"Two gentlemen came out of the woods, one holding a baseball bat, and said 'You're coming with us'."
The men weren't deterred by Dinah's dog Gracie.
"I said, 'Well, what do you want?,' and as I was saying that I
reached in to my pocket and slipped my gun out, slipped the safety off
as I pulled it out. As I was doing that the other gentleman came toward
me and raised the baseball bat. And, I pointed the gun at them and
said, 'I have this and I'm not afraid to use it.'"
More Here
Sunday, August 31, 2014
OH: Doctor Not Guilty in Self Defense Shooting
A jury found a
Duncan physician not guilty on Friday of assault and battery with a
deadly weapon in the shooting last year of his ex-wife’s boyfriend.
(snip)
McKinnon and Rachel Morales testified they did not provoke the violence.
Defense attorney Garvin Isaacs introduced photograhic evidence that showed the doctor was heavily bruised after the incident to bolster his contention that was a full-fledged altercation preceding the gunfire.
More Here
(snip)
McKinnon and Rachel Morales testified they did not provoke the violence.
Defense attorney Garvin Isaacs introduced photograhic evidence that showed the doctor was heavily bruised after the incident to bolster his contention that was a full-fledged altercation preceding the gunfire.
More Here
OH:Cheap Gun Opportunity Cleveland 6 September, 2014
There will be a gun turn in event in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday, 6 September, 2014. While these events are commonly labeled with the propaganda term "buyback" the guns were never owned by the people attempting to buy them.
I have not been able to find any definitive information about where the event will be held, how much will be offered for what firearms, or what the starting and ending times are. It appears that the event will only collect handguns. From newsnet5.com:
At the handgun buyback event, people can exchange guns for gift cards, no questions asked. The guns are tagged and checked and eventually melted down.
There is no hint of objectivity by Newsnet5.com. They are actively promoting the event. There would not be a problem with this if the event were politically neutral. The event obviously is not. It promotes the idea that guns are bad and should be destroyed.
Between noon and 8 p.m. today, we are holding a phone bank to help the Cleveland Police Foundation raise money for the Foundation's handgun buyback event set for Saturday, September 6. The phone bank phone number is 800-658-5370.Private sales of firearms in Ohio are legal, and Cleveland cannot override state law. Last year some private buyers were successful. From the ohioccwforums.org, :
I bought a Colt Agent revolver last year in almost new condition. I believe a Python was purchased also.After some initial friction last year, the police recognized the right of private buyers to be there.
Yup, a bit of an interaction in the morning as they got their crap together, then we were free to operate. One of the officers was actually reassuring citizens bringing in guns that they could sell to us without issue.Last year, the location was on Payne Avenue. Here is last year's (2013) information from newsnet5.com:
CLEVELAND - The 2013 City of Cleveland Gun Buy-Back was held Saturday, June 15 at Public Safety Central on Payne Avenue.
In all, 352 firearms (311 handguns and 41 long guns) were surrendered to police.
In exchange for operable handguns or semi-automatic rifles (Assault Rifles), citizens were given a either a $100 (handguns) or $200 (semi-automatic rifles) Target, gas or food gift card and two tickets to an upcoming Cavaliers and Lake Erie Monsters game.
In addition, they were entered into a raffle with a chance to win up to $1,000.
You might want to read the insider story by private buyers in Jacksonville Florida to see how things were handled there.
Be prepared for a percentage of people who refuse to talk to anyone but police. All the private buyers that I saw at gun turn ins were polite and let ideologically driven people turn in their guns for a fraction of what they would be worth on the open market.
Signs are helpful, as are good grooming, cash, and a friendly attitude. Dale Carnegie's advise for dealing with people works very well. Risks of purchasing stolen guns are small. You can read about them at this article.
Across the country, communities, police departments and churches are sponsoring gun turn-ins to get "guns off the street". At many of these events, private buyers are showing up, offering cash for the more valuable guns. These private additions to the public turn-in are effective, no doubt, in getting more guns off the street, because they add to the resources that are available to those who want to get rid of guns for something of value, be it a grocery card or a number of twenty dollar bills.
You can help make the turn-in in your area more effective by standing on the curb with your "Cash for Guns" sign, or at a folding table, willing to offer more than the gift card for firearms that are more valuable. It would be best if numerous private parties were available, as more good guns could then be transferred into responsible hands.
This action serves many useful purposes. It stretches the turn-in budget so that more guns can be taken off the street. It helps keep fearful widows from being defrauded of most of the market value of the gun they are turning in. It prevents valuable assets from being destroyed by bureaucratic inflexibility. It is a win-win-win situation. The ideal situation for those organizing the turn in would be to allow private buyers to purchase the valuable guns, while having the organizers take the cheap guns "off the streets". As these events are ideologically driven, that seems unlikely, but it might be worth an attempt at outreach. All parties would benefit.
Private buyers dispel the pernicious message that guns are bad and should be destroyed.
Link to potential legal risk of buying a gun at one of these events
Link to article with numerous examples of private sales at gun turn in events
Link to an article about private buyers at Detroit event
Link to Phoenix Article: pictures of private buyers
©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch
TX:Clerk Wounds Would-be Robber
Houston police said an armed convenience store clerk not only foiled an attempted robbery, but wound up putting the would-be robber in the hospital. Police said the man was shot in the neck while trying to rob a convenience store at the intersection of Almeda-Genoa and Rowlett.
"When I saw the gun I felt like I was going to die. For my safety I had to pull my trigger," said store clerk Kiran Giri.
More Here
CO: Castle Rock Approves Open Carry, Curtails Town Manager Power
Castle Rock, Colorado sits on the urban corridor from Denver to Colorado Springs. It is primarily a bedroom community to Denver that has had explosive growth in the last 30 years, form 3,921 in 1980 to 51,348 in 2012.
In 2003 the Town Council gave the Town Manager, who is appointed by the Council, the authority to ban the open carry of firearms on town property. In 2014, the Council voted to remove that authority. The current Town Manager, Mark Stevens, had prohibited open carry on Town property.
What resulted were two initiatives; one to approve of the action of the Town Council, (put forward by those opposed to it - a "no" vote would reverse the decision), and another to remove the power to regulate firearms from the Town Council and to requiring a referendum on all future firearms issues.
Second Amendment advocates recommended a "Yes" vote on both issues.
The election process was hotly disputed, with at least two lawsuits and concerns over the counting of election results. Second amendment advocates claimed that many election safeguards were disregarded by officials who reported to the Town Manager. The election was held on 19 August and the results certified on the 29th of August. The election turnout was reported to be the highest in City history. This is due to a combination because of city growth, the new Colorado election laws that require a mailing of ballots to all voters, and because of the nature of the questions.
