Bahamas: Robber shot trying to 'buzz' out of building: "A dumb robber who had already been shot in the face after raiding the cash register at a filling station, was blasted again with a shotgun as he tried to "buzz" his way out of the building. Quick-thinking employees at the Wulff Road Texaco gas station thwarted the midnight attack on Monday, leaving blood-stained banknotes scattered everywhere and a suspect critically ill in hospital. The masked assailant entered the gas station store and waved a gun at the cashier. The cashier fled, leaving the robber to hop over the counter to collect money from the cash register. With cash in hand, the robber tried to flee but was unable to escape as the electronic buzzer system had locked him inside the store. Armed with a licensed shotgun, Mr Todd ordered the robber to "freeze" as he tried in vain to "buzz" the door open. Then, according to a member of staff, the robber reached for his gun forcing Mr Todd to fire his first shot, hitting him in the face and sending the man to the ground. He then had to open fire again when the robber attempted to retrieve his gun."


TX: Robbery Suspect Fatally Shot in Game Room: "Investigators say a security guard fatally shot an armed man who tried to rob a game room in northwest Houston. Officers arrived after 10 p.m. to the Fun and Gift game room on West Little York Road near Chateau Forest Drive and found the alleged robbery suspect's wounded body inside. Homicide investigators say that the suspect entered the game room holding a gun and demanding money while a partner waited outside in a black Dodge pickup truck with a rag used to block the license plate number. The security guard, who was not an off-duty law enforcement officer, used a weapon to shoot the suspect an undetermined amount of times. The man waiting in the truck outside the game room ran away on foot and left the vehicle in the parking lot. Investigators have not revealed if any charges will be filed in the suspect's death."


NM: Homeowner Shoots Alleged Burglar: "An alleged home invader was shot by the homeowner as police respond to the burglary in Albuquerque's west side Friday. Police said a homeowner at 9993 Academy Street NW called 911 shortly before noon Friday and reported a break-in. Police said that while she was on the phone, she fired one shot to the head of the alleged intruder, later identified as Frank Castillo, 19. Police said they found Castillo in the front yard, but they won't say yet if the homeowner shot Castillo while he was in the home or if she shot him outside. Castillo is in critical condition at University of New Mexico Hospital. Police said Castillo may not have acted alone. "We think there might have at least been a dark, two-toned passenger vehicle. We don't have any more detail than that," said Bernalillo County Sheriff's Deputy Gregg Marcantel. "So we have reason to believe that there was a co-conspirator here." Marcantel said the two-toned car took off after the shooting and that investigators are still looking for the driver. Police said that driver may have tipped off family members."


Seattle gun ban overturned: "Second Amendment advocates won the first battle in their bid to overturn the ban on guns in Seattle’s city parks and public areas. King County Superior Court Catherine Shaffer ruled the ban violated a 1983 law which gave the state legislature sole power over gun laws. Former Mayor Greg Nickels issued the gun ban by mayoral decree last June. Readers may remember him as the guy who took the powder for Seattle’s ban on salting roads to remove snow for fear of contaminating the Puget Sound with salt. The Puget Sound is a body of salt water. This ban made even less sense".

Georgia: 3 Shot During Robbery At Vacant Home: "Police said two electricians were lured to a vacant house in south Fulton County and shot Thursday afternoon. The incident happened just after noon Thursday on Surrey Trail in Atlanta. Fulton County police told CBS Atlanta that a man called two electricians from two different companies to the home. When the first electrician arrived, the suspects robbed him, then shot him in the leg. Police say a short time later, the second electrician arrived. “The second electrician to arrive on the scene did not know the first electrician was in trouble,” said Fulton County Police Cpl. Kay Lester. The suspects then shot the second electrician in the leg. That’s when the electrician pulled out a gun and shot the suspect in the head, according to investigators. The alleged robber was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Police said there may be a second suspect with a bullet wound. He fled on foot."


NM: Accused man claims self-defense for break-in shooting: "Charges against Nathan Garcia, 40, accused of shooting and critically injuring an Aztec man, will be heard in district court despite claims of self-defense. Garcia, who was charged with third-degree aggravated battery with great bodily harm, fourth-degree shooting at or from a motor vehicle and tampering with evidence, admitted to shooting at Cepeda. "I shot twice, misfired, then shot three times," Garcia said. "I stood in the doorway, which I did not leave, put the pistol in my back pocket and told them to get off my property." Any reasonable person in San Juan County would shoot at somebody who broke into their house, Defense Attorney Steve Murphy said in closing arguments. Garcia claims he shot at Cepeda out of fear after Cepeda put a gun through his living room window. He thought it was a gun because of the size of the object and the secondary barrel. Cepeda testified that he returned to Garcia's house to get even after he was beaten by several males during a party at the residence earlier in the evening. He claims he picked up an object from the ground and broke the window of a car. He then broke the window in Garcia's home as he tried to get the men to come and fight."


AL: Another triumph of gun control: "Three people have been killed and one more wounded after a person opened fire at the University of Alabama's Huntsville campus about 4pm local time (9am AEDT), local reports said. A school spokesperson confirmed the three fatalities and said the shooter was in custody. A 911 call indicated as many as 10 people may have been shot at the campus' Shelby Center by a woman in a pink sweater, The Huntsville Times said. WHNT suggested the woman's husband may have been involved. The victims were believed to be faculty members. [Once again a "gun free zone" becomes a killing field]


If You Brandish a Gun in Self-Defense in Kansas, You'd Best Shoot It: "[A]fter leaving a bar in Emporia where [Brandon] Flint's fiancee and another man exchanged angry words, Flint walked to his car. Outside, Flint's fiancee and two men continued to talk in a heated fashion. Flint's fiancee fell to the ground during the scuffle. At this point, Flint got his gun, walked back across the street, and pointed the gun at the chest of one of the men; both men immediately backed away. Flint's fiancee got up, she and Flint walked back to Flint's car, and they drove away. A majority of the Supreme Court held in [State v. Hendrix, 289 Kan. 859 (2009),] that K.S.A. 21-3211 created a defense of self or defense of another only when there is "use of force." The majority decided actual physical contact rather than a mere threat or display of force is necessary to raise this defense. Since Flint merely threatened the use of his gun and there was no actual force applied, he was not entitled to the defense of another. Wow. Had Flint actually shot the gun, he would presumably have been entitled to have the jury consider his defense-of-others defense."

Fourth-Grader nearly suspended for taking machine gun to school

A Staten Island fourth grader was nearly suspended for taking a machine gun to school. A two-inch plastic replica belonging to a LEGO policeman.

