Pa.: Woman Claims Self-Defense in Agent's Killing: "The case against a woman who killed a Pittsburgh FBI agent during a drug raid at her family's home has been moved to federal court, where her defense will claim that she thought she needed to act in self-defense. Elash said Korbe is "extremely remorseful" about the death of Special Agent Sam Hicks, but he questions whether she heard law enforcement identify themselves when they entered her house with guns drawn. "I don't believe my client's guilty of any crime. I think the evidence will show that," Elash said. "... It's obviously a self-defense or a defense of others, and the others that she's defending are a 5- and 10-year old that were with her when she was on 911, making the call to the police that somebody had broken into her house." Hicks was part of a task force serving drug warrants in a coordinated operation throughout the Pittsburgh region on the morning of Nov. 19. He was shot at Korbe's home on Woods Run Road in Indiana Township, where a warrant was being served on her husband, Robert. Christina Korbe's former attorney, Sumner Parker, has said that the woman fired a gun because she thought people were breaking into the house. In Sharpsburg, residents are circulating a petition for Christina Korbe's innocence and holding a collection for the family's children. Some do not believe the woman knew it was law enforcement breaking through her front door." ["No-knock" raids always risk this]


PA: Pittsburgh's new law "unenforceable," but passed anyway : "Pittsburgh has a new law that would fine or jail gun owners who don't report their gun stolen or missing within 24 hours after they discover it. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl allowed the bill to become law on Monday when he returned it to council without his signature. Ravenstahl says he believes the measure will be unenforceable and pre-empted by state law, but appreciates the effort to reduce gun violence. Some council members say they realize the measure may be illegal, but they feel they must do something to address a rash of recent gun violence in the city."


DC tightens victim disarmament rules after landmark court ruling: "The District of Columbia Council passed more regulations for gun owners Tuesday, months after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the city's 32-year-old handgun ban. Among other things, the bill requires gun owners to register their weapons every three years and receive training by a certified firearms instructor. `This bill will be, I think, one of the most progressive registration laws in the country,' Council member Phil Mendelson said."


"An armed society is a polite society": "Alderman Charles Quincy Troupe told the citizens in his north St. Louis ward to arm themselves to protect their lives and property from escalating crime because police are 'ineffective, outnumbered or don't care.' Troupe claims that when he and fellow residents approached a district police commander last year, 'there was nothing he could do to protect us and the community ... that he didn't have the manpower.' Always, there is never enough money. Double, triple, quadruple the money and there will always never be enough money for bureaucrats to do their jobs. Just ask every inner city public school district in the United States over the past 50 years or so. Double, triple, quadruple the money and there is still always never enough money to educate your kids and protect them from violence. But the city's all-wise, all-knowing, all-important, politically correct officialdom lined up in immediate knee-jerkedly unison behind the district commander."

SC: One dead, four charged in apparent robbery attempt: "The Newberry Police Department is investigating a shooting over the weekend that left a would-be robber dead. According to Newberry Police Chief Jackie Swindler, the investigation started Saturday night when 35-year-old Willie Hiller was found dead in the driveway of a home on 1st Street. At about that same time, a man went to the police station and told officers that he shot into a crowd of people as they attempted to rob his apartment at the Palmetto Point Apartments. That apartment complex is near the location that Hiller's body was found. The man who fired the shots told investigators a group of people tried to rob him at his apartment, and in self-defense, he fired into the group. Police say it started around 9:30pm, when a 13-year-old came knocking. They say the resident recognized the child and opened the door. Soon after that, police say 5 others rushed the apartment trying to get inside. "The plan was for all of them to gain entry and get inside and rob the individuals of this house," Swindler said. Investigators are still trying to work out the details but tell News 10 that the man who fired the shots will more than likely not be charged, as it appears he acted in self-defense. Four people have been charged, including 18-year-old Jessica Sligh, with attempted armed robbery and attempted burglary."


VA: Drinking session leads to shooting: "When authorities arrived, they found Matthew Hicks, a 32-year-old Loudoun County resident, dead from multiple gunshot wounds. Willie Donaldson, a 35-year-old Internet security consultant who rented the brick house on South Arlington Ridge Road, was arrested and charged with murder... Donaldson told police that at some point Hicks threatened to kill him if he didn't go to an ATM and give him money, the affidavit says. Denman Rucker, Donaldson's attorney, said his client was acting in self-defense. "It's our understanding that he [Hicks] was trying to get more money from Mr. Donaldson," he said. Donaldson was treated for injuries at the Virginia Hospital Center. A mug shot released by police showed his face bruised and bloodied. Hicks was a former Navy SEAL, according to a Navy spokesman. But he was stripped of the SEAL qualification, a highly unusual act, and was other than honorably discharged from the Navy before his enlistment was up.'


OR: Appeals court deals major blow to gun rights : "An Oregon Appeals Court decision has found that your car is now considered a `public place.' That means that possessing a loaded firearm in a vehicle may be considered a crime if the locality in which you are traveling has a ban on open loaded carry. This ruling is a major setback for gun rights in Oregon and puts many people at risk simply by crossing into a town or city that has onerous and unposted rules. OFF is considering what further legal action can be taken, and in the meantime warns gun owners to be very careful when traveling in Oregon."


Independent Institute launches Second Amendment book bomb: "Monday, December 15, marks America's Bill of Rights Day, the anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution. To commemorate this event, the Independent Institute is launching the Second Amendment Book Bomb in an effort to move constitutional rights to the top of national book bestseller lists and communicate the importance of the Second Amendment in the protection of liberty."

WA: Police suspect husband death was self-defense: "A Federal Way man died early Saturday after police said he was shot multiple times by his wife. The wife, 24, called 911 shortly before 4 a.m. and reported that she had just shot her husband, said Federal Way police spokesman Raymond Bunk. The initial investigation indicates the shooting was in self-defense, Bunk said. The identity of the 40-year-old man has not been released. The shooting occurred at the Mariposa apartment complex on 18th Avenue South. Police arrived to find the man inside a bedroom. Paramedics tried to revive him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene at 4:43 a.m. The woman was treated at St. Francis Hospital for minor head injuries. Afterward, she was questioned at the Federal Way Police Department, then released. The woman told police that the couple had been separated for several weeks, and that she and her husband each had a protection order against the other."


MD: Owner Defends Liquor Store, Kills Would-Be Robber Suspect shot during attempted armed robbery: " The owner of a Largo liquor store shot and killed a man in an attempted robbery Friday morning, police said. A man entered Kettering Liquors in the 10600 block of Campus Way South about 7:30 a.m., announced a robbery and pulled out a gun, police said. One of the owners pulled out a shotgun and shot and killed the robber, police said. "It's tragic. Somebody died today," said Bill Miles, of Kettering Liquors. "The good news is it wasn't one of us. It was the bad guy." Three owners and a deliveryman were in the store at the time. None of them was injured. Police are investigating".


Baltimore robbery try: "Police were seeking two men and a woman who attempted to rob three males at Hammershire and Reisterstown roads about 9:30 p.m. Friday. While the men walked down the street, a man armed with a handgun and a woman also carrying a handgun exited a silver Toyota Camry occupied by a second man and demanded their money. When one of the victims grabbed one of the guns, the two fled back to the car and drove off with no money or property."


