La: Guns on campus bill moves to House floor: “Over the objections of university officials, including campus police, a House committee has approved allowing the carrying of concealed weapons on college campuses. The House Criminal Justice Committee voted 9-6 to approve HB27 by its chairman, Rep. Ernest Wooton, R-Belle Chasse. He got the committee’s approval last year, but widespread opposition led him to withdraw the bill before it was voted on by the House. Armed with the backing of Gov. Bobby Jindal and the National Rifle Association, Wooton is moving forward this year. ‘I am a strong believer in the Second Amendment rights,’ Jindal said. ‘If the bill gets to my desk, I will sign it.’”


Senate backs allowing guns in national parks: ”The Senate on Tuesday backed an amendment that would allow people to carry loaded guns in national parks and wildlife refuges. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., sponsored the measure, which he said would protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. The amendment allows firearms in parks and wildlife refuges, as long as they are allowed by federal, state and local law. ‘If an American citizen has a right to carry a firearm in their state, it makes no sense to treat them like a criminal if they pass through a national park while in possession of a firearm,’ Coburn said. Twenty-seven Democrats joined 39 Republicans and one independent in supporting the amendment.”


Obama “bitterly clinging” to his fake gun numbers: “Meantime, the Libertarian Party points out even the statistics used by Mr. Obama to supposedly justify his "emergency need" to "block the flow of arms to Mexico" are bogus. "Is Barack Obama 'bitterly clinging to falsified numbers' in his bid to push his anti-gun treaty?" asked the Libertarian Party in an April news release. "This war is being waged with guns purchased not here, but in the United States. More than 90 percent of the guns recovered in Mexico come from the United States," Mr. Obama said in a face-to-face April meeting with Mexican President Felipe Calderon in Mexico City. But that claim, the LP points out, "is blatantly false. According to information supplied by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives the real number is closer to only 17 percent".


NYC: The ultimate morons: "Families took to the streets of Mott Haven, Bronx on Saturday for a somber march to end gun violence. Mothers and children carried pictures of those who have died. The marchers called for tougher gun laws across the country and took aim at weapons sold at gun shows. "I think one of the biggest problems is that 32 states in our country have no background check at gun shows and we know that 285 million guns are in circulation in the country, and 40 percent of those are sold at gun shows," said one marcher. "That opportunity for illegal weapons to enter into the wrong hands is just too great of an opportunity. We need to close that gun show loophole at the federal level." [They have all around them evidence that strict gun control just leads to lots of gun deaths but they still want more control]

Utah Enacts New Gun Laws

(Salt Lake City) Effective yesterday, new gun laws in Utah will allow citizens more freedom in possessing loaded handguns.

Specifically, the laws address carrying loaded, concealed weapons in vehicles and requirements for guns in employee and visitor vehicles on business property.

HB357 - Allows law-abiding Utahns to carry loaded, concealed weapons in their vehicles without permits.

SB78 - Requires business owners to allow guns in visitor vehicles if the guns have a trigger lock or are in a locked box.

Not everybody is pleased with the laws. Steve Gunn of the Gun Violence Prevention Center of Utah indicated that the statute allows 18-year-olds to have concealed weapons in their cars even though they don't meet the 21-year-old age requirement for concealed weapons permits.

"Apparently the policy is to encourage as many people as possible to have easy access to a firearm." [Gunn said]

I suggest that Mr. Gunn is exaggerating.

NY: Retired cop shoots mugger : "“A retired cop shot and wounded a thug who had attempted to rob him in Bedford-Stuyvesant, authorities said. James Singleton, 32, walked up to the 45-year-old retired police officer near Schenectady Avenue and Herkimer Street at 4 p.m. Thursday and pulled a gun from his waistband, officials said. The cop grabbed his own revolver and fired, hitting Singleton once in the shoulder, cops said. A loaded .25-caliber handgun was recovered at the scene.”


NYC: Fatally shot livery cab driver drives car into wall to trap killer: "A mortally wounded livery cab driver's final act made sure his killer was trapped in the backseat, police and witnesses said Sunday. Roberto Pita, 37, was drawing his last breaths when he slammed his black Lincoln Town Car into a concrete wall on West Tremont Ave. in the Bronx. The crash pinned his thug assailant in the backseat, where cops found him moments later.... The 20-year-old suspect, whose name has not yet been released, was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital for treatment of injuries to his face and legs, police said. Charges against him are pending. A handgun was recovered in the backseat of the crumpled cab".


WY: Delegation pushes to allow guns in parks: "U.S. Sens. Mike Enzi and John Barrasso, R-Wyo., have added their names as co-sponsors of a bill that would allow individuals to carry concealed weapons into national parks. The legislation, called the Preservation of the Second Amendment in National Parks and National Wildlife Refuges Act, seeks to replace an administrative rule that has been mired in court proceedings since January that would also allow visitors to carry concealed weapons into national parks. A federal judge in April struck down that administrative rule, which was set in place last December by the outgoing Bush administration, after several conservation and other groups filed a lawsuit.”


SAF, Calguns challenge arbitrary denial of right to bear arms in California: “The Second Amendment Foundation, The Calguns Foundation and three California residents today filed a lawsuit seeking to vindicate the right to bear arms against arbitrary state infringement. Nearly all states allow qualified law-abiding citizens to carry guns for self-defense, but a few states allow local officials to arbitrarily decide who may exercise this core Second Amendment right.”

Why no-one robs stores in Israel






TX: Armed citizen takes out tires as shoplifters flee: “An armed citizen with a ‘concealed-carry’ handgun license shot out a tire on a car full of fleeing shoplifters, then followed them in his own vehicle Wednesday morning, helping Azle police apprehend four people who were subsequently charged with robbery. … Four accused shoplifters had been spotted by employees of Albertsons grocery store and were attempting a getaway with less than $50 worth of miscellaneous items when they were spotted by a citizen in the parking lot. … The fleeing driver seemed to be headed straight for the citizen, who fired at the vehicle, striking a front tire. Another citizen called 911 and reported ‘an undercover officer shooting at someone who tried to run him down,’ Myers said. That ‘undercover officer,’ it was later discovered, was the armed citizen, Myers said.”


Two stories from college, two different endings: “There have been two markedly different tales of violence and bloodshed from two different college towns that ended two different ways, reflecting the vast differences in culture and the gaping chasm that exists between the political correctness of the gun-free zone mentality and the common sense of being prepared. Story #1 comes from Middletown, CT, where 21-year-old Johanna Justin-Jinich will not see another birthday because a man identified by police as Stephen Morgan shot her dead on May 6 at an off-campus bookstore cafe. … Story #2, from College Place, GA where ten college students were celebrating a birthday party at an off-campus apartment early on May 3 when two thugs came crashing in. One of these gentlemen was later identified by police as 23-year-old Calvin Lavant Jr., and he will not be doing home invasion robberies anymore.”


