California: Homeowner with gun foils robbery attempt: "A Burson man was arrested by Calaveras County sheriff's deputies after he attempted to rob a homeowner at a residence located in the 5800 block of De Los Angeles Road in Burson earlier this month. At approximately 11:30 p.m. on Nov. 10, Mike Nicholson III, 24, knocked on the door of William Six's residence on De Los Angeles Road. Six answered the door and found Nicholson standing there with a 10-inch knife. Nicholson told Six to give him the keys to his best truck and reportedly said, "I'm robbing you," according to a release from the Calaveras County Sheriff's Office. Six balked and closed the front door. Concerned Nicholson was going to remain outside his residence or steal one of his vehicles, Six retrieved a firearm. Six confronted Nicholson at the bottom of his driveway and ordered Nicholson to the ground. Six told deputies Nicholson sat down for a short time, but became belligerent. According to Six, Nicholson said he did not have to remain at the scene and started to get up off the ground. Six responded by firing a warning shot into the ground. That seemed to do the trick, as Six was able to hold Nicholson at gunpoint until Deputy Jim Moser arrived to take Nicholson into custody."


Ark. man forces way into wrong house, fatally shot: "Police in northeast Arkansas say a Trumann man looking for his wife after an argument went to the wrong home and was shot to death by the homeowner when he tried to force his way inside. Trumann police say Saturday's shooting death of 34-year-old Todd Short appears to be a justifiable homicide. Police Chief Larry Blagg says Short apparently got into an argument with his wife, and that she went to a family friend's home. According to police, Todd Short went to a nearby home - thinking that's where his wife was staying - and tried to force his way inside. The homeowner, Jimmy Hand, then fatally shot Short with a shotgun. Police say the two homes were "cookie cutter" and that both had similar cars in the driveway. The shooting remains under investigation, and no charges have been filed against Hand.


Alabama: Stupid teen charged with murder of his accomplice: "The adoptive mother of a teen charged with capital murder of an acquaintance who was killed while the two were robbing someone Sunday said her son was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Malik Hameed, 17, is remorseful over his involvement in a weekend robbery that left his accomplice, a family friend, dead, said his mother, Hamidah Hameed, 56. Police say Malik Hameed and Patrick Cortez Levert, 26, were shot Sunday in the 100 block of Cotton Avenue Southwest while trying to rob a 39-year-old man at gunpoint. The man pulled a gun and shot both, police said. Levert, found on the sidewalk, was taken to UAB Hospital, where he died. Someone drove Hameed to Princeton Baptist Medical Center, where he was treated and later taken into police custody. Though Hameed didn't shoot Levert, he is charged with capital murder because he was a conspirator in a crime that resulted in death, police said."


Department of the Interior announces final firearms policy on guns in parks : ""Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Lyle Laverty today announced that the Department of the Interior has finalized updated regulations governing the possession of firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges. The final rule, which updates existing regulations, would allow an individual to carry a concealed weapon in national parks and wildlife refuges if, and only if, the individual is authorized to carry a concealed weapon under state law in the state in which the national park or refuge is located. The update has been submitted to the Federal Register for publication and is available to the public."

Gun owners have nothing to fear, says Obama

A non-change we can believe in?

US president-elect Barack Obama has reassured millions of lawful gun owners have ''nothing to fear'' from his incoming administration next month. Gun shops across the country have reported increased sales amid fears that Obama intends to restrict gun sales after taking office on January 20. While Obama supports gun control, he has repeatedly denied any intention of "taking away folks' guns". The right to bear arms is guaranteed in the second amendment of the US constitution and gun control is a controversial political issue.

"I believe in commonsense gun safety law, and I believe in the second amendment," Obama said at a press conference on Sunday. "And so, lawful gun owners have nothing to fear. "I've said that throughout the campaign. I haven't indicated anything different during the transition, and I think that people can take me at my word."

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TX: Burglar shot dead in driveway : " Police said a Cedar Hill resident shot and killed a person attempting to break into a vehicle in his driveway Friday morning. The gunfire erupted at 7:30 a.m. in the 9100 block of Sleepy Hollow, one of the city's nicest, most established neighborhoods. Police said the homeowner heard an alarm going off on his pickup truck. He grabbed a gun, went outside, and opened fire when he saw the alleged burglar attempting to remove a stereo system. The suspect died at the scene. "This is extremely rare," said Cedar Hill spokesman Corky Brown. "This is a really quiet neighborhood like most of ours in Cedar Hill. It's very shocking to the neighbors to have something like this occur." The names of the homeowner and the suspect have not been released. The homeowner has not been arrested or charged at this point."


NC: Shopkeeper shoots suspected thieves: "With bushel baskets filled with ripe tomatoes and fresh pecans beside its prominent holiday fruitcake display, the Randy Willis Grocery in Vale shows little evidence of the violent struggle that left one man dead during a botched robbery attempt early Saturday. According to a release from the Catawba County Sheriff's Office, two suspects broke into the store around 3 a.m. The alarm went off and the store owner surprised the suspects. He went to investigate and thought the thieves had already left, but he said they were lying in wait for him, clutching the shotgun he keeps in the store for protection. When Willis turned his back, the men jumped him from behind and a struggle began. "One of them had my shotgun and they made me lay on the floor and took my billfold," Willis said. Willis said while the men had him pinned to the ground and lay on top of him, he was able to reach into his pocket, angle a gun he had there toward his attackers and fire one shot from his .38 revolver. "I shot one time and hit both of them with one bullet," Willis said. According to sheriff's reports, a 28-year-old suspect died on the scene. His name has not been released. Arnold Eugene Ray Jr., 52, of Icard, was taken to the hospital with a bullet wound to the shoulder. Charges of breaking and entering and larceny, robbery with a dangerous weapon and first-degree kidnapping are pending for Ray. "Rebecca Jean Holman, 47, of Connelly Springs, dropped the suspects off and is charged with breaking and entering and larceny," read the press release. She is being held on a $10,000 bond and her court date is Monday."


FL: 16-year-old shot in robbery attempt: "Daniel Deion Sanchez and another gunman walked up to the garage of homeland security Assistant Chief Carson Tranquille as he and his wife arrived at their Northside home just before midnight, police said. The robbers were masked had their guns drawn. Tranquille and his wife were going into the house when the robbers approached, according to a police report. Tranquille fired his weapon, wounding one of the robbers, who was caught a few houses away and identified as Sanchez, said Chief Rick Graham of the Sheriff's Office. Sanchez was shot in the leg and was taken to Shands Jacksonville with non-life-threatening injuries, Graham said. The second robber escaped. Graham said police were looking for the other suspect and possibly a third person. He said Tranquille, a 20-year veteran of the department, first became suspicious as he passed through his neighborhood and noticed a car with its headlights on. The couple pulled into their garage and were preparing to go inside when the assailants walked up the driveway. "This was before the garage door was able to come down," Graham said. Graham said the case is "really about a homeowner and his wife," though it shows police can also become victims of random crime. He said the two suspects did not fire their weapons and that a gun was recovered".

Free Plaxico Burress

New York City's gun law is unconstitutional

New York Giants star receiver Plaxico Burress is facing a mandatory 3« years in prison and the end of his football career. His crime? Not having a license, which New York City never would have issued him, for the exercise of his constitutional right to bear arms. To be sure, Mr. Burress got caught because of what appears to have been stupid and irresponsible behavior connected with the handgun. But he does not face prison for shooting himself. His impending mandatory sentence highlights the unfairness and unconstitutionality of New York City's draconian gun laws.

Mr. Burress had previously had a handgun carry permit issued by Florida, for which he was required to pass a fingerprint-based background check. As a player for the Giants, he moved to Totowa, N.J., where he kept a Glock pistol. And last Friday night, he reportedly went to the Latin Quarter nightclub in midtown Manhattan carrying the loaded gun in his sweatpants. Because New York state permits to possess or carry handguns are not issued to nonresidents, Mr. Burress could not apply for a New York City permit.

At the nightclub, the handgun accidentally discharged, shooting Mr. Burress in the right thigh. He was not seriously injured, but he has been charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.

It appears that he put the unholstered gun in the waistband of his sweatpants, and when it slipped, he grabbed for it, accidentally hitting the trigger. To make matters worse, according to press accounts, he was seen drinking and may have been consuming alcohol -- which all firearms safety training (including the class he would have been required to take for his Florida permit) absolutely forbids for people handling guns. And of course Mr. Burress's handgun should have been holstered to prevent unintentional movement of the trigger. Fortunately, his negligent discharge did not harm anyone else.

Mr. Burress's behavior was bad. However, Mr. Burress is not facing prosecution for carelessness, but simply for carrying a weapon. This is unjust and perhaps unconstitutional. The legal issues are a bit tangled, but here is the background:

This summer, the Supreme Court ruled in District of Columbia v. Heller that the District's handgun ban, and its ban on use of any firearm for self-defense in the home, violated the Second Amendment, which guarantees the individual right to bear arms. D.C. is a federal enclave, and the Court did not rule whether the Second Amendment applies to state and local governments. But as other cases reach it in the wake of Heller, it will.

The Heller decision did not say that requiring a license to carry a gun was unconstitutional. But in New York State, nonresidents cannot even apply for the licenses to possess or carry a handgun. Unlike most other states, New York refuses to honor carry permits issued by sister states. Most observers believe that the Supreme Court will eventually make state and local governments obey the Second Amendment. If it does, New York's discrimination against nonresidents will probably be ruled unconstitutional.

