Kansas Moves to Enforce Constitutional Oath for Second Amendment

Making it illegal to use tax dollars to attack Constitutional protections would seem to be non-controversial. All legislators take an oath of office to defend the Constitution.

Kansas legislators are close to approving restrictions favored by the National Rifle Association on the use of state tax dollars to promote or oppose gun-control measures or to lobby local, state or federal officials on the issue.

The Senate approved the measure Friday on a 31-6 vote. The House could consider it as early as Monday, and its approval would send the measure to Gov. Sam Brownback. The Republican governor is a strong gun-rights supporter but hasn't said publicly whether he'd sign the measure.

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TX:Store Owner Shoots Burglar

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Stopped by a store owner -- a robber finds himself face to face with a man who neighbors say was tired of being a victim. A north side business owner fired on a suspect trying to break into his convenience store.

Neighbors say this isn't the first time this store has been burglarized, and this would-be thief is no stranger to the store.

It happened at about 6:30am Friday on Airline near Cavalcade in north Houston. Police tell us they were called to the convenience store for a shooting, and arrived to find out someone had tried to break into the place.

We talked to the store owner's neighbor, who says the owner saw the man underneath the crawlspace of his attached home, trying to get in that way in order to break into the store. That's when the owner shot the man.

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$25 Gun Created With Cheap 3D Printer Fires Nine Shots (Video)

When high tech gunsmith group Defense Distributed test-fired the world’s first fully 3D-printed firearm earlier this month, some critics dismissed the demonstration as expensive and impractical, arguing it could only be done with a high-end industrial 3D printer and that the plastic weapon wouldn’t last more than a single shot. Now a couple of hobbyists have proven them wrong on both counts.

One evening late last week, a Wisconsin engineer who calls himself “Joe” test-fired a new version of that handgun printed on a $1,725 Lulzbot A0-101 consumer-grade 3D printer, far cheaper than the one used by Defense Distributed. Joe, who asked that I not reveal his full name, loaded the weapon with .380 caliber rounds and fired it nine times, using a string to pull its trigger for safety.

More Here at Forbes

3D Printed Projectiles

Taofledermaus has done some experimentation with 3D printing of 12 gauge projectiles. They have had mixed results, but it is clear that there is promise in this approach. Combining the base wad with the projectile, while incorporating a hole in the nose for an embeded penetrator is one obvious possibility.

Making the projectile solid, with a hollowed base, could also strengthen the projectile and improve performance.

The slow motion video of the firing is fascinating to watch.

Dean Weingarten

TX:Clock Running out on Campus Carry

House Bill 972, an important NRA-backed self-defense bill that would repeal the criminal prohibition on the possession of firearms on college campuses by Texas Concealed Handgun Licensees (CHL), is still pending in the Texas Senate – where final action must be taken on the measure by this Wednesday.

Make no mistake: anti-gun Senators and gun control advocates are trying to run out the clock on this important reform bill, and it will die without a vote unless your state Senator hears from you TODAY!

While HB 972 gives individual higher education institutions the authority to adopt administrative rules and regulations governing whether CHLs may carry into their buildings and facilities, we believe that by eliminating the criminal prohibition and granting schools immunity from liability, more colleges and universities will consider changing their restrictive policies to allow law-abiding adult CHLs to protect themselves on campus.

This measure also requires an annual review of any restrictive policies, with input from law enforcement, students, faculty and staff. Additionally, it contains language preventing schools from adopting or enforcing policies which prohibit students with CHLs from transporting or storing handguns and handgun ammunition in their locked, private motor vehicles while driving through or parking on campus.

Please call AND e-mail your state Senator NOW and urge him or her to support HB 972, and to push for a Senate vote before Wednesday’s deadline. Contact information for your Senator can be found here:

http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/Members.htm

Source: NRA-ILA

Alabama on Verge of Reforming Concealed Carry Law

Today, the Alabama House of Representatives accepted the conference committee report for Senate Bill 286 by a 73-28 vote.  This measure now goes to Governor Robert Bentley (R) for his approval.  While not perfect, SB 286 is an important step in the right direction for the law-abiding gun owners in Alabama and residents of other states traveling to and through Alabama.  Therefore, it is critical you contact Governor Bentley TODAY and respectfully ask him to sign Senate Bill 286 into law.

