FL: Robbery suspect found in hospital: "A wounded man, admitted to a Citrus County hospital, is the suspect in two weekend robberies in Gainesville including one Sunday evening where a store clerk shot the would-be robber, police reported. Aaron Michael Rooks, 30, of Crystal River, underwent surgery at Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center Monday afternoon, according to Gainesville Police. Rooks is facing charges of attempted felony murder, carrying a concealed firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and two counts of robbery with a firearm. Police believe Rooks tried to rob the Chevron station at 3328 W. University Ave. on Sunday, the same store they allege he robbed Saturday night. A gunman entered the business Sunday at about 7:15 p.m. and fired a shot inside the business when a clerk questioned his demands for cash. The clerk pulled out his own gun, a compact .380-caliber semi-automatic handgun, and shot the suspect, hitting him in the upper torso. The robber fled the store, firing shots as he left... The store clerk acted in self-defense, according to police, and no charges are pending against the employee."


Nevada oldster, 83, gets off a few last shots: "John Herda was a respected business owner who was gunned down inside his guard-gated home two years ago. Police quickly determined that what had happened was no suicide. A kicked-in rear door and an open safe were evidence of something much more sinister. Police would also learn that Herda himself had managed to fire off a few shots at the intruder. Prosecutors say Bryan Crawley is responsible for the murder. They believe he was looking for cash and didn't expect a fight from the much older man. Prosecutors say the evidence will show that Crawley went to Mexico during the days following the murder and had a doctor there remove a bullet from his body - the same caliber as the gun fired by John Herda. Defense attorneys, however, say it's not enough for a conviction. "There's an absolute absence of anything physical tying Mr. Crawley to the scene," claims Tony Sgro, Crawley's attorney. Along with murder, Crawley has also been charged with numerous other crimes, including a stabbing, a beating, and a high speed chase with police. "Once you sit here and hear all the evidence, there is simply no doubt he is the murderer of John Herda," says prosecutor Marc DiGacamo.


WV: Domestic violence gun case goes to SCOTUS: "A Second Amendment gun case that originated in Marion County is now at the United States Supreme Court. The Highest Court in the Nation began hearing arguments from the 2004 case of United States vs. Hayes on Monday.The case revolves around a federal law that makes it a crime to possess a gun after a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to decide whether a misdemeanor of simple battery fulfills the definition of domestic violence. The Court will also decide if the law can be applied retroactively since the conviction of battery happened back in 1994 before the federal statute was passed."


'Broken gun' appeal cites government's own witnesses: "A Wisconsin man who contends he's been imprisoned simply for loaning a broken gun to a friend, asserts in a new court brief that the government's own witnessess support his claim. David Olofson was convicted of transferring a machine gun, or a weapon that releases more than one bullet with a single pull of the trigger, and sentenced to 30 months in prison. But his case is on appeal to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, because his lawyers argue it was a malfunctioning rifle, not a machine gun, that loosed the shots. The case arose when Olofson loaned an Olympic Arms AR-15 semi-automatic rifle to a friend, who fired it at a gun range. The weapon reportedly misfired, letting loose several shots at the same time, and drew the interest of authorities."