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


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


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


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

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


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




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


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

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


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


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


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

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


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


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


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

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


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


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


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

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


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


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


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

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


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


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


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

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


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


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


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

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


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


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


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

Proposed New York Gun Laws

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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


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


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

Gun-Offender Registry Proposed in Utica, NY

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

The proposal would include those convicted of illegal possession of:

* A loaded handgun.

* Three or more illegal handguns.

* A handgun by a convicted felon.

* An assault weapon.

* A disguised firearm.

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

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

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

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

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

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


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


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


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

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


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


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


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

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


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


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


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

Idaho: Man shot and killed during alleged break-in: "The FBI and Nez Perce Tribal Police are investigating a fatal shooting at that took place at a grocery store in Stites early Thursday morning. It happened during an apparent attempted break-in. The Idaho County Sheriff's Office confirmed that a 21-year-old Kamiah man was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity was being withheld until family was notified. He was one of two men who were reportedly trying to break into the Stites Grocery Store. He was shot and killed during the alleged break-in. The Sheriff's Office says the other suspect ran from the scene. Witnesses say the pair came in through a fan vent in the back of the store. The grocery store owner, who asked to not be identified, said a man was working on an upstairs computer at the store when he heard a noise. She said that's when one of the alleged would-be burglars "came at" the man who then shot the alleged burglar in the leg. She says when the alleged burglar didn't stop, the man fired a second shot into his chest. The Idaho County Sheriff's Dispatch Center said the call came in at 3:24 a.m. from the man who had done the shooting, saying he had shot an intruder in the store. It was unknown if either alleged intruder was armed.


Pennsylvania: Man wrestles gun from intruder in Pittsburg home invasion: "A Pittsburg man fought off two men who broke into his home early Friday morning, wrestled away a shotgun and shot one of the suspects with it as he fled, according to the victim and police. The wounded suspect left the scene but was arrested after being treated at a hospital, said Sgt. Steve Albanese. Police also arrested a second suspect and are still searching for more people connected with the home invasion. The incident happened just after midnight when two men with guns broke down the front door and entered the home on Calistoga Drive. The male homeowner, who declined to be named, said he was awakened and came out of his bedroom to investigate the noise. He said he was confronted by one man with a sawed-off shotgun and a second man with a handgun. He wrestled the shotgun out of the suspect's hand, and the man fell on him, he said. The second suspect then reportedly shot at the victim's wife but did not hit her. The victim, whose stepson was also in the home, said he got up, recovered the shotgun and began shooting in the direction of the suspects. The suspects fled, and the victim fired one round as they ran across a neighbor's driveway, hitting one man in the upper torso, Albanese said."




Mississippi: Son’s 2nd shot kills intruder: "A woman, awakened by the sound of someone removing the screen from her bedroom window, got out of her bed at 1 a.m. Friday, walked to her son’s room and quietly woke him. “She said, ‘Snigg get up,’” the son said in an interview later Friday morning. “I got up, grabbed my gun and went to the corner there by her room,” he said, standing at the door of the apartment, on the bottom floor of the last in a row of Spanish-style buildings in the Granada Apartments on Chicot Road. It was dark in the apartment, but the window was backlit, Snigg said. He heard the window go up and saw a man coming in. “He stuck his hand under and pulled the blinds back, the blinds and the curtain,” he said. “And he eased in like he was attempting to come in. “I fired two shots, then he ran off,” Snigg said. Police say they won’t identify the woman or her son, who offered the nickname Snigg, for fear of retribution. Javorous Darnell Tims [above], 20, ran about 80 feet from the window, fell to the sidewalk and died of a single gunshot wound, police said Friday. Pascagoula police said Snigg and his mother acted appropriately, “taking the actions they felt necessary to protect themselves.” However, because a man died, the case will be presented to a grand jury for review."