Florida pizza man delivers a punch with pie: "When a customer pulled a gun on Eric Lopez Devictoria this week, the Pizza Hut deliveryman fought back with the only thing at hand. A large, steaming hot pepperoni pie. Fearing for his life, Devictoria, 40, lobbed the pizza at the armed man who had ordered him inside a Miramar residence in the 1900 block of Acapulco Drive before 1 p.m. Wednesday, police said. The maneuver bought Devictoria time to run to safety. As he fled, the armed man and his accomplices fired at least one shot, police said. The deliveryman called police, who arrested three teenagers in Pembroke Pines on charges of armed robbery a short time later."

Australia: Gun ownership up by 10,000 a year as State Government waters down laws

Having a gun-owners' political party gives heft

Gun ownership is booming again in NSW, with 40,000 new firearms registered in the past four years. The rise coincides with a deal cut by the State Government and the Shooters Party to water down tough gun laws introduced in the wake of the Port Arthur massacre.

Figures from the NSW Firearm Registry obtained by the National Coalition of Gun Control show gun ownership has risen at the rate of 10,000 a year since 2004 to 687,138 in October this year. Multiple gun ownership has also soared. The number of people receiving permits to obtain a second or subsequent firearm in 2006 was 32,616. In the first 10 months of this year, 43,095 such permits were issued.

The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics has also revealed that guns are being stolen at a rate of more than two a day. The majority are taken from homes. Despite the worrying figures, the Government and the Shooters Party have quietly agreed to a number of changes to gun laws introduced by former premier Bob Carr after the Port Arthur killings.

Shooting clubs will no longer have their licences automatically revoked for not disqualifying members who have been convicted of firearms offences. Previously, the police commissioner could immediately revoke a club's licence for not taking action against a convicted member. In another change, the mandatory 28-day waiting period before a second or third gun can be acquired has also been scrapped. The Government has also made it easier for men who have previously been the subject of apprehended violence orders to regain a gun licence.

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OH: Man fires at robbers, thwarts home invasion : "A man thwarted a home robbery on Thursday morning when he fired gunshots at two armed men who had forced their way into his home. .. Josh Fields said he was awakened when one of the men put a gun to his head... Cassey Fields was also sleeping when the men broke down the home's front door, stormed inside and pointed a gun at her. Moments later, she said she heard gunshots."I heard two gunshots and I didn't hear Josh or my dad anymore, so I thought they got my dad," Cassey Fields said.The gunshots were fired by her father. After hearing the men break into the home, Ken Fields grabbed his own gun and confronted the two men."The first one who was at the door turned around to go out and I fired a shot at him," said Ken Fields.After being shot at, both men fled from the home."


MA: Gun-rights advocates stand by Worcester worker: "Antiviolence and gun-rights backers banded together yesterday in support of a Worcester liquor store clerk who shot and killed a masked man who allegedly pulled a gun on him during an attempted robbery. .. "It sounds like a clear-cut case of self-defense, which is what the Second Amendment is really all about," said Jim Wallace, director of the Gun Owners Action League of Massachusetts. "The (clerk) was properly lawfully in possession of a firearm. It sounds like a win-win situation."Forty-year-old Evan Louis Rivera, who entered the store with another masked man, pointed a gun at one of the clerks and one of the clerks fired back, striking Rivera multiple times, police said. Rivera died 45 minutes later.John Rosenthal, co-founder of Stop Handgun Violence and a rifle owner, said he supports responsible gun ownership and the use of firearms in self-defense."


The Mumbai masacre: It could happen here: "The firearms massacres that have periodically caused shock and horror around the world have all been utterly dwarfed by the Bombay shootings, in which a handful of gunmen left some five hundred people killed or wounded. Commentators have been swift to insist that we must all 'stand firm' against such outrage; but behind the rhetoric, the pundits have been visibly uncertain how an assault like that in India can be prevented or resisted. The Bombay massacre exposed the myth of a number of our security assumptions.For anybody who still believed in it, the Bombay shootings exposed the myth of `gun control'. India had some of the strictest firearms laws in the world."

IL: Homeowner thwarts burglar: "A Dupo resident fought back and made a citizen's arrest when a man attempted to rob his home in the middle of the day. . When deputy Cerether White arrived he found Eric L. Kirk, 35, of 117 S. Fourth St. in Dupo handcuffed outside the home with the 35-year-old homeowner kneeling on him. The homeowner told White that Kirk had knocked on his door and he didn't recognize him when he looked out the window. The homeowner tried to run the license plate on a blue minivan Kirk was standing near but could not read the entire plate so he decided to get his gun, according to the police report. When the homeowner, whose name was not released by the St. Clair County Sheriff's Department, retrieved his gun and returned to the door his dogs started barking. That's when he noticed Kirk and the van were gone. He then saw the van backed up to his garage and Kirk using a crow bar to try to open the homeowner's garage door. The homeowner called 911 to report the crime in progress and then fired two rounds into the ground near Kirk. According to the police report Kirk ran to the van and attempted to get away when the homeowner grabbed him, wrestled him to the ground and slapped handcuffs on him with the assistance of a neighbor."


Useless gun bans: "I'm not a gun owner, yet it disturbs me to see the media throw responsible gun owners in the same group as deranged killers. The Second Amendment was written to ensure that Americans could protect themselves from criminals, foreign invaders and our own government. Banning the sale of assault rifles won't prevent criminals from killing large numbers of people; they can simply use different firearms, get assault rifles through illegal channels or use different weapons altogether, like bombs or even SUVs. Gun laws only punish law-abiding citizens because criminals ignore laws."


CO: Group to file lawsuit challenging CU's gun laws: "Representatives from Students for Concealed Carry on Campus said they will file a lawsuit Thursday asking the court to strike down the University of Colorado's concealed carry ban. The Colorado Springs chapter of the [SCCC] has argued before, to the school's regents, that gun-free zones on college campuses translate into a ban on self-defense. Members want the university to loosen gun-control rules and allow those with handgun permits to pack heat on campus. . The state Legislature passed a law in 2003 allowing concealed weapons to be carried by permit in most parts of the state, including college campuses, but then-State Attorney Gen. Ken Salazar issued a formal opinion that the CU regents' order trumped the state law."


Dial 911 and die: "I wonder how many `buyback' gift card recipients would be willing to complete the transaction if they first presented the cops doing the collecting with a simple card and asked them to sign it? The text would go something like this: `GUN SURRENDER PROTECTION CONTRACT' `The [Name of Law Enforcement Agency] agrees that a special relationship exists between our department and [Name of Individual Surrendering Firearm] by virtue of his/her turning in a working firearm to us. Because we have encouraged him/her to be personally defenseless, we hereby agree to assume responsibility for his/her personal safety and protection, and admit liability should we fail in this duty.'"

