TX: Houston homeowner fatally shoots suspected robber: "The homeowner, who was not injured, found two armed men dressed in black about 3:30 a.m. after pulling into the garage of the house in the 9500 block of Almeda Pines. The accused robbers forced open the back door and began shooting at the homeowner in the living room. He returned fire, police said, fatally striking one of the men who collapsed and died in the back yard. The other man fled the scene. Police said the homeowner is licensed to carry a concealed weapon."




OH: Grandma greets intruders with loaded gun: "A local great-grandmother faced danger head on as intruders entered her home. But as they quickly discovered -- she could hold her own. Eleanor Lynn, 75, said she keeps her 3-80 [sic] handgun loaded and nearby at all times. 'I already had the gun out,' she said. 'Somebody was breaking into my house so I took the gun out and went to the door. They flew.' That's why she was ready when the suspects entered her west Akron home Monday morning. She'd been robbed before and wasn't about to let it happen again. 'All I got to do is hold this trigger and it goes six times without stopping,' Lynn explained. 'I just bought this one and this one has never been used I'd like to have a chance to use it.'"

SC: Winners decline AK-47 raffle prize : "Two winners in a drawing for an AK-47 assault rifle declined the prize given away by a Clemson University conservative newspaper. A third person in line for the weapon says he is unsure what he will do with his controversial prize. The drawing came after about 150 raffle tickets had been taken without donations by people opposed to giving away a weapon. Andrew Davis, editor of The Tiger Town Observer, said the gun was offered to bring attention to the Second Amendment right to bear arms as well as to raise money for the paper and other charitable causes. Davis said the event Thursday raised about $500 through ticket sales and about $800 more through direct contributions from people who didn't want tickets. That's what happened with the original winner, Laura Kaiser. She said she made a donation to the project, but did not want a ticket."



VA: Delegates void property rights for gun "rights": "The House of Delegates voted 77-22 to pass a bill prohibiting any property owner, including employers, to enforce regulations barring legally-possessed firearms in a locked vehicle. Sponsored by Del. L. Scott Lingamfelter (R-PW) and known as the 'parking lot bill,' the legislation would hold no liability for the property owners if the firearm is locked and secure inside the vehicle, according to The Washington Post. This law would not apply to public school property and limited access parking lots. Supporters feel that this law would be important to protect the citizens' second amendment rights. The National Rifle Association has been pushing hard for this bill, according to The Washington Post. Philip Van Cleave, president of gun-rights organization Virginia Citizen's Defense League, said, 'If this law is not passed, law-abiding citizens who have guns in their vehicles are now stuck. They are either disarmed and now helpless, or they have to secure their firearms at home before going to work.'"

Guns in demand as Iraqi seek protection: "Like most Iraqis, Abu Ali has long kept a Kalashnikov assault rifle hidden in his bedroom. But it was not until sectarian violence pushed Iraq to the brink of civil war these past two weeks that the 56-year-old engineer thought that one automatic weapon was not enough. 'Danger is everywhere,' said Ali, a short, stocky man. 'I always had a Kalashnikov at home but after the violence I bought a 9mm pistol. I carry it with me all the time.' Fearful of sectarian attacks since the bombing of a Shi'ite shrine on Feb. 22, Iraqis are barricading homes and stocking up on weapons in a country already awash with guns. Under Saddam Hussein, Iraqi households were allowed to own one Kalashnikov, part of a home defence plan during years of wars. After his ousting, looters ransacked barracks, taking with them anything from ammunition to anti-aircraft missiles."


FL: Man shoots, kills home intruder: "When Edward Lucas Sr. checked to see why the neighbor's German shepherd was barking at Sunday at 5:40 a.m., he had no idea that minutes later an intruder would be lying dead on his living room rug. Lucas, 63, of the 3900 block of West Mallory Street, never wanted to have to use his .22 caliber rifle that way, but Tyrone Fyoungious Preyer, 29, would not stop breaking through the door, he said. 'I yelled 'Get out of my house,' but he kept coming,' said Lucas, a retired Sears employee who resided at that house for almost eight years. 'I was scared to death.' Preyer, who died at the home when Lucas fired at him more than four times, tried to break into at least three other surrounding homes, Escambia County Sheriff's Office investigators said."

ARROGANT NAGIN IGNORES COURT

The Second Amendment Foundation and the National Rifle Association filed a motion on Wednesday to have New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and Police Superintendent Warren Riley held in contempt of court. The city leaders have refused to comply with a federal injunction to stop illegal gun confiscations and return all seized firearms to their rightful owners. The Second Amendment Foundation and the NRA sued the city in federal court in September, following reports of gun confiscations from law-abiding citizens in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Second Amendment Foundation founder Alan Gottlieb said the contempt-of-court motion was filed only after attorneys exhausted all attempts to get the defendants to cooperate voluntarily.

