Kneejerk critics of NC gun bill: "We never cease to be amazed at how liberals obfuscate the issue of gun control. We're seeing another variation with SB 34, the Castle Doctrine. Either these people, including some of our local leaders and the Washington Daily News, are either disingenuous or severely uninformed. For example, the WDN on Saturday ran an editorial critical of the proposed legislation in which they say: "where the bill goes awry is in its application to the workplace." Our local District Attorney opined the same complaint when he said he worries that someone would take a gun to Wal-Mart and get into an argument with someone and as a result of "harsh words being exchanged" would shoot them. But if you actually read the bill neither of these concerns are legitimate."


Texas Gun Laws: "Current Texas gun laws makes Texas campuses weapons-free zones but the famous gun-friendly state seems poised to pass a bill that lets college students and professors carry concealed weapons on college campuses by those who are permitted to do so. The campus gun bill was passed by the Senate in 2009 but failed to go through the House. The bill has a greater chance this time because more than half of the members of the House signed on as coauthors of the bill. Under current gun laws, Texas state allows anyone over 21 who passes a computerized background check and completes a 10-hour course is eligible. Lawmakers believe that the bill would help make college students and professors safer because armed students could return fire when a crazed gunman starts shooting at them."

NC: Speaking from experience: "Ben Miles Jr. credits a bit of dumb luck for keeping him out of trouble three decades ago, and for making him a gun-rights advocate. Miles and a friend had been target shooting early in the day before he drove to Greensboro’s Central Library to do research for a term paper. Four young men followed Miles as he walked out of the library, giving the then-student a strong sense they were up to no good. Miles reached his car, and the .22 -caliber pistol on his passenger seat. “The group by which I was being accosted saw the firearm and to use a quote ... peace broke out all over the place,” Miles recalled last week as he lobbied at the General Assembly for what is loosely known as the castle doctrine bill."


Rights defended in Florida: "This session, the Legislature is processing three bills that protect those rights. One provides a mechanism to punish local officials and state agency administrators who intentionally violate the state firearms pre-emption law. It provides uniform gun laws and ensures everyone in Florida lives under the same gun laws, and will punish willful violators. The second will stop doctors from interrogating patients about gun ownership and refusing to treat sick children if the parents decline to answer questions that have nothing to do with medical care. Gun-ban politics have no place in examining rooms. The third will reform laws governing concealed weapons license holders. It will stop arrests of license holders if the firearm they are carrying is accidentally exposed. Some call it “open carry” because it allows license holders, and only license holders, to choose to openly carry their firearms."

NC: Murder charge dropped in 2008 shooting death: "Officers went to 5456 King Wilkinson Road on May 12, 2008, after receiving a report of shots being fired. The deputies found Potter lying in front of a vehicle near a garage at the residence with a gunshot wound to the chest, according to Sheriff's Office reports. Potter identified Thompson as the shooter. The men were arguing over money owed to one another and began fighting. Thompson told officers Potter pulled a gun and he shot him in self-defense. Thompson was arrested at his residence on Fay Jones Road without incident. He was transported to Carolinas Medical Center - Lincoln for treatment of injuries he received in the altercation. Robert Thompson had been out of jail on a $75,000 secured bond awaiting trial."


Boren-Rehberg Amendment Blocks ATF From Unauthorized Tracking Of Rifle Purchases: "U.S. Congressmen Dan Boren of Oklahoma and Denny Rehberg of Montana successfully amended H.R. 1, the Fiscal Year Continuing Appropriations Act for FY2011, to prohibit the use of federal funds for a new and unauthorized regulation currently being proposed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). The Boren-Rehberg amendment prevents the ATF from circumventing the will of Congress by centralizing records of thousands of Americans’ rifle purchases without any legal authority. Specifically, the ATF proposal would require federally licensed firearm dealers to file reports with ATF on all sales of two or more semi-automatic rifles within five consecutive business days if the rifles are larger than .22 caliber and use detachable magazines. Boren and Rehberg’s amendment blocking ATF from receiving funding to implement the regulation was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives late Friday evening by a vote of 277 to 149."




Lawmakers Offer Legislation To Allow Importation Of M1 Rifles: "In 2009, the Obama administration approved the importation and sale of collectible, American-made M1 Garand rifles and M1 carbines from South Korea. However, the administration reversed its decision in March of last year, deciding instead to prevent these rifles – legal to make and purchase in the United States – from entering the country. Now, S. 381—the Collectible Firearms Protection Act—sponsored by U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.), and its House companion bill H.R. 615, sponsored U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), seek to once again allow these American-made firearms to be re-imported and sold in the U.S." Under the bill, firearms that are lawfully possessed by a foreign government—and that are more than 50 years old and considered antiques or relics—may be re-imported to properly licensed groups and sold without written permission from the U.S. Departments of State or Defense."

FL: Intruder was killed with own gun: "Jacksonville police released new information today in the Feb. 17 Palafox triple shooting that shows it was a self-defense killing of an intruder. Laterance Willie Sellers [above], 26, was attempting a home-invasion robbery in the 2000 block of Palafox off Kings Road about 5:15 a.m., according to the Sheriff’s Office. One of the occupants of the home overpowered Sellers and shot him with his own gun, killing him. Two female victims also were shot during the struggle but weren’t critical. Sellers, whose last known address was the 2000 block of West 13th Street, had done prison time for drugs and carjacking and most recently got out in December 2010, Department of Corrections records show."


WY: House gives first OK to concealed guns bill: "Wyoming residents could carry concealed guns without a permit under a bill that cleared its first hearing in the state House of Representatives on Wednesday. The House voted 48-8 in favor of the bill after stripping off a proposed committee amendment that would have disallowed people from carrying concealed guns if they were too intoxicated to drive a vehicle"


Data Shoots Holes in Bloomberg´s Billboard Campaign: "While anti-gun New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is sending a moving billboard truck around the country claiming that 34 Americans are "murdered with guns every day," the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms says the mayor is selectively ignoring the hundreds of lives saved every day because firearms are there when needed. CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb, citing research that places the number of lives saved annually with firearms at between 800,000 and 2.5 million - frequently without even a shot being fired - said that translates to "lives saved that Bloomberg chooses to ignore." "If you take the estimates and divide them by 365," Gottlieb observed, "you realize that between 2,100 and 6,800 people successfully defend themselves every day of the year with firearms in the United States."