Indiana: Gun stops hit/run driver: "Two young girls, sisters, were in critical condition late Thursday after being run down earlier in the evening while crossing the street arm-in-arm after playing with friends. The driver reportedly attempted to flee, but was stopped at gunpoint by a man who witnessed the accident. According to witnesses, the two girls, ages 4 and 6, were crossing 11th Street at Dodge Street about 7:18 p.m. when a man traveling west on 11th in a blue Chevrolet Lumina struck both of them at about 40 mph. "No sooner had they crossed the street than I heard tires lock up and, 'Boom! Boom!,'" said Alan Knepp, who was standing just up the street when the girls were hit. Knepp said the younger girl passed quickly beneath the vehicle, but her older sister rode the hood for several seconds before falling beneath the front end and then under both driver's side tires. The girls behind him, the driver then hit the gas, witnesses said, but stopped when Knepp, who was legally carrying a gun, jumped in front of the vehicle and trained his weapon on it. Approached by Knepp, the driver reportedly said the girls had jumped out in front of him. He then handed his keys to Knepp and stood silently next to his vehicle until police arrived. The girls, meanwhile, lay nearly lifeless in the road, witnesses said. The younger one initially was not breathing, and the older one's limbs and neck were badly twisted. Both girls were rushed by ambulance to Memorial Hospital in South Bend with critical injuries, Mishawaka police Capt. Pasquale Rulli said. One was immediately admitted into surgery, he said, and the other flown to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis."


OH: Toledo Mayor tells residents police can’t protect them: "“When word of significant cuts to the Toledo police force first came out, one senior police officer issued the following recommendation to city residents: ‘Buy guns. Invest in precious metals: lead, gun power and brass.’ And now, Mayor Carty Finkbeiner is admitting the reason why this is such good advice: ‘Violent crimes, shootings, are not ever prevented by the presence of a police officer, no matter how many thousands of police officers you have.’ Saturday, May 2 marked the first full day since 75 Toledo police officers turned in their badges and guns, and according to the Toledo Blade, word of the significant cuts in the Toledo police force is on the street.”

'Good Samaritan' pins down carjacker: "A shopper and an employee at a Jewel Express in Michigan City, Ind. helped save a man and captured an armed carjacker. They came to the rescue when they heard someone yelling for help in the store parking lot and saw he was being attacked by a man with a gun. 'Good Samaritan' John Jesko says he was at the store Wednesday when he witnessed a robbery in progress. "You cannot describe the look that man had. I think he thought he was going to get killed, and I had to help him," said Jesko. Thomas Holifield, 47, of Michigan City was charged with attempted car carjacking and taken into custody. Jesko says saw a 74-year-old man run from his van at pump six. He struggled with the offender who was allegedly pointing a gun to his head demanding he hand over the keys to his van. "The elderly man screamed for help. I look in my truck. Throw it in park." Jesko said. "I just could not ignore it. The cashier also helped by getting the gun from him after I poured coffee on him to distract him." Jesko, a Michigan City construction worker, says he held the man down until the police arrived. He says he was scared, but it did not stop him from helping someone in distress. Apparently, when the victim struggled with the offender, the gun went off and wounded the elderly man's arm. "Oh man, my heart was racing. It happened really quick. When you are looking at that gun, you are thinking, 'I could get shot here.' All I wanted to do was take his mind off that gun," Jesko said."


Jamaica: Gunman shot and killed during attempted robbery: "One of two men who attempted to rob a security guard was fatally shot and an illegal firearm seized at Beckford Crescent, Sandy Bay, Clarendon on Friday night. The guard was also shot and injured. The police report that about 10:00 o'clock, the security guard was at Beckford Crescent when he was approached by two men, one armed with a gun. The hoodlums demanded money and opened fire when the security guard refused. The guard opened fire at the gunmen and was shot. The area was searched and one of the gunmen, who police identify as 28-year-old Tony Bennett of Sandy Bay, was found with gunshot wounds. He was reportedly clutching a Taurus nine millimetre pistol with a magazine containing four rounds. The other gunman escaped. The security guard took the gunman's firearm to the May Pen Police Station, reported the incident and handed over the weapon. He was taken to hospital and admitted in serious condition. The injured gunman was taken to May Pen Hospital where he died".


Off-duty NYPD cop shoots armed robber: "New York City police say an off-duty cop shot and killed an armed robber during a hold-up at a Brooklyn auto shop. The officer was getting his car repaired when two men came into the shop and yelled they were robbing the business. One pulled a .45-claiber handgun. The officer identified himself as police, and shots were fired. Police say the armed suspect was struck in the neck and dropped the gun, but the second suspect picked it up and fired before fleeing the scene in a SUV. The first suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. Police are searching for the second suspect. The officer wasn't injured. Uniformed officers responded shortly after the incident."


Germany: Idiot pols have run out of things to ban so want to ban paintball: “The German government wants to tighten gun laws and ban paintball games in response to a school shooting in which 16 people were killed in March …. Experts from Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives and her … coalition partners had agreed to ban paintball games … The governing parties say games like paintball trivialise violence and risk lowering the threshold for committing violent acts …. Germany toughened its gun laws in 2002 after 19-year-old Robert Steinhauser shot dead 16 people … and himself at a high school in the eastern German city of Erfurt. … The new rules would also grant authorities more rights in conducting checks with people owning guns, the sources said.”

Louisiana singer shoots robber: "The shooting happened around 3:00 Tuesday morning at Boss Lady Lounge on Plank Road. Police have not identified the man who shot one of the armed robbers, but family members say it was 40-year-old Darnell Neal, a Baton Rouge singer. Police say while a group of musicians was loading their equipment into a vehicle, two masked men approached them. One of the men carried a sawed-off shotgun. Police say they robbed three of the musicians, but the fourth, supposedly Neal, grabbed a handgun from the vehicle and shot one of the robbery suspects several times. Police say he also fired at Poche, who managed to get away until being arrested around 12:30pm. The suspect who was shot was taken to a Baton Rouge hospital with critical injuries and has since been transported to a hospital in New Orleans for additional treatment. Police have not released his identity because he has not been charged yet. None of the robbery victims were hurt during the shooting. The investigation continues."


