Chicago: Another Self-Defense Gun Use Validates SAF Chicago Lawsuit: "SAF Executive Vice President Alan Gottlieb said the early-morning shooting in the city's South Austin neighborhood involved a fleeing felon who had run from police with a large volume of narcotics, and crashed through the window of the gun owner's home. The unidentified armed citizen reportedly has a valid Firearm Owner's Identification Card, according to the Chicago Tribune. The wounded suspect was identified as Aaron Marshall, whose criminal history includes felony convictions on drug and weapons charges. "The homeowner in this morning's incident, just like the 80-year-old Korean War veteran who fatally shot another thug last week, did the city a favor," he said, "and he apparently will not be charged, thanks to a state law that protects such people, even where handguns are banned. "Armed citizens," Gottlieb said, "are doing more to fight violent crime than Daley has done in his entire time in office."


A gun for Grandpa: "Chicago is deciding whether to prosecute a great-grandfather and Korean War veteran under its handgun ban. He refused to be a victim, and now there’s one less armed thug roaming the streets. What’s the problem? If the 80-year-old vet living on the city’s West Side didn’t have the gun the city said he shouldn’t have, he and his 83-year-old wife and 12-year-old great-grandson might have joined those victims of gun violence about whom gun-control advocates constantly chirp. The vet obtained the gun in violation of the city’s handgun ban after a prior incident in which the couple was robbed at gunpoint by three armed intruders. So when Anthony Nelson … tried breaking into their East Garfield Park home, they were ready.”


The persecution of Gilbert Arenas: "On January 15, 2010, Arenas pled guilty to one felony count of carrying a pistol without a license in the District of Columbia, punishable by up to a $5,000 fine and five years in jail. On March 26, D.C. Superior Court Judge Robert Morin sentenced the player to 30 days in a halfway house, two years of probation, 400 hours of community service, and a $5,000 fine. The judge got it about right — but only after three months of overkill from the other featured performers in the Arenas morality play: the overreaching prosecutors who pressed to lock him up, the tabloid heckler who mousetrapped the player with reckless smears, and the NBA commissioner who peremptorily wiped out Arenas’ season. You don’t have to support gun control laws to see that Arenas committed a stupid act that could have ended far worse than it did. But you don’t have to support gun rights to see that he has paid a price grossly disproportionate to his mistake.”


After the recent UK mass shooting, what makes gun banners think British laws would work here?: "The body count in Northwest England’s Cumbria county earlier today stands at a dozen dead and more than twice as many wounded, suspected gunman Derrick Bird is dead and he used only a sporting shotgun and .22-caliber rifle, according to published reports. Not an ‘assault weapon’ in sight, and there are indications that Bird may have legally owned those guns as he was apparently a member of a local gun club. … ‘American gun prohibitionists have frequently held up the gun laws of Great Britain as their model. They have created the impression that English-style gun laws would prevent outrages in this country. Today’s shooting spree … should forever put the lie to this argument.’

PA: Abusive drunk gets shot: "Charges were dismissed Wednesday night against a Duncansville man accused of shooting a man outside a city bar in February. Zimmerman and Burk were not causing any trouble and were leaving the bar after their pool league when an intoxicated Vaughn and Stewart began calling them "faggots," the bartender testified. When Vaughn and Stewart left a few minutes later after they were asked to leave, they went out the front door onto South Kettle Street but soon turned down the alley to where Burk was trying to leave in his truck, the testimony showed. It was then that Zimmerman left his vehicle to help Burk. Burk pulled his handgun, mounted with a laser scope, and pointed it at Stewart, who police claim and video footage showed landed a single punch to Burk's face. Testimony showed that as Stewart and Burk scuffled, Vaughn backed Zimmerman down the alley until Zimmerman pulled his .32-caliber Kel-Tec handgun, for which he had a permit to carry. Vaughn allegedly dared Zimmerman to shoot him and continued his epithets. Zimmerman admittedly fired a warning shot before ultimately shooting Vaughn, who did not take the stand Wednesday, in the abdomen."


AZ: Intruder shot: "Mohave County Sheriff’s deputies responded to an attempted burglary early Saturday (5/29) morning, at about 1:56 a.m., in the 1700 block of Hammer Lane. Upon arrival, deputies were contacted by the homeowner, a 50-year-old male victim. The victim said that he shot at a subject who was trying to break into his house. The victim further said that he was not certain if he hit the suspect. Deputies walked through the victims’ residence and to the backyard. Deputies immediately ordered a male subject wearing black clothing to the ground. Deputies forced the male subject to the ground as he would not comply with their orders. Deputies detained the male subject, later identified as Joseph Alfonso Vasquez, 16, of Fort Mohave. Deputies observed Vasquez to have blood on his ear and small cuts on his face. Deputies located a small wound on Vasquez upper torso which was later determined to be a gun shot wound. Medical responded and transported Vasquez to Valley View Medical Center where he was treated and released. Investigations determined that the victim was awoken by someone trying to force entry through a door. The victim grabbed his gun while he walked to the glass pane door and told the suspect to leave the property. The victim advised that the suspect again tried forcing the door open and that’s when he fired his gun through the glass. The victim was unsure if he had hit the suspect. During conversations with Vasquez, he said that he thought that he was at a relative’s house. This case will be forwarded to the County Attorney’s Office for review.


Missouri mom uses gun to stop attempted rape of daughter: "A Cape Girardeau mother with a gun is being credited with stopping the attempted rape of her daughter. 51-year-old Craig Kizer faces a variety of charges, including attempted rape, armed criminal action and burglary. He has no known address and did not have an attorney. Police say Kizer had been working on the family’s home as part of a renovation project, but was not staying there. The teen was in bed around 5:30 a.m. Sunday when Kizer came into her room with a knife and climbed on top of her. When he set the knife down on the bed, the teen grabbed it and screamed. The girl’s mother came into the room with a gun, pointed it at the suspect and ordered him out of the house. Police later arrested him.


Pennsylvania: Man kills neighbor’s pit bull: "Police filed charges against a 37-year-old Chester Springs woman after her three pit bulls reportedly charged at her neighbors. The pit bulls’ charging incident caused the neighbor to shoot and kill one of the dogs; however, he does not face charges under a provision in the Pennsylvania Dog Law, according to police. Upon arrival, police met resident Fred Zeitter, 46, who stated he and his wife had been in their yard planting a tree when three pit bulls, belonging to their neighbor, came running toward them.... Zeitter then grabbed his .40-caliber handgun from his deck, turned around, and as all three pit bulls were charging at him, he fired his handgun at one of the dogs, striking the dog in the head and killing it instantly, according to police. The other two pit bulls then ran away from Zeitter’s home."