CA: Two Men Robbing Jewelry Store Shot At By Store's Owner: "Two men who attempted to rob a jewelry store in Lafayette on Friday afternoon were shot at by the store's owner, a Contra Costa County sheriff's spokesman said Saturday. The robbery was reported at about 1:45 p.m. Friday at Prive Manufacturing Jewelers, a store located at 3557 Mt. Diablo Blvd., sheriff's spokesman Jimmy Lee said. Two suspects wearing masks came into the store and started smashing display cases. The owner of the store, who thought he heard shots fired in the store, took out a gun and fired two shots at the suspects, Lee said. One of the men appeared to have been hit by the gunfire, and the suspects fled in a waiting car that was driven by a third suspect, according to Lee. About a half hour later, the sheriff's office received a call from Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Berkeley, where a 24-year-old man had arrived with gunshot wounds."


NM: Homeowner kills would-be burglar: "A 70-year-old man called 911 last night and told police someone was breaking into his house. He had a gun, and a short time later he proved he knew how to use it. Hobbs police say Wallace Roberson, 43, tried to break into a home on the 1100 block of North Denson Street in Hobbs. The homeowner Watson Green, 70, immediately called police, grabbed his handgun and fired a single shot through the back door. The single shot went through Green's back door hitting Roberson. When paramedics arrived they found him bleeding in an alley. He died from his injuries. Roberson was arrested two weeks ago for burglary. He also has prior convictions for aggravated assault and battery dating back to 2007."


Guns in parks rule reaches one-year anniversary: "One year ago today, on February 22, 2010, the National Park Service lifted the ban on carrying concealed weapons in the parks for those who have permits to do so. ... At the time, critics predicted that the new rule would frighten families away from the parks, and that the number of animals shot by gun owners in the parks would increase exponentially. So what actually happened? 'Not much at all,' noted David Barna, spokesperson for the National Park Service, in an email. There was 'really almost no impact,' he wrote."

MT: Woman’s father shot aggressive boyfriend: "A woman’s father allegedly shot her boyfriend early Sunday morning at her parents’ Happys Inn-area residence in an incident that law-enforcement officials say involved alcohol. Scott Haskins, 38, of Olympia, Wash., was airlifted to Kalispell Regional Medical Center after sustaining non-life-threatening injuries from a gunshot wound to his upper back, according to Lincoln County Sheriff Roby Bowe. Haskins and his girlfriend’s father, 69-year-old Conrad Budd of Libby, had an altercation preceding the shooting. Haskins attempted to re-enter the residence after being told to leave, Bowe said, and Budd, who was standing outside the home, allegedly shot him with a handgun. Budd was detained and questioned about the incident but was later released."


A lefty apologizes for wanting to defend himself: "I remember my late friend Jim Boggs, a scholarly radical African American autoworker in Detroit. On my last visit to his home in a tough neighbourhood, Jim insisted on walking me to a corner bus stop on the way back to my hotel. Just before leaving the house, he calmly reached behind a marble bust of Karl Marx on the mantelpiece to withdraw a fully loaded .38 Saturday Night Special. Holding the gun by his side, as we strolled down the street in broad daylight, he said, 'Hey, I'm 100% for gun control. But I know this block. I'm no damn fool.'"

Detroit pizza delivery man fatally shoots armed robber: "A Detroit pizza delivery man turned the tables on three would be crooks Sunday night. The driver for Papa’s Pizza shot and killed one of the men who attempted to ambush and rob him around 10 o’clock. The address provided was a vacant home on the 20000 block of McCormick on Detroit’s east side, one block from the border of Harper Woods. The manager at the pizza shop told Action News his employee has a concealed weapons permit along with many of his other drivers. He was not hurt but was shaken up over the incident, according to the manager. Harper Woods police responded to the 911 emergency calls along with Detroit Police. A Harper Woods Police sergeant apprehended and detained two men who were running from the area of the attempted holdup. They were later turned over to Detroit Police."


OK: Ersland Act to protect business owners: "A state senator is proposing a new law that would be known as the "Jerome Ersland Act." Senator Ralph Shortey (R-Oklahoma City) says the bill would presume that a business owner was acting in self-defense if that owner shoots and kills an armed robber. "When I saw that Jerome Ersland was charged with this crime, I started thinking to myself, what in the world can we do to help citizens who are just trying to protect their businesses," said Sen. Shortey. Ersland was charged with the murder of 16-year-old Antwun Parker when Parker and another teenager tried to rob the pharmacy at gunpoint. Senator Shortey says the "Jerome Ersland Act" will be very similar to the "Make My Day" and "Stand your Ground" laws. He believes it will help protect business owners. Jerome Ersland found out about the proposed bill last week and says he is honored that it was named after him."

Texas poised to pass bill allowing guns on campus: "Texas is preparing to give college students and professors the right to carry guns on campus, adding momentum to a national campaign to open this part of society to firearms. More than half the members of the Texas House have signed on as co-authors of a measure directing universities to allow concealed handguns. The Senate passed a similar bill in 2009 and is expected to do so again"


Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership: "Since 1989, JPFO has stood for the complete and utter abolition of 'gun control.' Any form of firearms owner registry is an invitation to burgeoning tyranny, and even a police state takeover. You simply cannot argue with this premise. In the last one hundred years, every major genocide (which is mass murder by a government, or government backed faction, upon its own citizenry) has been preceded by gun registration and gun confiscation."

TX: Homeowner Uses Deadly Force to Protect Property: "At approximately 4:30 AM on February 18, 2011 a homeowner was awakened by barking dogs and when he looked outside he saw 3 individuals attempting to steal copper wiring from his his vehicle. The homeowner proceeded to yell at the suspects and fired a gun in their direction. The suspects fled the scene. A few moments later the police received a 911 call about a gunshot victim. When the paramedics arrived the gunshot victim had died. The deceased man has been identified as 53 year-old Rodney Allen Burns of Odessa, Texas. His accomplices Tanya Whitehead and David Whitehead have been charged with felony theft and theft of copper. The Odessa Police Department is investigating the shooting and at this time no charges have been filed against the homeowner."


Thieves lose money trying to rob Kansas City gun store: Two men attempted to rob a Kansas City, Missouri, gun store Thursday and ended up leaving with less money than they had when they came in, the Kansas City Star reported Saturday. One of the would-be robbers entered the store around 2:00pm Thursday local time and asked to buy a box of ammunition. When the 65-year-old clerk, who wore a shoulder holster and a handgun in plain view, told the man it would be about $50, the man said he needed to get more money and left. The man returned around 5:00pm with another man and tried to pay with two $20 bills. When the clerk said he was $10 short, the customer pulled a handgun from his waistband and demanded that the clerk hand over the money in the cash register. The clerk was able to tell that the man's gun was not loaded and pulled his own gun from his shoulder holster. "Before I got mine pointed at him, he ran to the door at, like, 95mph. I'm surprised he didn't bust the glass out of the door." The fleeing robbers left the $40 behind."


