A triple barrelled revolver.  Definitely not for concealed carry or a weak wrist

Particularly with the short barrel, it should have some shotgun-type scatter  effect so there should be some improvement in your chance of hitting your intended target



Details on the mad gunsmith who crafted this bizarre piece are unknown, except that it was made in Spain and appears to be a one-off creation. The fact that it only has a single trigger makes us assume the gun fires all three 6.35mm rounds at the same time, making it easy to get off 18 shots in no time. So even if you're a terrible shot, the gun's quantity over quality approach all but guarantees at least one round will find its mark.

Source




Pa.: Veteran shoots intruder with gun carried during Korean War:  "An 84-year-old western Pennsylvania man and Korean War vet shot and wounded a home invasion suspect.  Ricciutti said he heard a noise at about 4:30 a.m. and could see someone coming into the room. He pulled a gun out of a drawer, yelled a warning at Hiles and then fired once, hitting him in the neck.  Ricciutti said the suspect lives across the street, and he's never faced any hostility in the town.  WPXI-TV first reported that investigators said Hiles was arrested a few blocks away, carrying a screwdriver and a stun gun. He's being held on $100,000 bail on charges including criminal trespass and burglary."

AL:  13-year-old suspect killed during robbery:  "Birmingham police say a 13-year-old robbery suspect was shot and killed by the person he tried to rob in Birmingham Friday night. The Jefferson County Coroner's Office confirms the teen's identity as Jaqures Cortez Walker of Birmingham. He was a 7th grade student at Martha Gaskin Middle School and the quarterback for the football team, according to a family member.  BPD Sgt. Johnny Williams said the teen suspect approached a couple as they pulled into their home at the gated Skyview Condominiums.  The suspect had a T-shirt over his face like a bandana and was holding a cocked and loaded gun, Williams said.  Police say the would-be robber approached the male occupant of the car and told him to "Get out and give it up." The man had his own gun in the car and shot the teenager. The teen ran a few feet, collapsed and died at the scene, Williams said."


Florida governor rejects gun ban for Republican convention:  "Florida Governor Rick Scott has shot down a request by Tampa's mayor to allow local authorities to ban guns from the city's downtown during the Republican National Convention in August.   Citing Second Amendment protections in the U.S. Constitution, Scott told Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn that conventions and guns have co-existed since the nation's birth and would continue to do so during the four-day event beginning August 27.  "It is unclear how disarming law abiding citizens would better protect them from the dangers and threats posed by those who would flout the law," the Republican governor said in a letter on Tuesday.  Local officials need Scott's permission to enact the temporary restrictions after state lawmakers last year passed a measure that prohibits local governments from adopting gun ordinances that are stricter than state law."

No Guns for Illegals

(Denver, Colorado) The 10th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Denver has ruled that illegal aliens do not have the right to own firearms under the U.S. Constitution. Seems about right.

The lawyer for the defendant voiced plans to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Why You Need a Gun

I am still convalescing but someone sent me this from Tennessee -- well worth posting -- JR

Apparently the media couldn’t find cute kiddy pictures of Michael Martin, because no one has been making an issue of his well-deserved demise:



Any relation to Trayvon is probably superficial.

Source

Apology to My Regular Readers



I am in hospital. May be mid next week before I am blogging again

MO:  Woman shoots burglar:  "Richardson and Trevor Garms, 17, broke into a home in the 5800 block of Garfield Street at 2:15 p.m. April 9. The two men alleged boasted beforehand that they were planning to steal a flat-screen television and an Xbox 360.   Garms was distracted and yelling at Richardson, allowing the woman to grab the gun unnoticed, according to court documents.  "Garms then put the gun to the back of the victim's neck and began trying to force her onto the ground. Thinking Garms was going to kill her, she fired one shot at him and he stumbled back," according to court documents. "She began begging him to leave, but he came back towards her and she fired again. Garms dropped the gun, but bent down to pick it up, still ignoring the witness' pleas for him to leave. As Garms picked up the gun, she fired again, at which time Garms stumbled out her front door and collapsed across the street."  Garms died on the sidewalk."


TX: Guard Trades Gunfire with Robbers:  "Steve Martinez says he was taking a cigarette break outside the game room in the 3000 block of Broadway when he was approached by three masked men.  Martinez says one of them had a gun and told him to give them his wallet.  When the guard refused, he says they knocked him to the ground.   Martinez says he drew his gun and fired, knowing the robbers would shoot back. "I knew I was going to die, too," says Martinez.   Instead, neither Martinez nor the robbers were hit.   The robbers, all believed to be under the age of 25, took off without Martinez's wallet.


TX:  Suspect Tries to Rob the 'Wrong Guys':  "A robbery suspect with a gun chose the wrong place at the wrong time to threaten three men who were meeting behind a restaurant. He learned the hard way that they had guns of their own.  Three undercover narcotics officers, who were dressed in shorts and baseball-style caps with no badges visible, were meeting around 11 p.m. Wednesday in the parking lot behind the Luby's Cafeteria on the Gulf Freeway frontage road near Telephone Road when a man wearing a ski mask jumped out from behind a bush, approached the group of undercover officers, pointed a gun at them and demanded their money and wallets.  The officers complied with the robber at first and emptied their pockets, but one of the officers began to speak with the robber, which allowed one of the other officers to walk behind one of the vehicles parked nearby.  When the robber threatened to shoot the officer who spoke to him, the officer who was hiding behind the vehicle fired several gunshots toward the robber and struck him once. The third officer also fired shots at the robber.  The robber died as a result of the shooting."