South Carolina: Clerk shoots, kills masked man during holdup : "A liquor store clerk shot and killed an alleged armed robber in Worcester last night, firing at a masked man several times when he pulled a handgun during a holdup, police said. The alleged robber -- Evan Louis Rivera, 40 -- was pronounced dead at a hospital 45 minutes after the shooting. When the clerk opened fire, Rivera's accomplice ran and remains at large, police said. The clerk who shot the robber was interviewed by police and has not been charged. The two masked men entered Big Bob's Liquors on Richmond Avenue at 9:59 p.m., police said in a statement describing the shooting. One of the men pulled a handgun and pointed it "directly at one of the two store clerks then on duty," the statement says. One of the store clerks pulled his own gun and shot the alleged robber several times, police said. The clerk's name was not released because he has not been charged with a crime. Police said he was cooperative and is properly licensed to possess and carry firearms."


Arizona Homeowner Shot Intruder: "A man who police call a would-be burglar may be regretting kicking in the door of an east Valley homeowner early Tuesday morning, authorities said. Investigators said after Richard Lopez kicked in the door of a Gilbert home, the homeowner grabbed a gun and shot him twice -- once in the face and once in the torso. The driver of the alleged getaway vehicle, Mark Vega, took Lopez to the hospital, where they were met by officers, police said. The east Valley homeowner who shot Lopez will not be charged, Gilbert police Sgt. Mark Marino said. "In this particular case, the homeowner protected himself," Marino said."


Virginia: Man Shoots And Kills Alleged Intruder: "Arlington County Police tell 9NEWS NOW that a man shot and killed an alleged home intruder. Police say that they received a call at approximately 4 AM from a man who said that he had shot an intruder in his home and that the man could be dead. Police say that when they arrived at the home on the 2100 block of Arlington Ridge Road, they found one man dead and that the man who called turned himself in to them. Arlington Police are still investigating the incident and could not confirm any more details."


Massachusetts liquor store clerk disarms would-be robber: "Raul Gruezo said he got angry last night when a would-be robber walked into Garcia Liquors, pointed a loaded gun at him and demanded money. "I'm so mad, I'd like to hit him," the 59-year-old package store clerk said. Gruezo said he stared the man down, then grabbed hold of the gun with his right hand, and used his left hand to pull it away from the intruder, who then fled the store. "I look at him, like a cat, then take it away," Gruezo said, demonstrating how he snuck his right hand onto the weapon as he looked at the intruder. His left hand was injured and bandaged from the scuffle. "This is the first time in my life that somebody pointed a gun at me," he said. "But I don't scare. I'm not nervous. I'm just mad." Gruezo said he used his size advantage to pull the gunman toward him and push the gun so it pointed toward the ceiling instead of at his face. The robbery suspect, who is described as 5-foot-5, with a stocky build, fled the store after losing his gun. Police said they will review a store surveillance tape in an effort to identify the gunman."

FL: Pizza man fires at would-be robbers: "A Dominoes delivery driver in Titusville fought back during a robbery attempt, turning the table on two would-be crooks. Jerry Johnson was making a pizza delivery when he was attacked. That's when he said he fired his gun in self-defense. "When I pulled up, I noticed it was dark. I've been doing this for like ten years. I know what it looks like. People have their lights on, they're expecting you. This looked fishy," said Johson. It was just one shot, but it was loud enough to get Jason England out of bed. "I didn't know what it was. I just heard a loud bang," said England. One of England's neighbors had ordered the pizza on Saturday night. Witnesses saw police surveying landscaping, which may have proved the perfect cover for the suspects. "They had bandannas on and they were pretty intent on hurting me. I'm glad I had my protection with me," said Johnson. "I pulled it out. I shot at one of them. He might be shot for all I know."


CO: Vietnamese criminal invades restaurant where 3 cops were lunching -- gets shot 5 times but lives: "A Denver jury convicted a man Tuesday on numerous charges from a shootout with police last fall at a Vietnamese restaurant. Prosecutors said Phuong Van Dang, 27, came into the Ha Noi restaurant wearing a mask and carrying a shotgun and a black duffel bag, planning to rob restaurant patrons. Dang was convicted of attempted first-degree assault on a peace officer, attempted second-degree assault on a peace officer, assault, menacing, attempted aggravated robbery, attempted theft of more than $20,000, reckless endangerment and possession of a weapon by a previous offender. Dang faces further charges as a habitual criminal. A sentencing date has not been set. Detective Jesse Avendano and Sgt. John Pinder, who were on duty but not in uniform, testified during the weeklong trial that they were having lunch at the restaurant when they heard screams and saw employees fleeing the kitchen of the restaurant on South Federal Boulevard. They said Dang trained a 12-gauge shotgun on customers. Pinder fired at Dang and the three exchanged shots. Three restaurant patrons were wounded by police bullets. Dang's gun jammed as he tried to shoot directly at police."


The Appleseed Project: Creating liberty one rifleman at a time: "I spent the last weekend at the Phoenix Appleseed Shoot in Arizona with a number of fellow shooters. I came with my wife, five children and my other best friend in tow. . Almost three-dozen shooters showed up for the training which is a fairly respectable turn-out.What is an Appleseed Shoot? Fred, the proprietor of Fred's M14 Stocks . started and built the program. The Revolutionary War Veterans Association is an umbrella organization that was created to bridge the gap between the Founding of the nation and the present day through educational outreach . from whence was born the Appleseed Project whose modest goal is to create one million new Riflemen in America."


Ban swimming pools!: "Those same whiners whine about accidental deaths of our children from the evil hand gun and what a national disaster it is to continue to allow that level of atrocity to continue to occure in civilised society. Let's look at some records, from let's say, 1999-2003 in the state of Florida. After sifting thru the billions of lines and reports written and compiled by unbiased people(do these people exist?) I was surprised to find out that there were 124 adults that had 124 of their children die from careless handling or storage of guns. I was also stunned to find out that during the same time period 356 families had 356 children die from careless handling or storage of their swimming pools. Where is the human cry out for the eradication of swimming pools at home. The children in Florida have a three times higher chance of expiring from their pool than from a gun in their house. Needless to say the forces behind these two different sorrows are political and we try to offer comfort to the swimmingpool disasters and we try to offer jail time to gun disasters. What we have lost site of is the heartbreak of the families that suffered both those disasters. The slugs that use these people for their own political ends have a really big bill to pay when they face their maker, and face their maker they will. Swimming pool ownership is a personal decision. Gun ownership is a personal decision. Why would we as Americans let some politician in the hip pocket of some wealthy old guy with an ax to grind run your life and make your personal decisions?"

OK: Dog Takes 3 Bullets

(Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) A home invader broke into a house and the family dog, D-Boy (pic), immediately attacked.

Police said the dog was shot once in the head and despite that, he kept attacking the thief. D-Boy was shot again for his doggedness. After shooting the dog three times, the man ran away, police said. Officers took D-Boy to a vet shortly thereafter.

His owner said the officers even called the next day to check on him. Roberta Trawick said she’s thankful for the police and for D-Boy. However, D-Boy's apparently been on edge since the incident and races to the door whenever someone comes to the home.

On edge! Who wouldn't be on edge after being plugged three times?