Nagin and Riley essentially have ignored the federal court order, Gottlieb said. "If Ray Nagin and Warren Riley think this lawsuit, and the court order, will just go away by pretending they don't exist, they are sadly mistaken," Gottlieb said. "Authorities in nearby Tammany Parish complied with the injunction immediately, and have agreed to the permanent restraining order. Counsel for New Orleans signed a consent order last Sept. 23, so they know this case is on the table."

New Orleans officials deny that any guns were seized, but that's just not true, Gottlieb said. "Our attorneys have provided the New Orleans attorney with evidence of the confiscations, including witness statements, and that information has been ignored. Authorities in New Orleans have made no attempt to comply with the consent order and return the firearms seized by police. "Mayor Nagin seems to be suffering from the same denial that possessed him before the hurricane hit, and in the days afterward, when he blamed everyone else on the map for his failure of leadership," Gottlieb said. "We want Nagin and Chief Riley to appear in open court and testify under oath why they should not be held in contempt. They have been given every opportunity to comply with the court order and they have done nothing. They are not above the law."

Ray Nagin is a colossal disappointment," said Chris W. Cox, the NRA 's chief lobbyist. "During a federally declared emergency, he abused his power and abandoned the very people he was sworn to protect. He took away the victims' freedom and their basic means of self-defense during an ill-fated and perilous time." As Cybercast News Service previously reported, images of law enforcement officers confiscating legally-possessed firearms from New Orleans residents were played on video screens at a recent gathering of conservative activists. Addressing attendees of the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington in mid-February, National Rifle Association Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre urged the audience to "Remember New Orleans!" "New Orleans was the first place in American history to disarm peaceable citizens, house-by-house, at gunpoint," LaPierre said. "And I promise you this standing here today: We at the NRA are going to make sure it's the last place it ever happens."

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WHAT NOT TO DO WHEN YOU BUY A TASER

So, there I sat in a pair of shorts and a tank top with my reading glasses perched delicately on the bridge of my nose, directions in one hand, taser in another. The directions said that a one-second burst would shock and disorient your assailant; a two-second burst was supposed to cause muscle spasms and a major loss of bodily control; a three-second burst would purportedly make your assailant flop on the ground like a fish out of water. Any burst longer than three seconds would be wasting the batteries. All the while I�m looking at this little device measuring about 5? long, less than 3/4 inch in circumference; pretty cute really and loaded with two itsy, bitsy triple-a batteries, thinking to myself, �no possible way!� What happened next is almost beyond description, but I�ll do my best�..

I�m sitting there alone, Tabby looking on with her head cocked to one side as to say, �don�t do it master,� reasoning that a one-second burst from such a tiny little ole thing couldn�t hurt all that bad.. I decided to give myself a one-second burst just for the heck of it. I touched the prongs to my naked thigh, pushed the button, and HOLY MOTHER, WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION@!@$@$%!@ *!!!I�m pretty sure Jessie Ventura ran in through the side door, picked me up in the recliner, then body slammed us both on the carpet, over and over and over again. I vaguely recall waking up on my side in the fetal position, with tears in my eyes, body soaking wet, both nipples on fire, testicles nowhere to be found, with my left arm tucked under my body in the oddest position, and tingling in my legs. The cat was standing over me making meowing sounds I had never heard before, licking my face, undoubtedly thinking to herself, �do it again, do it again!�

Note: If you ever feel compelled to �mug� yourself with a taser, one note of caution: there is no such thing as a one-second burst when you zap yourself. You will not let go of that thing until it is dislodged from your hand by a violent thrashing about on the floor. A three second burst would be considered conservative. SON-OF-A-.. that hurt like he**!!! A minute or so later (I can�t be sure, as time was a relative thing at that point), collected my wits (what little I had left), sat up and surveyed the landscape. My bent reading glasses were on the mantel of the fireplace. How did they up get there??? My triceps, right thigh and both nipples were still twitching. My face felt like it had been shot up with Novocain, and my bottom lip weighed 88 lbs. I�m still looking for my testicles? I�m offering a significant reward for their safe return.

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Judge rules Pa. can't demand Social Security numbers for guns : "A federal judge ruled Monday that Pennsylvania cannot require Social Security numbers from those purchasing guns or obtaining a concealed-weapons permit. U.S. District Judge Juan Sanchez ruled that the state law violated the federal Privacy Act. 'This ruling is about privacy, not guns. We weren't looking to circumvent gun laws,' said J. Dwight Yoder, who brought the case on behalf of a retired U.S. Army officer from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Lawyers for the Pennsylvania State Police are reviewing the decision, and may appeal it, spokesman Jack Lewis said."