TX: Knife threat ended by two gunshots: "Officers learned that Lewis Hampton, a white male age 41, had threatened several people with a large knife.  One white male, who was threatened by Hampton, had a handgun in his possession.  He confronted Hampton in an effort to protect himself and others.  Hampton continued to use the knife and continued to threaten the victim and others.  Hampton eventually cut the victim with the knife at which point the victim shot Hampton.  After being shot, Hampton continued to verbally threaten and attack him.  The victim shot Hampton again.  At this point, other people were able to subdue Hampton until Tyler Police arrived.  Hampton was transported to a local hospital where he was treated for two gunshot wounds.  The victim was also transported to a local hospital where he was treated and released for several knife wounds.  Investigators were called to the scene as well as the Crime Scene Unit to process the scene.  Investigators believe at this point that the victim was acting in self-defense."


PA:  Stick-up of State Senator enlivens minds of legislators:  "State Sen. Tim Solobay, D-46, Canonsburg, became the target of four young men in September 2010 while he walked in downtown Harrisburg at about 11:30 p.m. Solobay, who has a concealed carry permit but was not armed at the time, was jostled and confronted by the teens, who demanded money.  Two of the teens ran off when Solobay pushed them, but one pulled a gun as Solobay got into his car. Solobay, a fire chief and former constable, hit the siren in his car and the gunman ran away. "I carry (a gun) all the time now," Solobay said. "It's very unusual if it's not on me."  Solobay said legislators are walking in pairs or groups, and some female colleagues are taking shooting lessons so they are ready to use a weapon."

It must be pre-election season:  "According to the National Firearms Act Trade & Collectors Association, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) are preparing to remove the often burdensome Chief Law Enforcement Officer (CLEO) signature requirement from Form 1 and Form 4 for NFA firearms."


Lyons: Facts don’t bother pundits:  "Almost from the beginning, there were two aspects of the “George Zimmerman as racist assassin” story that made little sense. First, who calls the police, then murders a total stranger in cold blood knowing that the cops are minutes away? Panic seemed likelier than malice. Second, how does a 28-year-old man with a desk job catch a fleeing 17-year-old high school athlete, anyway? A festival of bad reporting, speculation and mind-reading from the outset, the Zimmerman-Martin affair has turned into a classic example of what University of Virginia psychologist Jonathan Haidt calls a “consensual hallucination.”.  Very little about the tragedy as initially reported has survived closer scrutiny. Remember when Zimmerman was depicted as a 250-lb. brute assaulting a child half his size? The real George Zimmerman turns out to be a smallish fellow some five or six inches shorter than the wiry young man he confronted...."

OH: Robbers  shot in shootout with  off-duty police officer: "According to Cleveland Police, three males approached Officer Dwayne Borders, 45, and attempted to rob him. During the robbery, one of the males pulled out a gun, and that's when Officer Borders grabbed his weapon and both parties began shooting at each other.  Officer Borders was shot in the torso, one suspect was shot in the abdomen and the second suspect was shot in the leg. The third suspect fled the scene uninjured.  Officer Borders tried to drive himself to the hospital, but was pulled over for speeding. The traffic officer then rushed Officer Borders to MetroHealth Medical Center where he was treated and later released.  The suspects drove to MetroHealth Medical Center where the dropped off the male with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. The two remaining male suspects fled the hospital area on foot."




OK:  Stupid  woman (above) Gets Tasered By Restaurant Employee: "It happened at the Subway near 41st and 129th East Avenue. Police say 25-year-old Lorna Hampton came in armed with what appeared to be a black pistol demanding money. Officers say she went behind the counter with employees, who backed away.   Police say as Hampton began to open the register and take money out, a male employee used a taser on her. Hampton fell to the floor and the employee did not allow her to move. The employee left the prongs attached to the suspect just in case she tried to get up and waited for police to arrive. Police say the weapon used turned out to be a BB gun.  Hampton was booked into the Tulsa County Jail on a complaint of robbery with a firearm as well as child endangerment. Police say Hampton's vehicle was located across the street and her two children, ages two and five, were inside."


UT: Gun stops crazy knife attack:  "An attacker bought the knife inside a local market in Salt Lake City, UT, then stabbed one man in the side of the head and another person in the stomach. The attack took place in the market parking lot. A bystander with a concealed carry permit witnessed the attack and stepped in to keep it from escalating. The bystander was suspicious of what might be going on, and when he saw the stabbing, he just drew his pistol and challenged the individual, which caused the attacker to lie down on the ground. By the time police officers arrived on the scene, the attacker was subdued and is now in custody.  The knife wielding man seriously injured two people."


An armed society is truly a polite society:  "I can think of no reason for not carrying guns openly. In fact, there are only seven states and the District of Columbia that continue to infringe on the Second Amendment by not allowing open carry. Fourteen states allow open carry with a license along with 29 states that allow unlicensed open carry, including four states -- Arizona, Arkansas, Vermont, and Wyoming -- which require no permits for carrying openly or concealed. If open carry were a big problem, wouldn't some of these states repeal these laws instead of trending toward open carry in more states?"

