Sunday, May 31, 2009



NM: Shot man was wielding ax: "A man armed with an ax was shot to death Saturday afternoon in Carnuel, N.M. The shooter may have fired his weapon in self defense, according to the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office. Deputies were called out to Herrera Road off of Old Highway 66 just after 2:30 p.m. There they found a man dead from a gunshot wound. The dead man is believed to be a transient or a squatter who trespassed on private property armed with an ax, according to a BSCO spokesperson. The suspected gunman is a relative of the property owner. Investigators believe the gun was shot in self defense, but the investigation is ongoing.


South Carolina: Woman intruder shot: "A 29-year-old woman who broke windows at a house behind Dorn VA Medical Center in Columbia was shot in the head by the homeowner, a Richland County sheriff’s spokesman said. The bullet grazed the woman, who was slightly injured, the spokesman said Tuesday. The woman who broke the windows at the house at 618 Hatrick Road was trying to get in and will face charges, the spokesman said. The homeowner will not face charges, the spokesman said. Officials did not disclose the names since no charges had been filed."


IN: Gunshot scares off intruder: "A Richmond woman thwarted a break-in early Friday by firing a warning shot from a gun. "She confronted him at the door," Richmond Police Chief Kris Wolski said Friday. "She fired one shot to scare the person off." Wolski doesn't think the incident is linked to a series of home invasions and sexual assaults of women that have plagued Richmond for about two years. The 41-year-old female resident in the 200 block of North 21st Street heard a noise and rushed to get the semiautomatic gun, he said. Wolski said her possession and use of the gun was lawful. Police were called to the scene at 1 a.m. The suspect was wearing a baseball cap under a hoodie, but that's about all the victim could see, Wolski said. At least eight attacks have been attributed to a man who stands about 5 feet 5 inches and strikes in the early morning hours while wearing a mask and dark hoodie."


Ohio burglar cops lead: "A wannabe burglar may be walking around with a lead reminder of a Friday break-in. Lima Police believe the man who reportedly broke into a home in the 800 block of West Wayne Street early Friday morning may have been shot by the home's owner. The incident occurred just before 4 a.m. Friday, according to Lima Police Detective Kent Miller. The home's owner was sitting in his living room, just about an hour after coming home from working third shift, when he heard a bang from the next room. He walked in and saw a man in his house by the front door. The homeowner turned around and grabbed his .22 revolver and yelled at the intruder, who then rushed at him, Miller said. He fired one shot before the would-be burglar fled. Police believe the bullet may have struck the intruder, but found no blood or other evidence of injury at the scene. "We think he hit him mainly because of the distance between them. He was just three or four feet away, but we didn't find any blood," Miller said. Police have notified hospitals around the region to keep an eye out for a man seeking treatment for a gunshot wound. Miller said he believes if the man is wounded he may try to treat himself or ask friends for help.

Saturday, May 30, 2009



Va: Victim turns gun on burglary suspects: "A strange twist in a Virginia Beach shooting investigation Friday. Police tell WAVY.com a burglary victim grabbed one of the suspects' guns and used it to fire at them. Bernstein described how it all unfolded,"We have a gentleman who was home alone in his house. He sees people outside and doesn't recognize them. They then force entry into his house. He begins to fight with them. We have four guys at least. Two were armed. During the fight, the homeowner gets shot at, but he was not struck. He was able to obtain one of the guns from one of the suspects. He begins to shoot at the suspects. All the suspects flee the house. One of the suspects was shot. He collapsed about 100-150 yards away from the initial scene. He has been taken to the hospital, but he is in police custody for being a burglary suspect. We are still out here looking for three other suspects involved in this."


Seattle mayor, gun activists in stalemate: "At least eight innocuous signs posted around the Seattle Center over the Memorial Day weekend during the Folklife Festival declared “No firearms allowed at this event or on these premises.” The signs had no force of law, there was no authority cited, and there are anecdotal reports from some in the gun rights community that armed citizens simply ignored those signs, kept their pistols tucked under cover garments, vests or loose shirts, and contrary to what anti-gun Mayor Greg Nickels would have had everyone believe would happen, nobody got hurt. For months, the mayor had been blustering and threatening and promising that he would issue an “executive order” banning firearms from all city property, including those carried legally by private citizens. For just as long, the Second Amendment Foundation in Bellevue, its sister organization, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, and the National Rifle Association, have been waiting. Those groups are ready to hit Nickels with a lawsuit and he knows it.... according to Attorney General Rob McKenna’s office, Mayor Nickels does not have the authority to declare such a ban. That authority rests solely with the state legislature, under Washington’s model preemption statute. It might also be in direct violation of the State Constitution."


National parks are dangerous places: "Wow! Even if park crimes only happen when the gates are open eight hours a day, we’re still looking at a crime rate DOUBLE the national average. Surprised? I was, but after looking at the facts there’s no surprise. Many NPS units are urban in nature, not pristine wilderness. Parks in and of themselves are not crime-free … New York’s Central Park comes to mind. And now, so does Yellowstone. We’ve heard about “guns in parks” for months now. Yet it turns out the first discussion of actual crime data I recall seeing in “mainstream” print was nearly made worthless by spin from a “player” seeking to minimize a clearly-valid, not “specious,” question about park crime. Even worse, our player is a former public servant supposedly representing “good guy” rangers. Worst, no reporter has called the bluff."


Minnesota: City to allow more people to legally carry or shoot guns: Police Chief Jim Way said he has drafted changes at the request of City Council members who thought it was too restrictive. Way expects the council to approve the changes, which were discussed at a work session this week, by July. "We are trying to allow a little more hunting in Ramsey if people choose to," said Mayor Bob Ramsey, who initially raised concerns about the ordinance in a council strategic planning session. "We are allowing people, within reason, to be able to hunt and target shoot safely in the city. ...We wanted to make perfectly clear what is allowed or not allowed." He said residents in the northern part of Ramsey have large lots, such as his 11.5-acre property, where target shooting and some hunting can be done. A proposed new section on target shooting would "let people like me do some recreational shooting and set up a private range," Ramsey said. "If my wife and I want to go out and shoot, we can make a berm and the chief will decide if it's safe enough for a permit." The old ordinance prohibited anyone but police officers or hunters using shotguns with light shot to fire guns in the city. The proposed revisions reflect changes in state law that allow handgun possession by law-abiding citizens who obtain a state gun permit, Way said. Anyone discharging a firearm also would need a city permit issued by the police chief, he said."

Friday, May 29, 2009



Governor Charlie Crist Vetoed Concealed Weapons Trust Fund Raid

Article below recycled from David M. Goldman's gun blog

This morning, Governor Charlie Crist used his veto pen to veto the $6 Million raid on the Concealed Weapons and Firearms Licensing Trust Fund sweep put in the budget by the legislature. Governor Crist deserves our profound appreciation for his veto.

The legislature intended to take $6 million from the Division of Licensing Concealed Weapons and Firearm Trust Fund that is intended, by law, to be used solely for administering the concealed weapons and firearms licensing program. That would have been a DEFACTO TAX ON GUN OWNERS.

Please Call, Fax, or Email Governor Charlie Crist and thank him for the VETO OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT TAX created by the intended sweep of $6 Million from the Division of Licensing Trust Fund.

Phone number: (850) 488-4441 or (850) 488-7146. Fax number: (850) 487-0801

Send your email to the Governor at this address: Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com

Source






TN: Bredesen vetoes “guns in restaurants” bill: “Gov. Phil Bredesen has used his veto against HB962, which would allow handgun carry permit holders to carry their weapons into restaurants that serve alcohol. In front of a backdrop of law enforcement officials from across the state, including Metro Police Chief Ronal Serpas, Bredesen spoke of a firearms safety class he took in high school. ‘I remember from the course there was one thing that teacher drove into us day in and day out … that message was guns and alcohol do not mix,’ Bredesen said. ‘That was a common sense proposition back then, and it is every bit as true today.’ The bill would allow handgun carry permit holders to take their weapons into any restaurant that serves alcohol, unless the restaurant owner posted a sign banning the weapons from his or her business. … The veto can be overturned by the legislature with a simple majority vote, something Bredesen acknowledged could very well happen.”


CA: Poor prospects for anti-gun sheriff: “Today’s edition of the Los Angeles Times [O.C. Sheriff sticks to her guns by Dana Parsons] remarks that Sheriff Sandra Hutchens still refuses to honor or issue concealed carry permits at a time when she contemplates an election run for Sheriff. … When it comes to concealed carry permits, which is what much of the discussion is all about, California is what we call a may issue state, as opposed to a shall issue state where it is mandated that qualified applicants be granted their permit. Here, a Sheriff or Chief of Police has discretion in issuing a CCW permit, and may elect to issue it or decline to issue it even upon completed qualifications. It’s worth noting that, throughout California, many Sheriffs disagree with Hutchens’ position and issue their applicants permits when they are qualified. It’s also worth noting that it’s hard to find officials who have regrets for their cooperative policy.”