ID: Concealed weapon law may change: "Senator Gerry Sweet and Ada County Sheriff Gary Raney are at odds over concealing guns in a vehicle. 'This law doesn't do anything regarding the bad guys,' said Sen. Sweet. 'This is only to protect law-abiding citizens.' 'Our issue is that this bill allows criminals to possess weapons just as easily as law abiding citizens,' Sheriff Raney said.Sweet has introduced a bill in the senate that would allow Idahoans to carry a loaded gun anywhere in their car, whether it could be seen or not. Right now a loaded weapon must be in plain view unless the owner has a concealed weapons permit. 'The wording would allow gang members or criminals on the way to their crime to legally conceal those guns,' Raney said."

HISTORIC GUNMAKER FORCED OUT OF BUSINESS

From the January 2006 issue of "Sporting Gun" magazine:


"After a 200 year history of making guns and over 80 years of manufacturing air guns Webley & Scott Ltd have appointed administrators to manage the company and attempt to find a buyer for the business. The company cites government paranoia about guns, impending changes in legislation and adverse publicity in the national press for their decision".


Webley as it used to be:

With origins that can be traced back to 1790, Webley and Scott has had a long and varied history, supplying guns to the public and to the government for over 200 years. Based in Birmingham, the city that during the 1800's was the UK centre of gun production, Webley and Scott was originally founded by William Davies, who ran the business making bullet moulds until it was taken over in 1834 by Philip Webley, William Davies' son-in-law, who focussed instead of on bullet moulds on the production of guns, particularly revolvers. The current name dates to 1897, when the company amalgamated with shotgun manufacturers W & C Scott and Sons, becoming The Webley and Scott Revolver and Arms Company Ltd of Birmingham. The name was shortened in 1906 to the now familiar name of Webley and Scott Ltd.

Since that time, business has grown for the company, seeing peaks supplying weapons for use during both World Wars. It was in fact between the wars, in 1924, that Webley produced its first air gun, the Mark I air pistol, which was available in .177 and .22 calibres. Demand for air guns increased rapidly in the 20's, due mainly to the restrictive new Firearms Act. Webley ceased production of firearms in 1979, concentrating instead on its range of air pistols and rifles.




CA: Glendale may ban gun sales on city land: "The city could follow Los Angeles County's lead by outlawing gun sales on municipal property, a move that would make this weekend's Civic Auditorium gun show the last of its kind in Glendale. The Glendale Gun Show has been held at the Glendale Civic Auditorium for the past 15 years. Its operator has four shows scheduled at the auditorium this year, including the one planned for this weekend. The auditorium is across the street from Glendale Community College. 'We are one of the safest cities, it's not the crime that really concerns me,' said Mayor Rafi Manoukian, who has proposed the ban. 'But ... having a gun show at city facility across the street from the community college just sends the wrong message to the youth and our community, (and) communities around Glendale as well.'"

TOP COPS BACK GUNS

The following was released today by the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA):

The very foundations of the gun control movement were rocked today by the results of a survey taken by the National Association of Chiefs of Police (NACOP). In a nutshell, the survey shows that the nation's top law enforcement officers believe that average citizens can be trusted to responsibly own firearms; that criminals ignore gun control laws; and that concealed carry laws reduce crime.

These revelations come as a stark contrast to gun control movement propaganda that asserts that police officials feel that our streets would be safer if law-abiding citizens were disarmed.

Specifically, the survey revealed that 93 percent of chiefs and sheriffs felt that citizens should be able to purchase firearms for sport and self defense; 73 percent opposed so-called "one gun a month" laws; 96 percent believed that criminals ignore gun control laws and; 63 percent supported laws that allow citizens to carry defensive firearms as a means to control crime.

"These survey results are important and timely for the law- abiding Illinois firearm owner," said ISRA Executive Director Richard Pearson. "The General Assembly is currently considering HB2414 which would ban most of the guns owned by law-abiding citizens in Illinois. The legislature is also considering legislation that would shut down most of the lawful gun shops in the state. The supposed justification for these two bills is that they would result in a safer society. Well, based on the chiefs' survey, it would appear that the gun control movement is standing all alone on that assertion."

"I hope that the Illinois General Assembly is paying close attention to what our top cops have to say," continued Pearson. "It's time for the legislature to stop trying to find ways to harass the law-abiding gun owner and start finding ways to keep criminals in jail and off our streets.

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IN: Homeowner shoots at, captures burglary suspect: "Brian Stevenson is not Doc Holiday, but the gun owner's quick draw stopped a man who invaded his home Saturday night. 'I could shoot a fly across the room like it ain't nothing,' said Stevenson, an avid marksman. 'I don't know how I missed the guy. It never really crossed my mind that I would actually shoot toward a human being.' Stevenson fired one shot from his 9mm handgun at William Tyrone Griffin Jr., 40, 302 N. Hackley St., after the twice-convicted burglar climbed through an unlocked window at Stevenson's home at Shipley Avenue and Eighth Street, according to court documents. The shot sailed high into an exposed board in a storage room, but gave Stevenson enough authority to order Griffin to the ground until police arrived five minutes later, he said."

