Tennessee: Serial robber finally shot: "A 22-year-old uniformed security guard who was buying gasoline at a Murfreesboro Pike station on Sunday shot and killed a robbery suspect carrying an air gun. Metro detectives are ruling the death of Jamie L. Sullivan, 37, a justifiable homicide. Wearing a mask and carrying what appeared to be a pistol, Sullivan entered the Mapco market at 2101 Murfreesboro Pike at 1:45 a.m. Eric Gordon, 22, was also in the market. Sullivan pointed his pistol at Gordon's head and threatened to kill him. Sullivan told Gordon to surrender his holstered gun and a struggle ensued. Gordon drew his 9-millimeter weapon and shot Sullivan once in the face. Sullivan died at the scene. Shortly after, detectives discovered that Sullivan's gun was a BB pistol that looked like a real gun. Metro police had charged Sullivan with 146 offenses since June 1989. His last arrest was for trespassing Nov. 20."


Florida: Customer kills robber: "An eyewitness saw a robber brutally beating a store clerk in Ocoee, so he pulled a gun out of his car at the Kangaroo gas station on Franklin Street and fatally shot the robber. He's a regular at the store and said he was coming to buy some cigarettes when he heard the clerk screaming. He told Eyewitness News he not only grabbed his cell phone to call 911, but also pulled a loaded handgun out of his car. "I pull up like this and said, 'Stop,' and, as he came up, I came straight up, fired, 'Pop, pop,' two shots," Chris said. Those shots hit and killed 40-year-old Freddie Carson. Public records show he has a rap sheet going back to 1987, including charges like battery and burglary. This time, the 26-year-old says he was within his rights when he took his gun out of his car to stop a robbery in progress. "I was not going to sit there and watch a friend get beat to death. Would I do it again? I'm upset, but, yes, I would do it again," he said. The store clerk was transported to Health Central Hospital with head injuries, but details on her condition were not released. Chris did not have a concealed weapons permit, but he was protected by two other laws that allow drivers to carry guns in their cars and allow gun owners to start shooting if they witness a violent felony."


Oklahoma: Prowlers trigger a firm response from homeowners: "Two men accused in a Thursday night burglary were stopped by two homeowners with guns, sheriff's officials said. Jason Dean Cornett, 30, and Joshua Starkey, 28, were arrested after a homeowner near NE 63 and Choctaw Road found two men rifling through his garage. The homeowner confronted one man and went back into the house to get a gun, but the burglar was gone when he returned, sheriff's spokesman Mark Myers said. A deputy found Cornett under a nearby vehicle and arrested him, Myers said. Starkey escaped from the first homeowner and the deputies, but was arrested later after a homeowner near McLoud shot him in the shoulder with a shotgun and held him at bay until Lincoln County sheriff's officers arrived, Myers said."


Oklahoma thief caught: "A man who was shot is in jail himself. The incident happened Thursday night in Lincoln County. Officials say Joshua Starkey broke into the man's house last week. The homeowner spotted him Thursday night while driving and followed him. Starkey eventually stopped, got out of the car and started to run. That's when the homeowner fired the shot at Starkey's vehicle. Starkey was hit in the shoulder by a fragment. Starkey was arrested shortly after. The homeowner was not arrested. Officials say Starkey is responsible for other burglaries in the area and he also had $3,600 in warrants out against him. A second suspect, Jason Cornett, was arrested last week for allegedly breaking into the home along with Starkey.

AZ: Jewelry store owner shoots would-be thieves: "The owner of a Phoenix jewelry store shot two men who had used pepper spray on him during an attempted robbery. The suspects, identified as 24-year-old Gregory Mills and 27-year-old Jason Buckingham, were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and are expected to be charged Tuesday. Phoenix police say Mills and Buckingham went to the jewelry store of a 61-year-old man around 2 p.m. Monday and tried to sell a watch, but were denied because it was missing parts. About 10 minutes later, they returned, pepper sprayed the store owner in the face and smashed the glass of a display cabinet. That's when the owner pulled a gun from his pocket, shot each suspect and held them at gunpoint until officers arrived. Investigators say the owner acted in self defense and won't be charged."


AL: Man shoots alleged attacker: "A Pell City man is in the hospital with a gunshot wound after he allegedly broke into a Hanceville residence and attacked the owner Saturday. According to Hanceville police reports, the gunshot victim was 32-year-old Charles Kendrick. "He was shot once in the stomach with a 25-caliber automatic," said Lt. Jimmy Rodgers of the Hanceville Police Department. "Further investigation has ruled it was a self-defense shooting." "The owner of the residence was at home when this guy (Kendrick) jumped on him and began to fight him," Rodgers said. "The owner went inside and locked the door and retrieved a handgun." Rodgers said Kendrick allegedly then began smashing the back windows of the residence and tried to enter. "The owner pointed the gun at him to prevent him from entering," Rodgers said. "The gun was unloaded at this point." Undeterred, Kendrick allegedly continued to break the window and then entered the home, Rodgers said. The homeowner then went into his bedroom and locked the door. "The perpetrator kicked in the door, at which point he was shot by the resident," Rodgers said. An investigation revealed the attack was a type of domestic violence situation, Rodgers said. "The homeowner's girlfriend has kids by the perpetrator, and apparently he was upset about the kids and took it out on the boyfriend," Rodgers said. Rodgers noted Kendrick could face criminal charges once he is released from the hospital, including a charge of burglary.


DC: District targets spots for gun stores: "The District will allow gun stores along major commercial corridors in every corner of the city, under new rules recently adopted by the D.C. Zoning Commission. Emergency regulations issued by the commission allow gun stores to open along most commercial corridors not zoned for neighborhood retail, throughout much of downtown and in a handful of industrial zones. But because each store must be at least 300 feet away from the nearest school, library, home, playground and church, the number of specific possible locations is very limited. The rules are far less restrictive than those adopted in July - a month after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the District's 32-year-old handgun ban."


Another reason to arm up? "While we stumble along economically with bailouts, buyouts, and poor sales in almost all sectors, two products in America are seeing dramatic increases in sales: guns and ammo. People who never owned a gun before are buying; people are buying multiples of military style weapons and ammo is being bought by the case instead of by the box. Many explain this away as folks simply worried that Obama will move to ban certain firearms, especially those referred to by the ignorant as `assault weapons,' I believe the motivation to buy firearms and ammunition goes much deeper. More and more Americans are becoming increasingly aware of the storm that is brewing on the horizon, a storm driven by the possibility of a complete economic collapse. The more astute are reading the handwriting on the wall: military combat units being assigned for stateside duty to quell domestic disturbances, a militarization of law enforcement, and the fear of what will happen when the state is no longer able to provide monthly checks to the millions currently living on government handouts labeled as `entitlements.'"

CA: Woman Fires Gun At Intruders: "A homeowner in Santa Paula fended off two intruders early Tuesday morning when she fired a shot at the men. It happened at 1:30 a.m. on the 13000 block of Telegraph Road. Police say the family's dog woke them, growling and barking inside the house. The homeowner walked down a hallway, armed with a handgun and confronted one suspect, who then challenged the homeowner. Police say the homeowner shot in self defense and the suspects ran. For several hours Ventura County Sheriff's Department and Santa Paula Police searched by air and ground for the suspects but were unable to locate them."


LA: Police say victim shot robbery suspect: "Police said a city man was shot and wounded Thursday night while trying to rob another at gunpoint near a Canal Boulevard convenience store. Police responding to a report of a man shot just after 8 p.m. found 34-year-old Lee Diggs of 534 St. Charles St. lying on the ground near the Turner Motel with gunshot wounds to the hip and stomach areas, Thibodaux Police Chief Craig Melancon said. Just after officers arrived, Melancon said, they were approached by Terrence Triggs of Schriever, who told them he believed he had shot a man who was trying to rob him through his truck's driver-side window. "He stated he had been robbed and in self-defense shot the individual who robbed him," Melancon said this morning. Triggs had called 911 to report the shooting. Diggs was taken to Thibodaux Regional Medical Center where he is under police guard, and will be booked at a later time for armed robbery, Melancon said. Melancon said officers are looking for an alleged accomplice to the robbery. A warrant has been issued for 33-year-old Antoine Baptiste of Thibodaux. Melancon said Baptiste approached Triggs, the robbery victim, inside the convenience store. Triggs, who had been celebrating his birthday, was wearing a large gold chain. Relatives and friends had pinned several $100 bills to it, and during the robbery, the money was taken, police said. After the shooting, Melancon said, Baptiste ran from the truck and went to the wounded Diggs' side, taking his pistol - described as a small-calibre weapon - and hiding it. The pistol was later found by police."


