CA: Lovesick home invader shot: "The man fatally shot July 17 in the Orange County home of a girlfriend was a former Whittier resident whose family ran one of the city's oldest bail bonds business. Authorities said a 51-year-old Arizona man who was a house guest shot Dean Patrick Maldonado. The man wasn't arrested. On July 17, Amormino said Maldonado called a female friend then just before midnight went to the woman's house in the 21300 block of Stonetower Drive in Rancho Santa Margarita. He believes the woman was a prior girlfriend. Maldonado entered the house through an unlocked sliding door. "She had a male houseguest there. Something led up to the shooting," Amormino said. "There was some screaming and yelling heard before the shooting." He said Maldonado was shot at least twice in the upper body and died at the scene."


OH: Off-duty officer shoots at would-be robbers: "An off-duty Highland Heights police officer was the victim of an attempted robbery early Saturday morning in Cleveland, police said. He told Cleveland Police that while walking with the woman to his vehicle they were approached by three black males. As the men approached, one of them produced a handgun, pointed it at the off-duty officer and demanded money, Morris said. He then identified himself as an off-duty police officer and slowly back pedalled to his vehicle. Subsequent to reaching his vehicle, he was able to retrieve his off-duty weapon and discharged one round at the suspects, Morris said. The suspects fled the scene on foot, police said. It is not known at this time if any of suspects were hit when the shot was fired. The officer and his friend did not report any injuries, Morris said."


Packing heat in AZ to become easier soon: "The Wild West is about to get wilder - on Thursday, Arizona will join Alaska and Vermont as one of the states with the country's most liberal gun laws. Senate Bill 1108 removes the requirement that gun owners must be trained and licensed to carry a concealed weapon. Arizona already allows for "open carry" - anyone not legally prohibited from possessing a firearm, such as convicted felons or those adjudicated mentally incompetent, can carry firearms in public as long as they are clearly visible. After Thursday, the requirement that weapons be displayed openly will be dropped, and anyone who is not a "prohibited possessor" will be able to carry concealed weapons. The new law will not remove restrictions on places where it is forbidden to carry weapons, including schools"