FL: Man shoots, kills robber: "A man shot and killed another man trying to rob him at a gas station early Tuesday morning, according to Miami-Dade County police. Police said the victim was approached by an armed man at a BP gas station on West Dixie Highway at about 4 a.m. Gas station employees said the robber was a 22-year-old man who went by the street name 'S.P.' A witness said S.P. came into the parking lot, saw the victim wearing a gold chain, pulled a gun and demanded that he hand over the chain, NBC 6's Jeff Burnside reported. The victim was also carrying a gun. Police said he shot and killed the robber during a confrontation. ... The victim was taken to Miami-Dade Police Department for questioning. Detectives believe the robbery attempt was random and the shooting was apparently in self-defense. An investigation continues."


VA: Self-defense bill struck down: "A Senate committee on Monday rejected legislation specifically authorizing the use of deadly force against anyone who breaks into a home and physically threatens the occupant. The bill would have written into the Virginia code the common law theory of self-defense. Del. John J. Welch III, R-Virginia Beach, said his bill would make it clear to Virginians that they have a right to kill an intruder who threatens bodily harm."

KY: Non retreat bill passes House: "House Bill 236 passed the Kentucky House on Friday on an 84-to-4 vote and will now be reviewed by the Senate. The Non-Retreat Bill would make it to where you wouldn't have to retreat when someone is breaking into your home or vehicle, and would protect you from being prosecuted or sued for opening fire on intruders. 'It provides the homeowners and the general public with alot better protection under the law in circumstances where there might be obvious evidence one was about to try to take someone's life or create physical harm,' says 6th District Representative J.R. Gray, who is backing the proposed bill. 'It's been kinda understood for years that you have a duty to retreat more or less to the farthest corner of your house before you use the force against an intruder. We decided it was about time to put and end to this and give people protection from lawsuits in case someone (an intruder) wanted to bring one in the case of an accident (being shot or injured).'"


CA: Homeowner shoots "ninja" attacker: "An armed man wearing a black, ninja-style mask was shot to death by a Healdsburg man this morning after he attacked the man's wife outside their home and chased her inside, police said. ... The woman was about to take the couple's two Wheaton terrier dogs for a walk when the masked man jumped her outside her garage, police said. The woman struggled, broke away and ran screaming into the house, with the attacker in pursuit. Her screams awoke her husband. The man, whom police identified only as a man in his 60s, 'grabbed their handgun, probably a .357 ... and fired more than one shot,' Police Chief Susan Jones said. The intruder 'had what looked like a firearm in his hand,' Jones said. He died at the scene."

MD: Would-be robber injured: "A man shot and seriously injured an intruder looking to rob his home in a quiet neighborhood on Old Ocean City Road early Sunday morning, police said. John Steve Collian, 48, underwent surgery and was listed in stable condition at Peninsula Regional Medical Center, according to state police from the Salisbury barrack. They said Collian was shot in the abdomen after he allegedly broke into and tried to burglarize a home on the 3300 block of Old Ocean City Road just before 1 a.m., but was interrupted by the homeowner. The victim, James Joseph Rozaieski, 36, shot Collian one time before calling 911."


MI: Bill allows use of force in cases of self-defense: "If your home is your castle, can you use force -- even deadly force -- to protect it without getting sued or arrested? The answer would be yes, under legislation to be discussed today at a hearing before a state Senate committee. The bill has sparked debate: The head of the Michigan Sheriffs' Association says the concept raises questions about taking another person's life, and gun-control advocates contend it's too broad and could apply even to bar fights and playground squabbles."

PA: No charges in fatal tavern shooting: "A security guard who fatally shot two people while being attacked by a mob inside a Lawrenceville tavern last year cannot be charged with the deaths, Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. said today. The guard, identified Tuesday as Gregory Stewart, 30, opened fire in self-defense early May 7 inside J&K's Place after being assaulted with objects thrown by an unruly crowd, including a bottle thrown by Aaron Alston, 23 of Garfield, Zappala said during a news conference announcing his decision. The first bullet struck and killed Alston. A second bullet hit bartender Janice Kemp, 63, who ran the bar. Although Kemp, who died several days later, was an innocent bystander, Stewart cannot be charged with her death due to a 1998 state Supreme Court ruling in a similar case in Easton, Zappala said. Once someone begins shooting in self-defense, the court ruled, the shooter is not criminally liable for injuries to others nearby."



WY: Retreat bill amended: "The necessity of a bill that would specify that people have no duty to retreat from an attacker before using deadly force was questioned in a House Judiciary Committee meeting Monday. Despite negative testimony from the public, the committee decided to further consider the bill later in the day. Tom Jubin of the Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association testified that years of case law had clarified the issue in Wyoming. He said Wyoming citizens already had the right to defend their homes without a duty to retreat. ... The bill was amended so a person would have the duty to retreat in a public area. Byron Oedekoven, executive director of the Wyoming Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police, suggested the amendment because law enforcement was worried that shootouts might start occurring in the middle of the street if the bill became law. ... The committee also heard testimony on two bills related to concealed weapons during its morning meeting. The first would allow anyone in the state of Wyoming -- as long as they are over 21, are not alcoholics, on drugs or not a felon -- to carry a concealed firearm without a permit."