NJ plaintiffs fire next shot in right to carry lawsuit: "On February 18, the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), Association of New Jersey Rifle and Pistol Clubs (ANJRPC) and 6 individual plaintiffs filed reply papers in their historic right to carry lawsuit, in response to the State of New Jersey’s absurd argument that the Second Amendment only applies inside the home, and that the public needs to be protected from those who legally carry firearms. The new reply papers are available on Saf.org. The federal lawsuit, filed in November of last year, challenges New Jersey’s unconstitutional “justifiable need” standard for issuance of handgun carry permits - a nearly impossible standard to meet that has all but eliminated the right to self-defense with a firearm in the Garden State. In its papers filed last month, the Attorney General defended New Jersey’s existing carry laws, revealed apparent anti-Second Amendment bias"

Frustrated Detroit homeowner who chased and shot burglar gets off lightly: "Wayne County Circuit Judge Michael Hathaway sentenced Detroit homeowner Tigh Croff to a mandatory two years in prison this morning for using a gun in the commission of a crime for the December 2009 killing of a suspected burglar. Croff, 32, was sentenced for the killing of Herbert Silas. A manslaughter charge carries a maximum 15-year penalty and a felony firearm violation conviction carries a mandatory 2-year sentence. The judge said the sentencing guidelines did not take into account the circumstances for a person like Croff, whose home had been broken into twice within a few weeks. “He felt violated… frustrated,” Hathaway said. “He was enraged. He felt hopeless.' Prosecutor Molly Kettler said that the law can’t allow vigilante justice and that society can’t see “Silas as a piece of garbage and we’re better off without him and Mr. Croff is the hero." Croff chased Silas for about two blocks before firing the fatal shot as Silas turned with raised hands."


GA: Lawmakers push to repeal ban on guns in church: "A Georgia lawmaker says faithful church goers are sitting ducks, defenseless against a potential act of violence and some pastors agree. That's why they're pushing to repeal the state ban on guns in houses of worship. State Representative Bobby Franklin has introduced a bill that would give the faithful the option to carry a gun to their house of worship, but others say that's one place that should be off limits to weapons."

SC: Self defense clearcut: "Prosecutors say what happened at the house early Monday morning adds up to a multi-faceted case of self-defense. Homeowner Richard Williams confronting a man he'd seen breaking into his truck shortly after 3:00am. Williams told police the man temporarily blinded him with a flashlight. Williams had a gun and fired twice, hitting the intruder at least once. Police say 44-year-old Mark Edward Howard tried to flee on the bicycle he was riding, but collapsed in the street and died. Deputy Solicitor Dayton Riddle met with police Wednesday. "The question was asked is do you have any evidence whatsoever that this is anything other than self-defense," said Riddle. "And the answer I got was, we have zero evidence that it was anything but self-defense." Riddle says to make a case against the homeowner, court rulings require the state to disprove self-defense. He says there's no evidence that would allow him to make that argument."


SC: Law may allow concealed guns without permit: "A House panel on Thursday will take up a bill that would allow anyone who can legally own a firearm in the state to carry a concealed weapon without a permit. ... A House panel last month rejected efforts to give public officials more freedom to carry guns to protect themselves because gun rights advocates said they shouldn't be singled out for special treatment. Instead, that House panel now will consider doing away with the permit requirements for carrying concealed weapons."


Most states don’t follow mental health gun law: "More than half the states are not complying with a post-Virginia Tech law that requires them to share the names of mentally ill people with a system of national background checks to prevent them from buying guns, an Associated Press review has found. The deadline for complying with the three-year-old law was last month. But nine states haven't supplied any names to the database."


NH: House OKs “Made in New Hampshire” guns: "'Made in New Hampshire' guns that are free from federal laws and taxes would be manufactured and sold here with legislation clearing the House of Representatives on Tuesday. This 240-120 vote was another clear signal that Second Amendment supporters are finding much to like in the Republican-dominated Legislature elected with the backing of gun owner rights organizations"

Bronx jeweler fights back against robbers: "A Bronx jewelry store owner took matters into his own hands when three people attempted to rob his store. Anthony Spinelli was not going to be a victim. Police say two robbers held a gun to his head and told him to open the safe. But instead of giving in to their demands, Spinelli got his own handgun and opened fire. The well-dressed man and woman who came in to rob the store got away, but the 43-year-old suspected lookout was shot in the leg when Spinelli chased the suspects out of his store and on to Arthur Avenue. Luckily, no bystanders were hurt. lice roped off a nearby Mercedes with Wisconsin plates and towed it away."


NE: Belgrade man fatally shoots intruder in self-defense: "An altercation took place between Dodds and Cameron, and Dodds locked Metz and Cameron out of his home. Cameron gained entry into Dodds' home by kicking in the door. Authorities found Cameron's body inside the residence with a knife. The sheath for the knife was on Cameron's belt. Dodds apparently shot Cameron once with a 7 mm rifle in the mid-left torso area beneath the ribs."


Australia: Firearms charges for Perth home defender: "A Perth man has been charged with firearms offences after shooting and wounding two men who broke into his home and bashed him, police say. Police allege two intruders, aged 30 and 31, broke into the house at Bassendean about 11pm (WST) on Sunday, bashing the 40-year-old man, who took a shotgun and fired it at his attackers. Both were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The resident, who received a head injury, has been charged with possessing an unlicensed firearm and unlicensed ammunition. The 30-year-old man appeared in court yesterday charged with aggravated burglary, assault occasioning bodily harm and stealing a motor vehicle. Police inquiries continue regarding the 31-year-old man who remains in Royal Perth Hospital".


Guns and freedom: A different argument: "The less able individuals are to protect themselves from crime, the more dependent they are on protection by government law enforcement. The more dependent they are on protection by government law enforcement, the more willing they will be to accept abuses by government law enforcement. The more willing we are to be pushed around by the police, the harder it will be to prevent a tyrannical government from arising."