TX: Road rage killing: "One hour after revelers welcomed the new year in 2008, a motorist at a Northwest Side intersection fired three shots into 24-year-old Tomas Garza, moments after authorities said Garza threatened the motorist with a baseball bat in an apparent road-rage incident. The killing, the first of 137 recorded in San Antonio last year, was an act of self-defense, police later determined, and was classified by department officials as a justified homicide.


TX: Dog basher shot: "Among the justified homicides last year in San Antonio was the May killing of 50-year-old Jesse Carrion. It was just before 11:30 p.m. on a weekday when the owner of a home and small carpentry business on Roland Avenue heard someone in his backyard. He went outside and saw a man with a pipe beating his dog, according to a police report. The home and the back building with the tools had been burglarized in the past. The man with the pipe, identified as Carrion, advanced into the yard, where he was shot and killed by the homeowner, an act that authorities determined fell within the parameters of the castle doctrine".

CA: Burglar flees after woman fires: "The homeowner was alerted by a barking, growling family dog about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, the Sheriff's Department reported. The homeowner, armed with a handgun, walked down her hallway and found a man who had apparently forced his way into the house, deputies said. Deputies said the burglar "brazenly and antagonistically challenged the homeowner." "Threatened by the aggressive behavior and fearing for her life," the homeowner "fired in self-defense at the confrontational suspect," the sheriff's report said.The burglar fled without taking any property."


TN:Robbery suspect tangles with Elvis: ""The lesson here is, don't mess with The King.Or at least don't mess with Elvis Smith. Around 5:30 p.m. today, Smith, 49, and his two brothers were cleaning up a lot in North Memphis when a man approached them with a gun."He tried to rob them and one of the gentlemen had a handgun on him," Memphis police Lt. Jerry Gwyn said. "He exchanged gunfire with the suspect. The suspect lost the gun battle."The suspect was hit in the chest and leg but is expected to live."


GA: Man shoots burglar: "According to the incident report, the victim was asleep when he heard someone kick open his front door and enter his home. He said the grabbed his handgun from under his pillow, loaded the weapon and ran into the living room, where he saw the burglar standing in the foyer. The victim said he fired four shots and the intruder ran. The victim then grabbed his high-powered rifle and stood guard outside his home, where officers found him when they arrived at the home. Officers were able to track down the suspect, German Brown, in the emergency room at Newton Medical Center, where he sought treatment for a wound to his middle and ring fingers on this right hand. Brown’s shoes matched a shoe print left on the door at the home."


MN: Greenfield tries to keep guns out of city meetings : "The Greenfield City Council is proposing an ordinance that would ban city employees from bringing guns to work. The move comes after council member-elect Howard Veldhuizen brought an unloaded gun to a city council meeting.Some residents believes it sends the wrong message and said they do not feel safe going to city council meetings anymore.The city council wanted to ban guns from the premise all together but doesn't have the authority under state law to prohibit weapons on city property.Other cities like Minneapolis have found a way around the law by enacting a similar ordinace prohibiting city employees from bringing guns to work."

Indiana drunk shot: "The victim, Jeremy V. Hauger, 25, of Bloomington, was initially transported to Greene County General Hospital in Linton and then later to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis where he received medical treatment for a gunshot wound to the face. On Nov. 19, Greene County Prosecutor Holtsclaw announced that no criminal charges would be filed in connection with the July 6 shooting of Hauger. Holtsclaw said the investigation by Indiana State Police detectives and the Greene County Sheriff's Department revealed that Craig Wade acted in "self-defense" when he shot Hauger inside his own home at 410 East Locust Street in Jasonville. Holtsclaw explained by saying, "The evidence showed that Hauger had been present at a party hosted by Wade earlier in the evening. During the evening, Hauger drank to the point of extreme intoxication. Wade eventually asked Hauger to leave his property early in the morning and Hauger refused. Hauger shortly thereafter entered Wade's home armed with a knife and began threatening Wade and his female friend. Hauger was again ordered to leave, but instead confronted Wade with a knife. Wade then shot Hauger one time with a bolt action .22 caliber rifle." The prosecutor said the case falls under Indiana Code 35-41-3-2, which states a person is justified in using deadly force and does not have duty to retreat if the person reasonably believes that the force is necessary to prevent serious bodily injury or death or the commission of a forcible felony".


Colorado drunk shot: "Sean Kennedy was shot earlier this week when he had been drinking, and mistakenly tried to enter what he believed to be his own house, breaking a window on the bottom floor to climb inside. The owners, fearing a break in, called the police, and then headed downstairs with a gun to confront the suspected-robber. It is unclear how long after the call Kennedy was shot, or if he had been warned prior. The case has left prosecutors wondering if the "Make My Day" law actually applies, as the house Kennedy had broken into had been a block away from his own, of a similar design, and containing the same house number in the address. "The time frame will be key," David Webster, a defense attorney for the homeowners said Wednesday. "It sounds like they were trying to do the right thing and get law enforcement there."


AL: Wounded wife grabbed gun, killed husband: "Neighbors on a rural road in Baldwin County didn't pay much attention to the Cowan residence until gunfire erupted there two days before Christmas, revealing a deadly case of domestic violence. Investigators said an enraged James Cowan Jr., 39, shot 42-year-old Pamela Cowan in the chest about 5:30 a.m., following a stretch of abuse that started the night before. He had poured gasoline throughout their small home, dousing his wife and the bed in which she lay. Then he stacked cushions from furniture on and near his wife and blocked the door with furniture as officers arrived. But his wife managed to pick up the .357-caliber handgun he had put down briefly and shot him in the head, sheriff's spokesman Maj. Anthony Lowery said. James Cowan was airlifted to a Mobile hospital where he was pronounced dead. Pamela Cowan was treated at a Pensacola, Fla., hospital and was expected to recover. A county grand jury later will review the evidence, but Lowery said no charges were filed."


CA: She should have pulled the trigger: "Her name suggests a sense of peace, but Harmony Bates definitely knows how to defend herself. She tells police a man walked up to her vehicle outside a grocery store and told her had a gun. When she yelled for help, Harmony says he punched her, and that's when Harmony's sense of peace turned into self-defense. She tells police she grabbed the gun and turned it on the man, then she remembered she had a pair of scissors in her pocket. "I grabbed them and I just started stabbing him in the shoulder and I started stabbing him in the neck," she said. "We don't encourage it, however, in this case it appears as though it probably did the trick," said Officer Andrew Frankel of the Berkeley Police Department. The suspect ran away, and police say he even tried to carjack two more people. One attempt was successful, the other wasn't. The suspect remains at large, and his injuries are unknown.

Ireland: Burglar greeted with retiree's shotgun: "An attempted robbery at a house on Broguemakers' Hill, Kilkenny City at 4.30am on Christmas morning was foiled by the sprightly 68-year-old home owner. The quick-thinking resident awoke to the sound of a ladder being placed against the back wall of his home. Slipping out of bed, he grabbed his legally-held shotgun and tip-toed downstairs in his bare feet, dressed only in a pyjamas. He silently opened the back door and found the burglar wearing a balaclava standing on the ladder. Using rough language in an attempt to impress the intruder, the old-age pensioner pointed the gun and told the intruder to get down and f... off or he would have his head blown off. The burglar, whose speech was slurred due to drink or drugs, held his hands in front of him and said "take it easy with that gun, I'm only looking for a few dollars". He was put off the property at gunpoint and the gardai [police] were contacted. They responded immediately and a half hour later rang the occupants of the house to say they could sleep safely now as the gardai had found a fellow matching the description, who was helping them with their enquiries."


CA: Killing ruled self-defense: "A 27-year-old man wounded in a Dec. 22 exchange of gunfire with a man police said he was trying to rob has died, authorities said Wednesday. He was identified as Dahyn Walker of Oakland and died Dec. 27 at a hospital. The district attorney's office decided Wednesday the 33-year-old man who shot Walker had acted in self-defense. Although he was not charged in Walker's killing, the man was charged with possession of a concealed firearm and possession of a loaded firearm in a car. His name was not released pending his appearance in court on the gun charges. The shooting happened about 9 p.m. Dec. 22 in the 3200 block of Champion Street in the Dimond district. Police said the 33-year-old man and the 36-year-old man came to the site expecting to sell some marijuana to Walker. The deal was not completed, and the two older men started driving away. Police said Walker came up to the car with a gun drawn and tried to rob the men. Police said Walker fired some shots at the men before the 33-year-old was able to pull his gun and return fire, hitting Walker once. The two older men drove to one hospital and Walker to another before police were contacted. A second man with Walker is still being sought."