Behenna hearing underway

A government lawyer has told an appeals court that a police officer pointing a gun at a suspect would have no right to self-defense if attacked.

The shocker came in arguments before the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, the CAAF, during a hearing for 1st Lt. Michael Behenna, who was convicted of murder after shooting a known terrorist in Iraq who attempted to grab his weapon during an interrogation.

Vicki Behenna, an assistant district attorney and Michael’s mother, said it was evident during the hearing this week the judges were very knowledgeable about the case.  “It’s always hard to know what they are thinking, but I think they seemed sympathetic to Michael’s case,” she said. “I believe they were very fair during the hearing and well informed on the case. This leads me to believe that Michael will get a fair review.”

CAAF is a civilian court that oversees the military court system and is supposed to be completely free from all military influence.

Jack Zimmerman, Behenna’s attorney, argued the court should overturn Michael’s 15-year sentence based on several key errors made by the judge and prosecutors.

During the CAAF hearing, the judges appeared skeptical of claims by the government that Behenna had no right to self-defense against Ali Mansur, who lunged at him in an attempt to grab his weapon.

The prosecution had argued that Behenna lost the right to self-defense the instant he pointed his weapon at Mansur and that his only option was to move “away from the victim into the vast expanse of the desert” because it was an unlawful interrogation.

During the hearing, one of the judges questioned this assertion by the government, noting that the same standard would apply in law-enforcement.

“So the government’s view is that if a police officer misunderstands the law and is conducting an interrogation with a weapon, than the police officer has no right to defend himself if the person being interrogated then jumps the officer,” the judge asked. “He has to just sit there and take whatever happens?”

The government lawyer hesitated for several seconds and then said, “Yes, your honor. When a police officer does something unlawful like that, they lose the right to self-defense.”

More here





Kentucky Supreme Court says universities can't ban guns in staff, student vehicles on campuses:  "The Kentucky Supreme Court held Thursday that universities may not prohibit employees or students from storing firearms in vehicles parked on campuses because it is “contrary to a fundamental policy, the right to bear arms.”  The National Rifle Association hailed the ruling as an important victory for gun owners, while the chief of the University of Kentucky police department said it it was “very disappointing” because it potentially limits the school’s options in safeguarding the campus.  The court said UK improperly fired a graduate student who also worked as an anesthesia technician at Chandler Medical Center after a semi-automatic pistol was found in the glove compartment of his car parked on university property."


Why can’t foster parents carry a firearm?:  "The foster care agencies' rules about firearms in foster families are understandable -- to a point. The point where safe storage butts-up against the constitution right to keep and bear arms. Bear as in carry. Carry as in protecting the lives and limbs of loved ones. In fact, gun rights and foster care are only incompatible because the state says it's so. Just as anyone who wants to foster knows that discretion -- or submission -- is the better part of valor."


Oklahoma advances open carry, multiple gun bills:  "Oklahomans with concealed handgun permits would be allowed to carry their weapons in the open if a bill that easily passed the House of Representatives becomes law. But members defeated an amendment Thursday that would have allowed for the open carry of handguns anywhere without a permit. Senate Bill 1733 would allow anyone with a license to carry a firearm under the Oklahoma Self Defense Act to carry the weapon either openly or concealed. It passed 85-3 and is headed for a conference committee.   It also would allow a property owner to openly carry a handgun on his or her land. No concealed-carry permit would be required."

Media beginning their long retreat

Now that Zimmerman is being tried, the media face the fact that the truth will be soon  out and that their campaign against him will be exposed for the hoax it always was.  Soon people will see, for instance, that the pictures of the 12 year old Trayvon Martin that they have been putting up day after day are nothing like the 6'3" Martin that Zimmerman encountered.  So the media are now trying to present a kinder, softer image of Zimmerman.  See this  Reuters story, which has been widely reproduced.

It's quite a long article so I won't try to do any excerpts from it except this one:

Though civil rights demonstrators have argued Zimmerman should not have prejudged Martin, one black neighbor of the Zimmermans said recent history should be taken into account.

"Let's talk about the elephant in the room. I'm black, OK?" the woman said, declining to be identified because she anticipated backlash due to her race. She leaned in to look a reporter directly in the eyes. "There were black boys robbing houses in this neighborhood," she said. "That's why George was suspicious of Trayvon Martin."

Self-Defense Under Attack

Critics of Florida's self-defense law object to its recognition of a right to "stand your ground" in public places, which eliminated the duty to retreat from an assailant. Yet many of these critics seem to believe they have a duty to stand their ground and never retreat, using George Zimmerman's shooting of Trayvon Martin as a weapon to attack Florida's law, no matter what the evidence shows.
The emphasis on the right to stand your ground is puzzling in the context of the Martin case, since Zimmerman's defense does not seem to rely on it. The 28-year-old neighborhood watch volunteer, who was released on bail this week after being charged with second-degree murder in connection with the Feb. 26 shooting in Sanford, told police the unarmed teenager knocked him down with a punch to the face and pinned him to the ground, repeatedly smacking his head against the pavement. By Zimmerman's account, then, he had no opportunity to retreat.