Ohio robbers shot: "The shots rang out just before 11a.m. in The Maylin Manor apartment complex in the 2700 block of North Gettysburg Avenue. The victim who died was identified as 41-year-old Timothy Thomas from Springfield. Investigators said he was shot at least once in the chest. A second victim who was shot collapsed on the grass while running from the apartments. Police said he was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. As for the shooter, witnesses told 2 News, he fired in self defense after the two victims tried to rob him in his own apartment. A maintenance worker at the apartment complex, Guy Abrams told 2 News, he was doing his job when the shooter rushed out of his apartment, and asked him to call 911 saying he had just shot two people. "He opened the door he said he had just been robbed," said Abrams. A neighbor, Matresia Coleman, said the man who shot the two victims was known as T-Bone. "There is always people shooting at his apartment all the time. It's none of my business, but there's always some activity over there," said Coleman... Police said the second victim of this shooting was expected to survive. The man who fired the shots, was taken downtown and questioned by police, but no charges were filed on Tuesday."


4 words to remember: "Remember if you shoot a scumbag no law requires you stay there or call the police. You have an absolute right and duty to yourself to remain silent. Leave the scene collecting any and all weapons you can. If contacted by the police remember these four words, “I WANT A LAWER.” Do not admit anything including being in fear for your life. Save that for your lawyer or a jury if they arrest you. Talking to police will almost guarantee your arrest. Silence is truly gold"


The doomsday provision: "‘Don’t tell me this bill will not make a difference,’ said President Clinton, who signed the Brady Bill into law. Sorry. Even the federal government can’t say it has made a difference. The Centers for Disease Control did an extensive review of various types of gun control: waiting periods, registration and licensing, and bans on certain firearms. It found that the idea that gun control laws have reduced violent crime is simply a myth.”


Gun rights should know no borders: "That statement, in one form or another, is a misguided talking point commonly used by gun-control advocates. They fail to see that it recognizes only a distinct minority of our population (the police) who are granted special privilege to carry guns while the average citizen cannot. That selectivity begs the question: Why should their safety be any more important than that of every one of us; shouldn’t the average citizen also be empowered to deal with the common criminal in issues of self-defense? Unfortunately, in many states, we are not. Taking away our guns has, ironically, granted a special privilege to lawbreakers as well. The predators have the distinct advantage of being armed while their prey is not.”

Washington: Homeowner kills bear in driveway: "A rural homeowner shot and killed a large female black bear in his driveway Wednesday morning after the bear returned for a bucket of molasses that she and a cub had gotten into last week, authorities said. The homeowner, who lives near East Leavenworth Road and Dempsey Road, had stored a five-gallon bucket of molasses under his porch when the mother and yearling first visited, said Rich Beausoleil, bear and cougar specialist for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife in Wenatchee. He said officers trapped and euthanized the year-old bear last week, but the 190-pound mother continued to return to the man’s house. He said the bear was not acting aggressive, but had no fear of people and would not leave. The homeowner was justified in shooting the bear, Klump said."


Alaska: Backpacker Kills Aggressive Grizzly Bear: "A backpacker shot and killed a grizzly bear with his handgun in Alaska’s Denali National Park, officials said. A man and woman reported that they were hiking Friday evening when the bear emerged from trailside brush and charged the woman, park spokeswoman Kris Fister said in a statement. The man fired nine rounds from his .45 caliber, semiautomatic pistol at the animal, which then stopped and walked into the brush. The two reported the shooting to rangers, who restricted access to the Igloo Canyon area for fear that the bear was wounded and dangerous. On Saturday, rangers found the dead bear about 100 feet from the shooting site."


Alaska: Bear helping himself to chickens gets shot in coop: "Jeff Johnson knew a bear was in the area. He had just looked outside to see the black bear scratching around near the chicken coop... Then he looked through a window. “It looked like he was sitting, but it was kind of dark, and he was just gobbling down a chicken, had it in his mouth and just swallowing,” Johnson said. “I was just shocked that he was in there. I didn’t even think of the possibility.” The roughly 150-pound bear had scrambled through a small coop window about 5 feet off the ground. Claw marks showed on the plywood below it. His son, 20-year-old Seth Johnson, called police and jumped out a first-floor window with a rifle, passing it off to his father... “I thought, well, if he sticks his head out again, it’s a safe backdrop and that should do him in. So he stuck his head out again,” Johnson said. “I expected it to just be dead instantly.” The bear had broken the light in the coop, so they shined a flashlight through the chicken door and saw the bear lying on the ground. When Anchorage police arrived on scene, they found the animal wounded but still alive, police spokeswoman Anita Shell said."


Second Amendment rights for our military: "When Nidal Hasan opened fire on fellow soldiers at Ft. Hood in Texas, most Americans were stunned to find out that military bases are gun free zones. That is why he was able to kill so many people, trained soldiers, before he was stopped by a police officer who was armed. One person at the time compared the military base to a giant family and asked ‘who would need a gun in their home?’ The shooting showed why: not everybody is ‘normal’ or trustworthy in a family that big. I have written on the difficulty of defending against the first time someone goes off the handle. Up to that point, there is no documentable reason to curb their liberties. When they cross the line, it requires rapid response, like a normal person who is also armed.”

Firearms Freedom


Firearms Freedom Act status
From Ammoland:

Alaska became the 8th state to enact a Firearms Freedom Act, the 7th enacted clone of Montana’s original bill, when Alaska Governor Sean Parnell signed HB 186, sponsored by Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Fairbanks) today.

In a prepared statement, Rep. Kelly said: “The Alaska Firearms Freedom Act frees Alaskans from overly-bureaucratic and restrictive federal firearm regulation, and allows our state to assume the responsibility for regulation.”

“The Interstate Commerce Clause is used by the federal government to regulate firearms that cross state borders. The Alaska Firearms Freedom Act makes it clear that Alaskans will be responsible for firearms that are made in Alaska, for use in Alaska, and have ‘Made in Alaska’ stamped on them.”

A Motion to Dismiss is pending in federal court in Missoula, Montana. The Justice Department under Attorney General Eric Holder is trying to stop the trend. Heh.

Alabama man holds robber with shotgun: "The Morgan County Sheriff’s Department says it all started Tuesday when the victim noticed someone had kicked in the door to his home that he was moving out of. The would be burglar returned Wednesday morning. “As soon as he pulled in the driveway the door was standing open again. This time some of his belongings were piled in a pile,” said Investigator Robert Newman. So the homeowner camped out and waited until dark. “This individual comes up on the porch kind of looked around, turned around and stepped in,” said Investigator Robert Newman. Investigator Robert Newman says Kenneth Michael Stewart walked straight to the pile of belongings he planned to steal. “As he stepped in he pushed the door shut and there the homeowner was with the shotgun leveled at him,” said Investigator Newman. Investigator Newman says Stewart cooperated with the homeowner until deputies arrived."


