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


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


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


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

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


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


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


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

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


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


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


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

NC: Anti-Gun Senator Indicted in Shooting Incident

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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


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


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

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


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

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


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


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


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

Limited posting today

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

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

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


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

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


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


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


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

Gun-Watch Safety Feature

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



The gun-watch pair is manufactured by Armatix GmbH.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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


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


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

FL: Jury acquits shooter in 'stand your ground' trial: "Max Wesley Horn spent the past two years behind bars, awaiting trial for shooting a man at a crowded street festival. He killed Joe Martell, but he believed he was right in doing it. After deliberating nearly three hours Thursday, a jury agreed. "I knew all along that the law was with me," Horn said after being found not guilty of second-degree murder under Florida's "stand your ground" law that allows people to meet force with force anywhere they feel threatened. The shooting happened March 29, 2008, amid a huge crowd at the downtown after-party of the Chasco parade. Horn, a video producer with three kids, was there with his wife and friends. Martell was with another group. The two men didn't know each other. Horn, 48, testified that he was waiting to go inside Hot Shotz bar and grill with his wife and friends when Martell, 34, burst out the door, knocking down a woman and pushing several others. A fight began to erupt and Martell got into a dispute with two of Horn's family members. "Then he starts on me. … I told him, 'I can't fight you,' " Horn said. Horn had a concealed weapons permit and a serious heart condition. He lifted his shirt to reveal he was armed. "I'll shoot you," he told Martell. Horn said Martell advanced on him, and without warning punched him in the head. As he righted himself, he drew his gun and fired at Martell's abdomen. "I knew I couldn't sustain another punch like that," Horn said."


Ohio: Elderly Man Shoots Intruder: "Emergency rooms around the Tri-State are on alert, waiting for a suspect police believe was shot by a 77 year old Avondale man in self-defense. “I shot because he was going to shoot me. I could have shot him two or three times.” Clyde Tucker says two men broke down his door at the Hale Apartments on Tuesday. Tucker says lately, residents of his building have been victims of the same kind of crime-thugs who break down doors and rob them. So Tucker says, he was ready. “The guy was knocking on my door and I didn’t respond so I got my pistol out.” Tucker fired, and the men ran out of the building. A witness, Eric Hamilton, saw the men run out and says it was clear one of the suspects had been hit by a bullet. He was holding his torso. Police found a trail of blood coming out of the apartment building. “I could have shot him if I wanted to kill the guy or something but I don’t want to do nothing like that. They’ll get their lesson though.” Police say the suspect will likely show up for treatment of his wound and when he does, they’ll be ready to arrest him."


AZ: Man shoots attacker as 4 people beat him: "Police are looking for four people who allegedly assaulted a man in Buckeye Tuesday, forcing him to pull out a gun and shoot one of the suspects. According to Buckeye Lt. Jared Griffith, the assault took place in the south parking lot of business near 195th Avenue and Indian School Road. During the assault, Griffith said the victim was beaten with a bat several times and sustained injuries to his head and arms. In the middle of the attack, the victim apparently pulled out a gun and shot one of the attackers in self-defense. According to a news release from Griffith, witnesses reported three of the attackers fled the scene on foot while the other injured suspect left in a car. The suspects are described as White or Hispanic, in their late-teens to early-twenties. None of the suspects have been located and the circumstances surrounding the injured suspect are currently unknown. The victim was treated at the scene by the Buckeye Fire Department, but is expected to be okay."


VA: No Jail Time for Student Shooter: "A Richmond man who shot and killed another man during a robbery attempt on Union Hill last Spring will not serve jail time for his crime... Driver shot and killed Jamall Holman last Spring. Police say Holman was breaking into Driver's girlfriend's car while wearing a mask when the two met face to face that April afternoon. Driver says he thought Holman was armed and reaching for a gun when he fired his own weapon killing Holman. It turns out Holman did not have a gun. In court Commonwealth's Attorney Michael Herring questioned whether or not Eric Driver really feared for his life because he never called 911 when he had the chance. But Driver's attorney John Luxton said this killing was in self defense. Outside of court Eric Driver told CBS 6 he felt blessed over the outcome of his trial. He also expressed sorrow for the family of the man he killed."

