California homeowner shoots at man during attempted break-in: "An alleged burglar left a critical piece of evidence behind when he attempted to break in to a south Sacramento home early Wednesday morning: his car. James Villapando, 34, of Sacramento, parked his Toyota sedan in the driveway of a home on Florin Road, just west of south Watt Avenue, before allegedly attempting to enter the home through a window around 3:35 a.m., Sacramento County Sheriff's Sgt. Tim Curran said. The homeowner heard the man trying to get in, armed himself with a gun and fired several shots, Curran said. Villapando was not injured and ran away from the home, leaving the car in the driveway, Curran said. Deputies found Villapando hiding out in the area about two hours later. Villapando, who was an at-large parolee, was arrested on suspicion of burglary and is being booked into Sacramento County Jail.


California Gang Member, 22, Shot During Attempted Robbery: "A 22-year-old man was killed when he tried to rob a man who was armed and shot him in Boyle Heights Sunday, police said. The shooting occurred just before 3 a.m. on Lorena Street near 6th Street, said Officer Mike Lopez of the Los Angeles Police Department's media relations section. Fernando Sedano, described as a member of the "White Fence" gang, and a fellow gang member were driving down Lorena Street with Sedano's girlfriend and another passenger in the back seat. Police said Sedano stopped the car and, with the other gang member, apparently tried to rob a man walking down the street, police said. The intended robbery victim pulled out a gun, and as the two struggled for the weapon, shot Sedano in the chest. Sedano was taken to White Memorial Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead."



California marijuana shootout leaves one dead: "A homeowner apparently engaged in a gun battle with two masked men who tried to break into his marijuana garden, killing one of the alleged assailants and ending up seriously wounded himself. Nevada County sheriff's deputies say the Saturday night shootout started when two masked men armed with assault rifles broke into Dusty Beck's home in North San Juan, just north of Nevada City. Beck fatally shot one of the assailants with a shotgun, the sheriff's department said. Investigators did not immediately name the 31-year-old Yuba County man who died at the scene. Beck, 43, was shot once in the leg and twice in the abdomen. A hospital spokeswoman said he was recovering after surgery at Sutter Roseville Medical Center, where he was taken by helicopter. The second robber fled, said Nevada County Sheriff's Det. Ray Kress. Kress and sheriff's Lt. Bill Evans said the robbers apparently wanted the nine marijuana plants they found on Beck's property. Beck has previously reported similar theft attempts, Evans said. Lt. Joe Salivar said Beck is unlikely to face homicide charges because he was apparently defending himself during a home invasion. Narcotics officers were assisting with the investigation, but will leave it to the district attorney to decide whether Beck should face drug charges, Salivar said Monday."

Next Time, Scream 'LIBRESCU!'

That they were brainwashed into passivity in the face of evil is why so many died at Virginia Tech

Ever since hearing of the tragic deaths at Virginia Tech last April, I have been deeply troubled by the number of people killed by a lone gunman wielding two hand guns in the midst of dozens of people. Why was Seing-Hui Cho able to methodically move from classroom to classroom - four in total - killing 29 people and wounding at least 26 more, with so little effort to stop or to disarm him?

Why was the kill rate so high? Why was there no offensive response by the overwhelming numbers being attacked? Why was 76-year-old Professor Liviu Librescu one of the very few willing to take an offensive posture, and sacrificing his own life, to save students in his class? And most important of all: What can I do for my family and friends to give them a better chance of survival when something like this happens again?

I believe the answers lie in mental preparation for such an event. More precisely, I believe we can substantially reduce the kill rate when a Virginia Tech event such as this one occurs again by choreographing, with professional military/police advice, group response to such an attack. I believe the memory of Professor Librescu and his name, screamed at the top of our lungs, can ignite a life-saving group response.

What if, when Seing-Hui Cho entered Classroom 206 on April 16 - as the first drop of blood fell - the 13 graduate students present, along with Professor Loganathan, at the top of their lungs had screamed "LIBRESCU!" And if instantly each student and the professor - because the situation had been visualized dozens of times before in their minds - had started throwing every loose item in the classroom including computers, cell phones, PDAs, purses, backpacks, shoes, books, and water bottles at Cho. And what if, almost simultaneously, each of them had started running toward Cho and attacking with the clear intent to subdue and immobilize.

And what if every other student and professor within earshot of room 206, upon hearing the screams of "LIBRESCU!" had grabbed everything they could find to bar their own classroom doors. What if they had immediately prepared to tackle and subdue anyone who successfully broke through their barriers.

Visualize this instant - aggressive "LIBRESCU!" group response to Cho's actions - the morning of April 16 instead of the confusion and paralysis that in fact happened as Cho methodically went from classroom to classroom, killing and maiming all in his presence. Now visualize a "LIBRESCU!" response where your children go to school, where you worship, on your train coming from work, in an airplane cabin, in a restaurant. Can we train for such a response? Of course we can. And we must. I propose that leaders of all groups of people - including governments, universities, companies, churches, schools, unions and associations - get to work immediately to prevent, or at least contain, another mass slaughter. Here's how:

* Engage professionals to design the best possible group response to maximize the survival rate. (And why shouldn't the Department of Homeland Security lead the way, with its own expertise and with funding?)

* Develop videos depicting attacks by one or a few gunmen on a group, along with the appropriate response by the group to maximize survival upon hearing the scream "LIBRESCU!" (Once again, why shouldn't DHS help out by at least paying for widespread distribution of such videos?)

* Play these videos for your team every few months.

* As we do with fire drills, practice group response whenever large groups of people gather. And above all, practice the scream "LIBRESCU!"

If this makes sense to you, and especially to those of you who lead groups of people, you can unilaterally respond right now. Share these thoughts with others. Get the dialogue and debate started. You can arm your people, not with guns but with the knowledge and training that will provide the best possible chance for survival. Why not?

One final question to ponder: Did Professor Librescu, a Holocaust survivor, respond as he did because of the thousands of times he had run his exact response to Cho through his mind? Were the last thoughts of this brave man, the butchers at the door will not slay my people again.

Source





Tennessee Home Invasion: Man Fights Back: "Family members say 31 year-old Kevin Hill was approached by a guy with a gun while getting out of his SUV after running some morning errands. That's when two other guys came up and forced Hill inside his home and up into the attic to rob him. Police say Hill struggled with his attackers and managed to take away one of their guns and fire. Police say no one was hit but several shots were fired inside of the home. The robbers ran from the home, jumped in Hill's SUV and sped off. Police later found the SUV after the trio crashed it on Syndey Street in North Memphis. Officers were able to take all three robbers into custody. The Robbery Division is investigating. So far no charges have been filed."


Ohio: Homeowner shot after door kicked in: "Police were searching for three armed men who broke into a house on the city's east side Monday morning. Cynthia Davis said she had just gone into the basement of her home on Picard Road when she heard the back door being kicked in, 10TV News reported. "I guess God sent me to the basement right at that moment, because I would have been sitting there when they kicked the door in," Davis said. "I had just been sitting on the couch there moments before." Davis' husband, Frank Watson, yelled to her to stay downstairs and call 911, 10TV News reported. Watson, 60, picked up his gun and started towards the men. When he saw the burglars, one of the men opened fire, police said. "Nothing was taken," Davis said. "When they saw Frank with a pistol, he scared them off and they started to run." Davis said she could not tell Watson had been shot at first. "He said, 'They shot me,' and that's when I could see his T-shirt was soaked with blood," Davis said. Watson was taken to Grant Medical Center in serious condition."