California woman shoots, wounds dog after it attacks her 6-year-old daughter: "A Lake Forest woman shot a dog after it attacked her 6-year-old daughter outside their home Wednesday morning, authorities said. The girl and the woman’s 3-year-old daughter were walking to a neighbor’s house on a quiet cul-de-sac when a dog, thought to be a boxer or a pit bull mix, attacked the older girl, said Orange County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Jim Amormino. The unidentified woman, holding her 1-year-old daughter and accompanied by her 14-year-old son, was drawn from the house by the children’s screams. Outside, they found the dog on top of the 6-year-old, biting her. A neighbor tried to get the dog off the girl by spraying it with Windex, Amormino said. When that didn’t work, the 14-year-old punched the dog until it released the child. The woman scooped up her daughters and ran to her house, Amormino said, but the dog chased them, at one point snapping at the 1-year-old’s pant legs. The woman tried to scare the dog away by yelling and stomping, but when that failed to work, she got a 9-millimeter Glock semiautomatic pistol from the house and shot it once in the neck, Amormino said."


NY: Would-be robber pulls baseball bat on pharmacy clerk, who pulls gun: "A man, armed with a baseball bat, who tried to hold up a pharmacy Wednesday afternoon, got more than he expected when he told the clerk to, “Give me all the drugs” and the employee pulled a licensed pistol out and asked him, “Do you really want to do this?” The man, who was wearing a blue jumpsuit and dark ski mask, fled the Pharmacy at Route 52 in the Village of Jeffersonville. Robert Roach, 55, was found at his residence at 4726 Route 52 near Lake Jefferson. Roach was charged with attempted robbery in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree and menacing in the second degree. Roach was sent to the Sullivan County Jail without bail."


DE: NRA sues WHA over gun ban: "The National Rifle Association is suing the Wilmington Housing Authority to try to force the agency to allow public housing residents to carry guns. The NRA says WHA leases have provisions prohibiting tenants from owning guns, which the lobbying group says is a violation of the Constitution’s Second Amendment.The NRA has also sued public housing agencies in San Francisco, Portland, Maine, Washington, DC and Newark, New Jersey to overturn gun bans, and filed suit against the WHA and Executive Director Fred Purnell in Chancery Court in Wilmington Wednesday.”

Alabama woman shoots and kills invader: "A Piedmont woman shot and killed a man who broke into her home Tuesday night, sheriff’s investigators say. According to Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office reports, Dale Micha Scott, 39, was shot several times and killed at approximately 10:49 p.m. in the upstairs bedroom of a residence on Hughes Road off Alabama 21. Calhoun County Coroner Pat Brown pronounced Scott dead at the scene at approximately 12:41 this morning. Sheriff Larry Amerson said the woman who lived at the residence shot Scott with a handgun after he apparently broke into the home through a sliding glass door on the second floor. “From everything we’ve seen thus far, there will be no criminal charges,” Amerson said. “She was totally within her rights to defend herself. And in Alabama, a homeowner does not have to have approval or a permit to own or possess a firearm in his or her own residence.”


Texas woman shoots ex-husband after he stabs her: "A woman fatally shot her ex-husband after the man stabbed her several times at a Montrose apartment complex Sunday. The shooting occurred at an apartment in the 3400 block Yupon about 4:30 p.m., police said. The case is expected to be turned over to a Harris County grand jury to determine whether charges are filed. The name of the 32-year-old man, who died at the scene, has not been released. His ex-wife, whose name has not been released, had several stab wounds and was rushed to Ben Taub General Hospital. Her condition is unknown."


South Carolina: Man who shot intruder was ready on a hunch: "Kershaw deputies say a repeat burglar is off the streets and in the hospital after being wounded during his latest robbery attempt. Pedro King, 65, says he was the one who shot the intruder, Stoney Lee Wilson. “I was sitting there taking my shoes off and I was about ready to throw them on the couch,” said King. “Door swung open and I shot him.” After burglars broke into his son’s home earlier this week, he hunkered down inside Sunday night with a gun on a hunch. How’d he know? “I just had that feeling,” he said. King says it was all very calculated. “I was getting him in the leg,” said King. “That’s where I aimed. Didn’t want to kill him, didn’t want him to suffer.” Deputies say King will not be charged because he was protecting his property. Wilson is in the hospital. After that, deputies say he will go to jail. They say they’ve connected him to a string of burglaries."


Alabama: Teen robber shot and killed: "The May 5 shooting death of an 18-year-old man at Beaconview Apartments has been ruled a justifiable homicide, Birmingham police announced Monday. Marqualius Harris, of Birmingham, was shot and killed as he attempted to rob two males who were about to get into a car, Sgt. Johnny Williams wrote in a press release. The two robbery victims were shot, but survived. They shot back and killed Harris. Homicide detectives presented findings of their investigation to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office. The D.A.’s office ruled the death a justifiable homicide."

29 May, 2010

FL: Traffic mishap leads to shooting: "A Titusville fire inspector told authorities that he shot and wounded a man in self-defense while they argued about a minor traffic accident Thursday in Seminole County. No one has been charged in the apparent road rage incident in the Mayfair Oaks subdivision south of Oviedo. Mark Whorton, 50, a resident of Oviedo and a Titusville fire inspector for four years, told sheriff's deputies that a 2007 Honda Fit driven by Michael McClarin, 34, of Casselberry hit his 2007 Lexus at 6 p.m. on Chapman Road. Whorton said McClarin then "attempted to hit him with his vehicle while (Whorton was) pointing out a black scuff mark and dent on the driver's side door" of his Lexus, Christie Ganley, a Seminole County sheriff's deputy, wrote in the incident report. "McClarin stated that at this point, Whorton shot him point blank in the chest" with a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun for which Whorton has a concealed-weapons permit"


Violent crime declines as American gun ownership rises: "For the third consecutive year, violent crime has declined in the United States during the same period when gun and ammunition purchases have increased dramatically, something that should not be happening, if one were to believe the gun prohibition lobby. The FBI on Monday released preliminary uniform crime data showing that the four major violent crime categories are all slipping. Overall, 2009 experienced a 7.2 percent drop in murders, an 8.1 percent decrease in robbery, a 4.2 percent decline in aggravated assault and 3.1 percent reduction in forcible rape. Yet, according to data from the FBI’s National Instant Check System and … the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, gun and ammunition sales are up dramatically.”