MI: Suspect won't be charged in fatal shooting: "The man who shot and killed a 20-year-old Wayne man last week will not face charges, according to Wayne police. After an extensive investigation that included interviews from several witnesses and acquaintances of Andrew Turner, who was shot last week after allegedly trying to enter another Wayne home, uninvited, the police turned the investigation over to the office of the Wayne County prosecutor, which decides whether charges will be filed, said Lt. Jason Wright of the Wayne Police Department. “It was ruled self-defense, justifiable,” said Wright. Police were called to the 4000 block of Niagara Street at about 1:30 a.m. on Jan. 19 to respond to a 911 call that someone had been shot, according to police reports. They found Turner suffering from gunshot wounds, reports said. He was transported to Oakwood Annapolis Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. The homeowner was originally held as a suspect, but claimed that Turner had been trying to get into his home, uninvited. The homeowner leveled the gun at the victim and ordered him to leave, according to reports. A struggle for the gun ensued and that’s when Turner was shot, according to police reports of the incident."


FL: Drug dealer shot in self defense: "St. Petersburg police on Wednesday arrested a man who shot and killed a man during a drug transaction Sunday afternoon. Darryl Hooker Jr., 24, of St. Petersburg allegedly shot Robert Hall Jr., 24, at 30th Avenue and 25th Street North. The investigation determined that Hooker shot in self defense. But Hooker, who is a convicted felon, was charged with one count of a felon in possession of a firearm and taken to Pinellas County Jail, police said. During the drug transaction, a friend of Hooker reached to snatch a bag containing narcotics from Hall's friend, police said. Hall produced a handgun and pointed it at Hooker and his friend, police said. Hooker took out a gun and exchanged gunfire with Hall, police said. Police arrived at the scene to find Hall lying on the ground with a handgun in his hand and multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body. He was transported to Edward White Hospital, where he later died from his injuries."


New bill in Utah House would allow for self-defense: "Lawmakers are debating changes to state law regarding the use of deadly force by gun owners. Rep. Stephen Sandstrom, R-Orem, is sponsoring HB78, which would allow a person to use force or "the threat of force necessary to defend a person" against the threat of harm and "when a person may threaten or display a dangerous weapon in self defense," according to the bill's language. "This would actually de-escalate a situation," Sandstrom said in a committee hearing Wednesday. "If you are, by law, allowed to point a gun at someone, that would escalate the situation, but if you're just able to display it, it wouldn't escalate it." The bill, which originally intended to protect the brandishing of a "dangerous weapon," was substituted when presented to the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee to include the language regarding self-defense. The substitute bill was adopted by a 6-1 vote. The committee delayed voting the bill up or down, leaving it subject to further debate or amendment."


Opponents of Self Defense Recycle Old Lies: "Special interests hostile to armed citizens and self-defense are once again spreading tired lies about Students for Concealed Carry on Campus and its mission. In press releases published mainly by anti-gun websites and blogs, groups such as the Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus and the Brady Campaign claim that all efforts to rescind defense-free zones on college campuses in 2009 failed. Echoing similarly loaded and inaccurate allegations made earlier in the year, the notoriously anti-gun groups claimed failure in every state that considered concealed carry on campus legislation, calling such bills “dangerous,” “radical” and “extremist.” These allegations come on the heels of legislation announced in three states (Georgia, Arizona and Virginia) which would remove arbitrary bans of concealed firearms on campus. Furthermore, the critical eye of anti-defense groups somehow overlooked legislation passed in Arizona and South Carolina, which permits lawfully-armed citizens to keep firearms locked in their cars while on campus. They neglected to mention that legislation in Maryland, which would have criminalized concealed carry on campus, failed...."

OK: Fatal Road Rage Shooting: "Tulsa Police say Friday's fatal shooting on Brookside may be self defense. It happened Friday night near 41st and Peoria near the Slo Ride bar. Police say a motorcycle rider was being harassed by the driver of a pickup truck. The biker circled the block, then went inside the bar. Police say he then noticed the pickup had stopped in front of the bar. That's when detectives say one of the men in the truck got out and attacked the motorcyclist. Police say the motorcyclist then pulled a gun and shot him to death. TPD says the motorcyclist does have a weapons permit. It's still unclear if any charges will be filed."