And then there is the issue of the permitting process for residents. In 40 states, including Connecticut, law-abiding adults are issued permits once they pass a fingerprint-based background check and a safety class. In New Jersey, carry permits are virtually never issued. In New York City, carry permits are issued, but to applicants with some form of political clout rather than on the basis of his or her need for protection.

The Second Amendment might not require New Jersey or New York City to issue as liberally as Connecticut does. But with a population of several million and only a few thousand (consisting mainly of politicians, retired police and celebrities) able to get permits, New York City's licensing process is almost certainly unconstitutional on a number of grounds, including sheer arbitrariness.

Some commentators contend that Plaxico Burress should have hired bodyguards, instead of carrying a gun himself. Mr. Burress might now agree. But people who aren't as wealthy as he is also deserve to be safe, and they don't have the money for bodyguards. New York City needs to regularize its carry permit system so that law-abiding people can protect themselves, especially if their circumstances (such as being a witness to a gang crime) place them at heightened risk.

The Burress case also shows why mandatory sentences are a bad idea. He was careless but had no malign intent. Legislators and mayors like to appear tough by pushing through such draconian laws. Yet the victims are people like Mr. Burress whose conduct may have been improper, but who do not deserve the same sentences meted out to robbers and burglars.

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Georgia: Would-be robber shot with his own gun after struggle: "A gunman was shot with his own weapon Thursday afternoon during an attempted holdup that turned into a wrestling match at a midtown Savannah store. At about 2:30 p.m., the 19-year-old suspect walked into the Crossroads Convenience store on Staley Avenue, brandishing two handguns, according to Savannah-Chatham police. The store clerk, however, refused to hand over cash without a fight. A struggle between the two ensued. The clerk managed to grab one of the firearms, metro police said. The clerk then shot at the suspect, hitting him in the leg, investigating officers said, motivating the would-be robber to run away. The suspect dropped the second gun, which was not loaded, as he took off, according to metro police. About an hour after the attempted robbery, metro police were alerted by Memorial University Medical Center officials that a man had come to the hospital with a gunshot wound to the leg. Metro police detectives went to the hospital and took the suspect into custody. Charges were pending late Thursday."


PA: Millersville clarifies language on gun ordinance : "It's a simple change of language, but one that means so much for people concerned with their Second-Amendment rights - whether it's legal to carry a gun in a public park. Millersville Borough Council took up the issue at a recent meeting, and voted to change a park ordinance so that residents are allowed to bring a gun to the park but are forbidden from firing it there. `We received an e-mail - I believe it was from a resident but I can't be sure - asking us about whether it was legal to bring a gun to the park,' borough manager Ed Arnold said Nov. 24. `So, we investigated and saw that our park ordinance contained . this confusing language.' . For Millersville Mayor Richard Moriarty, council's vote to amend the ordinance is above all `an issue of semantics.' `It's legalese. In today's world we can't prohibit people from carrying guns, but what we are saying is that you're not allowed to shoot those guns in our park,' Moriarty said. `To me it's just common sense.'"

Australia: Violence accused get gun licences back: "Men who have previously been the subject of apprehended violence orders will be given the right to have the orders revoked so they can regain gun licences. The deal was cut by the Shooters Party with the Government and Opposition on the last parliamentary sitting day of the year. Under NSW law, anyone who was the subject of an apprehended violence order lost the right to a gun licence for 10 years. But under an amendment successfully moved by the Shooters MP Roy Smith to the Domestic Violence Act on Thursday, it will now be possible for those who have been subject of an apprehended violence order that has expired to have the order revoked. The deal is the latest the Government has done with Shooters Party MPs and follows a deal in June that saw a private member's bill from Mr Smith wind back some post-Port Arthur massacre laws. On that occasion Mr Smith won the right for people renewing their gun licences to forgo the 28-day waiting period and to forgo the similar waiting period when buying more firearms of a type they already possess."


MO: Alderman says residents should arm themselves : "A St. Louis alderman who said he is frustrated with police response to crime in his neighborhood is calling on residents to arm themselves to protect their lives and property. Alderman Charles Quincy Troupe said yesterday he is telling his north St. Louis constituents to acquire guns and learn how to use them. He said that "God-fearing, law-abiding citizens and homeowners" are being preyed upon by criminals and that police are ineffective, outnumbered or don't care. Troupe, 72, and a former state representative, said many people don't realize they have a constitutional right to bear arms that they can use to fend off an intruder. He supports Missouri's "conceal and carry" weapons law and is recruiting residents to take the required weapons safety course. Troupe said the wrong people own guns".


TX: Grassroots group petitions to allow open carry : "A grass-roots website is seeking to make Texas an `open carry' state, allowing citizens to wear unconcealed handguns. Texas is among only five states in the nation . that does not permit the unconcealed carrying of a handgun. The site, Opencarry.org, has similar petitions in every state but New York. Mike Stollenwerk, co-founder of the website, said it may come as a shock that a state as `pro-gun' as Texas has such restrictive laws on unconcealed handguns. `In most states, you don't need a permit,' he said. `Those outlying states, Texas is one of them, which is odd because it is so pro-gun. Certainly, there is some room for reform. We would like to go all the way.'"




Wacky: "Palm Pistol" aimed at elderly, disabled : "You've heard of the Palm Pilot? Well, here's the Palm Pistol. Constitution Arms, a small arms manufacturer based in Maplewood, N.J., is taking deposits for what it touts as the world's first ergonomically designed firearm. Intended for use by the elderly and disabled, the single-shot 9-mm weapon looks like a giant bean grasped in the palm of the hand. The barrel points out between the user's fingers. You `pull' the trigger by pressing on a thumbed button at the top. `Point and shoot couldn't be easier,' states the blurb on the product's Website. Even better, Constitution Arms says it's had it certified by the FDA as a `Class I Medical Device.' That means doctors could prescribe the handgun to qualified patients, who would then have some or all of the cost reimbursed by Medicare or private insurance."

AK: Man shot, then arrested : “A shootout at Trapper Creek on Sunday ended with one man both shot and then arrested after he and a neighbor faced off during a domestic dispute, Alaska State Troopers said. …. the altercation started when Blodgett got into a fight with a woman at his home on East Wolf Trail in Trapper Creek. The woman left and went to a nearby house on Bradley Road where the other man lived, Peters said.Blodgett followed her, pulled up to the house on a snowmachine and an argument started. Things escalated, and Blodgett fired multiple shots at the home and at the other man but did not hit him, Peters said.The other man returned fire and shot Blodgett in the leg, troopers said. ”


OH: Man shot during home invasion : "Deputies in Gallia County are investigating a home invasion where one of the suspects was shot. The sheriff’s office says it happened shortly after midnight on Clay Lick Road. They say that after the suspects broke into the home, they brandished a weapon at the homeowner. Investigators say the homeowner was able to get a shotgun and shoot one of the suspects in the shoulder. Both suspects were able to flee the scene. Investigators say a short time later; the sheriff’s office got a call form Holzer Medical Center that a man had been dropped off at the emergency room with a gunshot wound to the chest. That man is believed to be one of the home invasion suspects. He was later transferred to St. Mary’s Medical Center in Huntington. He is said to be in critical, but stable condition. Investigators believe the driver of the car was the other suspect in the home invasion."


Welcome to Kennesaw, Georgia - we're packin' : "In 1981, Morton Grove, IL passed a law prohibiting citizens within the city limits to own firearms. In response, the city council of Kennesaw, GA unanimously passed a city ordinance in 1982 requiring heads of households to own at least one firearm with ammunition. The crime rate in Kennesaw at the time was already quite low . but nonetheless, the crime rate dropped even lower (by 89%) after the ordinance was passed. In 1998, Decatur, GA, (another Atlanta suburb with a population of comparable size to that of Kennesaw) reported 4,049 property crimes per 100,000 residents, while Kennesaw had merely 243 property crimes per 100,000 . Morton Grove has a crime rate of about 10 times that of Kennesaw."


Why America's gun owners are justifiably up in arms : "From the prospect of an incoming president and vice president with decidedly anti-gun-rights voting records, to a liberal West Coast mayor determined to ban firearms by `executive order' without benefit of city council or legislative review, American gun owners have good reason to doubt the sincerity of Liberal Democrats now in control of Congress and soon to control the Oval Office, who claim to support firearm civil rights."

MO: City Official Tells Residents to Get Guns

(St. Louis, Missouri) With rampant crime, the last resort is victimization or self-defense and a St. Louis Alderman is telling his constituents to arm themselves.

Alderman Charles Quincy Troupe said yesterday he is telling his north St. Louis constituents to acquire guns and learn how to use them.

He said that "God-fearing, law-abiding citizens and homeowners" are being preyed upon by criminals and that police are ineffective, outnumbered or don’t care.

Troupe, 72, and a former state representative, said many people don’t realize they have a constitutional right to bear arms that they can use to fend off an intruder. He supports Missouri’s "conceal and carry" weapons law and is recruiting residents to take the required weapons safety course. Troupe said the wrong people own guns.

St. Louis Police Chief Dan Isom said that guns are not the answer for crime-riddled neighborhoods. Social programs are better at crime prevention, he indicated, presumably just after slugging down a refreshing bolt of lefty Kool-Aid.