Nine year-old Patrick Timoney was playing with the LEGO toys with his friends in the school's lunchroom when the principal saw the toy gun and took him to her office to begin the suspension process. After calling the child's parents (his father is a retired police officer which is why Patrick liked the toy), common sense eventually prevailed over zero tolerance and little Patrick was set free. The gun was confiscated, presumably to be destroyed in a blast furnace.

The New York Department of Education backed the principle and said there was "cause for concern."

This story joins countless others we've hear about kids getting in trouble for plastic butter knives and guns printed on t-shirts. Supporters of such zero-tolerance policies claim they are in place to keep kids safe, but the truth is that there is an agenda at work.

All through school children are bombarded with messages that all weapons, especially guns, are bad, that people who carry guns are only up to no good, and if the Second Amendment is mentioned at all in school curriculum it is only in passing and dismissed as outdated. The propaganda is designed to instill a dislike for guns at an early age in order to progressively remove resistance to eroding gun rights. Repeat a lie often enough and people, especially kids, will begin to believe it. The end goal is to be able to one day repeal the Second Amendment with little resistance.

We're at a crossroads right now. Support for gun rights in this country is at its highest in decades. It is up to the parents to find out what their children are being taught and to put a stop to the propaganda before it is too late.

Source





CA: Man found not guilty of gun charge: "Sutter County jurors on Thursday found a Yuba City man not guilty of negligently discharging a firearm before a standoff with police at his home. Martin Anthony Galindo, 61, who has been in custody since the Nov. 21 incident in the 900 block of Shasta Street, was found guilty of resisting arrest and will be sentenced March 22, said Deputy District Attorney Brett Wasley. Yuba City police, including a SWAT team, surrounded the house for more than two hours before Galindo surrendered. After a "lively debate" lasting about four hours, jurors also found Galindo guilty of violating terms of probation imposed after a 2008 conviction for carrying a loaded gun in public, said Wasley. Jurors indicated in interviews after the trial that they accepted Galindo's testimony about firing in self-defense when a man threatened him, apparently with a screwdriver, in his back yard. Police were called shortly after 1 p.m. when neighbors heard the shot. Officers gathered behind patrol cars, pointing rifles and handguns at the house, and used a public address system to try and talk Galindo out. Galindo emerged barefoot about 3:50 p.m. as SWAT officers approached the door of the small white house with a battering ram."


FL: Assault stopped with gun: "Forty-one-year-old James Cashin is in jail tonight for allegedly punching another man in the head during an argument. Kurt Hartman says he was hit while taking Gus for an early morning walk. "Their dog was running loose, no collar, no leash, no nothing," said Hartmann. Hartmann admitted to frustration with Cashin, who lives a half a block away on Park Road. He says Cashin routinely let his dog run loose, so he shared his frustration. "It became into a heated exchange, next thing you know, the guy hit me," said Hartmann. Lying on the ground, bleeding, and in fear of his life, he says, he pulled out a licensed .40 caliber pistol in self-defense. Hartmann has a concealed weapons permit and deputies say he acted well within the law. Cashin was taken to jail and now faces one county of felony battery. Cashin does have a prior criminal record that includes battery and drug charges."

Say Hello To A Little Friend


KRISS 45 Carbine, Semi-Automatic
Considered the smallest, lightest, most controllable and accurate carbines in the world, the KRISS 45 series weapons vector their recoil downward to reduce muzzle climb by 90 percent and produce 60 percent less pounding to the shoulder of the shooter. All the while, they deliver reliable .45-caliber taps to the target. Plus, it weighs less than six pounds.

The KRISS Vector CRB/SO is the civilian version of the military KRISS Vector SMG (sub-machine gun) and it's reportedly legal in 38 states.

You too can have a "little friend" to watch over you for about $1,750.

OK: Robbery Suspect Shot At By Victim: "Shots are fired Saturday afternoon after an armed robbery suspect enters a business and stabs a man. Tulsa police say a man walked into an auto shop in the 2100 block of N. Sheridan Ave around just after 2:40 p.m. intending to rob the place. A fight broke out in the office area and the suspect began stabbing the business owner. The victim was able to grab a shot gun, and fired twice at the suspect as he ran away. Police aren't sure if the suspect was hit by the shots, or if he took anything from the business. No blood trail was found leading from the building. The suspect is described as a black male, mid 30s who stands 5 feet 10 inches tall. He was last wearing a black hoodie and black pants. Officers said the victim is expected to recover. He was transported to a Tulsa hospital and interviewed by police a short time later."


Montana: Walmart shooter won’t face charges: "Charges will not be filed against a man accused of shooting a co-worker in the forehead at the West End Walmart last summer, Yellowstone County Attorney Dennis Paxinos announced Wednesday. In a written statement, Paxinos said the actions of Craig Schmidt, 49, who was accused of shooting 32-year-old Danny Lira during an altercation at Walmart last August, “are supported by Montana law, in both presenting a firearm and in its discharge” and that he was defending himself. Schmidt was arrested at the scene of the shooting last Aug. 10 and was released from the county jail a short time later while the County Attorney’s Office investigated. A witness told investigators that as Schmidt was punched and shoved, he pulled out a pistol and fired. According to Paxinos’ statement, Schmidt said Lira hit him “extremely hard” twice in the head before he fell onto his back on top of a metal rack. He also told them he feared a third blow could cause serious injury or kill him because his head was above the metal surface. He then allegedly pulled out the pistol and fired."


Mississippi Senate passes pro-gun bill: "The Mississippi Senate passed a National Rifle Association (NRA) backed pro-gun bill on Thursday that will allow concealed weapon permit holders to carry a firearm in parks, restaurants, and unsecured public buildings. Senate Bill 2153, authored by Senator Merle Flowers, R-Olive Branch, was approved on a 48-3 vote. "Citizens should be able to exercise their Second Amendment right, and this bill will broaden the locations where they can do so," Flowers said. "Businesses will still have the ability to opt to restrict permit holders from entering their premises while armed, and counties and municipalities will also have the option for local parks. This bill simply allows folks to protect themselves and their families." "The NRA and our 30,000-plus members in Mississippi strongly support SB 2153 to bring state law into line with federal law allowing carry permit holders to protect themselves in parks, and to broaden the right to self-defense in other locations," said Tara Mica, NRA's Mississippi state liaison. Flowers co-authored the Castle Doctrine Law in 2006 that allows citizens to use deadly force if the feel their life is in danger."


