Tennessee Homeowner Shoots and Kills Intruder: "A weekend home invasion has the TBI investigating the dramatic chain of events that led to the shooting of a would-be burglar. The incident happened in the Hamptons Crossroads area in White County. Police said would-be burglar, 32-year-old Brian Cook from Crossville, was interrupted by the homeowner. The homeowner said he received a phone call from his daughter about a strange man in the neighborhood banging on windows. The homeowner returned to find Cook coming out of his house. When the homeowner confronted Cook, the intruder reached for his gun, but the homeowner shot first - killing Cook. The White County Sheriff said the homeowner did have a permit to carry a gun and was within his right to protect himself."


This sounds like a tall story but strange things do happen: "on Jan. 29, Hampshire slipped out of their home without telling Sipple where she was going. He eventually got a call from her outside a Brooksville feed store and Sipple went to pick her up. Back home, Hampshire pulled a pistol on him and Sipple rushed her with a pillow in his hand. The gun went off. Hampshire was struck in the pinkie and the thigh. She collapsed on the floor, then picked up the gun and pointed it at Sipple again. A struggle ensued. The gun went off again, this time striking her somewhere between the chest and stomach. Hampshire limped off to the bedroom, laid down in a recliner and died. Sipple covered her completely with a blanket. He never called 911 or got help and spent the next two days at home with the body, according to the affidavit." [Forensic science might have tested the story but it seems that no such investigation was done]


KY: No guns allowed at NRA gathering : "A small but startling sign welcomed the gun lovers who arrived at the National Rifle Association's annual gathering Friday."Firearms WILL NOT be allowed in Hall A during the Celebration of American Values Leadership Forum."Beyond this sign at the Kentucky Exposition Center was a row of 10 metal detectors. They were manned by uniformed Secret Service officers deployed because the scheduled speakers included presumptive Republican nominee John McCain. The Secret Service sets the rules in such circumstances, and even NRA big shots had to go through the screening."


Officer shoots pitbull in self defense : "A dog was shot and killed last week by an officer who was investigating an open door complaint. Pasadena Police Department Public Information Officer Vance Mitchell said officers were dispatched to the 1500 block of Lawrence in reference to an open door on May 6 at 7 a.m. "Upon arrival, the officer noted that the front door of the residence was wide open," he said. "The officer could see into the home that appeared to be vacant. As he approached the front door to inspect the home closer, he got within eight feet of the door and the adult female pit bull dog, growling viciously, ran straight out of the front door of the home to attack the police officer." Mitchell said the dog was at a full charge approximately 12 feet from the door and three feet from the officer. "He shot the dog," he said. "The officer then found another pit bull dog in the residence as well. Animal control was contacted and they took possession of the other pit bull as well as the one deceased." A witness to the shooting was a man who lived across the street. "He said he was coming out his front door when he saw the officer approach the front door and he saw the white dog trying to attack the officer," said Mitchell. "The witness said the officer had no choice but the shoot the dog. He said he knew the dog to be vicious and especially toward other dogs." The officers later learned that the residents had moved out of the house one week prior to the incident and had left the two dogs behind."