Alabama men shot in break-in attempt: "A Colbert County homeowner shot two men who reportedly were trying to break into his house early Wednesday, leaving both hospitalized recovering from multiple gunshot wounds, authorities said. Three Florence men face charges over the break-in bid, Colbert County Sheriff Ronnie May said. Charged with second-degree burglary were: Justin Peake, 22, 330 Reddoch Road, Florence; Holland Noah Elkins, 19, Darby Drive, Florence; Jason Douglas Reynolds, 18, 127 Patsy Drive, Florence. Peake was in critical condition at Huntsville Hospital on Wednesday night, while Elkins had surgery and was transferred to a private room at Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital in Florence and was in stable condition. Authorities said the homeowner reported that the men were trying to kick in the back door at his home at 6720 Second St. The break-in occurred around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday. Investigators said the homeowner shot Peake and Elkins multiple times with a 9 mm pistol after they kicked in the back door of the residence, which is just past East Colbert Baptist Church. The sheriff said neither Peake nor Elkins were armed. Peake, who was found lying in the yard, was flown to Huntsville Hospital, where he remains in the intensive care unit. May said Peake's Mercedes was found by Florence police on Reddock Road in Florence, which is in the affluent Heathrow subdivision. "We were able to locate the driver (Reynolds), and he was interviewed by investigators and admitted that he took (Peake and Elkins) to the residence to burglarize the residence," May said."


North Carolina Store Owner Shoots Suspected Robbers: "The Catawba County Sheriff's Office said a business owner shot and killed a suspected robber, and hurt another one. Deputies said it happened at 3:15 a.m. Saturday. Randy Willis, owner of Willis Packaging on Highway 10, went to his store because the alarm was going off. When Willis got there, deputies said he saw a man coming out of his store with a shotgun. Willis and the robber struggled, and deputies said Willis pulled out a pistol and shot the robber, killing him. Deputies said another robber, 52-year-old Arnold Ray Jr., had broken into the store. Ray jumped Willis, and Willis shot him as well, this time in the shoulder. Deputies said the two men had broken into the store through the front window. They also said a woman, Jean Holman, dropped the two men off. Holman is charged with breaking and entering and larceny. The sheriff's office said Ray was taken to the hospital. Authorities have not released the deceased man's name. Authorities said Willis hurt several ribs during the altercations, but did not go to the hospital. Ray is charged with breaking and entering, larceny, robbery and kidnapping. Willis was not charged. Deputies said the case will be handed over to the district attorney.


FL: Storeowner Chases, Shoots At Armed Robbers: "Two men came in to John's Variety, 208 4th St. N., at about 8 p.m. Saturday, says Silva. Their faces were covered with something resembling a ninja mask, he says. They pointed what looked like a .45 caliber handgun at him. "They told me and a customer to 'get on the floor, give me your money,'" says Silva on the phone while tending to a customer looking for Tylenol. "I moved as if going down on the floor, reached for my gun, stood back up with the .380 in my hands and they ran like jackrabbits." Silva, 53, says he followed the men out of the store. "I let three rounds go," he says. "Unfortunately, I missed them." Not long after Silva chased the would-be robbers, St. Petersburg police arrested two men they say tried to rob the store. One, Benjamin Roland Jones, 19, 934 10th Ave. S., was picked up on Central Avenue. The other, Cory Jay Smith 21, was found hiding in a nearby lake and received a minor bite from a police K-9 dog, police said. Smith, 985 Melrose Ave. S., is being held in the Pinellas County Jail on a bond of $50,000. A former cook aboard the submarine U.S.S. Andrew Jackson and, more recently, a Merchant Marine, Silva says his actions were partly the result of his military training, partly instinctual."


Florida: Woman shoots home invader through abdomen: "Lynn Haven police were looking Friday for two suspects in a home invasion and attempted robbery. Melissa Galarza, of 817 Bradford Circle, answered a knock on her door Thursday evening, and two white males charged into the home and demanded "the money," a Lynn Haven officer wrote in an incident report. One of the men punched Galarza in the face twice and knocked her to the floor. The men covered her mouth to keep her from screaming and kept demanding the money, reports said. While on the floor, Galarza remembered she had a gun within reach on the bottom shelf of her coffee table. She drew the weapon, and the two men backed off before charging at her again. Galarza said she fired in self-defense, and the men fled her home together, report said. Galarza suffered minor injuries in the incident, officials said. Galarza's bullet went through the abdomen of one of the suspects, 26-year-old Matthew Andrews, officials said. Andrews went to a local hospital, where he was treated for his injuries. While at the hospital, Andrews was met by the Panama City Police Department and an investigator questioned him about the wound, said Capt. Mark Aviles."

California: Homeowner with gun foils robbery attempt: "A Burson man was arrested by Calaveras County sheriff's deputies after he attempted to rob a homeowner at a residence located in the 5800 block of De Los Angeles Road in Burson earlier this month. At approximately 11:30 p.m. on Nov. 10, Mike Nicholson III, 24, knocked on the door of William Six's residence on De Los Angeles Road. Six answered the door and found Nicholson standing there with a 10-inch knife. Nicholson told Six to give him the keys to his best truck and reportedly said, "I'm robbing you," according to a release from the Calaveras County Sheriff's Office. Six balked and closed the front door. Concerned Nicholson was going to remain outside his residence or steal one of his vehicles, Six retrieved a firearm. Six confronted Nicholson at the bottom of his driveway and ordered Nicholson to the ground. Six told deputies Nicholson sat down for a short time, but became belligerent. According to Six, Nicholson said he did not have to remain at the scene and started to get up off the ground. Six responded by firing a warning shot into the ground. That seemed to do the trick, as Six was able to hold Nicholson at gunpoint until Deputy Jim Moser arrived to take Nicholson into custody."


Ark. man forces way into wrong house, fatally shot: "Police in northeast Arkansas say a Trumann man looking for his wife after an argument went to the wrong home and was shot to death by the homeowner when he tried to force his way inside. Trumann police say Saturday's shooting death of 34-year-old Todd Short appears to be a justifiable homicide. Police Chief Larry Blagg says Short apparently got into an argument with his wife, and that she went to a family friend's home. According to police, Todd Short went to a nearby home - thinking that's where his wife was staying - and tried to force his way inside. The homeowner, Jimmy Hand, then fatally shot Short with a shotgun. Police say the two homes were "cookie cutter" and that both had similar cars in the driveway. The shooting remains under investigation, and no charges have been filed against Hand.


Alabama: Stupid teen charged with murder of his accomplice: "The adoptive mother of a teen charged with capital murder of an acquaintance who was killed while the two were robbing someone Sunday said her son was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Malik Hameed, 17, is remorseful over his involvement in a weekend robbery that left his accomplice, a family friend, dead, said his mother, Hamidah Hameed, 56. Police say Malik Hameed and Patrick Cortez Levert, 26, were shot Sunday in the 100 block of Cotton Avenue Southwest while trying to rob a 39-year-old man at gunpoint. The man pulled a gun and shot both, police said. Levert, found on the sidewalk, was taken to UAB Hospital, where he died. Someone drove Hameed to Princeton Baptist Medical Center, where he was treated and later taken into police custody. Though Hameed didn't shoot Levert, he is charged with capital murder because he was a conspirator in a crime that resulted in death, police said."