South Carolina: Burglary Suspect Shot by Homeowner : "A burglar was shot Tuesday morning by a homeowner in Spartanburg County. The incident happened at a home at 632 Nodding Hill Road about 9:30 Tuesday morning. According to the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, deputies found Rick Clary standing in the driveway of his home, shotgun in hand. Clary told investigators that he was asleep inside the home when he heard the sound of breaking glass. He then said he grabbed his shotgun, went to the backdoor, and saw someone reaching through the broken door window, trying to unlock the door. Clary fired one shot at the suspect, saying he believed he hit the suspect with the shot. Two suspects fled on foot, but left a car registered to Apple Auto Rental, along with a 9mm pistol. The pistol turned out to be stolen. Soon afterwards, a 16-year-old male juvenile arrived at a local emergency room, suffering from shotgun wounds to his hand and forearm. Investigators were able to determine that the teen was one of the individuals involved in the break-in. The juvenile, identified as Jamarous Rogers, has been charged as an adult, with one count each of Burglary 1st Degree and Possession of a Weapon during a Violent Crime. Investigators are searching for two more suspects."


CA: Dubious prosecution of disabled home defender: "Wajeel said he had taken pain medications and begun an at-home treatment for a ruptured rectus femoris, an injury to a muscle in his upper right leg, when he heard banging around his house. He then walked down the hall and went to the front door. Wajeel said the front door opened as he got there and a man knocked him to the ground. “He was in my living room and I was yelling, ‘Get out of my house!’” Wajeel said. “I saw something pointed at me and all I remember a bang and a flash. Then a police officer was telling me to get back into the house. I was still on the ground. I can’t really walk or stand without help anymore.” Wajeel said he was being prosecuted due to Deputy District Attorney Shannon Faherty’s desire to get a promotion rather than the facts of the case. “I’m just a number or a conviction to them,” Wajeel said. “Even people from my church, where I’m the minority, have told me it’s because I’m black.” ... Wajeel was initially arrested as a murder suspect in Firkin’s shooting death on July 3, 2008. Police found Firkins with a fatal gunshot wound to the head in his truck, which was parked in front of Wajeel’s Barcelona Court home. Police also reported finding Wajeel in his front yard with a gun. Barstow Supervising District Attorney Michael Fermin later decided not to pursue the murder charges in court, saying that Wajeel shot Firkins in self-defense. However, Wajeel was arrested again by officers and was charged this time with voluntary manslaughter on Dec. 5, 2008".


WA: Assault weapons ban likely to fail: "After 2009 ended in a hail of high-profile gun violence, Washington state's gun-control advocates are frustrated by an apparent lack of political support for an assault weapons ban, warning that the state will likely face more deadly shootings without it. The bill comes just weeks after a spate of deadly police shootings, and proponents of the ban say those killings should force politicians to confront gun violence. "There's more guns, a repressed economy and a lot of angry people," said Ralph Fascitelli, board chairman for state gun control group Washington Ceasefire. "You can't sweep this problem under a rug. Apparently the shooting of eight police isn't enough to confront gun violence in the state." Similar bans have not fared well in the state Legislature in the past, and in an election year, supporters face a battle to even get the bill out of committee."

CT: State Supreme Court Overturns Manslaughter Conviction: "After David B. Terwilliger shot and killed his son-in-law outside Terwilliger's home in 2003, a Superior Court jury convicted him of manslaughter and a judge sent him to prison for 15 years. But now the state Supreme Court has overturned Terwilliger's 2005 conviction, telling the lower court in Danielson to reconsider whether Terwilliger is a killer or if he was acting within his legal rights to use deadly force not to protect himself but to protect his property, a broader freedom allowed by law in certain situations. Terwilliger and his wife, Beverly Daniels, were in their home on Vandall Street in Thompson the night of Jan. 5, 2003, when Donald Kennedy, 53, got into an argument with neighbors. Kennedy was married to Daniels' daughter, Christine. Hearing the commotion, Terwilliger — a former U.S. Marine with law enforcement experience — armed himself with a gun and confronted Kennedy. According to court records, Terwilliger, then 63, testified that he ordered Kennedy to leave but that Kennedy refused. Terwilliger testified that Kennedy had an "explosive temper," frequently carried a knife and threatened to kill him, a threat he had made in the past. Terwilliger said that Kennedy also threatened to kill Daniels, whom he said Kennedy called "the mother of the beast." Terwilliger fired a single shot when, according to his testimony, he thought Kennedy's hand was moving toward Terwilliger's throat. Medical personnel found Kennedy dead in the driveway. A knife was also found in one of Kennedy's pockets."