Soldiers Forced to Disclose Personal Fireams Data: "In a post yesterday, Mitchell Langbert offers an insightful look at how U.S. Army soldiers are being required to disclose to their superiors all information about their firearms — personally-owned firearms. Best of all, the look comes straight from an infantryman at Fort Campbell, Ky., and even includes a copy of a memo outlining what soldiers at that post must do. Yes, it seems Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano’s beliefs about military folks being prone to right-wing extremism have spread to the Pentagon and beyond. This news makes me wonder what other information service members soon might be forced to reveal. Perhaps they’ll be required to answer this yes-or-no question: “Are you loyal to Dear Leader Obama?”

Louisiana Gun-Offender Registry Proposed

(Shreveport, Louisiana) Similar to the sex offender registry, a gun-offender registry has been proposed as a city ordinance by Shreveport Police Chief Henry Whitehorn.

The registry would require people convicted of gun-related crimes to register with police to let them know where they are living. Eventually, it could turn into a public online registry with photographs and statistics. The measure would allow residents to find out whether they are living near someone who has been convicted of a gun-related crime, including homicides, aggravated assaults and drive-by shootings.

"As part of our strategy to keeping Shreveport safe, we were searching for solutions to insure gun offenders are taken off the streets and this is one piece that would be a part of a solution," Whitehorn said.

Slippery slope, my friends. I foresee all gun registration schemes as mere precursors to confiscation programs. Nevertheless, gun-offender schemes have been implemented in New York City and Baltimore.

TX: Robbery suspect shot by victim : "Buster Mumphrey Jr., 31, was arrested Thursday and a second suspect who sustained a gunshot wound during the crime remains hospitalized in critical condition. Thursday. The victim said he went outside to get in his vehicle and was attacked by two black men dressed in dark clothing. The two stole his wallet but the resident was able to fire one shot as they ran away and he believed he had possibly struck one of the suspects. About 15 minutes later, officials at Good Shepherd Medical Center called the sheriff 's office regarding a patient with a gunshot wound who had just arrived at the emergency room by private vehicle. Deputies were interviewing the wounded man and the man who drove him to the hospital, and during that time Willeford said the investigators were advised of the Kilgore robbery. Mumphrey was taken to the sheriff 's office and after an interview was charged with the crime. He was arraigned by B.H. Jameson, Gregg County Precinct 1 justice of the peace, and his bond was set at $50,000, Willeford said. The other suspect, whose name had not been released at press time, remains in the hospital in critical condition, though Willeford said he is expected to live. The chief deputy said the Gregg County district attorney's office prepared an affidavit for a search warrant for the suspects' vehicle that was driven to the hospital and deputies recovered the victim's wallet during that search. The victim was roughed up by his attackers but his injuries did not require medical treatment, Willeford said."


Arizona: Female carjacker shot: "A woman who tried to carjack a man at gunpoint outside a North Side Walgreens early Thursday was shot and wounded by the man, police said. The man called police around 12:30 a.m. to report he had just shot one of two women who tried to take his car as he waited in the pharmacy drive-through near East Grant and North Swan roads, said Sgt. Fabian Pacheco, a Tucson Police Department spokesman. The 26-year-old man, whose name was not released, had just left Tucson Medical Center and went to fill a prescription. When he drove back to the drugstore to check on his prescription, two women came up to his car. One was armed with a gun. The woman tried to shoot the man, but he pulled his own gun while she was trying to pull the trigger. Her gun didn't fire for an unknown reason. The man fired his gun twice. One shot grazed her head, and the other struck her in the shoulder. The woman fell to the ground, and the man took her gun away."


Florida Man: I Tasered My Wife in Self Defense: "A Florida man says he Tasered his estranged wife during a fight in what he claims was an act of self defense, MyFOXOrlando.com reported. John Palmore, 49, told FOX Orlando affiliate WOFL that he was forced to shoot his wife, 48-year-old Khadeja Palmore, with a stun gun after she became violent and punched him in the nose during an argument about their pending divorce. He said he realized his soon-to-be ex was upset about the split and bought the gun to protect himself against her, according to MyFOXOrlando.com. "If someone's coming at you, you don't want to put your hands on them, but you do want to protect yourself and not hurt them," he said. Khadeja Palmore was arrested and charged with battery in the case, according to the station."