Florida resident shoots man suspected of breaking into his home: "A St. Petersburg man shot a person he suspected of trying to break into his home last night. The home invasion suspect is under arrest at St. Anthony's Hospital in St. Petersburg. A police spokesperson says the resident fired more than 6 shots through his back door, without looking, when he heard a noise. The suspect was hit two times in the chest. Police say someone drove the suspect to the hospital. It happened around 10pm last night at a home at 1710 13th Avenue North."


South Carolina: No charges in home invasion: "Police say they won't file charges against a Darlington County homeowner, who officers say shot and killed a man after that man invaded his home. It happened at a home on London Fog Drive in Darlington County last week. Deputies say several men invaded the house. Officers say gunshots were exchanged between the homeowner and one of the intruders. Deputies say both were wounded and the intruder, Dewayne Washington, died. We're told the homeowner is recovering in the hospital. [Background report here]


North Carolina: Robber Shot, Killed By Victim: "A man is dead after an attempted robbery went wrong. Police in Charlotte said 20-year-old Javauis Brown and another man tried to rob a group that was having a get-together behind some apartments on Conway Avenue in southeast Charlotte. It happened early Sunday just before 1:30 a.m. Officers said someone in the group shot and killed Brown. Hector Rojas Picheco, 16, was also shot, but was treated and released from Carolinas Medical Center."

MA: Would-be robber flees after store owner shoots: "Armand Tavares, the owner of the A&J Variety Store at the corner of Kendall and Frederick streets, told police that a black man with a Luger-type pistol entered the store Monday at about 9:30 p.m. The robber, who was wearing a hood pulled tight to cover his face, pointed the gun at Tavares and demanded money, police said. Tavares, who is licensed to carry a gun, pulled out his .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun and fired, hitting the ATM in the store. The startled robber ran out of the store unharmed and without any cash, police said."


Pennsylvania: Intruders shot, one fatally: "Two suspected robbers were shot, one of them fatally, during an apparent home invasion on Grover Street in McKeesport last night, police said. Police were called at 10:10 p.m. to a home in the 2900 block of Grover, where a resident resisted an apparent robbery. One suspect was killed, and the other was hospitalized with at least one gunshot wound, police said. The extent of his injuries was not immediately known.


Idaho: Another "battered wife" killing: "The Bonneville County Sheriff's Office is investigating a deadly shooting at a home in Swan Valley between a wife and her husband. Last night, Debra Schultz says she shot her husband once in the chest, claiming it was in self defense. 48-year-old William Schultz died. Detectives are treating it like a homicide until they get all the facts. Court and crime specialist Suzanne Hobbs spoke with law enforcement and with the woman who pulled the trigger. Debra Schultz says throughout her relationship he was physically violent and she never got out, although just last week she did go to a women's shelter in Driggs for help, and just returned home where she had to fight for her life. Tuesday night, Debra says her husband was high on marijuana and drinking. The fight got so bad he grabbed a gun and said he was going to shoot her. She says it was either shoot him or she would be killed. She even considered jumping out of the second story window, but says William stopped her. She didn't want her battered and bruised face to be shown .... Debra Schultz said, "When he came home last night he told me that he was going to kill me and that was after he beat up my face and he said, "I can't let you go now because if the cops see this I'm going to go to prison." And he already has 5 charges in Reno hanging over his head for domestic violence against me."

Arizona Man Who Shot prankster Teen Acquitted: "A Willcox man who shot and wounded a teenage girl after she and her friends banged on his windows in a late-night prank was acquitted of three felonies, but a jury couldn't reach a verdict on a fourth charge. The Cochise County jury found Delbert "Cody" Evans not guilty of aggravated assault using a deadly weapon and endangering Kayla Shores, who was 14 when a bullet fired by Evans hit her in the back in February 2006. She has since recovered. Evans was also cleared of endangering another girl who was with a group of five teens on Evans' porch. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on a charge of aggravated assault causing disfigurement. The verdicts came Friday after a three-day trial and eight hours of deliberations. The teens had gone to Evans' rural home to get back at him for making a scary prank phone call, testimony showed. He had known Shores for years and they were friends. Evans, 32, testified he had been threatened by a man over payment for a wood stove and thought he was shooting in self-defense at an assailant. A 13-person grand jury unanimously refused to indict Evans in 2006, infuriating some in the community, who accused Cochise County Attorney Ed Rheinheimer of bungling the case. A subsequent recall effort failed. Rheinheimer eventually asked for a preliminary hearing, and a judge ordered Evans to stand trial on the four felony counts."

FL: Freed in murder case, man faces new charges: "Ronald Oats Jr. will not face a murder rap, but he is not off the hook yet. Prosecutors dropped a murder charge against the 20-year-old man on Monday morning, but Oats was arrested minutes later in court on gun and drug charges. Assistant State Attorney Brian Iten decided that Oats acted in self-defense when he shot a man during a drug deal turned sour. ... After filing a motion to drop the murder count, Iten quickly had Oats arrested on gun and marijuana charges. Bailiffs arrested him in the courtroom, and a judge ordered Oats to be released on his own recognizance because prosecutors did not have enough evidence to prove he was a flight risk."


WI: Conceal carry law unconstitutional, judge rules: "Charges were dropped Monday morning against a Milwaukee pizza delivery man accused of shooting two would-be robbers, and in a 10-page statement, the judge said Wisconsin's law forbidding the carriage of a concealed weapon, as it pertains to this case, was unconstitutional. Andres Vegas was delivering pizza near 22nd and Locust streets Jan. 4 when a 16-year-old pulled out a gun and demanded money, police said. Vegas was accused of pulling out his own gun and shooting the teen three times. ... The incident in January was the second time in less than six months that Vegas shot someone who tried to rob him on the job. In July of 2006, a 14-year-old boy pulled a gun on Vegas, who retaliated by shooting the boy three times. Then-District Attorney E. Michael McCann said that since Vegas had been robbed in the past, state law said he had a reasonable belief that he needed to protect himself and did not file charges... District Attorney John Chisholm's office said they will not appeal Noonan's decision and lawyers for Vegas said that he is no longer delivering pizzas".

Mississippi: Exasperated Homeowner Defends Home: "Patricia Parker was home watching Wheel of Fortune on televsion Friday night. She says just before 7pm she heard her live in boyfriend Otis yell out her name. She says... at that point, she knew something was wrong. "He said, Tricia, Just like that. He said Tricia and I knew something was wrong." When Patricia walked outside she realized that her boyfriend was holding a knife aimed at a man lying on their back porch. Patricia belives the man was trying to steal their air conditioner, and that Otis caught him in the act. She says Otis was so frustrated, he went into the house to get his gun. Instead of taking that opportunity to flee, the suspect ran into the house after Otis. Patricia says at that point, things seemed to get out of hand. "I said Otis, please don't shoot that man, please don't shoot him. But he shot twice. " The suspect eventually ran out of the home, with Otis hot on his trial. He was struck at least twice, by bullets in Otis' gun. Police found the suspect running down State Street, apparently trying to get to a nearby hospital. Otis was taken away in handcuffs, though police say he probably won't face any charges. The suspect is recovering at a local hospital. He will likely end up in handcuffs once he is released from the hospital."