FL: Guns at work bill fails after heated debate: "Legislators and business leaders could not reach an agreement on a proposed bill that would have allowed employees to keep firearms in their vehicles at work. A tentative compromise two weeks ago had suggested that house bill 129 was on the track to passage, but Wednesday, a one and a half hour debate led to the bill being temporarily postponed. When it came down to the specific language, no agreement was reached, said Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, who had sponsored the bill. 'I feel very strongly about property rights and about my responsibility for safety, but I also care deeply about the second amendment,' he said. Some opponents saw the outcome as a defeat for the NRA."


LA: Man saves cop: "No arrests will be made in the death of 24-year-old George Temple II, a local businessman shot and killed by a witness during a scuffle with a Baton Rouge police officer on Friday. ... Perry Stephens fired a shot to Temple's head after witnessing a fight between Temple and Officer Brian Harrison ... Stephens walked out of the AutoZone and got his weapon after hearing Harrison, who was fighting with Temple on the ground, yell for help. As Stephens, who was wearing a neck brace and using a cane, walked toward the men, he heard shots and Harrison again call for help. At that point, Stephens asked Temple to get off Harrison, Phares said. When Temple did not comply, he shot Temple four times in the chest. Stephens ordered Temple again to get off Harrison. When he did not comply, he shot Temple in the head, killing him, Phares said."

Canada's Conservatives still set to kill long gun registry

But registering handguns is still a good idea????

Canada's new minister of public safety says the government has no plans to back off on its intention to scrap the controversial long gun registry. Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced his plan to kill the registry during the election campaign, and Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day told CTV's Question Period the plan hasn't changed. "We're not backing away at all," Day said on Sunday. "We're moving ahead on this. It was an election promise. It's something we've been talking about for years."

The government recently formed a committee that includes Day, Justice Minister Vic Toews, and long-time registry critic Garry Breitkreuz, a Saskatchewan MP. The committee is charged with studying the issue and determining the best course of action for scrapping it. Day said the total registry costs could be approaching $2 billion, while the registry has not had a positive impact on gun crime. "It has not reduced gun crime," he said. "As a matter of fact, homicide rates in the last two years have gone up in Canada. And we have committed to scrapping it." .....

Day said all angles must be explored before the registry can be taken out of circulation. "We're in that process," he said. "It takes a while to sort through the regulatory stuff, what can be done through regulation, what has to be done through change of legislation. That would involve my colleague Vic Toews in terms of the justice ministry. There's a lot of mechanical things that have to be done."

He added that the government will battle gun crime by putting more police on the streets and creating crime prevention programs for at-risk youth and gang related activity. It will pay for these programs with the money saved by killing the registry. "We believe a lot of savings that will come from doing away with this ineffective registry will actually meet those goals," Day said. "We are not backing away." As for about 200 government employees in Miramichi, New Brunswick who work for the registry, Day said the government is committed to making sure they don't lose their jobs.

Although the government plans to scrap the registry, it has no plans to make it easier to legally own firearms. Day said the process to obtain a firearms license is difficult, and it will remain so. Day also said the handgun registry will remain in place.

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Australia: Gun ownership explodes: "Gun ownership is on the rise in Queensland with evidence the tough restrictions introduced after the Port Arthur massacre nearly a decade ago are losing their effectiveness. Despite bans on certain types of weapons and a successful buyback and amnesty, police figures show there are more firearms in the community now than three years ago. Police Minister Judy Spence yesterday foreshadowed possible changes to the Weapons Act, to be reviewed this year, saying she was 'aware of some operational suggestions from police and these will be considered as part of this review.' Queensland police Weapons Licensing Branch manager, Inspector Mike Crowley, said gun ownership applications had increased 30 per cent since 2002. Up to 11,000 of last year's 26,000 applicants were first-timers. 'There has not been a decrease in the number of firearms, but an increase. It shows they do not really depreciate and are a resilient commodity,' Insp Crowley said."

GUN RIGHTS ARE EXPANDING

Instead of embracing a citizen's "duty to retreat" in the face of a physical attack, states may be taking cues from the days of lawless frontier towns, where non-deputized Americans were within their rights to hold the bad guys at bay with the threat of deadly force. First enacted in Florida last year, "Stand Your Ground" bills are now being considered in 21 states including Georgia, according to the National Rifle Association and the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. The South Dakota senate approved one just last week.

These new measures would push the boundaries beyond the self-defense measures already on the books. Twelve states already allow citizens to shoot intruders in their homes, and 38 states permit concealed weapons in public places. The "Stand Your Ground" laws would allow people to defend themselves with deadly force even in public places when they perceive a life-threatening situation for themselves or others, and they would not be held accountable in criminal or civil court even if bystanders are injured.