TX: Man Involved in Shooting Gets sent back to scene by cops: "It was 3 a.m. April 18 on the corner of Fuqua and Post Oak when a Houston man we're not identifying says he was brutally attacked and robbed by two suspects. That man was eventually able to overpower one of the robbers-- he took his gun and shot at least one of the suspects. That victim who spoke to FOX 26 by phone says he went to HPD's Fondren police station for help. He stumbled in bloodied and with the gun of one of the suspects he'd shot. Instead of getting immediate attention, the man tells FOX 26 he was told by an officer on duty at Fondren that he was at the wrong station. The victim says the officer also said it was shift change and he either should go back to the scene and wait or go to the right police substation. Eventually, police were able to arrest the two would be robbers. That came after the officer dispatched them to Post Oak and Fuqua. It's where the victim says he waited all bloodied and with that gun. FOX 26 learned that police officer is under investigation according to the captain at the Fondren station. As for the victim, he says he couldn't believe he was turned away for help by those who promise to protect and serve".


MA: Governor Patrick seeks to toughen gun laws: "“Backed by Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley, the Patrick administration asked lawmakers yesterday to allow prosecutors to hold suspects in gun cases without bail and to bar gun owners from buying more than one firearm within 30 days or face 2 1/2 years in prison. Those proposals were offered as part of a broader attack on gun-related violence [sic] in the state and were made after the Supreme Judicial Court on Monday banned prosecutors from seeking dangerousness hearings in illegal gun possession cases.”


A new way to ban guns — brand everyone as “terrorists” : “We have, in fact, reached the point at which simply affirming one’s devotion to the Constitution can be enough to be lableled a ‘terrorist’ threat. Now, in fact, it has become apparent that such ‘threats’ as followers of Norse mythology are among those who must be kept under close scrutiny. Back in February, I discussed White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel’s support (at a Brady Campaign event in 2007, when he was still a congressman) for legislation that would empower the Attorney General to block gun sales to anyone who is suspected of being a ‘terrorist.’”

Wisconsin: Gun scares off teen robbers: "Four teens knocked a 42-year-old Racine man from his bike Friday night. He thought they were going to rob him. The man pulled a Smith and Wesson revolver from his side holster, pointed it at the sky and yelled, “Gun!” The four suspects ran, and the man flagged down a Racine police officer. The incident will perhaps mark the first time a new opinion allowing open carry of firearms is put to the test here, as it conflicts with another state statute that makes it illegal to possess a gun within 1,000 feet of a school, if not on private property. The Racine man involved, who asked not to be named and declined to comment on the alleged robbery attempt when contacted by The Journal Times, was assaulted in the 1100 block of Grand Avenue, which is within 1,000 feet of Walden School, 1012 Center St. Police did not arrest the man. After he was treated for head and wrist injuries at the scene by Racine rescue, officers escorted the man home and returned his gun to him. But that doesn’t mean charges won’t be filed against the man, and police are questioning how such situations should be handled in the future. “It’s difficult with the way the laws are written to carry (a gun) and not get into trouble,” said police spokesman Lt. Jim Dobbs. He said the new open carry ruling will probably prompt more and more people to wear firearms, but in many places in the city, even stepping off their front porch would mean they are breaking the law. Last month, Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen sent out a memo saying openly wearing a holstered gun is not illegal. While Wisconsin law states a person cannot legally carry a concealed weapon, it does not address carrying a firearm in plain sight".


Alaska: Gun stops harassment by teens: "A report of a man pointing a gun at some teenagers on bikes at the Sears mall spurred an extensive police response and prompted school district officials to lock the doors at Fairview Elementary School Thursday afternoon. But it turned out the young adults had in fact been harassing the man and that he pulled a weapon from his vehicle for protection, police Lt. Dave Parker said. The two parties split after the incident at about 1:45 p.m., but witnesses followed the man with the gun north on the Seward Highway to 13th Avenue and Gambell Street, where police with guns drawn stopped the man and a passenger. Seeing that activity, the principal of the Fairview school locked the doors, school district spokeswoman Heidi Embley said. It was the only school to take any action and reopened a short time later, she said. After questioning the suspect and other witnesses -- the youths could not be located -- police determined the unnamed man had acted within his rights because he had not pointed the weapon at anyone and had not brandished it in a menacing manner, Parker said."




Louisiana burglar fatally shot: "An armed burglary that ended with a homeowner’s brother fatally shooting a suspect was preceded by a rash of similar crimes in the area, deputies said... About 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, two brothers who live in the 400 block of West Main Street discovered a pair of men — one of whom was armed with a BB gun — who had broken into one of the men’s garage. The homeowner, Chris Derocher, and his brother, Bryan Derocher, live on the same property in separate homes. Bryan Derocher called his sibling that evening when he saw two men walking around the property, deputies said. When Chris Derocher, who was away from home, arrived, he noticed his garage window was damaged and a motion-sensor light inside the garage was turned on, deputies said. Chris Derocher and his brother, who was armed with a handgun, opened the garage door and found the two men inside, deputies said. One of the suspects, Terry Hayes, 34, [above] brandished the BB gun at the men, and Bryan Derocher fired two shots, one of which struck Hayes in the torso. Hayes died at the scene, deputies said. Hidalgo said Hayes’ BB gun was indistinguishable from an actual gun. The other burglary suspect, Charles Mouton, 42, of Thibodaux, was held at gunpoint by Bryan Derocher until deputies arrived. Hayes had previously been arrested for armed robbery, theft, burglary, illegal possession of stolen goods and illegal carrying of a firearm, among other charges, deputies said. Mouton had similar arrest history.


Surprisingly lenient verdict in Mass.: "The Supreme Judicial Court yesterday ruled that illegal gun possession is a ‘passive and victimless crime’ and that those charged with having illicit firearms cannot be held without bail as a danger to society. In a 4-to-1 ruling, the state’s highest court rejected the law enforcement strategy of Bristol District Attorney C. Samuel Sutter to cut down on gun violence by seeking pretrial detention for every person charged with illegal gun possession in his jurisdiction, which includes New Bedford. Writing for the majority, Justice Francis X. Spina said a law known as 58A does not include illegal gun possession on the list of criminal charges that qualify for a dangerousness hearing. The court also rejected Sutter’s argument that a catch-all phrase included in the statute gave him the legal authority to demand dangerousness hearings for dozens of criminal defendants in the past several years.”

