NC: Bar owner shoots convicted black killer in self-defense: "A shootout at a west Charlotte bar injured three, including Mark Bowens, a convicted killer from Belmont who police say initiated the Sunday night shooting. The incident occurred around 10:40 p.m. Sunday just across the Gaston County line at the Get-A-Way Lounge at 9305 Wilkinson Blvd., according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police. Police say Mark Anthony Bowens, 37, and Rodney Bowens, 45, both of Belmont, were kicked out of the nightclub and then returned a short time later with at least one handgun and started shooting. Bar owner Roosevelt Hinton, 67, of Charlotte, grabbed a handgun and fired back in self-defense, shooting Mark Bowens in the head and abdomen, police said. Police found Mark Bowens on the pavement outside the club. Mark Bowens has served four stretches in North Carolina prisons, including more than six years for a 1991 second-degree murder conviction in Mecklenburg County. He also served time for a March 2004 drug conviction in Gaston County. Hinton was not injured in the incident and will not face charges, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police. Rodney Bowens left the scene and remains at large. Mark Bowens was in critical, but stable condition at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, according to police. Two others at the bar also were injured."


Missouri: Dispute over woman preceded shooting, police say: Police are still investigating the Saturday night shooting that took place east of Harrisburg at the 14600 block of Proctor Road. The homeowner and intruder, who knew one another, were having a dispute over a woman, Boone County Sheriff’s Department Detective Tom O’Sullivan said. Police responded to the homeowner’s 911 call at 9:44 p.m. Upon arrival, they found signs of forced entry, such as damage to the front door frame and part of the door’s lock on the floor, O’Sullivan said. The homeowner used a .22-caliber rifle to shoot the intruder, a 49-year-old male from Sturgeon, at least five times in the chest and upper body. O’Sullivan also said there are no current indications the intruder was armed. “He’s lucky to be alive,” O’Sullivan said. Despite the gunshot wounds, the intruder made his way back to his vehicle and drove away. Other officers on their way to the house pulled him over on a traffic stop near the intersection of Highway 63 and Pinnacles Road, O’Sullivan said. Upon seeing his wounds, the officers called an ambulance and the man was taken to University Hospital. As of early Sunday morning he was in stable condition. No updates on his current condition have been made available. The investigation is still ongoing as police question those involved. At this time, charges have not been filed."


GOA’s State of the Union update on gun rights: "By the end of the month, President Barack Obama is expected to give the State of the Union address. Oh, what a year it’s been. It was almost a year ago that President Obama took his oath of office. But soon after he raised his right hand and promised to ‘preserve, protect and defend’ the Constitution, Americans became engaged in the fight of their lives to safeguard their liberties. The extremist Obama administration began pushing an anti-gun, socialistic agenda of the kind that most Americans have not seen in their lifetimes.”


NRA Blasts Washington State's Gun Control Bill: "Last week, NRA-ILA informed you about Senate Bill 6396, legislation that would bring California-style gun-control to the Northwest and ultimately ban many semi-automatic firearms commonly owned by Washingtonians. In fact, SB 6396 is more far-reaching than it appears on the surface and will absolutely impact a gigantic swath of Washington firearm owners, including concealed pistol license holders, hunters and competitive pistol shooters. As examples, consider the following restrictions that flow from the provisions of this horrendous piece of gun control legislation" -- Every semiautomatic AND PUMP-ACTION rifle and shotgun that has a detachable magazine and has a pistol grip located rear of the trigger (yes, that is just about all of them) is defined as an “assault weapon” and is banned under SB 6396! -- If you and your child/children are out in the woods plinking with his or her Ruger 10-22 and there are more than 10 rounds in the magazine, you are a FELON! -- If you are a Concealed Pistol License holder and your semi-auto self-defense pistol contains more than 10 rounds, you are a FELON! -- The use of firearms defined as “assault weapons” (see first bullet point) are banned for use in hunting!"