TN: Robber shoots accomplice in botched break-in : "An attempted robbery gone bad at a University Terrace apartment early this morning left one suspect in the hospital with gunshot wounds and four Murfreesboro residents charged with attempted first-degree murder, according to police. Edward Pope, age currently unknown, of Murfreesboro, suffered three gunshot wounds, including at least one to the chest, and is listed in serious condition at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. Police say he and four other Murfreesboro residents, including two juveniles, attempted to rob a man inside an apartment located at 910 Brown Drive shortly before 3:30 a.m."


DC: Council passes new victim disarmament regs: "The D.C. Council voted unanimously yesterday to give preliminary approval to legislation that would require gun owners to renew their registrations every three years and to notify police annually whether they still own guns. The Fire Arms Registration Amendment, which would also ban assault weapons, was described as building on legislation passed by the council in September to adhere to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning the city's 32-year handgun ban."


More on the 8-year old killer: ""It's just two sentences, 30 words buried in the bowels of a police report. And now, national news. (The boy) told a CPS worker that when he reached one thousand spankings that would be his limit. (The boy) kept a tally of his spankings on a piece of paper. So wrote St. Johns police Sgt. Lucas Rodriguez, just a few days after a double-homicide that has brought national attention to a small town in the heart of the White Mountains. It's not every day that an 8-year-old is accused of coming home from school and lying in wait to ambush his father and a second man. But a bigger shock may be coming. If this kid did it, it may be the perfect crime. At worst, he'll be locked up for nine years, until he turns 18. But it's also possible that the boy could walk away - no jail time, no treatment. The problem: The criminal justice system is not designed to deal with 8-year-old killers. If, in fact, he is a killer."


Plaxico Burgess not alone in ignoring gun laws : "New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress accidentally shot himself with his own gun while nightclubbing in Manhattan. For his troubles, he received not just the medical treatment he needed and the public shaming he deserved (for lousy gun handling), but a fine and suspension from his team and the possibility of spending 15 years behind bars because the gun isn't licensed in New York City. Quietly, I suspect lots of New Yorkers sympathize with the unfortunate football player. In carrying an unlicensed handgun, Burress is in good company. New York City politicians, protected by phalanxes of taxpayer-funded guards and politically awarded permits to carry weapons, impose some of the toughest gun laws in the country on the people over whom they rule."

Mumbai and the horror of gun control: "In the wake of the terrorist attack in Mumbai, I can already hear the U.S. gun-control crowd calling for new gun-control measures here in the United States. There will be several big problems with their pleas. One, as an article in the International Herald Tribune points out, India has strict gun-control laws. Those laws did not prevent the terrorist attack at the Oberoi and Taj Mahal Palace and Tower hotel. As libertarians have long been pointing out, terrorists and murderers have no reservations about disobeying gun-control laws. . Two, another long-held assumption of the gun-controllers is that gun control will keep guns out of the hands of murderers and terrorists. Not so in Mumbai. The attackers simply brought their weapons with them when they landed on shore."


The life-and-death cost of gun control: "Banning guns is in the news. India practically bans guns, but that didn't stop the horrific Muslim terrorist attacks this last week. A football player concerned for his safety violates New York City's tough gun control regulations by carrying a concealed handgun, and people call for everything from banning NFL players from carrying guns to demanding that the athlete serve many years in jail. `When police can't promise to protect law-abiding citizens such Plaxico Burress or the victims in India, why don't we allow people the right to protect themselves?' . In India, victims watched as armed police cowered and didn't fire back at the terrorists."


Federal Judge upholds "domestic violence" gun grab: "The federal statute making it a crime for a person subject to a domestic violence injunction to possess a firearm does not violate the right to bear arms [sez a political hack in a black dress]. U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman distinguished the ban from the Washington D.C. gun control law, struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in D.C. v. Heller, 128 S.Ct. 2783 (2008). `Heller held only that the federal government may not forbid possession of handguns for self-defense in the home,' Adelman wrote in a recent decision."


Gun maker uses murderer to market rifles : "The National Association of Gun Rights, various state organizations and Gun Owners of Arizona feel it is necessary to inform you of the following: As you may have already heard, HS Precision Rifles, a South Dakota gun maker, has been marketing their wares using the endorsement of a hired murderer. As bizarre and demented as it sounds, the HS company has a `testimonial' about their products on the back of their catalog from none other than Lon Horiuchi. Although they have a civilian market, they clearly are willing to throw civilian gun owners under the bus to get a little government business... Most gun owners remember Lon T. Horiuchi. But for those who do not, here is a little background: Horiuchi is the former FBI sniper who shot and killed Vicky Weaver while she was standing on the front porch of her cabin during the notorious "Ruby Ridge" standoff. Vicky was holding her infant daughter at the moment Horiuchi fired a rifle bullet that crashed through her skull, killing her."

CA: Shooter in shotgun slaying acted in self-defense: "A man wanted in connection with the Sept. 17 shooting death of 54-year-old Hayward resident George Bailes turned himself in to Alameda County Sheriff's deputies Sunday afternoon... Bailes, 54, was shot and killed in an Ashland apartment on the 1500 block of 167th Avenue at about 5:45 p.m. Sept. 17. Sgt. David Dickson said police believe Eddleman shot Bailes in the chest with a shotgun after a chaotic life-or-death struggle. The fight began with a dispute over a car owned by Aaron Hammond, 33, whose girlfriend drove it to San Francisco to see Eddleman, Dickson explained. On the night of the shooting, four other people were present at the Ashland residence when Hammond and Eddleman got into a confrontation over the vehicle in a back bedroom. Hammond fired a handgun at Eddleman and missed, Dickson said. Bailes then charged into the bedroom with a shotgun to defend Hammond, and a struggle over the weapon ensued, Dickson said. In a bloody struggle in which the shotgun was discharged into the ceiling and a knife came into play, the men crashed through a sliding glass shower door before Eddleman finally gained control of the shotgun and shot Bailes, who was falling backward, Dickson said. "It was clearly a violent struggle," Dickson said. "Eddleman was in a fight for his life." Dickson said the District Attorney's Office has determined that Eddleman acted in self-defense.... George Bailes Sr., 74, of Sacramento said Bailes grew up in Hayward. He described his son as a big, tough man who had problems with drugs and the law, and had served time at San Quentin."


NY: Retired NYPD officer shoots burglar: "A burglar shot and wounded Friday when he tried to break into a retired cop's Staten Island home, police sources said.Retired NYPD Officer Carmine Longo, 45, pulled a gun when he discovered the thief trying to rob his Rossville home, sources said.The thief was shot as he and the ex-cop struggled for Longo's .38-caliber revolver, sources said.The wounded thief, identified as Richard Licione, bolted from the house and tried to escape in a Ford Windstar with Longo on his heels, sources said."


Florida: Crook Caught After Losing Gun During Robbery: "An armed robbery suspect in Tampa learned a valuable lesson on his latest caper - hang onto your gun. Armed with a pistol Jerome Haggins, 42, burst into a home Saturday evening and demanded the six men inside to lie on the ground, according to police. He then demanded they hand over their wallets and jewelry. Once he had the loot, Haggins reportedly told the men to take off their clothes; that's when he noticed one of the men was still wearing a bracelet. The men told police Haggins put his gun on a table and then snatched the bracelet off the man's arm. While Haggins was taking the bracelet, police say another man grabbed the gun and turned the tables on Haggins. They then held him at gunpoint until police arrived. Haggins faces multiple charges, including armed robbery."


DE: Gun checks may violate federal law: "The Delaware State Police have been conducting secret background checks of some gun owners since 2001, a process known as "superchecks" that may violate federal law.The checks have resulted in confiscation of weapons, some for legitimate reasons, but have subjected many citizens to a search of mental health records that in most cases police would be unable to access.In Delaware, when someone attempts to purchase a pistol or rifle, he or she must first sign a consent form authorizing a criminal and mental health check by the state Firearms Transaction Approval Program."

Iowa: Aggressive tenant gets shot and killed by locksmith: "According to the Dubuque County Sheriff's Department, the shooter had been hired by Bonjour Estates of Dubuque to change the locks on at least two residences at the seven-apartment complex in Dyersville. He changed the locks at the apartment where Herman lived with his girlfriend, Jen Farver. Farver had been evicted, and the couple spent Saturday loading the last of their belongings. The shooter moved onto another apartment, where he was working on changing the locks, when Herman arrived and confronted the shooter. A physical altercation occurred, with punching and shoving. The shooter went to his car. Herman followed, got in the car, and another physical altercation took place, authorities said. "In some point during the second altercation, shots were fired," said Capt. Bob Lynn of the Dubuque County Sheriff's Department. The shooter performed CPR on Herman until emergency workers arrived, and then he went voluntarily with police. He was not charged and was released the same day. He told police he acted in self defense."


TX: Robber shoots own foot during home invasion: "A man suspected of robbing a home in South Austin accidentally shot himself in the foot with a shotgun early this morning, police said. The suspect, 18-year-old Raymond Rene Rodriguez, was taken to the hospital with minor injuries and charged with aggravated robbery, said Lt. Max Johnson of the Austin Police Department. His bail was set at $100,000. Residents of the home, on Audrey Drive in South Austin, had called police at 12:40 a.m. and reported a robbery. The first officer on the scene heard a gunshot and saw people running out of front door, Johnson said. The suspect dropped the shotgun in a hallway of the house and left from another door, but police caught up with him. The suspect took an undisclosed amount of money and other items, according to an arrest affidavit. Residents of the home apparently knew the suspect, Johnson said.