Mississippi: Jackson Homeowner Shoots At Would-Be Burglars: "Students at McLeod Elementary School were on lockdown Friday afternoon as police searched for two men involved in an attempted home invasion. Homeowner Fredrico Hamblin said he saw a car in his neighborhood most of the morning, passing in front of his Riverwood Drive house several times. The two men tried to get into his home through the garage, Hamblin said, so he opened fire, shooting five or six times. Hamblin said he thinks he hit one of the men. A stray bullet hit a neighbor's car. "I was just trying to get them away from my home. I shot five or six times. One of them dove over the car. I think that's when I shot him," he said. Both men ran into a wooded area; police found one of the men about a half-hour later behind the Mississippi Basketball Association Complex. Police used a helicopter and dogs to search for the other man, and nearby McLeod Elementary was put on lockdown. A constable arrested another person believed to be the driver for the two men nearby. Police said Hamblin will not face charges related to this shooting because he was protecting his home."


Disarmament bill being rammed through Senate: "You'd think that when rabid, anti-gun legislators like Sen. Charles Schumer and Rep. Carolyn McCarthy join together to pass anti-gun legislation, it would raise a few red flags. But these two New York Democrats are currently planning to roll over gun owners with H.R. 2640 -- legislation which would bar you from owning guns if: * You are a battle-scarred veteran suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; or * As a kid, you were diagnosed with ADHD. .. Sen. Schumer is pushing hard to pass this legislation -- dubbed the Veterans Disarmament Act -- so he is circulating an 'agreement' which would waive the Senate rules in order to bring up and pass the bill. This agreement could come about in the next few hours or the next couple of days!"

Florida: Feisty lady pulls gun, scares off robbers: "A clerk at a Regency area clothing store scared away a group of robbers with a gun when she produced her own handgun during afternoon shakedown, according to authorities. Detectives with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office on Thursday afternoon launched an investigation of an armed robbery at the 904 Fashion store in the 10000 block of Atlantic Boulevard. According to authorities, four or five men walked into the store and started grabbing clothes and then produced a gun and tried to take money from the store's clerk. The store manager and JSO said the store clerk produced her own handgun from her purse and fired some shots at the robbers. The men ran from store and then fled the scene in a vehicle. The thieves did not get away with much merchandise or money, authorities said."


North Carolina: No charges filed in shooting: "No charges will be filed against a homeowner stemming from his fatal shooting of a suspected intruder last week, Surry County Sheriff Graham Atkinson said Wednesday. Jones, for whom no official address has been given, was shot on the morning of Sept. 17 while trying to burglarize a home he once owned at 484 Surry Gadsberry Road in the Pilot Mountain area, according to earlier accounts. Authorities have said that Jones had propped a ladder against the house and was attempting to gain entry through a window when he was confronted by Jayme Gullatt, the homeowner, who was awakened by a loud noise and grabbed a .223-caliber rifle. The intruder then began to advance on the homeowner, who fired two warning shots into the ground, based on Gullatt's statements to investigators. Despite the homeowner's actions, Jones continued to approach Gullatt and got to within a few feet of him before being shot once in the upper body. Jones was transported to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, where he died later that day." [See also here]


California: Shooting of loony ruled self-defense: "An Acampo homeowner acted in self-defense and will not face charges for fatally shooting a man who drove through his home and confronted him, prosecutors said Wednesday. David Robinson, 60, was not arrested after the June 13 death of Ravi Batuk Vora, 39. San Joaquin County Sheriff's deputies instead investigated the case and then forwarded it to prosecutors, who ruled it justifiable homicide. Robinson fired one gunshot, only after Vora had "initiated a prolonged and repeated assault" on Robinson and his wife, Deputy District Attorney Ron Freitas wrote in his final report on the case, which was signed Wednesday by District Attorney Jim Willett. [Case noted here on June 17]

Florida: Beaten Man Says 911 Dispatcher Had Him Return To Scene: "A disabled east Orange County man says a 911 operator told him to return to the scene where he was allegedly beaten by a group of thugs. When he got there, he said, he was almost beaten again by the same group until he used his gun to defend himself. John Holloway says a group of thugs tried to rob him after he picked up some groceries at a State Road 50 Circle K. He said he was punched and the men broke the windows out of his truck before he escaped. Holloway was then shocked to be told he needed to come back to the scene to get the address of the only Circle K in Christmas. "Hit me three times in the head with his fist," Holloway said. In the serene sounding town of Christmas, with one prosthetic leg and another leg paralyzed, Holloway was no match for five men surrounding to rob him. "All the sudden they're kicking and beating on my car and hollering at me, 'We're gonna get you! 'We're coming to your house. We're gonna get you and after we kill you, we're gonna take everything you have,'" he said. .. Holloway said, when he went back, he had his pistol in his hand and, when they attacked again, he fired one shot and scared the men away. The sheriff's office listed both Holloway and his attackers as victims and suspects. Apparently Holloway's mistake was firing his weapon to scare the men away. He said he did what he felt he had to do for his protection. There was no word if the 911 operator will be reprimanded for sending Holloway back to the scene".


Louisiana: Shootout at Casino: "What started as an armed robbery in Calcasieu Parish Louisiana led to a group of men in a shoot out with a security guard at a casino. The men didn't get far. “Mr. Budwine has been a constant nuisance to Vinton for a long time,” said Calcasieu Parish District Attorney John Degrosier. Investigators say Kenyon Budwine from Vinton and three men from Orange began a crime spree in Calcasieu Parish early Wednesday morning. The four men were armed with handguns and a shot gun. Authorities say they took what they could grab from an EZ Mart. Down the road, three of the men attempted to rob the Cash Majic Truckstop casino about an hour later. “We got another call of a robbery in progress,” said Mancuso. But a quick thinking security guard kept them out. They exchanged gunfire and bullets struck Budwine. In an attempt to get away, the men drove across the Texas border where Orange County Deputies stopped them. “Getting ready to put him out of business, where he's going he won't bother anyone for a long time,” said Degrosier. This isn't the first offense for Budwine. Vinton police say in the past he robbed a truck stop and got away with more than $1,000. All four of the men are being held under one million dollar bonds in the Orange County jail, but they'll be headed back to Louisiana soon."


Cleveland mayor "all wet" on anti-gun proposal to stem crime: "A proposal by anti-gun Cleveland, OH Mayor Frank Jackson to make firearm possession illegal by anyone under age 21 is a non-solution to a genuine problem of violent crime, and like all gun control laws, it targets the wrong people, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms said today. Mayor Jackson's suggestion came after the killing of a 12-year-old girl caught in a crossfire near her home Sept. 1. However, one of the suspects in that gun battle, Eric Romel Wilson, would not have been affected by such a law because he is 35 years old, and due to his criminal history, he cannot legally own a gun."

