driver of the van confronted him and began yelling. He said he exited his vehicle and was punched in the face and knocked to the ground, Heller said. Two women, including the woman he tried to help, got out of the van and began hitting and stomping the victim while he was on the ground, Heller said. A passing motorist stopped his car, pulled a gun and demanded the trio stop beating the man, Heller said. Police responded to several calls reporting a man holding people at gunpoint. Officers determined the man with a gun had a legitimate concealed weapons permit and was trying to help, Heller said. Officers arrested an 18-year-old Ann Arbor man and two 19-year-old women. They were released pending charges. The victim was not seriously injured."


Kentucky man says shooting was self defense: "A man is claiming self defense after police say he shot and killed a Montgomery County man. Police say 27-year-old Mike Dunn fatally shot 46-year-old Greg Rudd on Sunday. Dunn tells WKYT in Lexington that he had no choice but to shoot Rudd. Dunn says Rudd pointed a gun at him and threatened to kill him before he fired. He says he went to find out why Rudd and another man were on his property without his permission. And when he approached the men, he says they began arguing. Police have not made an arrest in the case but they are still investigating."


Alabama intruder killed as he sought ex-girlfriend: "Authorities said a 38-year-old Henry County man was shot and killed over the weekend after he broke into a mobile home near Kinsey, where his ex-girlfriend was staying with another man. Dead is Jimmy Proctor of Headland, who suffered multiple gunshot wounds after he broke into the house located in a mobile home park on Lookout Lane off Alabama 52. The shooting occurred around 11:40 p.m. Saturday. Hughes said Proctor came to the trailer, parked his vehicle at the rear of the house and forcefully entered through a rear door. “When he got in, he made some verbal threats toward the man who shot him. The man pulled a firearm and told the guy to back off. He cocked the gun and attempted to retreat to the master bedroom/bathroom area.” Hughes said the shooter repeatedly asked Proctor to stop. “But the suspect continued to come at him. He shot him once in the leg. The suspect kept coming and he shot him several more times with a 9 mm handgun.” Capt. Antonio Gonzalez said authorities were called to the scene at 11:52 p.m. Proctor was shot once in the leg, twice in the torso and once in the face. Gonzalez said it does not appear that Proctor was armed. Proctor was transported by ambulance to Southeast Alabama Medical Center. He died about an hour later. Gonzalez said five or six people were in the mobile home at the time of the shooting, including several children. The homeowner was not charged but Hughes said it would most likely be turned over to a grand jury for review."

Alabama jury believes 75-year-old man's self-defense plea: "It took a Russell County jury less than three hours to acquit a 75-year-old man of the attempted murder of his youngest son. Jurors found Theodore Gay "not guilty by reason of self-defense" Tuesday morning after resuming deliberations from the previous day. Prosecutors opened their case against Gay on Monday morning, claiming the father tried to kill his son, Michael Gay, on July 14, 2006. Assistant District Attorney Jamie Graham told jurors the father shot the son at his 16th Place home over a Cadillac recently put into the younger Gay's name. The elder Gay, however, testified that his son had repeatedly threatened him over the years and beat him. When he went to get his shotgun that day, it was because he once again felt threatened and wanted Michael Gay off his property. "I had told him to leave, and I went to get that gun to make him leave," Gay said. "I was protecting myself." Michael Gay was struck in the arm. Another of Gay's sons, Larry Gay, testified that he saw his sibling accost their father several times over the years, though his father never would sign an arrest warrant."


Missouri man shot during domestic dispute: "A 37-year-old man from Ava was shot with a 22 caliber weapon during a dispute Saturday. The man's name was not being released Sunday because no charges had been filed in the case. On Saturday, The Ozark County Sheriff's Department received a report of a domestic dispute near Longrun, a rural area in the county. When the officers arrived, they learned a man broke into the house and was shot by the 38-year-old female in the home. After being shot, he fled the residence. While the two were not married, they knew each other. There have not been a lot of calls from this address, but the sheriff's office is acquainted with the participants, said Sheriff Raymond Pace. The male was found near Wasola several hours later and transported to Cox South Hospital in Springfield. As of Sunday, he was still in the hospital, Pace said. Charges of burglary and assault are expected to be filed against the man on Tuesday, Pace said. No charges are expected against the woman. "She was defending herself. He broke into the house," Pace said.


Texas: Clerk, robbery suspect exchange gunfire: "A woman store clerk and a would-be robber exchanged gunfire late Saturday night but police report no one was injured. The female clerk at EZ Food Mart, 1006 North Fourth St., told police she bent down behind the counter to get some cigarettes for a customer. When she stood up, a man was standing next to the customer pointing a handgun at her. The woman told police she ducked behind the counter as the suspect fired. She grabbed a gun that was behind the counter and as the suspect was running out of the door, she fired one shot toward him but missed. Neither the clerk nor the suspect were injured. Police said the suspect was wearing a red bandanna over his face.

AP: "Obama Supports Individual Gun Rights": "That's the Associated Press headline, but let's look at what the article actually says: "At his news conference, he voiced support for the District of Columbia's ban on handguns, which is scheduled to be heard by the Supreme Court next month." Hmm. I guess Associated Press meant that Obama supports the inalienable right of an individual to obediently surrender his handgun to the government. Suppose that an individual refuses. Would Obama waive all penalties for first-time gun control offenders, like he would for first-time drug users? Some drug users are addicts, and some are not (I don't know which Obama was when he was a teen). Why would non-addicts need the government's "help" to quit using cocaine, as Obama suggests? And why does Obama think that forcibly separating a cocaine addict from cocaine is not a legitimate tool for ending the addiction? Maybe the Associated Press can explain all this, because I have no idea."


Oklahoma Domestic Dispute Leads To Shooting: "The Tulsa Police Department is investigating whether a woman shot her ex-boyfriend in self-defense. It started as a domestic dispute and led to a shooting on Tuesday morning. Officers were called to the scene near 1500 East 51st Place North around 8 a.m. Police say the woman said her ex-boyfriend had come by Monday night, slashed her tires, and then beat her. Police say when he came back on Tuesday, she shot him four times with a .22-caliber handgun. The man drove himself to the hospital and is expected to recover. Police say the woman was also taken to the hospital for her injuries."