Laws putting more judgment in an individual's hands stem from people's increased concern about crime in their communities. Proponents say it helps shift the debate from gun control to crime control, and that these laws are part of the rugged individualism of Americans. "These laws send a more general message to society that public spaces belong to the public - and the public will protect [public places] rather than trying to run into the bathroom of the nearest Starbucks and hope the police show up," says David Kopel, director of the Independence Institute in Golden, Colo.....

Currently, Florida's new law is being tested for the first time. In Tampa, a tow- truck operator who shot and killed a man he said was trying to run him over used the "Stand Your Ground" law as a defense. The district attorney is evaluating other forensic evidence and eyewitness testimony that the shots came from behind, and therefore were not in self-defense.

To be sure, the laws challenge the notion of "duty to retreat" from attack upheld by many state supreme courts. Yet the US Supreme Court came down against the "duty to retreat" in a 1921 ruling....

Indeed, those lobbying for the "Stand Your Ground" legislation say the proposed laws are more symbolic, sending a powerful message to would-be criminals. These laws "make it very clear that the good guy has the advantage, not the bad guy," says Wayne LaPierre, CEO of the National Rifle Association in Fairfax, Va.

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FL: Homeowner kills intruder : "A homeowner fatally shot an intruder Tuesday afternoon after the man had approached four homes and kicked in the front door of one home, police said. Melbourne resident Pete Frink told police he feared for his life when the man approached him 'aggressively' and 'irrationally' in his Colbert Circle home. He used a small-caliber handgun to shoot the man once near his rib cage, Melbourne police Cmdr. Jim Gibbens said in a statement. Witnesses said the man approached four homes: First on the west side of Colbert, then headed north on the road's east side. He approached homes, banged on or broke windows, jumped over chain-link fences and ultimately broke through the Frinks' front door. ... No charges have been filed and an investigation continues. Pete Frink said he initially tried to get the man, whom he described as out of control, to leave his house, Gibbens said. When that failed, he fired."

SAN FRANCISCO BAN HEARING UNDERWAY

The National Rifle Association urged a state judge Thursday to overturn an ordinance voters overwhelmingly approved in November banning handgun possession and firearm sales. Chuck Michel, an attorney for the NRA and gun enthusiasts suing to repeal the law, said he was "sympathetic with the victims of gun violence" but said lawful weapon owners "are part of the solution, and not part of the problem." Without addressing the Second Amendment dispute over whether individuals have a right to bear arms, Michel said a local government cannot ban weapons because the California Legislature allows their sale and possession, and has almost exclusive authority to regulate them.

Measure H was put on the November ballot by the San Francisco County Board of Supervisors, who were frustrated by the alarmingly high number of gun-related homicides in this city of 750,000 residents. The NRA sued the day after 58 percent of voters approved the law.

Deputy City Attorney Wayne Snodgrass told San Francisco County Superior Court Judge James Warren the city can adopt such an ordinance because state law "is simply not protecting San Franciscans enough." He noted at least two California court decisions that he said vested San Francisco with the right to enforce Measure H. In 1998, a state appeals court upheld West Hollywood's ban on the sale of so-called Saturday night specials, small and cheap handguns that city leaders said contributed to violent crime. And three years ago, the California Supreme Court ruled in favor of Los Angeles and Alameda counties, saying local governments could ban the possession and sale of weapons on government property, such as fairgrounds. The high court, however, did not address the issue of private property sales and possession, as outlined in the San Francisco law.

Michel said that a San Francisco state appeals court in 1982 nullified an almost identical San Francisco gun ban largely on grounds that the city cannot enact an ordinance that conflicts with state law. San Francisco's Snodgrass replied that the ban was a municipal affair and was slightly different from the city's earlier version. The new version only applies to city residents, meaning nonresidents in the city or even tourists are not affected. He said the West Hollywood, and Los Angeles and Alameda county cases weighed in San Francisco's favor.

Judge Warren asked Snodgrass that if the real intent was for the safety of San Francisco residents, why wouldn't the measure apply to outsiders and tourists. Snodgrass said he didn't think the ordinance would be lawful if it applied to all, and said the measure was directed at gun violence in the homes of San Francisco residents. The NRA's Michel wondered how the law protects a San Francisco family with "somebody coming through your bedroom window at 2 o'clock in the morning."

The law bans gun and ammunition sales beginning March 1 and handgun possession April 1. The NRA and Snodgrass said they would probably agree to shelve the law pending Warren's decision, due in about 90 days. The city has not approved penalties for violators.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is considering a challenge to a similar handgun ban in the District of Columbia that alleges the law violates a Second Amendment right of individuals to bear arms. The NRA lawsuit here avoids those allegations.