Department of the Interior announces final firearms policy on guns in parks : ""Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Lyle Laverty today announced that the Department of the Interior has finalized updated regulations governing the possession of firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges. The final rule, which updates existing regulations, would allow an individual to carry a concealed weapon in national parks and wildlife refuges if, and only if, the individual is authorized to carry a concealed weapon under state law in the state in which the national park or refuge is located. The update has been submitted to the Federal Register for publication and is available to the public."

Gun owners have nothing to fear, says Obama

A non-change we can believe in?

US president-elect Barack Obama has reassured millions of lawful gun owners have ''nothing to fear'' from his incoming administration next month. Gun shops across the country have reported increased sales amid fears that Obama intends to restrict gun sales after taking office on January 20. While Obama supports gun control, he has repeatedly denied any intention of "taking away folks' guns". The right to bear arms is guaranteed in the second amendment of the US constitution and gun control is a controversial political issue.

"I believe in commonsense gun safety law, and I believe in the second amendment," Obama said at a press conference on Sunday. "And so, lawful gun owners have nothing to fear. "I've said that throughout the campaign. I haven't indicated anything different during the transition, and I think that people can take me at my word."

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TX: Burglar shot dead in driveway : " Police said a Cedar Hill resident shot and killed a person attempting to break into a vehicle in his driveway Friday morning. The gunfire erupted at 7:30 a.m. in the 9100 block of Sleepy Hollow, one of the city's nicest, most established neighborhoods. Police said the homeowner heard an alarm going off on his pickup truck. He grabbed a gun, went outside, and opened fire when he saw the alleged burglar attempting to remove a stereo system. The suspect died at the scene. "This is extremely rare," said Cedar Hill spokesman Corky Brown. "This is a really quiet neighborhood like most of ours in Cedar Hill. It's very shocking to the neighbors to have something like this occur." The names of the homeowner and the suspect have not been released. The homeowner has not been arrested or charged at this point."


NC: Shopkeeper shoots suspected thieves: "With bushel baskets filled with ripe tomatoes and fresh pecans beside its prominent holiday fruitcake display, the Randy Willis Grocery in Vale shows little evidence of the violent struggle that left one man dead during a botched robbery attempt early Saturday. According to a release from the Catawba County Sheriff's Office, two suspects broke into the store around 3 a.m. The alarm went off and the store owner surprised the suspects. He went to investigate and thought the thieves had already left, but he said they were lying in wait for him, clutching the shotgun he keeps in the store for protection. When Willis turned his back, the men jumped him from behind and a struggle began. "One of them had my shotgun and they made me lay on the floor and took my billfold," Willis said. Willis said while the men had him pinned to the ground and lay on top of him, he was able to reach into his pocket, angle a gun he had there toward his attackers and fire one shot from his .38 revolver. "I shot one time and hit both of them with one bullet," Willis said. According to sheriff's reports, a 28-year-old suspect died on the scene. His name has not been released. Arnold Eugene Ray Jr., 52, of Icard, was taken to the hospital with a bullet wound to the shoulder. Charges of breaking and entering and larceny, robbery with a dangerous weapon and first-degree kidnapping are pending for Ray. "Rebecca Jean Holman, 47, of Connelly Springs, dropped the suspects off and is charged with breaking and entering and larceny," read the press release. She is being held on a $10,000 bond and her court date is Monday."


FL: 16-year-old shot in robbery attempt: "Daniel Deion Sanchez and another gunman walked up to the garage of homeland security Assistant Chief Carson Tranquille as he and his wife arrived at their Northside home just before midnight, police said. The robbers were masked had their guns drawn. Tranquille and his wife were going into the house when the robbers approached, according to a police report. Tranquille fired his weapon, wounding one of the robbers, who was caught a few houses away and identified as Sanchez, said Chief Rick Graham of the Sheriff's Office. Sanchez was shot in the leg and was taken to Shands Jacksonville with non-life-threatening injuries, Graham said. The second robber escaped. Graham said police were looking for the other suspect and possibly a third person. He said Tranquille, a 20-year veteran of the department, first became suspicious as he passed through his neighborhood and noticed a car with its headlights on. The couple pulled into their garage and were preparing to go inside when the assailants walked up the driveway. "This was before the garage door was able to come down," Graham said. Graham said the case is "really about a homeowner and his wife," though it shows police can also become victims of random crime. He said the two suspects did not fire their weapons and that a gun was recovered".

Free Plaxico Burress

New York City's gun law is unconstitutional

New York Giants star receiver Plaxico Burress is facing a mandatory 3« years in prison and the end of his football career. His crime? Not having a license, which New York City never would have issued him, for the exercise of his constitutional right to bear arms. To be sure, Mr. Burress got caught because of what appears to have been stupid and irresponsible behavior connected with the handgun. But he does not face prison for shooting himself. His impending mandatory sentence highlights the unfairness and unconstitutionality of New York City's draconian gun laws.

Mr. Burress had previously had a handgun carry permit issued by Florida, for which he was required to pass a fingerprint-based background check. As a player for the Giants, he moved to Totowa, N.J., where he kept a Glock pistol. And last Friday night, he reportedly went to the Latin Quarter nightclub in midtown Manhattan carrying the loaded gun in his sweatpants. Because New York state permits to possess or carry handguns are not issued to nonresidents, Mr. Burress could not apply for a New York City permit.

At the nightclub, the handgun accidentally discharged, shooting Mr. Burress in the right thigh. He was not seriously injured, but he has been charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.

It appears that he put the unholstered gun in the waistband of his sweatpants, and when it slipped, he grabbed for it, accidentally hitting the trigger. To make matters worse, according to press accounts, he was seen drinking and may have been consuming alcohol -- which all firearms safety training (including the class he would have been required to take for his Florida permit) absolutely forbids for people handling guns. And of course Mr. Burress's handgun should have been holstered to prevent unintentional movement of the trigger. Fortunately, his negligent discharge did not harm anyone else.

Mr. Burress's behavior was bad. However, Mr. Burress is not facing prosecution for carelessness, but simply for carrying a weapon. This is unjust and perhaps unconstitutional. The legal issues are a bit tangled, but here is the background:

This summer, the Supreme Court ruled in District of Columbia v. Heller that the District's handgun ban, and its ban on use of any firearm for self-defense in the home, violated the Second Amendment, which guarantees the individual right to bear arms. D.C. is a federal enclave, and the Court did not rule whether the Second Amendment applies to state and local governments. But as other cases reach it in the wake of Heller, it will.

The Heller decision did not say that requiring a license to carry a gun was unconstitutional. But in New York State, nonresidents cannot even apply for the licenses to possess or carry a handgun. Unlike most other states, New York refuses to honor carry permits issued by sister states. Most observers believe that the Supreme Court will eventually make state and local governments obey the Second Amendment. If it does, New York's discrimination against nonresidents will probably be ruled unconstitutional.

And then there is the issue of the permitting process for residents. In 40 states, including Connecticut, law-abiding adults are issued permits once they pass a fingerprint-based background check and a safety class. In New Jersey, carry permits are virtually never issued. In New York City, carry permits are issued, but to applicants with some form of political clout rather than on the basis of his or her need for protection.