Here is the wording of the two ballot questions, from crgov.com:
A. REFERENDUM ON ORDINANCE NO. 2014-03 will read:
SHALL TOWN COUNCIL ORDINANCE 2014-03 BE APPROVED WHICH ORDINANCE REVOKES THE AUTHORITY OF- THE TOWN MANAGER UNDER THE MUNICIPAL CODE TO PROHIBIT THE OPEN CARRYING OF FIREARMS WITHIN MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS, PARKS, RECREATION AREAS AND OTHER MUNICIPAL PROPERTIES OWNED OR OPERATED BY THE TOWN OF CASTLE ROCK?
YES ___ NO ___
B. HOME RULE CHARTER AMENDMENT will read:
SHALL THE TOWN OF CASTLE ROCK HOME RULE CHARTER BE AMENDED BY ADDING A NEW SECTION 1-5 TO READ AS FOLLOWS?
Section 1-5. Constitutional Rights.
Any restriction or limitation on the rights of citizens to keep and bear firearms enacted by the Town Council shall require the approval of the registered electors as a referred measure under Section 15-4 of this Charter. This Section shall not apply to Town Council action which makes unlawful the discharge or brandishing of firearms. This Section shall govern and control over Articles II and VII or any other conflicting provision of this Charter, and shall apply only to Council action taken after its adoption.
YES ____ NO ___
Both results were in favor of second amendment advocates, both initiatives passed.
Measure A, which approved of the Town Council removing the authority of the town manager to restrict open carry, passed by 50.8% of the vote, 4,737 to 4,586.
Measure B, which required that all future decisions on gun restrictions be subject to referendum, passed overwhelmingly, 6,610 (71.2%) to 2,679 (28.8%)
©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included. Link to Gun Watch
Cowboy mounted shooting debuts at Nebraska State Fair
In the Old West, the handgun, shotgun and rifle were important tools for self-defense and survival. Being proficient with a weapon was important. Being proficient with a weapon while riding a horse was even better.
On Thursday at the Nebraska State Fair, modern-day cowboys, some of the best riders and shooters in the state, gathered for a cowboy mounted shooting demonstration and competition at Thompson Arena.
More Here
Saturday, August 30, 2014
TX:Border Patrol Fires at Armed Citizen
The Border Patrol has had strict policies about the firing of weapons for decades. In the most famous recent case, Border patrol agent Brian Terry was killed in a firefight in which the Patrolman used less lethal "bean bag" rounds. Border Patrol agents I have talked to have always said that the mere presence of a weapon is not enough to justify shooting at someone. This makes sense, because most people in the United States can legally possess weapons, and because the law is clear on what is required to justify the use of deadly force. The mere presence of a weapon is not enough. In border areas, where there is often rampant criminality, many people consider it foolhardy not to be armed.
The Arizona Supreme Court recently reiterated this maxim, when they ruled that the mere presence of a weapon is insufficient to allow a person to be detained.
From ap.org:
Border Patrol spokesman Omar Zamora said agents had been chasing a group of immigrants east of Brownsville Friday afternoon when an agent saw a man holding a gun near the Rio Grande. The agent fired four shots, but did not hit the man.The totality of the circumstances must be taken into account. In this case, the agent was pursuing a group of illegal aliens when he saw the armed citizen. However, the citizen never made any threatening moves, and never pointed his long gun in the direction of the agent. Perhaps the shots were meant as a "warning". I do not believe that this is Border Patrol policy, as it is a good way to instigate a gun fight. The citizen in this case immediately dropped his weapon.
He very likely had seen the agent coming in his direction and knew that the person firing at him was a member of the Border Patrol.
I suspect that the Border Patrol agent will be in a lot of trouble for this breach of protocol. He is very lucky that he did not hit the armed citizen, who was on private property, who had permission to be there, and who was not reported as doing anything wrong or illegal.
Update from a post to this article on The Truth About Guns:
©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch
Link to Gun Watch
David Codrea: Lawsuit faults Gander Mountain for failure to read minds
David Codrea hits another one out of the park with this article. I thought the NYTs could not drop its credibility about guns and gun laws much lower. But with the editorial that David writes about, they succeed.
"Will a Gun Retailer Get Away With Negligence?" Teresa Tritch of The New York Times asks.
That headline is significant for two reasons: First, because it very publicly presumes a defendant in a contested civil lawsuit is guilty of negligence. By all standards of objective journalism, even suspected murderers everyone "knows" are guilty are referred to as "alleged" killers until verdicts are rendered. Second, because Tritch is a 10-year member of The Times' editorial board, writing her piece for "Taking Note," the paper's "editorial page editor's blog."
More Here
"Will a Gun Retailer Get Away With Negligence?" Teresa Tritch of The New York Times asks.
That headline is significant for two reasons: First, because it very publicly presumes a defendant in a contested civil lawsuit is guilty of negligence. By all standards of objective journalism, even suspected murderers everyone "knows" are guilty are referred to as "alleged" killers until verdicts are rendered. Second, because Tritch is a 10-year member of The Times' editorial board, writing her piece for "Taking Note," the paper's "editorial page editor's blog."
More Here
IN: Man Defends Home and Family Against Gang
Police received a report of shots fired in the 11000 block of Dedham
Drive around 3 a.m. Detectives said two or three men were trying to
break into the home. The homeowner struggled with the men over a gun and
shot one of the suspects.
A woman and small child inside the home at the time were not hurt.
There are bullet holes in the home's front door and blood on the front porch and driveway.
More Here
A woman and small child inside the home at the time were not hurt.
There are bullet holes in the home's front door and blood on the front porch and driveway.
More Here
MI: Armored Car Guard Shoots Two
Police Chief Fred Posavetz saidthat shortly
before 1 p.m., a Garda armored car security guard was entering the bank
at 37370 Gratiot when he was accosted by a robber.
“They got into a gun battle,” Posavetz said, adding that the suspect was “shot several times by the armored car officer.”
In
the exchange of gunfire, the guard also shot a getaway driver who was
sitting nearby in a stolen minivan, Posavetz said. Police found the
silver Town and Country minivan unoccupied on a side street just north
of the bank. A bullet hole was found in the passenger front door and
blood was on the driver’s seat and steering wheel.
LA: Pastor Shoots Suspected Burglar
A pastor of an Algiers church shot and wounded a 50-year-old man Wednesday in a reported burglary, New Orleans police and relatives of the pastor said.