Jamaica banned handgun in 1974: "Do gun bans really stop criminals from getting guns? Americans need not look no further than the massive gun battle with armed gangs fighting police and soldiers that took place in Kingston, Jamaica today. At least 30 people were killed in the fighting. It is a huge number for a small island nation of fewer than 3 million people, but unfortunately murder is so common in Jamaica that these murders won’t even be noticed in the annual crime numbers. … Even before the recent rampage, Jamaica’s murder rate was about six times higher than before the ban went into effect.”


TN: Senate overrides veto of guns bill: “The state Senate voted 22-10 on Thursday to once again override the governor’s veto of a bill to allow handgun carry permit holders to bring weapons into bars and alcohol-serving restaurants. Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen last week vetoed the guns bill sponsored by Sen. Doug Jackson, D-Dickson, on the basis that ‘guns and alcohol don’t mix.’ The House had passed the bill on a 66-31 vote, while the Senate approved it by a 23-9 margin. The vote, essentially the third on the proposal in the last two years, took place after little debate. Jackson focused most of his comments on Bredesen’s objections to the bill, saying the governor had made no effort to resolve his problems with the legislation.”

MN: Sight of gun scares off thug: "As Rosenbloom and Campbell wrestled on the ground, Rosenbloom said his shirt came up, and the other man saw Rosenbloom had a gun in a holster. Rosenbloom is also an American Association of Certified Firearms Instructors trainer. He said he did not draw his weapon. The man ran away, and Campbell also tried to flee, Rosenbloom said. Just then, an officer in a passing squad car saw Campbell swing at Rosenbloom, a police spokesman said. Rosenbloom blocked the punch again and held onto Campbell until police arrested him. Campbell, of St. Paul, pleaded guilty Thursday to fifth-degree assault, a misdemeanor."


TX: Officer, citizen fire at man who allegedly tried to run over officer: "Police in Fort Worth are looking for a man who they said tried to run over a police officer overnight in the 2400 block of North Main Street in the heart of the Stockyards. The officer approached two men in a car, which is when the driver allegedly tried to run over the officer. The officer fired shots at the car, hitting the passenger. A citizen also opened fire on the car. The passenger was pushed out of the car and arrested, but the driver is still on the loose.”


Alabama: Homeowner shoots, kills home invader: "A suspect was shot and killed during a home invasion on Jolley Road in Jefferson County on Sunday night. Jefferson County Sheriffs deputies responded to the call shortly before 8:00 p.m. Randy Christian with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says deputies responding found the 62-year-old homeowner walking up the driveway up arrival. Inside the house, they found 54-year-old Preston Jenkins already dead with a wound to the left side of his stomach. Deputies have questioned and released the homeowner. Authorities believe the victim had a past relationship with the homeowner’s ex-wife, who was on the scene at the time. It is believed that the victim had forced his way into the home.


Marriott lies to gun owners: “No firearms” signs remain: "Late Monday afternoon an ostensibly apologetic and congenial Keith Thomas, assistant to CEO J.W. Marriott, Jr., told a Grass Roots North Carolina board member that Marriott had ’stepped on a hornet’s nest’ and promised to remove signs prohibiting lawful firearms in hotels nationwide. Of the Charlotte Marriott City Center … Thomas promised signs had already been removed. But on Tuesday, signs at Marriott properties — including the Charlotte hotel — remained in place"

Illinois: 80-Year-Old Chicago Man Kills Armed Home Invader: "An 80-year-old Chicago man shot and killed an armed man who broke into his two-story house in a pre-dawn home invasion Wednesday on the city’s West Side. At about 5:20 a.m., the homeowner and his wife, also in her 80s, discovered the intruder entering their home through a back door. The homeowner, who had a gun, confronted and killed the burglar on the doorstep, police said. Cops said the intruder also fired his gun during the struggle. Relatives of the couple told the Sun Times that the man is an Army veteran, his wife a former nurse. Police said neither the man nor the woman was injured in the attack. The assailant, who was described by police as being in his 30s, was found slumped on the back doorstep of the couple’s house, removed four hours after the shooting, the Sun Times reported. No charges have been filed against the homeowner"


Fla. Homeowner Shoots Teen Burglar: "An 18-year-old man was shot in the leg by a homeowner Wednesday morning after breaking into a home, Columbia County deputies said. Deputies were called to 100 block of Cardinal Lane at 10:40 a.m. after the homeowner called 911 to report that someone had just broken into his home and that he had shot the burglar. Deputies said they found and arrested Damien Morgan in a nearby business parking lot. They said Morgan, who was shot in his left leg, was taken to Lake City Medical Center for further treatment. Deputies said the homeowner was alone in his home when Morgan kicked in the locked front door. They said the homeowner retrieved his .38-caliber handgun and was confronted by Morgan in the hallway of the home. Deputies said the homeowner, fearing for his safety, fired one shot, and Morgan fled from the home."


SAF blasts Bloomberg for sham relaxation of gun regulations: "New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s ‘relaxation’ of gun regulations to make them more streamlined in the city is ‘a lot of flash and very little substance,’ the Second Amendment Foundation said today, after carefully studying the new guidelines. ‘It is clear to us,’ said SAF Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb, ‘that Mayor Bloomberg is trying to make it appear that his gun regulations are more user-friendly to deflect a potential lawsuit once the Supreme Court rules on our legal action to overturn the handgun ban in Chicago.’”


GRNC campaign leads Marriott to say “no guns” signs will be removed: "After GRNC began the effort and Gun Rights Examiners Paul Valone, Dave Workman and David Codrea and others ran it, the boycott immediately ‘went viral,’ appearing on forums across the country and generating untold numbers of contacts to Marriott — many of which were from Marriott’s ‘Rewards’ members who supported the boycott. On Sunday, the Marriott boycott made nationally-syndicated radio on Tom Gresham’s ‘Gun Talk.’ Today, upper level Marriott executive Keith Thomas told GRNC board member Bill Krupicka that signs from the Charlotte property had already been removed, and that signs across the country will be removed promptly.”

MS: Burglary attempt ends in shooting: "Charles and Annetta Ray had just returned home from church when a New Orleans man looking for cash or a ride to a bus station tried to force his way inside their home Sunday, resulting in an exchange of gunfire that ended the man’s life, authorities and witnesses said. Cornelious Ferrande, 23, died Sunday of a single gunshot wound outside the home in the 3800 block of Wembley Avenue, Jackson County Coroner Vicki Broadus said. Charles Ray, they said, answered the back door when Ferrande came around asking him to call a bus for him, When Ray, a retired shipyard worker, refused the request, Donald Hamm said, Ferrande told him to get his wife to call for a ride. By that time, Hamm said, Annetta Ray already had realized they were in danger and brought her husband’s pistol to him at the back door. She was hidden by a curtain on the back door window, Hamm said, when she snuck the gun to Charles Ray."