The Second Amendment might not require New Jersey or New York City to issue as liberally as Connecticut does. But with a population of several million and only a few thousand (consisting mainly of politicians, retired police and celebrities) able to get permits, New York City's licensing process is almost certainly unconstitutional on a number of grounds, including sheer arbitrariness.

Some commentators contend that Plaxico Burress should have hired bodyguards, instead of carrying a gun himself. Mr. Burress might now agree. But people who aren't as wealthy as he is also deserve to be safe, and they don't have the money for bodyguards. New York City needs to regularize its carry permit system so that law-abiding people can protect themselves, especially if their circumstances (such as being a witness to a gang crime) place them at heightened risk.

The Burress case also shows why mandatory sentences are a bad idea. He was careless but had no malign intent. Legislators and mayors like to appear tough by pushing through such draconian laws. Yet the victims are people like Mr. Burress whose conduct may have been improper, but who do not deserve the same sentences meted out to robbers and burglars.

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Georgia: Would-be robber shot with his own gun after struggle: "A gunman was shot with his own weapon Thursday afternoon during an attempted holdup that turned into a wrestling match at a midtown Savannah store. At about 2:30 p.m., the 19-year-old suspect walked into the Crossroads Convenience store on Staley Avenue, brandishing two handguns, according to Savannah-Chatham police. The store clerk, however, refused to hand over cash without a fight. A struggle between the two ensued. The clerk managed to grab one of the firearms, metro police said. The clerk then shot at the suspect, hitting him in the leg, investigating officers said, motivating the would-be robber to run away. The suspect dropped the second gun, which was not loaded, as he took off, according to metro police. About an hour after the attempted robbery, metro police were alerted by Memorial University Medical Center officials that a man had come to the hospital with a gunshot wound to the leg. Metro police detectives went to the hospital and took the suspect into custody. Charges were pending late Thursday."


PA: Millersville clarifies language on gun ordinance : "It's a simple change of language, but one that means so much for people concerned with their Second-Amendment rights - whether it's legal to carry a gun in a public park. Millersville Borough Council took up the issue at a recent meeting, and voted to change a park ordinance so that residents are allowed to bring a gun to the park but are forbidden from firing it there. `We received an e-mail - I believe it was from a resident but I can't be sure - asking us about whether it was legal to bring a gun to the park,' borough manager Ed Arnold said Nov. 24. `So, we investigated and saw that our park ordinance contained . this confusing language.' . For Millersville Mayor Richard Moriarty, council's vote to amend the ordinance is above all `an issue of semantics.' `It's legalese. In today's world we can't prohibit people from carrying guns, but what we are saying is that you're not allowed to shoot those guns in our park,' Moriarty said. `To me it's just common sense.'"

Australia: Violence accused get gun licences back: "Men who have previously been the subject of apprehended violence orders will be given the right to have the orders revoked so they can regain gun licences. The deal was cut by the Shooters Party with the Government and Opposition on the last parliamentary sitting day of the year. Under NSW law, anyone who was the subject of an apprehended violence order lost the right to a gun licence for 10 years. But under an amendment successfully moved by the Shooters MP Roy Smith to the Domestic Violence Act on Thursday, it will now be possible for those who have been subject of an apprehended violence order that has expired to have the order revoked. The deal is the latest the Government has done with Shooters Party MPs and follows a deal in June that saw a private member's bill from Mr Smith wind back some post-Port Arthur massacre laws. On that occasion Mr Smith won the right for people renewing their gun licences to forgo the 28-day waiting period and to forgo the similar waiting period when buying more firearms of a type they already possess."


MO: Alderman says residents should arm themselves : "A St. Louis alderman who said he is frustrated with police response to crime in his neighborhood is calling on residents to arm themselves to protect their lives and property. Alderman Charles Quincy Troupe said yesterday he is telling his north St. Louis constituents to acquire guns and learn how to use them. He said that "God-fearing, law-abiding citizens and homeowners" are being preyed upon by criminals and that police are ineffective, outnumbered or don't care. Troupe, 72, and a former state representative, said many people don't realize they have a constitutional right to bear arms that they can use to fend off an intruder. He supports Missouri's "conceal and carry" weapons law and is recruiting residents to take the required weapons safety course. Troupe said the wrong people own guns".


TX: Grassroots group petitions to allow open carry : "A grass-roots website is seeking to make Texas an `open carry' state, allowing citizens to wear unconcealed handguns. Texas is among only five states in the nation . that does not permit the unconcealed carrying of a handgun. The site, Opencarry.org, has similar petitions in every state but New York. Mike Stollenwerk, co-founder of the website, said it may come as a shock that a state as `pro-gun' as Texas has such restrictive laws on unconcealed handguns. `In most states, you don't need a permit,' he said. `Those outlying states, Texas is one of them, which is odd because it is so pro-gun. Certainly, there is some room for reform. We would like to go all the way.'"




Wacky: "Palm Pistol" aimed at elderly, disabled : "You've heard of the Palm Pilot? Well, here's the Palm Pistol. Constitution Arms, a small arms manufacturer based in Maplewood, N.J., is taking deposits for what it touts as the world's first ergonomically designed firearm. Intended for use by the elderly and disabled, the single-shot 9-mm weapon looks like a giant bean grasped in the palm of the hand. The barrel points out between the user's fingers. You `pull' the trigger by pressing on a thumbed button at the top. `Point and shoot couldn't be easier,' states the blurb on the product's Website. Even better, Constitution Arms says it's had it certified by the FDA as a `Class I Medical Device.' That means doctors could prescribe the handgun to qualified patients, who would then have some or all of the cost reimbursed by Medicare or private insurance."

AK: Man shot, then arrested : “A shootout at Trapper Creek on Sunday ended with one man both shot and then arrested after he and a neighbor faced off during a domestic dispute, Alaska State Troopers said. …. the altercation started when Blodgett got into a fight with a woman at his home on East Wolf Trail in Trapper Creek. The woman left and went to a nearby house on Bradley Road where the other man lived, Peters said.Blodgett followed her, pulled up to the house on a snowmachine and an argument started. Things escalated, and Blodgett fired multiple shots at the home and at the other man but did not hit him, Peters said.The other man returned fire and shot Blodgett in the leg, troopers said. ”


OH: Man shot during home invasion : "Deputies in Gallia County are investigating a home invasion where one of the suspects was shot. The sheriff’s office says it happened shortly after midnight on Clay Lick Road. They say that after the suspects broke into the home, they brandished a weapon at the homeowner. Investigators say the homeowner was able to get a shotgun and shoot one of the suspects in the shoulder. Both suspects were able to flee the scene. Investigators say a short time later; the sheriff’s office got a call form Holzer Medical Center that a man had been dropped off at the emergency room with a gunshot wound to the chest. That man is believed to be one of the home invasion suspects. He was later transferred to St. Mary’s Medical Center in Huntington. He is said to be in critical, but stable condition. Investigators believe the driver of the car was the other suspect in the home invasion."