PA: Gun owners dodge tax on ammunition: "Pennsylvania gun owners dodged a bullet when lawmakers failed to enact legislation that would have levied a 5-cent tax on each shell and required encoding ammunition with serial numbers and registering those numbers in a statewide database. Introduced in February, the bill remains in the state House Judiciary Committee and will die at the end of the session on Sunday. But it could be reintroduced in January, and gun advocates expect to fight it again next year. It's part of a growing effort nationally to target ammunition as one way to stem gun violence."


Chicago defies the Second Amendment : "Since the Supreme Court upheld the individual right to own guns last summer, one municipality after another with handgun bans has faced reality. Washington, D.C., which lost the case, changed its law. Morton Grove, Ill., repealed its ban. So did neighboring Wilmette. Likewise for Evanston. Last week, Winnetka followed suit. Then there is Chicago, which is being sued for violating the Second Amendment but refuses to confront the possibility that what the Supreme Court said may apply on this side of the Appalachians. When it comes to firearms, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley is no slave to rationality."

CA: Aggressive ex-husband shot: "A Turlock man was shot and killed late Tuesday after a struggle in a west Modesto duplex, police said. Julio Cesar Escobar, 30, was pronounced dead at the scene of the shooting in the the 100 block of Roselawn Avenue, said Sgt. Brian Findlen, a Modesto police spokesman. Escobar's estranged wife said Wednesday afternoon that the man she is dating wrestled with Escobar after Escobar broke into her home; the man shot him in self-defense, she said. She said her husband was armed with a box cutter. The wife, who is 30 years old, said she and Escobar were getting a divorce and were nearing the final stages. "I told him not to come here, and he kept calling me all day (Tuesday)," the wife said. "I just can't believe this happened." The wife was home with her three children and the man she is dating late Tuesday. She said Escobar arrived at the duplex and started banging on the front door, demanding to be let inside. The wife was in her bedroom with her 2-year-old daughter and the man she is dating. She said they forgot the bedroom window was unlocked. She said she saw Escobar crawling through the window, and, "I tried to push him out, but half of his body was already in." The wife said Escobar was carrying a box cutter, and the two men started wrestling in the bedroom. "I just heard the gunshot," she said. "I didn't know who was shot. It was really dark." When her estranged husband fell to the floor, the other man asked her to call 911 and waited for police, she said. The wife said the man who shot her husband used a handgun that is legally registered in his name. No arrests had been made as of Wednesday night."


OH: Teen invader dies in shooting: "An attempted burglary on an East Side home resulted in the death of a 17-year-old. Preston Williams of Youngstown was killed after several shots were fired inside a Clinton Street home during a home invasion early Saturday morning. The resident of a home told police he and another man heard a knock at the back door about 12:30 a.m. The victims said they asked who was at the door, and a female replied, "It's Lisa." When one of the victims opened the door, a male, later identified as Williams, pointed a gun at him, forcing his way into the house, the victim said. The victim said he began struggling with Williams, and the gun went off. The homeowner said he saw the struggle and went to get his .38-caliber revolver. Four of six rounds were fired from his gun. Police said when they arrived, Williams was found unresponsive at the bottom of a staircase leading to the basement of the house. The victim who struggled with Williams said he took the 9mm semiautomatic Smith & Wesson that Williams used in the attack and put it on a chair in the kitchen. Police said it won't be known which weapon was used to kill Williams until the coroner's report is completed. The victims told Youngstown police two other men also entered the house. One, who was identified as Michael Mims of Crandall Avenue on the city's North Side, was also shot. His injuries were treated, and he was released into police custody and charged with murder and aggravated robbery. The victims were taken to the Detective's Division of the Youngstown Police Department and later released."


Wayne County judge shoots at suspected robbers: "DETROIT - A Wayne County Circuit Court judge has shot at three men suspected of robbing his home. Police say Judge Craig Strong came home Saturday evening to find the men inside his Indian Village house on Detroit's east side. They say he shot at the suspects with his own gun and chased them outside, but it's unclear if any of them were hit. The suspects ran off, but a television was left on Strong's lawn and nothing else was missing from the house. Police tell the Detroit Free Press that it's not immediately known if Strong's weapon is registered."


Reply to a hater of weapon shows: "In response to the Nov. 21. letter, "Fairgrounds no place for weapons shows," the writer takes aim at a group of people who are my friends, my relatives, my associates, my employees and my bosses. They all attend the Indy 1500 Gun Shows at the fairgrounds and I don't consider any of them to be "sick individuals" purchasing "murderous weapons" at a "barbaric exhibition." Of course, there might be a small percentage of attendees who are there to find a weapon for devious exploits. But the overwhelming majority enjoys target-shooting, hunting, collecting firearms or knives, or just has an interest in the show offerings. A friend accompanied me to the last show and he owns no guns at all, but finds the show "interesting." Also, there are law-abiding citizens who have legal permits to carry a firearm for personal protection of themselves and their loved ones. The show allows them to find the latest and safest methods to do this."

CA: Gangbanger shot with own gun: "A 15-year-old gang associate was in critical condition Friday after he was wounded twice by his own gun during a struggle with a 32-year-old he pointed the weapon at, police said. The man, who police said was a former paratrooper in the Honduras army, was not hurt and waited for police to respond to where the confrontation happened. He gave a statement to investigators before he was arrested on suspicion of assault while the district attorney's office determines whether he acted in self-defense. Police would not release the name of the teen or the adult pending the district attorney's review. The shooting happened just before 2 a.m. Friday in the 3700 block of Foothill Boulevard in the Fruitvale district. The area is a known hangout of certain gang members and police said the 15-year-old is associated with the gang. The man was on his cell phone when he was confronted by the teen, and possibly some other youths, said Officer Robert Trevino, who is investigating the case with Sgt. Drennon Lindsey. The teen pointed a pistol at the man, who had never seen him before, and used a street term to see if he was in another gang, police said. Police said the man is not a gang member and has only been in Oakland eight months, seeking work. When the teen was momentarily distracted by a passing car, the man grabbed the gun and the two began struggling over it, Trevino said. During the struggle the gun went off twice, hitting the teen in the neck and shoulder, police said. He was taken to a local hospital by friends where he underwent surgery. The man waited for police to come to the scene and gave them the pistol."


Mississippi: Burglary suspect dead, shot by business owner : "The suspect in a Tuesday break-in at a Corinth business has died from a gunshot wound inflicted by the business owner, police say. James Thomas Parson, 25, of North Parkway, Corinth, was pronounced dead at Magnolia Regional Health Center on Tuesday, said Corinth Police Chief David Lancaster. The police department received an emergency call about 3:30 a.m. Tuesday through 911 to go to the scene of a burglary in progress at The Jewelry Box, 706 S. Tate St., Corinth, the chief said. Responding officers found Parson lying on the floor inside the business with a gunshot wound to the stomach and called emergency services, which transported him to the hospital. Lancaster said the business owner reported he heard a noise at the front of the store and took his handgun when he went to check it out. When he saw a man coming through a window, he ordered the intruder to stop, but he did not. Instead, the suspect came inside the business, reached up and ripped down the video surveillance equipment. The owner said he again told the suspect to stay where he was or get out, but the suspect charged toward him and he fired one shot, which struck the intruder in the abdomen, Lancaster said. The case remains under investigation, but no charges have been filed."


North Carolina: Burglar no match for shotgun-toting couple: "A would-be burglar who'd been scared off from one house by a 70-year-old woman found himself a few minutes later staring down the wrong end of a shotgun at another, police say. Rutledge, 26, of Oakboro was reportedly climbing through a bathroom window of a woman's home on the 3500 block of N.C. 27 in Stanley at 4:30 a.m. Sunday when the woman, who'd had her 70th birthday the week before, spotted him and scared him away before he could get inside. He then apparently went to a house across the street off N.C. 27 on Watts Street, this time making it inside. But once inside he found himself staring at Richard Osborne and an old shotgun that his wife's grandfather had once used to slaughter hogs. Rutledge had pulled a bedspread down to cover him as he lay in the floor in a guest bedroom, Phyllis Osborne said. But the couple could see his knuckles poking out. "We told him, `If you don't come out we're going to blow your brains out,'" Phyllis Osborne said Monday. "We had to say it three times, but then he jumped up and said, `I'm in the wrong house. I'm in the wrong house.'" The Osbornes have been married 30-plus years. He has a little trouble hearing, she can hear a squirrel walking across the roof. When she heard something Sunday morning she knew someone had entered their home. Rutledge answered Mrs. Osborne with "Yes, mam," and "No, mam,'" she said. Mr. Osborne had to punch him once and hit him twice with the gun. As of Monday night, Rutledge remained in Gaston County Jail under $100,000 bond facing two charges of first-degree burglary.