The ammo drought: "Where has all the ammo gone? That’s a common refrain these days and not just in a few places, but all across the country. The answer is simple and complicated, but it’s not part of a nefarious plot hatched up by Washington politicians. Ammo supplies got thrown out of kilter as a result of military action in Iraq and Afghanistan and several former Warsaw Pact nations transitioning to NATO caliber arms. Some sources of military surplus ammo have been drying up under a UN agreement to ‘de-militarize’ (read destroy) surplus ammo rather than let it into the open market. During the same period the costs of metals for components, particularly lead and copper, started climbing due to global demand.”

Thursday, May 28, 2009



Texas pharmacist shoots robber: "Just before walking into Babcock Square Pharmacy, the gunman lurked suspiciously around the parking lot Wednesday morning — even moving his car several times before making his move... The stranger who had been loitering in the parking lot had walked into the pharmacy carrying a black revolver and a note demanding the narcotic drug OxyContin and some money, according to authorities. Once inside, the gunman handed the note to a clerk behind the counter, Police Chief William McManus said. The clerk was one of three people inside the pharmacy at the time of the robbery attempt. The others were the pharmacy owner, 62-year-old Bill Wynn, and his wife. The details about what happened next are unclear, but McManus said the clerk was able to inform the pharmacy owner of the attempted robbery. Wynn, who had been robbed before, somehow managed to arm himself with a gun. That's when McManus said the robber uttered his last words: “Let's get it on.” Police said Wynn reacted quickly, shooting the gunman in the chest. Police arrived to find the gunman, whose identity wasn't released Wednesday, lying on his back in a pool of blood. In his right hand was a cocked revolver. McManus said Wynn wouldn't face any charges in connection with the shooting. “He was in fear (for) his life,” the chief said. “He has a right and state law allows him to defend himself.” The dead man wasn't immediately identified"


Oklahoma woman shoots intruder: "Police identified a man fatally shot Tuesday inside an Oklahoma City man’s home as Ronald Penn, 29. Penn and another person had broken into the house of Scott Henson, 41, in the 2200 block of SW 57 when Henson came home for his lunch break about 11:30 a.m., police said. Henson, whose wife has a concealed weapons permit, pulled out a handgun and shot Penn to death. The second person inside the home ran away, police said."


IN: Burglar shot by resident: "A burglary suspect is in police custody at the hospital after being shot by the resident, police said. It happened about 12:45 this morning during a residential break-in at 106 Harrison Blvd. The suspect, Arnett B. Baines, is being treated at Deaconess Hospital for at least one gunshot wound, police said. Baines, who was listed in good condition there late this morning, will face charges of burglary, robbery and battery. Police say two men donning ski masks kicked in the back door of the home and began scuffling with 21-year-old resident Alex B. Grisham during an apparent robbery attempt. Fellow resident Travis J. Coulter, 21, then shot one of the robbers with a .22 revolver the roommates kept in the living room. Both robbers then fled the scene. Officers later found Baines behind the privacy fence of the house suffering from a gunshot wound to his leg. Speaking outside his residence later Wednesday morning, Coulter said he was pleased to have prevented a situation that could of turned much worse. His roommate, Grisham, broke his nose in seven places during the scuffle. "If I had not have had that gun, those guys would not have left," Coulter said. After police located Baines, Coulter said he recognized him as an acquaintance who had been over to the house a couple times previously. He said he's still unsure why he and the other man targeted the home... The second man was not immediately located. Evansville Police Department spokesman Steve Green said officers believe he may be Shawn Jackson, a black man about 20 years old with a stocky build."


SC: No murder charge: sheriff says shooting was self-defense: "Six men faced a judge Tuesday in connection with what police say was a drug deal that turned violent, leaving one man dead. Calhoun County Sheriff Thomas Summers said he does not expect authorities to bring a charge of murder against Charles Stephen Day, 20, of Pelion, who, authorities believe, fatally shot 22-year-old Christopher Donell Robinson. “It has been determined by investigators that the deceased, Christopher Donell Robinson, was armed with a .22-caliber rifle when he was shot in self-defense by another man who Robinson and others were attempting to rob,” Summers said. Robinson died from a single gunshot wound to the chest, Summers said. First Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe said he agrees with the decision not to charge Day with murder. “They called me Sunday afternoon and with the facts they gave me, this was self-defense,” Pascoe said. “The key here is the perpetrator initiated the first action and implied the intent to commit a robbery.” Summers said investigators believe the shooting was the result of a planned robbery of suspected drug dealers early Sunday. Day allegedly had a weapon on him, Summers said. Day is alleged to have returned fire when the buyers opened up, “striking Christopher Robinson and wounding Angel Torres,” Summers said. Day also sustained at least two gunshot wounds, one to the shoulder and another to the stomach. Day’s and Torres’ wounds are not believed to be life-threatening."


Iowa: Toy Gun Control Ordinance

(Cedar Rapids, Iowa) The Cedar Rapids City Council has instituted toy gun control to counter a troubling level of crime, from criminal mischief to assault, in which toy guns have been used.

The ordinance specifies that it is illegal for an adult to carry a loaded BB gun, air gun or pellet gun within city limits. Juveniles are forbidden from having the guns at all, loaded or unloaded, without adult supervision.

The penalties for violating the ordinance are a possible $625 fine and 30 days in jail.

The primary motivation behind the ordinance appears to be a flood of damaged car windows. The shooting of hundreds of car windows has largely been attributed to juvenile mischief and Cedar Rapids citizens want it to stop. Hence, the ordinance.

Frankly, I would recommend that someone also take a look at the car window repair businesses since they rake in about $200 for every window replaced. It's never a bad approach to follow the money.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009



Deadly Kan. shooting took place in self defense: "An initial investigation shows that a deadly shooting Tuesday in rural Barton County took place in self defense. The Barton County Sheriff's Department isn't releasing the name of the man who shot and killed 33-year-old Harold Eugene Hughes on Tuesday morning. The lead investigator in the case, Det. David Paden, said the shooting happened after Hughes showed up at the home of the other man in a stolen Jeep with a stolen handgun. The men knew each other and had argued. The shooter called 911 at 8:41 a.m. Tuesday to say he had shot another man. He was questioned but not arrested. Paden said that the investigation is continuing but that the shooting "looks like self-defense." Paden said that the man was "in fear for his life."


No charge for biker who scared teens off with gun: "A Wisconsin bicyclist who pulled out his revolver to scare off a group of teens during an apparent robbery attempt won't be charged. The 42-year-old man told police he was riding his bicycle May 1 when four teens knocked him off and seemed to be trying to rob him, so he pulled out the revolver he was carrying in a side holster, pointed it up and yelled, "Gun." The teens fled and he flagged down a police officer. The man, who has asked not to be identified, was treated at the scene for a wrist injury. Police escorted him home and returned his gun to him. Racine County District Attorney Mike Nieskes sent him a letter Friday, saying he wouldn't be charged even though he was violating a law by carrying a gun within 1,000 feet of a school. "After speaking with the investigating officer on this matter, I have decided it would not be in the greater interest of justice in the community to charge you with violation of Wisconsin Statute regarding gun free zones," Nieskes wrote. Nieskes noted that the man has no criminal record, and there was no showing of irresponsible use of the firearm."


PA: Proposed gun curbs have some up in arms: “The proposed Blair Holt’s Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2009 would require a license to own a handgun or semi-automatic firearm. Currently no license is required to own a handgun in Ohio. The bill would also require current handgun owners to become certified or risk losing their property. The bill was submitted by U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., in January. The bill has no co-sponsors and was referred to the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.”


SAF: Sotomayor nomination a slap at Second Amendment: “The nomination of Second Circuit Court Judge Sonia Sotomayor to replace retiring Justice David Souter on the U.S. Supreme Court is a slap at gun rights and the Second Amendment, the Second Amendment Foundation said today. Judge Sotomayor, a New York native, ruled on a Second Circuit Appeals Court panel that the Second Amendment is not a fundamental right and does not apply to the states in the case of Maloney v. Cuomo. This ruling is in direct conflict with a Ninth Circuit Court ruling in the Nordyke v. King case in California that the Second Amendment is incorporated through the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.”

Tuesday, May 26, 2009



NC: Murder cases dropped after self-defense evidence: "A district court judge ruled Monday that there was insufficient evidence to send two murder cases to Superior Court, essentially bringing both of them to a close. Steve and Ronnie Ramirez were charged in March with fatally shooting a neighbor, but evidence presented Monday in Orange County District Court showed they were acting in self-defense, prosecutors say. Orange County deputies found Thaddeus Jerrod Harris dead on March 16 from several gunshot wounds at the Ramirez home at 2120 Gemena Road. Harris lived around the corner at 9004 Habitat Circle. A fuller picture of what happened the night of the shooting emerged at Monday's hearing. District Attorney Jim Woodall said there was evidence that a drug deal was in the works and that a man who came to the Ramirez home with Harris fired a gun before the fatal shotgun blasts. After the gun was pulled, Woodall said, one of the Ramirez brothers fetched a shotgun. Harris was inside the house when he was shot."


