CA: Involuntary manslaughter charges dropped against 66-year-old man: "Prosecutors told a judge Friday that they were dropping charges against a 66-year-old Simi Valley man accused of involuntary manslaughter stemming from the death of his daughter’s boyfriend in 2008. On Nov. 16, 2008, Scribner went outside his house with a loaded, cocked gun with the safety off and fired once, hitting Wall in the neck and killing him. According to court testimony, Wall had been arguing with Scribner’s then 29-year-old daughter, Jaime Scribner, when the shooting occurred. Spiga said it took less than two minutes after Scribner got out of bed for him to fire the shot after Wall rushed him. “Everything happened so quickly,” the attorney said. Day said several jurors told her they didn’t believe Wall was the “monster” portrayed by the defense. “However, they did feel that when he was drinking, he had anger issues,” Day said. “They did believe Mr. Scribner was entitled to brandish his gun in self-defense, and that he had a reasonable belief that Bryan might hurt him"


OH: Man deemed to have fired in self defense but not with a gun he owned: "In the months since video of a gunfight at a local bar was released making national news, Lashon Sawyer has maintained the weapon he’s seen firing several times during the incident was not his. The Toledoan said Tuesday he feels as if he finally was exonerated after a felony charge against him was dismissed in Lucas County Common Pleas Court. “I’m glad the truth came out,” Mr. Sawyer said after his case was dismissed. “There was a lot of commotion that night,” he added, saying once again that he found the gun near the back door of the kitchen and was on his way to the bar area to hand it over when he encountered gunfire. Throughout Mr. Sawyer’s trial, patrons and employees who were at the bar that night testified about how gunfire erupted inside the small bar. Some of the witnesses testified that Mr. Sawyer’s actions may have prevented injuries from occurring. Because he was acting in self-defense, Mr. Sawyer was not charged with shooting the gun, only having it in a liquor-permit premise, a fifth-degree felony."


Georgia minister sues to take guns to church: "A Thomaston minister and a gun rights advocacy group is filing lawsuit challenging Georgia’s prohibition against guns in church, a move that was predicted after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last month the Second Amendment's guarantee of an individual right to bear arms applied to state and local gun control laws. The suit, mailed Friday to the Superior Court in Upson County, is brought by GeorgiaCarry.org; the Baptist Tabernacle of Thomaston; Ed Stone, the president of GeorgiaCarry.org and the Rev. Jonathan Wilkins. The suit lists Upson County and the state as defendants. Those for less as well as more restrictions on guns had said last month places of worship would be the next battle over where permitted gun owners can take their weapons. The suit cites the First Amendment freedom of religion and the Second Amendment right to bear arms as grounds for bringing the case."


Federal judge orders Iowa sheriff to issue gun permit: "U.S. District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett has ordered Osceola County Sheriff Douglas L. Weber to issue a gun permit to a resident and to complete a college-level course involving the First Amendment. Bennett’s written decision on Wednesday involves the case of Paul Dorr, of Ocheyedan, who was denied a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Dorr and his son, Alexander, were denied gun permits after being engaged in extensive First Amendment activity -- protesting, passing out leaflets and writing letters to the editor -- the opinion notes. “The court finds a tsunami, a maelstrom, an avalanche, of direct, uncontroverted evidence in Sheriff Weber’s own testimony to conclude beyond all doubt that he unquestionably violated the First Amendment rights of at least Paul Dorr,” Bennett wrote in his ruling."