Law student finally judged not guilty in shooting: "A Philadelphia jury has acquitted a one-time law student of shooting a man six times in an after-hours sidewalk argument downtown. Gerald Ung had faced attempted murder and other charges in the January 2010 shooting in Old City, a neighborhood filled with nightclubs and bars. Ung had testified that he shot Edward DiDonato Jr. in self-defense after being threatened and lunged at by the victim and three others. DiDonato and his three friends denied provoking Ung. The 24-year-old DiDonato was critically wounded but survived. He is a former captain of Villanova University's lacrosse team. Ung, a 29-year-old former Temple University law student, was licensed to carry a gun. [He was charged only because he was Asian and his attackers were well-connected. See the initial report on this blog of 22 January, 2010]


FL: State attorney rules case justifiable homicide: "Officials say Fryer approached Emala's vehicle in an aggressive, threatening manner. Due to a physical limitation and unable to defend himself, deputies said, Emala retrieved a Colt .38 revolver from the vehicle's center console, hoping Fryer would retreat. Fryer lunged for the gun, which discharged into the windshield. Fryer then attempted to punch Emala through the window and Emala fired twice, hitting Fryer in the arm and chest. The State Attorney's Office said the shooting was justified through the Stand Your Ground law. Adopted several years ago, that law allows citizens to use deadly force if someone forcibly enters their home or occupied vehicle and they feel the threat of death or great bodily harm."


FL: Aggressive drinking companion shot: "Hatley was awakened by Cohron and the two began arguing. Detectives were told Cohron had a knife and attacked Hatley, who escaped and went next door to call the landlord. Not getting a response, Hatley returned to the home, entered his room and shut the door. Cohron banged on the door, but Hatley told him not to come in because he had a gun. Cohron barged in. Feeling threatened, Hatley shot him. State Attorney's officials said the shooting was a justifiable use of deadly force in Hatley defending himself."


MA: Store Clerk Shoots Man In Botched Robbery: "Police investigated a shooting Tuesday night that injured a man who they said attempted to rob a store in Mattapan. Boston police said the man, who was in his 40s, entered a store called Essential Body Herbs at 1282 Blue Hill Ave. just after 7 p.m. and attempted to rob the clerk while holding a hammer. The clerk, who has a valid license to carry a gun, shot the man, investigators said. Police said the man was taken to Boston Medical Center."

IL: Pharmacist shoots robbery suspect: "An employee of a Wauconda pharmacy shot and critically wounded a man today as he attempted to rob the drugstore, police said. Witnesses told police that a man wearing a ski mask entered Wauconda Pharmacy on Main Street at about 1:45 p.m. today, forced his way into the pharmacy area, threatened an employee with a knife and demanded a large amount of prescription painkillers. After he was given the drugs, a pharmacist and a technician grabbed the suspect an ordered him to stop and surrender, police said. The suspect broke free and threatened the two men, at which point the pharmacist fired a shot."


OK: Legislators propose “open carry”: "Citing a 2006 FBI study that shows most criminals conceal their firearms, State Representative Paul Wesselhoft, a Republican from Moore, has authored a bill that would allow any adult in Oklahoma to openly carry a firearm. He believes the proposal will help prevent crime and that it would buttress the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution."


KS: Law change may allow even blind to carry concealed: "In the state of Kansas, to carry a concealed firearm you need a gun — preferably something that fits nice under your jacket, in your pocket or perhaps in your purse. You also need a license, the state’s seal of approval that you can hide a firearm on your person. What’s less clear is whether you need eyesight. It certainly is suggested, unquestionably helpful. But following a change in state law, it is no longer clear whether it is required."


ATF declaring war on honest gun owners: "They are coming for your guns any way they can. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is waging a war on innocent gun owners, and not surprisingly, the Obama administration has done nothing to keep them in check."

CA: Father fires gun at son in self-defense: "A family argument turned violent Saturday evening, after a father fired a gun at his knife-wielding son, Fairfield police say. Officers responded at 6:45 p.m., police say, just moments after the shot was fired. They found the son, father, and mother all uninjured. Police determined the son, Edward Cepeda, 38, brandished a knife in the home and threatened his parents. Cepeda's father fired a single shot from a handgun into the floor in self defense. Police say Edward Cepeda was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon, threats and elder abuse."


Wis. judge affirms robbery victim's gun rights: "A Milwaukee County judge has ruled the state's concealed carry statute unconstitutional as applied to a man who had an unloaded, encased gun under a car seat after he had been robbed. Circuit Judge J.D. Watts says 28-year-old Jeremy Pinnow of Cascade, had few other options for exercising his right to bear arms for security and self-defense. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Sunday that Watts' ruling comes as gun rights advocates expect the new GOP-controlled Legislature to allow concealed carry in Wisconsin, one of two states that ban it entirely."


Swiss vote to keep guns at home: "Following an emotional debate over gun control, Swiss voters firmly rejected a referendum that would have forced soldiers to end the longstanding practice of keeping army-issue firearms at home and tightened restrictions over civilian gun ownership. According to exit polls, 57% of voters rejected the initiative. The referendum sparked a heated debate over the right to bear arms in a country that has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the world"


Concealed carry banned on college campuses: Increased safety or death sentence?: "What was once the subject matter of fiction is now ingrained in the minds of many as concrete history. Campus shootings and violence have become a genuine concern in the lives of students, faculty and citizens across our nation today. Only several weeks into the new year, this nightmare has already become brutal reality for various Ohio college campuses."

FL: Murder charges dropped over shootout: "Murder charges will not be filed against Tavarious China Smith in connection to a fatal shooting outside Club Elite in Palmetto, according to the office of State Attorney Earl Moreland. Smith acted in self defense Dec. 19 when 23-year-old Breon Mitchell was killed from a gunshot wound to the torso, the State Attorney’s Office has determined. Instead, Smith, 28, will face a charge of possession of a firearm by a felon. The shooting occurred at about 2:30 a.m. when Mitchell approached Smith as he was putting on a ski mask, according to reports. Smith asked him why he was wearing a mask and, if he was going to kill him, to just do it. That’s when Mitchell took out a firearm and shot at Smith several times in the arm, reports state. Smith, a convicted drug dealer, fired back twice before the men ran on opposite sides of the street, according to reports; Smith then fired two more shots at Mitchell, one of which killed him."


FL: State drops charge against man who shot fleeing intruder: "A Key Largo businessman facing a gun charge that carries a mandatory 25-year prison sentence saw the case against him dropped Jan. 24. Dimitrios Theodosiou, 62, was charged Dec. 13 with aggravated battery with a firearm after shooting a man on Theodosiou's Poinsettia Drive property at 1 a.m. The apparent intruder, Marlon Perez Monzon, 18, was wounded in the ankle after he tried to escape by scrambling over a fence. Prosecutors and investigators initially concluded the shooting was not covered under the state's Castle Doctrine or Stand Your Ground laws that allow people to defend themselves when in fear of their lives. The fleeing Monzon did not pose "an imminent threat" when shot, an investigator summarized. But by Jan. 24, Assistant Monroe County State Attorney Colleen Dunne had reversed that position. "[G]iven the circumstances and location of the alleged offense [under Florida law], the evidence is insufficient to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt," Dunne wrote in a filing that declares the state's intent to halt prosecution."