NC: Female accomplice caught: "A Western Harnett High School student has been charged with taking part in a robbery earlier this month that left three people shot in western Harnett County. Katherine Danielle Stroud, 16, of Quiet Country Lane, Sanford, is charged with felony counts of robbery, burglary, conspiracy and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or seriously injure in the event at the home of Derrick Womack on Tacia Drive off N.C. 27 Three people tried to rob Mr. Womack, who owns Tingen Store on N.C. 27, Dec. 19. The robbers attacked and shot Mr. Womack in the hand. He took a gun from one of the attackers and shot back, injuring two of the intruders. Ms. Stroud's bond was set at $100,000. The sheriff's office has already charged Maurice Purcell, 18, of Sanford in the case. He is charged with attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon, first-degree burglary and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or seriously injure."


MD: Weaving car trick stymies gunman: "According to police, on the morning of Dec. 27, the men ordered the man and woman, and their two boys, ages 8 and 11, into the family's Mitsubishi Gallant, and told the father to drive to the Silver Spring bank where his wife works. The men planned for the woman to assist them in robbing the bank, which was scheduled to open at 9 a.m. Surafel got into the vehicle with the family, and the other man stayed at the family's home and was later picked up by Tadele, police said. Trooper Barrington Cameron, assigned to road patrol duties at the College Park Barracks, saw the Gallant weaving on the outer loop of I-495 near College Park and pulled the vehicle over. The father, who had been driving, told Cameron that Surafel, who was sitting in the backseat, had a gun. Surafel was taken into custody without incident. Police recovered a loaded semi-automatic pistol and a knife."

Omaha robber Shot: " Investigators say an 19-year-old Omaha man found shot to death in a funeral home parking lot was killed with his own gun by a man he was trying to rob. D'Vontae Hutchinson was found in the parking lot around 11:30 p.m. Sunday. He was rushed to an Omaha hospital, where he later died. Police say 19-year-old Shannon Watt called police after Hutchinson pulled a gun on him and tried to rob him in his car. After a brief struggle, Watt managed to get control of Hutchinson's gun and shot him. Police say witness statements and evidence from the scene confirms this. The Douglas County Attorney's Office and the Omaha Police Department have reviewed the case and have decided Watt's actions were justified. The investigation continues, but Watt is not being charged at this time. It was the second time the 19-year-old Hutchinson had been shot this year. Last month, his 25-year-old brother was shot and killed."


IN: man arrested in attempted armed robbery: "A man is under arrest and facing multiple charges in an attempted armed robbery. It happened at 116th Street and Brooks School Road early Wednesday morning. A woman called police saying that her boyfriend was in the Marsh Supermarket parking lot fighting with a man who was trying to rob them. When police arrived, the woman's boyfriend told officers he'd found a man hiding in the back of his SUV. According to the witness, the suspect ordered him at gunpoint to get into the SUV. As the man did so, he yelled at his girlfriend to run. Police say the victim then got in the SUV and struggled with the suspect. During the struggle the suspect's gun went off and shot out the back window of the SUV. The suspect fled in a black Yukon. Police tried to stop him, but he led officers on a chase that ended with the suspect ramming a police car near Holland Park. The suspect fled on foot and forced his way into a nearby apartment. Officers followed the suspect inside and he was finally apprehended with the help of a police canine. The suspect, Robert Harris, was taken into custody and treated at a nearby hospital for a dog bite. His gun was recovered at the scene. Harris, 32, is being held at the Hamilton County Jail."


NC man shot in foot while attempting robbery: "A clerk shot a man attempting to rob the 2Fifth Clothing and Accessories store in the foot Tuesday. Police caught up with Shamel McCallum on Tuesday night at New Hanover Regional Medical Center about an hour after police allege he tried to rob a clothing store on 17th Street. Trouble began at 6:50 p.m. when police say a store clerk shot a man in the foot who tried to rob 2Fifth Clothing and Accessories at 708 S. 17th St. Soon after, Wilmington police officers taped off the scene and interviewed employees. A helicopter flew overhead and a K-9 officer searched nearby neighborhoods. Detective M.A. Overton said the suspect left a blood trail. The K-9 lost the trail. Within 90 minutes of the robbery attempt, police said a man entered the emergency room, put his hand in his pocket to look like he had a gun and demanded treatment for his injured foot. WPD Sgt. J.R. Tyson said hospital police chased the man into a bathroom, then talked him out after he locked the door. Soon after 8 p.m., Tyson said McCallum was receiving treatment and also said he was the suspect in the robbery attempt. Though police say McCallum acted as if he had a weapon, they did not find one. Tyson also said McCallum told officers he'd been released from prison two days earlier after serving time for common law robbery."


Water gun does the trick: "A robbery suspect got a wet surprise when he tried to rob a Portland car wash on Dec. 13. The robbery attempt took place at the Washman car wash on Northeast 81st and Glisan Street in Portland. The robbery suspect, who was wearing a skeleton-style Halloween mask, tired to force a Santa hat-wearing employee to hand over the cash out of a register by threatening him with a fake hand gun. That's when Chris Truax, the car wash worker, brandished his own weapon: a high-pressure water gun used to clean cars as they moved through the automated facility. He reportedly got off a shot of water to the suspect's face during the scuffle, and the suspect dropped the plastic gun."

FL: store manager shoots armed robbers: "A store manager behind the counter of a Pembroke Pines convenience store turned the tables on a pair of armed robbers Monday night when he pulled out a gun and shot them, police said. . Hammond, 20, jumped over the counter and demanded money from the register while Sims, 18, stood by with a revolver in his hand. Hammond stuffed cash from the register into his pockets and then told Shedahe Abdel, the store manager, to open the safe. When Sims walked up to Abdel and pointed his handgun at him, Abdel grabbed his own handgun from his waistband and shot Hammond in the leg. Abdel then fired several rounds at Sims, striking him once in the arm. Abdel was not injured."


Mexico: More legal guns would help : "He also points out that many of the guns used by these Mexican criminals come from the U.S., since their neighbor to the north allows private firearms purchasing and ownership. Last I checked, private ownership of firearms was severely restricted in Mexico.Given the level of corrupt police involvement in the drug trade, innocent citizens cannot even count on their various law enforcement entities to protect them.Perhaps Mr. Calder›n should consider the potential value to his war on drugs of giving innocent Mexicans greater right to defend themselves and their communities by liberalizing gun ownership.Knowing their victims might defend themselves might make the criminals refocus on merely killing one another."


Gun haters sue to reinstate firearms ban in national parks : "The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence sued the Bush administration Tuesday in hopes of stopping a new policy that would allow people to carry concealed, loaded guns in most national parks and wildlife refuges. . The Brady Campaign sued the Interior Department and its secretary, Dirk Kempthorne . in U.S. District Court. They want a federal judge to issue an immediate injunction .. The lawsuit said members of the Brady Campaign will no longer visit national parks and refuges `out of fear for their personal safety from those who will now be permitted to carry loaded and concealed weapons in such areas.'" [No legal arguments, just a threat of a boycott]


California's Bad Santa exposes complete & utter failure of gun control laws : "News of a man dressing up in a Santa suit and murdering nine people in Los Angeles on Christmas Eve dominated cable news headlines for days after the event. News reports suggest Bruce Pardo took as many as four handguns and a homemade flame-thrower to the home of his ex-wife's parents, where at least 25 people were enjoying a Christmas Eve party. Pardo shot at partygoers and burned down the house, murdering at least nine people before committing suicide hours later. Damage from the flames has thus far prevented officials from determining how many of the victims were shot to death, but hasn't stopped the gun ban lobby from attempting to capitalize on the tragedy. . Indeed, there is much to be learned from this tragedy, which occurred in a state that has passed every conceivable form of gun control the gun grabbers have promoted, all in the name of reducing the violence."