Georgia homeowner gets shot, responds by shooting armed robber in eye: "A Macon man was shot in the stomach by an armed robber and returned fire, shooting the robber in the eye Monday night, according to a Macon Police Department report. Grover E. Glover, 64, of Lamont St., reported to police that Jamel Scott came to his house just before 11 p.m. and asked to use the telephone to call for help for his broken down car. Once inside, Scott pulled out a gun and demanded money from Glover, according to the report. After striking him in the head with the gun, Glover told Scott his wallet was in a drawer in his bedroom. Once in the bedroom, Glover instead pulled a gun from the drawer and Scott fired before he could turn around, according to the report. Glover told officers he then shot Scott in the eye and Scott ran out of the house, leaving his gun behind, according to the report. Warrants have been issued for Scott's arrest on the charges of armed robbery and aggravated assault, said Macon police spokeswoman Sgt. Melanie Hofmann."


California: Shootout in garage: "Roger Gilchrist woke from a dead sleep when he heard his pregnant wife screaming for her life, as she honked her car horn incessantly in their garage. He grabbed his gun. It wasn’t 20 seconds after his wife pulled in and saw a masked gunman standing near her vehicle that gunfire erupted at point-blank range, the couple said. “Under the circumstances, with him having a gun and standing next to my pregnant wife, I’m not going to wait and see what happens — I’m going to fire,” Gilchrist said. Officials said the crook shot first, and Gilchrist returned fire. About 10 rounds were let off in the confines of the garage, officials said. “I hit him once, and then I heard the click, click, click, and I knew he was out of ammunition,” Gilchrist said. His wife, who asked not to be identified by first name, said those “clicks” were aimed at her head from about three feet away. “I told him I was pregnant and not to hurt me, and he said he wasn’t going to. But when he got shot, there is no doubt in my mind that he decided he was going to kill me — only he was out of bullets,” she said..... When no one was found, Gaytan called the valley dispatch center, Thacker said. “They told him there was a deputy from Central Station who had just pulled over a white PT Cruiser at Highland and State Street for blowing stop signs,” Thacker said. “Gaytan gets his cell phone number and was talking to him when the deputy found the passenger with a bullet wound and a gun in his waistband.” Authorities said Finney was bleeding out and pools of blood filled the vehicle. While medical aid was called for Finney, deputies also detained the driver, Roland Ryland, 38, of San Bernardino. Days after both were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, Gilchrist found out that Ryland, a friend since childhood, was one of the arrestees"


Anti-gun California senator is at it again!: "You may recall that in recent years, GOA has enlisted your aid in fighting so-called 'gang' legislation, which typically includes attempts to apply federal RICO anti-racketeering statutes to minor gun infractions -- thus harassing and prosecuting otherwise law-abiding gun owners as though they were Mafia bosses. Well, Feinstein's S. 456 is the latest vehicle for such underhandedness."

Illinois: Clerk Shoots Robber in head: "A store clerk on the West Side fought back against an alleged robber, shooting him in the head. Chicago police say Monday evening the suspect is in stable condition. "He produced the weapon, announced the robbery," said Sgt. Rich Dowling of the Chicago Police Department. "The clerk produced the cash register, at which time he also produced a weapon, and he began firing at the offender." A man who identified himself as belonging to a local street gang, but declined to give his name, said he is a close friend of the man who was shot. "He our friend. We be together every day," the man said. "Just so happened today we weren't with him. When asked if he thought his friend was trying to rob the hardware store, the man said, "He might have. He might was. If he feel he was robbin' that store, he did what he did." A clerk at a currency exchange next door told CBS 2 that she and the hardware store's owner had called police last week after robbers took cash at gunpoint from a now-shuttered office. She feared that street gang members were sizing them up in preparation for attempting a robbery. "It's time for us to stand up for the victims," Shirley Walls said. "This was a black-owned business. Black-owned." She warmly praised the hardware store clerk who shot in self defense. "He just got married. He has a family," Walls said. "He's trying to make an honest living...This guy came in on him." Police told CBS 2 detectives had gone to Holy Cross Hospital to await permission from doctors to interview the wounded suspect."


Minnesota: Jailbird reoffends: "Prosecutors charged a killer today with trying to burglarize two homes seven months after his release from jail. Feon Stone, 21, is to appear in court Tuesday on a probation violation. He may be sent to prison on his previous manslaughter conviction, for which he had received a stayed sentence. On Sept. 13, at about 1 a.m., officers were sent to the 1200 block of Rice Street on reports of a man trying to burglarize a house, according to a complaint filed against Stone today by the Ramsey County attorney's office. According to the complaint: A man who lives in the home was working on his computer and heard a noise. When he went to check, he saw someone enter his enclosed porch. The man confronted the person on the porch and yelled at him. The intruder ran toward the man and punched him in the head. They fought, and the man ran to his bedroom to get a gun. He went into the back yard and shot a round into the ground to scare the intruder away. A police dog was tracking the suspect when police got a call about 1:15 a.m. about a burglary in progress at a home about two blocks away. The caller, a 74-year-old woman, told police a man was in her bedroom. Officers found Stone inside and the basement window kicked in... In January, Ramsey County District Judge Salvador Rosas sentenced Stone to about seven years in prison for manslaughter for killing his girlfriend's uncle, Christopher Beck, but stayed the sentence. He also sentenced Stone to one year in jail and 15 years probation."


Harassment of Ryan Horsley of Red's Trading Post: "You know ... I've been in the Army for seven years -- both active duty and National Guard. One of the biggest things that is always drilled into our heads is that we are accountable for taxpayer money, which pays us all. We are to report fraud, waste and abuse if we see it. We are the guardians of the tax dollars that give us equipment, our salary and fund our missions. As far as I know, the ATF -- a government agency funded by taxpayer dollars -- has the same critical responsbility. So how many more audits ... how many more agents ... how many more manhours will be spent on shutting up Ryan Horsley of Red's Trading Post? How much more taxpayer money will be wasted on retribution and the attempt to shut down a legitimate businessman?"

A moving story from the NRA convention

The National Rifle Association conference yesterday in Washington, D.C. drew lots of media attention because of the high powered presidential candidates invited to speak. McCain got in a line on a protester, Thompson got in a line on Bill Clinton, and Rudy tried to make peace with his previous anti gun positions; stories for which Drudge has linked to on his site. But to my complete shock, the best speaker of the evening was not Fred, nor Newt nor Mike Huckabee all of which I enjoyed immensely.

But the best speaker of the day was not a politician, lobbyist, nor even an NRA official. The best speaker, hands down, was a young army NCO. Everyone I asked agreed with that assessment. I can't express in words how amazingly his speech, his story, his utter love for this country moved me. When he took the stage and began speaking unassuming, haltingly, somewhat softly spoken, I was concerned. I thought at the time as I later told him "I was feeling sorry for you speaking amongst such polished, intelligent speakers." However, I quickly followed up with "you kicked their asses!"

This young NCO, a man I won't identify by name to a wide audience until I get his permission, told of his massive injuries while fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan. Trying to relay his story here seems futile. I can't match in print the emotion of the man nor the way I felt about him even were I a better writer. I don't think anyone could. But I will try and tell you a little about what he went through.