Most Mexican Guns Not Traceable to US


It appears that most public assertions regarding the source(s) of guns in Mexico have been misleading.

Here is some clarifying data from STRATFOR.

According to the GAO report, some 30,000 firearms were seized from criminals by Mexican authorities in 2008.

Of these 30,000 firearms, information pertaining to 7,200 of them (24 percent) was submitted to the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for tracing. Of these 7,200 guns, only about 4,000 could be traced by the ATF, and of these 4,000, some 3,480 (87 percent) were shown to have come from the United States.

This means that the 87 percent figure relates to the number of weapons submitted by the Mexican government to the ATF that could be successfully traced and not from the total number of weapons seized by Mexican authorities or even from the total number of weapons submitted to the ATF for tracing.

In fact, the 3,480 guns positively traced to the United States equals less than 12 percent of the total arms seized in Mexico in 2008 and less than 48 percent of all those submitted by the Mexican government to the ATF for tracing.

This means that almost 90 percent of the guns seized in Mexico in 2008 were not traced back to the United States.

Heh.

Va.: Apparent thief fired at: "Thinking that a man was trying to steal something from his yard, a retired police officer fired twice at the man's pickup, hitting it once. One of the bullets lodged in the man's head. The city's top prosecutor determined that the shooting was justified, saying Charles Duck feared for his life and his wife's when the man dived into his pickup. Duck said he couldn't see the man's hands, and what if there had been a gun in the truck? Ferguson stated in his ruling that Duck stopped firing at the pickup's cab when the man started driving away, and instead fired at the tires to try to stop the truck. Had the man complied with Duck's orders to lie down in front of the truck, there would have been no shooting, he said."


La.: Resident kills teen, wounds another he suspected of burglarizing house: "A 16-year-old boy was killed and a 15-year-old boy was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition after they were shot by the occupant of a house they allegedly broke into to try to burglarize, New Orleans police said. Police were called to the 7400 block of Woodbine Drive about 11:30 a.m. and found the teens shot in the house's backyard, said officer Hilal Williams, an NOPD spokeswoman. Paramedics pronounced the older boy dead at the scene. They rushed the second boy to a local hospital in critical condition. According to investigators, the youths cut the power to the house and then threw a brick through a back window. The burglary victim, who according to a relative is in his early 20s, was sleeping in the house when he heard a commotion, police said. He found the two teens climbing in the window, grabbed a gun and opened fire, police said. Williams said she did not expect police to file any charges against the burglary victim"


Va.: 1 dead in botched home invasion: "A 28-year-old Loudoun man was shot and killed Thursday night and another man was critically wounded during what police said could be a botched home invasion robbery in Sterling, Loudoun Sheriff's officials said. Investigators were told by people inside a home that both shooting victims were part of a group of intruders who burst into the residence in the 1200 block of East Kennedy Road at about 8:30 p.m., officials said. Witnesses at the home told responding deputies that the two men attempted to rob them. One of the robbers was reportedly shot and still in the residence while the other had fled. Deputies found a man shot in the home and he was taken to Inova Loudoun Hospital at Lansdowne, where he was pronounced dead, authorities said. A second wounded man was driven to the same hospital in a private vehicle. That 32-year-old victim was later transferred to Inova Fairfax Hospital, in critical condition."


Pakistan ignored 'witness accounts, physical proof that show Davis acted in self-defense': "The US Consul General in Lahore has 'regretted' that Pakistani authorities 'did not consider eyewitness accounts and physical evidence' when they stated that US diplomat Raymond Davis intentionally killed two Pakistani men in Lahore and that the act was not committed in self-defence. US CG in Lahore, Carmela Conroy, said the arrested American diplomat was remanded into judicial detention in Lahore in connection with the January 27 shooting incident. "We understand that eyewitnesses at the scene said that Ray [Raymond] acted in self defense when confronted with two armed men on a motorcycle. We also understand that these men were found with stolen property and, as the police stated today, a loaded gun. We regret that authorities did not consider these eyewitness accounts and physical evidence when they stated that this was not a case of self-defense," Carmela said in a press statement."

FL: Man charged in shooting death of grocery store customer: "A man suspected of trying to rob a grocery store in December now faces murder charges because a bystander was killed during an exchange of gunfire. Deputies say 20-year-old Jamsson Telisma tried to rob JC Grocery Store in Orlando Dec. 4, but a clerk pulled a gun and fired. Customer John Williams was shot and later died in the ensuing gunfight. The Orange County Sheriff's Office did not say which man's gun fired the fatal shots. Telisma is in the Orange County Jail. He was convicted in 2009 on a drug paraphernalia charge."


La.: Two shot trying to break and enter: "The first victim was identified as Roderick R. McCullon, 20, from Monroe. Police said McCullon was taken to St. Francis Medical Center where he later died as a result of his injuries. As the investigation progressed, Smith said police identified a second victim, Marvin Fritz, 42, also from Monroe. She said Fritz was not at the scene when police first arrived. Police said Fritz received a gun shot wound and was taken to St. Francis by a witness. Smith said Fritz is still listed in critical condition. Smith said Fritz and McCullon were trying to break into a residence when they were shot. However, while the report states while the suspect in this incident is known, the investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made. Smith said the man believed to have shot Fritz and McCullon is a Monroe resident who was visiting his girlfriend, who lives in West Monroe, at the time of the shootings."


Pa.: Home invasion intruder killed: "State police have identified a masked intruder who was fatally shot in a Hunlock Creek home invasion Tuesday. Robert Muntz, 44, of Sweet Valley, was killed at 59 Old Tavern Road, said Trooper Tom Kelly, spokesman for state police at Wyoming. A female occupant of the home was shot Tuesday, but was expected to survive, police said. Witnesses told investigators three masked people -two males and a female - entered the home around 11:39 a.m. prompting an exchange of gunfire. The female victim shot the intruder, police said. She was taken to an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The two other alleged intruders fled in a car and remain at large".


UT: 4 Walmart employees fired after disarming gunman caught shoplifting: "The gunman had a firm grip on Stewart's shoulder, telling him and three of his Walmart co-workers, "Don't make me do this." Instantly, Shawn Ray and Justin Richins kicked into gear, spinning the gunman around. Lori Poulsen ripped the gun away and secured it. They all held onto the man until police arrived minutes later. The four Layton Walmart employees felt it was mission accomplished. Police officers told them they had done everything right. But a week later, all four were fired from their jobs. Walmart said their actions had violated company policy and put their fellow workers and shoppers at risk."