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NC: Authorities investigate deadly home invasion : "Robeson County authorities are investigating a home invasion that killed one man and left a homeowner in the hospital. Officials say Mario Sosa was at home with his wife and two young children about 8 a.m. Sunday morning when he heard gunshots.The Robeson County sheriff says a gunfight broke out between Sosa and three armed men. Sosa shot and killed one of the three men but not before he was shot himself. Sosa underwent surgery at Southeast Regional Medical Center. Deputies say they're still looking for the two other men who ran away."

SANITY FINALLY DAWNING FOR COWARDLY CANADIANS

Whatcom County sheriff's Deputy Stuart Smith spotted two murder suspects in a vehicle at a rest stop about five miles south of Blaine, Wash. When Deputy Smith tried to arrest the pair, they sped north toward the Canadian border on Interstate 5. The deputy gave chase.

The murder suspects blew past the U.S. Customs station, and at that point the deputy sheriff took his last chance, managing to ram their vehicle with his squad car, spinning it down an embankment and across a broad lawn that separates the U.S. border checkpoint from its opposite number on the Canadian side. The suspects fled on foot. In a blaze of gunfire at the Peace Arch, a graceful marble monument that straddles the U.S.-Canadian border near Blaine, one suspect was wounded. In the end, both were captured.

The shots that stopped them were fired by U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspectors, according to Whatcom County Sheriff Bill Elfo. And how did the Canadian border guards a few yards away prepare themselves, in case the fleeing murder suspects made it across into their jurisdiction? They ran away. And were the Canadian guards later disciplined or dismissed for this abandonment of their posts?

Just the opposite. They were responding appropriately to the risk by "walking off" their posts until the danger had passed, explains Ron Moran, president of the Canadian border guards' union. Canadian border guards are not armed. Their standard operating procedure if danger looms is to run away -- the Los Angeles Times in a recent article adopted Mr. Moran's more diplomatic term "walk off" -- and call in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to give chase. "Primarily this has been an image thing," Mr. Moran explained. "We're a peaceful nation, with Canadians being proud of the fact that we don't greet people at the border crossings with someone who's armed. ... It is strictly a question of these men and women wanting to make sure they get back to their families at the end of the shift."

Canada disallows visitors from carrying self-defense arms almost entirely. This is the nation, after all, that demurred a few years ago when the United States military offered some of its most prized decorations to members of the Canadian armed forces who had saved American lives in Afghanistan. In al-Qaida's eastern mountain redoubt, Canadian snipers using .50-caliber rifles from hard-to-believe ranges took out a machine gun nest that had U.S. forces pinned down in open ground. But the Canadians said no, it was not appropriate to honor members of their military for actually, you know, shooting enemy soldiers.

Where has this attitude led? Roughly a dozen times in the past four months, Canadian border crossings have been closed for as long as several hours, backing up border traffic for miles, as Canadian guards have "walked away" from their posts in response to reports of dangerous suspects heading north. The practice became an issue in the recent Canadian national elections, with victorious Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper vowing during his campaign to "give our customs and border guards the training and equipment they need, including sidearms."

Mr. Moran of the border guards' union agrees the time has come. "The reality is that we don't live in Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood anymore," Mr. Moran told the Times. "The reality is that our officers should be armed." It is indeed nice to see a country where -- unlike much of the Third World, and nowadays even Britain and Spain -- police and border guards still look more like civilian helpers and less like shock troops, suited up in combat boots and machine carbines. But in a day and age when those "running the border" almost certainly include would-be terrorists and members of a drug culture for whom murder and torture are standard business methods, Canada's anti-gun fetish may have reached the point of absurdity.

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Pro-gun bills signed by S.D. Governor: "Governor Rounds signed the self-defense bill on Friday, Feb. 17. As many will recall, HB 1134 strengthens South Dakota�s existing self-defense laws and explicitly states that you do not have a duty to retreat from any place you have the right to be. The concealed carry in parks bill was signed by the Governor on Tuesday, Feb. 21. This bill limits the authority of state agencies to promulgate rules restricting concealed carry by pistol permit holders. Under the current administrative rules, not even folks who have a permit are allowed to carry a handgun for self-defense in any state park, campground, lakeside or recreational area. A change that would partially remedy this situation has been proposed... By requiring the individual to obtain a government license before he can exercise his right to bear arms, this language stops short of recognizing the Right to Carry. However, it is definitely a step in the right direction."

Progress in Michigan? "The debate over Michigan's gun and self-defense laws is intensifying. Bills in a state Senate committee would give law-abiding people more self-defense rights against criminals in certain situations, including away from home. Gun control groups say the bills are reckless and could create a public safety hazard. The bills would establish a presumption of reasonable fear of death or injury when a law-abiding person uses force in certain circumstances. A threatened person would have no duty to retreat and would be able to meet force with force in situations such as a home invasion or, in certain situations, a carjacking. People would have to have permits to carry concealed weapons when used outside the home. The state already has a process to obtain a permit".