Seachange: "Congress now respects the Second Amendment. Bush doesn't. This Washington Post headline today was striking: "Majority of Hill Stands Against D.C. Gun Ban." Congressmen and senators are individually signing on to a brief that supports those who want the ban banned. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, is leading the fight. This is in stark contrast to President Bush who has sided with those who want to disarm the people of Washington, D.C. The ban was enacted 30 years ago as a means to reduce crime. Washington now has the second-highest crime rate in the nation among cities with 500,000 or more people. Only Detroit topped the nation's capital. The congressional brief includes this: "This court should give due deference to the repeated findings over different historical epochs by Congress, a co-equal branch of government, that the amendment guarantees the personal right to possess firearms. The District's prohibitions on mere possession by law-abiding persons of handguns in the home and having usable firearms there are unreasonable."

The DeKalb massacre was the work of a Leftist peacenik: "Kazmierczak carried out postgraduate work at his alma mater in spring last year, and had been pursuing a masters degree in sociology at the University of Illinois in nearby Urbana-Champaign. In February 2006 he co-authored a paper on self-mutilation among prisoners, entitled Self-injury in Correctional Settings: "Pathology" of Prisoners or of Prisons?, and was honoured with the annual Dean's Award that summer. According to the academic paper, he was interested in "corrections, political violence, and peace and social justice". He had also served as vice-president of the Academic Criminal Justice Association chapter at the university, a group that aims to "promote knowledge and understanding of all areas of the criminal justice system". [Ban Leftist peaceniks!]


Georgia: Teen intruder shot: "Macon police are investigating a shooting that happened shortly after 1 p.m. Thursday on Beech Avenue. Macon police Capt. Jimmy Barbee said investigators believe the shooting stemmed from the sale of a stolen automobile. An armed 14-year-old male allegedly entered a residence on Beech Avenue looking for someone. The teenager searched the home but found no one, Barbee said. Residents were hiding in the closet. As the teen was leaving the house, he got into a confrontation with an adult male, possibly a relative of the residents. The teen pointed a gun at the man, according to police. The man fired a gunshot from his own weapon, grazing the teenager in the head, police said. The teen was taken by ambulance to The Medical Center of Central Georgia. His condition was not available late Thursday. No charges against the man are pending.


Delaware liquor-store robber shot by pistol-packing owner: "Martin was speaking the day after he fended off a robbery with his handgun, clipping one of four fleeing suspects and sending the others banging on doors crying for help. Wilmington police took his weapon as evidence in the 10 p.m. shooting, but filed no charges against the store owner for wounding a 15-year-old suspect in the right thigh. Police said the wounded youth was arrested at Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland, Pa., where he allegedly went for treatment. Three others charged with trying to rob Martin as he was leaving his store were arrested in the neighborhood. Police said it was the 15-year-old who was later wounded who approached Martin as he was leaving the store and demanded money.... "I was behind these pillars, so I guess he couldn't see me. He said, 'What you doing?' I guess when I didn't answer he shot at me. That's when I shot back," Martin said. He said he has applied for a permit to carry the gun which he holsters on his hip. Police said the youngster shot at Martin with a .22-caliber rifle, which they recovered in making the arrests after officers responded to a call of shots fired in the area of 10th and Pine streets. The two teens, along with Christopher Whittaker, 20, of the 300 block of Rolling Green, in New Castle, and Cory Clark, 20, also of the 1000 block of Lombard St., were charged with first-degree robbery, possession of a firearm during a felony, reckless endangering and conspiracy."

Texas: WWII vet sends armed burglar to hospital: "Police said one man is in the hospital after an elderly North Texas man took action into his own hands when confronted by two armed brothers inside his home Saturday night. Police said they believe the brothers went to 80-year-old James Pickett's home with the intent to rob him, and even possibly kill him. However, Pickett - a World War II veteran, former fighter and lifelong John Wayne devotee - wasn't about to let that happen. It all began Saturday night when Pickett said he opened his door and two men barged inside. "He just come through that door stabbing and beating," he said. However, Pickett said just before he went to answer the door, he had first placed a pistol into his pocket. "And he jumped and turned, and I shot him there," he said. The two brothers, Paul and Holden Perry, ran, but didn't get far before calling an ambulance. One of the bullets just missed Paul Perry's spine. Both brothers face assault, burglary and robbery charges. Deputies assured Pickett they aren't likely to get out of jail anytime soon. However, he didn't seem that worried anyhow. "I think I'm a ten times better shot than he is," he said. "... But, they best not come back."


Texas burglar shot, arrested: "Dallas police arrested one person in connection with a home burglary, but not at the crime location. In fact, no one was inside the home that SWAT police surrounded for hours Thursday afternoon. It all started around 3 p.m. when a homeowner interrupted a burglary in progress in the 2800 block of W. 8th Street near Westmoreland Avenue. A neighbor had called him at work and told him three people were breaking into his house. The armed homeowner, who says he has several other weapons and lots of ammunition at the house, arrived with his own weapon drawn and confronted the three intruders. "He had a gun with him and fired a couple of rounds and he believes he struck one of them," said Sr. Cpl. Geraldo Monreal of the Dallas Police Department. "Two of the suspects fled. The third suspect ran back inside the house where he has barricaded himself inside the residence." Police threw tear gas into the home, but later discovered it to be empty. They later found one person with gunshot wounds at Parkland Hospital and arrested him in connection with this crime. Two others are still on the run."


WA: Committee votes to strip gun owners of jury trial rights: "The Washington State House Judiciary Committee cast its votes today to strip Washington gun owners of the right to a trial by jury. Since at least 1959, Washington citizens have had the right to a jury trial with a standard of 'clear, cogent, and convincing evidence' before losing their right to bear arms due to being involuntarily committed for an alleged mental health illness. House Bill 3095, sponsored by Committee Chairwoman Rep. Pat Lantz (D-26), effectively removes these protections by stripping citizens of their right to bear arms, perhaps permanently, after being involuntarily committed for a mere 14 days. In these 'probable cause' hearings there is no jury, no elected judge, and the standard of guilt is a mere preponderance of the evidence."