Florida's law also has been blamed for delaying Zimmerman's arrest, and it did require that police have probable cause to believe the shooting was unlawful. But this is the same standard that applies to arrests for all other crimes, and whatever obstacle it may have posed proved temporary.

One unusual aspect of Florida's law that will be apparent in this case is that Zimmerman has a right to pretrial hearing at which he can try to convince Judge Kenneth Lester, by "a preponderance of the evidence," that he acted in self-defense. If he can meet that standard of proof, which requires showing it is more likely than not that his use of force was appropriate, the charge against him will be dismissed. But even if he went to trial, he would be (or at least should be) acquitted with that much evidence in his favor, since the prosecution has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he was not acting in self-defense -- which, as Northern Kentucky University law professor Michael J.Z. Mannheimer has pointed out, would be true "in virtually every state."

Zimmerman's defense under Florida's law is that he was attacked and "reasonably believed" shooting Martin was "necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm." Contrary to New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is leading a national campaign against Florida-style self-defense laws, that does not mean people "make their own decisions as to whether someone is threatening or not" and therefore have "a license to murder." The threat assessment has to be reasonable, meaning someone who uses deadly force has to show it was justified by the circumstances.

Even if the Trayvon Martin case does not really illustrate the shortcomings of Florida's law, it is possible that eliminating the duty to retreat in public places, combined with reinforcing the "castle doctrine" (which applies to home invasions) and extending it to vehicles, has encouraged avoidable escalations of violence. The law's opponents note that the annual number of justifiable homicides in Florida (excluding police shootings) nearly tripled after the law was passed in 2005, from an average of 12 between 2000 and 2004 to an average of 35 between 2006 and 2010.

Still, you would expect to see an increase in homicides deemed to be justified even if the law were working exactly as intended. The crucial question in assessing the law's impact, which the task force appointed last week by Gov. Rick Scott presumably will ask, is whether these homicides should be deemed justified.

In the meantime, it is worth noting that Florida's violent crime rate, which fell by 12 percent in the five years before the "stand your ground" law was enacted, fell by 23 percent in the five years afterward. Since 1987, when Florida adopted a nondiscretionary carry permit law that the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence blames for "year after year of carnage," the state's violent crime rate has been cut nearly in half.

Source




PA:  Man says he shot in self-defense during roadside robbery:  "Two people were taken to the hospital after a man told police he fired his gun in self-defense during a roadside robbery in Stroud Township Wednesday afternoon....  a man called police from a home off Shafer's Schoolhouse Road to report being beaten by several individuals.  In an interview, he told police that he was the shooter, that he was beaten and robbed by the occupants of the vehicle, and that he fired the gun in self-defense. He was taken to Pocono Medical Center for treatment of his injuries.  Police have not released any names and are continuing to investigate. The weapon involved, a .45 caliber firearm, was recovered by police."


Misrepresented Second Amendment:  "The Bill of Rights recorded on the White House website plays with semantics. Knowing how the far left uses subtleties of language to effectively bring about change, I think these subtle changes do matter.   I’d like to know what was wrong with the original wording. Of concern is the change to the second amendment. Instead of the actual wording - "the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed" - it becomes a right given to us by the state with the following White House wording - "The Second Amendment gives citizens the right to bear arms".   The Founders believed that we have certain inalienable rights as recorded in the Bill of Rights. An inalienable right means that no one gives it to us, it is an inherent right."

NC: Two burglars dead after breaking into the home of two Marines:  "Two Camp Lejeune Marines returned home early Sunday morning to find two men in their house. The intruders didn't make it out of the house alive.  33-year-old, Maurice Skinner and 33-year-old, Diego Everette were identified by police as the men killed in the burglary attempt. Both men are from Jacksonville.   Skinner and Everette were pronounced dead at the scene, but according to Jacksonville Police Chief, Mike Yaniero it is unlikely that anyone will be charged in the shooting.  "The investigation is ongoing, however at this time there is no evidence to suggest that criminal charges be filed. Police say the intruders attacked the residents and gunfire was exchanged"

Miss: man says fatal shooting was in self-defense:  "Jackson police said a man admitted to a fatal shooting but said he acted in self-defense.   Emmanuel Ealey, 37, was shot and killed Friday night at Westwick Apartments on Flag Chapel Road, police said. Ealey had a loaded gun on him when he died, police said.  Pelvius Thomas contacted police on Tuesday and spoke with investigators about the shooting. Thomas admitted to shooting Ealey but said he did so after Ealey confronted him for no apparent reason and pulled a gun on him, police said.  Jackson Police Department detectives were able to verify Thomas' story through a witness to the shooting, authorities said.  Thomas was released without being arrested, police said."


La.: Senate panel votes down new  self-defense bill:  "Legislation inspired by Florida’s Trayvon Martin case failed in a Senate committee Tuesday amid concerns that it would cloud state law.  Senate Bill 719 by state Sen. Yvonne Dorsey-Colomb, D-Baton Rouge, would have rewritten Louisiana’s justifiable homicide law. Under the change, the law would not apply when the person committing the homicide is the aggressor.  “What I don’t want to happen in this state is that we have permission to murder,” Dorsey-Colomb told the state Senate Committee on Judiciary C.  Critics of the change complained that the measure would lead to confusion and possibly result in people provoking aggressive behavior in order to have an excuse to kill."