Colorado Right to Carry is Protected Once Again: "Thanks to the efforts of Larimer County Commissioner Tom Donnelly and the staff at Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, there was no confusion about the right of citizens to carry concealed handguns at this weekend’s Republican State Convention. Just weeks ago, RMGO activists noted that the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland – the site for the 2010 Republican State Convention – listed all firearms, including those carried by permit holders, as being banned at that facility. One problem: it’s a taxpayer-built and owned facility, and state law doesn’t allow them to ban concealed carry. RMGO staff talked to the managers of that facility, who were unwilling to budge, so we contacted the ultimate authority for that facility, namely a County Commissioner. Commissioner Tom Donnelly acted within minutes of finding out about this attempt to discourage self defense. And just like that, within hours of finding out about this ban, RMGO – and more notably, Tom Donnelly – fixed it."


Cannot rely on police: "But can we rely on the police to protect us? The reason the use of force in self-defense has always been justifiable at law is because the authorities cannot protect everyone, or indeed anyone all the time. Moreover, the courts have found police are not obliged to protect us. In the case of Warren v. District of Columbia, three young women sued the District of Columbia because the police failed to protect them. Men had burst into their townhouse and attacked their roommate downstairs. Hearing her screams, they called 911 repeatedly for over half an hour. When the screams stopped, they assumed the police had arrived and went downstairs only to be seized by the intruders. The police had lost track of their calls. All three women were brutally abused for 14 hours. D.C.'s highest court ruled that the police do not have a legal responsibility to provide personal protection to individuals. They have a general obligation to protect everyone but not an obligation to protect anyone.


Supreme Court refuses to hear Ileto v. Glock gun liability case: "The United States Supreme Court has decided to let stand a lower court's ruling that gun manufacture Glock is not liable for a white supremacist's shooting spree. In 1999, white supremacist Buford Furrow killed postal worker Joseph Ileto and wounded 5 others - including three children - at a Jewish Community Center in Grenada Hills, California. In order to carry out his racially motivated crime, Furrow broke numerous gun control laws (he was illegally in possession of 7 firearms). In 2001, the shooting victims and Ileto’s wife filed a lawsuit against the manufacturers, marketers, importers, distributors, and sellers of the firearms related to Furrow's shooting spree. They alleged that those defendants intentionally produced, marketed, distributed, and sold more firearms than the legitimate market demanded, in order to take advantage of re-sales to distributors that they know or should know will, in turn, sell to illegal buyers."

FL: Shooting at barber shop: "It's unclear what sparked the shooting around 5:30 p.m. Saturday inside the business at 4522 Hoffner Avenue, and Orange County Sheriff's Office released little information about the incident Monday. Nieves said she was outside smoking a cigarette when the shooting occurred. She said the gunman was able to get into the shop by walking close behind another patron who was let into the shop. Once inside the shop, the man opened fire, she said. A client who was getting his hair cut returned the gun shots, Nieves said. Both men left the barbershop after the shooting. Deputies have not publicly identified the shooter. Minutes later, Orlando police responded to an apartment complex on Curry Ford Road where a man was suffering from a gunshot wound to his abdomen, reports show. Detectives with both agencies have yet to determine if the person found at the complex — Juan Jose Osorio — is the same person who was shot at the shop."


Colorado: Police identify teen killed in attempted burglary: "Police have identified the victim of an early morning shooting in the 3100 block of Gaylord Street as 17-year-old Marcus Duran. Sonny Jackson, a spokesperson with the Denver Police Department, says it appears Duran, and two other men, were trying to break into a home in the area when the homeowner opened fire. “About 2:30 this morning, we got a call of a burglary in progress up the block at another residence,” Jackson said. “Officers, while they were there, heard shots fired at another residence. They responded there, found a male party who was down in front of the home, appeared to be suffering from gunshot wounds.” Police say the man died at the scene. The other suspects fled into the neighborhood."


OH: Black robber shot : "An early morning Lakewood shooting could have been a case of self-defense. Just after midnight Monday morning, Lakewood Police were called to 1437 Newman Ave. for a report of gunshots in the parking lot. Upon arrival they found one male on the ground with gunshot wounds and he was taken to Metro Hospital. Chief Tim Malley says their investigation reveals this possibly may have been an attempted robbery. The suspected robber had produced a firearm while committing a robbery, when the victim of the robbery produced his own handgun and shot the robber. The victim of the robbery, a 35-year-old male from Charlotte, North Carolina, was taken into custody by Lakewood Police. Two handguns were recovered at the scene. No charges have been filed."


PA: Man acquitted of murder gets jail time for having gun: "A York City man acquitted of murder but convicted of illegal gun possession must serve five to 10 years in state prison. Dexter Wright, 41, of South Queen Street, appeared in York County Court on Monday morning to be sentenced by Common Pleas Judge John S. Kennedy. Wright had been accused of fatally shooting Dereck Sease, 31, of York City, after a fistfight at the corner of West Princess and West streets about 2 a.m. Aug. 2. But in March, a jury acquitted him of first- and third-degree murder. Instead, they convicted him of being a convicted felon in illegal possession of a gun. Originally from the Bronx, N.Y., Wright was convicted of felony drug dealing in 1999, police said. As a felon, state law prohibits him from having firearms; it's a second-degree felony."

OK: Shots Fired From Car In Parking Lot: "Oklahoma City police are investigating an overnight shooting at a night club near Northwest 23rd and Portland Avenue. They said two men were kicked out of the night club. A security guard noticed the men in a car in the parking lot shooting a gun. When the guard fired at the car, it sped out of the parking lot. Police said the car crashed into an SUV at Northwest 23rd and MacArthur Avenue. One person in the SUV was transported to the hospital with minor injuries. Police arrested both men in the car. They were booked into the Oklahoma County Jail on suspicion of discharging a firearm from a vehicle."