Texas: Clothing store robber shot, in hospital: "A man accused of robbing a clothing store remained in critical condition Monday after being shot by the business owner. Jerrod Jamian Royal, 20, will face a charge of aggravated robbery after he is released from the hospital, Dallas police said. Police say three men, two of them armed, entered the Stay Fly Urban Wear store in the 7800 block of South Loop 12 about 6:40 p.m. Sunday. The store was open at the time and about five people were inside, police said. The store owner, whose name had not been released, fired and injured Mr. Royal and possibly one of his accomplices, police said. The two other men fled in a vehicle that police later discovered in the 200 block of South Jim Miller Road."


Retired Green Beret shoots intruder, gets court martial: "Retired Army Green Beret Smokey Taylor got his court martial this weekend and came away feeling good about it. Taylor, at age 80 the oldest member of Chapter XXXIII of the Special Forces Association, was on trial by his peers under the charge of "failing to use a weapon of sufficient caliber" in the shooting of an intruder at his home in Knoxville, TN, in December. The entire affair, of course, was very much tongue in cheek. Taylor had been awakened in the early morning hours of Dec. 17, 2007, when an intruder broke into his home. He investigated the noises with one of his many weapons in hand. When the intruder threatened him with a knife, Taylor warned him, then brought his .22 caliber pistol to bear and shot him right between the eyes. "That boy had the hardest head I've ever seen," Taylor said after his trial. "The bullet bounced right off." The impact knocked the would-be thief down momentarily. He crawled out of the room then got up and ran out the door and down the street. Knoxville police apprehended him a few blocks away and he now awaits trial in the Knox County jail."


Teacher Fired For Legal Gun In Truck: "A Central Florida teacher has been fired because he kept a handgun in his truck in the school parking lot. The Polk County school board voted unanimously Tuesday to fire 51-year-old Phillip Bradley. He taught truck mechanics at the Ridge Career Center in Winter Haven when the 9 mm handgun was found in his truck in the school lot last spring. A hearing officer had recommended just a 90-day suspension, but school board members said that would have set a bad example for students. Bradley said he was sorry for his students. He also said he felt as if the board was making an example of him in an election year. He was carrying the gun legally. He was charged with possession of a firearm on school property, but that charge was dropped in June."

Texas: Clothing store robber shot, in hospital: "A man accused of robbing a clothing store remained in critical condition Monday after being shot by the business owner. Jerrod Jamian Royal, 20, will face a charge of aggravated robbery after he is released from the hospital, Dallas police said. Police say three men, two of them armed, entered the Stay Fly Urban Wear store in the 7800 block of South Loop 12 about 6:40 p.m. Sunday. The store was open at the time and about five people were inside, police said. The store owner, whose name had not been released, fired and injured Mr. Royal and possibly one of his accomplices, police said. The two other men fled in a vehicle that police later discovered in the 200 block of South Jim Miller Road."


Retired Green Beret shoots intruder, gets court martial: "Retired Army Green Beret Smokey Taylor got his court martial this weekend and came away feeling good about it. Taylor, at age 80 the oldest member of Chapter XXXIII of the Special Forces Association, was on trial by his peers under the charge of "failing to use a weapon of sufficient caliber" in the shooting of an intruder at his home in Knoxville, TN, in December. The entire affair, of course, was very much tongue in cheek. Taylor had been awakened in the early morning hours of Dec. 17, 2007, when an intruder broke into his home. He investigated the noises with one of his many weapons in hand. When the intruder threatened him with a knife, Taylor warned him, then brought his .22 caliber pistol to bear and shot him right between the eyes. "That boy had the hardest head I've ever seen," Taylor said after his trial. "The bullet bounced right off." The impact knocked the would-be thief down momentarily. He crawled out of the room then got up and ran out the door and down the street. Knoxville police apprehended him a few blocks away and he now awaits trial in the Knox County jail."


Teacher Fired For Legal Gun In Truck: "A Central Florida teacher has been fired because he kept a handgun in his truck in the school parking lot. The Polk County school board voted unanimously Tuesday to fire 51-year-old Phillip Bradley. He taught truck mechanics at the Ridge Career Center in Winter Haven when the 9 mm handgun was found in his truck in the school lot last spring. A hearing officer had recommended just a 90-day suspension, but school board members said that would have set a bad example for students. Bradley said he was sorry for his students. He also said he felt as if the board was making an example of him in an election year. He was carrying the gun legally. He was charged with possession of a firearm on school property, but that charge was dropped in June."

South Carolina man disarms would-be robber: "Bill Kaufmann, owner of The Sod Farm, was in bed like any other evening, when he heard a knock on his front door the evening of Jan. 25. "They were waiting on us to shut our lights off," Kaufman said. Thinking it was his foreman, Ronnie Thompson, Kaufmann opened the door, only to find a man holding a knife and threatening to kill him. Kaufmann, who used to train police officers, managed to get the knife away from the suspect, and get to his shotgun that he kept in his bedroom. "I could tell by the way he was holding the knife that he had never done this kind of thing before," Kaufmann said. When the suspect saw the gun, he ran out of the house, just about the same time that three others suspects had broken a door down to get into the trailer Kaufmann uses for the Sod Farm's office. "They had to know where we kept the petty cash, because they went right for that drawer, but we had happened to move it, so they didn't get cash, just deposit slips," Kaufmann said.... Kaufmann, who said that he could have shot the suspect, but didn't, said that people in the area need to know what is happening so they can protect themselves as well."


Detroit robber killed: "A man was shot eight times and killed Monday night as he tried to rob a home on Detroit's east side, police said.Police said two men were trying to break into a home on the 5200 block of Kensington Avenue when the homeowner inside grabbed his pistol and fired. One of the home invaders was killed and the other fled in a newer-model white Chevrolet Impala. The homeowner's mother was sleeping in the house at the time and was not harmed. The homeowner is not expected to face charges."