The Rev. W.L.T. Littleton fired on two burglary suspects, striking one in the head outside the Greater Morning Star Baptist Church on Vallette Street, according to relatives and church members who gathered at the scene and a brief police statement.
More Here
The Rev. W.L.T. Littleton fired on two burglary suspects, striking one in the head outside the Greater Morning Star Baptist Church on Vallette Street, according to relatives and church members who gathered at the scene and a brief police statement.
More Here
LA: Homeowner Shoots Intruder Four Times
Craft said the homeowner, who has not been identified, told
investigators that a man began beating on the front door, and when he
opened the door the man forced his way into his house.
The homeowner said that when he pulled a gun on the man, he fled outside, but he still refused to leave the property, and then began to move toward him in an aggressive manner. The homeowner then opened fire, striking Fernandez four times.
More Here
The homeowner said that when he pulled a gun on the man, he fled outside, but he still refused to leave the property, and then began to move toward him in an aggressive manner. The homeowner then opened fire, striking Fernandez four times.
More Here
Deputy Shoots Attacking Cow
Cows are large, powerful animals. They can easily weigh 800 lbs. If they want to hurt you, they have the means to do so.
The deputy says he got to his feet just as the cow was charging a second time, and was forced to shoot and kill the animal to avoid a second blow from the cow.
The deputy's injuries are not life-threatening.
More Here
The deputy says he got to his feet just as the cow was charging a second time, and was forced to shoot and kill the animal to avoid a second blow from the cow.
The deputy's injuries are not life-threatening.
More Here
Friday, August 29, 2014
UT: Scofflaw City Agrees to Follow Gun Law
The Utah municipality of Sandy City has agreed to stop violating state law. The city had passed ordinances that were clearly in violation of state law. Nearly all states control what power is granted to cities. State power is granted by the Constitution, and constrained by it, as is federal power.
Most states have reserved the power to regulate guns to the state level, so that there will be uniform gun laws throughout the state. Utah is one of the vast majority of states that have a preemption law that does this.
The Second Amendment Foundation has been looking at local municipalities that are in violation of the law, and pushing to have them follow the law. In the case of Sandy City, the violation was obvious. Sandy City agreed to repeal the offending ordinances. From sltrib.com:
"Sandy City Corporation has no legal authority to adopt or enforce these sections of the Sandy City Corporation Code and should, out of respect for the supremacy of the Utah Legislature, and out of respect for the rule of law, repeal them," foundation Executive Vice President Alan Gottlieb wrote in a July 8 letter to the city.Only one member of the public spoke against repeal of the ordinances.
"Where are the laws protecting my rights as a private citizen who does not feel safe anymore, anywhere?" said Sally Jo Fuller, a 45-year Sandy resident who was the only member of the public to speak against the amendments.If Ms. Fuller had thought about her comment, she would realize that her proposed "right" would cancel all other rights. If one can stop anyone from exercising their rights by claiming that a person " does not feel safe", then no right would be safe. Anyone could claim that the way a person talked, or dressed, or practiced their religion made them feel "not safe".
©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch
NC: Homeowner Shoots Rabid Raccoon
When he went to chase the raccoon off the porch, it turned toward
him, making noises and "not acting right," according to police. So he
shot the animal twice and called police.
Spartanburg Animal Services removed the raccoon, which tested positive for rabies on Monday, police said.
More Here
Spartanburg Animal Services removed the raccoon, which tested positive for rabies on Monday, police said.
More Here
FL: Armed Citizen Stops Attack of Pit Bull Pack
OKEECHOBEE — A man’s quick thinking and shooting ability saved his
neighbor from a possible attack by two aggressive pit bulls, indicated a
deputy’s report.
(snip)
About that time Mr. Sperry’s neighbors, Pete and Susanne Clemons, arrived home. By this time Mr. Sperry was armed with a .22 caliber rifle.
As Mr. Clemons stood by his vehicle two of the more aggressive pit bulls turned their attention toward him. As a grey pit bull started to lunge at Mr. Clemons, Mr. Sperry took aim and killed the animal with one shot.
By this time the second pit bull charged Mr. Clemons. Again, Mr. Sperry took careful aim and shot the dog. Although he did not kill the animal, it ran away. The other dogs ran away, too
More Here
(snip)
About that time Mr. Sperry’s neighbors, Pete and Susanne Clemons, arrived home. By this time Mr. Sperry was armed with a .22 caliber rifle.
As Mr. Clemons stood by his vehicle two of the more aggressive pit bulls turned their attention toward him. As a grey pit bull started to lunge at Mr. Clemons, Mr. Sperry took aim and killed the animal with one shot.
By this time the second pit bull charged Mr. Clemons. Again, Mr. Sperry took careful aim and shot the dog. Although he did not kill the animal, it ran away. The other dogs ran away, too
More Here
Thursday, August 28, 2014
DE: Shooting Ruled Justified
DOVER - Authorities dropped charges Tuesday against a 32-year-old
man accused in connection with the second of two shooting deaths in
Dover on Sunday.
More Here
More Here
TX: Homeowner Shoots Intruder
"I was sleeping in, trying to get my rest. I heard the door bell ring.
I'm like, who is this? I hear a strong knock. I'm like, something going
on. I get up, I hear stuff at the door, I'm like, something is
happening. I went and got my gun," said Quinton Wood.
(snip)
All I know is, I'm telling him, get down, stop. It went bad. He kept coming toward me and didn't want to stop," said Wood.
Deputies said Wood shot 25-year-old Avery Powell in the chest once. Powell was shot inside of the home, on the front door step. Wood said Powell kept begging to make a phone call.
More Here
(snip)
All I know is, I'm telling him, get down, stop. It went bad. He kept coming toward me and didn't want to stop," said Wood.
Deputies said Wood shot 25-year-old Avery Powell in the chest once. Powell was shot inside of the home, on the front door step. Wood said Powell kept begging to make a phone call.
More Here
TX: Cell Phone Employee Shoots Suspect
Two suspects in a cell phone robbery were chased down and one of them shot at a Fiesta grocery store in northwest Houston.
(snip)
There is no word on what if any charges the suspect or the gunman will face.
More Here
CO:Woman has Gunfight with Intruders who Steal her SUV
An armed woman in Denver chased two intruders from her home, only to have them drive off in her SUV. From kdvr.com:
About 2:30 a.m., two burglars broke into a woman’s home, then stole her blue Toyota Highlander, last seen going east on Exposition Avenue.