Ill: Huge turnout reveals concealed carry is statewide issue: "Illinois is one of only two states left that prohibit the carrying of firearms for personal protection, leaving citizens to follow advice posted on the Illinois State Police website encouraging the use of hair combs and car keys to ward off violent attacks. Pundits say the issue of carrying a firearm for self-defense is a geographical issue in Illinois, limited to the more rural downstate area. Some upstate legislators deny the need for a carry law and argue Illinois citizens north of Interstate 80 have no interest in the right to carry a firearm for self-defense. Without a doubt, they were proven wrong last week when a standing room only crowd of 500-plus citizens from all over McHenry County turned out in support of Right to Carry in Illinois. The town hall meeting had White County connections. Second Amendment activists Valinda and Mike Rowe of Enfield assisted in the organizational phase of the meeting. Mrs. Rowe, the spokesperson for IllinoisCarry.com, was one of the speakers at the event. Women and men crowded into the packed Lakemoor Banquet Hall in Lakemoor to show their support for the right to carry"

Gun Control in Maryland

Legislators in Maryland are seemingly trying to pull a fast one. They are pushing a gun control bill which hasn't been read by anyone yet. Jeez, it's almost like they're impersonating the U.S. Congress.

The measure, HB820: Firearm Safety Act of 2010, was introduced in both the Maryland House and Senate by Delegate Sandy Rosenberg and Senator Brian Frosh, respectively. It goes without saying, both are Democrats.

The bill includes:

"... a requirement for gun license applicants to provide fingerprints to the Maryland State Police for a background check.

The bill would also expand the definition of a “habitual drunkard” in current law, a classification of people who are ineligible for purchasing firearms. Currently, a person who has been found guilty of three alcohol-related crimes in the past year can't get a gun permit. Frosh's bill would change that to someone convicted of two alcohol-related crimes in the past five years.

The bill would also require gun sellers to be audited at least once every two years.

Second Amendment supporters at AmmoLand.com view the bill's provisions as noxious and a fundamental change to gun ownership in Maryland. Consequently, they have issued a call for action. Gun rights advocates are asked to call or write their representatives and tell them to shut down the proposed firearms act.

Army Spends Big on Smart Grenade Rifle



The Army is moving ahead smartly with its XM25 shoulder fired, semi-automatic 25mm grenade launcher with plans to spend $34 million on further development in 2011 and a production start slated for 2012, according to service budget documents. The Army plans to buy at least 12,500 of the weapons beginning in 2012, enough to put one in each infantry squad and special forces team, according to PEO Soldier.

The futuristic looking XM25 fires a “smart” High Explosive Airburst round out to around 600 meters. The smart round is a “counter defilade” round, designed to blast enemy infantry taking cover behind walls, cars, in trenches as well as enemy fighters dumb enough to be standing out in the open. The Army calls the weapon a “leap ahead” technology.

The XM25 uses a laser rangefinder to target the enemy, then the weapon’s micro-computer accounts for air pressure, temperature and the 25mm round’s ballistics, feeds that information to a microchip in the round itself programming it to detonate directly over the target. With a 600 meter effective range, it would provide small teams greatly enhanced lethality well beyond that of rifles and machine guns. The Army claims that tests showed the XM25 with the high-explosive round is 300 percent more lethal than current squad level weapons.

The XM25 could prove enormously useful to troops in Afghanistan battling Taliban insurgents that typically fire from the cover of tree lines and from behind mud walls. This is the first weapon, at least that I have seen, that could provide infantry with a lethal, accurate and effective grenade launcher that exceeds that of the ubiquitous RPGs carried by insurgent groups around the world.

One potential weakness I've noticed is that the XM25 only has a four round magazine. The Army believes the weapon's lethality will come from its pinpoint accuracy rather than rate of fire.

Source






CA: Woman fires shot at suspected burglar, who flees: "A Modesto woman walked into her home this morning to find a suspected burglar and fired her gun at him before he fled the scene, authorities said. Modesto police received a call at 11:21 a.m. of a possible burglary in process on Kingfield Drive, which is northeast of the intersection of East Orangeburg and Sunrise avenues. "A female in her 40s came home to her residence and interrupted a burglary in process," said Sgt. Rick Armendariz, a police spokesman. "She was able to arm herself and when she confronted the suspect, she feared for her safety." Armendariz said she fired one shot, and there was no indication the suspect was hit. He then fled the scene.


OH: Teen shot in head during apparent home invasion: "Columbus police has named the teenage victim who was critically wounded by a gunshot to the head Sunday afternoon. Columbus police were called to the 1100 block of McCarley Drive at about 12:49 p.m. on reports of a shooting. Officers found 18-year-old Ronnie P. Dowell inside his Southwest Side apartment with a gunshot wound to the head. Dowell was transported to Mount Carmel Medical Center West in extremely critical condition. Investigation indicated a male suspect forced his way into a rear door of the residence and confronted the victim and two other residents, according to a police report. The report said shots were exchanged and the suspect fled the apartment."


TN: Grand jury clears man who shot burglary suspect outside neighbor's home: "A Kingsport man who faced an aggravated assault charge for shooting a fleeing burglary suspect outside a neighbor’s home has been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing. At the scene, Sullivan County Sheriff Wayne Anderson said McClanahan said he’d retrieved a .45-caliber handgun and went outside to investigate after hearing what sounded like glass breaking at his neighbor’s residence. “He felt someone was trying to break in,” Anderson had said. Once outside, McClanahan said he spotted a black Honda in the neighbor’s driveway “that didn’t belong there” and after walking over to a tree, he saw a man who “didn’t live there” walk out of the home. “McClanahan stated that he blocked the male from getting in his vehicle, held him at gunpoint, and called 911,” the narrative said. According to McClanahan’s account of what happened, Eads then said, “You got me,” and grabbed him by the wrist. The two wrestled, and a round fired into the air. That’s when McClanahan said he struck Eads in the head with the butt of the gun. According to the narrative, “McClanahan stated that the male got into the vehicle, and as he was attempting to flee, he shot out the tires, and as the vehicle was leaving down Pratt Road, McClanahan fired another round, he believed shot out the back glass of the vehicle.” Eads was located a short time later at his parents’ residence at 2530 N. Holston River Drive Extension. He was released from the hospital several weeks after the shooting"

British thug gets shot by victim: "Jamie Bunter, 20, of Ramilles Close, Brixton, held the loaded gun to the head of a stranger and pulled the trigger after rifling through his pockets. When the gun jammed, the shocked victim bravely fought back and managed to beat his attacker across the head with the butt. He was then shot in the stomach by a second armed robber, but was still able to blast Bunter in the leg. Bunter was armed with a shortened .410 calibre double-barrelled folding shotgun. He was with two other white men, one armed with a pistol and the other carrying a hunting knife, who remain at large. The court heard Bunter racially abused his black victim before demanding a phone from the man, who refused to hand it over. The robber needed hospital treatment for head and leg injuries and was identified as one of the gunmen from his wounds. Bunter, who committed an almost identical robbery with a fake weapon when he was 15, was convicted of attempted murder, robbery, and firearms charges after a trial at the Old Bailey last month. He was given an indeterminate sentence for public protection on Wednesday and ordered to serve at least 12 years before he is eligible for release."