NC: Two out of four down: "Derrick Womack, 31, was at home with his wife and stepson on Tacia Lane nine miles west of Lillington just before 10 p.m. when four men tried to enter the house and rob him. Investigators believe Mr. Womack, who had just arrived home from work, was targeted for the day's receipts from the store he owns just down the road. Mr. Womack struggled with one of the suspects and was shot in the hand shortly before he took the gun from the suspect and returned fire. Mr. Womack was treated and released and is recovering from his injury. One of the suspects is still in WakeMed Hospital in Raleigh. The other suspect shot at the scene, 18-year-old Maurice Purcell of Sanford, was charged with attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon, first-degree burglary and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury. He was released from Cape Fear Valley Medical Center last weekend and is in custody at the Harnett County Jail under $100,000 bond. Sheriff Rollins said the incident is still under investigation and his office is still searching for two suspects who ran away from the scene.


TX: Suspected burglar shot dead in self-defense: "Police are not saying much right now because they are still investigating the invasion, but we do know that the suspected burglar was shot and killed. It happened at a home about an hour northeast of Austin in Cameron. Milam County Sheriff's deputies got a call around two this morning about the shooting of a home intruder. Deputies found suspected burglar, 34-year-old Eddie Sexton III, dead. No charges are filed yet, but the case could be the latest in a string of Castle Law defenses. It's still unclear whether or not the homeowner is the one who shot and killed Sexton this morning."


AL: Homeowner opens fire on burglar: "A burglary suspect got an unpleasant surprise while attempting to rob the gun cabinet of a Dothan resident, according to police. Dothan Police Lt. Anthony Westberry said a homeowner is reported to have opened fire on a suspect he found trying to rob his gun cabinet. Westberry said the attempted burglary happened at about 7:48 p.m. The homeowner entered his house on Decatur Street and found the suspect trying to take weapons from a gun cabinet. Westberry said initial police reports indicate the homeowner shot at the burglar and chased him from the residence. Westberry said police continue to search for the suspect, who was described as a black male wearing dark clothing"



DC: New rule prompts fears of guns at inauguration: "Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) and gun control groups are concerned that some visitors attending President-elect Obama's inauguration may try to pack heat because of a rule allowing concealed weapons in national parks. The Bush administration recently altered federal regulations to allow people with permits to carry concealed firearms while in national parks if the park falls within a state or district that allows concealed weapons. Washington D.C. does not allow concealed weapons, but Norton and other think confusion over the rule could lead visitors to bring guns to Obama's Jan. 20 inauguration, which will be held on two miles of National Park land - the National Mall."

NC Home Owner Surprises Would-Be Thieves: "The Harnett County Sheriff's Office is looking for suspects chased off by a homeowner during an attempted break-in south of Dunn. According to Sheriff Rollins, the incident occurred during the day just south of Dunn at a home on Bud Hawkins Road. Sheriff Rollins did not identify the home's owner. "The fella was at home, actually, upstairs, and he heard somebody who kept ringing the doorbell," Sheriff Rollins said. "Before he could get downstairs, somebody tried to kick his door in ... "Of course, by then he had his shotgun," Sheriff Rollins said. Sheriff Rollins said the suspects fled the scene in a Carolina blue 2000 to 2004 four-door compact car, according to the homeowner. The suspects were described as two black males in their late 20s. One of the suspects is further described as approximately 6-foot-2 inches tall, of medium build with his hair done in corn rows.


NJ man shot with own gun during home invasion: "A home invasion suspect was shot with his own gun early Monday in the township's Newtonville section, and police were searching for his alleged accomplice, authorities said. The incident began shortly before 12:51 a.m. Monday when Lemuel Harris, 29, and another man broke into a home in the 300 block of 8th Street through a rear door, said Lt. Gerald Lewis, a state police spokesman. It did not appear the home invasion was a random incident, he said. Harris reportedly was armed with a handgun. It was unclear if the second man, who had not been identified late Monday, also was armed, Lewis said. After the men forced their way into the residence, a struggle ensued between Harris and the homeowner, police said. The second suspect fled on foot, according to reports. As Harris and the homeowner struggled for the gun, it discharged, and Harris was struck in the hand, according to Lewis. He suffered a superficial wound to one of his fingers. The homeowner reportedly subdued Harris until police arrived. Neither the homeowner nor the other occupants in the house were injured, Lewis said, declining to elaborate on why Harris and the other man allegedly broke into the home. The handgun was recovered at the scene. Harris was taken to William B. Kessler Memorial Hospital in Hammonton. After he was treated, he was taken to the state police barracks in Buena Vista and charged with burglary, robbery, aggravated assault and weapons offenses. Harris was held in Atlantic County Jail on $100,000 bail."


CA: Gunman beaten with own shotgun: "An armed man who entered a Piner Road apartment, apparently with the idea of robbing residents, was overpowered by the residents and knocked out with his own gun, Santa Rosa police reported Tuesday. The man now is being treated at a local hospital, in stable but critical condition, said Sgt. Lisa Banayat. He went to the residence at about 10:15 p.m. Monday and knocked on the door. When a resident opened the door, he entered with a shotgun and pointed it at the two 18-year-old residents, demanding money and marijuana, according to the police report. The two residents grabbed the barrel of the shotgun and wrestled it from him, Banayat said. And in the confrontation, the man was struck on the head with the butt of the shotgun. The residents called police, reporting a would-be robbed was unconscious on their kitchen floor, Banayat said. No one has been arrested."


Mexico: Store owner kills kidnapper : "A Store Owner (dressed in brown) is attacked by 4 Kidnappers. While 3 of them move the store owner's car he enters his store, gets a gun from one of his workers and shoots one of the kidnappers in the face (dressed in a white shirt). The other 3 delinquents flee in the stolen car. Everything is recorded by the store's CCC. The police decided not to press charges against the store owner." [Summary of video]

FL: Victim turns tables on attacker, fatally shoots him: "A man coming home from a nightclub early Friday morning suddenly found himself with a gun pointed at his head and a robber threatening his life, the Broward Sheriff's Office said. But the victim also had a gun, and a faster trigger finger, said sheriff's spokesman Mike Jachles. Brian Kelley, 22, quickly turned the tables on the alleged robber, getting off several shots and killing him in a courtyard just outside his apartment door, deputies said. The confrontation happened at 4:32 a.m. in the 4100 block of Southwest 19th Street, authorities said. The Sheriff's Office is treating it as a clear case of self-defense; Jachles said Kelley is cooperating with the investigation and has not been taken into custody. The case will be reviewed by the State Attorney's Office, Jachles said. While Kelley does not have a permit to carry a handgun, a permit is not required to own a gun or bring it from your car to your home, said Sgt. John Phillips, who was at the scene Friday morning."


Arizona homeowner opens fire on two home invaders: "A Phoenix neighborhood was rocked by gunfire last night when a homeowner stopped two would-be robbers in their tracks. Police say one of the suspects is now in the hospital the other still on the loose. That after the two men allegedly tried to break into a home near 19th Avenue and Dunlap. During the robbery they were met with bullets. The suspects took off in a car, but the one who was shot was dumped at nearby Circle K. He is at the hospital, but then will be taken into police custody. Police are still searching for the second suspect."


Oklahoma: Intruder killed in burglary attempt: "A Tulsa homeowner shot and killed a teenager who was breaking into his house early Tuesday, police said. Shortly before 3 a.m., three people broke into a home in the 1300 block of North Irvington Avenue, Tulsa Police Cpl. Mark Shelton said. Many of the 15 to 20 occupants were awake, including the home- owner, who heard the break-in and got his gun. Two of the suspected burglars, including one who was armed, were moving through the house when they encountered the homeowner, Shelton said. Gunfire was exchanged. The homeowner shot one of the intruders twice in the chest, and the homeowner's wife was shot in the abdomen. The wounded intruder, Cody Ray Payne, 15, left the house but died in the front yard, police said. The homeowner's wife was hospitalized but is expected to recover. The other two suspected burglars ran from the house and were not found, Shelton said. They were described as black, in their late teens and wearing hooded sweatshirts and dark baggy pants. The victims, a Hispanic family, did not want their names released, said Capt. Ryan Perkins."


CA: Off-Duty Officer Opens Fire In Road Rage Incident : "An off-duty San Francisco police officer reported firing a gun at another motorist in self-defense during a highway confrontation in Marin County early Wednesday, according to the California Highway Patrol. The incident happened around 12:45 a.m. today on northbound U.S. Highway 101 south of the Waldo Tunnel. The CHP reported that a passenger in a green Ford pickup truck pointed a handgun in the San Francisco officer's direction, at which point the officer fired his service weapon. It is unclear whether the Ford or its occupants were struck by the gunfire, CHP Sgt. Diana McDermott said. The officer, who was not in a police vehicle at the time, and called the CHP immediately afterward, she said. The CHP searched the area but did not locate the Ford pickup. McDermott said the CHP was still investigating how the confrontation unfolded. "From what I understand it was a road-rage type of deal that started on the Golden Gate Bridge and proceeded northbound toward the Waldo Tunnel," McDermott said."