She got in a gunfight with the intruders as they took the vehicle. From cbslocal.com:
The woman apparently got scared and fired at them while they were still outside.
“Obviously she felt threatened so she took some measures,” said Sonny Jackson, Denver police spokesman.
The suspects fired back, and one of the bullets ended up hitting a neighbor’s SUV and smashing the back windshield.
From kwgn.com:
Marquies Jackson was a suspect in the incident, in which two people reportedly broke into a home in the 7000 block of East Exposition Avenue about 2:30 a.m. Monday morning, the Denver Police Department said.I suspect that Marquies is still a suspect. Marquies is 18 years old. The blue Toyota Highlander has not yet been recovered.
©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch
GA: Store Owner Proud of Armed Employee
 |
Suspect in five crimes |
Surveillance video shows the suspect approach the counter, pull out a hand gun, and start waving it around. Patel then reaches under the counter and pulls out his own gun.
The suspect ran and Patel is seen on video chasing him out of the store. Patel said the suspect’s gun went off as he ran toward the self storage business next door. Patel said he’d do it again if he had to.This sort of incident has been seen over and over again. It is fairly common for crimes to be stopped by armed citizens. What is seen less often is the attitude of the store owner:
“I’m really proud,” said Shell Food Mart owner Bhinder Singh Dhiman. “Whatever he did I’d like if everybody started doing it that way, the robbery will be stopped, especially for convenience stores.”Bhinder Singh is exactly correct. The effect of disarming yourself so as not to present a threat to armed robbers only encourages more armed robbery. It is why ransoms should not be paid to kidnappers. It encourages more kidnapping. On a national scale, Rudyard Kipling captured the essence of it in his poem, Danegeld:
It is wrong to put temptation in the path of any nation,The robber in this story held up five stores that night, and got money from three of them.
For fear they should succumb and go astray,
So when you are requested to pay up or be molested,
You will find it better policy to say:
“We never pay any one Dane-geld,
No matter how trifling the cost,
For the end of that game is oppression and shame,
And the nation that plays it is lost!”
©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch
AZ: Gun Control Loses in Arizona Dem Primary Race
Gallego is rated by the NRA as a B+, hardly much of a distinction in Arizona. Wilcox seemed to think that pushing for severe restrictions on peoples' ability to keep and carry firearms would work for her. From Mother Jones:
Wilcox, who was shot in the hip in 1997 by an angry constituent, has kept gun control front and center during the campaign, although not always successfully. She brought up Gallego's vote at a recent debate; in June, her husband, Earl, confronted Gallego at a gun control rally, alleging that he was a "traitor to the cause." Gallego, a former NRA member, has said he brought a handgun to work at the state capitol after receiving threats, but supports a ban on assault rifles and the county buyback program Wilcox helped to start.Wilcox is not known for subtlety. Many have attributed the fact that she was shot directly to her corruption. In any case, her anti-rights attacks on Gallego did not work. She lost the primary yesterday, 26 August, with 36% of the vote. Her major opponent, Gallego, won with 48%. Interesting enough, in this hotly contested election, which essentially decided who will be representing the "safe seventh" district, likely for the rest of their career, only 24,189 people voted.
Being for restrictive gun control did not work for Mary Rose Wilcox. Being perceived as a modestly pro gun rights candidate worked for Ruben Gallego.
©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch
FL: 89-Year-Old Wins Gunfight with Career Criminal
A decorated WWII veteran, who never fired a shot while overseas, won a battle with a robber half his age on Saturday. The hand to hand combat lasted until Arthur M. Lewis and the robber were both exhausted. Lewis had shot the robber six times, four times in the chest, once in the arm and once in the wrist and leg. Lewis himself was wounded with a graze to his left arm.
Lewis' girlfriend says that people think of him as frail, but he is anything but frail.
The alleged robber, Lennard Patrick Jervis, has been arrested 20 times since 1989. From palmbeachpost.com:
Lewis was working behind the counter at The Jewelry Exchange at 900 N. Federal Highway when he was approached by a gun-wielding man around 3 p.m., according to an arrest report from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. Lewis said he immediately grabbed the suspect’s revolver and pulled out a .38-caliber handgun from his own pocket.Other members of the gun culture would do well to consider Mr. Lewis as an example of grace under fire. His modesty is common among the WWII veterans that I have known. I wonder how many crimes Mr. Lewis may have prevented by aiding in the incapacitation and arrest of Lennard Jervis.
The two men wrestled for several minutes and fired shots at each other. Despite battling someone half his age, Lewis got the best of it. A man identified by the sheriff’s office as Lennard Patrick Jervis, a Miramar resident, was shot six times by Lewis, including four times in the chest. Lewis’ left arm was grazed by a bullet, but he was otherwise unscathed.
©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
NE:73-year-Old Shoots Intruder
The 73-year-old homeowner told KETV NewsWatch 7 everyone was asleep
upstairs, when they heard suspicious noises initially thought to be
storm related.
The homeowner said he grabbed a gun and started walking downstairs, when he saw someone trying to climb through a front window.
The homeowner said he grabbed a gun and started walking downstairs, when he saw someone trying to climb through a front window.
WI: Armed Woman Drives off Intruders
The woman was in her Buffalo City residence near the city ball park
about 5 a.m. Friday when two men forceably entered the rear door of the
residence, assaulted the woman, and threatened her with a knife,
according to the department. The woman fired multiple shots from a
handgun at the two men, causing them to flee, the department said.
More Here
More Here
TX: Neighbors watching Home Shoot Suspected Burglar
Sgt. Beall says the couple found the burglary suspect locked in a
bathroom of their friend's home. They announced that they had guns, and
tried to open the bathroom door. When they opened the bathroom door, the
suspect allegedly rushed at the homeowners.
"He knocked the female into some of the furniture, both the homeowners discharged their weapons, striking the male. The male was able to get to the backyard, where he collapsed," said Sgt. Beall.
More Here
"He knocked the female into some of the furniture, both the homeowners discharged their weapons, striking the male. The male was able to get to the backyard, where he collapsed," said Sgt. Beall.
More Here
TX: Armed 78-Year-Old Drives off Intruders
The homeowner reported to a deputy that he had
been awaken by an audible alarm inside his house for his shop in the
36000 block of FM 1774 and observed the woman at his shop door. He
reportedly ordered her to get on her knees at gunpoint, but she and the
man who emerged both fled for their car. The homeowner fired at the tire
of the vehicle and deputies were able to stop the suspects from
fleeing. The woman was also arrested for an outstanding warrant.
