Stupid Massachusetts law: "The racket came from the dark kitchen area, and it startled David Crest as he slept in the office of his Hanover catering business. He suspected he was being burglarized again, and as he crept toward the noise, he grabbed the Mossberg 500 12-gauge shotgun he had kept by his side. "Freeze," he screamed. Crest believed he had finally caught the culprit who had taken thousands of dollars in meats, alcohol, and equipment from the shop. But when he flicked on the lights, still aiming his shotgun, and saw the intruder, he felt betrayed like never before: It was, he said, his head chef. "How many times have you broken in here before?" Crest demanded. The man ran out the door, and Crest fired several warning shots. He was determined, he said, to protect his property. But police say he went too far by trying to take the law into his own hands. Now there are two defendants. Crest, 39, of Marshfield will be arraigned next week before the same court that arraigned John F. O'Connor, 43, the man accused of stealing from him. Crest is charged with assault with a deadly weapon and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling."


IA: Des Moines homeowner corners burglar in garage: "A Des Moines homeowner fired a gun during a burglary this morning but it was only a warning shot. Randy Owens, 42, said he fired a shot into an old furnace so the burglar would know he wasn't holding a BB gun. He said he did not shoot at the burglar. A police report earlier indicated that Owens fired at the intruder but he said this afternoon that he intentionally fired away from the burglar. Owens heard a garage alarm about 5:30 a.m. and went to investigate. A side door had been kicked open; it had the outline of a large footprint on it. The lock was broken. When he entered his shop, Owens said he noticed someone under one of his tables. Police said in a report: "He told the suspect to come out and a verbal argument ensued. As they argued Randy stated that he drew his 9 mm handgun. The suspect lunged forward, striking Randy in the forearm with a cane." Owens said the man pleaded with him to let him go. Owens tried to hold him in the garage until police arrived but the man kept coming at him and Owens allowed him to get away. The man ran off in the dark and police arrived a few minutes later."


Wal-Mart to Videotape Gun Buyers: "Is America's largest retailer getting out of the hunting and fishing business? If not, it certainly seems to be cutting back. Earlier this year, Wal-Mart told fishing tackle suppliers that their gear -- like fabrics and other "rural products" -- might be removed from some stores altogether, or at least be stocked only seasonally. That doesn't mean Wal-Mart is getting out of the fishing business, company executives said. Nor is the company turning its back on hunters, they added. But recently, Wal-Mart joined New York mayor Michael Bloomberg at a gathering of his group, Mayors Against Illegal Guns, to announce a series of changes to the way the company handles firearm transactions. In the future, firearm purchases at Wal-Mart will involve a video record of the sale, which the store will keep on file as a database of gun buyers. Employees also will be given the discretion to deny firearms sales to anyone who's had a firearm traced by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms for any reason. It's unclear whether the cost of the new video system will be pushed, at least partially, onto arms and ammunition makers or consumers. In the meantime, the National Rifle Association is urging hunters and shooters to contact Wal-Mart to show displeasure with the change. Wal-Mart can be reached at 800-925-6278 or www.walmartstores.com/contactus/feedback.aspx."


Nice shot! Court kills NYC gun law: "The media have been telling us to watch the gun-control case now before the U.S. Supreme Court, where we await a decision about Americans' Second Amendment rights. But the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals just handed down an equally important gun decision that has additional implications against judicial supremacy. The court, which convenes in New York City, shot down the longtime liberal dream of achieving gun control by suing gun manufacturers for crimes committed by firearms. In a remarkable decision, this federal appellate court dismissed City of New York v. Beretta U.S.A. Corp. and protected gun corporations against frivolous lawsuits in state and federal courts. The lawsuit was brought by the City of New York in order to seek control over gun suppliers. At stake was not merely money but also whether liberals would obtain from judicial activists the gun control they could not get from legislatures. This decision provides a road map for how Congress should withdraw jurisdiction from judicial supremacists in other fields, too. The decision is a sweeping affirmation of Congress' power to stop future and pending lawsuits in federal and state courts."