Governor Robert Bentley:

(334) 242-7100

Click here to send an email

Sponsored by state Senators Scott Beason (R-17) and Roger Bedford (D-6) and state Representative Ed Henry (R-9), SB 286, if signed into law, will continue to restore and protect the rights of responsible gun owners and sportsmen in Alabama by reforming the state gun laws in the following ways:

• Allows those who possess a valid Alabama pistol permit to keep firearms stored in their vehicle while at work, as well as allowing those who possess a valid Alabama hunting license to store an unloaded rifle or shotgun in their vehicle while at work.
• Allows transportation of a handgun in a vehicle without an Alabama pistol permit as long as the handgun is unloaded, locked in a container and out of reach of the driver or passenger.
• Shifts the current “May Issue” concealed carry permit system to a “Shall Issue” permit system and requires that a sheriff must issue or deny the carry permit within thirty days.  Should someone be denied a permit, a written denial must be provided and that applicant would have an opportunity to appeal the denial.
• A permit to carry a concealed pistol shall be good for one to five years (to be decided by the applicant seeking the carry permit).
• Requires sheriffs to use the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) to conduct a background check on concealed pistol permit applicants.
• Allows for all other valid state-issued permits to carry a concealed firearm to be recognized in Alabama.
• Strengthens Alabama’s firearms preemption statute by reserving for the state legislature complete control over regulation and policy relating to firearms, ammunition and firearm accessories in order to ensure that such regulation is applied uniformly throughout the state.
• Extends the current Castle Doctrine to include places of business to ensure the right of self-defense does not end when you enter your business.

Source: NRA-ILA

D.C. Man Fined because He Saved Child

Authorities last week made an agreement not to prosecute a Northwest D.C. man who used his unregistered handgun to kill a pit bull in order to stop it from mauling a child in his neighborhood.

As part of the agreement, Benjamin Srigley, 39, was required to pay a $1,000 fine but will not have criminal charges filed against him for the three unregistered firearms and the ammunition that investigators found in his possession, said Ted Gest, a spokesman for the office of the attorney general. 

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Cody Wilson Explains Defense Distributed Liberator/ITAR strategy

DD ITAR Update 1

A few have criticized how quickly I responded to the DDTC and began participating in their regulatory process. It is said I should have stood and fought if I believed in keeping the files free, instead of complying. This compliance has been viewed as some kind of ultimate one, as if I don’t intend to do anything else.

“No takedowns, ever.” Was a motto I had built into my vision of DEFCAD.com, not DEFCAD.org, and it referred to a strategy for dealing with intellectual property claims and social pressure- this is NOT the strategy DD/DEFCAD.org can adopt with the Department of State. It seems we may have to have our rights declared in court to simply keep developing gun files to put into the public domain. DD’s right to exist is being challenged.

DD has maintained counsel for many months, and it happens that my strategy is not to just have DEFCAD seized and DD sued out of existence. No, as ever, I think DD/DEFCAD can win. The Liberator was a victory. DEFCAD serving near a million files is a victory. Letting the State Department get that global spotlight was a victory.

The Internet was asked to choose between guns and the control of information. Guess what it chose? We created an important moment for understanding a future with 3D Printing, and the Liberator is rightly everywhere. 

Now the demonstration is over, and the hard work of having all our rights preserved is just beginning. ITAR might cover 3DP technical data for generations if DD doesn’t intelligently challenge this assertion of authority.

These politicians have looked like absolute monsters in the vacuum.

I will not apologize for knowing how to choose the battle.

Source

CA:Homeowner with Sword faces two Armed Invaders; Kills one Drives off Second

Swords are arms protected by the Second Amendment.

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Two suspects committed a home invasion robbery around 2:30 Saturday morning. It happened on the 800 block of Dodderer in the city of Firebaugh. One of the suspects was armed with an axe, and the other was armed with a handgun. The resident of the home armed himself with a sword and killed one of the suspects.