Washington man dies after wife shoots in self-defense: "At about 3:55 a.m. Dec. 13, Federal Way police responded to a shooting at the Mariposa Apartment Complex, 28120 18 Ave. S, Federal Way. A 24-year-old white female called 911 to report she had shot her 40-year-old white male husband. Both are residents of Federal Way. Upon arrival police contacted both subjects inside the apartment. The unresponsive male was on the bedroom floor with multiple gunshot wounds. South King County Fire and Rescue responded along with paramedics from King County Medic One in an attempt to revive the male, but pronounced him dead at approximately 4:43 a.m. The King County Medical Examiner later responded and took control of the body. Upon initial interview of the female, she stated she had been separated from her husband for several weeks and that they each had a protection order against the other. The female was later transported to St. Francis Hospital by ambulance for minor head injuries and related pain. After treatment, the female was transported to the Federal Way Police Department for interviewing and is cooperating with the investigation. Preliminary investigation indicates the shooting was in self-defense. The scene was processed by the Federal Way Police Department with the assistance of the Washington State Patrol Crime Scene Team."


Florida oldster, 91, shoots at, repels home invaders who threatened his wife: "Charles Johnson is a man of his word. On Oct. 4, 1936, then 19, Johnson promised to love and protect his bride, Berlie Mae. On Tuesday, he did. Now 91, he scared off two home invaders with his 38-caliber revolver when the men threatened his wife of 72 years at their home east of Ocoee. "I was going to kill him either way," the retired jack-of-all-trades said Wednesday. "She's all I've got to live for . . . Why would I want to live?" Terror erupted in the Johnsons' heavily barred house on Lake Stanley Road shortly after 4 p.m. Tuesday as the couple watched TV news. She was sitting in her wheelchair. He was sitting nearby on the sofa. That's when a stranger stepped through the back door. "What are you doing? What are you doing?" Berlie Mae Johnson, 90, remembered asking as the man stepped on her shiny-clean tile floor. "By then, he had the gun to my head. I don't know what all I said." The man ordered the couple: "Be quiet. Don't say a word. Don't move." Overcome by shock and fear, Berlie Mae Johnson said she couldn't move as a second man wearing a stocking over his face started to come through a sliding-glass door from the backyard. Her husband, who goes by Johnny, had his stainless-steel Police Special revolver tucked under a cushion on the sofa. He has been protective, she said, ever since they met at a Church of God service in Cocoa during the Great Depression. "You don't think, man. You do what you have to do," Johnson said of how he grabbed his revolver as the second intruder entered. "He saw the gun and, boy, he was gone." Shifting his aim, Johnson fired at the man still holding a gun to his wife's head. "I shot as plain in his middle as I could have," said Johnson, describing how the man jumped and ran out the door. "I think I missed."


Texas: Domestic dispute ends in a deadly shooting: "A woman's 80-year-old grandfather fatally shot her estranged husband after he tried to take their two children from the grandparents' house, Conroe police said Saturday. Brice Wade Boudreaux, 32, died Friday evening at the home on Silver Creek Drive in Conroe, police said in a statement. The investigation was ongoing Saturday, and it was not immediately clear whether the grandfather would face charges. He was questioned by police and released. According to police, Boudreaux's estranged wife and children have been living with her grandparents for about five months. When Boudreaux arrived Friday and tried to take the children, the grandfather intervened and ordered him to leave. Boudreaux refused, pushing the man out of the way, the statement said. The grandfather then allegedly retrieved a revolver from another room and placed it in his back pocket before again advising Boudreaux, who was aware the older man had a gun, to leave, police said. As the two left the home out to the driveway, Boudreaux again pushed the older man and allegedly struck him in the chest area where he recently had a pacemaker inserted, police said. Fearing for his life, police said the older man then allegedly shot Boudreaux once, killing him."


Soaring Response for Second Amendment Book Bomb: "Beginning on America's Bill of Rights Day (December 15), the SECOND AMENDMENT BOOK BOMB was launched to communicate the importance of the Bill of Rights' Second Amendment for the protection of liberty. With your help, we are pushing constitutional rights to the top of national book bestseller lists, making a loud and clear statement that Second Amendment rights are unalienable! A truly historic victory was won on June 26, 2008 when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the landmark case of District of Columbia v. Heller that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to own and bear arms. However, the Heller ruling was immediately attacked and efforts continue on the national level and across the country to undermine gun rights. (In this regard, President-elect Barack Obama's choice of Eric Holder for U.S. Attorney General is an ominous sign.) Therefore, to secure the Second Amendment now and for the future the American public must be made aware of the reasons why the Founders sought to protect this right. And now we have the tool to do so -- the fascinating, seminal, and inspiring, new book, THE FOUNDERS' SECOND AMENDMENT: Origins of the Right to Bear Arms, by Dr. Stephen P. Halbrook* -- the perfect way both to educate ourselves and to reach friends and family who don't yet understand Second Amendment rights. Our goal is to reach one million Americans with Dr. Halbrook's book during the Holiday Season and throughout the New Year ahead. As a result, we are rapidly closing in on reaching our goal and with your further help, we can make Dr. Halbrook's book #1 on the bestseller lists."

FL: Bystander Shoots Robber In Mall Parking Lot: "Police continue to search for two men who tried to grab a woman's purse as she walked toward the Fashion Square Mall on Tuesday. A third man was shot and arrested, apparently by a bystander who saw the robbery, police said Wednesday. Willie Keys-Fairclough, 29, who is hospitalized with minor injuries, was arrested in connection with the incident. The incident began about 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday when the woman got off a LYNX bus and walked to an ATM to check her balance. She then continued toward the mall. "She felt people come up to her, maybe one, maybe two," Sgt. Barb Jones of the Orlando Police Department said. "They tried to grab her purse...She resisted. She started yelling, that's when everything started unfolding." One shopper, who saw the men with guns, got his own. "You had a citizen engage the suspects," Jones said Wednesday. "There were some rounds fired." The suspects ran across the street, and police said they found one man hiding behind a dumpster. The man had been shot in the leg but didn't know it. The man, later identified by police as Keys-Fairclough, is charged with armed robbery and aggravated assault with a gun. Two other suspects remain on the run."


AL: Robbery suspect shot dead, alleged accomplice wounded: "A would-be robber was shot dead overnight Wednesday and his alleged accomplice was wounded after they attempted to rob the owner of a gas station near Anniston. Calhoun County Sheriff Larry Amerson said the gun-toting suspects and the owner got into a shootout around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Fuller's Oil Company on U.S. 431. Amerson said 21-year-old Takeem Pope of Anniston appeared to have died of a single gunshot wound. The other man, 19-year-old Blake Jackson, also of Anniston, was shot in the arm. Amerson declined to name the owner, but said he acted in self-defense. He was not injured. Authorities said charges are pending against Jackson, who was taken to UAB Hospital for treatment.