He talked of his 19 years in the Army, how he had seen friends die in combat, and then one day it was his turn. He and a few other Special Forces operators were pinned down in a four day battle against "a thousand Taliban" in Afghanistan. Unlike the typical Taliban hit and run tactic they massed and no one had been prepared for such a battle. He and his men held their position against an overwhelming force requiring Air Force ammunition drops several times when they were reduced to "40 rounds" between them.

As they maneuvered their vehicle (I believe he said he was on the gun in the turret) they got blown up. He described the sensation of heat, not just on his skin but in him. He struggled to pull himself from the vehicle. He looked down and saw his leg hanging by mere flesh, the bone splintered out into the sand. He got out, couldn't breathe and then felt a pop which eased his airway constriction. That pop was his abdominal lining bursting. He watched as his intestines began to leak from the stomach wounds.

Others came to his aid and they beat out the flames on his body. Disoriented, he began fighting the man who was hitting him. As they hovered over him to administer aid he felt the sting of what he thought was biting insects but soon realized was actually sand spitting up from the bullets hitting all around them. He said he "owed those men a debt he can never repay". I thought, no sir, it is us who owe them that debt. It is us who can never repay them for bringing you home to tell your story.

The sergeant said his plan if he got hit in combat was "to die". It never occurred to him he might live. He went from a Special Forces soldier to "a man who could not wipe his own butt" he said, apologizing for the graphic detail. No apology was needed of course. He talked about his recovery, the year he spent in the hospital, only recently getting out. He said that what sustained him was his faith in God, his incredible wife, the amazing military medical professionals who rebuilt him, and something that surprised me, the wonderful assistance of the NRA and corporate partners that took a personal involvement in his recovery.

I do not intend this as a commercial for the NRA. But having just joined myself, this type of activity was unknown to me until today. I want to thank the NRA and the corporate partners who aided him. One representative from a corporate sponsor with whom I spoke about the NCO was choking a bit on his emotion which allayed my skeptical nature.

The young NCO didn't talk about politics, the war on terror, the war protesters, although he berated the Move On "Betray us" ad. He just said, or rather asked, paraphrasing: that the next time a soldier, someone who has on the ground knowledge, who has sacrificed for our freedom, please listen to what they have to say.

I doubt his message will breach the tin ears of the antiwar left. But his courage, his love of his family, country and freedom pushes me to write. I ask the antiwar left, and I urge others to ask, listen to the soldiers.

Right now, the overwhelming majority of them find value in their mission to fight terrorists in Afghanistan and Iraq. I agree. If I ever get the sense from them, the genuine belief that they don't support the mission I will be the first to stand up and say bring them home immediately. Until then can you on the left stop "supporting them" by insisting you know more than they do about the work they are doing?

If they tell us they are fighting al Qaeda can the MSM please stop writing articles about how they are not really fighting al Qaeda? Can Michael Ware please refrain from making hyperventilating statements like "the streets were rivers of blood" as he did a few days ago on CNN? Can you at the New York Times and Time magazine just take a few moments to rethink the de-legitimization of our brave soldiers strategy your are employing when you call them uneducated, unemployable, untrained, too afraid to speak up against the president "cooking the book" stooges of George Bush?

I am not asking you to love the war. I am asking you to listen to a man who watched his guts leak from his body to protect that freedom of the press you use to attempt to dishonor him. Just listen to him.

Update: The hero's name is Sgt. 1st Class Greg Stube. Video link at the source below:


Source






New ATF report again shows Bloomberg lies about trace data: "Yesterday's release of aggregate gun trace data in the New York City region by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) once again puts the lie to long-standing claims by Mayor Michael Bloomberg that this data is not available to law enforcement, the Second Amendment Foundation said today. William G. McMahon, ATF Special Agent in Charge for the ATF's New York field division, released the data for 2006 on Thursday."


How gun bans affect non gun owners: "Gun bans wrongly and wrongfully affect non-gun owners because bans disarm only the law-abiding. Nothing new, until you see how this spreads. As usual, criminal laws do not interfere with crime until after-the-fact; gun control interferes with only the honest and before-the-fact, and then again after-the-fact, often within a system which victimizes constituents twice. Lifting gun bans can enhance crime control and lift government burdens. For some officials, carrying burdens is desirable, but it is an abuse of the law against the interests of the United States."

Texas Business Owner Shoots, Kills Burglar, Police Say: "Dallas police said a man shot and killed a burglar who broke into his business early Saturday, NBC 5 reported. The shooting happened at Walton Machine and Welding in the 2000 block of Chalk Hill Road, police said. Police did not release the deceased man's identity. There was no word on whether the business owner will face charges."


Oklahoma: Tulsan acquitted in brother's shooting death: "A Tulsa man was acquitted Friday night in the shooting death of his younger brother. Defense attorney Allen Smallwood successfully argued that Benjamin Smith, 27, acted in self-defense when he shot Samsun Smith, 22, in the chest during an altercation in March 2006. Smallwood called the outcome a "major victory" for the Smith family, who endured seven hours of deliberation before learning the verdict. In his closing arguments, Smallwood pleaded with jurors to think about the effect the case would have on society. ''You are going to tell Tulsa County whether a person has the right to defend themselves like Benjamin Smith did,'' Smallwood said. The altercation, which took place at a family residence in west Tulsa, escalated when Benjamin Smith aimed a rifle at Samsun Smith, testimony indicated. Immediately before he was shot, Samsun Smith threw a pillow at his brother and took a step backward. Assistant District Attorney Mike Abel, representing the state, said this showed Benjamin Smith was not acting in "reasonable" fear but rather wanted to control his brother.... " [A pillow is dangerous??]


Outlaw all knives!: "Despite a much-touted reduction in shootings in Boston, police are now confronting a troubling rise in the number of stabbings, which have jumped 10 percent over the same period last year and are on track to reach their highest point in four years. Savvy criminals, aware of the tougher punishments levied for gun violations, have begun wielding blades instead, Boston law enforcement officials believe."

Texas business owner shoots burglary suspects: "A pair of burglary suspects were foiled Thursday evening by the owner of a business in the 700 block of Rodeo Center Blvd. when he entered the second floor of the building and fired a shotgun at the two suspects after they resisted an order not to move, Mesquite police say. At about 10:25 p.m., Mesquite police received a call noting a burglary in progress at a closed business. The owner entered the building to investigate voices he had heard inside, the caller indicated. Upon entering the building, officers heard three shots, police reports say. The owner of the building indicated he had found the two burglary suspects on the second floor. He pointed a shotgun loaded with buckshot at the burglars and told them not to move, police say. One burglar advanced toward the owner of the business and he fired, striking the burglar in his chest and face, police say. After hearing the gunshots, officers went upstairs and found both burglars lying on the floor, police reports state. Charles Ray Knight Jr., 40, a white male, was transported to Baylor Hospital in Dallas suffering from pellet shot to the face, a punctured lung, and one pellet entered his heart. He is listed in stable condition. James Edward Jamie Black, 40, a white male, was identified as the other burglary suspect. Both Black and Knight have lengthy criminal histories. The owner of the building will not face charges in the incident."