More Here
More Here
India: Woman Fights Leopard, Wins
A 54-year-old Indian woman has killed a leopard using only her farming tools after it attacked her on her way home from the fields.
Kamla Devi remains in hospital after a one-hour battle with the predator near her village in Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand on Sunday.
The mother-of-one used a sickle and a small spade to fight off the leopard, after which she had to walk more than half-a-mile before finding help.
More Here
FL:Legaly Blind, Homeowner Shoots Intruder who Cut Power
Melchisedec Williams is 50 years old and legally blind. He has no sight in his right eye, and only minor vision in his left, because of Glaucoma. He took in his 15 year old nephew to try to help straighten the boy out after he got into trouble at his mother's house. The nephew disappeared a week ago. He was arrested last Sunday on a separate charge, the family reports. From theglobaldispatch.com:
Melchisedec Williams was woken up on Sunday night when he heard a crash and stomping. The 50-year-old man grabbed his gun, Tampa police said. The intruder, armed with only a knife, had cut the power to the man’s house and broken in through a bedroom window, police added..After the lights went out and he heard the window crash, Melchisedec accessed his .38 revolver. He tried to determine if the intruder was his nephew, but could only see a shadowy figure with a flashlight approaching him. When he did not receive a response, he fired, hitting the intruder in the leg. The intruder then responded, and the homeowner stopped shooting. The intruder was his nephew, who, though hospitalized in critical condition, has survived.
People who have limited vision often compensate with more acute senses such as hearing. They should not be denied second amendment rights because of their disability.
Williams knows that he did what he had to do.
“I have no remorse for what I did,” he said. “It’s sad what happened, but I’m glad it happened. That way it took him off the streets and people can sleep calmer at night.”No charges have been filed against anyone in the case thus far.
©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
LA:Baton Rouge Ban on Guns in Places that Serve Alcohol Unconstitutional
The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana has struck down the City of Baton Rouge's ban (pdf) on the possession of firearms or other weapons in places that sell alcohol, and their parking lots. The lawsuit was filed under Section 1983. The court granted default judgment to the plaintiff. A permanent injunction was ordered against enforcement of the ordinance, which was passed in 2012. A hearing to determine the amount of damages will be held on October 23, 2014.
The facts are clear and undisputed. On October 13, 2012, at about 1:35 a.m., Earnest Taylor was pulled over coming out of Romeo's Lounge parking lot. He was arrested for the possession of two rifles in the back of his car, a HiPoint 9mm carbine, and a Squires Bingham .22. When he informed the officers that he legally possessed the rifles, he was told that there was a "new law". Later the police searched the trunk of his vehicle and found a Yugo 59/66 SKS-type rifle which was also confiscated.
Taylor filed suit under 42 U.S.C section 1983. When the City failed to respond after several months, he filed for default judgment. While the lawsuit also cited the claimed damages under the 4th, 5th, and 14th amendments, and under the Louisiana Constitution, the Court only considered the second amendment claims.
©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch
Link to Gun Watch
Federal Court Finds 10 Day Waiting Period Violates Second Amendment (mostly)
In JEFF SILVESTER v. KAMALA HARRIS, the United States District Court for the eastern District of California found that the 10 day waiting period to receive a firearm after a background check, was a violation of the second amendment for people who already owned a firearm (and could be shown to do so in the California database), who had a valid CCW license in California, or who owned a firearm and had a Certificate of Exemption (COE).
This is a significant win for restoration of second amendment rights in California. The court gave the government of California 180 days to implement changes to put this ruling into effect. From the ruling, formatting changed slightly for readability:
Conclusion
As applied to individuals who already possess a firearm as confirmed by the AFS system, Defendant has not established that applying the full 10-day waiting period when the background check is completed prior to 10-days is a “reasonable fit.” The 10-day waiting period laws as applied to individuals who already lawfully possess a firearm as confirmed by the AFS system, and who pass the background check prior to 10-days, violates the Second Amendment.38
See Edenfield, 507 U.S. at 770-71; Peruta, 742 F.3d at 1177; Valley Broadcasting, 107 F.3d at 1334.Readers should consider the entire ruling to understand the full implications, but it is clear that for people who already possess a firearm, or who have gone through the CCW process in California, the 10 day waiting period is considered as violating the second amendment, if they have passed the background check.
There is much the court did not consider, because it was not a part of this case. For example, 99+ percent of the people who buy firearms from legal dealers in California (private sales outside of dealers are forbidden) pass the background check. The most lee way the government can hope for is under "intermediate scrutiny". From the decision:
A regulation “may not be sustained if it provides only ineffective or remote support for the government‟s purpose,” rather there must be an indication that the regulation will alleviate the asserted harms to a “material degree.”Yet, the waiting period only has a positive effect for the government purposes in less than 1% of the people directly affected by the regulation! I know of no studies that show that waiting periods actually reduce crime, and there are studies that show they may increase it. It appears to me, that even under the relatively easy standards of intermediate scrutiny, the government would not be able to show that waiting periods were effective and narrowly tailored to their purpose.
©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch
NC: Home Invader Shot, Killed at 2 am
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, N.C. – A man accused of trying to break into a North Carolina home was shot and killed early Saturday morning, according to WRAL-TV.
Investigators said they found 23-year-old Theodore Horton shot to death at a home in the 300 block of Brooklyn Circle in Cumberland County just before 2 a.m.
More Here
PA: Successful Open Carry Defense in Wilkes Barre
A man was walking at 1:20 am, Sunday morning, when he was confronted by two black males, one of which pointed a gun at him. From timesleader.com:
“What do you got for me?” one man said to the victim.On a dark street, the tactical deterrence offered by open carry may not be as effective, essentially making open carry the equivalent of concealed carry. The open carrier showed good tactical sense in the encounter, and the two criminals were lucky that they did not get shot.
He told police he grabbed his attacker’s gun with one hand and drew his own firearm. The man does not have a concealed firearms permit, but carries his gun under Pennsylvania’s open carry laws, police said. The robbers fled.
This also illustrates the wisdom of those who teach the importance of maintaining your distance when you are holding a person at gun point. Get too close, and you invite a disarm technique. In this case the possibility of the "gun" being a replica, BB gun, or toy might have figured into the victim's decision to use the deflect and draw technique. Wilkes Barre is listed as having a somewhat higher than average crime rate, with 80% of American cities having lower crime rates.