Feds respond to Firearms Freedom Act lawsuit: "The United States has made its first response to a lawsuit filed in federal district court in Missoula to test the Montana Firearms Freedom Act (MFFA), passed by the 2009 Legislature and signed into law by Governor Schweitzer. The MFFA declares that any firearms, ammunition or firearms accessories made and retained in Montana are not subject to federal regulation under the power given to Congress in the U.S. Constitution to regulate commerce ‘among the several states.’”


The IRS is gunning for you: "The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) intends to purchase sixty Remington Model 870 Police RAMAC #24587 12 gauge pump-action shotguns for the Criminal Investigation Division. The Remington parkerized shotguns, with fourteen inch barrel, modified choke, Wilson Combat Ghost Ring rear sight and XS4 Contour Bead front sight, Knoxx Reduced Recoil Adjustable Stock, and Speedfeed ribbed black forend, are designated as the only shotguns authorized for IRS duty based on compatibility with IRS existing shotgun inventory, certified armorer and combat training and protocol, maintenance, and parts."


A collector who got cold feet?: "Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies say they expected a good turnout for the department's "gifts for guns" exchange in Compton, but even they were surprised when a man showed up with 58 guns. After the man unloaded the weapons Tuesday, he drove away with several thousands of dollars in supermarket gift certificates in return. Under the policy, there are no questions asked, so deputies don't know the man's identity, but as Lt. Anthony Lucia said, "that is 58 guns off the street." Lucia says most were small handguns, but some also were assault weapons. In all, more than 230 guns were turned in Tuesday during the exchange. All will be destroyed." [I don't want to be too morbid here but a correspondent has suggested that the guns might have been part of a "deceased estate" -- guns left in his will by an old collector to an ungrateful relative. If so, it is very sad to think of the entire collection being witlessly destroyed. I have however heard that good collectors' items somehow tend to escape destruction by police who know what they are worth and do get "recycled" to appreciative buyers. And we are talking about L.A., after all]

Kansas Latino claims self-defense against racially-motivated attackers: "Being a former bounty hunter, Bonilla carries with him a 22 pistol, which is legal under Kansas' open carry law. It was this gun that Bonilla contends saved the lives of his son, nephew and himself as these men, Steven Holt and Tanner Brunson, revved up the engine of their four-wheeler and chased down Bonilla and his son and nephew. Bonilla and the boys jumped out of the way. The truck backed up and the men jumped out and quickly walked over to Bonilla. Bonilla drew his weapon, told the boys to stand behind him and warned Holt and Brunson to stop or he would shoot. The men didn't stop and just as they were within reach to grab Bonilla's gun, Bonilla fired shots hitting both men. Bonilla told the boys to run and he did too as soon as one man fell to the ground and the other staggered back and fell against the truck. One of the men, Steven Holt, died. The other lived. Both of these men had extensive criminal records, along with one of the men, Tanner Brunson, believed to be affiliated with the Aryan Brotherhood. Bonilla turned himself into authorities after the incident and was questioned and released only to be arrested a few days later on second-degree murder charges. So, Bonilla sits in the Ford County jail hoping above hope that he will be found innocent of the charges".


Man shot during attempted armored car robbery in South Seattle: "A 40-year-old man was shot in South Seattle about 10:20 a.m. Sunday as he attempted to rob an armored car employee outside a McDonald's restaurant, Seattle police said. The man was shot three times, in the arm, the chest and the shoulder, after he confronted a Garda armored car worker, said police spokeswoman Reneé Witt. The employee, who was armed, fired six shots during the encounter, Witt said. He was not injured. Witt said she didn't know whether the suspect was armed or whether he implied he had a weapon. "I know there was a verbal exchange between the suspect and the guard when the suspect grabbed the money bag and tried to snatch it out of the guard's hand," she said. When police arrived at the McDonald's in the 9300 block of Rainier Avenue South, in Rainier Beach, they found the wounded suspect on the ground, Witt said. Seattle Fire Department spokeswoman Dana VanderHowen said the man was taken to Harborview Medical Center with life-threatening injuries."


Starbucks refuses to ban guns: "OpenCarry.org applauds Starbuck’s policy to serve all lawful gun carriers world wide. It is refreshing to see yet one more company not requiring law abiding gun owners to go to the back of the bus. “Importantly,” says John Pierce, co-founder of OpenCarry.org, “Starbucks joins most American corporations in deciding not to discriminate against lawful gun carriers.” For example, North American computer retailer giant Best Buy Inc.’s policy is also to “not restrict our customers who are legally entitled to carry a firearm.” OpenCarry.org urges all gun owners to patronize Starbucks worldwide and thank them for supporting the Second Amendment. [The Brady campaign had tried to get Starbucks to ban guns but Starbucks said they just obey local laws]


Georgia: Volleying Begins on Gun-Carry Bill: "The first shots have been fired in a skirmish over a new gun bill that would allow people to legally carry firearms in a lot more places, including college campuses. The bill’s author, Tim Bearden (R-Villa Rica), summed it up succinctly: “What I’d like to see is the right to carry in public buildings.” He was addressing a subcommittee of the House Judciciary Non-Civil Committee about HB 615. Bearden is still gathering law enforcement opinion on the definition of “public buildings,” but he would definitely strike current prohibitions against carrying firearms in “public gatherings”: churches, political rallies, sporting events or any government-owned or -operated building. Representatives of the University System of Georgia came to testify in favor of the status quo. But Bearden favors a broad interpretation of the Second Amendment with a minimum of “infringements” — regulations — on gun ownership and use, or even safety training. Rep. Stacey Abrams (D-Atlanta) disagreed. Because guns are especially dangerous, she said, “I’d push away from the idea that having a training program is an infringement of Constitutional rights.” Bearden, along with his ardent supporters at GeorgiaCarry.org, argue that the Constitution is simple, whereas Georgia gun law is confusing because it is unclear and spread among too many code sections. They aim for gun law to settle in one easy-to-understand code section."