Pennsylvania hairdresser turns tables on bandit: "Philadelphia police had no trouble identifying a robbery suspect. He's the one with the bullet wound in his leg. One of his victims grabbed the bandit's gun and turned the tables on him. "I don't know what came over me. I just grabbed the gun from under his arm. I just started shooting," said Lillian Bailey. She can't believe what happened at her Germantown hair salon as she worked past midnight. When a client left the popular stylists business, a gunman lurking outside rushed in demanding money. Her three clients gave him their purses and ran for cover in two back rooms. Lillian was shaken as she shared her frightening story exclusively with Action News. "He went to reach for my pockets, but he put his gun under his arm with the pocketbooks. In that split second, I just grabbed the gun and started shooting," said Bailey. The young mother thought about making it home to her children as she aimed at the robber and emptied his .38 revolver. "After there were no more bullets, I just started bashing him on his head as he was trying to escape the salon," she said. He got away. Lillian didn't realize he was shot until police found him unconscious in some bushes on nearby Johnson Street. He had a bullet wound in his leg."


Pistol-packing teachers?: "In court documents, she's known as 'Jane Doe.' Innocuous enough, but the woman behind that pseudonym pushes one of the nation's hottest political buttons: guns and school safety. What Ms. Doe wants to do is take her Glock 9-mm pistol to the high school in Medford, Ore., where she teaches. She's licensed to carry a concealed weapon and she has what many supporters say is a legitimate reason for being armed: a restraining order against her ex-husband based on threats he's allegedly made against her and her children. But district policy prohibits anyone except a law-enforcement officer from bringing a weapon onto campus. When word got out that she had a concealed-carry permit, administrators reminded her of that policy."

Kids and guns: time for commonsense action

An interesting report from the Australian State of Tasmania

Tasmania firearms legislation may soon be brought in line with other Australian states by allowing monitored firearms use by junior permit holders from 12 onwards. The increasingly shrill voice of the anti-gun lobby tells us this will put a gun in the hand of every child, and cries of 'God Bless Aus-merica' on every lip. Questions of whether Tasmanian laws should reflect other states' legislation have been obscured by a campaign of misinformation, as has the fact that nobody is proposing to alter the stipulation that under 18s are not permitted to own a firearm or use a firearm without strictest supervision.

There is no evidence-based justification for opposing the controlled introduction of juniors to legal shooting activities. The only excuse given is a vague muttering about tough gun laws being a moral imperative for avoiding "US gun culture". An increasing body of peer-reviewed research, including by the Australian Institute of Criminology, shows the 1996 gun bans and $500 million buyback scheme did not impact on the pre-existing decline in firearm homicides. The majority of firearm homicide perpetrators are unlicensed. Despite our tough gun laws, young men use illegally obtained firearms in the course of crimes that are all too often drug-related.

In contrast, consider the young people interested in learning about legal firearms use, and judged by their parents or guardians as ready for the responsibility. They know their participation depends on staying on the right side of the law, and that involvement with violence or drugs will bring an end to legal firearms use. Under the direct supervision of adults who have been approved by police to handle firearms, they are taught that the "US gun culture" seen on television is not the Australian way. They learn the only "gun culture" should be one of safe and sensible use.

NZ laws 'world class'

Some take the ideological view that any "gun culture" is negative, but New Zealand proves otherwise. New Zealand has higher gun ownership and lower firearms abuse per head of population than Australia, and does not expend scarce resources policing the already compliant. Instead of bans and buybacks, they emphasise voluntary training through the Mountain Safety Council, and genuine co-operation and consultation between the firearms community, police, and government.

Like Australia, New Zealand has not had a public mass shooting in over a decade, even though licensed New Zealanders still use the types of firearms Australia banned. Why there has not been a mass shooting despite the availability of these firearms remains unexplained, and poses significant challenges for those who believe the 1996 bans are responsible for preventing mass shootings in Australia.

The New Zealand model has been hailed 'world class' by Mr Tsutomu Ishiguri, Director of the UN Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific. Their down-to-earth laws recognise that firearms licensees and the associated culture of responsible gun ownership do not pose a danger to the fabric of society and the morals of young people.

Illegally used firearms, and the circumstances surrounding their possession, are where we should place our attention. Preventing our future champions from taking their first steps on a lifelong path of achievement, and discouraging motivated young women from following the positive example set by our highly successful Olympic and Commonwealth female shooters, cannot achieve this. Rather, we must recognise that allowing disadvantage, social exclusion, and gross inequality to permeate our society is what can lead us down the US path. If we commit to tackling these issues, then we truly stand a chance of protecting young people.

Preventing young people from learning about firearms from suitably licensed adults has no bearing on protecting youths. Labelling young people with an interest in using firearms in a supervised environment as an undesirable element of the community contributes nothing to protecting the teens who are at real risk of being drawn towards crime, or are already involved in the justice system.

Legal firearms ownership in Australia is not the harbinger of apocalypse created by gun prohibitionists' fertile imaginings. Their rhetoric does not withstand scrutiny, containing only tired slogans where once there were great promises of a safer Australia. Sadly those promises were never about compassion, equality, or progressive social policy - qualities that are key to making Australia a better place for future generations.

With no factual support to justify further restrictions upon legal firearms use, anti-gun lobbyists must find the courage to accept that demanding change on the basis of stringency alone, or decrying modification as "watering down", does not engender effective policy. It encourages simplistic dichotomies between good and bad that actively impede debate and progress. So when it comes to kids and guns, or guns in general, it is time for commonsense - exactly what the Tasmanian Government is trying its best to use.

Source




Tennessee invalid fires and scares off intruder: "A LaVergne man pulled a gun on a would-be robber Wednesday night. The incident happened at a home on Jean Drive, officials said. According to police, the homeowner was lying on the couch when a man with a knife burst through the door. Police are still searching for the intruder. According to the man, the intruder walked into his house through his unlocked front door. “His words were, ‘Money. Uh, I want your money,’” he said. The father of two said he managed to pull a .380 semi-automatic pistol from underneath the sofa cushions. "And I just reached back and grabbed the gun, and then I brought it up. He’s trying to get out the door and I fired,” he said. He said the results might have been different if he hadn’t had a gun. “He would have got what little I had, and I would have been at his mercy,” he said. The man said the intruder wore a mask and spoke with an accent. He said it was too dark to be able to see well enough to give police a description.


Texas: Shooting at business leaves man dead: "Police said Wednesday that Terry Reginald Green, from Industry — some 18 miles south of Brenham — was found dead at around 4:30 a.m. at T.J. Burdett & Sons Recycling near the intersection of state Highway 75 and Interstate 45. The business owner — whose name was not released as of late Wednesday night — shot the man in the chest with a shotgun after he suspected the man to be trespassing. “The business owner confronted an intruder that had made his way into the locked fenced area of the closed business,” said Sgt. Jim Barnes with the Huntsville Police Department. The owner told Green to stay put, but Barnes said the man refused. The owner then shot Green an unknown number of times in the chest. “The business owner was armed with a shotgun and attempted to hold the intruder at gunpoint,” Barnes said. “The intruder failed to comply and was shot in the chest area.” Green was pronounced dead at the scene by Precinct Justice of the Peace Janie Farris."

