Connecticut resident shoots dog, stops attack on animal control officer: "Plainfield Animal Control Officer Terry Foss was attacked by a "pit bull-type dog" late Tuesday night, according to Plainfield Police. Foss was responding to a complaint at 270 Green Hollow Road, where, according to residents, the dog was preventing them from exiting their home. On her arrival, the dog jumped at Foss, knocking her to the ground. Resident Ron Roberts fired "2 or 3 shots" from a .22 rifle at the dog, which police say yelped and ran away. Foss was transported to The William W. Backus Hospital in Norwich for treatment of possible head injuries, She was transferred to Yale-New Haven Hospital in New Haven. A hospital spokeswoman said Foss' family has requested no information on Foss's condition be released Wednesday morning. The dog has not been found. Police Chief Robert Hoffman said Roberts will not face charges from shooting at the dog. He said the department thanked Roberts for his action. "It sounds like it could have been a lot worse had he not been there," Hoffman said."


Handgun ammo shortage has stores limiting sales: "A nationwide ammunition shortage for handguns has gripped self-defense gun enthusiasts as the demand has gone through the roof in the past year, and there won't be any relief soon in East Texas, according to local suppliers. Gun sales spiked a year ago when it became clear President Barack Obama would be elected to office. The FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System reported 9 million background checks for gun sales issued January through August, an increase of 21 percent from the same period the year before. Casey Evans, co-owner of Evans Brothers Guns & Public Shooting range in Huntington, says the ammunition shortage has affected his business. The store limits handgun ammunition to two boxes a customer, depending on what they have in stock. Criminal background checks for gun sales in Texas were at 650,429 during the time frame — a 26.9 percent increase compared to the same period in 2008. Texas gun sales in the U.S. are No. 2 in that same time range. More guns sold means more demand for ammunition."


Mass. SJC to hear challenges to state gun laws brought by local defense attorney: "The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court is expected to decide whether a state law that requires residents to apply for gun licenses with their local police departments is unconstitutional. The challenge is being brought before the court by Paul W. Patten, a Fall River defense attorney who is representing Nathaniel DePina, 19, a New Bedford man serving a 2-year jail sentence after being convicted last year of illegally carrying a firearm. Patten is appealing DePina's conviction on the grounds that the state gun licensing statute is "vague and overbroad," inconsistent in application and violates an enumerated, fundamental right protected by the Second Amendment. "This is not just about guns. To me, this case is about the U.S. Constitution," said Patten, who will argue his case Nov. 5 before the Supreme Judicial Court."


Self defense against thugs very difficult in Canada: "For most people, the government makes it illegal to properly defend yourself. Possession of bear spray in most cases is illegal ... Owning a gun, while very restricted, is possible. However, being able to use it for self-defense is made nearly impossible by the government. You need to keep the gun and the ammunition in separate locked rooms, in locked cases. When someone is banging on your front door trying to kill you and possibly your family, would you have time to retrieve the weapon to defend yourself with? What could you do to protect yourself in this situation? How can you level the playing field when dealing with violent criminals? Gun control laws and the gun registry has done very little to keep guns out of the hands of violent criminals, because surprise surprise, they don't obey the law! It's the peaceful, law-abiding people that are victimized by these laws."