NC: Alcohol Enforcement Agency Gets Bad Guns

(Raleigh, North Carolina) The state alcohol enforcement agency reports that new firearms purchased for its agents are pieces of crap.

Kimber .45 caliber pistols (150 bought @ $1,055 each) have repeatedly malfunctioned during training exercises.

Agency Director John Ledford said a deal was arranged with a local firearms dealer to swap the pricey handguns for less expensive models.[…]

Since the Kimbers were issued to agents in the fall of 2009, Ledford wrote, agents reported 289 malfunctions during training exercises, and many agents had chosen to carry personal weapons instead of the Kimbers.

Ledford said a deal was arranged to trade in the department's troublesome pistols to a Raleigh firearms dealer in exchange for 150 new Sig Sauer 220 handguns valued at $718 each.

Bad guns not good.

On a personal note, I'm not prepared to believe a blanket assertion that Kimber makes bad guns. Undoubtedly, there's more to the story.

FL: Homeowner shoots teens who attempted home invasion: "Two teenagers were shot Saturday night by a 72-year-old man they allegedly beat with a baseball bat during a home-invasion robbery in Ferry Pass. Earl Benard, 15, Nathaniel Nichols, 17, and Curtis Crenshaw, 18, all of Pensacola, have been charged with home-invasion robbery and aggravated battery in connection with the case, police said. Crenshaw and Nichols were arrested at a local hospital after being dropped off for treatment with gunshot wounds to their torsos. Crawford said he grabbed his handgun as a precaution and was holding it at his side when he opened the door Saturday night. The three teens had "hoods on and scarves around their faces," Crawford said, and they hit him with the bat before anyone had a chance to speak. Crawford stumbled back a step from the blow but didn't fall, and he started shooting as the first attacker was coming through the door, he said.


IN: Man fatally shot during car break-in: "A 38-year-old man was fatally shot while trying to break into a car on the Northeastside, police said Monday. Donnell Dennis, who was homeless, was shot about 11:20 p.m. Sunday by the owner of a 2000 Chevrolet Suburban at 4057 Millersville Road, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department spokesman Kendale Adams said. Adams said Dennis was armed and ordered two men to the ground. Instead, they opened fire on Dennis. Only Dennis was hit in the exchange of gunfire. The men, identified in a police report as Aaron and Matthew Arnold, both of Indianapolis, have not been charged in the shooting"


DoJ denies Project Gunwalker claim: "The U.S. Justice Department denied a claim made to lawmakers that two guns sold in purchases sanctioned by federal firearms agents were later used in a shootout that left a Border Patrol agent dead near the Arizona-Mexico border. Assistant U.S. Attorney General Ronald Weich said in a letter obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press that the claim that firearms agents sanctioned or knowingly allowed the sale of assault weapons to straw buyers who then brought them to Mexico is false."

NY jury acquits man in killing of would-be robber: "An Onondaga County Court jury deliberated about two hours before finding a man not guilty of murder in a fatal shooting that the defense contended was self-defense. The defense contended that 40-year-old Jeffrey Peterson was defending himself and his wife from attack when Shaheen Bean was killed in a struggle over his gun. Police say Peterson and his wife were returning home early on the morning of June 26 when 33-year-old Bean came out of the bushes and tried to rob them. Prosecutors say Bean had already been disabled by a shot in the leg when Peterson shot him again in the head."


UT: Too slow to shoot: "A Pleasant Grove woman defended herself and her home against an intruder Sunday afternoon. The 46-year-old woman told police she was home alone when a man broke into her house. ... She armed herself with a gun and confronted the man. The two fought, and the man was able to take the gun from her. A shot was fired during the scuffle, Capt. Michael Smith said. The woman ran, locked herself in her bedroom and armed herself with a shotgun. At least one other shot was fired."


Self-defense — not something you should ignore!: "When I was a kid, I was told to carry a whistle and scream fire (because no one responds to 'HELP' anymore), and the nice policemen would come to my rescue every time. I honestly believed this until I was attacked in my own backyard. No one came to my rescue ... and it was a huge slap in the face to everything I believed until that point. It planted the seed that eventually grew into my ownership of first knives, then a firearm."


OH: Guns seized, even though no law broken? "The Rev. John Henry, the Cleveland clergyman who in recent weeks has surrendered to police more than 200 guns and 2,000 boxes of ammunition, agreed Tuesday to relinquish something else -- his longtime job. Henry, 58, will take an indefinite leave of absence from St. Herman's House of Hospitality, the monastery and homeless shelter he has run for decades on the city's near West Side. Flask said that Cleveland officials know and respect that people have the right to purchase as many guns as they can afford. But Henry's behavior, he added, cried for more attention. For example, Flask said, Henry went to a Walmart between 9 and 10 p.m. and hung around the store until between 1 and 2 a.m. before buying the guns and ammunition." [Hanging around Wal-Mart sure sounds dubious!]

TN: Teen killed in shooting was participating in robbery: "A 15-year-old Cordova teen who was shot to death last Thursday was killed while participating in a robbery, investigators said Monday.... police said Burnett was participating in a robbery at the time he was shot. After the case was reviewed by the MPD's Homicide Bureau, and presented to the Shelby County District Attorney's Office, it was determined that no charges would be filed in his death. According to police, 18-year-old Avian Jackson shot-and-killed Burnett. Investigators said Jackson agreed to buy a gun from Burnett for $130. But when they met up Thursday afternoon, Burnett put a gun to Jackson's head and robbed him. Jackson told investigators he pulled his own gun and squeezed of five shots, hitting Burnett three times - once in the right arm, once in the right side of his chest, and once in the right side of his back."


CO: lawmakers consider bill eliminating CCW permits: "Republican lawmakers are pushing a bill that would allow a 'law-abiding person' to carry a concealed weapon without a permit in Colorado, including at universities."


States struggle to disarm people who have lost the right to own guns: "In Mr. Perez’s case, he had been held involuntarily by the authorities several times for psychiatric evaluation, which in California bars a person from possessing a gun for five years. Policing these prohibitions is difficult, however, in most states. The authorities usually have to stumble upon the weapon in, say, a traffic stop or some other encounter, and run the person’s name through various record checks."

National recognition of gun rights needed: "Congress should enact national reciprocity for citizens issued permits to carry concealed firearms by individual states," he added. A former National Rifle Association, Snyder is Public Affairs Director of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. "An individual who has a state-issued permit to carry a concealed firearm ought to be able to carry in any state in the same way an individual with a driver's license can drive anywhere in the United States," Snyder said. "Such a law would be of societal as well as personal benefit," he said. "As John R. Lott, Jr. has pointed out in his study More Guns Less Crime, rates of violent crime drop precipitously in jurisdictions adopting ccw laws."