Pennsylvania gun store owner pulls gun, foils robbery: "A Lawrence County gun store owner confronted by an armed robber yesterday grabbed his own gun and foiled the attempt, sending the suspect running out of the shop. "I always planned for this," said Donald Pieri, 60, owner of Triangle Gun Shop in Perry Township. "You have to think it out." State police charged Jeffrey J. Ierino, 32, of Wampum, Lawrence County, with attempted robbery and other offenses after tracking him to his house. Mr. Pieri was sitting behind the counter talking with PennDOT consultant Paul Butera, 57, about a road project outside the shop when the masked gunman walked in at 11:24 a.m. The suspect waved a semiautomatic in their faces, then tossed a bag to Mr. Pieri and told him to fill it with pistols. At first, Mr. Pieri thought it was a prank. But when he realized it wasn't a joke, he quickly dived behind a door leading into the back room and retrieved his own pistol from his office desk. He said the sudden move startled the gunman enough so that he couldn't get off a shot. Instead, the masked man ran away. He proved fairly easy to catch. Mr. Pieri said many people in the area had reported seeing a suspicious car driving around the shop in the morning, and at least two witnesses wrote down the license plate. Within a couple of hours, troopers tracked Mr. Ierino to his house, but they said he ran off when they showed up. They caught him about a block away at a bar. Mr. Ierino, who has a long criminal record, is charged with attempted robbery, attempted theft, illegal possession of a gun, carrying a gun without a license, terroristic threats and simple assault. He was being held in the Lawrence County Jail on a $25,000 bond."
.
Oregon man shot by motel owner: "A Springfield man was in serious condition Wednesday morning after a Tuesday afternoon shooting at a motel near 12th and Main Streets in Springfield. Police say Columbus Hayles was shot when a fight with the motel owner got out of hand. Hayles' wife, Sherry, said they were at the motel to pay for a truck they were buying from a tenant there. Witnesses say the motel owner, Edward Yu and his wife told them to leave. Apparently, when the Hayles couple refused, the fight began. Police say surveillance video shows Columbus Hayles attacking Yu's wife. They say the owner then shot Hayles, with a 38-caliber pistol. Investigators call the shooting justified, saying the motel owners were within their rights to protect themselves and their property.

IL: Off-duty officer shoots intruder in own home: "A would-be burglar definitely picked the wrong house to break into early Saturday morning. Chicago police said the man was in good condition at Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn after he was shot in the thigh by the homeowner, an off-duty Chicago police officer. The officer discovered the intruder, who police have not named, in his home in the 6000 block of South Austin Avenue about 2 a.m. The officer noticed the back door was open and then spotted the man, Chicago police spokesman Pat Camden said. "He identified himself as a Chicago police officer and attempted to arrest the intruder," Camden said. "When the intruder resisted, the officer shot him." The incident brought at least a dozen police cars in the wee hours to the quiet Clearing community, neighbors said. The officer was not home Saturday afternoon, and his wife declined comment. Police said neither the police officer nor his wife was hurt in the incident. The man who broke into the home likely will be charged once he has recovered sufficiently, Camden said."

Kentucky druggies killed: "Two men were shot and killed today and the man who shot them has been charged with drug trafficking, police said. Just before 6:30 a.m., two men allegedly kicked in a door of a second-floor apartment at the Thunder Bird complex in the 1700 block of Tempest Way in the Hunters Trace area, said Lt. Barry Wilkerson, head of the homicide unit. An altercation broke out and the resident, Shawn Martin, 32, told police he shot both men. Killed were Corey Carr, 29, of the 500 block of East Jefferson Street, and William Gibson III, 28, of the 200 block of Conestoga Avenue, said Gayle Norris, a deputy Jefferson County coroner. Both Carr and Gibson died of single gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene, Norris said. Police have charged Martin with one count each of trafficking in a controlled substance and tampering with physical evidence. When searching Martin’s apartment, police found several bundles of crack cocaine in a toilet, according to the arrest citation. He also disposed of other bundles, according to the citation... Police found one man’s body just outside the door to the apartment and another body in the middle of Tempest Way. Carr and Gibson both had felony records including drug trafficking and terroristic threatening charges stretching back as far as 2001, according to circuit court records. Wilkerson said Martin also had a criminal history that also included at least one felony on his record, but he did not have specifics available."


Maryland robber shot with own gun: "A 21-year-old man was shot multiple times about 9:30 p.m. Sunday when he attempted to rob another man in the 100 block of N. Howard St. Police said a gunman was in the process of robbing another man when the intended victim, 22, grabbed the handgun, turned it toward the gunman and shot him before dropping the gun to the ground. Police said when the robber charged at the victim, the victim retrieved the gun from the ground and shot the other man two more times. The intended robbery victim fled and was being sought. Police said Calvin Ray was shot in the right side of the chest, a hip and lower back and was in serious condition at Maryland Shock Trauma Center. Charges against Ray were pending."


Utah man shoots attacking pit bull: If John Erickson hadn't had his gun with him when a neighbor's pit bull attacked him, there's no telling how bad things might have been. Erickson, 22, was walking up to his house on 400 South near 700 West in Orem on Wednesday when a neighbor's pit bull bit him from behind. As he rode his scooter to his house around 8:30 p.m., Erickson saw the dog sitting calmly while a neighborhood girl petted it. Then he parked and took three or four steps toward his house when the dog bit him. "All of a sudden the dog grabbed my leg from behind," he said. He swung his scooter helmet at the dog, which backed off for a moment. But when the dog charged forward, Erickson, who has a concealed weapons permit, drew his 9-millimeter pistol and fired at the dog's head. Erickson said he worries about what would have happened if he hadn't been armed. "There's nothing I could've done. I couldn't run. There's no way I'm going to outrun it. There's nowhere I could go," said Erickson, a student at Utah Valley State College. Even more, he said he worries about what would've happened if the dog had attacked his wife, Lynn Ann, who came home just two minutes before him, or the many children who walk down that street on their way to and from Orem Elementary School. At Erickson's request, no charges were filed against the dog's owner, said Orem police spokesman Lt. Doug Edwards. Vicious animal citations and letting dogs run free are misdemeanor offenses."

North Carolina Intruder Shot, Killed: "Deputies are investigating a breaking-and-entering case in which they said the intruder was shot and killed. The incident occurred just after 8 a.m. Monday in Surry County. Authorities said a man woke up and found another man climbing through a ladder and going through his window. The homeowner confronted 55-year-old Howard Jones as he came off the ladder, investigators said. Jones was shot twice with a rifle and later died at a local hospital, according to the Surry County Sheriff's Office. Authorities said it wasn't the first time Jones had broken into the home. No charges have been filed.


Florida: Accomplice in fatal store robbery caught: "The Broward Sheriff's Office said detectives have arrested the accomplice of a robbery suspect shot and killed last week by a store clerk at an Oakland Park clothing store. Michael McNeal, 19, was taken into custody Sunday outside a church in the 200 block of SW 27 Avenue in Fort Lauderdale. McNeal, of Fort Lauderdale, faces several charges, including murder, robbery, burglary and carjacking. He remains in jail without bond. Store clerk George Azar, 25, shot and killed McNeal's friend, Hung Nguyen, 17, after they entered the Corner Urban Wear store armed with handguns, detectives said. Detectives believe McNeal fled on foot after the shooting. Azar was not injured in the incident and has not been charged. If investigators find that Azar shot Nguyen in self-defense, the shooting would become the fifth such death in the county this year."