Washington: Pistol-packing pharmacist scares away robbers: "A small sign in the Bob Johnson Pharmacy window says it all: Mike Donahue does not put up with anyone trying to steal from him. The sign lists a half-dozen people who Donahue says have tried to rob the Crown Hill pharmacy since 1988. “None of them got away with it!” the sign reads. Donahue has security cameras set up, a security system and, as he tells KING 5, he’s armed with a Glock 19 handgun under his lab coat. This is surveillance video of Donahue chasing a would-be robber out the front door. “When someone comes in to rob my pharmacy or put my patients at risk I have something to help protect us,” he says. He’s pulled the gun on three potential thieves, most recently a few months ago. Bob Johnson Pharmacy isn’t the only business in the area around 85th St. and 14th Ave. that’s been the target of recent crime. Crown Hill Methodist church was broken into early in the morning on Palm Sunday, and just last week, someone broke into Wild Mountain Cafe."


Texas Grand jury: city homicide justifiable: "The Weatherford home owner who shot and killed an intruder in March will not face criminal charges, a Parker County Grand Jury recently determined. After hearing a full offense report, which included witness statements and evidence, jurors declined to indict the elderly shooter. Weatherford police presented the case April 16. The homicide, which occurred in the 500 block of South Rusk Street, occurred shortly after 1 a.m. on March 4. On the morning of the incident, Robert Earl Bardwell, 57, of Weatherford, was shot multiple times after police say he forced entry into a residence and started assaulting the elderly owner’s 34-year-old son. The home owner, identified as a 66-year-old white male, reportedly attempted to warn Bardwell by firing one shot from an automatic pistol into the ceiling. However, when the assailant failed to heed the warning and continued to assault his son, police say the father shot the intruder several times, fatally wounding him. According to police, Bardwell was estranged from a relationship with a female subject in the home at the time of the incident."


Tennessee home defender shot: "A Corryton man who was shot during a Saturday night robbery at his home is in “very critical condition” at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, a Knox County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman said today. Billy Graves, 42, was shot in the abdomen during an exchange of gunfire with two masked robbers who burst into the home he shares with his wife at 9920 Washington Pike just after 9 p.m., said Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Martha Dooley. His wife, 47-year-old Vickie Graves, wasn’t injured. Authorities don’t know if either of the robbers was hit, and authorities don’t have detailed descriptions of either male suspect because they wore bandanas over their faces, she said. A safe that was stolen during the robbery was later found near the couple’s home with the contents missing, she said."


Alaskan home invasion victims shot: "Two people were shot Monday during an Anchorage home invasion and police said one of the robbery suspects may also have been wounded. The homeowner, Tupo Santini, ran outside for help during the robbery. He managed to wrestle a gun away from one of the assailants and fire at him before all three fled, police said. One man who may have been involved showed up at a hospital with a gunshot wound to his stomach but the other two were at large Monday morning, said police spokesman Lt. Dave Parker. "We do not know who they are yet," Parker said. Just after midnight, three armed men wearing dark "hoodies" broke into a mobile home in south Anchorage, intending to rob the home, police said. Santini was at home with his five children. Police said his girlfriend, Christina Dau, had left to go to a store but his brother, Lofia Santini, and his girlfriend, Amy Itta, were visiting. Lofia Santini was shot twice in the chest and Itta was shot in the back. Police said their injuries were serious. Tupo Santini ran to get help and was chased outside by a gunman. Santini managed to wrestle the gun from the assailant and fire at him. The assailants then left... About 20 minutes later, a wounded man showed up at an acquaintance's home. Police said he has been shot in the stomach. A woman at the home drove him to a hospital. Investigators said the wounded man may be one of the suspects in the home invasion. Police said they would not release his name until the man is confirmed or rejected as a suspect."

Ohio Robber Shot During Holdup: "Police said a man was shot when he tried to rob a northeast side gas station on Tuesday morning. The armed robber entered the BP gas station, located at 1959 17th Ave., shortly after midnight, 10TV's Tino Ramos reported. The man confronted the clerk, who had a gun behind the counter. The clerk shot the robber and he collapsed outside. The robber, whose name was not immediately released, was transported to the hospital in serious condition, Ramos reported. No other injuries were reported."


Arkansas: 'Case cleared' in shooting of dazed intruder: "There will be no charges against any involved in an April 11 incident that resulted in a 20-year-old Conway man being shot in the leg after intruding into a home. Paul Willey told a Conway Police Department detective Brian Williams that he had been awake for several days and had entered "a hypnotized state." Willey said this hypnotic trance "is why he was walking on cars and swinging through trees," Williams wrote in a supplementary report released Thursday. In his apparently dazed state Willey entered a Baxter Drive residence believing that a friend lived there and jumped out of a second-floor window when confronted by a homeowner armed with a Walther PPK .380 caliber handgun. This homeowner told Williams that he fired two shots "into the ground in an effort to get the suspect to stop" as Willey fled through a neighbor's yard. He said he wasn't aware that one of the bullets had hit Willey in the leg, causing what is described in the report as a "through and through" injury that bled very little. Willey was treated and released by Conway Regional Medical Center that day. The families of Willey and the homeowner who shot him have "all decided not to pursue charges (against) each other," Williams wrote, and 20th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Marcus Vaden has "advised that he will not file charges per the victims' request." "No further action taken, the case will be exceptionally cleared," the report concludes."


Utah: Resident shoots, kills intruder in apartment break-in: "Four people, including two sisters, ages 14 and 22, were inside a third-floor apartment at the complex at about 1:30 a.m. when someone knocked at the door, Midvale police Sgt. John Salazar said. When the 26-year-old uncle of the sisters opened the door, a group of up to 10 tried to force their way inside. In a struggle at the door, one assailant stabbed the uncle in the hand, Salazar said. As the struggle continued inside, one assailant hit the 22-year-old woman, angering her 23-year-old boyfriend. He fought with another assailant, got hold of the man's gun and fired about four shots inside, and possibly three outside, Salazar said. Three of the shots inside struck a 31-year-old suspect, who died at the scene. He was armed with two knives and a handgun, Salazar said. Everyone else scattered in different directions, and the lone woman in the group appeared to have been shot outside, witnesses told police. Police found a sawed-off, 12-guage shotgun and a 40-caliber handgun on the roof of a parking structure nearby. They forced their way into a neighboring garage, but did not find anyone hiding there. The uncle was hospitalized for his knife wound, and will be OK, Salazar said."


IL: Gun rights advocates won’t be silenced: “Just because they weren’t allowed to speak during a recent gun control forum in Wheaton doesn’t mean a group of gun-rights supporters will keep silent. In fact, many gun owners’ rights advocates voiced displeasure over what they called a ‘one-sided’ April 21 forum hosted by several League of Women Voters chapters and the Illinois Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. … Rosanna Pulido, who recently ran as the Republican candidate in Illinois’ 5th Congressional District, has organized a forum about the Second Amendment and the right to bear arms. She said the event is a response to dozens of gun-rights supporters being prohibited from speaking during last month’s gun control meeting.”