Push for student rights fading: "In the wake of the Virginia Tech massacre, in which 33 students including gunman Seung-Hui Cho lost their lives, representatives from many states proposed legislation which would grant college students the right to carry concealed weapons on campus as a means of protection. Since the shootings at Virginia Tech, the majority of these bills have been quelled in various statehouses. However, Arizona, Georgia and Tennessee all have pending legislation that would allow concealed campus carry. Currently, 30 states statutorily ban firearms on public college campuses. Of the remaining 20, 19 have no official stance on concealed weapons on campuses, instead allowing colleges to make their own decisions. The twentieth state, Utah, actually mandates that public colleges specifically give their students the right to carry a concealed handgun on campus"

Robbers shot at; One killed: "Norwood, 38, and Rodriguez-Willis, 20, are charged in Benton County Superior Court with first-degree burglary. The Kennewick men have trial dates of March 7. Hernandez, 20, of Pasco, also is set for trial March 7 for attempted first-degree robbery with a firearm. The three are accused of going to 206 N. Buntin St. early Jan. 11 to rob a resident of $70,000 in cash. The intended target, Ramon Madrigal, ended up fatally shooting Tyler Stock, 20, when he forced his way in through Madrigal's front door, according to police and court documents. Madrigal and his girlfriend have told police he feared for his life and opened fire when he saw the intruder was wearing a bandanna and cap and holding a gun. Police and prosecutors have said Rodriguez-Willis drove Stock, Hernandez and Norwood to the home."


Concealed carry grows as critics’ fears of ‘bloodbath’ proven wrong: "Nearly 200,000 Ohioans have been issued a license to carry a concealed handgun since the state’s concealed carry law took effect in April 2004. Here in Lorain County, since 2004, a total of 5,416 concealed carry licenses have been issued. In 2010 alone, the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office issued 852 new licenses. When the law first went into effect, opponents argued there would be more crime and weapons assaults. That has largely proven to not be the case, Lorain County Sheriff Phil Stammitti said. “We haven’t had any big problems since the law took effect in 2004,” Stammitti said. The growth of concealed carry in Ohio reflects a widespread acceptance in most parts of the nation since 1987 when Florida opened the door to concealed carry. Today, only Illinois and Wisconsin absolutely prohibit concealed carry"

NV: Girls barge into house; woman opens fire: "A woman is sharing an emotional account of what she calls an unexpected and frightening confrontation. The 59-year-old says she felt forced to open fire after a pair of 20-year-olds forced their way into her apartment. "I thought they were on drugs. They had eyes so black, like a shark's eyes. It was horrendous. I couldn't believe it," said Lorraine Dipaola, who fired a single bullet. After the reviewing the case and interviewing witnesses, police have decided that the "victim" recovering from a gunshot wound may not be such a victim after all. Lorraine Dipaola claims she has never met these two girls before, until they came pounding on her door. She describes taking a jab to the left eye and to the ribs. According to Dipaola, the intruders pushed her 76-year-old disabled husband to the floor. "I warned them. I said if you don't leave my home, I will shoot. The girl said, I'm going to f'n kill you. She came at me like that. I had no choice," said Lorraine Dipaola"


TN: Estranged boyfriend invades, killed: "A Westmoreland woman shot an estranged boyfriend to death in self-defense after he kicked in her back door armed with a gun Thursday night. “Evidently, an estranged boyfriend had called and made some threats that he was coming to the house and do harm,” said Maj. Don Linzy of the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office. The man, identified as Clinton Slayton, 29, of Westmoreland, drove to the home, ramming his vehicle into the woman’s vehicle. Slayton, armed with a gun, kicked in the back door of the residence and was shot by the woman, who was at home with her child at the time. Slayton was transported to Sumner Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. No charges have been filed at this time."


MI: No Charges Filed In Shooting Death: "Lawrence was shot once when he tried to get into the home of Manuel Medeiros in the 2100 block of Georgetown. Medeiros reportedly warned Lawrence he was at the wrong house and was hit by Lawrence several times. The report also says he told Lawrence he had a gun before he fired the fatal shot."

FL: Fatal shooting termed justifiable homicide: "A man who shot and killed another man in what appeared to be a botched home invasion robbery last month will not be charged with the man's death. On the night of Jan. 19, William Fishbaugh was visiting a friend, Craig Rosenbaum, at 1391 NE 188th Ave., when his girlfriend asked for a cigarette. Fishbaugh told detectives he went outside to get her a cigarette from a car and a masked man hit him in the face with a piece of steel rebar. Fishbaugh said he ran back inside, chased by the masked man. He told detectives the masked man hit him a second time and threatened to kill him. Fishbaugh said he ran into a room in which he had left his 9mm handgun, grabbed the gun and fired two shots at the masked man, one of which struck him in the upper torso."


NC: Case Dismissed Again Man in Death of Mother: "A Superior Court judge on Thursday dismissed the case against an Aberdeen man charged in the shooting death of his mother in 2009. Senior Resident Superior Court Judge James Webb granted a defense motion to dismiss the case against Douglas Doughten after the state finished presenting its evidence. Police charged Douglas Doughten with voluntary manslaughter in the death of 72-year-old Barbara Shortt Doughten. He claims that he fired his pistol in the general direction of a side door of the house after hearing what he told police was someone trying to get in. The bullet passed through several walls before striking his mother in another room. "There is clearly insufficient evidence to show even the first element of imperfect self-defense," defense attorney Patrick Mincey told Webb in asking that the case be dismissed "Douglas thought someone was breaking into his house. He never intended to kill his mother. ... He did not intend to shoot his mother."


Jewish anti-gunners are just emoting: "The National Council of Jewish Women’s thinly disguised polemic in the article “Reforming gun safety laws a moral imperative” (CJN, Jan. 21) against gun ownership misses an important point. Making yet another rule banning guns will not protect us against violent crime, nor will enforcing a witch hunt against those deemed mentally defective enhance our security. NCJW’s position on the “moral” invalidity of our firearms laws is disingenuous. Imagine what Israel would be like today if its citizens were disarmed as these folks are advocating. Imagine also what might have transpired in Europe if the Jews had been armed and trained, as were the Swiss – the only country in Europe not invaded by the Nazis. Jews have always had an important stake in self-defense. Making social policy based on an irrational abhorrence of guns makes no sense."