Welcome to Kennesaw, Georgia - we're packin' : "In 1981, Morton Grove, IL passed a law prohibiting citizens within the city limits to own firearms. In response, the city council of Kennesaw, GA unanimously passed a city ordinance in 1982 requiring heads of households to own at least one firearm with ammunition. The crime rate in Kennesaw at the time was already quite low . but nonetheless, the crime rate dropped even lower (by 89%) after the ordinance was passed. In 1998, Decatur, GA, (another Atlanta suburb with a population of comparable size to that of Kennesaw) reported 4,049 property crimes per 100,000 residents, while Kennesaw had merely 243 property crimes per 100,000 . Morton Grove has a crime rate of about 10 times that of Kennesaw."


Why America's gun owners are justifiably up in arms : "From the prospect of an incoming president and vice president with decidedly anti-gun-rights voting records, to a liberal West Coast mayor determined to ban firearms by `executive order' without benefit of city council or legislative review, American gun owners have good reason to doubt the sincerity of Liberal Democrats now in control of Congress and soon to control the Oval Office, who claim to support firearm civil rights."

MO: City Official Tells Residents to Get Guns

(St. Louis, Missouri) With rampant crime, the last resort is victimization or self-defense and a St. Louis Alderman is telling his constituents to arm themselves.

Alderman Charles Quincy Troupe said yesterday he is telling his north St. Louis constituents to acquire guns and learn how to use them.

He said that "God-fearing, law-abiding citizens and homeowners" are being preyed upon by criminals and that police are ineffective, outnumbered or don’t care.

Troupe, 72, and a former state representative, said many people don’t realize they have a constitutional right to bear arms that they can use to fend off an intruder. He supports Missouri’s "conceal and carry" weapons law and is recruiting residents to take the required weapons safety course. Troupe said the wrong people own guns.

St. Louis Police Chief Dan Isom said that guns are not the answer for crime-riddled neighborhoods. Social programs are better at crime prevention, he indicated, presumably just after slugging down a refreshing bolt of lefty Kool-Aid.

TN: Robber shoots accomplice in botched break-in : "An attempted robbery gone bad at a University Terrace apartment early this morning left one suspect in the hospital with gunshot wounds and four Murfreesboro residents charged with attempted first-degree murder, according to police. Edward Pope, age currently unknown, of Murfreesboro, suffered three gunshot wounds, including at least one to the chest, and is listed in serious condition at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. Police say he and four other Murfreesboro residents, including two juveniles, attempted to rob a man inside an apartment located at 910 Brown Drive shortly before 3:30 a.m."


DC: Council passes new victim disarmament regs: "The D.C. Council voted unanimously yesterday to give preliminary approval to legislation that would require gun owners to renew their registrations every three years and to notify police annually whether they still own guns. The Fire Arms Registration Amendment, which would also ban assault weapons, was described as building on legislation passed by the council in September to adhere to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning the city's 32-year handgun ban."


More on the 8-year old killer: ""It's just two sentences, 30 words buried in the bowels of a police report. And now, national news. (The boy) told a CPS worker that when he reached one thousand spankings that would be his limit. (The boy) kept a tally of his spankings on a piece of paper. So wrote St. Johns police Sgt. Lucas Rodriguez, just a few days after a double-homicide that has brought national attention to a small town in the heart of the White Mountains. It's not every day that an 8-year-old is accused of coming home from school and lying in wait to ambush his father and a second man. But a bigger shock may be coming. If this kid did it, it may be the perfect crime. At worst, he'll be locked up for nine years, until he turns 18. But it's also possible that the boy could walk away - no jail time, no treatment. The problem: The criminal justice system is not designed to deal with 8-year-old killers. If, in fact, he is a killer."


Plaxico Burgess not alone in ignoring gun laws : "New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress accidentally shot himself with his own gun while nightclubbing in Manhattan. For his troubles, he received not just the medical treatment he needed and the public shaming he deserved (for lousy gun handling), but a fine and suspension from his team and the possibility of spending 15 years behind bars because the gun isn't licensed in New York City. Quietly, I suspect lots of New Yorkers sympathize with the unfortunate football player. In carrying an unlicensed handgun, Burress is in good company. New York City politicians, protected by phalanxes of taxpayer-funded guards and politically awarded permits to carry weapons, impose some of the toughest gun laws in the country on the people over whom they rule."

Mumbai and the horror of gun control: "In the wake of the terrorist attack in Mumbai, I can already hear the U.S. gun-control crowd calling for new gun-control measures here in the United States. There will be several big problems with their pleas. One, as an article in the International Herald Tribune points out, India has strict gun-control laws. Those laws did not prevent the terrorist attack at the Oberoi and Taj Mahal Palace and Tower hotel. As libertarians have long been pointing out, terrorists and murderers have no reservations about disobeying gun-control laws. . Two, another long-held assumption of the gun-controllers is that gun control will keep guns out of the hands of murderers and terrorists. Not so in Mumbai. The attackers simply brought their weapons with them when they landed on shore."


The life-and-death cost of gun control: "Banning guns is in the news. India practically bans guns, but that didn't stop the horrific Muslim terrorist attacks this last week. A football player concerned for his safety violates New York City's tough gun control regulations by carrying a concealed handgun, and people call for everything from banning NFL players from carrying guns to demanding that the athlete serve many years in jail. `When police can't promise to protect law-abiding citizens such Plaxico Burress or the victims in India, why don't we allow people the right to protect themselves?' . In India, victims watched as armed police cowered and didn't fire back at the terrorists."


Federal Judge upholds "domestic violence" gun grab: "The federal statute making it a crime for a person subject to a domestic violence injunction to possess a firearm does not violate the right to bear arms [sez a political hack in a black dress]. U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman distinguished the ban from the Washington D.C. gun control law, struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in D.C. v. Heller, 128 S.Ct. 2783 (2008). `Heller held only that the federal government may not forbid possession of handguns for self-defense in the home,' Adelman wrote in a recent decision."


Gun maker uses murderer to market rifles : "The National Association of Gun Rights, various state organizations and Gun Owners of Arizona feel it is necessary to inform you of the following: As you may have already heard, HS Precision Rifles, a South Dakota gun maker, has been marketing their wares using the endorsement of a hired murderer. As bizarre and demented as it sounds, the HS company has a `testimonial' about their products on the back of their catalog from none other than Lon Horiuchi. Although they have a civilian market, they clearly are willing to throw civilian gun owners under the bus to get a little government business... Most gun owners remember Lon T. Horiuchi. But for those who do not, here is a little background: Horiuchi is the former FBI sniper who shot and killed Vicky Weaver while she was standing on the front porch of her cabin during the notorious "Ruby Ridge" standoff. Vicky was holding her infant daughter at the moment Horiuchi fired a rifle bullet that crashed through her skull, killing her."