CA: Burglary suspect shot by resident: “A man suspected of burglarizing cars in the Mar Vista area was shot in the face by a resident early this morning, police said. The man was breaking into vehicles when he was confronted by a resident at about 1:40 a.m., said Los Angeles Police Sgt. Dennis Beacham. ‘He was subsequently shot and sustained a gunshot wound to the facial area,’ Beacham said. ‘It’s my understanding he’s in stable condition.’”


Georgia apartment invader shot: "College Park police are investigating a home invasion at a College Park apartment early Sunday in which a victim shot and killed one of the robbers. Police said two men forced their way into a unit of the Southern Lakes apartments on Lakemont Drive about 2:54 a.m. There were 10 people in the apartment, police said. After robbing them, the men and women were moved to different areas. One of the men has a gun and fought the robbers, shooting one of them, police said. The robber was found dead outside the complex, police said, and his accomplice had fled. Their names were not released by police."


TN: Committee axes curfew from guns-in-restaurants bill: “A joint committee on a bill to allow handgun carry permit holders to take their weapons into restaurants that serve alcohol decided to remove restrictions passed in the House that would not have allowed the guns in age-restricted restaurants and would have barred the weapons from any restaurant from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. The House panel in the committee voted 3-2 to recommend a Senate amendment that contained neither of the stipulations that passed the House. Rep. Curry Todd, R-Collierville and the sponsor of the bill, indicated to the AP that the restrictions he fought for in the House didn’t matter once the bill went to a conference committee.”


Lawmaker aims at exempting Texas firearms from federal regulation: “A Texas lawmaker wants to further push state sovereignty from the federal government. Rep. Leo Berman, a former Arlington mayor pro tem, has filed a bill to make guns, ammunition and gun parts that are made, sold and kept in Texas free from federal regulation. That would exempt them from federal gun registration, dealer licensing rules and buyer background checks. State laws would still apply. ‘This does two things,’ said Berman, a Tyler Republican. ‘It tests our sovereignty in relationship to the federal government, and it would attract new small gun manufacturers to the state to manufacture certain types of weapons and ammunition that are only used in intrastate commerce.’”

NY: Resident shoots intruder : “Police are investigating a shooting in Ridge on Friday in which a witness says a resident of an apartment complex apparently shot a fleeing intruder. … One of the two residents of a unit in the Strathmore Ridge Apartments, home to a father and son, told Newsday there had been a break-in and a fleeing suspect was shot …. He said that, during the incident, two or three subjects broke into the apartment and that one was shot at least once in the leg attempting to flee.”


MO: Burglar shot by homeowner: “A woman whose house was being burglarized is believed to have shot one of the three men caught in her home early Thursday. The woman arrived at her home in northeast Columbia and found that her back door had been kicked open, according to a release from the Columbia Police Department. Inside, she found three men robbing her house. She left the house, and the men followed her. She told police that one of the men had a handgun and pointed it at her. She fired one round at the men.”


PA: Gun permit lawsuit dismissal hearing delayed : "There’s an unexpected delay in a hearing on a federal lawsuit filed by a Pennsylvania woman who insisted on openly wearing her holstered pistol to her daughter’s soccer games …. a Friday hearing on a motion to dismiss the lawsuit was canceled after a lawyer in the case was in a traffic accident. … [Sheriff] DeLeo revoked Hain’s concealed-weapons permit last year after other parents at the soccer games complained. A judge later reinstated her permit, but Hain sued. The Lebanon resident argued that the sheriff violated her Second Amendment rights and maliciously prosecuted her when he took away the permit.”


SAF, Calguns Foundation challenge California handgun ban scheme : “The Second Amendment Foundation, The Calguns Foundation and four California residents today filed a lawsuit challenging a California state law and regulatory scheme that arbitrarily bans handguns based on a roster of ‘certified’ handguns approved by the State. This case parallels a similar case filed in Washington, DC, Hanson v. District of Columbia.”

Pennsylvania robber shot: "An 18-year-old man is hospitalized after being shot in Olney by a man he allegedly tried to rob. It happened around 9:00 p.m. Thursday night at 3rd Street and Roosevelt Boulevard. Police say the 18-year-old was found shot in the leg. He was taken to Einstein Hospital. His injuries are said to be nonlife threatening. According to authorities, the 18-year-old was allegedly trying to rob the man who would eventually shoot him".


Pittsburgh, PA: Alleged Robber Shot Inside Bar: "An alleged robber was shot inside a Northside bar Friday night, emergency dispatchers said. Emergency dispatchers said a man was shot in the chest while attempting to rob the Cantina Lounge in the 2600 block of California Avenue. The alleged robber was said to be conscious and alert."


SC: Confiscated gun sales considered: “Selling guns is no longer just for gun dealers in Aiken. The Aiken Department of Public Safety wants to start selling some of its confiscated weapons to federally licensed dealers, ending a 10-year practice of destroying them. Department officials say sales could net the city’s general fund thousands of dollars, and officials say they have a quick answer for anyone who questions the policy. ‘Everybody says ‘Well, you’re putting them back on the street,” said Aiken Department of Public Safety Capt. Wendell Hall. ‘But you’re not always putting them in the hands of bad guys, and I contend that you’re probably rarely putting them in the hands of bad guys.’”


Why the Second Amendment should matter to those who dislike guns: “Congress will consider legislation next month that would require people wanting to speak in public to first undergo a background check and pay a permit fee. Not really! But how would you react if it was true? What if your other constitutional rights were treated the same was as your right to bear arms? Whether you own a gun or not, the Second Amendment should matter to you — because if one constitutional right can be taken away by majority rule, they all can be. Imagine if you had to get a government license before you were allowed to freely worship, or to be safe in your own home from warrantless searches and seizures. Or what if you had to get government permission to own a printing press?”

Nebraska: Armored Truck Driver shoots and gets wounded: "Witnesses say an armored truck driver was shot below the knee in an attempted robbery outside the Douglas County Treasurer's Office at 7414 N. 30th Street. Sources tell Channel 6 News three men staked out the area for 30 minutes before the attack. The security guard, Princeton Hervey, told investigators he thought he had wounded at least one of the suspects. Sources say one of the would-be robbers was hit as many as four times in the mid-section and had to be helped back into the getaway van by the other two men. According to those at the scene, a white van pulled in front of the armored truck driver as he was coming out of the strip mall Friday morning. Hervey was walking toward his truck when he was tasered and then shot. Police confirm the suspects did get away with money. By late Friday afternoon the suspects were still at large.