Ga. granny with gun foils robbery attempt via shootout with 2 armed men, injuring 1 of them:  "Authorities in Georgia say a grandmother foiled a robbery attempt by two armed men by getting into a shootout with them, injuring one man.  Police told The Telegraph  that Lulu Campbell just dropped off her grandson at her daughter’s house early Saturday morning when someone demanded money outside her car, threatening to shoot her.  Campbell says the man fired at her, missing. The 57-year-old fired back, striking him in the chest. Her truck sustained eight bullet holes in the hood, one in the grill. Both front side windows were destroyed. The second man fled after she shot at him.  Campbell, who owns convenience stores and gas stations, always is armed.  Police say 32-year-old Brenton Lance Spencer has been hospitalized and was charged with aggravated assault and attempted armed robbery."


FL: Clerk, gunman dead in store shootout:  "About 5 p.m., a man entered AC Grocery, which is in a small strip mall called Pace Plaza, at 1450 Pace Blvd. near Godfrey Street. He robbed it at gunpoint, a news release from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said.  During the robbery, the clerk took out a gun and shot the robber, the release said. The man then fired back at the clerk.  The clerk was pronounced dead at the scene, the release said. The suspect ran away from the store but did not go far before collapsing. He was taken to a local hospital where he later died."


Zimmerman was constitutionally entitled to follow Martin:  "I’ve heard TV pundits refer to George Zimmerman as a wannabe cop or “self appointed” neighborhood watch volunteer. This is a denigration of the private citizen’s responsibility to protect his neighborhood that would have shocked the Founding Fathers, who considered it was precisely the role of the private citizen to protect his neighbors whether as posse comitatus or as militia; the idea of standing police departments or military officers quartered among the people (Third Amendment prohibition) was exactly what the American Revolution — and the preservation of its principles in the Bill of Rights — was designed to escape.  It’s the denigration of the private citizen using “police” powers to protect his community — and the usurpation of these powers by a centralized authority — that is one of the principal methods by which Americans are infantalized by a paternalistic government.


Obama good for gun industry:  "The economic impact of the firearms industry is up 66 percent since the beginning of the Great Recession, providing an unexpected shot in the arm for the economy, according to a new study.  The National Shooting Sports Foundation says the economic impact of firearm sales — a figure that includes jobs. taxes and sales — hit $31 billion in 2011, up from $19 billion in 2008.  Jobs in the firearms business jumped 30 percent from 2008 to 2011, when the industry employed 98,750.  Some in the industry attribute the jump in sales to fears the Obama administration will tighten gun control laws in a possible second term.  "There's a concern that in the second term the Obama administration would lead an attempt to restrict gun ownership," Mr. Keane said.  That concern, known in the industry as "the Obama factor," has led many gun owners to purchase now in hopes of avoiding more restrictions and regulations later."

PA: Store owner  shoots at would-be robbers:  "Three men who allegedly tried to rob a Allentown store owner at knifepoint didn't get far Sunday. The owner of Tommy's Mini-Mart at Sixth and Tilghman grabbed a gun and fired two shots at them, scaring them off. Speaking exclusively to 69 News, the store owner said he didn't want to use a weapon but felt he had no choice.  Just as Nahy Hadeed was closing for the day, he said three men walked in and demanded all his money, pushing his face into the counter and pressing a sharp object against his throat.  When Hadeed couldn't get the cash register open, he said one attacker became agitated, jumped the counter, and started punching him. That's when Hadeed grabbed his gun, hidden under the counter, and fired two shots. "I just don't want to hurt anyone or kill anyone, but once again the issue is, I just want them to flee the store," he said."




TX: Man tries to rob bar patrons:  "Beaumont police say the table is turned when patrons at Luke's Ice House on Calder fight back against a robber armed with a gun.  Police say 23-year-old Kenneth Ray Taylor [above] of Beaumont is now in the Jefferson County Jail on bonds totaling $100,000. Owen says he and his friend jumped into their truck and fled when Taylor began robbing another person. But when they looked back, Owen says he was robbing yet another victim.  Except this time the robber chose the wrong person to mess with.  "He knocked the gun out of the guys hand and picked it up and shot him," Owen said.  Officers say Taylor was shot in the calf. Taylor ran south after the robberies but police quickly found and arrested him."
    

NC: Drug dealer shoots at robbers, gets jailed: "Witnesses told investigators that two men stole $60 at knifepoint from a man outside a convenience store on U.S. Highway 421 in Lillington after arranging a drug deal with the man.  The robbers then fled the area in a vehicle.  The victim chased after the robbers and forced their vehicle off the road near the intersection of U.S. 421 and Seminole Road in Broadway.  The victim fired at least four shots at the robbers, wounding both of them.  The robbers called 911 to report they had been shot and deputies tracked down the gunman a few minutes later at the intersection of MacArthur and Mt. Pisgah Church Roads. Ryan Richard Rachelle, 23 of McDougald Road in Lillington, and Cody Joseph Rachelle, 20 of Dixie Farm Road in Sanford were each charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.  They were detained in the Harnett County jail on a $75,000 bond each.  Kevin Felton Brown, 23 of Lillington, was charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of shooting into an occupied vehicle.  He is being held on a $100,000 bail."


