Alabama: Store owner says robber shot himself: "An owner of the Vineyard Food Market told The Birmingham News that a man shot himself dead as he ran after robbing the store on Tuesday night. The owner said he fired a shot at the fleeing man, who had grabbed money in the store and ran, but he did not think he had hit him. Police have not confirmed that account of the incident, but said the dead man had attempted to rob the store on Crestwood Boulevard. Jerry Tucker, owner of Crestwood Antiques a few doors down from Vineyard Food Market, was called to the scene because an alarm went off at his business after a bullet went through a window. Tucker, who has been in business there for eight years, said it's a nice community, but there is a lot of crime. Tucker said his son-in-law closed a computer store that he had owned in the same shopping center after several break-ins. Tucker said the owners of the Vineyard are well-liked by members of the community.


Kentucky homeowner subdues intruder until police arrive: "Police in Oldham County are investigating another apparent home invasion attempt. This time the homeowner subdued the alleged intruder until police could arrive. According to a press release from the Oldham County Police Department, officers were sent to the 1000 block of Goshen Lane about 1:30 a.m. Friday on a report of a home invasion burglary. When police arrived on scene, they found the home owner, Wes Johnson, and a houseguest, Richard Rackleffe, restraining 34-year-old Sherman Ellis from Louisville. Johnson told us it was about 1 a.m. Friday when Wes Johnson, his wife and their two out-of-town guests went to bed. About a half-hour later, Johnson says they heard something strange: the garage door opening and closing. "We got out there and the garage was closed and we couldn't really figure out what was going on," Johnson said... "I saw a closet door in our basement close. When I approached the door and kicked it open the guy came out and started to assault me," Johnson said. Johnson says he and Ellis continued to struggle. "When somebody's coming at you in the darkness in the night and somebody comes at you with something in their hand to hit you, it helps you realize real quick that something's not right." Johnson says he yelled for his wife to bring him a pistol he had in the house. In the meantime, Johnson's guests - both former FBI agents - came running downstairs. "The guy was fighting all he could," said Johnson's guest, Richard Rackleffe. I used to work with defense tactics and all I did was take the arm and put it in a twist, where he quit fighting and he just succumbed or submitted at that point." They held Ellis at gunpoint until police arrived and even then Johnson said Ellis fought officers, slightly injuring one before being handcuffed. Ellis has a long criminal past, including multiple rape charges."


IL: Police say concealed carry law would deter criminals: "Talk of bringing concealed-carry legislation to Illinois gives many residents a fear of the unknown. Several local police chiefs and other personnel said putting fear into the minds of criminals on the streets is also one of the best arguments for allowing concealed carry. ‘We’re supporting the sheriff’s association with mandated regulations if the Legislature decides to enact concealed-carry in the state,’ Bartonville Police Chief Brian Fengel said. ‘They’re already out on the streets. The gangbangers already have guns. This would allow law-abiding citizens to have them with mandatory training and background checks.’”


Senate Considers Concealed Weapons Amendment: "The Senate begins debating an amendment Monday that would allow people issued concealed weapons permits in their home state to carry those concealed weapons in any state in the union. The amendment to the defense authorization bill is sponsored by Republican South Dakota Sen. John Thune, who says it "enables citizens to protect themselves while respecting individual state firearms laws." A release from Thune's office claims that "states with concealed carry laws enjoy significantly lower violent crimes rates than those states that do not." The release also says that those who leave their home state with concealed weapons would still have to follow gun laws in other states, "including laws concerning specific types of locations in which firearms may or may not be carried."