KY: Convenience store clerk shoots robber: "Police continue to investigate a shooting at a convenience store, where a clerk turned the tables on a robber. Louisville Police said a clerk at a Food Mart shot an armed robber around 8:30 Wednesday morning. The robber then dropped his gun and took off in a car. Police say the suspect ended up at another convenience store and was taken to the hospital. We're told the suspect's injuries are not life threatening".


AZ: Bill aims to loosen gun laws: "Arizona solidified its reputation last year as one of the most liberal gun states in the nation after the Legislature passed a law allowing people to carry concealed weapons without a permit. This year, gun-rights advocates hope to push Arizona to the top of the list by passing a 'Firearms Omnibus' bill that would make Arizona the second state in the nation to require universities and communities to allow guns on campus and one of 10 that permit guns inside public government buildings such as the state Capitol."


Maryland Shall Issue Supports Reciprocity Bill: "Maryland Shall Issue (MSI) has announced support for HB-9, currently pending before the House Judiciary Committee in the Maryland General Assembly. The legislation is being sponsored by Delegate Michael Smigiel (R-36, Caroline, Cecil, Kent & Queen Anne's Counties). HB-9 would specify that a license to carry a regulated firearm, including a concealed regulated firearm, issued to an individual by Delaware, Pennsylvania, or Virginia would be valid in Maryland. Maryland does not currently recognize the handgun permits of any other state. "The states of Delaware, Pennsylvania and Virginia have recognized the rights and competency of their residents who have passed the background checks, including mental health screening, and met the training requirements in order to be issued these permits," says MSI President Paul Dembowski. Dembowski also says, "In a time of dire fiscal crisis, Maryland would be wise to do everything possible to promote tourism between our neighboring states."

MS: Man claims self-defense in fatal shooting: "Jackson was asked repeatedly to leave ... and allegedly called Rodgers a coward and said he would come back and kill him. Rodgers' son said Jackson would turn to leave, police said, but would walk back toward the residence, and had punched the younger Rodgers in the face a couple of times, causing minor cuts and scratches. Witnesses told police the younger Rodgers then pushed Jackson into his own vehicle, Jackson tried to get out of his SUV and that's when James Rodgers fired at him."


La.: Man shoots girlfriend's ex-boyfriend: "A man who was threatened by an ex-boyfriend of the woman he was dating shot the man in the leg in apparent self defense, according to the NOPD. A spokesperson for the NOPD said the couple was walking in the 2500 block of Wisteria Street around 3 pm Saturday when the woman's ex-boyfriend, identified by police as Marlon Mansion, approached them and said "I told you I was going to get you." After hearing the verbal threat, the spokesperson said the man pulled out a handgun and shot Mansion in the thigh. He ran off on foot and was later taken to the hospital. Mansion was arrested".


TX: Store manager fatally shoots armed robber: "A West Side convenience store manager shot and killed a masked, armed robber Sunday night in what employees say was the third time a gun-wielding thief had entered the store. The man killed was identified as Christopher Jaramillo, 28, by the Bexar County medical examiner's office. Jaramillo was shot inside the Leal Food Mart in the 2100 block of Leal Street, according to a San Antonio Police Department incident report. A manager was sitting behind the counter watching TV and a female employee was stocking items when Jaramillo, who masked his face in a black wrap and wore blue pants and a black jacket, entered the store and displayed a black handgun, police said. According to officers, the manager could tell the gun was cocked and loaded. Jaramillo aimed it at the stockwoman and the manager told her to run, police said. He then turned towards the manager, who fired one round from a .380-caliber pistol, striking him in the head, police said."


Bill would require all S.D. citizens to buy a gun: "Five South Dakota lawmakers have introduced legislation that would require any adult 21 or older to buy a firearm "sufficient to provide for their ordinary self-defense." The bill, which would take effect Jan. 1, 2012, would give people six months to acquire a firearm after turning 21. The provision does not apply to people who are barred from owning a firearm. Nor does the measure specify what type of firearm. Instead, residents would pick one "suitable to their temperament, physical capacity, and preference." The measure is known as an act "to provide for an individual mandate to adult citizens to provide for the self defense of themselves and others." Rep. Hal Wick, R-Sioux Falls, is sponsoring the bill and knows it will be killed. But he said he is introducing it to prove a point that the federal health care reform mandate passed last year is unconstitutional."

AL: Police say shooting may have been 'self defense': "The shooting death Saturday of an Athens man may be ruled self-defense, according to police officials. Officers responded to a residence in the 1800 block of Belleview Drive shortly before 2:30 p.m. and found shooting victim Gregory Bailey, 45, of Elkmont, dead outside the home. The victim reportedly fought with his nephew, William "cordall" Bailey, and Greg cut Cordall during the altercation. Greg reportedly refused to vacate the Belleview Drive property after Cordall Bailey grabbed a handgun and demanded that his uncle leave. Police said the arguing continued and led to the shooting death of Greg Bailey. Cordall Bailey was transported by ambulance to Athens-Limestone Hospital and then airlifted to Huntsville Hospital for further treatment. He was reportedly released Saturday evening."


FL: 72-year-old shoots home invaders: "Two teenagers were shot Saturday night by a 72-year-old man they allegedly beat with a baseball bat during a home-invasion robbery in Ferry Pass. ... When resident Jack Crawford, 72,answered the door, one of the teens hit him in the head with an aluminum bat and tried to force his way into the home. 'I opened it up and he hit me right off. ... Wham! Split my head open,' Crawford said. 'So I shot him and another guy,' Crawford said."


NC: Woman shoots store robber: "Wilkes Sheriff Chris Shew said Melissa Hartley, 37, of Wilkesboro, fatally shot James Phillip Church Jr., 37, of Beaver Creek Road, Boomer, while she was working as a clerk at the cash register at Yadkin River Grocery and Hardware store. Shew said Ms. Hartley told investigators that Church entered the store and was attempting to get money from the cash register. The sheriff said investigators found cash strewn about when they arrived. Ms. Hartley told investigators that Church grabbed her when she tried to stop him and she shot him with a gun that was in the store, said Shew, adding that Church wasn’t armed when he entered the store. Shew said Ms. Hartley, who hasn’t been charged in the case, and Church had a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship until they broke up recently. It was reported as an armed robbery involving a shooting to the Wilkes Communications Center at 12:07 p.m. Friday."


MS: Invader shot, killed: "A Baxterville man was shot and killed late Sunday night after apparently breaking in to a neighbor’s house on Franklin Road. The 39-year-old man allegedly broke into the house and starting beating the 48-year-old male occupant, Lamar County Sheriff Danny Rigel said. The occupant of the home got out a gun and fatally shot the intruder, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Rigel said after talking to witnesses who were present at the scene, the shooter was acting in self-defense."