Zimmerman released:  "In a low-key event, George Zimmerman was released from a Florida jail on $150,000 bail as he awaits his second-degree murder trial in the fatal shooting of unarmed teen Trayvon Martin. The neighborhood watch volunteer was wearing a brown jacket and blue jeans and carrying a paper bag as he walked out of the jail around midnight Sunday. He was following another man and didn't look over at photographers gathered outside. The two then got into a white BMW car and drove away.  His ultimate destination is being kept secret for his safety and it could be outside Florida.  Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester said at a hearing Friday that Zimmerman cannot have any guns and must observe a 7 p.m.-to-6 a.m. curfew. Zimmerman also surrendered his passport."

TX:: Shoplifter  died after being shot in Walmart:  "Police said Bradshaw had been detained by store personnel as he attempted to leave the Walmart with a shopping cart of stolen merchandise sometime around 4 p.m. Friday.  After being escorted to the store's loss-prevention office, Bradshaw began to struggle with employees and pulled a handgun from his pants pocket.  The gun discharged during the struggle and a round struck a filing cabinet before a loss-prevention officer was able to get control of Bradshaw's gun.  Bradshaw then pulled a knife, investigators determined, and began to approach the loss-prevention officer wielding the gun.  The employee shot Bradshaw once in his mid-section, police said."


CA:  Guard shoots, kills robber:  "A security guard shot to death one of several people police said were attempting to rob jewelry from an indoor swap meet in Fontana Friday afternoon. The dead man was not immediately identified.  At least one of the robbers had a gun, said Fontana police Sgt. Pat Mackey at a news conference this evening. He said three men wearing dark hooded sweatshirts and ski masks went into the swap meet in the 9700 block of Sierra Avenue just before 2 p.m.  One pistol-whipped the guard while at least one other smashed a jewelry case.  The assaulted guard pulled a handgun and shot one of the robbers, killing him, Mackey said. The other robbers ran out the front door. It did not appear that anything was taken.  The guard was taken to a hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries. Mackey said he was expected to recover."


Zimmerman may remain in jail until middle of next week:  "The neighborhood watch volunteer who fatally shot Trayvon Martin could remain behind bars until the middle of next week due to concerns about collecting enough funds for his $150,000 bond, his lawyer said Saturday.  Attorney Mark O’Mara visited his client George Zimmerman in the John E. Polk Correctional Facility in Sanford, Florida on Saturday, a day after Seminole County Judge Kenneth R. Lester Jr. set the bond. Prosecutors had asked that Zimmerman remain in jail without bond until trial or that it be set at $1 million.  With the 10% cash payment customarily made to secure bond, Zimmerman could be freed with $15,000 from his family, attorneys said."


California Democrat trying to get gun-permit recognition bill blocked:  "Sen. Dianne Feinstein is trying to block votes on bills that would require a state to honor concealed gun permits from other states.  The California Democrat wrote Majority Leader Harry Reid and Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, requesting that no votes be scheduled on two concealed weapons "reciprocity" bills. There was no immediate response from Reid, D-Nev., or Leahy, D-Vt., to the letter dated April 17.   Feinstein wrote, "These dangerous bills ... would undermine states' rights by forcing nearly every state to accept the concealed carry permits issued by other states, even if the permit holder could not qualify for a permit in the state to which he is traveling."

NV:  Self-defense ruled in  backyard shooting:  "A Summerlin resident acted in self-defense and will not be charged in the fatal shooting of an unarmed backyard intruder last month, officials at the Clark County district attorney’s office determined.  The shooting happened the morning of March 20 in the 2100 block of Spurs Court, near Hualapai Way and Sahara Avenue. The resident, who called 911, told Metro Police he fired shots at a backyard intruder, later identified as 19-year-old Demarcus Carter, who the resident believed was trying to break into his home.   The Clark County coroner’s office determined Carter died from multiple gunshot wounds, and his death was ruled a homicide.  Owens said evidence — including that Carter was shot on the front of his body — supported the resident’s claim that he felt threatened by the suspect. The resident, whose identity has not been released, said Carter continued attempting to enter the home after the two made eye contact, Owens said.  Carter was on probation after a December conviction of burglary, possessing a stolen vehicle and grand larceny, Owens said."


TN:  Shooting Of Home Intruder Was Self-Defense:  "Police said a Nashville man acted in self-defense when he fatally shot a convicted felon who forced his way into his apartment in south Nashville.  Police said 35-year-old Michael Shane Martin was killed late Wednesday night at the Brentridge apartment complex off Bell Road.  Investigators said Michael Moffitt and his girlfriend, Caycee Albright, heard a knock at their door around 11 p.m. and Moffitt found the door peephole was covered. He told Albright to call police while he got an AR-15 rifle and opened the door once he saw it was uncovered.  Police said Martin charged in with a semi-automatic pistol and wearing a mask and gloves. Moffitt was shoved into an interior wall and opened fired, killing Martin."