TX: Murder Suspect Acquitted: "Twenty-eight-year-old Juan Piñones-Aguilar was acquitted of murder Thursday in Potter County. He had been charged with the shooting death of 25-year-old Manuel Rudy Sanchez at the La Pachanga Bar in East Amarillo back in 2008. The trial started Monday, and the jury deliberated for three and a half hours before reaching their verdict. Sims says at first, Piñones-Aguilar claimed to know nothing about the incident, but after an hour and a half interrogation, he claimed he shot Sanchez out of self-defense." Sims says Piñones-Aguilar was not a U.S. citizen. He came here from Mexico when he was fourteen. Piñones-Aguilar had no proof of identity when he was arrested. Sims says it's possible that is not even his real name."


IL: Home invaders in jail: "Lemon Dudley, 26, and Dewayne Thomas, 35, both of Chicago, were picked up at the Cook County Jail Monday afternoon by deputies with the Vermilion County Sheriff’s Department and later booked in at the Public Safety Building. Detectives continue to investigate the crime that took place on Jan. 13 in the house located at 20 S. Buchanan St. Police responded to the scene to find a man on the sidewalk area with multiple gunshot wounds. According to police, the injured man and another individual tried to force their way into the home just before 9:30 a.m. that day. Both were armed at the time. In the course of the home invasion, one man was shot outside the home while two others fled from the scene. Police at this point have not released the name of the third suspect, who remains hospitalized in stable condition, Miller said. Miller could not comment on a motive, although police have said they do not believe the crime was a random act. None of the people inside the home at the time of the incident were injured."


La.: Suspected Burglar Shot To Death At New Orleans Residence: "Police say a suspected burglar was shot to death around 12am Saturday in the garage of a residence in the 600 block of Independence Street in New Orleans. The shots were fired by a resident of the home. Investigators say a burglar alarm was trigged and the alarm company notified those in the house that a motion sensor indicated activity in the garage located in the rear of the home. One of the residents went to investigate and fired multiple shots after encountering the suspect. No charges have been filed as the investigation continues. The NOPD says detectives will consult with the District Attorney to determine if any legal action is necessary."


Roving show sidesteps states' 'petty bureaucrats' to make packing heat easier: "Gun rights activists, claiming that obtaining a concealed carry permit in some states is next to impossible, are planning to hit the road with a plan to help frustrated applicants around the country obtain permits for packing heat. Gun Owners of America, in partnership with the Second Amendment March and the New Jersey Coalition for Self Defense, are hoping their new "Right to Carry Road Show" will soon spread nationwide to assist gun owners and send a message of defiance to gun control advocates who push to bog down applications in endless red tape. The Road Show is a mobile processing system that brings to gun owners a consolidated program streamlining the steps to obtaining a self-defense firearm permit. "In the past," claims Gun Owners of America, "completing the application process often required several days for the applicant to arrange for fingerprinting and notarizing, sometimes even causing time off from work to coordinate scheduling with frequently uncooperative local agencies." But according to Robert Kreisler, president of NJCSD, "The 'Right to Carry Road Show' brings all the elements together in one place and lets people get everything done in about one hour."

Georgia: Intruder killed by homeowner: "Henry County investigators now believe they know what prompted a pre-dawn home invasion that left a man dead. An Ellenwood homeowner shot and killed an intruder Friday in a predawn home invasion. Inside the home, police found 5 pounds of marijuana, a pound and a half of cocaine, and $174,000 cash, according to Henry police Capt. Jason Bolton. The homeowners, Milton and Sandra Robbins, both 35, were arrested Friday evening, Bolton said. The husband and wife have been charged with trafficking cocaine and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Three men got out of a dark-colored SUV along Hill Lane in Ellenwood just before 5:30 a.m. and forced their way through the front door of a house occupied by Milton and Sandra Robbins and two teenage children, police said. "Once inside, one of the suspects exchanged gunfire with the homeowner," Bolton told the AJC. "The suspect was shot and killed by the homeowner." The man killed has been identified as 35-year-old Marlin K. Maner of Decatur."


Florida: 70-Year-Old Man Shoots Would-be Thieves: "Two would-be thieves didn’t count on a motion alarm and a gun-toting 70-year-old Winter Haven man when they tried to steal the batteries from his golf cart, according to Polk County Sheriff’s Office reports. Robert Rowley, of 28 Henry Drive in Winter Haven, awoke to the sound of a motion sensor alarm about 2:15 a.m. Monday. When the alarm sounded, he grabbed his handgun and flashlight to investigate, sheriff’s reports said. As he walked outside his home, he saw two men, who investigators said were trying to cut the cables to the battery packs on Rowley’s golf cart. When he challenged them, one of the men began to walk in Rowley’s direction, he told investigators he tried to scare the men away by firing his gun. Rowley fired three shots – once in the air, another at the ground and a third at the men’s truck as they tried to quickly get away. Deputies were later called to Winter Haven Hospital for two men who showed up with gun shot wounds, reports said. After talking to the men and to Rowley, deputies charged Matthew Alan Clinage, 20, and Christopher Polson, 21, with grand theft and burglary of an occupied residence, reports said. Rowley told deputies he didn’t realize his shots had struck either man. Clinage was struck in the leg and Polson in the head and neck area. Clinage was treated and taken to the Polk County Jail, while Polson was taken to Tampa General Hospital where he remained in stable condition."


CA: Road ragers pick the wrong guy: "Two Orange County men were arrested Thursday for an armed confrontation with an off-duty Orange County Sheriff's deputy. They were Identified as Sergio Elisazzaraz, 18, of Santa Ana and Amaury Vega Luqueno, 25, of Santa Margarita. According to the Santa Ana Police, the off duty deputy was enroute to work on January 19, when the suspects almost caused a crash with his car. The four occupants confronted the deputy, who had his duty weapon in the car. One of the suspects had a semi-automatic hand gun and pointed it at the deputy. Authorities say the deputy fired his weapon in self defense at the suspect with the hand gun. The deputy drove away and notified Santa Ana Police. No one was hit by the bullets. Santa Ana Police Detectives identified two of the suspects as Elisazzaraz and Luqueno. Both suspects have been booked in the Santa Ana Police Department jail for assault with a deadly weapon.


Arizona May Allow Faculty to Carry Guns on Campus: "Most universities do not allow students or faculty with concealed carry permits to bring a weapon to school, but a bill is currently moving through the state senate that would allow faculty to do just that. Currently, only certified police officers are permitted to carry a weapon on school grounds in Arizona. State Senator Jack Harper of Phoenix is the primary sponsor of this bill, and this legislative session is not the first time that it has been introduced. Daniel Crocker, Southwest Regional Director for Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, said that while he believes this legislation should extend to students, the current bill is a move in the right direction. “Any step toward allowing the people the right to self defense is a good thing,” Crocker said. “We’re going to embrace anything that extends that right.” At 44,000 members, Students for Concealed Carry on Campus is one of the largest student rights groups in the country. They advocate that trained, licensed, and law-abiding adults who carry a firearm to protect themselves should also have the right to do so on college campuses."