GA: Black robber killed by restaurant security guard: "Richmond County's Sheriff says the investigator who shot a man to death during a robbery followed the proper procedure. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation says just before 8 p.m. Monday night Joseph Gooden ran into Captain D's wearing a bandanna over his face carrying what looked to witness like a sawed off rifle or shotgun. What Gooden didn't see was investigator Timothy Tobias hunched over tying his shoe near the entrance. Witnesses told investigators Gooden chased an employee into the back office where he put his gun to the restaurant manager's head and took a tray of money. The witness says Gooden was about to escape when Tobias pulled his gun on him and told him two times to drop his weapon. They say Gooden kept advancing before Investigator Tobias shot him several times in the chest. "Witnesses said they heard on two different occasions the investigator order him to drop his weapon," said Richmond County Sheriff, Ronnie Strength. "Did the officer have to do that? Absolutely not because the suspect had put the officer's life and other folk's lives in danger," Strength said. GBI says the gun Gooden used was a "BB" gun. "It doesn't matter if it's a BB gun," said Sheriff Strength. You've seen these BB guns and BB pistols that look identical to real weapons. Every employee and customer in the restaurant also thought it was a rifle or shotgun." Captain D's has had officers to guard its restaurant for the past eight years because of security problems".

South Carolina: Intruder shot while entering house: "A man who was at home when someone tried to break into his residence on Monday apparently shot the burglar as he was coming through a bedroom window, authorities said. Colleton County deputies arrived about 9:30 a.m. at the home on Turkey Hill Lane and learned that the homeowner had fired his gun at someone coming in the window but found no suspects on the property. They later got a call from a woman nearby who said her 15-year-old grandson had been shot, Sheriff George Malone said. The boy was taken to Colleton County Regional Medical Center, treated and taken to jail, Malone said. He and a 16-year-old boy and an adult were all charged with second-degree burglary, the sheriff said. Malone identified the adult as as Larry Speaks, 20, of Green Pond."


Vermont: Murder Charges Dropped, Shooting Was Self-Defense: "Murder charges have been dropped in a fatal shooting in Windsor County. Kyle Bolaski, 24, of Springfield, was charged with second-degree murder, for killing Vincent Tamburello, 32, of Springfield, in August during a fight at a park in Chester. Bolaski claims Tamburello was chasing him with an ax, so he shot him twice. A grand jury agreed the shooting was self-defense. Bolaski will face aggravated assault charges for allegedly hitting Tamburello with the gun after the shooting."


ATF finding new ways to infringe people's rights : "Last month, we told you how the ATF was trying to prevent the distribution of an electronic 4473 Form. This software has been developed by a private firm, Coloseum Software Corporation, and is intended to protect dealers against the `mistakes' that have allowed the ATF to prosecute or harass them into giving up their licenses. GOA issued a grassroots alert in mid-October explaining how the ATF had been dragging its collective feet for months - keeping Coloseum from distributing its software, even while the ATF was developing its own competing software (and possibly, violating the copyright which belonged to Coloseum)."


Finland: Finland's weapons register full of errors : "The national daily Helsingin Sanomat reports that the national weapons register is rife with mistakes and inaccuracies.The Interior Ministry's weapons register is outdated and highly inaccurate. Many mistakes were made when the register's data was converted from file cards to an electronic registry in 1992. Already before this, White Guard rifles, for example, have been registered with a type number instead of a manufacture number. `For God's sake, in Finland we have many Parabellums whose serial number has been marked as 1916, 1917 or 1918, for example, because it reads so on the side of the weapon. In reality that number is the year it was made,' says . a firearms salesman from Hamina."

Texas Homeowner Shoots Intruder Attempting to Break In: "A homeowner got a surprise wakeup call Monday. Gabriel Guzman was in his 59th Street home Monday morning, when he was startled by his doorbell continuously ringing. "They kept ringing the doorbell and it kind of worried me some so I kind of glanced out the window and I didn't see anything," said Guzman. Guzman kept peering out his windows, and that's when he saw 18-year-old Adrian Hardaway walk towards his backyard. Out of fear Guzman grabbed his gun. "I opened up the door and yelled at him and I just told him to get away. I looked and he was pointing his gun at me and I had mine and I warned him to get away. I looked again and that's when he had his gun and I thought he was going to shoot me - so I shot him," said Guzman. Guzman backed the suspect up into his backyard, once he shot him, the suspect fell over and Guzman warned the suspect several times to toss the gun away. Once he finally tossed it aside, then he called the police. Lubbock police say they believe the suspect was responsible for two other burglaries in the neighborhood before he was shot. The suspect was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries."


Oklahoma Store Owner Shoots At Would-Be Robber: "A robber is on the run after narrowly escaping a barrage of bullets at an Oklahoma City convenience store. Oklahoma County deputies said a man waited for the Buy Fast Foods store at Northeast 23rd and Boyd streets to close and started pistol-whipping the owner in the parking lot. Deputies said the robber forced the owner to go back into the store and get money. Instead, the owner got a gun and fired several shots at the man. The robber fled in a newer-model red pickup truck. Police said they're not sure whether any of the shots hit the robber."


Delaware robber shot by would-be victim: "An armed robber who tried to stick up a New Castle area man was shot himself when his would-be victim pulled out his own gun and fired at him. The gunshot victim later reported to police that he was shot during a robbery that went awry.New Castle County police spokesman Cpl. Trinidad Navarro said the holdup happened at 5:45 p.m. Monday in the first block of Chesterfield Drive in Garfield Park. A 37-year-old man told officers that he was taking items out of his car when two men walked up to him and stuck an object in his side and attempted to rob him. The victim said he thought the assailants were going to shoot him, so he pulled out his own 9 mm handgun and fired one round at the suspects. Navarro said the man was not sure if he hit either of the assailants, although he did hear a loud moaning sound after he fired the shot. The two would-be robbers ran off in the direction of Bizarre Drive."


Florida Father Shoots Neighbor's Pit Bull: "A local father shot and killed a neighbor's pit bull. The dog was loose and had followed a child into the dad's home. Law enforcement says no one will face charges because of the incident-- not the father for shooting the dog in front of children, nor the pit bull's owner for letting the dog get out. At least two girls were meeting at the Martin home for a ride to school. The pit bull followed one girl into the house and bit Martin's beagle. Martin first tried to scare away the pit bull with a BB gun, but the dog returned, reportedly growling at the children. Martin took out his .9 mm gun and shot the pit bull. The dog then ran down the street and died. The shooting upset neighbor Ofelia Cravens. Prior to the shooting, Cravens said her daughter found the dog wandering down the street. Cravens said the pit bull was large, but friendly.... Animal Control says the pit bull belonged to Fernando and Anna Flores, who live on another street."

Massachusetts clerk with handgun turns tables on would-be robber: "Police said Tyrone Lamb, 26, of New Bedford was armed with a knife when he tried to rob a clerk at a North End convenience store last weekend. Big mistake. Around 2:45 p.m. Saturday, Mr. Lamb allegedly walked into the Petro Mart at 171 Coggeshall St. The suspect wore a gray sweatshirt with the hood pulled over his head. He asked for a pack of cigarettes but did not take out cash. He kept his hands in his pockets and skulked around the store. The clerk, Antoine Khalife, knew something was going to happen. The suspect walked to the counter and pulled a switchblade from his pocket. He held it to Mr. Khalife's face and demanded money, according to police reports. Unfazed, the clerk stepped back from the counter. "I was waiting for him," he said. Instead of opening his register, Mr. Khalife drew a .40-caliber Sig Sauer handgun from a holster hidden in his coat. The tables had turned as the clerk ordered the man to drop his knife. "I don't think he was expecting that," Mr. Khalife said. "His face lit up like a Christmas tree. His eyes were about three times their size." The suspect backed off and said, "I'm sorry." He turned around and ran out of the store. Police tracked the suspect's license plate to a Roswell Street residence. Relatives there told police that Mr. Lamb drove the vehicle, according to police reports. Police obtained an arrest warrant for Mr. Lamb after Mr. Khalife identified him from a photo array as the robbery suspect, court records said." Mr. Lamb has a prior robbery conviction"


Tennessee oldster shoots intruder: "Metro police said the victim of a home invasion turned the tides on his intruder. John Lewis is sick and tired of being the victim. He said burglars have broken into his home four times this year. To a thief, Lewis may look like an easy target. On Sunday, the 69-year-old Air Force veteran shot a hole through that reputation. Around 10:30 p.m., he heard a crash. "So he started kicking on the door. He made more noise than anybody I've ever dreamed of trying to break into a house," he said. What he saw was a man holding a flashlight and a pickax. Lewis was packing a 357 pistol. "And the pistol went off. I had it cocked. It had a hair trigger and I touched it and it went off," he said. The bullet hit suspect Jerry Watson in the leg. Police said Watson, who has a lengthy criminal history, limped to the home next door and lost consciousness."


Ohio teen shoots burglar: "A 15-year-old shot a burglar late Friday night after the burglar and two cohorts broke into the teen's West Side home, police said Monday. The teenager and his 14-year-old brother were home alone when three men came to the house, police said. The teens recognized two out three of the men, according to their mother, who spoke with the Star Beacon Monday. When the boys refused to let the men in the house, one of the men took the butt of a shotgun and smashed the window out of the front door, police said. That's when the older boy ran upstairs to retrieve his father's handgun, his mother said. In the meantime, the intruders told the younger teen they would kill both of them if he didn't open the door, the mother said. "They held a gun to his head," she said. Sgt. John Koski said the 15-year-old came down the stairs and shot one of the intruders in the leg. The men then took off. "The bullet went in the leg and out through his buttocks," the mother said.... police received a call from Ashtabula County Medical Center that a 21-year-old city man showed up with a gunshot wound to the leg, Koski said. "He said a kid accidentally shot him," he said. "The wound was in the exact place the 15-year-old said he shot the intruder." Police arrested and charged the 21-year-old man with aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony; attempted felonious assault and having a weapon under disability, Koski said, noting the suspect is a known felon."