CA: Deadly shooting was self-defense: "The Kern County Sheriff's Office has determined that a deadly shooting Monday morning was self-defense. Two men were shot at an apartment complex on the 2100 block of McCray Street, according to a sheriff's office news release. Buck McKay, 29, died, and an unidentified man is reportedly in critical condition at Kern Medical Center. Deputies were called to the complex about 5 a.m. There, they found McKay suffering from a single gunshot wound to the head. He was taken to KMC, where he later died. The second man was taken by private vehicle to Memorial Hospital and then taken to KMC. Investigators determined that McCray and the other man came to the apartments with a gun and "became involved in a disturbance with Jesse Ash," according to the news release. Ash, 26, and Gregory Alexander, 28, were interviewed by detectives and released. The shooting is still under investigation, but detectives believe Ash shot both men in self-defense. The sheriff's office didn't specify what sparked the confrontation."


WA: Man acquitted in gun trial seeks $92,000 from state: "A Longview man acquitted this month of assault on four Kesler's Bar and Grill employees has filed a claim against the state for more than $92,000 in court costs. Under state law, Brian Barnd-Spjut, 29, is entitled to recoup his attorney fees and other trial-related costs because a jury found that he acted in self defense. Barnd-Spjut, who works as a contractor, is asking for $92,209, which includes $75,000 in attorney's fees and $12,249 in lost wages, according to documents filed by his attorney, Duane Crandall. Other expenses include a $1,500 bond premium and $3,460 in miscellaneous costs. Barnd-Spjut faced four counts of second-degree assault after he waved a handgun at three Kesler's bouncers and the bar's manager, Brandon Kesler, on March 28. Barnd-Spjut, who has a concealed weapons permit, argued the bar's security staff have a reputation for attacking patrons and said he feared for his safety as they hauled him down a hallway and booted him into the alley. The bouncers said Barnd-Spjut refused to pay a $5 cover charge. A jury acquitted Barnd-Spjut on Jan. 15 and determined he was entitled to recover his court costs."


Federal Gov't Wants to Stop Montana Firearms Freedom Act: "The Federal Government is asking a judge to dismiss a lawsuit that seeks to exempt guns made in Montana from national gun control. Last year gun advocates in Montana filed a lawsuit claiming the state should decide which rules would control the sale and purchase of guns made in Montana. Any guns made here that stayed in the state would be exempt from the rules on federal gun registration, background checks, and dealer licensing. This week - the Department of Justice filed a brief that said federal gun control is a valid exercise of the commerce power that congress has under The Constitution. But advocates say if the gun never crosses state lines - then the government should not have control."

OH: Mother Shoots Would-Be Robber: "Police said a would-be robber was shot Saturday while trying to hold up a family on the city's west side. The shooting happened at a home in the 900-block of Harris Avenue at about 11:30 a.m. The homeowner said two acquaintances held his family at gunpoint, demanding cash and prescription painkillers, 10TV News reported. The homeowner said that's when his mother came out of a room with a handgun and opened fire, hitting one of the men. The man, whose identity was not immediately released by police, was taken to Mount Carmel West Hospital. There were no details on his condition. The other alleged robber was later apprehended, police said. He has yet to be identified. No other injuries were reported".


Tennessee: Teen shot dead by homeowner: "A teenager has been fatally shot by a man who said his mobile home was being burglarized. The Greeneville Sun quoted Greene County Sheriff Steve Burns who identified the dead youth as 17-year-old Michael E.A. Banner. Alan Burch, who lives in a mobile home, told investigators he fired shots toward the entrance door after being awakened late Thursday by someone kicking the door open. Burch said he then found at least one of the shots struck the teen. A deputy reported he was found lying on the front porch. The sheriff said three other persons were with Banner and police have an idea who they are.."


Florida: Homeowner Killed Would-Be Burglar: "Police said a homeowner shot and killed a would-be burglar Friday. The incident occurred at 2168 SW Pruitt St. shortly after 3 p.m. Port St. Lucie police said a man arrived at the home and tried to force his way inside. The homeowner, identified as Josh Moore, went to the bedroom and got a shotgun. Moore and the intruder fought over the gun, which discharged and hit the intruder in the chest, investigators said. Police got a search warrant to go into the house where the victim was discovered. Authorities said no criminal charges are pending at this time and that an autopsy is scheduled. The victim’s identity was not released pending notification of his next of kin. Detectives were interviewing a woman at the scene."