Crazy Philly man fatally shot after pulling pellet gun on cops: "It's a neighborhood so notoriously crime-riddled that police parked a marked trailer curbside at 23rd and Tasker streets to intimidate thugs and ease surveillance efforts. So maybe it's no surprise that a thug reached for his gun, shouting that he was ready to shoot, when a uniformed police officer came there late Wednesday. The threat ended fatally for the thug, who ignored the officer's repeated orders to surrender his weapon. The officer shot the man once in the chest as he reached into his waistband, said Lt. Frank Vanore. The man, who died 20 minutes later at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, remained unidentified yesterday. At the scene, investigators found the man's weapon, a replica pellet gun, Vanore said. "The last thing an officer wants to do is use deadly force, but sometimes he is forced to do that to protect himself and the public," Vanore said. "This was a brazen act, and it was a split-second decision that unfortunately in this case was fatal." Gunfire is common in the area, which is plagued by drug activity and home to the notorious Bey family, a clan police have called urban terrorists. The officer, a seven-year veteran, was placed on desk duty, pending outcome of investigations by the homicide and internal-affairs units. Outside Lid's Cafe yesterday, passersby had little sympathy for the dead man. "He had to be crazy to draw a gun on a cop. You get what you look for," said Lawrence Walters, 66" [He was probably so bombed out of his brain that he thought his gun was real]


Gun Availability, Crime, Freedom & Liberty: "In Jacksonville, do we have a gun availability problem or a black problem? Neither. One must look to Sweden for an example. In Sweden, all adult males keep fully automatic rifles at home. Using the logic of "it's a gun availability problem not a black problem," then Sweden should be filled with the shot-worn bodies of its citizens riddled dead by the readily available, vicious assault rifles. But that's not the case. No, not at all. You see, those of us with a modicum of understanding and discernment, and a classic education into the meaning of freedom and liberty, know that what we have is a cultural problem, and not a gun availability problem. The root of the problem is not being willing to, nor bothering to care to obey the laws of the city/state/country in which one resides. When we find an answer to that root cause, then we will be closer to a solution. Blaming the availability of guns is intellectually lazy, and boilerplate DNC/HCI tripe. Anyone with half a brain knows and acknowledges that criminals will never, ever turn in their weapons, and banning guns will only create a gigantic black market for guns -- exactly the result we have seen with keeping drugs illegal. And we have not yet touched on the millions of law-abiding citizens that would be made criminal by our government issuing a gun-ban proclamation, who would then rise up at such an unjust usurpation of personal liberty -- a disastrous consequence for sure -- yet entirely foreseeable. But, in the end, and foremost: It is about freedom. Freedom to come here and speak my mind. Freedom to read whatever I want to read. Freedom to worship a god or not, freedom to own a personal defense weapon that can equalize things between men. This country was brought about with such great precepts central to its founding. Tell me, one and all, the further we get from these principles, does our country prosper and flourish? We're about as far as one can get and still "have a toe in the water." Are things good? Are we more free or less?" [I think that the writer above meant Switzerland rather than Sweden. Gun ownership is strictly regulated in Sweden]

Florida Man Uses Would-Be Robber's Gun To Defend Himself: "Miami-Dade Police say a resident turned the tables on three home invaders who tried to rob him in Southwest Miami-Dade Monday night. Out of the three armed men that tried robbing the man, police say one ended up hurt and was dropped off by the other two accomplices at Jackson South Hospital. They say three Latin males with thin builds attempted to rob the man at Southwest 152nd Street and 93rd Avenue, but they got into a struggle with him instead. The victim was somehow able to get the gun and shot at one of the would-be robbers, critically injuring him. Police say they fled in a blue or green Chevrolet Astro van, which they used to drop off the injured man at the hospital before taking off. The man in the house only suffered a bump to his head. Police are looking for the other two men involved."


PA: Lawsuit says Delco gun policy unconstitutional : "Delaware County was hit with a federal lawsuit yesterday claiming that its policy of refusing to return confiscated firearms unless the owners obtain a court order is unconstitutional. The civil-rights suit was filed by C. Scott Shields, a gun-rights attorney and small-town political firebrand who has been the National Rifle Association's point man in fighting Philadelphia's attempt to write its own gun laws. The plaintiff, Thomas DeOrio, 21, of Glen Mills, argues that the county government, judges and Sheriff's Department illegally retain confiscated guns - even if a crime hasn't been committed - when the owner is entitled to retrieve them. In DeOrio's case, Brookhaven police seized his collection of handguns and rifles in October and turned them over to the sheriff when his girlfriend filed for a temporary protection-from-abuse order. Shields said she perceived something he had said to be threatening. Three days later, after a court hearing, a judge dismissed the order, records show. But DeOrio soon learned that getting his guns back wouldn't be as easy. Although the protection-from-abuse order had been thrown out, Shields said the sheriff's office refused to return the firearms unless DeOrio filed a "legal action." "Hence, we have a civil-rights suit," said Shields, the mayor of Rutledge Borough."


GA: Court orders gun libel suit back to state: "The federal appeals court in Atlanta has ordered a lawsuit claiming New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg libeled a Georgia sporting goods store by calling it 1 of several `rogue gun dealers' to be returned to the state court where it originated. Friday's decision by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was the latest development in a 2-year legal battle that began when Bloomberg sued 15 firearms brokers in five states, including Georgia. The suit said they were selling weapons that ended up in the hands of New York criminals. Former U.S. Rep. Bob Barr, representing Adventure Outdoor Sports in Smyrna, Ga., argued before the appeals court in September that the suit should be returned to state Superior Court."

Kentucky: Guard shoots man in store robbery: "A security guard shot the alleged would-be robber of a grocery store Sunday night, Irvine police said. Police would not identify the two men, but Officer Brian Brooks said the wounded man was taken to University of Kentucky Hospital for treatment. Brooks responded to a call at 7:17 p.m. Sunday at Priceless Foods, 1012 Winchester Road in Irvine. Upon entering, he found a man, armed with a small-caliber revolver, slumped over the cash register. The man, in his 20s, then fell to the floor. The guard had shot the man with a .357 Magnum, Brooks said."


Indiana: Man fatally shot during robbery identified: "Police have identified the man who was fatally shot while trying to rob a Westside grocery Sunday night and the employee who shot him. Miguel Mondragon, 29, Indianapolis, shot Christopher Barreto, 23, also of Indianapolis, after Barreto reportedly pointed his gun at a woman with a baby, said Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Sgt. Matthew Mount. Barreto walked into El Michoacana Supermarket at 6240 W. 34th at 8:50 p.m. brandishing a handgun and herded all the customers into one part of the store, Mount said. When the robber pointed the gun at the woman and her child, Mondragon shot him, using a gun belonging to the store's owner. Barreto was taken to Wishard Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police are calling the shooting justified, but evidence will be turned over to the Marion County prosecutor's office for a final determination, Mount said."


Texas: Police ID suspect killed in bank robbery attempt: "Police on Wednesday identified the suspect and the security guard who fatally shot him during an attempted bank robbery in south Dallas. The suspect in the attempted bank robbery Tuesday was 31-year-old Christopher Sebastian Jones. Jones was fatally shot inside a bank after exchanging gunfire with security guard Matthew Scott Prindle, 36. Jones entered a branch of Chase Bank and shot at Prindle, who was grazed in the upper body but not seriously injured. Prindle returned fire, striking Jones, who died inside the bank. Members of a police tactical unit entered the bank after seeing a woman hiding under a desk. Officers then found Jones' body.


South Carolina: Suspect shot to death during apparent home burglary: "A home invasion leaves one man dead and another is on the lose. County police say, around 9 last night, two suspects broke into a house on Burcale Road in Myrtle Beach. Police are investigating the shooting death that occurred at Courtyard 1 Apartments on Burcale Road, that's near the Clay Pond village community. They say the owner was home at the time of the robbery and shot one suspect while the other took off. When police arrived at the house they say, the owner was just putting down his gun when they saw one of the suspects lying on the ground dead with two gun shot wounds. The deceased suspect is, 22-year-old Lamont Lee Reed Durrell of Georgetown. Police took the burglary victim into custody but was later released. They say he was assaulted but not hurt during the altercation of the home invasion. Sgt. Robert Kegler of the Horry County Police Department confirms that no charges will be filed against the home owner."

Texas man found not guilty in murder trial: "After deliberating for just less than an hour, a jury came back with a verdict Monday afternoon in the murder trial of Kurtis Glover of Livingston. Wesley Tudor, 27, was found not guilty and acquitted on all charges of murder for the September 2007 shooting death of Glover at a house party just south of Huntington off U.S. 69. Glover, 23, was shot point blank between the eyes with a .25-caliber handgun after he allegedly tried to pull Tudor from his vehicle during a confrontation. Tudor has maintained that he feared for his life when he fired his gun at Glover and acted in self-defense. After having left the party earlier on the night of the murder, Tudor later returned to look for his cousin, whom he believed Glover and his friends had beaten up. Tudor previously testified that he pulled out a gun which was kept in the center console of his grandmother's truck, which he had been driving that night, after Glover hit him in the face. However, Tudor's defense said that the men approached Tudor's vehicle and threw the first blows, which caused him to use deadly force on Glover. "My client was dealing with a pack of violent men," Deaton said. "I find it hard to believe that the state doesn't think a serious altercation occurred before the gunshot."