WA: Homeowner shoots man in self defense: "An overnight shooting lands one man in the hospital with multiple gun shot wounds and a normally quiet neighborhood with many unanswered questions. Police say a Saturday night house party in the 2500 block of W. Courtland got a little heated when one of the party's patrons got in a yelling match with the home's owner and his girlfriend. Dieter Meyer says he was hosting a barbecue for friends Saturday night when things got out of control. "One of the people invited a stranger, someone who had never been to the house before," said Meyer. According to Meyer, the stranger became belligerent, pulled out a knife and threatened Meyer's girlfriend on the front steps of his home. Meyer said he was frightened for both his and his girlfriend's welfare. Meyer, who holds a concealed weapons permit and always carries his gun, grabbed it and fired several shots at the man. Meyer says he's sorry he disrupted the neighborhood, but he's glad he had a gun to defend himself. "It was self defense," said Meyer. "It probably saved someone's life, it could have very well saved someone's life."


TN: Fairview parent convicted for gun at school: “A Fairview man’s response to a threat led to his conviction for possessing a weapon on school property and 20 days in jail. Tracy C. Clark, 37, said he had gotten into a verbal altercation with a couple on Jan. 30, 2006, in the parking lot at Westwood Elementary School after a recreation league basketball game. The argument started over whether Clark’s 9-year-old son had threatened to beat up Steven and Brandy Spann’s son. Clark said Steven Spann pulled out a knife and held it up as if threatening to stab him. Clark, who had a handgun carry permit, said he told Spann he had a gun, then pulled a 9 mm handgun from the center console of his pickup and put it on the driver’s seat. The gun was not loaded and never left its holster, according to Clark. ‘I never brandished it,’ Clark said Thursday during a bench trial. ‘I never showed it. I did not know what the best thing to do was.’ Williamson County Circuit Court Judge James G. Martin III said Clark may have been better off if he’d used the gun in self-defense.”


NY: Bullet bill is loaded for bear: “One of the most controversial measures to come before the County Legislature in some time is expected to draw an overflow crowd at a public hearing Tuesday night. At issue is a proposed law that would require gun shops to register sales of ammunition, a measure that has been condemned by gun proponents as a back-door means to register guns and learn what weapons people have. Supporters say it is merely an attempt to close a loophole in state law governing how ammunition.”

Monday, May 25, 2009



A speech you would not have heard from the media -- but it did happen

Darrell Scott, father of Columbine High School shooting victim Rachel Scott, gave stirring testimony before a subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee. His remarks were before the subcommittee on crime of the House Judiciary Committee on May 27, 1999 at the Rayburn House office building in Washington, D.C.

The Congressmen were not prepared for what he was to say, nor was it received well. It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every so-called expert! These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal. The following is a portion of the transcript:

"Since the dawn of creation there has been both good & evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers.

"The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used.. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart.

"In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent.

I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy -- it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best.

Your laws ignore our deepest needs,
Your words are empty air.
You've stripped away our heritage,
You've outlawed simple prayer.
Now gunshots fill our classrooms,
And precious children die.
You seek for answers everywhere,
And ask the question "Why?"
You regulate restrictive laws,
Through legislative creed.
And yet you fail to understand,
That God is what we need!

" Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, mind, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreak havoc. Spiritual presences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact. What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs -- politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties. We do not need more restrictive laws. Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts.

"As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes, he did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America , and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA -- I give to you a sincere challenge.. Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone!

My daughter's death will not be in vain! The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!"

Source





40 Reasons to Support Gun Control

Banning guns works, which is why New York, DC, and Chicago cops need guns.

Washington DC's low murder rate of 80.6 per 100,000 is due to strict gun control, and Arlington, VA's high murder rate of 1.6 per 100,000 is due to the lack of gun control.

Statistics showing high murder rates justify gun control but statistics showing increasing murder rates after gun control are "just statistics."

The Brady Bill and the Assault Weapons Ban, both of which went into effect in 1994, are responsible for the decrease in violent crime rates, which have been declining since 1991.

We must get rid of guns because a deranged lunatic may go on a shooting spree at any time and anyone who would own a gun out of fear of such a lunatic is paranoid.

The more helpless you are the safer you are from criminals.

An intruder will be incapacitated by tear gas or oven spray, but if shot with a .357 Magnum will get angry and kill you.

A woman raped and strangled is morally superior to a woman with a smoking gun and a dead rapist at her feet.

When confronted by violent criminals, you should "put up no defense — give them what they want, or run" (Handgun Control Inc. Chairman Pete Shields, Guns Don't Die - People Do, 1981, p. 125).

The New England Journal of Medicine is filled with expert advice about guns; just like Guns and Ammo has some excellent treatises on heart surgery.

One should consult an automotive engineer for safer seatbelts, a civil engineer for a better bridge, a surgeon for spinal paralysis, a computer programmer for Y2K problems, and Sarah Brady [or Sheena Duncan, Adele Kirsten, Peter Storey, etc.] for firearms expertise.

The 2nd Amendment, ratified in 1791, refers to the National Guard, which was created by an act of Congress in 1903.

The National Guard, funded by the federal government, occupying property leased to the federal government, using weapons owned by the federal government, punishing trespassers under federal law, is a state militia.

These phrases," right of the people peaceably to assemble," "right of the people to be secure in their homes," "enumeration's herein of certain rights shall not be construed to disparage others retained by the people," and "The powers not delegated herein are reserved to the states respectively, and to the people," all refer to individuals, but "the right of the people to keep and bear arms" refers to the state.

We don't need guns against an oppressive government, because the Constitution has internal safeguards, but we should ban and seize all guns, thereby violating the 2nd, 4th, and 5th amendments to that Constitution.

Rifles and handguns aren't necessary to national defense, which is why the army has millions of them.

Private citizens shouldn't have handguns, because they serve no military purpose, and private citizens shouldn't have "assault rifles," because they are military weapons.

The ready availability of guns today, with waiting periods, background checks, fingerprinting, government forms, et cetera, is responsible for recent school shootings,compared to the lack of school shootings in the 40's, 50's and 60's, which resulted from the availability of guns at hardware stores, surplus stores, gas stations, variety stores, mail order, et cetera.

The NRA's attempt to run a "don't touch" campaign about kids handling guns is propaganda, and the anti-gun lobby's attempt to run a "don't touch" campaign is responsible social activity.

Guns are so complex that special training is necessary to use them properly, and so simple to use that they make murder easy.

A handgun, with up to 4 controls, is far too complex for the typical adult to learn to use, as opposed to an automobile that only has 20.

Women are just as intelligent and capable as men but a woman with a gun is "an accident waiting to happen" and gun makers' advertisements aimed at women are "preying on their fears."

Ordinary people in the presence of guns turn into slaughtering butchers but revert to normal when the weapon is removed.

Guns cause violence, which is why there are so many mass killings at gun shows.

A majority of the population supports gun control, just like a majority of the population supported owning slaves.

A self-loading small arm can legitimately be considered to be a "weapon of mass destruction" or an "assault weapon."

Most people can't be trusted, so we should have laws against guns, which most people will abide by because they can be trusted.

The right of online pornographers to exist cannot be questioned because it is constitutionally protected by the Bill of Rights, but the use of handguns for self defense is not really protected by the Bill of Rights.

Free speech entitles one to own newspapers, transmitters, computers, and typewriters, but self-defense only justifies bare hands.

The ACLU is good because it uncompromisingly defends certain parts of the Constitution, and the NRA is bad, because it defends other parts of the Constitution.

Charlton Heston as president of the NRA is a shill who should be ignored, but Michael Douglas as a representative of Handgun Control, Inc. is an ambassador for peace who is entitled to an audience at the UN arms control summit.

Police operate with backup within groups, which is why they need larger capacity pistol magazines than do "civilians" who must face criminals alone and therefore need less ammunition.

We should ban "Saturday Night Specials" and other inexpensive guns because it's not fair that poor people have access to guns too.

Police officers, who qualify with their duty weapons once or twice a year, have some special Jedi-like mastery over handguns that private citizens can never hope to obtain.

Private citizens don't need a gun for self-protection because the police are there to protect them even though the Supreme Court says the police are not responsible for their protection.

Citizens don't need to carry a gun for personal protection but police chiefs, who are desk-bound administrators who work in a building filled with cops, need a gun.

"Assault weapons" have no purpose other than to kill large numbers of people, which is why the police need them but "civilians" do not.

When Microsoft pressures its distributors to give Microsoft preferential promotion, that's bad; but when the Federal government pressures cities to buy guns only from Smith & Wesson, that's good.

Trigger locks do not interfere with the ability to use a gun for defensive purposes, which is why you see police officers with one on their duty weapon.

When Handgun Control, Inc., says they want to "keep guns out of the wrong hands," they don't mean you. Really.