Brave British shopkeeper ignores fake gun: "A shopkeeper who had an imitation firearm thrusted in his face says his attacker "deserves" the four-year jail term he has just been given. Mohammed Ahmed was in his Thornton Heath store when James Bradford convinced him to open up late one evening. Instead of buying anything, Bradford, who was known to Mr Ahmed, pulled out the fake gun and told the 50-year-old to hand over money from the till. The shop owner bravely refused, and when he picked up the phone to call the police, Bradford fled. After hearing that the gunman had been jailed at Croydon Crown Court this week, Mr Ahmed said: "He deserves it. "But with four years he will be out in two. I think he should serve the full four years."


NY: Proposal calls for registry of weapon offenders: “City residents convicted of a felony firearm possession crime in Utica would be required to register their home address and other personal information under a law proposed Wednesday by Mayor David Roefaro. The gun registry would require those charged in Utica with second- or third-degree criminal possession of a weapon to register with the city police department for four years following their completion of their sentence …. ‘Illegal guns are the cancer of this very country, borne out of the criminal’s disregard for others and for humanity itself,’ Roefaro said.Information in the registry … would be available to police officers who now often know little about the criminal histories of the people they encounter.”


ID: Rescue mission benefits from growing unease over gun rights: "“When Nampa gun store owner Roberta Regnier offered a chance to win an AR-15 rifle for anyone who brought in two cans of food, she got 7,000 entries and collected 10 tons of food for the Boise Rescue Mission. The winning ticket was drawn on April 15. The raffle piqued so much interest that Regnier’s Alpha Omega Services is doing another one — the shop’s third — this time for a new, 1927-style Tommy gun. Other businesses are catching on. Sheepdog Ammo in New Plymouth donated 1,000 rounds of ammunition to Regnier’s raffle. Archery Outfitters of Nampa is holding its own ‘Food for Bow and Arrows’ drive with a bow hunting package as the prize.”

TX: Student killed after forcing way into apartment: “An 18-year-old Fort Worth man killed Tuesday afternoon inside a north Fort Worth apartment had apparently forced his way inside, armed with an aluminum bat, when he was shot by one of the apartment’s residents …. Though the resident did not emerge, Brannan said, Splawn was able to force his way inside the apartment after the resident’s roommate opened the front door to peek out and saw Splawn standing there with the bat. ‘Before he could get the door shut, the man [Splawn] pushed the door open and had taken several steps inside the doorway in the direction of the [18-year-old],’ Brannan said. Brannan said the 18-year-old, in turn, picked up a shotgun he kept in the home and fired once, striking Splawn in the face.”


Robber and victim both die in Philadelphia : "New details emerged Thursday about a drug-related shooting in Philadelphia that left two men dead, including one from Reading. According to Philadelphia police: Izaire Cotto, 25, of Neversink Street went to Philadelphia with two other people to buy a pound of marijuana. He picked up his sister and some other people in Philadelphia and went to a location in southwest Philadelphia, where they had arranged the drug deal. Cotto and a friend got out of their car and met two men, but instead of selling drugs to Cotto they pulled out guns to rob him. Cotto, who had $2,700 in his pocket and also was carrying a gun, fired as the would-be robbers shot at him. One of the would-be robbers, Jermaine McAllister, 23, of Philadelphia was shot. Cotto also was shot. Both died a short time later. Police earlier identified Cotto as the robber. On Thursday, they said he appeared to be the victim. Police said they are looking for the other gunman."


Delaware robber pleads guilty: "According to police, Negron and Myron Williams, 30, entered the trailer home of three men around Feb. 13, 2008, carrying guns. One of the victims tried to disarm Williams and the gun went off, according to New Castle County Police. The bullet hit Williams in the hand, causing him to drop the weapon. Another of the victims then picked it up and shot Williams, according to court records. Police said Negron then exchanged gunfire with the victims and was wounded in the leg as he retreated. Williams' body was later found at the scene in the first block of Virginia Ave. and Negron went to Wilmington Hospital, claiming to have been shot in a robbery in the city. He was apprehended several days later while trying to flee police on crutches, according to reports.


Obama positioning for backdoor gun control: “On his recent trip to Central America, President Barack Obama did more than cozy up to Marxist dictators; he also signed onto an international treaty that could, in effect, be used as backdoor gun control. It appears that Obama wants to use international treaties to do what congressional legislation is not able to do: further restrict the right of the American people to keep and bear arms.”

Proposed New York Gun Laws

(Albany, New York) The controversy regarding "microstamping" of bullet casings continues among New York lawmakers. The issue has been raised before but never signed into law.

However, the microstamping bill is just one of a number of gun control measures being addressed this week.

The bills under consideration also create new rules for gun storage and weapons safety classes, require guns be childproof, require background checks for pawn shop gun purchases, prohibit bullets designed to fragment upon impact, ban weapons of .50 caliber or larger and empower courts to revoke gun licenses of individuals considered a threat to the public.

Gun advocates say the bills just harass legal gun owners while doing nothing to stem the illegal use of guns. The measures have failed in previous years but, with the Democrats surging into power last fall, there is worry that some may be passed into law.

The microstamping requirement seems to be gaining some support since it presumably can help solve crimes by providing evidence of which gun was used during a felony shooting. It passed the Assembly by a 94-47 vote. Nevertheless, opponents say microstamps can be easily defeated by filing away the code on the firing pins so all they do is increase the cost of manufacturing.

Interestingly, research on the current microstamping technology has not been convincing. Results are inconsistent from manufacturer to manufacturer, the codes on firing pins can be easily removed with household tools and the firing pins can be replaced. Add to those difficulties the fact that legal gun owners using their guns legally now have to keep an accounting of all their spent brass for fear that someone will pick them up to drop at a crime scene.

Busloads of pro and anti-gun activists were in Albany yesterday to plead their cases but they were a day late since the measures were voted on late Tuesday.

About half the bills, which range from requiring gun permits be recertified every five years to requiring semi-automatic handguns "microstamp" shell casing with an ID number, had passed by early evening. The rest were also expected to pass, as they have done in past years.

The Assembly also passed a bill to make it illegal to possess or sell .50-caliber weapons.

Next, the bills go to the Senate for more debate. Given that New York is infested with liberal Democrats, it's possible that some of the measures will ultimately get through the Senate and go to Gov. Paterson for signature.

Incidentally, California Gov. Schwarzenegger signed into law a bill requiring microstamping on all semi-automatic pistols in October 2007. The law becomes effective 1/1/2010. Strangely, law enforcement officers are reportedly exempted from the microstamping requirement.