Vermont Burglary Suspect Arrested: "Police say they've arrested the burglar who was shot at by a homeowner Monday in North Hero. It turns out the suspect is a career burglar who is well-known to the police and he has even been interviewed by Channel 3 News several times. Now Eric Edson, 37, is back behind bars facing new burglary charges. And the police say he made catching him all too easy. The arrest came less than 20 hours after police say Edson broke into two homes in North Hero for burglaries. But he made a big mistake in the second house when the homeowner caught him red-handed. "The homeowner went to his residence, had a handgun, entered his residence, and confronted a male subject that was in his residence, and the homeowner fired two rounds from his handgun as the subject fled the area," Cooper said. Police say Edson escaped uninjured and stole a truck to make his getaway. That triggered a massive manhunt Monday night in Grand Isle. Edson made it easy for the police to figure out who the burglar was because he drove to the homes in his own Blazer and he left it behind. Police say the homeowner who shot at Edson identified him from a photo lineup. And his picture had been in many lineups in the last two decades. He has more than three dozen felony convictions for burglaries and thefts, which have kept him behind bars for most of his adult life."

FL: Another robber shoots himself: "Kody Michael Foehner, 25, and his girlfriend, Catherine N. Cartony, 20, were in the house just before 10 p.m. when they let in an acquaintance, Phillip Shaarief Perkins, 21, of Port Charlotte. Perkins was with four other men [see above], all carrying pistols, stun guns or shotguns, authorities said. The men yelled, "Where's the money?" and demanded that Cartony open a bedroom safe, which she could not. They assaulted Foehner. One man, Arien J. Mayo, shot the couple's dog and then grabbed the shotgun by the barrel to hit Foehner in the head. The gun went off, wounding Mayo in the femoral artery, authorities said. The suspects took off, carrying Mayo and snatching Cartony's purse -- with $6 inside. The getaway ride lasted about six minutes. A state trooper spotted their Toyota Camry speeding on Hillsborough Boulevard, and the suspects ran off the road near Prineville Street and Jefferson Boulevard. Four jumped out of the car, leaving Mayo, 19, of North Port to die. The remaining suspects fared no better on foot. The four men jumped into the Pellam Waterway, but only three emerged. Nine days later, a couple on Ravenswood Boulevard noticed buzzards flying over Perkins' body".


MO: St. Louis police board nixes gun buyback program : "The Board of Police Commissioners on Wednesday shot down Chief Daniel Isom's request to fund a repeat of last year's gun buyback that took more than 500 firearms off the street . board President Chris Goodson said he was against the idea because last year's buyback didn't prevent this year's rising murder rate. `I'm trying to understand what the benefit is,' he told Isom. `If it's to reduce crime, it doesn't seem to have an effect.' Board member Vincent J. Bommarito agreed. `I think it's a waste of money,' he said


Georgia: Board rejects pupil appeal in gun case : "Columbia County school board members rejected the appeal of an Evans High School student suspended for bringing a gun on campus, according to a summary report released Wednesday. Wes Ivie, a 16-year-old junior and star lineman on the school's undefeated football team, had been serving an in-school suspension during his appeal. He must now attend the alternative school for the rest of the semester before returning to Evans High, according to a written summary of the board's Tuesday night decision. The teen said he had forgotten that he'd left a hunting rifle in his vehicle after a weekend trip, according to both his mother, Anita Ivie, and a police report. When he saw police at the school conducting a random search Oct. 24 he reported the gun at the school office and was not charged. "It was clear to the investigating officer that this was a mistake and no criminal intent existed," Columbia County sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris said."


WI: Organization hopes for campus handgun rights : "Student groups supporting the right to carry concealed weapons on campus are preparing to push for legislation in their favor when state governments reconvene in January.David Burnett, board member at large for Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, said in an e-mail Friday the goal of the organization is to ensure holders of concealed handgun permits can enjoy the same rights on college campuses that current laws afford them virtually everywhere else."

MS: Man shot trying to steal SUV: "Jackson police said the property owner who fatally shot a burglary suspect Saturday night had a right to pull the trigger under the Castle Doctrine. Brandon Lenard, 20, of Jackson was shot outside a row of townhouses on County Cork Road after he allegedly broke into a Cadillac Escalade parked in front, police said. Police spokesman Lt. Jeffery Scott said no charges will be filed against the owner of the SUV, whose name was not released. Just before 9 p.m. Saturday, Lenard allegedly broke into the Escalade while its owner was inside a townhouse just a few feet away, police said. "The owner heard something outside, so he stepped out of the house to see what it was. When he saw someone was in his vehicle, he went back inside to retrieve a weapon. He then went back outside to confront the suspect," Scott said. Scott said there was an exchange of words between Lenard and the vehicle's owner just before Lenard tried to run from the scene. Police said that as Lenard was leaving, he is believed to have put the SUV owner's life in danger. Scott would not say what he did.... Hinds County Coroner Sharon Grisham-Stewart said Sunday that Lenard did have a gun at the scene. Lenard was shot once with a shotgun, Grisham-Stewart said. She said the pellets entered the back and side of his head."


PA: Homeowner kills burglar : "The sleeping resident was woken around 1030pm last night after hearing a strange noise in the downstairs of his home in the 1900 block of Montrose Street in South Philadelphia. After finding an open window on the first floor of his two story row home, the resident started to search the rest of the property from top to bottom, and was startled to find a male hunched up in the corner of a spare bedroom. The resident pulled his gun and a violent struggle ensued between the robber and resident. During the struggle the robber was shot. The burglar, a male in his 30's, was taken to the hospital where he later died.The homeowner was not injured and will probably not face charges."


CA: Crazed Swordsman Attacks Scientology Guard Who Fires Back in Self Defense: "Never bring a knife to a gunfight. That's the lesson learned by a sword-wielding intruder who broke into the Scientology Celebrity Center in Hollywood and threatened a guard. In classic Hollywood style, the guard pulled a gun and shot the intruder dead. A surveillance tape backs up the self defense claim, reportedly showing that the guard only fired after being physically threatened by the swordsman. Regardless of what you think about Scientology, the group has been under a series of rather bizarre attacks over the last year, including organized hacking attempts, public protests and even an attempt by the nation of Germany to outlaw the group"


Would-be Obama appointees quizzed on guns : "President-elect Barack Obama's transition team is asking potential appointees detailed questions about gun ownership, and firearms advocates aren't happy about it. The National Rifle Association has denounced the move, which has already led one Republican senator to consider legislation aimed at ensuring a president can't use an applicant's gun ownership status to deny employment. It's just one question on a lengthy personnel form - No. 59 on a 63-question list - but the furor over the query is a vivid reminder of the intensity of support for Second Amendment rights and signals the scrutiny Obama is likely to receive from the ever-vigilant gun lobby."

Georgia store owner shoots would-be thief: "A would-be robber apparently got more than he bargained for when he tried to rob a Cobb County package store. When a man wearing a hoodie and carrying a gun tried to rob the Windy Hill Package store, the owner fired a handgun at him, police spokesman Dana Pierce said. The owner of the store at 2425 Windy Hill Road in Marietta believes he shot the suspect as he ran from the store during the Nov. 15 robbery attempt. A store security camera captured the incident as it unfolded at about 7:30 p.m. at the store near Cobb Parkway. The suspect is seen on the security camera pointing a gun at the clerk. The owner, who asked that his name not be used because the suspect is still on the loose, said the robber first asked for a bottle of Bombay Sapphire Gin. When he came back to the counter, he pointed his gun at the clerk and gestured toward the cash register. As the store owner pushed a bag with the bottle in it toward the robber, the robber put his gun in the waistband of his pants. The owner quickly reached under the counter and brought out his own gun -- a .45 caliber -- which he fired at the robber. The robber appeared to be hit in his right side and staggered as he turned to leave. Pierce said no bullet holes were found in the walls of the store. Pierce said the suspect left without any money -- or his gin. No charges are expected to be filed against the store owner."


Georgia homeowner shoots burglary suspect: "A homeowner shot an armed burglary suspect Wednesday morning after a break-in at a house in the Waverly Pines subdivision, police said. Roderick Manigault, 20, was shot twice in the abdomen about 8:30 a.m. in a hallway of a neighbor's home in the 600 block of Mitscher Drive, Glynn County Police Chief Matt Doering said. Manigault was in fair condition at Southeast Georgia Health System's Brunswick hospital, a medical center spokeswoman said. Doering said investigators were taking out arrest warrants against Manigault. Police withheld the homeowner's name because the investigation indicates others might have been involved, he said. "The preliminary investigation shows the homeowner acted properly in self-defense. We have no intention of filing charges against him," Doering said. Although the burglar was armed, he didn't fire at the homeowner, who was not injured. Police recovered a firearm when Manigault was found wounded in an acquaintance's home about three blocks away from the shooting scene, Doering said. "The homeowner said he looked down the hallway and saw a burglar who was armed with a gun," Doering said. After being shot, the burglar fled. Responding to a phone tip, police found Manigault wounded shortly after the shooting, Doering said. Police recovered some stolen property after Manigault was found, Doering said."