Water pistols now wrong in Britain: "Armed officers stormed a village following reports of a firearms incident - only to discover children playing with a water pistol. Gloucestershire Police received a call from a member of public who reported seeing three youths with a firearm in Churchdown, near Gloucester. However, when they arrived on the scene it became evident that the "gun" was a water pistol. Police said one 17-year-old boy from the village "apologised for his actions" and was advised by officers in relation to his future conduct. A second 17-year-old boy, also from the village, was spoken to in relation to the incident, which took place on Wednesday afternoon."

CA: Man Breaks Into Home, Shot Dead: "The coroner's office Sunday identified the man who was shot dead by a Long Beach resident after officials said the man climbed through the window of a Long Beach condominium, City News Service reported. Long Beach police spokesperson Nancy Pratt said Ariel Perez, 21, was shot dead in the Friday afternoon incident. A 26-year-old man was in his home in the 200 block of West Seaside Way when he discovered a man entering his residence through a window, Pratt said. Fearing for his life, Pratt said, the man armed himself and fired at the intruder. Police dispatched to the scene Friday about 4:30 p.m. found a 21-year- old man, who was later pronounced dead at the scene."


Texas intruder shot: "A man accused of raping a woman at knifepoint in a Dallas apartment was beaten by an angry group of people and shot at least twice, authorities said. The 26-year-old man, who was not identified, underwent surgery Friday after being hit with a baseball bat and shot, apparently once in the head, according to The Dallas Morning News. Authorities did not immediately know the suspect's condition on Saturday. Police said the man forced his way into the unlocked apartment of a 22-year-old woman around noon. Five children were in the apartment, some of whom belonged to her. Authorities said he sexually assaulted the woman, and some of the children fled. After he laid down the knife and started getting dressed, the woman ran outside to tell her boyfriend. The boyfriend and some others confronted the suspect in the apartment, and a fight began. Police said the fight led out into the parking lot, with an unknown number of people taking part. The suspect in the rape eventually broke free and ran into another apartment, where he was shot."


Texas homeowner shoots suspected thieves: "Two men were shot Sunday when they allegedly tried to steal auto parts from in front of a home near Stafford in Fort Bend County. The men, whose names were not immediately known, were shot about 2:30 a.m. in the 2700 block of Oakdale Court, said Fort Bend County Sheriff's spokeswoman Terriann Carlson. Carlson said the homeowner heard unusual sounds coming from outside his house and then saw a man approaching his front door. The homeowner got a weapon and told a woman in the house to call police. " In an attempt to protect themselves and their property, several persons inside the residence discharged their weapons numerous times, hitting one suspect in the head area and the second in the back," Carlson said in a released statement. One man was taken to Ben Taub General Hospital and another man was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital. Both were in serious condition."

California: Teen robber shot by intended victim in black ghetto: "A teenager robber was shot and killed in Watts Saturday morning. According to a police spokesperson, 17-year-old Joe Beck was hiding behind a pole in the 1200 block of East 140th Street, waiting to hold-up his intended victim. Moments after approaching the victim, who was in his vehicle, Beck produced a gun and demanded money. The victim--also armed--produced a weapon and shot the suspect in the chest. Beck later died at an area hospital.


Washington: Would-be teen burglars arrested: "Four would-be teenage burglars had a bad day on Thursday. First, the owner of the house they were burglarizing came home and chased them out of his house at gunpoint. Then two of the burglars were caught by police within minutes. Finally, the last two were caught after the area was flooded with King County sheriff's deputies, Burien officers and a police chopper. The incident began when a man returned to his home in the 16400 block of Ambaum Boulevard South after walking his dog and found a burglar in his kitchen. As the suspect ran for the front door, he was joined by his three other suspects coming from various areas of the house. The homeowner grabbed his handgun and gave chase. A passer-by saw the fleeing suspects and pointed out the direction they fled to the homeowner and arriving deputies. Plain-clothes detectives coming into the area spotted two of the four and they were promptly arrested. During the search for the remaining suspects, the Sheriff's Office received a call from a man in Mount Vernon who said his teenage son had just called him and breathlessly related: "The cops are looking for me ... and they've got a helicopter." Finally, workers at a nearby townhouse spotted the last two suspects skulking along a fence line. Deputies converged and took them into custody without incident. The suspects, ages 14, 14, 16, and 17, were from Burien, Mill Creek, and Seattle. All were booked into the Youth Service Center for investigation of burglary."


Missouri: Suspect fatally shot after stabbing guard: "A security guard, stabbed by a shoplifting suspect, fatally shot the man tonight at a busy Brookside intersection, police said. The guard’s injuries were not considered life-threatening. Police Sgt. Mike Glass said the guard was working at the Price Chopper at 6327 Brookside Plaza when he saw a man trying to steal something about 8:40 p.m. The guard chased the suspect about two blocks, to 63rd Street and Wornall Road. The suspect stabbed the guard in the upper body, and the guard then shot the suspect. The suspect was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The guard also was taken to a hospital."

New Mexico teen shot after alleged auto break in: "A Belen teenager is recovering in an Albuquerque hospital after being shot early Friday morning while allegedly breaking into a vehicle. "We got a report of an attempted burglary of a vehicle on La Luz at about midnight on Thursday," Perea said. "The homeowner heard something outside and looked out the window. She told the officers that she saw two individuals who ran off when they saw her looking out." The detective said the homeowner's husband reported hearing something again at about 3:45 a.m. Perea said the man walked outside with a shotgun and discovered someone inside his Toyota pickup truck. "He (the homeowner) walked outside and fired one shot at the direction of the suspect, who had fled once the man walked outside of his home," Perea said. "The suspect was hit on the back of his right arm and leg, by a shotgun with bird shot." Perea said the teenager stumbled, but was able to make it to an awaiting car down the street and left. The homeowner, whose name has not been released, told police later that he wasn't sure if he hit anyone. It wasn't until a few hours later when an ambulance was called for a gunshot victim at a Belen home that police were able to make the connection, Perea said."