Jury believes Ohio man who said he killed in self-defense: "Colton Groves, 19, was shot four times outside a Far West Side home where he went for a party. Cory Esson awoke to a party that was out of control in his own house, then fatally shot one of the revelers he had followed outside. He said he acted in self-defense. Yesterday, a jury found him not guilty in the death of Colton Groves, which occurred shortly after 5 a.m. on Jan. 26. Esson, a 21-year-old welder, said his roommates hosted the party at 806 Westmead Dr. on the Far West Side. He told police that he went to bed after having half a beer but woke up because of the noise. He demanded that the 10 people he didn't know leave the house. Someone threw a beer bottle or a rock at the house on the way out, he said, and he went outside to investigate with a .40-caliber pistol in his pocket. Esson confronted two men in a car and again ordered them to leave. What happened next was in dispute during Esson's murder trial in Franklin County Common Pleas Court. According to testimony, Esson pistol-whipped Groves, 19, and shot him four times during a scuffle on the ground. Assistant County Prosecutors Laurie Arsenault and Lauren Cerminaro said that Esson provoked the situation with Groves and had a duty to retreat before using deadly force. They said Groves and his friend were trying to leave when Esson grabbed Groves by the collar and ripped him from the passenger side of the car. Esson denied that, but he did admit to firing 10 shots. Defense attorney Robert F. Krapenc told jurors that the 140-pound Esson feared for his life and tried to retreat from the struggle but that Groves kept coming at him. In her instructions to the jury, Judge Julie M. Lynch summed up self-defense by writing, "You must consider the conduct of Colton Groves and determine if his acts and words caused the defendant to reasonably and honestly believe that he was about to be killed or to receive great bodily harm."


Iowa man shot in pizza robbery gets 27 years: "A Des Moines man who was shot when he tried to rob a pizza delivery driver in March was sentenced Monday to 27 years in prison and will not be eligible for parole for at least 7 years. The plea deal imposes back-to-back prison sentences on Kenneth Jimmerson for second-degree robbery, intimidation with a dangerous weapon, going armed with intent and a weapons charge. Jimmerson, 20, was shot at least three times when he attempted to rob James William Spiers III at gunpoint outside a south-side apartment complex. Jimmerson's second-degree robbery conviction requires him to serve at least 70 percent of that 10-year sentence. The other charges have no required minimum time before he is eligible for parole. Spiers, who delivered for the Pizza Hut restaurant at 4100 S.E. 14th St., reportedly grabbed Jimmerson's gun and fired several shots from his own handgun. Jimmerson fled the scene empty-handed, and was later hospitalized and arrested. .The botched robbery sparked a public outcry days later when Pizza Hut said Spiers had violated its no-weapons policy, even though he had a valid permit to carry a concealed weapon. Spiers was fired, and immediately became a symbol for gun rights advocates. He was offered jobs by employers from around the country, and someone launched a Web site in his honor. State Sen. Brad Zaun, an Urbandale Republican, called on Iowans to boycott the Dallas-based pizza chain. Pizza Hut offered Spiers an undisclosed severance package, counseling and help with a job search."


They hate our guns? : "These people: most politicians and bureaucrats, along with most modern academics and media figures, do not just hate our guns. They hate people, all of us! They especially despise and hate those who do not swallow their lies of `reasonable control' or `the common good,' who are not willing to be controlled and robbed for any reason. They hate and fear people - especially free people! If all the guns on the planet magically vanished, they'd still be terrified of us because their reason for living is control and they have clear plans to control every knife, screwdriver and ice pick on the planet if that's what it takes to control the people."

Would-be robber shot, killed by Ariz. store owner: "The owner of a Chandler jewelry store shot and killed a would-be robber after the two exchanged gunfire, police said Sunday. Two men, one of them armed with a gun, attempted to rob Christopher Diamonds on Saturday evening, Chandler police Detective David Ramer said. The store's owner, overhearing the robbery in progress, grabbed a gun and confronted the suspects. He and the armed robber exchanged several rounds of gunfire; both were hit. The injured suspect fled the store in a stolen truck while the other suspect ran into a nearby neighborhood. The truck later stopped on a nearby freeway, and the suspect was taken to a hospital after officers tried to revive him. He died at the hospital. Officers later found the second suspect in the neighborhood and arrested him. Ramer said the 58-year-old store owner, who was shot in the face, will survive. ``You have a right to defend yourself, and he did a good job of that,'' Ramer said of the store owner.


Indianapolis: Suspect shot, killed during store robbery attempt: "One man is dead following a shooting at a grocery store on the northwest side Sunday evening. Metro Police say an armed suspect attempted to rob the El Michoacano supermarket in the 6200 block of West 34th Street just before 9 pm. All of the customers and employees in the store were ordered to move to one side of the store. Police say the suspect then pointed his gun at a woman and baby, leading a store employee to pull his own gun. "At this point, the employee fired a shot at the suspect or shots, we are not sure at this point how many shots were fired, he struck the suspect," said IMPD Sgt. Matt Mount. When police found the suspect in the store, he was in critical condition. He was transported to Wishard Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. His identity has not yet been released. Detectives are talking with the employee who fired the shot and witnesses to determine what happened. Police are also investigating information about the gun, its owner and the employee who possessed it. A release from IMPD stated that it appeared to be a justified shooting, though a thorough investigation will be conducted with evidence turned over to the prosecutor to determine if charges should be filed.


Nickels hides while gun owners oppose Seattle gun ban scheme: "When a cross-section of firearms owners gathered at Seattle City Hall Monday night to oppose Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels' gun ban scheme, the mayor was nowhere in sight to defend his plan, and the Second Amendment Foundation wonders why. `If ever an audience reflected the kind of diversity that elitists like Greg Nickels normally rave about, Monday night's turnout of gun owners certainly measured up,' said SAF founder Alan Gottlieb."


This year, give her a gun for Christmas: "With a single week left until Christmas, a lot of us are still scrambling to find a gift for that person who already has everything. Chances are, the person who already has everything has an interest in keeping their stuff safe, and one way to do that is give that special someone in your life a firearm.A lot of Christmas gifts end up as bothersome clutter, such as goofy trinkets or unread books. A gift certificate is a good sign that you don't know much about the person, but aren't quite thoughtless enough to just send cash. But with a gun you can give that person a new hobby, an ongoing lesson in responsibility, peace of mind, and make the world a better place."

Florida: Armed homeowner runs off burglars: "Two masked, armed men broke into an Orange City house but fled empty-handed after the homeowner went after them with his own handgun, officials said Friday. The 36-year-old husband and his wife, 37, whom officials did not identify, were watching television in their bedroom at their Cedar Avenue home when they heard a loud crash in another part of the house at 9:45 p.m. Thursday. When they investigated, they were met by two armed men in their kitchen, Volusia County sheriff's spokesman Brandon Haught said. The couple ran back to their bedroom where the husband grabbed a handgun and went after the armed men, who then bolted through the front door, Haught said. No one was injured in the incident, Haught said".


Florida man reports shooting intruder: "A Bradenton man reported shooting a man who came into his house and put a gun to his girlfriend's head early this morning, according to a Manatee County Sheriff's Office report. The 52-year-old homeowner said his girlfriend, 47, opened the door to their home, in the 6500 block of Wellesley Drive, just before 2 a.m. this morning. The girlfriend told deputies a man at the door tried to push his way in, while a second man with a gun got into the house and put a gun to her head, according to sheriff reports. The boyfriend said he came back from getting a gun and opened fire on the gunman when he saw the gun to his girlfriend's head. The boyfriend, who claimed his shot hit the gunman, said he only saw one person in his house, while the girlfriend said two men were there. Sarasota authorities later reported to Manatee detectives that a gunshot victim had checked into a hospital there. Manatee detectives have interviewed the man, who had a gunshot wound to the hand, but have not confirmed whether he was the man involved in the Manatee shooting. No arrests have yet been made."