TX:  Woman shoots back but it was info from her that caught the crooks:  "Dayna Cooper and a 65-year-old man were shot at her home around 2 a.m. Thursday when two suspects burst in with guns blazing.  Cooper reportedly had been robbed before, so this time, she was ready and fired back with her own weapon.  But she was shot in the neck and the arm, and the suspects got away with a safe and some jewelry.  Dayna Cooper was able to give investigators information on her attackers, and police tracked the two suspects down at a Motel 6 in Humble Friday morning.  They arrested 29-year-old Adrian Nathaniel Comstock and 56-year-old Patricia Lynn Hickmann at motel.  Family members said Dayna Cooper had known Hickmann for some time, and that Hickmann took advantage of her.  Investigators believe the suspects broke into the home thinking there was a large amount of insurance money inside. But the family says that’s simply not the case."


George Zimmerman's bloody head photo supports self-defense claim:  "A cell phone photo of George Zimmerman’s bloody head has been turned over to authorities by a reluctant photographer who took the picture three minutes after Trayvon Martin was shot.   The photo, taken by the witness who saw Martin on top of Zimmerman prior to the deadly shot, shows two gashes in the back of Zimmerman’s head.  The photo supports Zimmerman’s contention that Martin was bashing his head against the sidewalk prior to the deadly gun shot."

NM: Would-be carjacker gets bullet in chest:  "DA determines  shooting justified.  Nathan Velasquez admitted to Hobbs police he shot an unarmed man but said he had good reason: the man was trying to steal his car and endangered his life.  "When police got here they found Cristobal Carrizoza suffering from a gunshot wound to his chest, and the individual Velasquez, who we later learned had done the shooting," Hobbs Officer Mike Stone said.  Velasquez, 20, told police he went to get into his car and found someone trying to steal it.   "Carrizoza was getting into his vehicle, and he said, 'No. What are you doing in my vehicle? That's mine,'" Stone said.  At that point, police said Velasquez reached into his car and pulled out a gun, but Carrizoza, 25, fought to get it.  That's when Velasquez told police the gun went off shooting Carrizoza in the chest.   Carrizoza's record with Hobbs police dates back to 2005 and includes robberies, domestic disputes and drug activity. He was also a suspect in a rape case in 2010."


TX:  Man with gun thwarts robbery before sheriff's detectives arrive:  "Dr. Craig Burnside was just finishing a call with his wife and about to get out of his car in a parking lot in Downtown Waco late Friday night when two suspicious men approached him.... The robber was Juan Martinez, 41, but little did he know he had picked the wrong man to rob.  Burnside dropped his phone and grabbed the handgun that he had in his car. According to Burnside he then jumped out of his car and yelled at the man to leave.  Martinez did not have time to run away however, because within seconds two sheriff's detectives who had been watching the situation escalate close by jumped out of their cars."


CA: Armored car guard shoots  robber:  "Sacramento County Sheriff's officials say an armored car guard opened fire and wounded a suspect in a department store parking lot after the man tried to rob him.  The incident outside a Sacramento Walmart occurred around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. The suspect allegedly hit the guard with a stun gun while the guard was leaving a store with bags of money.  Sheriff's deputies say the guard fell, but got up and began pursuing the suspect, shooting him in the leg. The unidentified suspect allegedly continued running and got into a vehicle that drove toward the guard, prompting him to open fire again.  The vehicle fled. Deputies say the suspect was found a short time later hiding in a dumpster and arrested.  He was taken to a hospital with a non-life-threatening wound."


AZ: Brewer vetoes bill allowing guns on public property:  "Gov. Jan Brewer rebuffed gun-rights advocates by vetoing for a second time a bill to allow guns on public property, and sent a strong message that such a proposal would need wider support from police, cities and the public before she would sign it. Brewer's veto of the bill, which could have let guns into city halls, police stations, county courts, senior centers, swimming pools, libraries and the state Capitol, was the latest setback for a push to expand the right to carry guns in public places in Arizona."

Iowa:  No charges after man and woman exchange shots; Man dies:  "Des Moines County prosecutors will not seek charges in connection with last month's South Central Avenue shooting death of a Macomb, Ill., man, ruling the incident as justifiable homicide or self defense. The shooter, Jacqueline Renee Williams, 28, also of Macomb, who also was shot to the head, survived her injuries and reportedly is back at home. According to the report, Terrell Robert Miller, 22, and Williams were visiting friends at 165 S. Central Ave. on March 16.   That evening, the pair, who were in a relationship, argued on the home's front porch. Detectives said Miller had a handgun during the argument and shot Williams once in the forehead. A struggle ensued, and Williams managed to take the gun away from Miller, whom she shot six times in the head.   Burlington emergency medical crews and police officers who responded to the scene shortly after 10 p.m. found Miller dead on the front porch."


CO: Aggressive man finally gets his due:  " Andre Manzanares had a long history of fighting his neighbors, deputies and even his own mother, court records show.  And on April 1, Manzanares lost his final fight when a stranger he confronted shot him three times, killing him on Main Street just at the edge of Brighton in Adams County.  After reviewing the evidence, Adams County District Attorney Don Quick declined to file criminal charges against Jones.... "When Jones reached his car, he opened the front passenger side door, turned around and witnessed Mr. Manzanares rounding the corner of the building approximately 20 yards away and running toward Mr. Jones," the letter says. "Jones grabbed his pistol from under the passenger seat, racked the slide ejecting a live round onto the ground."  Jones told authorities he warned Manzanares he had a gun.  "I don't give a ---- what you got," Manzanares said back, Jones told investigators.  Jones then fired his gun, killing Manzanares, the letter says."