Milwaukee police chief setting stage for confrontation: "Milwaukee, WI Police Chief Ed Flynn is playing with political nitro glycerin, and he doesn’t seem to realize it, or perhaps he simply doesn’t care. Quoted by the La Crosse Tribune, Chief Flynn says he will ignore a finding by State Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen that peaceable open carry of firearms is legal. Flynn’s directive to officers in his department is “if you see anybody carrying a gun on the streets of Milwaukee, we’ll put them on the ground, take the gun away and then decide whether you have a right to carry it.” The chief displayed a rather cavalier, if not outright arrogant, attitude when he added, “Maybe I’ll end up with a protest of cowboys. In the meantime, I’ve got serious offenders with access to handguns. It’s irresponsible to send a message to them that if they just carry it openly no one can bother them.” Perhaps some higher legal authority might explain to the chief that it is also irresponsible to send a message to the public that a police chief can literally tell the state attorney general to pound sand, he’s going to do it “his way,” and too bad if that violates someone’s civil rights. Already, some people have been arrested for carrying openly, according to my colleague Candace Dainty. Note to Chief Flynn: Wisconsin is still part of the United States, not a police state. This is the kind of attitude that gets people grumbling about “jack-booted thugs.”

Tennessee Man Shoots 2 Dogs Attacking Neighbor's Dogs: "A Brainerd man shot and killed two pit bull dogs attacking a neighbor's pit bull in an incident on Sunday. The case was turned over by Chattanooga Police to the McKamey Animal Trust. McKamey officials have charged the owner of the two dogs, Walter Pitmon, for letting his dogs run at large. Police Officer Brian Blumenberg said he responded to 108 S. Howell Ave. and spoke with Stephen Hooper, who said two pit bulls attacked his pit bull who was chained in the back yard. He said while the attack was going on, his neighbor, James Klassen, came out of his house at 106 S. Howell Ave. with his pistol and shot the attacking dogs an unknown amount of times. Mr. Hooper said after the dogs were shot, they ran off. The dogs were later taken by McKamey officers to an animal clinic on Amnicola Highway. They were later put down. Officer Blumenberg said Mr. Pitmon arrived at the scene and identified himself as the owner of the two dogs. He said he was trying to feed the dogs at his residence at 113 Spring Creek Road when they got out. He said that was about an hour before the attack. He said he went looking for them, then saw a number of officers at the house on South Howell and suspected that it involved the two dogs. A neighbor, Matthew Overby, said he was playing with his four-year-old cousin less than 100 feet from where he heard six or seven shots."




Florida: Homeowner Cleared in Shooting: "Prosecutors have concluded a Lake Wales security guard who shot a man who was breaking into his home was justified in using deadly force. Assistant State Attorney Robert Antonello wrote a letter with his findings about the March 18, nonfatal shooting to the Lake Wales Police Department. In the letter released Thursday, Antonello said William Cornwell, a hospital security guard, was protecting himself and his young children. Cornwell arrived at his Grove Avenue home just before 7 a.m. His wife left for work, and he was alone with his 3 1/2-month-old son and 3 1/2-year-old daughter. A noise awoke him from his sleep and, armed with a semi-automatic pistol, he went to find out what was happening, Antonello wrote. Cornwell came "face-to-face" in the hallway of his home with Michael Collins [above] who swung a crowbar at Cornwell's head. Cornwell chased Collins out the back door and fired two shots, Antonello wrote. Collins ran to his vehicle parked in the house's driveway, Antonello wrote. Cornwell ran back through his house, out the front door, and "instinctively opened fire on the vehicle (at the tires and body) in an attempt to disable it and prevent the intruder from leaving." Collins drove about 200 feet up the road to an orange grove where his vehicle overturned, and he was captured. Lake Wales police say Collins, 45, was struck in the head and left arm by the gunfire, but survived. Collins was flown to Lakeland Regional Medical Center for treatment. He is charged with armed burglary and possession of burglary tools. He remains in the Polk County Jail and is being held without bail on the burglary charge.