West Virginia: Coyote shot: "Brian Akers and a group of neighbors were standing outside when a sickly looking coyote approached them. They tried to run the coyote off by chasing it away with a four-wheeler, but the coyote wasn't startled. After the coyote lunged and attempted to bite a neighbor, Mr. Akers shot and killed the animal. The coyote was taken to the Bland County Health Department and is now undergoing testing for rabies".

Florida: Owner Sleeping In Gas Station Over Crimes Surprises, Kills Intruder: "A gas station owner in Central Florida who was sleeping in his business after a rash of crimes in the area shot and killed a man trying to break into his store early Friday morning, according to sheriff's deputies. Investigators said someone apparently began to break into the Citgo gas station located at the corner of Pine Hills and Silverstar Road at about 2:30 a.m. The owner said when he was awakened by glass breaking he grabbed a gun and opened fire, shooting 14 times. Police said the culprit was able to flee the business after being shot but was found dead after collapsing in a nearby parking lot. The owner, who did not want to be identified, said he did not regret using lethal force. "One way or another, he had to go down," the owner said. "His days were numbered. If it were not me, he would get somebody. And if he had a weapon, I would have gone down." The owner said there have been 14 break-ins in the last two weeks. Police said the business owner acted in self-defense but were checking surveillance video and still investigating the case. The owner said he has slept at the station for the last 10 days to stop any crime at the station."


Georgia: Man killed during home invasion: "An early-morning struggle in a darkened duplex left a man lying dead on the floor next to a backpack full of burglary tools, Clayton County Police said. The renting resident told detectives he heard the noise of someone breaking down his back door at about 4:30, Wednesday morning. He went to check, and bumped into someone in the kitchen. “He saw the suspect reaching for a gun in his waistband,” said Deputy Chief Tim Robinson, and “was somehow able to disarm the suspect. He fell back — I’m talking, maybe 10 feet — he fired and he killed the suspect.” The renter, whose name has not yet been released by police, fired several shots inside his 5701 Williamsburg Trace residence, between Riverdale and College Park, according to his statements to police... Everything seemed to match the man’s account. “The physical evidence tends to support his story,” the deputy chief said. “And he’s been very cooperative.” The angle of the bullet, the position of the body, the signs the back door was forced open and the bag next to the dead man’s body all lent credence to the resident’s account of being surprised by a home invasion and then shooting a would-be burglar to death. Police have not yet positively identified the dead man. They have a tentative identification, Robinson said, and have some indication he had burgled before. “He did have a backpack, and inside that backpack he did have several items that are indicative of someone who was burgling homes,” Robinson said.


Felons need guns too: "In a Sept. 4 Salt Lake Tribune story, Danny Dutton of Hurricane justifiably killed a man in self-defense, but may go to prison because he used a gun he wasn't entitled to have -- because he's a convicted felon. So, in order for Danny Dutton to save his life, he had to commit another felony to defend himself. There's something wrong here. Do convicted felons have reasonable expectations to be able to defend themselves if their lives are in danger when they're not committing a crime? If not, why not? The Second Amendment says 'the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.' It doesn't go on to say 'unless you're a convicted felon.' That's something that individual states tacked on later."

CA: Kids told to remove tiny rifles from graduation caps: "Cornerstone Elementary School will review its zero-tolerance policy toward guns on campus this fall after fifth-graders were told to remove weapons from the hands of toy soldiers that festooned their graduation caps. 'We don't want to repeat mistakes or offend people,' Walker Williams, superintendent of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District, told the Daily Breeze. 'We didn't intend to offend.' ... A lawyer for the National Rifle Association, Chuck Michel of Long Beach, suggested district officials had taken the policy to a ludicrous extreme."


WV: Substitute teacher acquitted in fatal shooting: "A man accused of killing a neighbor during a dispute over a dog has been acquitted following his six-day trial in Preston County Circuit Court. The seven-woman, five-man jury deliberated for nearly three hours Tuesday before returning the not guilty verdict against Ronald Schleger. Schleger, a 56-year-old substitute math teacher, was initially charged with murder, malicious assault and attempted murder. On May 12, 2006, both Schleger and Douglas Livengood, 43, called Preston County's 911 center to report that Schleger had run over and killed Livengood's dog. Authorities said Schleger later called 911 to report that he had shot Livengood. Livengood's wife was also shot but survived. Preston County Prosecuting Attorney Melvin C. Snyder III told the jury in closing arguments that the shooting had all the elements of malice, premeditation and intent. Schleger, however, maintained that he fired his gun in self-defense."


DC Handgun Ban: "Is banning handguns a 'reasonable regulation?' The District of Columbia certainly hopes that the Supreme Court thinks so. D.C. filed a brief last week asking the U.S. Supreme Court to let it keep its 1976 handgun ban, but how the city argued its case was what was most surprising. Instead of spending a lot of time arguing over what the constitution means, the city largely made a public policy argument. D.C. argues that whatever one thinks about the Second Amendment guaranteeing people a right to own guns, banning handguns should be allowed for public safety reasons. Claiming that the Second Amendment doesn't protect individual rights might be a tough sell, but the city's public safety argument will be at least as tough."

Texas Resident Shoots Robber, Foils Robbery: "A resident opened fire on a would-be robber Friday morning outside a Waco apartment complex, foiling the hold-up and sending the man to a local hospital. It happened outside the Parkside Village apartments on North 9th Street in Waco. Initial reports were that a resident witnessed a man attempting to rob another person and fired as many as six shots at the would-be robber, who was struck at least three times. Police learned of the incident after the badly injured man turned up at the Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center emergency room. Late Friday morning police were still at the hospital and at the scene of the robbery."




Louisiana: A dead Chestnut: "A would-be carjacker who was shot at a Metairie fast food restaurant in June died Thursday from medical problems related to the injury, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office said. According to Col. John Fortunato, a sheriff's office spokesman, 44-year-old Carl Chestnut was shot several times while attempting to rob a mother and her 17-year-old son at an Arby's drive-through. Fortunato said the victims were in their car waiting to place an order when Chestnut walked up to the vehicle and pointed a gun at them. The women's teenage son was able to pry the gun away and shot Chestnut several times, wounding him in his head and torso. Chestnut was taken to East Jefferson Hospital immediately following the shooting, but was eventually transferred to Earl K. Long Hospital in Baton Rouge on September 7 for additional medical help. Chestnut died September 13 at the hospital."


OR: Teacher fights gun ban: "A high school teacher in southern Oregon plans to challenge a school district policy that prevents her from carrying a gun on school grounds. Portland lawyer Jim Leuenberger said in an e-mail message to the Mail Tribune newspaper that he will ask a Jackson County judge to declare the Medford School District's policy 'illegal and void' for holders of concealed handgun licenses. ... Leuenberger said the woman has divorced her husband and obtained a restraining order against him. The woman contacted the lawyer and the Oregon Firearms Federation after school officials approached her about rumors that she was carrying a weapon."