WA: Shotgun toting victim runs off suspects in attempted heist: "At 11:51 p.m., a man was walking home in the 2400 block of Northwest 58th Street when he was confronted by four, young adult men, Whitcomb said. The robbers implied they had a weapon but the victim didn't see one. He ran home, armed himself with a shotgun and chased the suspects away."


New Zealand police hate self defense: "A Tokoroa takeaway owner who shot a masked gunman in the leg after wrestling a semi-automatic .22 rifle off him could end up being charged for defending himself. Aotea Chinese Takeaways owner Zhuofeng "Titan" Jiang, 25, grabbed the rifle as the gunman pointed it at Mr Jiang's 19-year-old cousin and demanded money from the till about 9.45pm on Monday. The gunman had already fired a warning shot into the floor. Another shot went off as the men wrestled with the rifle. When Mr Jiang got hold of the rifle he fired two shots, one into the floor, and another into the man's leg, to stop him from being attacked. The gunman screamed in pain after being shot and fled. Mr Jiang said yesterday that he was not a hero. "I was not scared. I would do it again. I hate these people. I will never give them any money." Police were last night hunting a fat man, 1.8 metres (6ft) tall, wearing dark-coloured clothing. Detective Senior Sergeant Todd Pearce said part of the inquiry would look at whether Mr Jiang was liable under the Arms Act. Police did not encourage people to fight back when firearms were involved. "The victim was threatened with a firearm and sought protection to retrieve the rifle. "If it is found he did not use the appropriate level of force to defend himself it is possible charges could be laid." Mr Jiang is angry that police took 25 minutes to arrive at the scene after being telephoned." [Which shows how much use they are. NZ police are real Keystone Kops. They lay charges against self-defenders but the charges never stick]


Limbaugh runs off the rails: "Rush Limbaugh's new pet project -- fighting animal cruelty for the Humane Society of the United States -- is riling sportsmen from coast to coast, prompting fears that the talkster typically supportive of gun rights is aiding a group they say has a secret agenda to end all hunting in America. Twenty-eight groups representing millions of hunters and sportsmen are demanding that the conservative radio commentator end his collaboration with the HSUS and stop "helping them to mainstream their image in the minds of reasonable people." "Despite a few programs designed to attract support from the general public, HSUS is in fact an organization that opposes hunting, fishing, and trapping," the groups, including Ducks Unlimited and the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance, wrote in a letter last week to Mr. Limbaugh. "Its leadership has a long and established history of promoting legislation, litigation, and referenda to restrict the rights of American sportsmen and women."


Nutty NY spending $200 a pop to beat handguns into coat hangers: “With three churches participating in the Police Department’s latest gun buyback program in the Bronx, there was plenty of opportunity for the police commissioner, Raymond W. Kelly, to make biblical references. Dozens of weapons were arrayed on tables in front of Mr. Kelly at a news conference at Police Headquarters when he announced the results of last Saturday’s event, in which 987 weapons were dropped off at the churches in six hours — the largest number of guns turned in since the department started the program last year. Eventually, that sawed-off shotgun, that shiny handgun, that assault weapon could one day be hanging in a closet. The weapons will be melted down into wire clothes hangers, Mr. Kelly said.”

Gun-Offender Registry Proposed in Utica, NY

Utica Mayor David Roefaro today proposed that city residents charged with second- or third-degree criminal possession of a weapon be required to register their home and work addresses with the police department every six months for four years following completion of their punishment.

The proposal would include those convicted of illegal possession of:

* A loaded handgun.

* Three or more illegal handguns.

* A handgun by a convicted felon.

* An assault weapon.

* A disguised firearm.

The information in the registry would not be available to the public because Roefaro is concerned with protecting juveniles convicted of illegal gun possession, said Angelo Roefaro, the mayor's assistant.

“We don't want to ruin their reputation in the community in perpetuity,” Angelo Roefaro said.

Mayor Roefaro wants to call the city ordinance "Lindsey's Law" after a local police officer, Thomas Lindsey, who was killed during a traffic stop in 2007. Oddly, the Oneida County DA, Scott McNamara, said he didn't know whether the proposed law would have helped Lindsey.

I'm of the opinion that a gun-offender registry would NOT have helped Officer Lindsey. When fingers are pulling triggers, it's way past time to do background checks. With that in mind, I would suggest that the proposed gun-offender registry has more to do with politics than crime prevention.

In any event, the proposed ordinance requires approval of the Utica Common Council and it is scheduled to be discussed next month. If enacted, violations will be misdemeanors punishable by a possible one year in jail and $1,000 fine.

Texas: Midlothian man's fatally shot at Arlington house: :A 42-year-old Midlothian man was fatally shot in Friday night by his former father-in-law, Arlington police said. Police said the shooting appeared to be in self-defense, and that they would turn over evidence to the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office for a determination. No one has been arrested. Rodney Kennedy was at a home in the 1400 block of Pecan Street when he was shot by his former father-in-law, 67, police said. The shooting happened at 10 p.m. during an altercation, according to reports. The house is near the University of Texas at Arlington."


Florida: Robbery Suspect Dies After Being Shot By Property Owner : "A Polk County man shot at two robbery suspects Tuesday morning when he thought they were going to run him down. One of the suspects was hit in the head and died, and the other is still at large. The incident happened near a citrus grove on Rifle Range Road in the Wahneta area of Winter Haven. Property owner Jamie Jones heard a commotion outside while working inside his shed just before dawn. Jones told detectives a man and woman were driving away in his Land Rover. He said after they saw him, they tried to run him over. Fearing for his life, Jones pulled the trigger. One of the bullets hit 21-year-old Nikki McCormick in the head. While she lay bleeding in the passenger seat, the male suspect fled on foot. McCormick was rushed to the hospital where she later died. Detectives aren't sure if the male suspect was hit. The property owner last saw him limping down a nearby street. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd says Jones likely won't face charges, and he offers a warning to other would-be robbers."


Guns are better than restraining orders: “Debi Olson had three restraining orders taken out against her. But that didn’t stop the woman from ambushing ex-husband Mauricio Droguett in an Iowa shopping mall last July, fatally stabbing him in front of shocked mall-goers. Toni Brown of Washington, DC was shot by former girlfriend Raina Johnson on August 12, 2008, leaving the woman paralyzed from her neck down. Johnson is currently serving a 28-year sentence for a crime the judge termed ‘extraordinarily brutal.’ A restraining order had been previously issued against the assailant. Karen Allende of New York City was walking to work on a September day in 2006 when she was attacked suddenly by her husband. She died that morning on the sidewalk, a restraining order folded neatly in her purse. Each year 2-3 million domestic restraining orders are issued for the purpose of curbing domestic violence. Simply put, these orders of “protection” are a hoax foisted on unsuspecting victims, all at taxpayer expense. Restraining orders are a travesty for the simple reason that they don’t work.”