Citizens Endorse Soldiers Gun Rights Bill: ""We support whole-heartedly a bill introduced in the Senate a few days ago to protect the gun rights of our soldiers," John M. Snyder, Public Affairs Director of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, said here today. S. 3388, the proposed Service Member Second Amendment Protection Act, was introduced by Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. It would protect the Second Amendment rights of soldiers and Department of Defense civilian employees by prohibiting the DOD from requiring the registration of privately owned firearms, ammunition or other weapons beyond what is already required by federal law. Sen. Inhofe proposed the measure because, as a reaction to the Fort Hood shooting last November, "some military bases and DOD installations have instituted or are looking at instituting regulations that violate the Second Amendment rights of soldiers and individuals working for DOD"

FL: Man shot as he opens door; shooter also shot: "The friends’ cosy night in turned into a violent ambush when a stranger knocked at the door at 10pm on April 1. “Samantha looked through the security peep hole and said ‘I don’t recognise the person outside’,” said Paul. The trio ignored the caller and continued to watch the movie. He seemed to skulk away but 20 minutes later he returned with a second man and again knocked the door. “Michael, who felt concerned with opening the door at that time of night, loaded his skeet gun and asked his friend to hold it in case it was one of the home invaders that had plagued tenants in the complex,” said Paul. “When Michael opened the door the last thing he said, in true Michael form, was ‘Can I help you?’ “The gunman shot Michael with a high capacity round through his neck. Michael passed away immediately. “Michael’s friend Kyle started shooting and reloading until he ran out of ammunition, severely wounding the assailant. Crossno, 20, of Wooster, Ohio, was taken to Tampa General Hospital in a critical condition. He has since been charged with murder, attempted robbery and home invasion with a firearm."


Tennessee: Man shot, killed stepfather after threats with ax: "A Roan Mountain man shot and killed his stepfather on the back porch of his residence Friday morning after he said his stepfather threatened to break into his house with an ax and cut off his and his wife’s head, according to police. The initial investigation by the Carter County Sheriff’s Department indicated the man was trying to break into the home when he was shot by the homeowner. Upon arrival, the deputies found Gary D. Parker, 46, 305 Sawdust Trail lying on the back porch. He was suffering from a single gunshot wound to the head A short time later the Carter County Rescue Squad arrived and the paramedics were unable to find any signs of life. A sheriff’s department news release said the investigation revealed that Parker had been “very confrontational, threatening and belligerent with his neighbors for some time.”


Safer Streets 2010: Second amendment not revenge, but survival: "One example that has put a gulf between gun owners and the non-gun owner electorate is the spiteful and misleading notion that gun owners settle disputes in anger. Anger has nothing to do with armed self-defense and practical adult preparedness. It is all about purposeful response. It isn't about depending on others to do what only you can do, it is about your independence in knowing that you bear a responsibility for doing what only you can do: It isn't about revenge, it is about survival. But as discussions move along, if they move at all, it's still a very good idea to head off future abuses of customers for their political beliefs: just take your business somewhere else. Take your business elsewhere and make it stick. Go where you are wanted and go to those businesses who openly support the civil right which protects all our rights."

Man acquitted in rapper's shooting death -- self defense: "A man who shot and killed an up-and-coming rapper at the Beverly Center last year was acquitted of murder Friday in a case that focused in part on the victim's violence-laced gangsta rap lyrics. Aubrey Berry, 24, was hugged by his defense attorney as the last of the not guilty verdicts was read in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom. Friends and family of rapper Dolla, whose real name was Roderick Anthony Burton II, wailed and sobbed in the audience. Berry testified last week that he opened fire in self-defense in the parking garage of the upscale mall. He said Burton, 21, threatened to kill him near the valet desk and reached toward his back as though he were drawing a gun. Police found no weapon on Burton, who was shot once in the left biceps and three times in the back. Berry testified that Burton had been part of a group of men who kicked and punched him 11 days earlier at an Atlanta nightclub."


Minnesota: Armed Robbber Shot By Store Clerk: "A shooting occurred during an armed robbery attempt in Greenwood overnight. It happened at the Lakeshore Market on Highway 7 shortly after 10:30 pm. Two men wearing masks entered the store and encountered a clerk with a gun. Police chief Brian Litsey says at least one of the robbers was shot and wounded. Both men fled, prompting a search of the surrounding area. One wounded suspect was located with a gun “hunkered down” behind some foliage.


Indiana: Pizza Driver, Would-Be Robbers Exchange Gunfire: "Two would-be robbers and a pizza delivery driver exchanged gunfire early Thursday morning after the men tried to rob the worker, police said. The incident happened at about 12:30 a.m. in the 2000 block of Bosart Avenue. Indianapolis police said a driver for Aunt Polly’s Pizza was met by two men on the front porch who demanded money and food. One of the men fired a shot at the driver, but missed. The driver also had a gun and fired back. Indianapolis police said they don’t think either suspect was struck, but the men haven’t been found. The owner of the pizza shop said that he started having all his drivers carry guns while on deliveries about two years ago. A sign that reads, “Warning, We Don’t Dial 911″ is posted inside the business. The delivery driver had a valid permit to carry the handgun, police said."

Pennsylvania: Guard’s Gunshot Chases Would-Be Robber: "There were some tense moments Friday at Frankford Pharmacy. A woman was sitting in her car on Frankford Avenue when she saw a man ride up on a bike and put a mask over his face. Then, he started to enter the pharmacy. But the fast-thinking woman alerted a security guard, who fired a shot. The masked man took off on his bike."


Stripping away our rights, one constitutional guarantee at a time: "Recently Stop Abusive and Violent Environments, a Washington-based advocacy organization, released a report titled ‘Assaulting our Rights: How Domestic Violence Laws Curtail our Fundamental Freedoms:’ This document exposes, in chilling detail, how our fundamental rights have been casually tossed aside in the name of curing the so-called “epidemic” of domestic violence. … The Second Amendment guarantees the ‘right of the people to keep and bear Arms.’ But if you are merely accused of partner abuse, you’ll be forced to turn in your hunting rifle, Civil War handgun collection, and maybe even your trusty pea-shooter. Thank the well-meaning Lautenberg Amendment for that.”


Guns and liars who lie about them: "When prominent historian Michael Bellesiles (be-LEALs) met fierce criticism of his book, Arming America, in 2000 and beyond, much of academia rallied to his support. It was a failed effort and resulted in a sort of East Anglia/Hockey Stick/Climatic Research Unit epic debacle for Second Amendment opponents. Michael Bellesiles was forced to resign his positions at Emory University and suffered the ignominy of being the first winner of the coveted and prestigious Bancroft Prize to have it rescinded. Assisted by the New Press, Bellesiles is now plotting his return from humiliating exile with a new screed on Americans and their right to bear arms.”

Arkansas: They breed 'em tough at Burger King!: "A police report says officers responded to a robbery in progress call at a Burger King about 11 p.m. Monday. Officers said they arrested 22-year-old Jason Robinson, who had a gunshot wound in one thigh. According to investigators, an employee said that, after the robber accosted her and demanded money, he put his gun down so he could place the money in a bag. The employee says she grabbed the gun and it fired as she and the robber struggled for it. She told officers she put the robber in a head-lock and called police. Robinson was treated at a local hospital and was being held at the Jefferson County jail."