Source

Sunday, May 24, 2009



CA: Shooter gets shot: "A man arrested in a fatal West Sacramento neighborhood shooting Wednesday evening will not face charges at this time, the Yolo County District Attorney's Office has determined. Police had arrested Michael Moniz, Jr., 23, for murder and attempted murder in the shooting on Cummins Way that left Joseph Villanueva, 32, dead. Five others were also injured in the altercation. However, from information provided by the West Sacramento Police Department, Hamilton said it was determined Villanueva initiated the incident as he stood on the 1100 block of Cummins and began firing a handgun at people in a front yard. Hamilton said Villanueva was helped by a man named Ray Martinez. Hamilton said at that point, Moniz went into his home and came out with a shotgun, returning fire. Villanueva was fatally struck and Martinez was seriously wounded, said Hamilton. Police investigators learned both men had ties to the Broderick Boys street gang and that they had threatened residents the day before, Hamilton said. Moniz appeared in a Yolo County Superior Courtroom Friday and was told there were no charges against him. He was allowed to leave court a free man. Wednesday evening's events appeared to be a continuation of an ongoing dispute among residents, said Hamilton."


OH: Suspect shot and killed while robbing off-duty police officer: "The man killed early this morning by an off-duty Cleveland police officer during a suspected carjacking in the 7700 block of Kinsman Road was identified by the coroner's office as Cory Dix. Dix has prior arrests for gun and drug violations, court records show... Police spokesman Lt. Thomas Stacho said the eight-year officer was robbed at gunpoint after being forced to stop his personal vehicle at a makeshift roadblock set up by one or more suspects in the single passable westbound lane of Kinsman Road, which is temporarily a one-way street westbound while it is under construction between East 79th Street and Grand Avenue. During the robbery, the officer and one of the suspects exchanged gunfire; the suspect was killed in the gunfire. At least two gunshots hit the officer's car; he was not injured, Stacho said. The 22-year-old suspect and other unidentified suspects were believed to have stopped and robbed other motorists in the area before encountering the off-duty officer."


TX: Fatal shooting likely in self-defense: "Police said a Northwest Side shooting death Sunday night could be justified in self-defense. Witnesses told police that 26-year-old Boanegres Najera broke into a friend's home in the 9600 block of Timber Laurel after he was kicked out of a bar for causing a disturbance. Najera allegedly stole a gun from the home. Later in the evening, the owner of the gun confronted Najera in the 5200 block of Northwest Trails. The men struggled over the weapon before a third man, the gun owner's brother, shot the suspect about 10:45 p.m., police said. Najera died at the scene, while the shooter fled. Police said the shooter likely would not face charges because he was defending his brother."


German gangster damages himself: "A wannabe gangster blew his own manhood to smithereens when his gun accidentally went off in his pocket. Dim-witted Lukas Neuhardt, 27, forgot to put the safety catch on when he stuffed the weapon into his trousers to impress pals in Saarbruecken, Germany. He told paramedics that a masked mugger had blasted him in the crotch during a bungled robbery. But police found a HOLE in his statement when they saw the gunshot had miraculously left his trousers intact. A police source said: "Instead there was a charred hole in his pocket so either it was the shot of the century or he did it himself." Now – after surgeons stitched his manhood back together – he's facing up to three years in jail for breaching Germany's tough new anti gun laws."

Saturday, May 23, 2009



Obama signs: "In a late afternoon Rose Garden ceremony, President Obama signed the “Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act,” or credit card bill of rights, and said card holders and card companies need to act responsibly when it comes to taking on and managing debt. At the Rose Garden ceremony, Obama did not mention one controversial element of the bill – an amendment that gave states the power to allow loaded concealed weapons in national parks and shelve a long-standing National Park Service rule against weapons."


Connecticut Man Fired back at Attempted Robbers: "Police said a man turned the tables on two men who attempted to rob him up in Groton. Police said the man had just finished doing some overnight banking at the Navy Federal Credit Union and was pulling out onto Gungywamp Road when two men in a dark car attempted to stop him. Police said the men began firing at the victim from their car. Police said they believe the men planned to rob the victim. Police said the victim also had a gun and began firing back, causing the men to flee in the car. Police spent the night searching the woods and back yards of nearby Navy apartments. Police said they are unsure whether the two men were struck by bullets fired from the victim's gun. The men's car was described as a dark, American-made, four-door sedan -- possibly an Oldsmobile or Buick with shot-out windows and possible bullet holes on the passenger side.


PA: Nasty male/female pair meet their match: "Using crutches to get around because of a gunshot injury to his foot, Jerome Francis Kuren hobbled inside a courtroom on Friday to be charged for allegedly robbing a man who was taken to a Pine Street home by a woman. It is the third time since May 11 that Kuren, 31, of Scranton, has been charged by police for robbing men at the home, according to arrest and court records.... Kuren suffered a gunshot wound to his foot during a similar incident at the Pine Street home on May 10, according to arrest records. Craig Budde told police he picked up Dunn on South Main Street and stopped at an automated teller machine to withdraw $60. Dunn told Budde to go to the Pine Street home, where he was invited inside. While sitting on a couch, Budde claimed Kuren came downstairs and threatened him with a pipe, according to arrest records. Budde brandished a .38-caliber handgun and followed Kuren and Dunn out a rear door. Once outside, arrest records say, Kuren approached Budde with the pipe when he fired the gun, hitting Kuren in the foot... Kuren and Dunn, 26, were charged in connection to the alleged incidents on May 6 and May 10."


OK pharmacy robber shot: "Police said they’re still trying to sort out the details at a southwest Oklahoma City pharmacy where a teenage boy was shot and killed during what the pharmacist said was a robbery attempt. Jerome Ersland said he shot Antwun Parker, 16, because he feared for his own life, but Parker’s family said that the Ersland didn’t need to shoot to kill. Customers at Reliable Pharmacy told Eyewitness News 5 on Friday that they support what Ersland did. “I feel sorry for the guy, but he shouldn’t have did bad,” said Sheila Kerr. “I think (Ersland) was in the right by having a gun. You have to protect yourself.” Police said Parker and another robber who had a gun were trying to steal money and drugs from the store." [This appears to be an update giving names to a story blogged here on 21st.]

Friday, May 22, 2009



TX: Intruder shot in eye: "A home invasion ends with three arrests, and one invader being shot in the eye. Fred Norman is happy he had a gun when the men knocked down his front door and came in firing a shotgun. "I'm in a deep sleep and I hear a bang. I thought I was dreaming. They said Police! Police, " Norman told 39 News. He quickly realized it was not the police at the door. That's when he grabbed his gun. The attack happened at 2:30am on Wednesday. A few hours earlier there was a similar invasion about 20 miles away, also in northwest Harris County. A shot gun was used in that attack. Police arrested the three suspects at a local hospital when they were seeking medical attention for a gunshot wound to the eye. Nothing was taken in either invasion. Only the intruder who was shot in the eye was hurt, but the gunmen killed a dog in the first invasion".


California domestic disturbance: Teen kills attacker: "A 17-year-old boy stands accused of killing a man Tuesday morning, though detectives now believe the shooting was justified, authorities said Wednesday. Sacramento County sheriff's deputies arrested the boy, whose name has not been released because he is a juvenile, late Tuesday night on suspicion of murder, said sheriff's Sgt. Tim Curran. Detectives made the arrest based on information they had gathered about the fatal shooting that morning of 30-year-old James Davis on the 2800 block of La Quinta Drive, Curran said. But after interviewing the boy, Curran said, detectives learned that he had acted in self-defense – and in defense of his mother, Davis' girlfriend, who had been "beaten severely" before the fatal confrontation. Deputies were called to La Quinta Drive, near Folsom Boulevard in south Sacramento about 5 a.m. after reports of gunshots and a woman screaming. They found Davis' body on the sidewalk, and paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene. The Sheriff's Department is not releasing the woman's name because she is not a suspect and is a victim of domestic violence. Curran said the victim and his girlfriend had had a "violent fight," witnessed by the 17-year-old boy, who followed Davis outside and shot him, Curran said. ... Davis had a history of domestic violence in Sacramento County, according to Superior Court records. Most recently, he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor domestic violence in September 2004 and was sentenced to 365 days in jail".


TN: Crook Hurt While Robbing Victim: "During a different robbery, another man who police say was robbing a victim in the 1400 block of Court Avenue was hurt. This happened around 9:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 19, 2009. Police say the victim was walking down the street, when four men jumped out of a car to rob him. Police say the crooks shot the victim, but in turn somehow one of them was shot as well. According to investigators, the robber that was shot is in critical condition. Police are still trying to figure out if he was shot accidentally by one of his friends or in self-defense by the victim. The victim is in non-critical condition with a gunshot wound."


Modern neuroses: “I never thought I’d see the day when I call out my brother Drew before all people and and I’m dang lucky I grew up just in time because everything I used to do as a kid would get me branded a terrorist and turn half the nation into a panic. For one thing, we were heavily armed children. Slingshots, BB guns, bows, arrows, rifles, shotguns, traps, knives, we had it all. Wearing our Buck knives to school was just sort of ordinary. On boyscout meeting day everybody got to wear their special scout knives to school. And when we got to school, guess what? More weapons. Archery, riflelry [sic], shop class where you could actually build new weapons. Nobody raised an eyebrow. We were encouraged to do as we did. … These days if a kid is rambunctious you call him ‘ADD’ or something and knock them up on drugs when we used to just put them on the hockey team. And we continued to pile on more weapons, more bows and arrows, more slingshots, more ammo and you give them a tent and their first winter sleeping-bag.”