©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch
Monday, August 25, 2014
MA: Man faces Charges for Self Defense With Inherited Gun
 |
| The development is about 15 years old |
One of the major reasons for those who push for a disarmed population to desire the registration of all firearms is that it makes the ownership of the means to self defense contingent on government approval. This is the philosophy that "everything that is not permitted is forbidden", rather than the standard English/American philosophy that "everything that is not forbidden is allowed". It is an enormous difference in perspective.
In Revere, Massachusetts, a homeowner evicted from a party after getting in a fight. He returned with his 50 year old step father. From wcvb.com:
After he was kicked out of the party, he returned to the home with his 50-year-old stepfather and they started striking the residence with rocks and baseball bats, officials said.Once it is clear that ownership is contingent on government approval, then the restrictions on approval can gradually be increased to reduce the number of firearm owners. This is already underway in Massachusetts.
The 77-year-old homeowner, Robert Distefano, fired at the two men when they approached him, according to authorities.
The 21-year-old suffered critical injuries but is expected to survive, and the 50-year-old man also suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Distefano is not facing charges related to the shooting but will be arraigned Monday for unlawful possession of a firearm within in his home because he used a deceased relative's handgun, officials said.
Big Bobcat Killed by Top Predator in Florida
A Florida man demonstrated humans occupation of the top predator spot by shooting a big bobcat that had lost its fear of men. The big cat was killing and eating a chicken a day for a month, and killed the last one just feet from the man and his children.
 | |||
| Florida Farm Where Bobcat Killed 30 Chickens |
"Saturday evening we were sitting in the hot tub and right there, you see the feather on the ground? The cat came out of nowhere, killed a chicken right in front of us, like 8 feet away. Just splattered blood and feathers right in our face," said Nail. "No fear of man whatsoever."I had a similar, but more benign situation occur at my place in Arizona. A Kit fox wandered near my children and I as we sat in the hot tub just feet away. I have no chickens there, but I wonder if a hot tub might be a good "blind" to hunt from... All you need is a source of power, water, cleaning supplies, mild weather... In my case, the Kit fox was more fun to watch, and represented no threat.
A bobcat this big could well be a threat to small children, and 30 chickens are worth considering as well. People gained the top of the food chain through hard work. It is bad policy to allow other species to consider that they occupy the spot. Bad for them, bad for the people they interact with.
Ronnie Nail picked an excellent tool for the job he had to do:
It appears to be a Benelli 12 gauge, an excellent choice to stop a marauding bobcat. While no loads are mentioned, anything from number 2 shot up would be a good choice.
In the comments at the article, one person who has not thought the situation through wishes death for Ronnie Nail.
We all die, men, bobcats, and chickens. If the homicidal poster thinks it wrong for Ronnie to kill the bobcat, why was it not wrong for the bobcat to kill the chickens, or for the chickens to kill the bugs and ticks that they eat while free ranging on Ronnie's farm? It is as natural for men to kill bobcats and chickens as it is for chickens to kill ticks.
©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Emily Miller: DC will appeal and write new carry law
"The whole issue of the public carrying of a firearm is very complicated," Mendelson said. "And I believe the executive and the attorney general will continue with the appeal."
Also this week, the city asked the court for six more months to rewrite its gun laws. Right now, the city has until October 22. That's why Mendelson said gun carry will be at the top of the agenda when the city council returns from recess.
"What the court said very clearly was that a complete 100-percent ban on anybody being able to get a license to carry a handgun was unconstitutional. But there's a gray area between 100-percent ban and everybody can carry. And that's what we're working through."
More Here
TX: Good Guy With Gun Stops Attempted Murder outside of School
During the last media push for laws to disarm the population, NRA executive VP Wayne LaPierre said that a good guy with a gun is what is needed to stop a bad guy with a gun. A recent shooting outside the Harry Stone Montessori school in Dallas is a perfect illustration of his point.
In this case, an armed citizen was present. He happened to be an off duty police officer. The "Gun Free School Zone" law would have worked perfectly to assure the attacker of an unarmed victim if the legally armed citizen had not been there. From wfaa.com:
Dallas Police Deputy Chief Gil Garza said in a news conference the officer was out of uniform and headed to a family function when he saw an altercation. A woman was stopped at an intersection when another car, driven by the suspect, pulled up alongside her. Words were exchanged between the two, then the suspect fired multiple shots into the victim's vehicle.Gun free school zone laws have been a complete disaster. Mass shootings inside schools have increased four-fold since the laws were passed. This shooting may not have any more connection to a school than the location; however, it does illustrate the insanity of "gun free zones".
The officer witnessed the shooting, got out of his vehicle, and intervened before he shot the suspect.
©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch
FL: One of Two Car Thieves Shot
An attempted car theft by two men in the parking lot of a Kmart in
Northeast Miami-Dade backfired on Thursday when a third man showed up
and shot at the pair, police said.
More Here
More Here
CT: Membership of Bar Revolts on Gun Law
 |
| The Latin means "He who transplants, sustains" |
"Why is our bar association taking a position on a matter that has nothing to do with the practice of law?" Hartford lawyer and former Democratic state Chairman John Droney asked in an email typical of hundreds of others inspired by a debate that has continued now for two months.The President of the Bar, Mark Dubois, replied:
Dubois contends the bar serves the public by permitting experts in its specialty sections to debate and take positions on sharp legal questions. If the association races toward an unpopular, minority position, he said membership can use its referendum right as a restraint.Anyone who has studied the dynamics of such groups realizes that such a position amounts to a blank check to the leadership of what it can get away with. As the leadership controls a significant amount of the information that the membership receives, this gives it considerable power to influence events outside of the core issues of the group.
"As one member said to me, what's next?" Dubois said. "Immigration. Obamacare? And I said, 'Yes. All of those and probably more that we haven't even thought about.' All of which have legal implications and all of which may involve a request by one or more of our constituent sections."
It was clear that the membership did not support the lobbying effort.
Dubois pushed for more. He pushed for an amicus brief to defended the law against an appeal the the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The "house of delegates referenced is the governing body of the Connecticut Bar.
After listening to entreaties by past association presidents and a lawyer who also is a Newtown selectman, the house of delegates voted 34 to 15 to join with the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence in defense of the law — in spite of signs that a substantial portion of the membership might be opposed. Among the signs: A straw poll showing opposition was running 4-to-1 in one of the association's biggest sub districts, Hartford.
But the gun culture has developed its own media that act as a check on the ability of others to shape the narrative. This is well documented in Professor Brian Anse Patrick's book "Rise of the Anti-Media".