NC: Anti-Gun Senator Indicted in Shooting Incident

(Whiteville, North Carolina) In August 2009, long-time anti-gun activist and Democrat state senator, R.C. Soles Jr. (pic), 74, shot at and hit one of two alleged intruders at his home, Thomas Kyle Blackburn. Blackburn survived and the incident was initially called self-defense.

Notably, the shooting incident has resulted in loud charges of hypocrisy against Soles who has devoted a career trying to take guns out of the hands of the public while owning and using one himself.

In any event, assertions of self-defense apparently failed to deter a Columbus County grand jury from indicting Soles last month for felony assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury.

State Attorney General Roy Cooper's Special Prosecution Division and the State Bureau of Investigation presented evidence to the Columbus County grand jury regarding the shooting.

The district attorney had requested that the attorney general handle the case, officials said.

Other matters involving Soles remain under investigation by the SBI and the Attorney General's Office, according to a state spokeswoman.

Consequently, it appears that there is much more to the story of the shooting that hasn't been disclosed.

Meanwhile, Soles announced that he won't be seeking reelection to the General Assembly.

Note from JR: The talk is that the shooting was part of a homosexual squabble

No charges in fatal Mississippi shooting: "A man who shot and killed a 17-year-old Saturday during an attempted robbery at his Forest home won't be charged, police said. Derrick Ficklin, 17, of Carthage and another teenager allegedly tried to rob the unidentified homeowner. The shooting occurred around 9:20 p.m. in the 500 block of Oak Street. The resident heard a loud knock at the door and answered it while carrying a gun, Forest Police Chief Robert Roncali said. As the resident opened the door, Ficklin pushed his way inside with a pistol in hand, Roncali said. Roncali said the resident fired four shots, hitting Ficklin twice in the chest and once in the leg. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Roncali said the man will not be charged because he shot Ficklin in self defense. Police said Luis Pedro, 17, of Carthage was Ficklin's accomplice. Pedro fled on foot but was picked up by Forest police about 100 yards from the home, Roncali said. Pedro is charged with attempted armed robbery and is being held at the Scott County Jail on a $30,000 bond. Roncali said Pedro confessed to police he and Ficklin were planning to rob the resident. He said they targeted the home because the resident is Latino. "It's widely known that some immigrants don't use the banks because they're here illegally, so they keep their money at home," Roncali said."


NM: Not guilty verdict in road-rage case : "A jury acquitted a 23-year-old Santa Fe man of criminal responsibility last week for firing a gun at another car in an alleged road-rage incident nearly a year ago. The Santa Fe County jury deliberated only an hour and 40 minutes Wednesday before deciding that Gabryl Romero was not guilty of two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, shooting at or from a motor vehicle, criminal damage to property and negligent use of a firearm, said Dan Marlowe, Romero's attorney. Romero allegedly shot twice through the windshield of his own car at another vehicle carrying Jason Anaya, his girlfriend and their then-7-month-old son, police said at the time. Romero, however, claimed that Anaya drove at his car twice and that he fired in self-defense. The incident, which took place Feb. 28 on Cerrillos Road, ended in the parking lot at Jiffy Lube, 1975 Cerrillos Road, where police arrested Romero."


KY: Detective wants domestic shooting vetted by grand jury: "Sheriff’s Detective Charlie Loomis, who is investigating the alleged shooting by Paul Vaughn’s ex-wife and another woman, said Wednesday the incident is still under investigation. The incident began at about 2 p.m. Tuesday when Paul Vaughn, reportedly defying a protective order filed by Connie Vaughn, showed up at her home. Loomis said he was told that Paul Vaughn entered the home with a lug wrench and swung it at his ex-wife several times, threatening her, Cathy and Jason Burke. A fight reportedly ensued inside the home and eventually wound up outside, but apparently not before a shot, reportedly by one of the women, had been fired into the floor. Three children were also inside the home and Jason Burke reportedly took them to the basement for safety when the fight began. Warning shots were apparently fired before Vaughn was shot, police said. It was not the first time Paul Vaughn had violated the protective order, said Connie Vaughn’s mother, Martha Jones, 62. The Vaughns had been divorced for about six months after a 28-year marriage, she told the Times-Tribune. Jones, who had come to the home following the fight, said the marriage had been rocky all that time, with alleged domestic abuse by Paul Vaughn. Even since the divorce, Paul Vaughn had violated the protective order and threatened his ex-wife several times, Jones said. Loomis said Connie Vaughn and Cathy Burke are cooperating in the investigation."


Nebraska lagging: "Law enforcement officials shot holes Thursday in a proposal that would give citizens more legal leeway to defend themselves with a gun, saying it was unnecessary and would increase shootings. Proponents of the bill, which included the National Rifle Association, said current state law might force people who killed someone in self-defense on their own property or car to defend themselves again against manslaughter or murder charges or against a civil lawsuit. “Rights are turned around (in Nebraska). It’s up to an individual to prove they’re innocent,” Jordan Austin, an NRA lobbyist, told the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee. Austin said 25 states have adopted “Castle Doctrine” laws such as LB 889. The name comes from the phrase “a man’s home is his castle” and refers to a person’s rights to defend his or her “castle” from intruders or deadly threats. He said of particular concern was a requirement in Nebraska law that people must refrain from using deadly force if they can safely retreat. While they aren’t required to retreat from their home or business, proponents said the bill would clarify that they would not have to retreat from their car or from outside their home, too."

OK: Homeowner shoots intruder: "Three intruders fled from an Oklahoma City home this morning after being shot at by the home owner, police said. … The intruders forced the residents into a back bedroom when the homeowner shot one of the intruders. The intruders fled in a dark-colored SUV, police said. Police said the homeowner said he recognized one of the suspects. Subsequently police arrested 30-year-old Eric Kutz as well as a 14-year-old male. Police said Kutz was transported to an area hospital to receive treatment for his injuries.”