Thursday, May 21, 2009



OK: Homeowner takes a shot at burglar: "One burglar may be considering a different profession after nearly losing his life during a break-in, last Wednesday. Heather Fitzgerald says she was checking e-mail in her garage with the garage partially open. Shortly before 3:00 a.m., however, an intruder crawled in. Heather immediately worried for her children, who were sleeping inside the home. She grabbed her 9-milimeter pistol and fired two shots at the man. Police do not believe he was hit because they found no blood at the scene. As he was running away, she says she lined up the gun’s laser sight on his back, but did not pull the trigger again, most likely sparing his life.”


FL: Shooting may be self-defense: "Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said a woman who fatally shot a man Tuesday night might have acted in self-defense. Robinson was found dead inside the doorway of a home in the 6400 block of Myrtle Hill Circle after deputies were dispatched to a disturbance call, sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Ted Roy said. The homeowner, Jessica Blackmon, 23, was found inside a nearby home about 30 minutes after the 9 p.m. shooting. She was taken to Baptist Hospital with an injury to her head. She was treated and released. "We believe she is the one who did the shooting," Roy said Tuesday night. "We're just trying to determine the reason." Blackmon's relationship to the victim was not released, but people who said they knew Robinson suggested the two were not dating."


CA: NRA sues San Francisco over victim disarmament laws: “The National Rifle Association has filed suit against the city of San Francisco, Mayor Gavin Newsom and Police Chief Heather Fong, taking aim at city laws it contends violate the Second Amendment right to bear arms. The NRA filed the lawsuit in federal court Friday on behalf of six residents and the San Francisco Veteran Police Officers Association. It challenges three provisions of the city’s police code that it says interfere with their right ‘to defend themselves and others … within their own homes.’ … Matt Dorsey, a spokesman for the city attorney’s office, said the NRA’s real goal is not to strike down the specific city laws but to win court rulings that expand the reach of the Second Amendment.”


Advocates of Gun Rights Are Poised for a Victory: Advocates of gun rights are poised to win a Congressional victory that eluded them under a Republican president. To the frustration and discouragement of many Democrats, House and Senate lawmakers and aides say it now appears likely that President Obama will this week sign into law a provision allowing visitors to national parks and refuges to carry loaded and concealed weapons. The White House is lukewarm at best on the gun provision, which was added to a popular measure imposing new rules on credit card companies. But the Democrats who now control both Congress and the White House appear ready to allow it to survive rather than derail a consumer-friendly credit card measure that Mr. Obama is eager to sign as Congress heads off for a Memorial Day recess. “Timing is everything in politics,” said Senator Tom Coburn, Republican of Oklahoma and the champion of the gun proposal. A majority of Democrats in the House and Senate still typically come down on the side of gun control. But the fact that they have been outmaneuvered by Republicans on gun issues is rooted in the fact that recently swollen Democratic ranks include senators and House members who represent Western states and more rural areas where gun ownership is popular and deemed sacrosanct. When those Democrats team up with Republicans, they constitute a clear majority in the House and Senate."

Wednesday, May 20, 2009



OK: Employee Shoots at Robbers: 1 Killed, 1 at Large: "Oklahoma City Police are searching for an armed man they believe was involved in the Tuesday robbery of a pharmacy. According to police, two armed men came into the Reliable Discount Pharmacy just before 6 p.m. An employee shot at the men, fatally hitting one of them. Leaving the wounded robber behind, the unidentified man ran from the store and into a nearby neighborhood. The police scoured the area, both on foot and from the air, but the man was not found. They were able to take a third man into custody, whom they believe is linked to the crime. The person police are searching for a black male with braided hair. He could be wearing a red shirt and carrying a gun. The employee who killed the robber was taken to police headquarters to answer questions about the event. The information collected will be given to the District Attorney's Office Wednesday for further consideration of criminal charges."


AR: Ordinance would repeal gun prohibition at park: “Sebastian County Judge David Hudson said he is drafting an ordinance to repeal the county’s ban on firearms at Ben Geren Park. Arkansas Carry contacted Sebastian County Judge David Hudson on May 7 asking him and the Sebastian County Quorum Court to repeal a county rule that bans firearms at Ben Geren Park. ‘This Act expressly prohibits Sebastian County from enacting any code, ordinance or regulation concerning the ownership, transfer, transportation, carrying, or possession of firearms …’ Arkansas Carry Vice Chairman Steve Jones noted in the May 7 letter.”


CA: Fedgoons’ raid on gun store, home nets 200 guns: "Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearm agents seized more than 200 firearms and ammunition from a local gun store and the owner’s home, according to ATF officials. Agents arrived at Lock, Stock and Barrel in the 15000 block of Bear Valley Road and at store owner Steve Mitchell’s home in the 9500 block of Bellview Avenue in Apple Valley on Friday morning, according to Michael Hoffman, spokesman for the ATF. Hoffman would not disclose the details or the reason behind the seizure.”


TX: College handgun bill clears first Senate vote: “College students and faculty members with a concealed handgun license would be able to pack their firearms on campus under a bill that the Senate tentatively approved on Tuesday. … Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, said the right-to-carry measure also would protect students from other life-threatening situations. ‘When I read about massacre in Virginia (in 2007), I felt I would feel personally guilty if it woke up one morning and read that this had happened on one of our college campuses and I had done nothing to prevent it from happening,’ Wentworth explained to other senators. … The measure, which needs a final vote in the Senate, faces an uphill battle in the House.”

Tuesday, May 19, 2009



Democrats and Guns

Party liberals have lost the debate

Amid so much other news, a Senate vote last week to allow loaded guns in national parks slipped under the media radar. The vote shows how the political cause of gun control is as dead as a mounted moose.

By 67-29, the Senate passed Oklahoma Republican Tom Coburn's amendment to let law-abiding visitors carry legal firearms into national parks. This overturns a 1983 federal rule requiring that firearms be kept unloaded and in an inaccessible place such as a trunk of a car. The provision (now part of credit-card legislation) protects Second Amendment rights, and it preserves the right of states to pass firearm laws that apply consistently, even on federal lands.

As recently as the 1990s, guns in parks legislation would have provoked a Congressional uproar. But gun control has proven to be a consistent political loser, and last year the Supreme Court cast doubt on state gun bans. No fewer than 27 Democrats voted for Mr. Coburn's amendment, and the ayes included Majority Leader Harry Reid, who is up for re-election in Nevada next year.

Congressional liberals are furious, and are threatening to hold up the credit-card bill, much as they have held up Washington, D.C. voting-rights legislation to which Republicans attached gun-owner protections. Holding up both bad bills forever would be fine with us, but in any case it's clear liberals have lost the gun control debate even within their own party.

Source





New Jersey: Intruder shot: "A resident shot a man last night when the would-be intruder tried to enter a home in the Deserted Village of Feltville, authorities said. The shooting in the secluded section of Watchung Reservation occurred around 9 p.m. on Cataract Hollow Road, Union County Police Chief Dan Vaniska said. He said the victim, whose name and address were not available, was taken to Morristown Memorial Hospital and was listed in stable condition. "An unwanted guest forced himself into the residence and a resident responded by shooting him," Vaniska said at the scene. Details were scant last night, but Vaniska said the home's residents were brought to county police headquarters, where they were being questioned. It was not known where on the premises the shooting occurred, but a sedan parked near the porch of the two-story, wood-frame house had a shattered left rear window. Cataract Hollow Road is part of the historic Deserted Village of Feltville. The site in Watchung Reservation was inhabited by small businesses, a mill and families on and off from 1845 to 1916. Visitors can stroll the village, which includes homes the county leases."


California jewelry shop burglar fatally shot: "Sacramento County sheriff's detectives continue to investigate the fatal shooting this morning of a man they say was breaking into a coin and jewelry. The suspect was killed by the owner of the store on the 4900 block of Marconi Avenue. The 65-year-old owner has not been arrested, a sheriff's spokesman said. The district attorney will determine if any charges are filed against the owner, based on results of the sheriff's investigation. The shop owner was inside the store when the incident began at about 4:15 a.m. Investigators are gathering evidence that will help determine if the shooting was justified. Sheriff's Sgt. Tim Curran said two men approached the store, which had been the target of another break-in on April 29. This time, the owner was inside and called the sheriff's department to report two men in their mid-20s and wearing black ski masks trying to enter. Curran said that as the owner spoke on the phone with department personnel, the person taking the call heard several gunshots. "Then the business owner said one subject was down in the parking lot," Curran said. Deputies arrived to find a body in the parking lot. Fire department emergency personnel pronounced the man dead at the scene." [Some reports say that the two burglars were brothers, on probation for burglary and suspected of committing other burglaries in the area].