Australian Love song for firearms becomes an internet hit: "Steve Lee says he never set out to be an internet hit. He just loves guns - and thought he would write a song about it. He says he is as shocked as anyone that his YouTube clip I Like Guns has been viewed more than 1.26 million times in the six weeks it has been online. The paean to guns, produced by Bill Chambers - father of Kasey - features Lee shooting at everything from watermelons to cars, and with everything from muzzleloaders to a fully automatic M60 and a rocket-propelled grenade. Some of the guns are so dangerous that they are banned in Australia, meaning Mr Lee had to travel to Cambodia to film much of the clip. Mr Lee, who usually performs with his wife and four children, was inspired to write the song many years ago because of negative media coverage of guns. "When you watch movies firearms are portrayed as a bad thing … I wanted to show that they can be used for fun and sport and not violence.'' The song, which features lines such as ''[God] gave me this voice so I can be a singer, so you tell me why I've got a trigger finger'', has been particularly successful in the US, where the debate over gun control rages on."

Arkansas: Liquor Store Robber Shot: "A Little Rock man who was shot by a liquor store owner during an armed robbery of the business was arrested Wednesday after being released from the hospital, police said. Christopher D. Williams, 19, is scheduled to make an initial court appearance today on charges of aggravated robbery and theft of property. Police located Williams soon after the Friday morning robbery, but he was first taken to UAMS to be treated for a gunshot wound to the back of his shoulder. He was released from the hospital Wednesday and immediately booked into the Pulaski County Detention Facility, said Little Rock Police Department Lt. Terry Hastings. The robbery occurred about 8:15 a.m. when a man entered Bopp Liquor, 1021 E. 9th St., pointed a gun at the owner and demanded money, according to a police report written by Detective Charles G. Eason. The owner reportedly handed over cash from the register but then grabbed his handgun as the robber was leaving. The robber turned back once before going, at which point the owner fired one time in his direction, according to the report. The owner was unsure whether the shot actually hit the man. Williams was stopped moments later when an officer responding to the robbery spotted a maroon Lincoln matching one the robber was reported to have left the scene in. He was a passenger in the vehicle, which was stopped in a gas station parking lot near 9th Street and Interstate 30."


Illinois: Liquor Store Robber Shot & Killed: "A 27-year-old man was fatally shot by a clerk while trying to rob a southwest suburban liquor store Thursday night, the Herald-News is reporting. About 10 p.m., the suspect, whose identity has not been released, came into S and A Liquor at 1480 Cedarwood Dr. in Crest Hill and demanded money, police said. “There was a struggle and the clerk fired a shot which appears to have hit the robber before he ran out,” Crest Hill Police Chief Dwayne Wilkerson said. Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet later contacted police after a man arrived with a gunshot wound and investigators were able to identify him as the robber. “He later succumbed to his injuries,” Wilkerson said."


Pennsylvania: Man shoots at aggressive dog; owner cited for leash law violation A dog owner was cited for not having his dog on a leash after a pedestrian on the Schuylkill River Trail in Norristown shot at the animal claiming it had charged at him Sunday morning. After Cpl. David Brooke heard gunfire around 6:12 a.m., he went to the trail near Markley Street and encountered 27-year-old William Lee Bennett, who admitted shooting at a dog, according to Norristown Police Department. Bennett said after he crossed the bridge over Markley Street on the way to the Norristown Transportation Center, he spotted a dog running free that was growling in a threatening manner and headed in his direction. Fearing he would be attacked, he fired at the animal with a Glock brand handgun. Shooting at a dog or other animals threatening to attack a domestic pet or person is legal in Pennsylvania; however, as a precaution, Brooke took the man’s gun and pepper spray he was carrying. While interviewing Bennett, Brooke saw the dog on Barbadoes Street running loose and coming toward them. Though the animal wasn’t charging them, it barked and growled at them. Then Spruill appeared and said he owned the dog and was told he was required to have the dog on a leash. Brooke ordered the man to take control of the animal and detained him. Ultimately, police gave Bennett back his firearm and pepper spray and Spruill was told to expect a citation in the mail for violating the law that prohibits dogs from running loose".


Niagara Falls, New York: Man shoots home invader coming up his stairs: "A 52-year-old city man shot a 22-year-old man in the chest Wednesday evening, but police said he is not expected to be charged after investigators learned he was likely defending himself from a burglar. The younger man, Parrish C. Spencer Jr., of Falls Street, broke the window of a side door and kicked in the door about 5:30 p.m. to get inside the two-story home of Willie J. Carson in the 500 block of 25th Street, police said. After Spencer got inside and went upstairs, Carson shot him, police said. Spencer is in stable condition today at Erie County Medical Center. Investigators found broken plexiglass at the scene. Captain Ernest C. Palmer, chief of detectives, said Carson was not charged but the case has been turned over to the Niagara County district attorney’s office for further investigation. Charges may be filed against Spencer, Palmer added."