Pennsylvania: Elderly couple holds burglar at gunpoint: "An elderly couple held a burglar at gunpoint while waiting for police to arrive at their Stroudsburg home Saturday morning. Devin Tyler Ayala, 24, [above] of Stroudsburg ripped a screen on a porch, climbed through and entered the Sarah Street home through a door. That set off an alarm. A 68-year old woman had been sleeping on the couch on the first floor. She awoke, pushed past Ayala and screamed for help to her husband who had been sleeping upstairs. The husband, 74, came down stairs with a gun and kept Ayala in place until the Stroud Area Regional Police responded according to the police report. Ayala is charged with burglary, public drunkenness and disorderly conduct." [Ayala is an Hispanic name]




Florida: Woman shoots suspect with own gun: "A 19-year-old man was arrested after a woman told police the armed man sexually battered her before she took his gun and fired, apparently hitting him in the leg, according to a recently released affidavit. Major Lee Barnes [above], of the 1200 block of North 19th Street in Fort Pierce, faces sexual battery, robbery with a firearm and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon charges after the May 14 incident that happened about 12:02 a.m. He pointed a handgun at her and told her to take off her pants. She said the man searched her private area for money and stole her cellular phone. The man told her to get on her knees and perform a sex act on him. She was intimidated by the armed man and did so. During the sex act, she saw the handgun, which the man put in his pocket “as he put his arms back in an apparent relaxed gesture,” the affidavit states. She grabbed the weapon and pointed it at him. The man charged toward her, and she fired before the man fled the area. Friends of Barnes’ apparently took him to the emergency room with a gunshot wound to the right leg."


Colorado Home Intruder Shot Dead: "A 28-year-old Pueblo man was shot and killed by an occupant of a South Side home early Tuesday morning after he and two other men reportedly forced their way into the residence. John Pete Sullivan died at the scene from a bullet wound to the back, according to police Sgt. Eric Bravo. Bravo said police believe Sullivan was one of three masked men who forced their way into the home at 3117 Aster St. at about 3 a.m. with the intent of robbing the home’s occupants. Police are still looking for the two other men, whom were not identified, and a female, identified as Natasha Villalobos, who is believed to have orchestrated the crime. Sullivan was a known gang member. Bravo said drugs appear to be motive for the crime. “It looks like a drug rip-off that went south,” he said."


Note: Clayton Cramer has up a version of the second story I ran yesterday in which Clayton seems to have mistaken who got shot. I would have added that in a comment but Clayton does not allow comments.

FL: Fatal shooting was apparently self-defense: "Hosie Harris, 74, was in his bedroom about 11 p.m. when a man came into the room and started hitting Harris in the head with a stick or club and demanded money, the Manatee County Sheriff's Office reported. The intruder grabbed a loaded .22 caliber rifle Harris had near his bed and tried to shoot Harris but couldn't figure out how to click off the gun's safety, the sheriff's office reported. When the man began rummaging through a closet, Harris pulled out a gun and shot him twice, deputies said. The man, identified as Lee Andrew Johnson, 49, walked next door to call 911 but was pronounced dead at 11:25 p.m. Harris was taken to Blake Medical Center, where he is listed in stable condition. The case is under investigation, but the sheriff's office does not plan to file charges."


OK: Fatal Shooting Self-Defense: "In the third deadly shooting in three days in the city of Tulsa, a man was shot at a midtown Tulsa convenience store and restaurant. Six or seven shots rang out at Moe's Grill at 5th and Lewis around 7:20 Tuesday night, Tulsa Police say. Police are questioning a former Okmulgee County reserve deputy who officers say fired several shots at the victim after exchanging words with him. Police believe the pair knew each other and the former reserve deputy told officers he had tried to arrest the man in the past. That former reserve deputy had a concealed carry permit according to officers on the scene. He is being questioned, but police are treating it as a self-defense shooting."


Montana "White racist" acquitted: "A Billings teenager who shot another teen in the leg following a late-night gathering of friends was acquitted Tuesday of felony assault with a weapon. After about four hours of deliberations, a District Court jury said 17-year-old Allen Goff was not guilty of the charge for the July 27 shooting outside a house on Avenue C. Jury foreman Steve Strutz said the panel wrestled with a difficult decision but could not conclude that Goff committed a crime. "It was just such a volatile and hostile situation and there was just so much reasonable doubt,” Strutz said. The shooting followed a night of drinking by a small group of friends, including the victim, Christopher Ortiz. Goff left the house shortly before 3 a.m. just after Ortiz threw a drink at him. Ortiz followed Goff outside, according to witnesses at the trial, and the two met in the street where a verbal confrontation ensued. Defense attorney Jack Sands argued that the shooting was self-defense and a justifiable use of force because Goff felt threatened and scared by Ortiz’s actions."


TN: Bredesen vetoes “guns in bars” bill again: "Gov. Phil Bredesen on Tuesday vetoed a renewed effort to allow Tennessee handgun carry permit holders to bring their weapons into bars and restaurants that serve alcohol. The Democratic governor said in a letter to Republican Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey of Blountville that he based his decision on a principle he learned more than 50 years ago in a safety course sponsored by the National Rifle Association: ‘Guns and alcohol don’t mix.’ The NRA has been a vocal supporter of the guns in bars measure passed in Tennessee the last two years. Bredesen vetoed a similar measure last year, flanked by law enforcement officers and prosecutors who opposed the bill, but he was easily overridden by the Legislature. It only takes a simple majority in both chambers to turn back a veto.”

The Truth About Gun Sales to Terrorists

Months before he loaded his SUV with propane tanks and fireworks and drove to Times Square, police say, Faisal Shahzad went to a firearms store and bought a rifle. It was found in his other car at Kennedy Airport, where his name showed up on the no-fly list in time to keep him from escaping.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., is one of many people wondering why a suspected terrorist can be barred from flying but not from purchasing a gun. It "defies common sense," he says, that "the rights of terrorists are placed above the safety of everyday Americans."

Well, not exactly. Anyone convicted of terrorism has no right to buy a gun, since felons are barred under federal law. And Lautenberg neglects to mention that in denying constitutional rights to people merely suspected of dangerous connections, he would deny rights to lots of peaceable "everyday Americans."

His bill, the subject of a recent Senate hearing, gives the attorney general the power to block gun sales to anyone the government suspects of being a terrorist. Never mind the obstacle known as the Second Amendment, which according to the Supreme Court protects an individual right to own guns for personal use.

Someone arrested, tried and found guilty of a crime loses that particular freedom. But Lautenberg's bill would strip the right from many people without forcing the government to show they've done anything wrong.