Another handgun ban repealed in the Chicago area: "An emotional night inside the Winnetka Village Council chamber as residents pleaded with council members to keep a 20-year old handgun ban in place. The issue has come up because three Winnetka residents sued the village claiming the ban violated their Second Amendment rights. Council members expressed their frustration over the vote and feared if they didn't repeal the ordinance it would cost the village thousands of dollars to fight the suit with risk of losing in court. "This is a case of a lawsuit trumping democracy," said Councilman E. King Poor. The council voted 6-0 to repeal the ban which would mean handguns in homes would now be permitted but firing guns and gun sales would stay illegal. The lawsuit was filed in response to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that said residents of Washington, D.C., a city under federal juristiction, could keep handguns for self defense. In the Chicago area, five suburbs--including Wilmette, Evanston, Morton Grove and Oak Park--had gun bans at the time of the Supreme Court ruling and had to take simliar measures to repeal bans. Wilmette repealed its ordinance in July. Evanston revised its ordinance to allow possession of guns in homes, but the city is considering zoning changes that would prohibit gun stores and public shooting ranges."


Media brainwashing: "There are a lot of people in New Jersey with open minds and open eyes, but the majority of us have been mentally conditioned to be afraid of guns. The Media in general have done an excellent job of demonizing firearms and the law-abiding citizens who own them. A two-year study by the Media Research Center concluded that television reporters are overwhelmingly opposed to Second Amendment rights. Broadcasts from major networks from July 1, 1995 to June 30, 1997, covering 244 gun policy stories, the ratio of anti-gun to pro-gun bias was 16 to 1. That means, for every one story of someone using their firearm in self defense or to save the live of another, they aired 16 stories of criminals using their guns to hurt the innocent. That ratio still remains the same today. It seems one sided and unfair, does it not? Despite what media coverage might seem to indicate, there are more deaths related to high school football than shootings. In a recent three year period, twice as many football players died from hits to the head, heat stroke, and other bizarre injuries as compared with students who were murdered by firearms during that same time period."

Chicago area barber shoots robber: "On Nov. 6 at about 11:40 a.m., Calumet City police responded to reports of a person shot at 524 155th Pl. Police arrived to find Kelly suffering from a gunshot wound to the back. He was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn for treatment, according to a release from police. As police were responding, they also received a report of an armed robbery at Marvelous Cuts Barber Shop at 804 Burnham in Calumet City. The victim told police a male subject came in for a hair cut and afterwards pulled a gun and demanded the victim's jewelry and money. The robber told the victim --reportedly the shop owner -- to place the items in a plastic bag and the victim complied, police said. As the victim handed the suspect the bag he grabbed his own weapon, but the suspect fired at him. The victim then shot at the suspect, who fled northbound on Burnham. The victim told police he believed he shot the suspect.


Son Shoots Ex-Stepdad To Protect Her, Kansas Mom Says: "A teen took aim with a gun, his mother said, but it was the shooting victim who was in trouble with the law Friday night. The teenager's mother, who was caught in the middle, said her son pulled the trigger and shot her ex-husband to save her. The woman's 16-year-old son shot her ex-husband Friday morning on the front lawn of their Leavenworth home, but she said he did it to protect her. "He started ranting and raving, and I told him he needed to leave and go home, and he got mad," the woman said. The woman said her ex-husband had been abusive many times before, so she divorced him two years ago. But at 2:30 a.m., he suddenly barged into her home. She said he pulled out a knife and dragged her into the front yard, and that was when she said her son grabbed a gun from the house and pulled the trigger, hitting his ex-stepfather in the stomach. "He's a very quiet kid, and he's not the type to do anything like that, but he had had enough," she said. Her wounded ex-husband jumped into his truck. Instead of heading to either of the two hospitals in Leavenworth, he drove himself all the way to Kansas City, Kan., to Providence Medical Center, where police said he lied about what happened. Police said the teen was not arrested. He will likely not face any charges because what he did was in self-defense to protect himself and his mother. In the meantime, the ex-husband is recovering in the hospital. From there, he will be moved to the jail to face possible charges of burglary, kidnapping and assault."


Court Rules Cops Can Carry Guns . Nationwide!: "A ruling on a case from South Dakota - where off-duty law enforcement officers were criminally charged for carrying guns despite the authority to do so under the federal `Law Enforcement Officer's Safety Act of 2004? (LEOSA) - has confirmed that all qualified off-duty and retired law enforcement are allowed, by federal law, to carry a concealed gun for personal self-defense irrespective of state law. The federal law supersedes the crazy, confusing and often conflicted state and local laws that limit legitimate self-defense. Law Enforcement Alliance of America's Executive Director, Jim Fotis said, "When LEAA co-authored the original draft of what became affectionately known as `National Cop Carry' back in the early 1990's, I knew it would save cops' lives and give those who choose to resist violent criminals a fighting chance. In 2004 I shook President Bush's hand after he signed our bill into law and rejoiced that our fight - for more than a decade - was finally over!"


Seattle Mayor's Plan Disregards State Law: "A draft proposal issued Friday by Mayor Greg Nickels outlining his scheme to ignore state statute and state legislative authority over firearms regulation amounts to a slap in the face against more than 250,000 Washington state residents, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms said in response. "We're going to review this draft proposal line by line," said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb, "but even a cursory glance at the document released Friday by Mayor Nickels shows that he has chosen to arrogantly ignore the State Attorney General's opinion. State statute clearly limits municipal authority, and the Nickels plan suggests he is attempting to be a little too clever in trying an end-run around the law. "If Nickels pushes ahead with this scheme," he added, "there will be two kinds of criminals in Seattle, thugs and those who win elections. Both seem to believe it's just fine to ignore the law by playing the system".

Alaska: Homeowner opens fire on intruder: "A homeowner interrupting a burglary in progress late last week morning opened fire on the intruder as the burglar approached him and his wife, Alaska State Troopers said. The burglar was not hit by the shots but did sustain minor injuries when he "went through the window" while fleeing the home, troopers said. Responding officers brought in a dog and tracked down a suspect, Bowen Alexander, 18, a short distance from the home, troopers said. Troopers say Alexander had been drinking when he crashed his vehicle, broke into a home and entered the homeowner's vehicle. For reasons that were not immediately clear, Alexander then fled to the neighboring home, where the homeowner shot at him, troopers said. Alexander was booked at the Fairbanks Correctional Center on charges of burglary, criminal mischief, driving under the influence, driving with a suspended license, criminal trespass, assault and resisting arrest."


Securing the Homeland with HopeandChange : "The HopeandChange Anti-Gun Dream Team keeps getting bigger and `better,' with the newest addition being Arizona's Governor Janet Napolitano as the next Secretary of Homeland Security. What's her stance on guns?Well, in 2007, she vetoed Arizona SB 1302, which would have made Arizona's `Stand Your Ground' law retroactive. This could have made the difference for Harold Fish, who is serving a prison sentence for second degree murder . Napolitano said that her veto came out of concerns that reopening all the cases that could be affected by the change in law would overburden the court system. That makes sense-we certainly wouldn't want to give innocent people a chance to get out of prison if doing so would be inconvenient."


Disarmament on the high seas : "The piracy case in Somalia is a perfect example of victim disarmament at sea. Most merchant ships are forbidden by their countries' laws from having weapons on board (a ban which is enforced by rigorous inspections), which leaves a 20,000tn ship worth hundreds of million of dollars vulnerable to a pirate dinghy with a crew of five armed with AKs and RPGs worth a few hundred bucks. So do we allow owners to spend a few thousand dollars on weapons and private security on board? God forbid! No, much better to send a carrier group, or just nuke the high seas."


Learn to use a gun; police can't protect us : "Let's assume for a moment that the gun control folks have succeeded in the elimination of all guns from our society. These basics would still be true.This would still be a violent world. There are people who have chosen for whatever reason to be criminals. They glory in breaking laws, and they take great pleasure in intimidating and violating people who they perceive as weaker than them. .It is unreasonable to expect the police to protect you from these crimes. Most of them take place in a few seconds or maybe a couple of minutes. At best the police are several minutes away.If you are going to be protected . either you or some other law-abiding citizen is going to have to do something."

La.: Would-be robber shot and killed : "A man was shot and killed in Shreveport early today as he tried to rob another man, police said. Police said patrol officers conducting a traffic stop on West 70th Street heard several gunshots coming from the next street over about 3:30 a.m. Officers went to the 300 block of West 69th Street and found Messiah Demery, 27, of the 8000 block of Line Ave., shot once in the chest. Demery was dead on arrival at LSU Hospital. Police said Demery had been trying to rob two men -- Rodrigus Kennedy and Shamicheal Kennedy -- as they sat in a car in the driveway of the house. Rodrigus got a gun and shot Demery, police said. The gun used in the shooting was located inside a house. Police said they also found some marijuana and arrested Rodrigus Kennedy on drug charges. He has not been charged in connection with the shooting of Demery; that part of the investigation is continuing, police said."


IL: Robber ends up shot: "A 22-year-old man is under arrest after a morning shooting that started as an armed robbery attempt. Police say C.L. Phillips got into 29-year-old Antwonne Hudson's car on Searles Avenue, pointed a gun at him, and tried to rob him. Phillips drove the car to Sablewood Drive where there was an altercation, he got his hands on the gun, and shot Phillips in the foot. Phillips was treated and released at Rockford Memorial Hospital. He is now charged with Unlawful Use of Weapons by Felon and Armed Robbery."