“Speaking truth to empower”: “You really don’t understand, do you? You really don’t know that the states that wanted blacks to be counted as ‘1′ instead of ‘3/5′ were the SLAVEHOLDING STATES. That’s because, with apportionment, it would give them more representation in Congress — more power — all the while holding this NONVOTING population hostage. Those opposed to slavery didn’t want them counted at all for that reason. But then, you don’t understand ‘gun control’ had its roots in racism, either, do you? I notice you never talk about the slave codes that could punish a black man for having a dog because it might attack a white man — or the post-Civil War black codes designed to put firearms beyond the economic means of freed blacks — or a key observation in Dredd Scott, that a black man simply CAN’T be a ‘citizen’ because then he’d have the same rights as whites, including the right to keep and bear arms. Yeah, Chief Justice Taney actually wrote that. You’d know if you took the time to do a little learning before presuming yourself authoritative enough to teach.”

AL: Shooting Under Investigation: "Morgan and Limestone County officials continue to investigate a weekend shooting in Morgan County. It happened at 8:45 Saturday night on Garrett Road in Priceville. According to the Limestone County Sheriff's Department, Tim Garth of Belle Mina shot brothers Ricky and Sam Brown. Ricky Brown was taken to Huntsville Hospital where he was pronounced dead. His brother Sam was shot in the leg. Authorities say the two brothers initially assaulted Garth at his home. Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely says the case has not been ruled as a murder yet, and there may be indication the incident was self-defense. No charges are filed yet. Authorities also say this isn't the first fight between the three. About nine years ago, Ricky Brown was accused of shooting the suspect and his sister."


A rush to bear arms even in Taxachusetts: “In the words of one Berkshire County gun shop owner, ‘gun sales have been through the roof’ in recent months. Indeed, sales of firearms in the United States began to rise in the lead-up to the November 2008 presidential election, including here in Democratic Massachusetts — long viewed as a bastion for liberal [sic], anti-gun politics. And they continued to soar for the first three months of 2009, according to the FBI’s National Criminal Investigative Service, which performs background checks on people seeking to carry firearms.”


Obama pushing treaty to ban reloading : “Even BB guns could be on the chopping block! Remember CANDIDATE Barack Obama? The guy who ‘wasn’t going to take away our guns?’ Well, guess what? Less than 100 days into his administration, he’s never met a gun he didn’t hate. A week ago, Obama went to Mexico, whined about the United States, and bemoaned (before the whole world) the fact that he didn’t have the political power to take away our semi-automatics.”


Guns make colleges safer: “Mass public shootings are a horrific feature of modern life. Many of the bloodiest examples of this scourge have occurred on college campuses. As professors, we are particularly sensitive to this danger. Despite this — no, because of this — we support a bill currently pending in the Texas Legislature that would permit the concealed carrying of firearms on college and university campuses in the state by holders of concealed-handgun permits.”

CA: Weekend shooting may have been self-defense: "Oakland police say a 16-year-old boy arrested after a fatal shooting over the weekend may have been acting in self-defense. The teen was arrested on a transit bus after police say he shot and killed a 20-year-old Oakland man and wounded a second man Saturday evening. Investigators have since determined that the man fatally shot by the teen was armed with a shotgun. They believe the youth thought he himself was going to be shot. The teen has not been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of the man armed with a shotgun, but he was charged Tuesday with attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon for wounding the second man. Investigators say the second man shot by the teen was not armed. The name of the teen has not been released."


TN: Man shot in self-defense, police say: "The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office was called to 1211 Lakeside Drive at about 9 p.m. Saturday on reports of a shooting, spokeswoman Janice Atkinson said. On arrival deputies found the victim, Kevin Bailiff, 22, lying on the ground at the edge of the driveway to the residence, suffering from a gunshot wound to the left lower leg, Ms. Atkinson said. Deputies secured the scene and detained the father of the victim, Richard Bailiff, 66, Ms. Atkinson said. Detective Ed Merritt advised that father and son became involved in a verbal argument that escalated to the shooting and at this time appears to be self-defense, Ms. Atkinson said. The victim was transported to Erlanger hospital by Hamilton County EMS".


Ban gun free zones now: "Gun control policies wrought by the likes of liberal Sens. Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Schumer (D-N.Y.) amount to "cruel indecency and forced victimization" argues rocker Ted Nugent in an April 20, 2009 column in U.S. News & World Report. With the election of Barack Obama, the 10th anniversary of Columbine, the second anniversary of Virginia Tech, and the media's ongoing fixation on a faulty "90 percent" statistic of U.S. guns seized in Mexican drug crimes, the MSM has found a second wind for the gun control after it was virtually moribund post-9/11. It is indeed Ted Kennedy's gun ban dream of GunFreeZones that have proven to be the guaranteed slaughter zones where the most innocent lives are lost. Think Columbine, VA Tech, Lane Bryant, NW IL University, Luby's Cafeteria, NJ, Salt Lake City, and Omaha malls, Calgary University, Toronto, Chicago, Boston, Flight 93, the mayor's office in San Francisco, ad nauseam. Peace and love will get you killed, and unarmed helplessness is bad. Unless of course your anthem goes baaa..... baaa...... baaa. So why in God's good name would any human being wish to force unarmed helplessness on another? That level of cruel indecency and forced victimization is incomprehensible to me and about 100,000,000 Americans who own guns. Self-defense is the most powerful, driving instinct of good people everywhere. To deny this is evil personified. Write this down—GunFreeZones are a felon's playgrounds. Ban GunFreeZones now".


Oklahoma gun ownership becoming more widespread: "Tina Pierce, community corrections officer at the Payne County Sheriff’s Office, said applications for concealed carry licenses have tripled since January. “I did 66 of them last month, opposed to that 20 I used to do, max,” Pierce said. “That (20) used to be a big month.” Pierce said elderly women, students, nurses and teachers have been applying for concealed weapons licenses at an increasing rate, she said. Ginger, an administrative programs officer for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation’s Self Defense Act licensing unit, said OSBI officials expected an increase in renewals this year but were surprised at the number of initial applicants. “We’ve had a drastic increase in initial applicants that we can’t explain,” she said. “We don’t know what’s causing it — and it’s not just any one particular group — it’s just across the board.”