Florida Victim Shoots Getaway Vehicle: "A man fired a gun Wednesday at the getaway vehicle of a burglar who had just broken into his home, and he managed to hit a tire, police said. Authorities say they identified and charged the burglar. The burglary victim and his wife arrived home in the 1500 block of North Peaceful Lane and spotted a sport utility vehicle in their driveway, Loux said. The wife looked into the unfamiliar vehicle to see whether anyone was inside, Loux said. Nobody was. The husband thought something was wrong and retrieved a .357-caliber firearm from his glove box, Loux said. The man is licensed to carry a concealed firearm. The husband opened the garage door and at about the same time noticed someone coming from a side yard toward the driveway, Loux said. The person hopped into the Envoy and began to back out of the driveway, Loux said. The couple's car was behind the Envoy, and the husband thought the Envoy was going to hit him, his wife or their car, Loux said. The husband shot twice at the driver's side front tire as the Envoy sped away. Investigators determined the driver of the Envoy had burglarized the couple's home, Loux said. On Thursday, Largo authorities learned of an arrest by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. The man, identified by Largo police as Robert Jacobs, 48, told authorities he burglarized the home and was unaware anyone had fired at the Envoy, Loux said."


Mississippi: Store Clerk Shoots Man Attempting Robbery: "A man attempting to rob a Jackson store clerk gets more than he bargained for when the would-be victim decides to fight back. James Nichols was closing up for the day when the incident happened at the All American Check Exchange on Suncrest Drive in south Jackson. Nichols says an armed man wearing a hood confronted him as was about to get into his truck to head home around 6:30 Friday night. But Nichols was prepared to protect himself. "I pulled my gun and he started hollering no don't, and I tried to knock the gun away so that it wouldn't be pointed at me and I fired three times." Nichols says the suspect then dropped his weapon and ran away. Witnesses tell police the man left in a gold Toyota sedan. Now police are trying to determine if a man being treated for gunshot wounds at the University Medical Center is the same person that Nichols shot. Investigators were unable to question him because he was listed in critical condition. Nichols says he's not sure how many times he may have struck the assailant."

Florida - Assault Weapons Penalties Proposed

Boosting penalties probably won't make a difference to the criminals but, apparently, some people think so.

Hoping to reverse an "alarming trend," two Florida state lawmakers, both Democrats, have introduced a bill that would require stiffer mandatory sentences for criminals who use semiautomatic or automatic weapons.

The legislation also targets criminals who fraudulently acquire assault weapons and sellers who "know or should have known the buyer was using false identification."

In a Feb. 6 news release announcing the bill, State Senator Gwen Margolis and Representative Evan Jenne mentioned a case in September, where a 25-year-old fugitive shot and killed a Miami-Dade police officer with a semi-automatic rifle. [ ... ]

The lawmakers said they hope to "break the supply chain and reduce the number of illegally obtained guns in our communities."

Although on the edges, it's undoubtedly a gun control measure and is expected to be rejected by 2nd Amendment groups.

Mississippi: Black teen set free in shooting death: "A Jackson 19-year-old who said he shot and killed a man who had constantly bullied and robbed him is free of a murder charge after a Hinds County grand jury didn't indict him. Kentarus Christmas was released from the Hinds County Detention Center late Tuesday. Christmas was charged with murder in the Nov. 10 shooting death of Michael Smith, 21, of Jackson outside a business off East Fortification Street. During Christmas' preliminary hearing in December, his attorney, Assistant Public Defender Matthew Eichelberger, called Michael Smith a thug and said his client deserved a key to the city instead of being in handcuffs. "This is great news. I'm overjoyed for Ken and his family, and I'm proud of the people of Hinds County for recognizing this for what it was - justifiable homicide," Eichelberger said Tuesday. "Now Ken can go on with his life, free of harassment from both the justice system and Michael Smith." Robert Shuler Smith, no relationship to Michael Smith, said he doesn't know why the grand jury didn't indict Christmas but said the grand jury probably took into consideration Smith's criminal history of robbing people. Police said Christmas voluntarily gave a statement confessing to shooting Smith but said there had been an ongoing situation in which Smith had repeatedly robbed and bullied him. Christmas was apprehended while fleeing the scene the night Smith was shot. A 9-mm handgun was recovered. Smith, who was shot multiple times, later died at Baptist Medical Center."


Nevada: Intruder shot in NW Reno: "Reno police responded this morning to a shooting on Chesterfield Lane in Northwest Reno. Scanner traffic indicates that a resident shot at an intruder at around 7 a.m. The intruder apparently ran away after the shots were fired and has not been located. The resident has stated that he does not know if he hit the intruder when he fired at him. More details were not available."


SD students may be able to carry guns at college: "Supporters of a bill to allow guns on university campuses advocate self-defense while opponents say it would put more innocent lives in danger. HB1261 calls for no university to expel or penalize anyone who carries or possesses a firearm in accordance with state law. Universities could require firearms in a dormitory be stored in a locked gun safe. Nancy First, South Dakota coordinator for Second Amendment Sisters, supports the bill because law-abiding citizens are entitled to their basic right of self-defense. If criminals knew someone might be armed at their intended crime scene, it would serve as a deterrent, she said. "A firearm is the best means of self-defense for a woman," First said. Legislative discussion about the bill is spurred by last year's shootings at Virginia Tech where 32 people died at the hands of a student. Main sponsor Rep. Thomas Brunner, R-Nisland, said most mass shootings have occurred in areas where guns are banned. If more people carried guns, they could stop mass murderers before they kill so many, he said. "Should a person have less freedom and safety than anyone else simply because he or she attends college?" Brunner said. Gov. Mike Rounds said he doesn't object to the bill's concept. He hasn't read the bill, but understands the goal is to make it clear students can carry a gun on campus."