ATF raid sends us all a message: “And the purpose of the raid? The compelling reason 15 heavily-armed police state ninjas used a battering ram on an unlocked door, assaulted and threw citizens to the ground, put guns to their heads, terrorized a man with a heart condition, destroyed and seized property, and generally trashed the place? Because a son who ‘was arrested 34 years ago at the age of 17 with a friend who had forged a check [and] hasn’t been arrested since’ was living with his gun owner father.”

Monday, May 18, 2009



People on badly flawed “no fly" list to be barred from gun ownership?: “Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) is co-sponsoring a House of Representatives bill preventing people on the government’s no-fly list from purchasing guns. House representatives will introcude [sic] a bill Wednesday that would ban anyone on the controversial no-fly list from purchasing a gun in the U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.), a strong gun control advocate, is co-sponsoring the legislation that would apply to the nearly 1 million people that make up the government’s no-fly list — people believed to either be terrorist or have strong terrorism connections. … The no-fly list has received criticism in the past for stopping people with similar names to those on the list from flying.”


WV: State targets shooting range : “Matt Keplinger couldn’t believe it when he heard that the Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area’s public shooting range was set to close. Hunting is a family tradition for Keplinger, who got the news when he and his young daughter were spending some ‘quality, together time’ at the rural shooting range last Friday. After spending some time tracking down state Department of Natural Resources officials, Keplinger was convinced that the word he’d received from a friend was true and the range’s closing was imminent. State confirmation that the range has a ‘design flaw’ hasn’t made Keplinger feel any better because he now fears the range won’t return once it is closed.”


OH: Ammunition in short supply : “Continuing a nationwide trend that began before November’s presidential election, area gun retailers are reporting an increase in firearms sales. The result? Heightened demand has diminished ammunition availability at retail locations throughout the U.S. Although gun sales tend to go up during times of economic hardship, retailers, gun owners and industry insiders credit rising sales and declining supply to fear that President Barack Obama and a Democratically controlled Congress will enact strict gun-control measures. As shortages have grown, stores — including Wal-Marts in Ashland, Mansfield and Wooster — have limited ammo purchases on certain varieties to ensure availability to more customers.”


States’ gun rights: The next Constitutional battlefield: “The right to bear arms is famously and specifically referenced in the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Alas, for advocates of the right, the language of the amendment gets tangled up in the regulating of militias and the interpretation of commas. Now a multistate movement is trying to find more robust constitutional support in another amendment, which makes no mention of weaponry at all.The 10th Amendment declares, ‘The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.’ … Now the Amendment is being invoked by pro-gun advocates to press for state, rather than federal, regulation of gun manufacturers.”

Sunday, May 17, 2009



GA: Police: Cross-dressing man shot during liquor story robbery: "Macon police are investigating an armed robbery Saturday evening at ABC Liquor store, 1194 Martin Luther King Boulevard. Shortly before 6:45 p.m., authorities allege Ricky Johnson entered the package store dressed in a ladies wig and skirt, jumped over the front counter displaying a gun and demanded money from a clerk. Johnson obtained an undisclosed amount of cash and fired one gunshot inside the business as he fled, police said. An employee returned gunfire, injuring Johnson in the upper thigh near the buttocks, according to authorities. About 7 p.m., a Macon police dispatch operator said someone called 911, reporting a man with a gunshot wound in The Medical Center of Central Georgia’s Green Deck parking area. Authorities said they located Johnson in the parking area, along with the weapon and the cash allegedly involved in the liquor store robbery. Macon police Sgt. Melanie Hofmann could not confirm how Johnson had reached the downtown hospital. He was transported by ambulance from the parking deck to the street-level emergency room, she said. The incident remains under investigation by Macon police. Charges are pending, she said. No other injuries were reported."




Florida woman with gun fights carjacker: "A Tampa woman refused to be a carjacking victim when she was approached by an armed man who jumped into her car on Thursday. The woman, who only wants to be identified as Adrianna, pulled out her own gun. "I just leaned forward and punched him in the forehead with my gun," she said. The man "screamed like a girl and almost dropped his gun" as he ran away, she added. Tampa Police have arrested one suspect so far in what they see as a pattern of carjackings. A-Keem Carr [above] was arrested on related charges, but two others are believed to be preying on motorists in the Westshore area."


Love your children? Teach them how to safely handle guns : “A Utah teenager died after apparently shooting himself with a revolver loaded with blanks. … The ’solution,’ as presented by those who wish guns to disappear, is to teach children to avoid them. They must be locked up in safes, separated from ammunition, we are told, so that children cannot access them. … The unintended consequence of the avoidance approach is it ensures ignorance, so if a child does encounter a gun, they will be clueless as to what to do next. … That means giving your children development-appropriate gun training. Notice I did not say ‘age.’ It varies …This means, at some point, you need to teach your child how to handle a gun.”


Before refusing to own a gun: ”The armed citizen has a tremendous impact on protecting not only self and loved ones, but also liberty in the sovereign’s monopoly on all lethal force in this country. That would be you and me. As the sovereign, we have oversight and authority over police, the military and Congress, not to mention little governments here. There is a tremendous threat to our freedoms when that sovereignty is challenged by our own public servants, and backed by the force of police and military which we ourselves grant them from one election to the next. The armed citizen and our liberty on all levels are inextricably bound only when we are armed and respected as the sovereign.”

Saturday, May 16, 2009



Massachusetts: No charges in neighbor's death: "A Boston Road condominium owner who shot and killed a neighbor Thursday night at present faces no charges because the shooting appears to be in self defense, Police Chief Allen M. Stratton said Friday. Stratton said the Woodcrest Condominium resident, whose name was not released, told police he shot twice at a man who came into his apartment without permission, refused to leave and then became aggressive. The shooting took place just before 8:30 p.m. The intruder turned out to be the owner of a neighboring condominium unit. He was identified as David P. Gatti, 29, of unit C25, police said. He was shot twice and pronounced dead at Baystate Medical Center, police said. According to police reports, the condo resident was home sometime after 8 p.m. when he heard someone trying to enter the front door. He went to the door, opened it and saw Gatti, who stepped inside uninvited. The resident told police he did not recognize him, and when asked to leave, Gatti refused and became "threatening in nature," police said. Police Chief Stratton said Gatti did not have a weapon and never laid his hands on the condo owner. The owner described him as yelling and gesturing in such a way that he felt threatened. The resident told police he retreated into the condo and armed himself, and when Gatti reportedly followed him, he opened fire, police said."


MO: Arrests made in investigation into interrupted burglary: "Police arrested a man believed to be connected with a robbery during which the victim shot one of the men who'd broken into her home in northeast Columbia. Ricky L. Morgan of Moberly was arrested Thursday as part of the investigation into the interrupted burglary, according to a release from the Columbia Police Department. Arriving to find her back door kicked open, a woman discovered three men inside her home just before 1 a.m. on April 30. The victim told police one of these men pointed a gun at her. She had a gun and fired at the men once. The subsequent investigation revealed that one of the men had been wounded by the woman’s shot. An anonymous source led investigators to Morgan, saying the man had an injury to his left leg. Investigators located Morgan, who had an injury consistent with a gunshot wound. The police notified hospitals of the incident at the time of the crime. Morgan had not sought previous treatment for his wound, Captain Brad Nelson said. Morgan also had four outstanding warrants for crimes in nearby counties, including a felony warrant for second-degree burglary in Adair County, according to the release. In a release regarding the initial incident, the victim said a suspicious-looking silver hatchback car was parked near her home. The car, with a woman inside, was seen leaving the area following the incident. Leann Seiger, also of Moberly, was arrested in connection with the robbery, suspected of being the driver of the silver car. She is charged with receiving stolen property after police determined she pawned a video game taken in the robbery, according to a Police Department press release". [This would appear to be a follow-up to a story reported on this blog on 5th]


Love thy neighbor: Buy a gun: “Mankind pulled civilization out of the mud somewhere in the ancient past. In creating society, people agreed to a non-spoken compact that required everyone to look out for their neighbor. We aren’t talking about a communist society … but instead an agreement between honest law-abiding people that made it reprehensible to leave your neighbor to die. The same … used to hold true, when it came to stopping common crime … As the American government grew in power and influence in a citizen’s life, it destroyed the agreement between honest people to care for each other. Today in America many citizens won’t step in to protect the personal safety of their neighbors because, over the years, everyone was brainwashed by the government.”


SAF hails Ninth Circuit ruling in Glock lawsuit: "Monday’s ruling by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that dismisses a lawsuit against Glock by the victims of a deranged gunman in Grenada Hills, CA was a proper decision under existing statute, the Second Amendment Foundation said today. In a 2-1 decision, a three- judge panel upheld a lower court’s ruling that the case, Ileto v. Glock, was nullified under the 2005 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA). That federal statute was passed to prevent junk lawsuits against gun makers, and this specific case was cited during Congressional debate as precisely the kind of lawsuit the law would prohibit.”