The Advantages of Revolvers for Self Defense: "As a deterrent, revolvers are easily recognized as a firearm, even in reduced light, especially if manufactured in a visible finish. Revolvers are quickly recognized as guns even by dumb bad guys. The revolver communicates that this is a real gun and not something else like a can of soda, etc. This recognition may save you from having to fire to convince him further. Here are some points to consider: * There is little doubt a revolver is loaded and many times the threat/attacker will see it’s loaded by simply looking at the cylinder and seeing the ammunition in it. Many people paint a light coating of liquid paper or white paint on the bullet tips to make them more visible for deterrent value. * Revolvers are quick and easy to operate. Simply draw, aim and fire. No switches or tricky functioning, stoppages or other malfunctions; they will work when they are most needed! * Any trainer will tell you that revolvers require less training than semi-autos to fire competently and safely thus making them the best firearm for the average citizen for self-defense purposes. * Revolvers are very fast to get into action, incredibly reliable and nearly foolproof. * Some people feel revolver trigger pulls, especially in double-action mode are heavy (you read about it in every gun test magazine article and blog). But in life and death adrenalin-filled situations the pull of a revolver trigger is not even noticed by the shooter, nor the sound or recoil."

SC: Charges dismissed in shooting death: "The District Attorney's Office has dismissed assault charges in a May shooting that left one man dead. No further action will be taken in the shooting and subsequent death of Moody Dale Buffkin, District Attorney Rex Gore said Monday. Buffkin, 58, died May 22 at the Medical University of South Carolina at Charleston. He was shot in the neck outside the Heart of Dixie convenience store in Tabor City on May 13. The store is a few miles from Buffkin's home on N.C. 904. Lawrence Dewayne Enzor, 43, of the 6300 block of Cherry Grove Road in Cerro Gordo, was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury. That charge was dismissed Jan. 22.... "During the course of this review, the District Attorney's Office did follow-up interviews with potential witnesses," the release said. "After an exhaustive review of all the evidence, the state has determined that it cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the shooter was not acting in self-defense.'' Enzor and his father said Buffkin pulled a gun and aimed at Enzor, who then fired in self-defense. Buffkin's .25-caliber handgun was recovered by police under Buffkin's body, police said."


MO: Self-defense claim accepted in shooting of woman: "A Kansas City man pleaded guilty Tuesday to illegally possessing a handgun used in the 2008 shooting death of woman. Alphonso M. Tunley, who has a prior robbery conviction, pleaded guilty in federal court to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Tunley, 33, possessed the .45-caliber handgun on Nov. 16, 2008, when he shot Dacia Wright to death inside his central Kansas City home. After Jackson County prosecutors charged him with second-degree murder, he maintained that he had to shoot Wright in self-defense when she attacked him. Shortly before the case went to trial, Jackson County prosecutors dismissed the murder case. At Tuesday’s hearing in federal court, defense attorney Pat Peters and Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Becker indicated that the self-defense issue, while not a defense to the firearm possession charge, probably will be raised by the defense as a mitigating factor at Tunley’s sentencing."


DE: State lawmakers appear willing to overturn firearms ban in public housing: "In response to a Caesar Rodney Institute investigation, state lawmakers appear willing to overturn the ban of gun ownership by residents who live in public housing units plagued with crime. The institute's report, published Monday, Feb. 1, said all four of the state’s public housing authorities ban their residents from owning firearms despite clear protections in the Delaware Constitution, the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, Supreme Court decisions and recent rulings by lower courts that have found similar bans to be unconstitutional. The report went on to say that many public housing residents feel trapped in their homes because of crime in their communities, since they are prohibited from owning firearms for self-defense against the drug dealers and thugs who infest their communities. Violating the gun ban can result in eviction. After the report was published following a five-month investigation, the Caesar Rodney Institute was told by members of all four legislative caucuses that they would support legislation to overturn the gun bans."


"Give me your liberty-haters": "Comparing America and England, and the respective dominant ‘cultures’ of each, gave me an idea. Why not encourage all the gun-haters and otherwise self-hating, socialism-loving people to emigrate to England where guns are illegal and where self-defense is now routinely punished more harshly than aggression? Then there would be plenty of room to encourage all the freedom-loving people of England to immigrate, with or without government ‘permission,’ to America.”

Limited posting today

I have been having trouble with my internet connection being "down" for most of the day

Washington: Sight of shotgun chases burglars away: "Three men tried to break into a home west of Yakima while the resident was home. The Yakima County sheriff’s office says he was on the phone to a dispatcher Sunday when a brick came through the window. The homeowner armed himself with a shotgun as the would-be burglar entered the house. When he saw the gun, the intruder jumped into a getaway car. It sped off with the homeowner firing three shots at the car. The third suspect fled on foot. A sheriff’s deputy and Union Gap police stopped and arrested two men in the car. A Washington State Patrol trooper arrested the third man."

Florida: Neighborhood Shootout Sends Five People To Hospital: "Five people were taken to the hospital in serious condition after a shootout at a home in Brevard County. Cocoa police say a homeowner noticed four men jumping over his fence on Montclair Road shortly before 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. Officers say the homeowner opened fire on the men to defend his property. “He challenged them. He told them to get off his property. They continued toward him and shots were fired,” said Barbara Matthews with the Cocoa Police Department. The homeowner was also shot during the incident. Police say the homeowner may have opened fire because of what happened the night before. Saturday night a group of burglars had broken into his home while no one was home. Officers say the group stole keys and a couple of guns from the home. Police believe the two cases are connected."


Mexico's strict gun control laws at work: "Armed men broke into a party in Mexico’s northern border city of Ciudad Juarez on Saturday night, killing at least 14 and wounding another 14, Mexican authorities said Sunday. The incident, the latest in a long string of killings in the city, underscores the unchecked violence in the border town, a stronghold of Mexico’s drug gangs that have turned Ciudad Juarez into one of the most dangerous places in the world. The victims were all students, aged 15 to 20 years, from nearby schools, said Enrique Torres, a police and army spokesman.”

Va.: Intended victim turns baseball bat then gun against alleged attacker: "When a large, 21-year-old man walked into a store armed with a baseball bat, threatening a robbery, Kenny Justus did what any old man would do: He wrestled the bat from the intruder, beat him nearly to death with it and then shot him in the arm. "He was calling me an old man while we were fighting,” Justus, 64, said. “I told him, the next one he picks on better be older than me.” Police accused the bat-wielding intruder of trying to rob Justus’s car lot Thursday. Justin Gregory Charles, badly beaten and with a gunshot wound in his right forearm, was taken to Holston Valley Medical Center by helicopter. At first, Justus got out his little gun, but decided against shooting. “I didn’t want to kill him,” he said. “But I didn’t want to be killed, either.” That’s when it dawned on Justus to commandeer the bat. The two men wrestled for it until Justus, who describes himself as a lean man, pried it out of the intruder’s hands. Justus said he just wanted to knock him out, but the intruder kept getting up and coming back. "I beat on him until that bat was in three pieces,” Justus said. “You know if you can’t knock somebody out with a baseball bat, he’s gotta be crazy on drugs.” Justus said he hit him, straight on the head, until blood spattered the entire office and the bat fell apart. Still, the intruder charged him. So Justus pulled the trigger and then called the cops. Buchanan County Sheriff Ray Foster said charges against Charles are pending."