Florida Man Wounded In Gunfight At His Home: "A Thonotosassa man was shot twice early today during a home invasion, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Debbie Carter said. The gunman has not been caught. Shortly after 12:30 a.m., a man pushed open a sliding glass door at 3408 Cooper Road and fired a gun, Carter said. A resident, Grover Cochrane, 59, was shot twice in the arm and pulled out his own gun and fired at the intruder, who escaped, Carter said. Cochrane's girlfriend saw the shootout, and her name is being withheld by the sheriff's office as a witness. The victim has been "very uncooperative" with investigators and has not given a description of the attacker, Carter said." [Both crooks, apparently]


Texas man fights back against would-be robber: "A would-be robber was shot and killed by the person he was trying to rob in the parking lot of a grocery store in southeast Houston. Investigators told Eyewitness News the would-be robber had the tables turned on him when the person he was trying to rob pulled out his own gun and shot the man. It was just after 10pm last night when the victim told police he pulled into the parking lot at the H-E-B in the Gulfgate shopping center on Winkler near the Gulf Freeway. Tha'ts when a man walked up to his car and pointed a gun at him. What the robber didn't know is the man had a gun and he retaliated with gunfire. "He had just parked and as he was about to get out the car, the guy came up to his door," said Sgt. Robert Odom with the Houston Police Department. "Do you know if he was going to carjack him?" we asked. "I don't know. He told him to get back in. I don't know what he was planning to do at that point, if he was planning on taking the truck or if he was just going to rob him," said Sgt. Odom. The would-be robber was shot several times. He tried to get away by jumping into a car that was parked nearby. However, he fell out of the car and later died."


Texas store owner fatally shot suspected thief: "The owner of an office supply business shot and killed a would-be thief. It happened on Reveille and Bradford in southeast Houston. The owner heard someone trying to get into his business at midnight. He went outside with a gun and caught a man trying to steal a trailer parked behind his business. The would-be thief then tried to run over the business owner with his truck and the business owner fired back through the truck's rear window. Despite being shot, the suspect kept driving his truck for three blocks until he fell out of his truck and died on the road. Police officers also found tires in the back of that truck, which may have been stolen.

Montana: Man who fired pistol in self-defense released: "A Billings man who was arrested after firing a pistol in a tavern parking lot has been released from the county jail. Justin Swanz, 26, was freed about 10 hours after his arrest early Tuesday when county prosecutors sent the case back to police for further investigation. Chief Deputy County Attorney Mark Murphy said he could not discuss details of the case, but Swanz claimed in an interview Wednesday that he fired the pistol in self-defense. Swanz told The Gazette on Wednesday that he fired once into the air as six or seven men advanced on him in the parking lot following a confrontation inside the bar. Swanz said he fired the Taurus .44 Special revolver once. "They were going to beat me up," Swanz said. "I had no choice but to fire that shot in the air. It was total self-defense." Swanz said he had arrived at the tavern alone between 10 and 11 p.m. to play pool. He bought a pitcher of beer and played several pool games with another man. Swanz said he went to leave shortly after 1 a.m. and was confronted by men who claimed he owed the other man $1,200 for betting losses on the pool table. Swanz said he did not bet on the games, but the men threatened him and one man grabbed his pocket knife from his front pants pocket. Swanz was told to leave, so he grabbed his jacket and walked out of the tavern, he said. As he walked to his car, Swanz said, the men followed and continued to threaten him. When it appeared they were going to attack him, Swanz said, he pulled his pistol from his coat pocket, pointed it into the air and fired one shot. The gunfire stopped the men, although someone threw ice on him, he said. Swanz said he does not have a concealed weapons permit. Swanz said he is unemployed and he has no criminal record.


Ohio: Grocer killed with own gun: "Lorain grocer Jose Gonzalez was fatally shot with his own gun during a struggle with the suspect in a ''botched robbery'' at Gonzalez's store last Friday, police said. Gonzales had bought the gun to protect himself and his store following a previous holdup, according to neighbors. Police said a man armed with a weapon that was not a gun walked into the Gonzalez Grocery at 2522 Lexington Ave. at about 10 a.m. on Jan. 25. A fight ensued between the man and Gonzalez, and Gonzalez's gun somehow got into the hands of the intruder, according to police. Lorain police Chief Cel Rivera would not specify what weapon police believe suspect Decio Rodrigues, 24, of Lorain, brought to the store, but said it was not a gun. The chief said he does not believe Rodrigues entered the store with the intent to kill Gonzalez. As the suspect ran from the store with cash in his hand, he was spotted by an Allied Waste worker. Lorain detectives worked around the clock with the U.S. Marshal's Violent Fugitive Task Force to capture Rodrigues. He was taken into custody Saturday night and was charged with aggravated murder." [Shoot. Don't talk]


IN: Guns at colleges could save lives, state senator says: "Would a pistol-toting professor at Virginia Tech University have prevented deaths there last spring? More guns on college campuses as a first line of defense might seem nonsensical, but to state Sen. Johnny Nugent, the idea makes perfect sense. Nugent, a Lawrenceburg Republican, got 25 votes on a Senate bill last week that would have stopped universities and many other public buildings from prohibiting those who have permits to carry concealed weapons from doing so. Courthouses, airports and jails would have been exempted from the prohibition."

KY: Homeowner shoots intruder: "A homeowner took things into his own hands overnight in southern Kentucky.The Whitley County Sheriff's Department says an intruder broke into a home on Highway 204 near Canada Town.Police say the homeowner was inside at the time and shot the intruder. Investigators say they found a trail of blood leading into the woods but so far have not found the burglar."




PA: Robber picks wrong store: "It appears an armed robber picked the wrong store to hold up. "He said to me, 'Give me all your money. Give me all your money,'" robbery witness Angel Dia said. But Dia said the armed robber who stormed Antonia's Grocery Sunday night got one heck of a surprise. "The other guy, the owner, he got a gun, too," Dia said. Dia said he was standing in the front of the store and the store's owner was behind the bulletproof glass when police allege that 19-year-old Donte Turner [above] pointed a gun at Dia. "My friend, he says, 'Back, all the way back,' and then the guy shot him," Dia said, pointing to his shoulder. "Then, the guy -- the gun, it fell down. He left it there and he went running." If the story ended there, Turner might still be on the run, according to police. But they said they got to Turner before they knew about the robbery. "A 19-year-old by the name of Donte Turner showed up at Episcopal Hospital with a gunshot wound to the chest. He gave responding officers that were called by hospital officials the story that he was robbed by a male on the highway and it was a dispute over money," said Philadelphia police Lt. Frank Vanore. Police said they received a second call, this one from Antonia's Grocery, saying two robbers had targeted the store and owner Juan Rosario thought he'd shot one of them. "There was a trail of blood and a hat found on the highway, and also a semiautomatic handgun. And the blood led down the street onto North 3rd Street," Vanore said. Police said the blood trail lead them from the store to the doorstep of Turner's house."