The membership of the Connecticut Bar Association took up the referendum challenge by Dubois. Enough signatures were gathered to force a referendum. The quote below shows how secure Dubois thought his power was:
On Aug. 5, lawyers opposed to joining the Brady defense had collected sufficient petition signatures to force a referendum. Dubois said he cannot recall that happening during his 40 years as a bar member.The irony is thick. This response by the person who said that if the membership does not like what we do, they can "use their referendum right", knowing full well that it was nearly impossible to do so.
The referendum vote result was released on Wednesday. Dubois said that it was very close. From NSSF, an email report:
The final vote announced Wednesday afternoon was so close that CBA President Mark Dubois wrote members, "I am ruling that the referendum vote will be called as tied. I do not feel that the best interests of the CBA would be served going forward without a clear and empirically defensible result. Accordingly, I have decided not to sign the brief prepared by the Brady Center in support of the Appellee in the matter of Shew v. Malloy."I wonder what the actual vote was. Mr. Dubois must have released it to the membership. Some might wonder if Mr. Dubois would have given this response if the vote were in his favor.
Update: The vote was reported in the courant.com as 734 in favor of an amicus brief to 729 opposed. This lends credence to Mr. Dubois' decision, and his character as a leader. From the courant.com:
Dubois said Wednesday afternoon that the vote may have been even closer, as issues with a new website format may have hampered some members' efforts to vote late Tuesday night.
©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch
CA: Jewelry Store Magnet for Gunplay
A jewelry store in Little Saigon, Orange County California, has become a magnet for robbers. In 2012, there was an attempted robbery in which one of the robbers was shot. In 2013, several shots were fired at a thief who fought with the store owner, and escaped with a $9,000 watch. Yesterday, 21 August, 2014, another robbery attempt ended in gunfire as a store employee drove off two robbers who had smashed a display case. From ocregister.com:
Two men wearing ski-type masks and hooded sweatshirts entered the store, used a hammer to break glass on a display case and began removing merchandise, Westminster police Officer Rachel Archambault said. One witness reported that one of the men may have been armed with a gun, she added.You would think that the robbers would learn that Tick Tock Watches is not a good choice of targets. Maybe they do not read the papers; maybe they think they are different and smarter; maybe they just cannot resist that high grade bling.
A store employee pulled out a weapon and fired two shots at the robbers, Collins said.
I would not want someone who had escaped the communist takeover of Vietnam to be shooting at me.
©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch
PA: Man Shoots Car Burglar, Calls Police
The police in Philadelphia have not yet made a determination if the shooting was justifiable or not. Labeling the criminal as the "victim" may be premature.
“It is unusual,” Chief Inspector Scott Small says. “Normally the shooter flees right after firing the weapon, but in this case, the 56-year-old shooter remained on location, turned the weapon over to police and voluntarily came with us to homicide.”
The shooter was being questioned by police.
Philadelphia police commissioner Charles Ramsey says they’ll gather all the info and then the district attorney’s office will have to decide if charges are warranted.
More Here
“It is unusual,” Chief Inspector Scott Small says. “Normally the shooter flees right after firing the weapon, but in this case, the 56-year-old shooter remained on location, turned the weapon over to police and voluntarily came with us to homicide.”
The shooter was being questioned by police.
Philadelphia police commissioner Charles Ramsey says they’ll gather all the info and then the district attorney’s office will have to decide if charges are warranted.
More Here
TX: Resident Shoots one, Captures one; one Escapes
Sgt. Gary Harrison says during that home invasion, the man who lives
inside the apartment shot one of the suspects in self-defense. That
young man was airlifted to Ben Taub Hospital.
Harrison tells us there were three suspects involved. One other was taken into custody. The third fled the scene once gunfire erupted.
More Here
Harrison tells us there were three suspects involved. One other was taken into custody. The third fled the scene once gunfire erupted.
More Here
Friday, August 22, 2014
WA: Armed Husband Stops Armed Robber
When the gunman slammed a gun on the counter and pointed it at the
woman, she immediately ducked behind the counter and covered her head,
according to police.
When the woman’s husband saw what was happening, he drew his own weapon and pointed it at the gunman.
The gunman then swung his weapon around, pointed it at the clerk's husband, and then fled out the door. No money was taken during the incident.
More Here
When the woman’s husband saw what was happening, he drew his own weapon and pointed it at the gunman.
The gunman then swung his weapon around, pointed it at the clerk's husband, and then fled out the door. No money was taken during the incident.
More Here
GA: 73-Year-Old Woman Shoots Burglar: Serves Police Treats
 |
| Suspect Jaime Lewis |
When you are an elderly woman, you are likely to have more leeway in how you interact with criminals. It is partly a matter of being more vulnerable; and partly a matter of the statistics reinforcing the stereotype that women are less aggressive than men. In Georgia, a 73-Year-Old woman shot an intruder through her bedroom door, after he had broken into the house. The woman heard the doorbell ring a little before 10 pm, but did not answer. She saw a truck parked in the middle of an intersection, and called 911. From ajc.com:
Moments later, however, she heard glass shattering and then the pottery she placed in front of her backdoor breaking so she grabbed her gun.Georgia has a castle doctrine law that allows for a person to use force, including deadly force:
According to the report, Douglas stayed in the bedroom but she “could see light from a flashlight getting closer from under the door. When she heard the doorknob turn, she fired one shot through the door.
“She then heard a scream on the other side of the door and the subject fled downstairs. Douglas went downstairs and saw the subject in the kitchen looking for the back door. She fired several more shots in the general direction of the subject as he ran outside.”
A person is justified in threatening or using force against another when and to the extent that he or she reasonably believes that such threat or force is necessary to prevent or terminate such other's unlawful entry into or attack upon a habitation; however, such person is justified in the use of force which is intended or likely to cause death or great bodily harm only if:It appears to me that the necessary conditions are met for paragraph (3).
(1) The entry is made or attempted in a violent and tumultuous manner and he or she reasonably believes that the entry is attempted or made for the purpose of assaulting or offering personal violence to any person dwelling or being therein and that such force is necessary to prevent the assault or offer of personal violence;
(2) That force is used against another person who is not a member of the family or household and who unlawfully and forcibly enters or has unlawfully and forcibly entered the residence and the person using such force knew or had reason to believe that an unlawful and forcible entry occurred; or
(3) The person using such force reasonably believes that the entry is made or attempted for the purpose of committing a felony therein and that such force is necessary to prevent the commission of the felony.
Suspect Jaime Lewis turned up at a medical center with a bullet wound to the chest.