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AZ:Sharon buys a Makarov at the Phoenix Turn in (buyback)

Sharon at the Phoenix Gun Turn In

Sharon came to the gun turn in at the Sunnyslope Mennonite Church in Phoenix, looking for a pistol for self defense. She shoots at Shooters World, and intends to take the pistol there to have it checked out. She has children in the Army, and she expects that they will go to the desert for some family fun with their firearms.

Sharon said "We should have weapons to protect our families and homes."

Sharon's Makarov

The pistol that she obtained, a Russian made Makarov in .380 ACP, was in excellent condition with an extra magazine.

Sharon paid $80 for it, a bargain. Later, she passed on bidding for a $50 shotgun so that another buyer could purchase it for his child. She believes that teaching children how to handle guns safely is important.

©2013 by Dean Weingarten Permission to share granted as long as this notice is included.

AZ:Phoenix Gun Turn in (buyback) The Rolling Gun Show

AZ:Police Race to Waste Resources

Where is the difficulty? If they do not process the firearms (a dubious use of resources at best), the firearms are sold and the police department obtains additional resources to use to stretch tax dollars. It appears to be a win-win. Who came up with the silly idea of destroying the guns in a deodand ritual in any case?

Phoenix police are in a race against time in processing guns that the city purchased at recent gun buyback events.

A new Arizona law that hasn't yet taken effect bars cities and counties from destroying guns turned over to police at buyback events and instead requires that the guns be resold.

The Arizona Republic reports (http://bit.ly/19QbpVe) that Phoenix's program brought in 979 weapons in two sessions earlier this month and an additional 937 guns on Saturday.

The law will go into effect 90 days after the legislative session ends, which could be any day. Police are already struggling to process the weapons in their possession, and the influx of an additional 937 guns will make it even more difficult to move the weapons through the system before the deadline.

That leaves the program's supporters facing the prospect of forcing police to sell the weapons they are now buying from the public.

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New Hampshire Legislator wants Gun Owners Liable for Criminal's Actions

A bill before the New Hampshire Senate would enable citizens to leave loaded guns scattered about their unlocked house without fear of liability if the guns are taken and used in a murder or some other crime.

HB 388, only one sentence long, states: No person who stores or leaves on premises under that person’s control a loaded or unloaded firearm shall be held liable in a subsequent civil case for the criminal acts of another person who illegally obtains possession or control of such firearm and uses such firearm in the commission of a felony or a misdemeanor.

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The gun-owner = "terrorist" nonsense again

Daniele Perazzi, president of the Italian Perazzi Shotguns firm, was taken into custody yesterday by Adams County Deputies [see update, below] along with several prototype shotguns. The executive was picked up in the parking lot of the Denver Merchandise Mart, hosting the high-end Colorado Gun Collectors show this weekend, after a taxi driver, likely reacting to a suspicious activity reporting outreach program conducted by law enforcement, told authorities he thought he could be transporting an armed “foreign speaking” terror suspect.

“He loaded prototype shotguns into the cab on the way to the Merchandise Mart,” gun rights activist and newly-elected National Rifle Association Director Steve Schreiner, who is attending the event this weekend, told Gun Rights Examiner this morning. “The cab driver notified law enforcement he suspected he had a terrorist in his cab, and they were waiting to intercept him, evidently oblivious to the fact that he was arriving at a highly-publicized area gun show.

“He has two lawyers, Schreiner continued, “one of whom went to the police station, and convinced the police that the owner of one of the most expensive shotgun companies in the world was not a terrorist.

Perazzi was released a short time later and his prototype shotguns were returned to him, but reports have emerged that he was ordered by law enforcement to leave the state by nightfall, and sources tell Gun Rights Examiner he has gone one step further and left the country. He is expected to be returning soon with an eye toward filing legal action.

Gun Rights Examiner also spoke this morning with one of the two attorneys involved with helping Perazzi straighten matters out to obtain his release. That attorney essentially confirmed the account provided by Schreiner, albeit she characterized the authorities’ position on Perazzi leaving the state more as advice than an ultimatum by the sheriff to get out of town by sundown -- something that would have no readily apparent legal basis. A call has been put in to the Adams County Sheriff’s Department Public Information Officer for comment and clarification on this and other details, but a response has not been received at this writing.