NV: Victims fight back: "One robbery suspect is on the loose and another is in the hospital after four victims fought back. Police say the four victims were barbecuing when two men with guns entered the home. One of the victims said he made a near-fatal mistake by leaving the garage door partially open. .. The men were pinned to the floor with shotguns. "It got ugly when they went back downstairs and decided to tell the women to undress their clothes," the victim added, "The girls were really crying and you could just tell that they were incredibly upset. The victim told Eyewitness News that one of the suspects who was preparing to sexually assault the women turned his attention away from the guns and let down his guard. The two male victims saw their opportunity. "I grabbed him, threw him down on the ground, grabbed a weight from the weight set and smashed him in the head." The women also joined in the fight, hitting the suspects with a frying pan. "One of the girls completely nude managed to grab a gun and shoot the guy in the chest area and in the leg."

Virginia man shoots gun wielding home intruder: "A Rockbridge County man says he was forced to shoot a gun wielding home invader late Wednesday night. Rockbridge County sheriff R.W. Day confirmed Alan Gould Jr. shot the intruder in the arm with a .44 caliber Magnum revolver. Day said the case is still under investigation but preliminarily it appears Gould acted in self defense. It all started around 10:30 PM when Day said Lane Bowling, of Augusta County, burst into Gould’s home holding an automatic handgun with a laser sight. Gould said that laser was pointed at him. Day said Bowling thought his wife might be inside Gould’s home. Day and Gould said Bowling’s wife was not there when he busted down the front door with a gun. “I don’t know why he went in the living room,” Gould said. But at that moment, he thought it was his chance to disable Bowling and his gun. “He stepped back in front of the doorway of my bedroom. As soon as I saw him I just shot him one time and he fell to the floor.”


Missouri: Burglar Shot In Struggle With Resident: "A man who lives at a house on East 79th Street came home and saw three men in his home stealing his belongings, Kansas City police said. He grabbed one of them, who had a gun, and during the struggle, shots were fired. All three of the men ran away, but one of them was hit. He got as far as a nearby corner, where he ran into a restaurant and asked for help. Adrian Gardner, an employee, called 911 and then the shot man passed out on the floor. Medics and police arrived, and the man was taken to a hospital by ambulance."


Alaska: Self-defense may be factor in fatal shooting: "Alaska State Troopers are examining the possibility that a man who was killed near Caswell Lake north of Willow on Thursday was shot in self-defense. Troopers have not yet arrested anyone in connection with the death of Bradley D. Mork, 43. Mork, of Talkeetna, died after being shot in a home driveway, troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters said Friday. Though no one has been charged, a male witness, also 43, was walking in the neighborhood with a "couple people" when troopers got to the scene about 20 minutes after the 5:30 p.m. call Thursday, she said. Peters did not identify the witness. "We have identified someone who was involved in the incident that led up to the shooting, and they've been very helpful," Peters said."

NY: Re-enactment groups concerned about antique firearm proposal: "Military re-enactors and museum officials are taking potshots at a plan to regulate antique firearms in New York.If passed in its current form, the proposal by Democratic Assemblyman Michael Gianaris of Queens would require owners of antique guns, black powder weapons and muzzle-loading firearms to go through a background check and purchase a license.But the Museum Association of New York says the bill doesn't recognize the circumstances of museums and re-enactment groups who own and use these firearms for educational purposes.Gianaris said after hearing the concerns of museum officials and re-enactors he expected to amend his proposal to remove the licensing requirements."


HI: House to hear bullet serialization bill: "On Friday, Feb. 1, the Hawaii House Judiciary Committee will hear legislation what will have dire consequences for our Right to Keep and Bear Arms in Hawaii. The bill HB2392, would require all handgun ammunition manufactured or sold in Hawaii to be coded with a serialization number, and entered into a statewide database at the time of sale."


WY: Bill would prohibit gun confiscation in Wyoming: "The memory of Louisiana police confiscating guns from waterlogged citizens in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina a few years ago has some Wyoming legislators anxious to make sure nothing similar ever happens here.A proposed Wyoming bill would change the state's Homeland Security laws. It would spell out that the governor and other officials don't have authority to confiscate guns from law-abiding citizens in the event of natural disasters or terrorist attacks.The National Rifle Association has pushed similar legislation around the country following Hurricane Katrina, which devastated New Orleans and the surrounding area in August 2005."

The tyranny of Washington DC

In 1989, John Shuler of rural Dupuyer, Montana, heard grizzly bears outside his house; fearing they would kill his sheep, he grabbed his rifle and ran into the night. The good news is he survived his encounter with four grizzly bears, as did his sheep. The bad news is his lawyers spent eight years and a quarter of a million dollars to get him acquitted of charges that he violated the Endangered Species Act by killing one of those bears. Early on in that legal battle, the federal government ruled that, although Shuler justifiably feared “death or serious bodily injury”—the test for a self-defense claim—he had no right to arm himself and enter into what the government called “the zone of imminent danger.”

That conclusion conflicted directly with an 1895 opinion of the U.S. Supreme Court, in which, quoting authority, the Court ruled, “Where an attack is made with murderous intent . . . the person attacked is under no duty to flee. He may stand his ground, and, if need be, kill his adversary.” Moreover, the government’s view of Shuler’s right to arm himself and confront danger conflicted with the ethos of the American West, a vast area from the midst of the Great Plains to the Cascades, from Canada to Mexico.

In the West, the virtues of individualism, independence, self-sufficiency, and self-governance yield, not only a strong distrust of government, but also a citizenry that forms the bedrock of America’s gun culture. Their State constitutions go further than does the U.S. Constitution as to their right to “keep and bear arms”; their laws include “make my day,” “castle doctrine,” and “stand your ground” provisions; and their supreme courts interpret broadly the right of self-defense outside the home. Little wonder then, that the story that captivated the Nation last December of a voluntary security guard who saved scores of churchgoers by shooting a heavily armed killer took place in the heart of the West—in Colorado Springs, Colorado. “[I]t was me, the gunman, and God,” she humbly proclaimed.