SF ban has few friends: "On Thursday morning, a lawyer with the city attorney's office will try to convince a judge that a voter-passed initiative banning handguns and restricting other firearms is allowed by state law. But save the four members of the Board of Supervisors who placed it on the ballot last November, the ordinance appears to have few prominent friends, even among national gun control advocates. Mayor Gavin Newsom all but disowned it just before Election Day. State Attorney General Bill Lockyer and U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, strong advocates of assault-weapons bans, have taken no position on the San Francisco law. Of four national gun control groups, only one, which is based here, has submitted a friend-of-the-court brief supporting it. Meanwhile, national and state gun rights organizations, along with groups representing movie industry armorers and San Francisco police officers, have jumped into the fray, offering briefs to overturn the law".

Big new Taser: "America's largest stun-gun manufacturer is working on a new way to deliver electricity to the human body - through 12-gauge shotgun shells. Though it's still being developed, Taser International Inc. says the new product will allow police officers and US troops to hit someone from a much greater distance than its current line of Tasers, which Amnesty International has cited in more than 120 deaths. The eXtended Range Electro-Muscular Projectile, or XREP, will be a shotgun shell designed to combine the blunt-force trauma of a fast-moving baseball with the electrical current of a stun gun. "It will truly cause incapacitation," company spokesman Steve Tuttle said. Taser hopes to release the product in 2007. The Office of Naval Research funded the approximately $677,500 it took to develop the shotgun shells, Tuttle said. The company has been selling its stun-gun weapons to law enforcement agencies since 1998."


"Negroes with Guns": "For me, one of the revelations of Black History Month has been the life of Robert Franklin Williams ... thousands of KKK members met in Monroe met from time to time. After burning copious crosses, they hopped in their cars, honking horns, shooting off guns, and threatening to kill people. The object again: racial terror. During that time Williams had personally started organizing armed squads of black people for self-defense. ... And when push came to shove back in Monroe, when the Klan came raging into the black section of Newton one night, they were met by a cordon of armed black men. The Klansmen panicked and fled every which way. And this was the last time they rampaged through Newton."

VT: Pub owner acquitted of murder: "A jury deliberated five hours Wednesday before acquitting Timothy Grover of second-degree murder in the shooting death of a Vernon man in November 2004. ... Grover, the father of two children and the owner of Emil's Pub in Brattleboro, was charged with second-degree murder, a crime that carries a sentence of 20 years to life in prison. He was accused of shooting Kellom, a former part-time police officer in Vernon, on Nov. 7, 2004. Jesse Corum, Grover's attorney, had argued that the shooting was justified because Kellom was about to use a baseball bat to strike the 'final, fatal blow' to the head of James Cleveland, a Grover family friend and one of Kellom's neighbors on Homestead Way in Vernon. Grover testified Tuesday that that he told Kellom to drop the bat several times before shooting the 52-year-old man once in the chest with a .22-caliber pistol. He added that Kellom had already knocked Cleveland's wife to the ground and was about to kill his friend."


Firestorm and media brimstoning: "The mainstream media's petulance peaked this week after they disapproved of Vice President Dick Cheney's notification method about his hunting accident in Texas. Once again the White House press corps reminded us that it's not about the story, or the victim, but about them. The usual journalism suspects who always exhibit "objective" criticism of the Bush administration displayed especially feral cattiness, and I'm not even talking about the demonstrative David Gregory of NBC News. No, the think-strained wretches of print did themselves proud as well."

Violent "lover" shot: "Victor Russell, who allegedly was shot by a former girlfriend during a fight Sunday in west Mobile, died Monday night at a local hospital, Mobile police said. He was 39. Cpl. Marcus Young, a police spokesman, said no charges had been filed against the woman, Lashonda Cole, 30. But he said that the case would be presented to a Mobile County grand jury. ... Todd lives at a house on Williams Street off Dauphin Island Parkway near Government Street. She said Russell had gone to Cole's house Sunday to pick up some of his belongings. According to police spokesman Young, Russell struck Cole several times in the head with his fist. The spokesman said Cole locked Russell out of the house, then fired a 9 mm pistol through the back door as Russell tried to break through. The bullet hit Russell in the face."


HI: Group supports concealed carry bill : "These are just four examples of innocent women in Hawaii who were viciously attacked, raped and murdered, by men who overpowered them -- women who never had the chance to call 9-1-1 for help -- women who could not have been protected by police in time to prevent their attack even if they had the opportunity to pick up the phone, dial 9-1-1 ... A group of local women say they will fight against such violent acts -- not with a demonstration or protest -- but with legislation they plan to endorse. They are spending this Tuesday, Feb. 14, their Valentine's Day, at a hearing at the Hawaii State Capitol, where they will ask state lawmakers to pass a bill that allows law-abiding citizens to carry a firearm for protection."