Schreiner attributes the cab driver’s reaction to training authorities have provided taxi companies, where they are encouraged to call law enforcement and report suspicious activities and people based on subjective criteria and limited training.

Further confirmation of the incident and its details has been provided in a report on Fox 31 Denver, which also states “Just this past week, some Denver taxi drivers were honored for reporting incidents while on duty. A program called Taxis on Patrol (TOPS) encourages cabbies to report suspicious activity while they’re on the clock.”

Gun Rights Examiner has reported several times on the dangers of law enforcement “terror” profiling to create suspicion for things as innocuous as shaving a beard, being a “prepper” and supporting the Constitution. That Perazzi was able to obtain his safe release in a timely manner is the one positive outcome of a situation that nonetheless left a foreign national admittedly “scared during the incident because he’s not familiar with U.S. gun laws and thought he’d done something wrong.”

How much more scared a person would be who is not a corporate president and who can’t summon two lawyers on a Saturday is a fair consideration to question, as is the physical danger an innocent person and bystanders could be placed in when untrained persons are encouraged and rewarded for putting the finger on others based on poorly-defined tripwires, stereotypes and official hysteria.

Those dangers may get some major media attention soon, since Gun Rights Examiner just received word that Good Morning America has noticed this story and will be investigating and reporting on it in the coming days.

UPDATE: While gathering statements for this story, there was confusion on whether or not the officers taking Perazzi and his guns into custody were with the Adams County Sheriff's Department or from the Denver Police Department. Steve Schreiner just called to say he spoke with Joe Leiper, a gun show official, who told him that the Adams County deputies were in his office at the time of the incident and knew nothing about it, meaning if this bears out, it was Denver PD -- whether this could also result in jurisdictional issues is not known at this time.


http://www.examiner.com/article/shotgun-executive-taken-into-custody-at-colo-gun-show-on-cabbie-terror-tip

Swiss Vetterli Carbine from 1800's turned in at Phoenix Gun Turn in (buyback)

Swiss Vetterli Carbine Circa 1870

This Vetterli carbine was turned in very early on May 18, 2013, at the Phoenix gun turn in event. I photographed it on the turn in table at about 8:09 am. I cannot Identify it further, and this is the only picture that I have. Does anyone know if this is an original carbine, or is it a later conversion? The rifle was manufactured about 1870.

Dean Weingarten

Colorado Sheriffs file Second Amendment lawsuit against anti-gun bills by David Kopel

On Friday, May 17, fifty-four Colorado Sheriffs filed a civil rights lawsuit in Federal District Court in Denver, against two anti-gun bills passed by the Colorado legislature in March. Joining the Sheriffs as Plaintiffs are the Colorado Farm Bureau, disabled persons, Outdoor Buddies (an organization that helps disabled persons participate in outdoor sports), the Colorado Outfitters Association (the trade association for hunting guides), the National Shooting Sports Foundation (the trade association for the firearms industry), magazine manufacturer Magpul, federally-licensed firearms dealers, the state’s largest shooting range, the Colorado State Shooting Association (governing body for the shooting sports in Colorado), and Women for Concealed Carry. The Complaint is available here.

The lawsuit involves House Bill 1224 (a sweeping ban on magazines, including small magazines) and House Bill 1229 (an unworkable system of background checks for temporary transfers of firearms, and for private sales). The Complaint alleges violations of the Second Amendment, Fourteenth Amendment (vagueness), and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

A 38 minute video of the press conference announcing the suit is available on YouTube. In this case, I am representing the Sheriffs.

Friday afternoon, Grand County Sheriff Rodney Johnson joined the case, bringing the number of plaintiff Sheriffs to 55 out of the 62 elected County Sheriffs in Colorado. (Denver and Broomfield have appointed Sheriffs who run the jail, but do not have the comprehensive responsibilities of the elected Sheriffs.) The Complaint will be amended next week to reflect Sheriff Johnson’s participation.

