KY: Woman kills ex boyfriend: "A Hardin County woman shot and killed her ex-boyfriend Monday, but no charges have been filed because the shooter is claiming self-defense.. "She called and reported that this shooting had occurred and she was protecting herself, and we went down there," said Kentucky State Trooper Steve Pavey.Pavey said it happened at a home where Angie Ricketts, the alleged shooter, lives with her husband and children.Pavey said Ricketts called police right after she pulled the trigger, killing her ex-boyfriend, 37-year-old Eric West."He showed up unwanted yesterday and that he allegedly assaulted her and that's what led to all this," Pavey said.West, of Magnolia, Ky., was pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives said Ricketts claims this isn't the first time her ex has caused problems."She is telling investigators that he is the father of a couple of her children and that he has made threats towards her and her family in the past," Pavey said."


Fanatic claim: Useless NY Gun `fingerprints' database still has merit: "Though a more than 7-year-old database of new handguns sold in New York has yet to result in a criminal prosecution, it's still too soon to assess it as ineffective.State Police and others who sought to create the database should recommit themselves to making it a useful law enforcement tool. .The problem has been that of more than 200,000 casings entered into the database, there have been only two hits. .But before scrapping the database as some gun advocates propose, more time on task is needed to give a better assessment of its usefulness.State Police argue that it typically takes from seven to 10 years after a gun is purchased before it's used in a crime. The database was created in March 2001."


Anti gun to pro gun conversion : "I have been anti-gun all my life. When my sons were little, I wouldn't allow them to ever own a toy gun. But events in the past few years have radically changed my views. It starts with September 11, 2001. .The following year my children were again terrorized by the `Beltway Sniper.' The sniper was shooting people in front of their own homes as well as in public places. .The tragedy at Virginia Tech was the final straw. I was not going to be a victim anymore. My children were not going to be victims anymore.I took my first gun safety class, and I got my first concealed carry permit. Some people may be surprized that I have changed. I am surprized that some of them haven't."


Australia: People urged to handover illegal or unwanted firearms : "Victorians holding illegal or unwanted firearms are being urged to hand them to police under amnesty this month.Victorian Police Minister Bob Cameron said today the amnesty provided Victorians an opportunity to surrender weapons to police without facing penalties.'This amnesty is being offered to reduce the overall number of weapons in the community and also help individuals who are unsure about how to properly dispose of firearms.He said the Government had worked to toughen up weapons and firearms laws, including a zero tolerance approach to carrying weapons in or near licensed venues."