Friday, May 15, 2009



Florida homeowner with shotgun confronts burglar: "A homeowner confronted a burglar this morning, smashing the intruder across the face with the butt end of a shotgun, St. Petersburg police said. The burglar, identified by police as Justin Masse, 22, at first fled, then turned around and started toward homeowner Michael Lowry, a U.S. Navy veteran, police said. That's when Lowry fired a shell in the ground, and Masse ran off, police said. A newspaper delivery person spotted Masse unconscious two blocks away in a front yard, police said. Masse received stitches and was eventually transported to the Pinellas County Jail on a charge of residential burglary, police said. The attempted break-in occurred about 4 a.m. at Lowry's home, in the 5000 block of Second Avenue South, police said. Lowry spotted Masse in his detached garage and confronted Masse with the 12-gauge shotgun. During a fight that followed, Masse was struck in the face with the butt of the weapon, apparently considered continuing the struggle and then ran off before falling unconscious, police said."


Florida: Armed homeowner stops burglary: "Sheriff’s deputies say a 25-year-old Summerfield man accused of burglarizing a home didn’t get very far, as the homeowner retrieved his .45-caliber handgun and held the man at gunpoint until they arrived. Calvin Crews told deputies on Wednesday he was at his residence in the 10000 block of Southeast 108th Terrace Road when he heard someone calling his name. Crews said he looked outside and saw 25-year-old James Lazarus Wayne Day running toward a truck, according to a Marion County Sheriff’s Office report. Crews said he got his gun and returned to the window. He said Day drove the truck up to the front porch, ran inside the home, went to a bedroom and removed a five-gallon jug that was filled with about $600 in change. Crews then held the man at gunpoint and called deputies, according to the report. When they arrived, Crews came out of the home with his gun and told authorities what had happened. Entering the home, deputies found Day kneeling on the floor next to the five-gallon jug of change. Day told them he went to Crews’ home to ask for a job. He said he had just stuck his head in the door when Crews pulled a gun on him. Officials said Day used to work for Crews. Day was then arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail where he was charged with residential burglary and grand theft."


Texas gun owner reacts calmly to home invasion attempt: "A local man wants your help finding two men who tried to break into his house, and he caught the almost home invasion on his web cam. Many people would be frightened if they were at home and someone tried to break in, but Andy Hartman says he stayed calm because he had a weapon, and he knew the rules on when and how to use it. "I heard somebody knock on the door, and rang the doorbell. I thought it was just a salesman so I kind of ignored it," Hartman said. Hartman's home web cam taped someone kicking his back door repeatedly. In the video, you can see the shutters shake each time the person kicks. Hartman grabbed his phone, his gun and called 911. "I'm in my bedroom with a gun. They're breaking in my house," he said in the 911 call. While waiting for police, Hartman stayed in a back room and listened as the intruder kicked his door more than 20 times. Hartman says he was able to stay calm because he knew exactly what to do. He took a concealed handgun class in January. "You know when you can and cannot use the gun, and when it's time to use it you know how to use it," he said. Police arrived in less than three minutes, but the suspects got away."


Los Angeles: Burglary suspect shot by resident: "A man suspected of burglarizing cars in the Mar Vista area was shot in the face by a resident early this morning, police said. The man was breaking into vehicles when he was confronted by a resident at about 1:40 a.m., said Los Angeles Police Sgt. Dennis Beacham. "He was subsequently shot and sustained a gunshot wound to the facial area," Beacham said. "It’s my understanding he’s in stable condition."... the gunshot victim was taken to a local hospital where he was in stable condition, Herrera said. “The shooter wasn’t arrested, it was in self-defense,” Herrera said."

Thursday, May 14, 2009



MI: Woman fires shots at would-be intruders : “A homeowner on the Detroit’s east side thwarted three robbers by firing out of her bedroom as the men made their way up the steps inside her home, according to police. A neighbor at 5 a.m. today noticed the three men breaking in the kitchen window of the home in the 900 block of Algonquin, according to Detroit Police. He called the cell phone of the man who lives there, who was on his way home from work. The homeowner then called his wife, woke her and told her to get their gun. Hearing footsteps on the stairs, she fired a number of shots, missing the thieves. The husband arrived home just as the men were climbing back out of the window, and they escaped.”


British good neighbor wrestles armed raider to floor... and makes him cry: "The drama began at 10pm on Sunday March 3 when three youths barged into the shop as Mohammed, 54, locked up. Leslie - who was relaxing upstairs in his two-bedroom flat with partner Steph and 18-month-old daughter Caitlin - rushed down to investigate as the shop had been targeted by thieves earlier that day. He said: 'I ran in and asked what they were doing there and they started shouting and swearing. 'One of them said, "you don't know who I am" and after we exchanged a few words one of them pulled out the gun and brought it right up to my face. 'I stepped forward towards him and put my hand over the muzzle and kept it down and then pushed his face down on the floor.' The scuffle spilled into the street and Leslie jostled the gunman to the ground - where he started crying, claiming he was 'sorry' and it was all a misunderstanding. Leslie said: 'When I had him pinned down at the end and had taken the gun off him I told him, "how dare you pull a gun on me in public". 'I told him that he had ruined his life through his actions as the police were going to turn up any second and he started to cry. 'He begged forgiveness from Mohammed and told him there had been a mistake.' Shop owner Mohammed, 54, who has given Leslie a bottle of Champagne to say thank you, said: 'I am very grateful to Les.... The 19-year-old was arrested on suspicion of attempted robbery and two other men, aged 17 and 23, were arrested nearby. They have all been bailed pending further enquiries."


Necessity for protection creating new gun owners: “There are millions of new gun owners in this country since the continuing decline of the economy leads not only to fears that desperation will cause crime levels to increase, but also to a decrease in police protection from financially strapped cities and towns. More and more people are realizing they must take responsibility for their own safety.”


Meanwhile, across the pond in Sarah Brady paradise: "Gun owners in the U.S. should heed our British friend’s advice and warning about what awaits us, should The Brady Campaign et al succeed in establishing UK-style citizen disarmament edicts here: ‘For my American readers — the time to fight for your Constitutional right to keep and bear arms, a right which might one day save the life of yourself or your family, is now. Before you lose it.’ I suggest we listen to the voice of experience.”

Wednesday, May 13, 2009



La: Guns on campus bill moves to House floor: “Over the objections of university officials, including campus police, a House committee has approved allowing the carrying of concealed weapons on college campuses. The House Criminal Justice Committee voted 9-6 to approve HB27 by its chairman, Rep. Ernest Wooton, R-Belle Chasse. He got the committee’s approval last year, but widespread opposition led him to withdraw the bill before it was voted on by the House. Armed with the backing of Gov. Bobby Jindal and the National Rifle Association, Wooton is moving forward this year. ‘I am a strong believer in the Second Amendment rights,’ Jindal said. ‘If the bill gets to my desk, I will sign it.’”


Senate backs allowing guns in national parks: ”The Senate on Tuesday backed an amendment that would allow people to carry loaded guns in national parks and wildlife refuges. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., sponsored the measure, which he said would protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. The amendment allows firearms in parks and wildlife refuges, as long as they are allowed by federal, state and local law. ‘If an American citizen has a right to carry a firearm in their state, it makes no sense to treat them like a criminal if they pass through a national park while in possession of a firearm,’ Coburn said. Twenty-seven Democrats joined 39 Republicans and one independent in supporting the amendment.”


Obama “bitterly clinging” to his fake gun numbers: “Meantime, the Libertarian Party points out even the statistics used by Mr. Obama to supposedly justify his "emergency need" to "block the flow of arms to Mexico" are bogus. "Is Barack Obama 'bitterly clinging to falsified numbers' in his bid to push his anti-gun treaty?" asked the Libertarian Party in an April news release. "This war is being waged with guns purchased not here, but in the United States. More than 90 percent of the guns recovered in Mexico come from the United States," Mr. Obama said in a face-to-face April meeting with Mexican President Felipe Calderon in Mexico City. But that claim, the LP points out, "is blatantly false. According to information supplied by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives the real number is closer to only 17 percent".


NYC: The ultimate morons: "Families took to the streets of Mott Haven, Bronx on Saturday for a somber march to end gun violence. Mothers and children carried pictures of those who have died. The marchers called for tougher gun laws across the country and took aim at weapons sold at gun shows. "I think one of the biggest problems is that 32 states in our country have no background check at gun shows and we know that 285 million guns are in circulation in the country, and 40 percent of those are sold at gun shows," said one marcher. "That opportunity for illegal weapons to enter into the wrong hands is just too great of an opportunity. We need to close that gun show loophole at the federal level." [They have all around them evidence that strict gun control just leads to lots of gun deaths but they still want more control]

Tuesday, May 12, 2009


Utah Enacts New Gun Laws

(Salt Lake City) Effective yesterday, new gun laws in Utah will allow citizens more freedom in possessing loaded handguns.

Specifically, the laws address carrying loaded, concealed weapons in vehicles and requirements for guns in employee and visitor vehicles on business property.
HB357 - Allows law-abiding Utahns to carry loaded, concealed weapons in their vehicles without permits.

SB78 - Requires business owners to allow guns in visitor vehicles if the guns have a trigger lock or are in a locked box.
Not everybody is pleased with the laws. Steve Gunn of the Gun Violence Prevention Center of Utah indicated that the statute allows 18-year-olds to have concealed weapons in their cars even though they don't meet the 21-year-old age requirement for concealed weapons permits.
"Apparently the policy is to encourage as many people as possible to have easy access to a firearm." [Gunn said]
I suggest that Mr. Gunn is exaggerating.