Feds Against Firearms Freedom

Regarding firearms made in Montana:

The Federal Government is asking a judge to dismiss a lawsuit that seeks to exempt guns made in Montana from national gun control.

Last year gun advocates in Montana filed a lawsuit claiming the state should decide which rules would control the sale and purchase of guns made in Montana.

Any guns made here that stayed in the state would be exempt from the rules on federal gun registration, background checks, and dealer licensing.

This week - the Department of Justice filed a brief that said federal gun control is a valid exercise of the commerce power that congress has under The Constitution.

I suggest the words "federal gun control" tend to mean "no guns."

Nevada: Man shoots, kills intruder who broke into his home: "An intruder is dead and the resident who shot him is still shaken after a home invasion in the central valley early Tuesday morning. The resident, a man in his 60s who uses a cane to walk, was visibly upset as he emptied the trash outside his home in the 700 block of Clarkway Drive, near Bonanza Road and Rancho Drive, at about 7:30 a.m. Tuesday. “I took a human life,” said the resident, who declined to give his name. “I’m still dealing with that.” The resident said he awoke about midnight to a sound at his front door. As he investigated, he saw a man kick open the door, breaking the chain lock, he said. The suspect took two steps inside the house, where the resident waited in the living room with a .45- caliber handgun at his waist. “I said, ‘Get the hell out of my house,’ and he stood there laughing,” he said. “He said, ‘I’m going to beat your ass and then I’m gonna kill you,’ and he took one more step. Then I shot him.” ... Homicide Lt. Lew Roberts said the incident appears to involve “a criminal preying on the elderly.” According to a release, police arrived on scene and found the suspect’s body in the doorway of the home, with a single gunshot wound to the chest."


CA: Surprising how handy a gun can be: "One man escapes death by shooting his way out. Sounds like a line from a movie doesn’t it? Well apparently, a man ended up driving into a creek after his hands-free device for his cell phone activated. Apparently the sound scared himself so much that he veered off the road into a creek. After the driver drove into the creek his vehicle began sinking. Thankfully, he was packing a pistol and shot out the window to escape the cold waters. This was only because he was an armed security guard at the Thunder Valley Casino just north of Sacramento. The man only sustained minor injuries. His name has yet to be available. He got away with just minor injuries. According to the Roseville Fire Department, the man was driving northbound on Industrial Avenue in Roseville. Police described the situation saying he drove into the guard rail and toppled over it in his SUV. He began to sink in Pleasant Grove Creek. If it wasn’t for his gun, he might not have escaped."


FL: Self defense shooter charged for having the wrong weapon: "A Collier County man who was involved in the March shooting death of a teenager during a possible burglary of the man’s Willoughby Acres home has been jailed on a charge of possessing a short-barreled shotgun. Collier County jail records showed Saturday that Sterlin Misener, 45, was arrested on a warrant when he turned himself in Friday at the Collier County Sheriff’s Office station in East Naples. Misener shot and killed 19-year-old Patrick Hutchison with a sawed-off shotgun after reports say he caught the teen exiting the family’s camper that was parked in the driveway at 91 Willoughby Drive in the North Naples subdivision. Misener’s bond was set at $5,000." [At least his self-defense claim seems to have been accepted. The events concerned go back to March 2009]


Indiana Bill Creates Hurdles for Gun Owners: "A recently introduced Indiana bill would greatly restrict the ability of residents to purchase firearms. Senate Bill 304, sponsored by Senator Connie Sipes (D- New Albany), would, with limited exceptions, prohibit anyone from purchasing, renting, or obtaining a firearm by transfer without completing a new firearms safety course administered by the state police department. The measure only allows those that have their concealed carry licenses, are current law enforcement officials, or are current and former members of the armed forces to be exempted from the safety training mandate. Sportsmen who are licensed hunters and have fulfilled their hunter education requirements, would still be prohibited from purchasing a new or used firearm without first taking the state’s mandated safety course. “Law abiding citizens should not have to jump through hoops to exercise their second amendment rights,” said Jeremy Rine, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) associate director of state services. "This bill creates a new level of bureacracy without cause."