Washington, D.C. may only be 1,500 miles from Colorado, but it is light years away in the distance that separates the two cultures. In fact, Washington proves the truth of the ubiquitous western bumper sticker, “When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.” For while Washington has had, since 1975, perhaps the Nation’s most stringent gun control laws and boasts more law enforcement officers per capita than any other city, it annually competes for and often wins designation as the Nation’s “Murder Capital.” No wonder that, for decades, law-abiding Washingtonians complained that they may not keep weapons in their homes to provide effectively for their own self defense.

One of those was Dick Anthony Heller, a District of Columbia special police officer permitted to carry a handgun while on duty but barred from keeping a gun in his home for self-defense. When his application to do so was denied, he sued under the Second Amendment. After his lawsuit was dismissed by the district court, the U.S. Court of Appeals reversed in March 2007. Last November, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to decide whether the Constitution protects, as the Court of Appeals ruled, an individual right to keep and bear firearms unrelated to militia operations.

Scores of briefs will be filed and the March arguments watched closely. Nowhere will the Court’s likely June ruling be more anxiously anticipated or closely scrutinized than in the West. For westerners believe what the Founding Fathers believed, that they have the right to keep and bear arms to defend themselves and loved ones from danger and their society from tyranny. While westerners may abide the Court discovering new rights in the shadows of the Constitution (its famous “penumbras”), westerners will not accept the Court destroying a right that has been so clearly in the bright light of the Bill of Rights since 1791.

Source






Quite a sob story: "Sobbing as she spoke, a La Mesa fitness trainer told a jury yesterday that she shot her ex-boyfriend twice in the head and doused him with pepper spray while he played video games because she thought he was about to attack her. “I was trying to protect myself,” Geraldine Meyers, 46, testified in El Cajon Superior Court. “He was so fast.” Meyers said she fired a burst of pepper spray at Demetrious James Warren, 30, on Nov. 20, 2006, after shooting him “because I thought he was still coming after me.” Deputy Public Defender Thomas Carnessale contends that Meyers never meant to kill Warren but cracked after years of abuse that started when the couple lived in Chicago and escalated when they moved to La Mesa in December 2003. Testifying before Judge Laura W. Halgren, Meyers said stress from her abusive relationship “became really overwhelming” to the point that “I wasn't eating, I dropped a lot of weight. Deputy District Attorney Kurt Mechals contends that the shooting was murder because Meyers testified that she bought the gun months earlier and had it tucked in her waistband when she confronted Warren in the bedroom of the apartment the two shared on Saranac Street until October 2006. [She could have moved away from him but instead hung around him! Nasty women too often get away with murder this way. Where there is no good reason why she could not have simply moved away from the guy these sob stories should always be disregarded]


Illinois man says he shot in self-defense: "A man charged with murder for allegedly shooting an 18-year-old he caught stealing his car stereo says the killing was in self-defense. Steven Gamble, 24, was arrested on murder charges the day after he shot Michael Benain as the teen sat prying the stereo out of Gamble's SUV in the parking lot of Mansards apartment complex on Jan. 9. Gamble's attorney, David Vandercoy, said Gamble shouted at Benain to get out of the car, and that Benain told him he had a gun and appeared to be reaching for the weapon when Gamble fired. "It was not defense of property, it was self-defense," Vandercoy said. The lone witness, the driver of Benain's getaway car, said he saw Gamble running toward the truck soon after the vehicle's alarm system sounded, then heard shots, Benain screaming, and more shots. A probable cause affidavit states Gamble told officers at the scene that he saw someone breaking into his truck and "grabbed my gun, went outside and shot the guy." The witness said there was no time for Gamble to have warned Benain before firing. Benain's body was found in the front seat of Gamble's truck, the stereo face dangling from the dashboard, a screwdriver lying between his legs. Gamble's .40-caliber pistol, which he had placed on the ground next to the truck, was the only weapon police found. Gamble has been in jail since his arrest and has a bond hearing scheduled later this month." [Another tall story there I think. Though a jury might be sympathetic.]

NC Officer who fatally shot teen fired in self-defense: "An officer who fatally shot a 16-year-old during an east Charlotte pursuit believed his life was in danger and fired in self-defense, Mecklenburg District Attorney Peter Gilchrist announced today. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police Officer Jeffrey Wheaton will not be charged, the prosecutor said. Prosecutors have been looking into the slaying since Nov. 4, when Laquan Hykeem Brown was fatally shot by Wheaton. He and Officer Brian Carey were responding to an armed robbery call at the Casa de Lago apartments off Albemarle Road and chased Brown when he ran from them, police said. One of the officers saw that Brown had a gun and Wheaton fired twice when Brown raised a hand, police said. A gun was later found about 20 feet from where Brown fell. "Everyone understands police officers often risk their lives in the course of performing their jobs and any loss of life is tragic," Police Chief Darrel Stephens in a statement. "Officers Carey and Wheaton used their training and experience to respond to a very tense and dangerous situation with professionalism." [Not a very likely story but the stupid kid took his risks]


NE: Proposal would ban gun seizures after catastrophes: "Should disaster strike and chaos ensue, Nebraskans could be forced to give up their guns, under current law. That's what happened in New Orleans, when police seized guns after Hurricane Katrina walloped the city in 2005. But a state lawmaker wants to change the rules so that cities and other political subdivisions in Nebraska couldn't do the same. Under a bill LB 1076 from Sen. Kent Rogert of Tekamah, neither the state nor political subdivisions could enact special restrictions on guns during emergency or disasters. The law would apply to gun possession, storage and use, among other things. The National Rifle Association filed a lawsuit against New Orleans city officials over the city's seizure of firearms after the hurricane."


Should domestic abuse defendants lose gun rights?: "While it is true that some abusers use firearms on their victims, it is not true in all cases. As a victim of domestic abuse, I can truthfully say I was only threatened three times with a firearm. A true abuser will use anything they can get their hands on to beat their victim and some of their tactics are more terrifying than a firearm. The right to bear arms is part of the original constitution of this country. I can assume that there were domestic abusers at that time also. Our founding fathers still decided that, no matter what, this should be a privilege and right of citizens of this country."