Source:The Volokh Conspiracy

MI:Detroit Second Amendment Activist offer alternative to police gun turn in "buyback"

DETROIT (WWJ) – At least 200 guns are off the streets of Detroit Saturday afternoon following a gun buy back program at a church on the city’s west side.

There were two efforts underway at the New St. Paul Tabernacle Church.

Wayne County and Goodman Acker both offered $50 Meijer Gift Cards for each unloaded gun, while gun-advocates like Rick Ector offered more in cash.

“I refer to them as LEFTs (Law Enforcement Firearms Transfers) they are misleading to the general public because they send a message that they are actually going to do something that’s going to affect the crime rate,” said Ector.

Ector says he’ll be using the guns he bought.

He feels these buy back programs have zero impact.

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MI:Gun advocate: Wayne County gun buyback just a 'glorified dog and pony show'

DETROIT — Rick Ector, a firearms instructor and advocate from Detroit, along with a number of other pro-gun activists, plan to compete with the government to purchase the public's unwanted guns Saturday.

While Wayne County plans to offer $50 in groceries from Meijer stores; Ector's group plans to offer cash, in many cases several hundred dollars, he said.

Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano vowed during his State of the County speech in March to launch a gun buyback program aimed at removing unwanted guns from homes, thereby reducing violence.

The first event, dubbed Groceries for Guns, takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at New St. Paul Tabernacle Church of God in Christ in Detroit at the corner of Fenkell and the Southfield Freeway (M39).

Anyone may turn in a gun, "no questions asked," in exchange for a $50 Meijer gift card.

Ector calls gun buyback events "exploitative" and "ineffective."

"We refer to them as glorified dog and pony shows," Ector said. "We live in a community in which there is at least one murder, two rapes, 36 armed robberies and 87 aggravated assaults every single day in the city of Detroit.

"They need some positive press... They can smile in front of the cameras and say, 'Hey, we're doing something... we're making Detroit safer.'"

Ector takes issue with, among other things, the "transparency" of the event.

Officials say they check each gun to ensure that it's not stolen and claims to destroy each gun they receive.

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MI:Gun advocate arrested during protest of Wayne County gun buyback event in Detroit

DETROIT — As many as 40 protestors held signs and wads of cash outside New St. Paul Tabernacle Church of God in Christ in Detroit Saturday protesting a Wayne County gun buyback event.

Jerry Acker, a partner in Goodman Acker, P.C law firm, fronted $50 Meijer gift cards for each of the 200 guns collected, a cost of $10,000.

Meanwhile, gun advocates waited outside offering cash for guns the government hoped to take off the streets and out of homes.

"In many cases, they'll end up circulating back in the communities we're trying to take them out of," said Wayne County Chief of Police Operations Rafael Washington said.

One pro-gun protester was detained temporarily and cited for disorderly conduct.

Washington said he was "impeding the walkway," "becoming very vocal," and "interfering with the process."

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FL:Walnut Hill Homeowner Shoots Burglar

About 4 p.m., the resident of the 3900 block of Rockaway Creek Road reported a burglary in progress at his home. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said he arrived home to find two intruders inside of the residence.

The homeowner held the suspects at gunpoint while he called the Sheriff’s Office. As he was speaking with dispatchers, one of the suspects, identified at 33-year old Ricky Dewayne Taylor, lunged toward him. The homeowner fired a .38 caliber revolver, striking Taylor in the leg. Taylor  was alert and conscious when he was transferred to LifeFlight to be airlifted to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola. His injuries did not appear life threatening.

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FL:86 year old mother kills 64 year old son in self defense

LAKELAND -- 
A Lakeland mother shot her son in self-defense on Friday night, deputies said.

According to reports, 86-year-old Nancy Pennypacker told deputies she had shot her son, William Pennypacker, 64, in self-defense after he punched her in the face and fired a gun at her.

Deputies said moments later the two began shooting at each other, leaving Nancy with a bullet wound that shot through her finger to her shoulder.
William Pennypacker was found dead inside the home at Citrus Woods Estates off Orange Blossom Circle in Lakeland.

Nancy’s long time friend and neighbor, Sue Robbins, wasn't surprised and said there were plenty of warning signs.
more here