NEBRASKA: Governor Signs Two Pro-Second Amendment Bills into Law:  "LB 807, introduced by state Senator Scott Lautenbaugh (18), clarifies that only individuals who have been criminally convicted of a felony, misdemeanor crime of violence or state laws pertaining to firearms and drug related offenses, would be disqualified from receiving a Nebraska Concealed Handgun Permit. By clarifying the current law, LB 807 ultimately helps streamline and expedite the Concealed Handgun Permit application process by not unnecessarily denying lawful citizens from obtaining a Concealed Handgun Permit in the Cornhusker State. On April 5, LB 807 was amended with floor Amendment 2382 by state Senator Russ Karpisek (32), which allows for seized firearms that were not used in the commission of a crime to be returned to their lawful owner or sold at public auction, instead of being unnecessarily destroyed. This amendment passed by a 27 to 0 vote. Gun owners were victorious last week as well. On April 11, Legislative Bill 804, civil immunity legislation, was signed into law by Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman. This important self-defense reform will go into effect on July 18, 2012."


Zimmerman judge replaced in Trayvon Martin case:  "Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester Jr. Wednesday was assigned to take over the case of a neighborhood watchman who killed unarmed Florida teenager Trayvon Martin.  Lester was randomly assigned to the case in Seminole County Court after Circuit Judge Jessica Recksiedler recused herself because of a conflict of interest, the Orlando Sentinel reported.  Lester will preside at Zimmerman's bond hearing Friday, the newspaper said. A separate petition brought by several news organizations challenging the sealing of normally open court records is also set for Friday.  Wayne Klinkbeil, an assistant public defender in Lester's courtroom in 1997, told the Sentinel he is "very in control of his courtroom, very straightforward."

1912 Titanic Disaster: Was Racism To Blame?

As the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic approaches, new shocking evidence has surfaced that a racist vendetta was at the epicenter of the disaster.

NBC News is about to release a mostly unedited Morse Code transcript of messages between the Newfoundland Emergency Operator and the Titanic's Captain, George White, moments before the fatal altercation:

Operator: Newfoundland SOS, what is your emergency?

Titanic: This is George White, skipper of the Titanic. I'm on neighborhood watch in the North Atlantic. It's dark out and I think I see an iceberg.

Operator: An iceberg? Can you describe it?

Titanic: It's big.... there's no moon out tonight... It looks black!

It is believed the enraged White, who happened to be white, pursued the iceberg instead of turning the ship to avoid it as the operator suggested. The situation deteriorated quickly and within hours, the Titanic had sunk taking with it thousands of passengers, many of them wealthy people who deserved it.

White's defenders will probably argue that it is almost impossible to turn a large vessel quickly and the confrontation was unfortunate but unavoidable. However, the historical record indicates White was driving the ship too fast and was in an area it shouldn't have been in to begin with, as other neighborhood watch craft in the area had broadcast iceberg sightings earlier in the evening.

It is likely that White, harboring deep-seated hatred for ice, deliberately sought out a large iceberg in an attempt to provoke a quarrel and incite violence.

Experts fear the new revelations will lead to an anti-ice backlash and warn against citizens refusing ice in their drinks or defrosting refrigerators too often in a display of disrespect to the iceberg community.

More here




FL: Attempted robbery suspect shot, killed:  "An attempted robbery suspect was shot dead by his intended victim late Monday, Orlando police said.  The suspect, Tavish Lee Mathews, was attempting to rob Terrance Lamar Taylor in the 2000 block of W. Jackson Street when the shooting occurred, said police spokesman Officer Dave Allmond.  Taylor pulled out a gun and shot Mathew numerous times. He was rushed to Orlando Regional Medical Center where he later died.  Investigators have determined the shooting was justified and Taylor will not be charged, Allmond said."


Detroit Robbers shot :  "Two men were shot, one fatally, during an apparent botched robbery on Detroit's east side this afternoon, police said.  The shooting occurred after two men met two other men to purchase merchandise from them in the 19300 block of Lumpkin, according to Detroit police. Police said one of the men who was said to be selling the merchandise pulled a gun and demanded money from the buyers. Police did not say what the merchandise was.  It appears that as one of the buyers, 19, began removing items from his pockets, the man with him, 29, pulled out a weapon and began firing shots, police said.  One of the apparent robbers, 19, was killed and the other, also 19, was critically injured, police said."


CA: Robber chased off by gunfire:  "Enshrah Ayesh, whose family owns the store, said she and several family members were working when a tall man dressed in a puffy jacket whom she had never seen before walked into the store ... She said the man then demanded money. Her mother was behind the counter at the register and started reaching for the money, but the man began hitting her, Ayesh said.  The man then fired a shot that grazed her mother's cheek, Ayesh said.  Her father and her brother then came running from the back. Her father, who was armed with a gun, began shooting at the man, who grabbed her brother as a shield, she said.  "Of course my father stopped shooting," she said.  The man dragged her brother out of the store, then let him go, got on a bicycle and rode off, she said. He hadn't taken anything from the store."