I also believe that the woman enjoys good relations with the local police department. She was at the police department parking lot, handing out snacks, when reporters approached, and she left.
©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch
WA: One Charge Dropped in "Joe Biden Defense" case, another Threatened
 |
| Jeffrey C. Barton |
The man who fired a shotgun in the air to scare off car burglars, following Vice President Joe Biden's advice, has had the charge involved with the shooting dropped, according to the Columbian:
A person, even in a no-shooting zone, still has the right to defend their person or their property,” Golik said. “In this case, based on the facts, there is a reasonable argument that Mr. Barton may have been defending his person and property when he fired in the air.Jeffrey C. Barton has an NRA supplied attorney, and says that a threat of a charge of "Obstructing a law enforcement officer" is also without merit:
The obstructing charge has not yet been made. Mr. Barton pled not guilty to the charge of illegally discharging a firearm in July of 2013, over a year ago.Barton said the obstruction charge also is groundless.“Tony Golik is desperately grasping at straws” to keep out of a civil suit, Barton said. “They have to charge me with something; they’ve let this go on too long.”
Prosecutors have enormous power, and significant immunity. It may not be enough to shield Clark County Prosecutor Tony Golik in this case.
©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch
LA: Homeowner Defends Girls
According to a news release from the New Orleans Police Department,
a 28-year-old man and his 36-year-old wife were sitting on their
backyard patio when a masked gunman approached and demanded money. They
say the gunman ordered the couple into the home where three female
children, ages 6, 13 and 14, were inside.
That's when, investigators say, the husband retrieved his gun and shot the suspect, fatally wounding him. The gunman was pronounced dead on the scene.
That's when, investigators say, the husband retrieved his gun and shot the suspect, fatally wounding him. The gunman was pronounced dead on the scene.
SC:Woman With Child Fights Back
Both "teens" had guns:
The teens ordered her into the house. Once she was inside, she ran
into her bedroom, put her child on the bed and grabbed her gun, the
report says.
She walked into the living room where the teens were standing and started shooting, prompting the teens to run out the door.
FL: Armed Homeowner Confronts Suspects with Crowbar, ends up With Shirt
When Thomas Ostermann came face-to-face with two burglars in his
screened-in pool, he grabbed his gun to protect his property, said the
deputy's report.
(snip)
"They both fled. One of them ended up in my pool and I tried to keep him. He broke loose (but) I got his shirt," Ostermann told the dispatcher. "The one that got away -- I don't know whether he dropped it or not -- had a crowbar."
More Here
(snip)
"They both fled. One of them ended up in my pool and I tried to keep him. He broke loose (but) I got his shirt," Ostermann told the dispatcher. "The one that got away -- I don't know whether he dropped it or not -- had a crowbar."
More Here
FL: Resident Shoots One of Two Intruders
A man shot one of two would-be robbers who entered his apartment Wednesday, critically wounding the intruder, the Broward Sheriff's Office said.
"The robbery kind of got turned on its head when the occupant started shooting at the robbers," sheriff's spokeswoman Gina Carter said.
More Here
"The robbery kind of got turned on its head when the occupant started shooting at the robbers," sheriff's spokeswoman Gina Carter said.
More Here
TX: One of Two Intruders Fatally Shot
Witnesses tell San Antonio police two men broke into an apartment unit
by breaking down a door, but someone inside the apartment opened fire on
them.
The men attempted to run, but one was shot several times, San Antonio police said.
More Here
The men attempted to run, but one was shot several times, San Antonio police said.
More Here
Thursday, August 21, 2014
AZ:Meteor Crater Redux; bad signs
In a previous article I wrote about the improper signage at the Meteor Crater rest stop in Arizona. At the first stop, I failed to obtain a picture.
The rest stop is a member of a pair of rest stops as is often seen; one on each side of the freeway. On the return trip, I stopped at the sister rest area to see if it had the bad signage as well. It did. The sign appeared to be identical with the sign that I recalled on the South side of I-40.
Note the location of the prohibition on carry of firearms in the rest stop, under the "PLEASE PLACE ALL TRASH IN RECEPTACLES" line. You can see that the signs appear to be quite new, with no weathering. Interesting that the "trash" line is a request, but the firearms line is a command.
I decided to check the other rest stops on the way back to Yuma. We thought that we had fixed this problem back in '98. From Rick Destephens, who was there:
Have you noticed that there are no longer any signs at Arizona rest stops that read, "Keep all weapons in your vehicle"? That was Brassroots and S.A.F.E. combine effort back in 1998. We staged a forty-man protest at the Sacaton rest stop and five TV cameras showed up. We then got three hours of time on Bob Mohan's show on KFYI. That resulted in Hull's, ADOT's and DPS's phones melting down for two weeks. The signs came down later that month.Notice the clouds in the top picture? The weather got worse as I approached Flagstaff. By the time I was heading south on I-17, the rain was falling consistently. The "scenic view" stop before the McGuireville rest stop did not have a sign. The McGuireville stop did.
See the space after the "PLEASE PLACE TRASH IN RECEPTACLES..." line? That is where the offensive firearms prohibition was painted out. The fading on this sign shows that it is much older than the ones at Meteor Crater.
The weather had turned bad now. As I left the McGuireville stop, the rain was pouring down. I saw one wreck on the way to the next stop. The shoulders were often narrow, and hydroplaning a real concern, as were wet brakes on the steep down slopes. It did not help that I was pulling a good sized trailer. The next stop was at SUNSET POINT:
No firearms prohibition here, either. Visibility was very restricted at this point. I picked up a stranded bicyclist, huddled in a doorway, wrapped in a space blanket. The stop was locked up because the power was out. We threw the bike in the back of the truck to get him down off the mountain. I gave him my card. I saw two more wrecks by the time we got down. In some places, one inch gravel was washed across both lanes. Sometimes the water was over two inches deep on the pavement. I later found that rain totals of 3-4 inches were common in the area. To compound the difficulties, windshield wipers dry rot rather rapidly in the Arizona desert, and are often neglected because they are used so seldom. Fortunately, I had replaced mine for the cross country trip.
We made it down without further incident, and I dropped off my passenger where he could catch a bus for himself and the bike. Just a few miles into the foot hills, the rain had stopped, and we drove out from under the cloud cover.
By the time I reached Gila Bend, the radio announced that I-17, both North and Southbound, had been closed due to weather.
Only one rest stop was open between Phoenix and Yuma. It was at Sentinel:
Same story: no prohibitions on firearms on this weather beaten sign. Same blank place for the offensive language.
I will be posting updates as the situation develops.
©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch
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