Louisiana: Business Owner Shoots and Kills Robber: "Incident occurred Friday night outside check-cashing establishment on Williams Boulevard. The owner of a Kenner check-cashing store shot and killed an alleged robber Friday night outside of his establishment in the 3200 block of Williams Boulevard. Investigators say the man was approached in a parking lot by three men as he left his business just before 9pm. One member of the trio produced a gun and struck the man in the head and then grabbed a backpack the victim had in his possession. The intended victim retrieved the backpack, pulled a gun from it and shot two of the suspects. One of the would-be robbers was pronouced dead on the scene and the other was taken to a hospital for treatment. The third man fled before police arrived. Authorities say the two men who were shot carried identification cards from Honduras".


WA: Drug dealer defends himself: "A suspect in an early December shooting pleaded innocent Thursday. David Palumbo, 23, of Evans, Wash., pleaded not guilty in Flathead County District Court to attempted deliberate homicide. Shots were fired after Schloss and Bo Hanger, 27, of Whitefish, allegedly attempted to rob Palumbo. At the time, Schloss had a 9-mm pistol, but it jammed during the incident. Palumbo turned himself in to Stevens County, Wash., authorities on Dec. 10 for violating his parole by leaving Washington. Schloss, who has been released from the hospital, has been charged with attempted robbery, a felony. After the shooting, authorities located a .9-mm pistol in the Four Mile Drive area and found a magazine in Schloss’ pocket that matched the magazine found in the gun. A round in the gun and rounds in the magazine also appeared to be the same type of ammunition found in Schloss’ pocket. Schloss admitted to authorities that he and Hanger picked up Palumbo intending to take drugs without paying."


IL: Off-duty cop shoots robbery suspect in restaurant: "A Chicago man who attempted to rob an Englewood Subway sandwich restaurant and was shot by an off-duty police officer on Thursday faces attempted armed robbery charges, officials said tonight. Harvey Green, 40, of the 600 block of West 62nd Street was charged with one felony count of attempted armed robbery, according to a Chicago Police news release. Green was shot just before 11 a.m. after he entered the Subway on the 6200 block of South Halsted Parkway with a gun and tried to rob the restaurant, police said. The off-duty officer shot the man in the leg and a weapon was recovered from the scene, police said. The man was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center."

Gun-Watch Safety Feature

(Las Vegas, Nevada) Introduced at this year's Shooting Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show was this high-tech gun and watch combination. Apparently, the safety feature prevents accidental shootings.



The gun-watch pair is manufactured by Armatix GmbH.

The German firm has an electronic safety that automatically disables the pistol when it’s not within a few inches of a custom wristwatch. The watch sends a wireless arming signal to the gun.

If the gun is picking up a signal from the watch, a green LED on the back lights up. Try squeezing the handle without wearing the watch, and you will see a red warning light.

Anyone can pick up a limited edition version of the pistol for about 7,000 euro, which is pretty steep for a .22cal plinker. They start shipping next month.

Note that 7,000 euros equals US$9,720 at current exchange rates.

Regarding the gun-watch combo, I'm curious as to whether the combination will work if the shooter wears his watch on his left arm which is typical for people who shoot right-handed. And another thing. What happens if someone steals the watch? It's pretty ugly but stranger things have happened.

In any event, the gun-watch combo places equal importance, if not more, on the control and protection of the watch as with the gun. To assure your firearm is secured, you now have to also make sure your watch is properly secured. Jeez! I'd hate to have to fumble around looking for my gun and watch in the dark late at night when I hear an intruder in my home.

Kentucky: Suspect shot during attempted robbery: "A delivery driver turned the tables on a couple of would-be robbers late Thursday night. Lexington Police say two juveniles jumped the worker for China King outside an apartment building on Laketower Drive, near Lakeshore Drive around 9:15 p.m. The delivery man then pulled out a handgun, shooting one of the kids in the abdomen. He went to the hospital to be treated for non life-threatening injuries, according to police. The other suspect was taken into custody. Police say the delivery driver hasn’t been charged."


Arizona: Robbery suspect shot, killed by homeowner: "Police have identified a man who died after he was shot while trying to rob a Phoenix homeowner Wednesday afternoon. Phoenix Police Sgt. Tommy Thompson said 26-year-old Rudolph Gomes was seen breaking into a coin operated car wash machine near Tatum Boulevard and Union Hills Drive around 12:30 p.m.... Officers arrived on the scene and as they set up a perimeter and began searching the neighborhood they heard a ‘pop.’ Police then received a call that a homeowner had shot an armed intruder, Thompson said. According to Thompson, the 59-year-old homeowner told police Gomes tried to rob him at gunpoint and at some point he was able to get a shotgun and shoot the intruder. The injured Gomes was taken to a local hospital where he died of his injuries, Thompson said. There is no word yet if the homeowner will be charged in the shooting. He was not injured, according to police."


Canada: Gun-toting drug dealer killed in self defense: "A former Vancouver Island city councillor and his two sons have been found not guilty of second-degree murder in connection with the 2008 beating death of Colwood resident Keith Taylor. Ex-Highlands councillor Ken Brotherston, along with his two adult sons -- Ken Jr. and Gregory -- were cleared of charges by B.C. Supreme Court Justice Janice Dillon Friday. The trio was arrested in June 2008 after the badly injured body of Keith Taylor was found dumped in a parking lot of the West Shore RCMP detachment. During the trial, the Crown said that Taylor was beaten at a home where cocaine was being dealt. Lawyers said Taylor, himself a crack-addict and drug dealer, was trying to extort $100,000 from the Brotherston family. Defence lawyer Steven Kelliher successfully argued Ken Brotherston Sr. was acting in self-defense against Taylor, who had a knife and gun during a fight.


Groups Take Concealed Carry Self-Defense on the Road: "Gun Owners of America announced today that it has partnered with the New Jersey Coalition for Self Defense (NJCSD) and the Second Amendment March to launch a national program which assists citizens in asserting their Constitutional and human rights to self-defense. The “Right-to-Carry Road Show” is a mobile processing system where all of the steps necessary to obtaining a permit to carry a firearm are consolidated. In some states, politically-motivated bias against gun owners is so extreme that many local police departments refuse to perform the fingerprinting, going so far as to intentionally give citizens the runaround or intimidate people into giving up. In the past, completing the application process may have required several days to complete by the time the applicant arranged for fingerprinting and notarizing, sometimes even causing time off from work to coordinate scheduling with frequently uncooperative local agencies."