Gun owners are the last line of defense: "More than 50 million Americans went to the polls and chose Barrack Hussein Obama, heretofore referred to as Bo, to be the 44th president of the United States. He seeks to employ, deploy, and set upon our nation a civilian corps, better armed and trained than our military.... The status quo and Murphy's law stand in Bo's way. There are, according to government stats, between 60 and 100 million gun owners in this country. I expect a third of them to knuckle under and capitulate, a third will hide and deny, and a third will fight back. Even conservatively 20 to 25 million people in active revolt is going to be a problem for Bo. Don't fear Bo but don't assume that his plans don't include or apply to you. They do. Aim Low and follow up.


Nomination of Holder for AG signals Obama anti-gun agenda : "The nomination of Eric Holder for the post of attorney general of the United States sends an `alarming signal' to gun owners about how the Barack Obama administration will view individual gun rights, as affirmed this year by the Supreme Court, the Second Amendment Foundation said today. `Eric Holder signed an amicus brief in the Heller case that supported the District of Columbia's handgun ban, and also argued that the Second Amendment does not protect an individual right,' noted SAF founder Alan Gottlieb. `He has supported national handgun licensing and mandatory trigger locks. As deputy attorney general under Janet Reno, he lobbied Congress to pass legislation that would have curtailed legitimate gun shows.'"

Shot Brooklyn storekeeper saved my life, employee says: "The brave Brooklyn shopkeeper who snatched a gun from a gang of holdup men and killed two of them will not face criminal charges, police sources said Tuesday. Investigators believe Youssouf Drame, who is in critical condition after he was shot in the stomach, was acting in self-defense when he turned the tables on his assailants Monday night, the sources said. "He saved my life," said Drummond Bignott, 19, an employee in Drame's Crown Heights variety store. Bignott was helping a customer when the armed men burst in. "They stormed in and said, 'Everyone get down,' but he fought the guys," Bignott said Tuesday..... Despite being hit in the stomach, Drame squeezed off several shots, fatally wounding two of the would-be robbers. Shot in the torso, Leon Harris, 26, staggered to the sidewalk and died a short time later at Kings County Hospital, police said. A second man, who was not carrying identification, was shot several times in the stomach and died inside the store."


Florida Man Shot In Groin During Robbery Attempt: "A Coral Springs man is recovering after being shot in the groin by a man demanding his wallet, police said. Mark David Braun was confronted outside his home before dawn Monday, NBC 6 reported. Braun said he went out for a pack of cigarettes, and as he was coming back home a stranger approached him with a gun and asked for his wallet. He pushed the would-be robber's gun away, and then the robber saw Braun's gun and ran, but not before firing one shot, Braun said. Braun was airlifted to North Broward Medical Center. His wife, who was home with their 3-year-old son, saw the shooter run away and get into a car. Braun was released from the hospital a few hours after being shot. Police are still searching for the shooter".


VA: Fatal shooting in Prince George called self-defense : "A Prince George County man acted in self defense when he fatally shot a Hopewell man during a gathering last month, county authorities have determined. After an extensive investigation by Prince George police and the county commonwealth's attorney's office, authorities have concluded that Jeremy W. Atkins, 21, was fatally shot Oct. 11 after pointing a handgun at a resident of the home in the 3000 block of High Peak Lane, authorities said today in a statement. The resident, who was not identified, fired two blasts from a hunting-style shotgun, fatally injuring Atkins, authorities said."


NC: Business owner shoots back: "Police said the men broke into Big Rob's Sports Bar on Nevin Road in north Charlotte around 3 a.m. Monday. The burglars tripped the burglar alarm, which alerted police and the bar's owner. The owner went to the bar and saw the men loading electronics into the back of a truck. When the burglars saw the owner, one burglar shot at him. The owner shot back and the burglars got away."

FL Man Defends Home From Two Robbers : "A Tampa man turned the tables on two home invaders, killing one and sending the other fleeing for his life. 21-year-old Anthony Velez was at his home at the Tusancy Apartments on W. Hillsborough Avenue when two Hispanic males came in, tied him up and robbed him. According to Tampa Police spokesman Laura McElroy, the suspect, fearing he would be killed by the invaders, managed to break his bonds and wrestle a gun away from one of the suspects. Velez shot one suspect, while the other managed to flee the scene. The shot suspect was later pronounced dead at the scene. Velez suffered only minor injuries in the attack."


FL: Big tow yard shooting ends with gunman down: "A man wielding a semiautomatic assault rifle went on a rampage at a tow yard Wednesday morning, wounding two employees and firing at a sheriff's deputy before the deputy shot him down in a brief gunfight, authorities said. Edward F. Voltz Jr., 51, of suburban West Palm Beach twice drove to Lake Park Towing, at 803 13th St., to confront employees.... Hedrick and her boss, Kathryn Gadoury, were wounded as they tried to flee the gunman, who squeezed off shots without saying a word, sheriff's officials said. Both women were taken to nearby St. Mary's Medical Center, where Gadoury, 53, was treated for a gunshot wound to the hip. Hedrick was shot through the elbow. Both women were released from the hospital Wednesday afternoon. Voltz, riddled with bullets after a gunfight with a sheriff's deputy, also was taken to St. Mary's. He underwent emergency surgery and was expected to survive, sheriff's officials said. When Voltz started shooting, Hedrick said, she huddled under a desk with Gadoury, a truck driver and another employee. Employees dialed 911 as the company truck driver retrieved a handgun. He fired at Voltz, Bradshaw said, but it wasn't clear whether any of those shots hit the gunman. As Voltz walked back to his blue Chevrolet Suburban sport utility vehicle, the deputy drove up, Chisholm said. When the shooting stopped, Chisholm said, she looked up to see Voltz on the ground, the deputy standing over him."


Gibsonville, NC: Bring back squirrel shooting law: "Nearly a year after the town outlawed the use of firearms against squirrels, the crafty critters gnawed their way back into discussion at Town Hall. At least one resident told the Board of Aldermen that the town's law infringes on his Constitutional right to bear arms and defend his property. In February, the board removed the police chief's authority to issue pest control firearm permits within city limits. At that time, Chief Mike Woznick asked the board to scrap the pest control permits, calling them dangerous and in conflict with state and local gun and hunting laws. But on Monday, Bobby Webster said he'd lost $600 in pecans to the voracious rodents this fall. He said he needs to be able to use a gun to kill the squirrels in his yard. Last month, just as the nuts were ripening on two trees at his Apple Street home, the squirrels began their annual raid, scaling power lines from around the neighborhood and leaping from trees in neighboring yards to steal his crop. In three weeks, they'd stripped his trees."


OH: Stopping active killers: "There have been so many school shootings over the last 40 years that researchers have been able to develop a profile of the typical mass murderer. .The other statistic that emerged from a study of active killers is that they almost exclusively seek out `gun free' zones for their attacks. .Now tacticians believe the signs themselves may be an invitation to the active killers. The psychological profile of a mass murderer indicates he is looking to inflict the most casualties as quickly as possible. Also, the data show most active killers have no intention of surviving the event.They may select schools and shopping malls because of the large number of defenseless victims and the virtual guarantee no on the scene one is armed. As soon as they're confronted by any armed resistance, the shooters typically turn the gun on themselves."

Gun Control Republicans

Five Republicans RINOs are sponsoring a bill to reinstate the Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act.

Louisiana Woman Shot After Being Mistaken For Intruder: "A Keithville woman is recovering from a gunshot wound after she was mistaken for an intruder at her home. Denise Giddens, was taken to LSU Health Sciences Center after being shot in the stomach by her brother, Michael Henderson. Henderson said he'd been staying with his sister at her residence in the 8300 block of Godfrey Road. Two nights ago, someone tried to break into the residence, and Henderson believed the intruder was looking for him. Henderson obtained a handgun and was sleeping with the gun last night. When Giddens got up during the night to check the locks on the doors, Henderson heard the noise and fired the shot not knowing the target was his sister. The case remains under investigation by Sheriff's Detective Donnie Laney."


CA: Sheriff tries to limit concealed weapon permits: "Orange County's new sheriff is cracking down on concealed weapon permits, leaving some gun owners in a huff. Sheriff Sandra Hutchens has ordered a review of the 1,100 permits issued under her predecessor Michael Corona, and 422 permit holders have gotten letters saying the licenses will be revoked unless better justification is provided. California law allows sheriffs and police chiefs to grant the permits to anyone who shows `good cause.' Hutchens says jewelry store owners and other potential robbery targets should hold the permits but many are harder to justify. . County supervisor Chris Norby says his office has been flooded with phone calls and e-mails from angry permit holders."


Pa. court hears challenge to Philadelphia gun laws: "A lawyer for the National Rifle Association told a state appeals court Wednesday that the city has no authority to implement an assault weapons ban because such a measure deals with constitutional rights. The NRA is challenging a series of gun control measures that City Council passed in an effort to combat gun violence. Mayor Michael Nutter signed the bills even though the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has previously upheld the state's exclusive right to enact gun laws. Lawyer C. Scott Shields, who represents the NRA, said the city simply isn't allowed to regulate firearms. "When you deal with firearms rights, you deal with constitutional rights which have statewide concern," Shields told the Commonwealth Court during arguments Wednesday. "If you're not a prohibited person and you own an AR-15, that's lawful."