It's not entirely clear what it takes to be tagged in the government's terrorist watch list, which includes more than a million names and has been plagued with errors. "How you get on is a mystery, and how you get off is extremely difficult," says Mike German, a former FBI agent now with the American Civil Liberties Union.

A 2009 evaluation by the Justice Department's inspector general found that many nominations "were processed with little or no information explaining why the subject may have a nexus to terrorism." The FBI also "did not consistently update or remove watch list records when appropriate."

If you get put on the list by mistake, you may find yourself permanently exiled to the Twilight Zone. The program under which innocent Americans may challenge their designation "does not always provide meaningful solutions," according to the inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security.

Supporters of the bill lament that, according to a report by the Government Accountability Office, people on the watch list have tried to buy firearms more than 1,200 times, with 91 percent of the sales going through.

That could mean al-Qaida has a good-sized secret domestic arsenal by now. Or it could mean that a lot of people thought to be a mortal threat were about as bloodthirsty as Jill Biden.

The more interesting question is whether any of the purchases led to terrorist violence. If supporters of the bill had examples to flog, you can be sure they would. In any event, the FBI keeps track of anyone on the list who buys a gun and sometimes steps up surveillance in response.

The proposed law wouldn't have impeded Shahzad because he didn't make the list until after he bought the rifle. Nidal Hasan, the alleged Fort Hood shooter, failed to get a nomination.

Most of the people on the terrorist roll, as it happens, can't buy guns legally anyway, because most of them are not Americans. Under federal law, firearms may be purchased only by U.S. citizens or legal resident aliens.

Barring gun sales on the basis of mere suspicion might be permissible except for that pesky Second Amendment. The Constitution doesn't specifically enshrine the right to ride in a commercial airliner or even the right to travel. The right to own a gun, by contrast, is right there in black and white.

Not only that, but someone blocked from boarding a plane can always travel by train, bus, boat or car, says UCLA law professor Eugene Volokh, which is one reason courts have upheld restrictions on flying. "But this completely prohibits you from even possessing a gun," he notes, once you've gotten notice that you are forbidden to buy one.

All this would happen without the normal requirements of due process, which makes it unconstitutional as well as unwise. Note to the federal government: You are entitled to deny firearms to anyone engaged in efforts to commit acts of terrorism -- just as soon as you can prove it.

Source






Robber, clerk fatally shoot each other: "LAS VEGAS: Police say a robber and a store clerk shot and killed each other during a botched robbery. The gunfire erupted shortly before midnight Saturday at a Supermart store on Smoke Ranch just east of 95. Police say a gunman attempting a robbery fatally wounded the clerk, but the clerk was able to grab a gun and kill the suspect before he died. Authorities are reviewing the store's 24-hour surveillance video for a clearer picture of the shootings. The names of the dead were not immediately available."


DC: New gun rules shift Constitutional debate: "Mark Snyder, an amateur biathlete, wanted to buy a .22-caliber bolt-action rifle for target shooting and figured the process would take about a week. After nearly six weeks, six visits to police departments and $300 in fees, he secured his rifle. ‘I was not expecting a free ride,’ said Mr. Snyder, 45, ‘but this is an obstacle course they put in place.’ The U.S. Supreme Court overturned the District of Columbia’s 32-year ban on handguns in 2008, a victory for the gun-rights lobby that seemed to promise a more permissive era in America’s long tussle over gun ownership. Since then, the city has crafted rules that are proving a new, powerful deterrent to residents who want to buy firearms.”


IL: Woman prowler shot: "Charges were reduced Monday in connection with a weekend shooting that hospitalized a woman. Jerry Sanders Jr., 21, of the 500 block of Ann Street, was taken into custody following an incident early Sunday morning that left a local 22-year-old woman shot and injured. He stands accused of one count of possession of a firearm without an owner’s identification, a misdemeanor. State’s Attorney Randy Brinegar said it appears, from early police department investigations, that there is a self-defense issue in the case. Preliminary investigations by police found that Sanders retrieved a gun after hearing a disturbance in his backyard. He went outside to investigate and, at some point, several shots were fired. The victim, whose name has not been released by police, suffered several gunshot wounds as a result of being shot at by Sanders, according to police.

FL: Two dead in botched home invasion: "A botched robbery ended Tuesday morning with two men dead, four men in jail on felony drug and murder charges and a fifth suspect on the run. Michael Anthony Norman shot and killed Devin Austin Butler, 20, and Michael Patrick Duffy, 22, after the young men broke into the home Norman shares with Daniel Lawrence Nelson, Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen said. Butler and Duffy conspired with Justin E. Polson, 25, Alecia Alford, 26, and Stephen Mark Lang, 28, to steal a few ounces of marijuana, about 100 Oxycodone pills, a handful of Hydrocodone, Xanax, Percocet and Soma pills and “several thousand dollars” of drug money from the house at 7515 Jefferson Ave., the sheriff said. Butler and Duffy, dressed in dark clothes and with their faces covered by bandanas, broke into the mobile home with the knife and a 12-gauge sawed-off shotgun. Norman called 911 just before 4:30 a.m. and told the operator to send an ambulance; he had just shot two home invaders. As far as police know, Norman fired just three shots, all of which hit the two burglars... The homeowner might have used the same gun to shoot Duffy and Butler; investigators said Norman shot the men with a .38-caliber revolver. He was not charged in the deaths"


CA: Shot victim fought back: "The laborer's friend, a 33-year-old Watsonville transient, grabbed for the gun and fought with the robber even though he had a gunshot wound in his abdomen, police said. The laborer burst into the shack, helped call police and detained the robber until officers arrived. "When we showed up, they were still holding him down," Gonzalez said. Officers recovered the pistol and arrested the 17-year-old on suspicion of attempted murder, robbery, conspiracy, gang participation and gun charges, police reported. His name was withheld because of his age."


Arizona: Victim’s dad confronts suspects after west Valley attack: "Three men were arrested early Sunday for robbing several victims in the west Valley, according to officials. Phoenix Police Department spokesman Trent Crump said three Hispanic males were robbing victims along west Valley streets around 12 a.m. The two incidents reportedly occurred on Thomas Road between 59th and 67th avenues. According to Crump, one of the victims returned home and told his father what had happened. The man’s father reportedly left the home and went looking for the suspects. Crump said police apprehended one of the suspects by this time, but the victim’s father located the remaining two suspects and confronted them about the robbery. The suspects reportedly pulled a gun on the man, at which point he also drew a firearm and a shootout began, according to officials. The victim’s father was not shot during the exchange, but did shoot one of the suspects “at least two times,” Crump said. One of the teen suspects, Ruben Torres, 18, was reportedly hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries. Angel Torres and Michael Torres, both 19, have also been taken into custody."