GA: More Augustans carrying guns: “Recently two people robbed at gunpoint in Augusta fought back. They both fired shots at the robbers. Both had something else in common, a concealed weapons permit. Court clerks tell NBC Augusta 26 News the number of people applying for a concealed weapons permit has nearly tripled this year. ‘It’s scary to know how many people actually have a concealed weapons permit and the places that they can carry them now,’ said Angela Rice, Director of Richmond County Probate Court. Rice says there’s been a dramatic increase in the number of people applying for a concealed weapons permit. … From January of this year to April the court has already issued almost 1,200 requests, and the year isn’t half way over.”


TX: Bandera commissioners uphold right to bear arms: “Historically, Texans hold dear the tenets of the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, the Right to Bear Arms – and Bandera County Commissioners recently proved no exception. On Thursday, April 9, they unanimously approved a resolution opposing the passage of the Firearm Licensing and Record Sale Act of 2009, as well as any similar legislation. As Precinct 1 Commissioner Bruce Eliker noted succinctly, ‘They’re trying to take our guns away.’ According to the resolution, the United States Supreme Court in a landmark case, District of Columbia v. Heller, recently struck down a firearms ban in DC. Prior to the court’s decision, District residents were prohibited from possessing firearms.”

Ohio: Clerk Opens Fire On Would-Be Robber: "Two men were hospitalized on Wednesday after they were shot during a hold up at a drive-thru on the city's northeast side, 10TV News reported. The shooting occurred at about 3:30 p.m. at Dani's Drive-Thru, located near the corner of Westerville and Agler roads. Investigators said a man walked inside and tried to rob the clerk, but the clerk produced a gun and opened fire, wounding the man in the legs, 10TV News reported. The man was apprehended about a block away near a home on Cleveland Avenue. The other person wounded in the shooting may have been an innocent bystander, police said. The injuries were not considered to be life-threatening. No other injuries were reported."


Oregon: Springfield police say fatal shooting was self-defense: "Police say a fatal shooting in Springfield was an act of self-defense. The shooting happened Monday night at a home on the 2300 block of E Street. Investigators say Rodolfo Baldenegro, 47, went to the home looking for his estranged girlfriend. Investigators say the woman had filed a restraining order against him. Police say Baldenegro forced his way into the residence and got into a fight with the woman and another man. Police say the other man shot Baldenegro in self-defense. Baldenegro died at the hospital".


South Carolina: Shootings found to be self-defense: "Spartanburg County deputies determined that a man who shot two people Monday night outside his residence was acting in self-defense and charged the two men on Tuesday. Daniel Scott Byrd, 22, of 115 Keith Street, Greer and Josh Duncan, 24, of 207 Church St., Wellford were each charged with one count of assault and battery. Byrd's stomach was grazed by a bullet and Duncan was struck in the buttocks during a fight Monday night outside a Keith Street residence. Larry James Pruitt Jr., 41, told deputies that a group of people were causing "a bad ruckus" outside his home and he asked them to keep it down. Pruitt said Byrd and Duncan then came into his yard and began choking and assaulting him. Pruitt said he pulled a revolver from his pocket and fired several times, then ran into his home, reloaded his gun and waited for deputies. Multiple people who said they witnessed the incident told deputies Pruitt was truthful about what happened. When the deputy arrived, Duncan and Byrd were still on the ground outside of Pruitt's home."


Guns and the barometer of discontent : “You see it when tens of thousands of citizens turn out to protest in ‘Tea Parties’ across the U.S.; you see it in military personnel compelled to form ‘Oath Keepers,’ outlining orders they will not obey; you see it in a number of states debating sovereignty resolutions, in some cases even calling for secession; you see it in the number of people joining gun rights organizations; and yes, you see it in the number of people buying guns. Simultaneously, just as during the Clinton administration, malcontents have increasingly inflicted mass homicides on the American people. Is it part of the same unrest? If so, what causes it? The economy? Hatred for the Obama administration? … Or something more fundamental and pervasive?”