NY: Retired cop shoots mugger : "“A retired cop shot and wounded a thug who had attempted to rob him in Bedford-Stuyvesant, authorities said. James Singleton, 32, walked up to the 45-year-old retired police officer near Schenectady Avenue and Herkimer Street at 4 p.m. Thursday and pulled a gun from his waistband, officials said. The cop grabbed his own revolver and fired, hitting Singleton once in the shoulder, cops said. A loaded .25-caliber handgun was recovered at the scene.”


NYC: Fatally shot livery cab driver drives car into wall to trap killer: "A mortally wounded livery cab driver's final act made sure his killer was trapped in the backseat, police and witnesses said Sunday. Roberto Pita, 37, was drawing his last breaths when he slammed his black Lincoln Town Car into a concrete wall on West Tremont Ave. in the Bronx. The crash pinned his thug assailant in the backseat, where cops found him moments later.... The 20-year-old suspect, whose name has not yet been released, was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital for treatment of injuries to his face and legs, police said. Charges against him are pending. A handgun was recovered in the backseat of the crumpled cab".


WY: Delegation pushes to allow guns in parks: "U.S. Sens. Mike Enzi and John Barrasso, R-Wyo., have added their names as co-sponsors of a bill that would allow individuals to carry concealed weapons into national parks. The legislation, called the Preservation of the Second Amendment in National Parks and National Wildlife Refuges Act, seeks to replace an administrative rule that has been mired in court proceedings since January that would also allow visitors to carry concealed weapons into national parks. A federal judge in April struck down that administrative rule, which was set in place last December by the outgoing Bush administration, after several conservation and other groups filed a lawsuit.”


SAF, Calguns challenge arbitrary denial of right to bear arms in California: “The Second Amendment Foundation, The Calguns Foundation and three California residents today filed a lawsuit seeking to vindicate the right to bear arms against arbitrary state infringement. Nearly all states allow qualified law-abiding citizens to carry guns for self-defense, but a few states allow local officials to arbitrarily decide who may exercise this core Second Amendment right.”

Monday, May 11, 2009



Why no-one robs stores in Israel






TX: Armed citizen takes out tires as shoplifters flee: “An armed citizen with a ‘concealed-carry’ handgun license shot out a tire on a car full of fleeing shoplifters, then followed them in his own vehicle Wednesday morning, helping Azle police apprehend four people who were subsequently charged with robbery. … Four accused shoplifters had been spotted by employees of Albertsons grocery store and were attempting a getaway with less than $50 worth of miscellaneous items when they were spotted by a citizen in the parking lot. … The fleeing driver seemed to be headed straight for the citizen, who fired at the vehicle, striking a front tire. Another citizen called 911 and reported ‘an undercover officer shooting at someone who tried to run him down,’ Myers said. That ‘undercover officer,’ it was later discovered, was the armed citizen, Myers said.”


Two stories from college, two different endings: “There have been two markedly different tales of violence and bloodshed from two different college towns that ended two different ways, reflecting the vast differences in culture and the gaping chasm that exists between the political correctness of the gun-free zone mentality and the common sense of being prepared. Story #1 comes from Middletown, CT, where 21-year-old Johanna Justin-Jinich will not see another birthday because a man identified by police as Stephen Morgan shot her dead on May 6 at an off-campus bookstore cafe. … Story #2, from College Place, GA where ten college students were celebrating a birthday party at an off-campus apartment early on May 3 when two thugs came crashing in. One of these gentlemen was later identified by police as 23-year-old Calvin Lavant Jr., and he will not be doing home invasion robberies anymore.”


Indiana: Gun stops hit/run driver: "Two young girls, sisters, were in critical condition late Thursday after being run down earlier in the evening while crossing the street arm-in-arm after playing with friends. The driver reportedly attempted to flee, but was stopped at gunpoint by a man who witnessed the accident. According to witnesses, the two girls, ages 4 and 6, were crossing 11th Street at Dodge Street about 7:18 p.m. when a man traveling west on 11th in a blue Chevrolet Lumina struck both of them at about 40 mph. "No sooner had they crossed the street than I heard tires lock up and, 'Boom! Boom!,'" said Alan Knepp, who was standing just up the street when the girls were hit. Knepp said the younger girl passed quickly beneath the vehicle, but her older sister rode the hood for several seconds before falling beneath the front end and then under both driver's side tires. The girls behind him, the driver then hit the gas, witnesses said, but stopped when Knepp, who was legally carrying a gun, jumped in front of the vehicle and trained his weapon on it. Approached by Knepp, the driver reportedly said the girls had jumped out in front of him. He then handed his keys to Knepp and stood silently next to his vehicle until police arrived. The girls, meanwhile, lay nearly lifeless in the road, witnesses said. The younger one initially was not breathing, and the older one's limbs and neck were badly twisted. Both girls were rushed by ambulance to Memorial Hospital in South Bend with critical injuries, Mishawaka police Capt. Pasquale Rulli said. One was immediately admitted into surgery, he said, and the other flown to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis."


OH: Toledo Mayor tells residents police can’t protect them: "“When word of significant cuts to the Toledo police force first came out, one senior police officer issued the following recommendation to city residents: ‘Buy guns. Invest in precious metals: lead, gun power and brass.’ And now, Mayor Carty Finkbeiner is admitting the reason why this is such good advice: ‘Violent crimes, shootings, are not ever prevented by the presence of a police officer, no matter how many thousands of police officers you have.’ Saturday, May 2 marked the first full day since 75 Toledo police officers turned in their badges and guns, and according to the Toledo Blade, word of the significant cuts in the Toledo police force is on the street.”

Sunday, May 10, 2009



'Good Samaritan' pins down carjacker: "A shopper and an employee at a Jewel Express in Michigan City, Ind. helped save a man and captured an armed carjacker. They came to the rescue when they heard someone yelling for help in the store parking lot and saw he was being attacked by a man with a gun. 'Good Samaritan' John Jesko says he was at the store Wednesday when he witnessed a robbery in progress. "You cannot describe the look that man had. I think he thought he was going to get killed, and I had to help him," said Jesko. Thomas Holifield, 47, of Michigan City was charged with attempted car carjacking and taken into custody. Jesko says saw a 74-year-old man run from his van at pump six. He struggled with the offender who was allegedly pointing a gun to his head demanding he hand over the keys to his van. "The elderly man screamed for help. I look in my truck. Throw it in park." Jesko said. "I just could not ignore it. The cashier also helped by getting the gun from him after I poured coffee on him to distract him." Jesko, a Michigan City construction worker, says he held the man down until the police arrived. He says he was scared, but it did not stop him from helping someone in distress. Apparently, when the victim struggled with the offender, the gun went off and wounded the elderly man's arm. "Oh man, my heart was racing. It happened really quick. When you are looking at that gun, you are thinking, 'I could get shot here.' All I wanted to do was take his mind off that gun," Jesko said."


Jamaica: Gunman shot and killed during attempted robbery: "One of two men who attempted to rob a security guard was fatally shot and an illegal firearm seized at Beckford Crescent, Sandy Bay, Clarendon on Friday night. The guard was also shot and injured. The police report that about 10:00 o'clock, the security guard was at Beckford Crescent when he was approached by two men, one armed with a gun. The hoodlums demanded money and opened fire when the security guard refused. The guard opened fire at the gunmen and was shot. The area was searched and one of the gunmen, who police identify as 28-year-old Tony Bennett of Sandy Bay, was found with gunshot wounds. He was reportedly clutching a Taurus nine millimetre pistol with a magazine containing four rounds. The other gunman escaped. The security guard took the gunman's firearm to the May Pen Police Station, reported the incident and handed over the weapon. He was taken to hospital and admitted in serious condition. The injured gunman was taken to May Pen Hospital where he died".


Off-duty NYPD cop shoots armed robber: "New York City police say an off-duty cop shot and killed an armed robber during a hold-up at a Brooklyn auto shop. The officer was getting his car repaired when two men came into the shop and yelled they were robbing the business. One pulled a .45-claiber handgun. The officer identified himself as police, and shots were fired. Police say the armed suspect was struck in the neck and dropped the gun, but the second suspect picked it up and fired before fleeing the scene in a SUV. The first suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. Police are searching for the second suspect. The officer wasn't injured. Uniformed officers responded shortly after the incident."


Germany: Idiot pols have run out of things to ban so want to ban paintball: “The German government wants to tighten gun laws and ban paintball games in response to a school shooting in which 16 people were killed in March …. Experts from Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives and her … coalition partners had agreed to ban paintball games … The governing parties say games like paintball trivialise violence and risk lowering the threshold for committing violent acts …. Germany toughened its gun laws in 2002 after 19-year-old Robert Steinhauser shot dead 16 people … and himself at a high school in the eastern German city of Erfurt. … The new rules would also grant authorities more rights in conducting checks with people owning guns, the sources said.”