Proposed gun ban in Springfield, MO, parks: "Don Snavely brings one more bad argument for stripping law-abiding citizens of their right to self-defense in parks. It's the classic "argument from authority," which goes: "I'm an 'expert,' therefore, my opinion rules -- never mind any facts to the contrary." Mr. Snavely's 35 years of administering Los Angeles-area parks include precisely no experience at all in parks where normal, law-abiding citizens could freely and legally choose concealed carry for self defense. Not one single day. Snavely also seems entirely unaware of the research into actual effects of license-to-carry laws. He claims no particular statistical expertise. There's no evidence he's ever written on the subject. And oddly, he seems to think that City Council has already committed to push a parks ban in 2009. But other than that, Mr. Snavely's an expert. Now I appreciate Mr. Snavely's service, but it doesn't imply that he knows anything about lawful concealed carry. Not that he should: Don Snavely retired in 1991, years before some 45 scholarly studies and articles on the actual effects of right-to-carry laws were published. And since ordinary citizens can't get permits in Los Angeles to this day, Snavely's claim to be an expert is a bit like someone claiming that 35 years of administering Lake Springfield made him an expert on elephant seals. Still, after 35 years of being happy enough that the law-abiding were legally prohibited from defending themselves in California, Mr. Snavely wants to force his favored policy down the throats of Springfieldians as well. And he doesn't even live here -- he lives in a tiny town of 1,400, 60 miles away! Snavely believes that since one of his own park rangers left a gun in a public locker and another shot himself, the private citizens lawfully carrying weapons are endangering everyone. But not only has he failed to establish that any microscopic risk from lawful concealed carry in our parks outweighs benefits, he's failed to show any known problems in parks from legal permit holders at all. Including in his own parks!


Chicago Handgun Ban Survives First Challenge: "A federal judge on Thursday upheld Chicago's 1982 handgun ban as Mayor Daley disclosed plans to strengthen it by following Washington D.C.'s lead. In a 5-to-4 decision in June, the Supreme Court overturned the D.C. handgun ban on grounds that the Second Amendment establishes the right to own a handgun for personal self-defense, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. Hours later, the National Rifle Association and the Illinois State Rifle Association filed lawsuits seeking to overturn handgun bans in Chicago, Morton Grove, Evanston and Oak Park. Wilmette and Morton Grove subsequently repealed their handgun bans. Chicago held fast. "City taxpayers are going to pay more money in legal fees for a fight they will ultimately lose. The city is only postponing the inevitable. They won this round. But if this thing goes to the Supreme Court, we will prevail. The court laid out a very compelling case with a lot of foundation for an individual's right to bear arms," said Todd Vandermyde, the Illinois legislative liaison for the NRA. Following the ruling, Daley said he will host a "gun conference" next month to look for ways to beef up gun laws and get guns off the streets. The mayor said he would bring in leaders from across the country and people who have lost loved ones to gun violence. He said the attendees plan to review recent Supreme Court decisions that limited how cities can regulate guns. "I believe the court's ruling presents us with an opportunity to continue our efforts," Daley is quoted by the Chicago Tribune as saying."

Arkansas woman turns the tables: "She's a woman who knows how to protect herself as two men who tried to rob her found out. What they didn't know was the woman is licensed to carry a concealed weapon...and yes, she was packing heat. "A lady was flagged over Sunday evening about 6 p.m. on the interstate between Kelley Highway and the Arkansas river bridge." Lt. Steve Coppinger with State Police says that two men in a car signaled that the woman was getting a flat tire. "When she pulled over to check her tires one of those person in that other car got out and attempted to rob her at knife point." But what the thief didn't expect happened next. Coppinger says the female driver pulled out her handgun. "She pointed that at her attacker and he backed away, got in the car and they fled." Investigators say the would-have-been victim was able to turn the tables because she had a concealed carry permit. State police are keeping some details of the investigation close to their vest so they will know when they get the right guys. Right now, officials are saying they believe this to be an isolated incident."


California woman shoots thief: "A 34-year-old homeowner shot a man who was trying to steal from her property in East Sacramento Wednesday morning, police said. The incident happened about 7 a.m. in the 4500 block of 13th Avenue, Sacramento Police Department spokesman Sgt. Norm Leong said. The suspect, who sustained facial injuries, is in a hospital and expected to survive, Leong said. The man, whose name has not been released yet, is a parolee-at-large. Investigators are reviewing the case to determine if the woman acted in self-defense. She has not been charged, Leong said."


Georgia robber killed in shop: "A would-be robber was killed after he was shot in a gunbattle with an employee at a cell phone store in Forest Park. Authorities said it happened Monday night at about 8 p.m. Police identified the deceased suspect as 18-year-old Tyrie Rolland of Decatur. Rolland was shot in the head and died at Grady Memorial Hospital. Detectives are working to identify a second suspect who fled in a white pickup truck. Forest Park police major Chris Matson said it appeared the worker acted in self-defense."


OK: Tulsa lawmaker wants repeal of gun tax: "A Tulsa lawmaker said Tuesday he will file legislation to repeal the sales tax on the purchase of guns or ammunition in Oklahoma.'As Americans, we should not have to pay a tax to exercise our constitutional rights - especially our Second Amendment rights,' said Rep. Eric Proctor, D-Tulsa.The measure . would have minimal impact on the state treasury. . He said the tax should also be repealed because it could be a barrier for those needing protection. `People shouldn't have to pay a tax to the government if they need a gun in the home for self-protection,' Proctor said. `No matter what, the responsibility to protect your family is greater than the state's need to generate taxes.'"

Arkansas: Man Holds Intruder At Gunpoint Until Police Arrive : "It started out as a normal morning for the Newborns last Thursday, but as Lester Newborn was getting out of the shower he says his worst fears were realized as he heard his daughter scream "There's someone in the house!" Lester Newborn adds, "I have no idea what she was planning on doing all I know is she came in my house." Newborn says the intruder probably walked through the neighborhood looking for an open door or window and happened to find theirs. "I was messing with Christmas lights outside and I left a window unlocked and that's the window she came through." His daughter Brittney Newborn adds, "She came in through my bedroom window and she took the screen off and she just came in. I heard her making noise in my room I was in another room I just came in to see what it was and she was just standing right there." Brittney says as she screamed for her dad she left the room and he walked in with a .357 hand gun. Newborn adds, "We're all blessed because evidentially she was on some kind of drugs or something because she didn't resist at all. The weapon is for protection in my home and I'm glad and thankful I didn't have to shot her." Police say the intruder is 30-year-old Jennifer Draper. She's being charged with residential burglary and held on $5,000 bond."


Arkansas Mother Shoots, Kills Son In Self-Defense: "A Franklin County man was killed by his mother Sunday, likely in self-defense, after he reportedly pistol-whipped her and his stepfather, authorities said. Cameron Utsler, 22, was shot to death at the Prairie Street residence he shared with his mother and stepfather, north of Charleston, according to Lt. Steve Coppinger of the Arkansas State Police. "Right now it looks like a justified shooting," David Gibbons, Franklin County's district attorney, said on Monday. Troopers were dispatched to the residence at around 1:20 a.m. Sunday. Utsler was found dead at the scene, Coppinger said. Utsler's mother and stepfather, whose names were not revealed by either Coppinger or Gibbons, told investigators that Utsler became violent toward them after they had returned home from a Christmas party, according to Coppinger. "He was upset that he was excluded from a family Christmas get-together," Coppinger said. Utsler reportedly brandished a handgun and at one point struck both his mother and stepfather on the head with the pistol, according to Coppinger. How many times Utsler struck them with the gun was not revealed. "I don't believe he discharged the weapon, he just physically beat them," Coppinger said. "One of the parents, out of a defensive posture, had to get a firearm and shoot him." Coppinger described both the mother and stepfather as "very small in stature" and "slenderly built." Utsler, however, was described as more than 6 feet tall and weighing more than 300 pounds. "He's a big guy with a violent history," Coppinger said."


Texas Dog Walker Kills Armed Teen Robber: "A man walking his dog in Terrell on Wednesday fatally shot an armed 17-year-old robber, police said. The incident happened at about 10:20 p.m. in Ben Gill Park in the 100 block of Lions Club Lane where, police said, a group of teen robbers surrounded the man. According to investigators, Markee Lamar Johnson pulled out a gun and the 47-year-old man, a licensed concealed handgun owner, fired shots. The 17-year-old Terrell High School student was struck in the head and died at Parkland Hospital. His weapon was recovered at the scene and later determined to be stolen during a separate offense in Terrell, according to police. Police said they would not likely file charges against the man. Three other teen suspects fled the scene in a vehicle that was recovered in the 300 block of S. Park Street, police said. Police identified the the other suspects and arrested one of them. Ryan Scott Patterson, 17, is charged with aggravated robbery. The robbery victim, who did not want to be identified, was not injured."


While gun rights advanced this year, the prospects for next year look very tough: "Once Barack Obama takes his oath of office in January, he will become, without a doubt, the most anti-gun President this nation has ever seen. How are gun owners responding to the oncoming Obama presidency? By the tens of thousands, they are pouring into gun stores all across the country and stocking up on guns and ammo, fearing the worst. Many buyers include first-time gun owners."