CA: Shooter in shotgun slaying acted in self-defense: "A man wanted in connection with the Sept. 17 shooting death of 54-year-old Hayward resident George Bailes turned himself in to Alameda County Sheriff's deputies Sunday afternoon... Bailes, 54, was shot and killed in an Ashland apartment on the 1500 block of 167th Avenue at about 5:45 p.m. Sept. 17. Sgt. David Dickson said police believe Eddleman shot Bailes in the chest with a shotgun after a chaotic life-or-death struggle. The fight began with a dispute over a car owned by Aaron Hammond, 33, whose girlfriend drove it to San Francisco to see Eddleman, Dickson explained. On the night of the shooting, four other people were present at the Ashland residence when Hammond and Eddleman got into a confrontation over the vehicle in a back bedroom. Hammond fired a handgun at Eddleman and missed, Dickson said. Bailes then charged into the bedroom with a shotgun to defend Hammond, and a struggle over the weapon ensued, Dickson said. In a bloody struggle in which the shotgun was discharged into the ceiling and a knife came into play, the men crashed through a sliding glass shower door before Eddleman finally gained control of the shotgun and shot Bailes, who was falling backward, Dickson said. "It was clearly a violent struggle," Dickson said. "Eddleman was in a fight for his life." Dickson said the District Attorney's Office has determined that Eddleman acted in self-defense.... George Bailes Sr., 74, of Sacramento said Bailes grew up in Hayward. He described his son as a big, tough man who had problems with drugs and the law, and had served time at San Quentin."


NY: Retired NYPD officer shoots burglar: "A burglar shot and wounded Friday when he tried to break into a retired cop's Staten Island home, police sources said.Retired NYPD Officer Carmine Longo, 45, pulled a gun when he discovered the thief trying to rob his Rossville home, sources said.The thief was shot as he and the ex-cop struggled for Longo's .38-caliber revolver, sources said.The wounded thief, identified as Richard Licione, bolted from the house and tried to escape in a Ford Windstar with Longo on his heels, sources said."


Florida: Crook Caught After Losing Gun During Robbery: "An armed robbery suspect in Tampa learned a valuable lesson on his latest caper - hang onto your gun. Armed with a pistol Jerome Haggins, 42, burst into a home Saturday evening and demanded the six men inside to lie on the ground, according to police. He then demanded they hand over their wallets and jewelry. Once he had the loot, Haggins reportedly told the men to take off their clothes; that's when he noticed one of the men was still wearing a bracelet. The men told police Haggins put his gun on a table and then snatched the bracelet off the man's arm. While Haggins was taking the bracelet, police say another man grabbed the gun and turned the tables on Haggins. They then held him at gunpoint until police arrived. Haggins faces multiple charges, including armed robbery."


DE: Gun checks may violate federal law: "The Delaware State Police have been conducting secret background checks of some gun owners since 2001, a process known as "superchecks" that may violate federal law.The checks have resulted in confiscation of weapons, some for legitimate reasons, but have subjected many citizens to a search of mental health records that in most cases police would be unable to access.In Delaware, when someone attempts to purchase a pistol or rifle, he or she must first sign a consent form authorizing a criminal and mental health check by the state Firearms Transaction Approval Program."

Iowa: Aggressive tenant gets shot and killed by locksmith: "According to the Dubuque County Sheriff's Department, the shooter had been hired by Bonjour Estates of Dubuque to change the locks on at least two residences at the seven-apartment complex in Dyersville. He changed the locks at the apartment where Herman lived with his girlfriend, Jen Farver. Farver had been evicted, and the couple spent Saturday loading the last of their belongings. The shooter moved onto another apartment, where he was working on changing the locks, when Herman arrived and confronted the shooter. A physical altercation occurred, with punching and shoving. The shooter went to his car. Herman followed, got in the car, and another physical altercation took place, authorities said. "In some point during the second altercation, shots were fired," said Capt. Bob Lynn of the Dubuque County Sheriff's Department. The shooter performed CPR on Herman until emergency workers arrived, and then he went voluntarily with police. He was not charged and was released the same day. He told police he acted in self defense."


TX: Robber shoots own foot during home invasion: "A man suspected of robbing a home in South Austin accidentally shot himself in the foot with a shotgun early this morning, police said. The suspect, 18-year-old Raymond Rene Rodriguez, was taken to the hospital with minor injuries and charged with aggravated robbery, said Lt. Max Johnson of the Austin Police Department. His bail was set at $100,000. Residents of the home, on Audrey Drive in South Austin, had called police at 12:40 a.m. and reported a robbery. The first officer on the scene heard a gunshot and saw people running out of front door, Johnson said. The suspect dropped the shotgun in a hallway of the house and left from another door, but police caught up with him. The suspect took an undisclosed amount of money and other items, according to an arrest affidavit. Residents of the home apparently knew the suspect, Johnson said.


PA: Gun owners dodge tax on ammunition: "Pennsylvania gun owners dodged a bullet when lawmakers failed to enact legislation that would have levied a 5-cent tax on each shell and required encoding ammunition with serial numbers and registering those numbers in a statewide database. Introduced in February, the bill remains in the state House Judiciary Committee and will die at the end of the session on Sunday. But it could be reintroduced in January, and gun advocates expect to fight it again next year. It's part of a growing effort nationally to target ammunition as one way to stem gun violence."


Chicago defies the Second Amendment : "Since the Supreme Court upheld the individual right to own guns last summer, one municipality after another with handgun bans has faced reality. Washington, D.C., which lost the case, changed its law. Morton Grove, Ill., repealed its ban. So did neighboring Wilmette. Likewise for Evanston. Last week, Winnetka followed suit. Then there is Chicago, which is being sued for violating the Second Amendment but refuses to confront the possibility that what the Supreme Court said may apply on this side of the Appalachians. When it comes to firearms, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley is no slave to rationality."

CA: Aggressive ex-husband shot: "A Turlock man was shot and killed late Tuesday after a struggle in a west Modesto duplex, police said. Julio Cesar Escobar, 30, was pronounced dead at the scene of the shooting in the the 100 block of Roselawn Avenue, said Sgt. Brian Findlen, a Modesto police spokesman. Escobar's estranged wife said Wednesday afternoon that the man she is dating wrestled with Escobar after Escobar broke into her home; the man shot him in self-defense, she said. She said her husband was armed with a box cutter. The wife, who is 30 years old, said she and Escobar were getting a divorce and were nearing the final stages. "I told him not to come here, and he kept calling me all day (Tuesday)," the wife said. "I just can't believe this happened." The wife was home with her three children and the man she is dating late Tuesday. She said Escobar arrived at the duplex and started banging on the front door, demanding to be let inside. The wife was in her bedroom with her 2-year-old daughter and the man she is dating. She said they forgot the bedroom window was unlocked. She said she saw Escobar crawling through the window, and, "I tried to push him out, but half of his body was already in." The wife said Escobar was carrying a box cutter, and the two men started wrestling in the bedroom. "I just heard the gunshot," she said. "I didn't know who was shot. It was really dark." When her estranged husband fell to the floor, the other man asked her to call 911 and waited for police, she said. The wife said the man who shot her husband used a handgun that is legally registered in his name. No arrests had been made as of Wednesday night."


OH: Teen invader dies in shooting: "An attempted burglary on an East Side home resulted in the death of a 17-year-old. Preston Williams of Youngstown was killed after several shots were fired inside a Clinton Street home during a home invasion early Saturday morning. The resident of a home told police he and another man heard a knock at the back door about 12:30 a.m. The victims said they asked who was at the door, and a female replied, "It's Lisa." When one of the victims opened the door, a male, later identified as Williams, pointed a gun at him, forcing his way into the house, the victim said. The victim said he began struggling with Williams, and the gun went off. The homeowner said he saw the struggle and went to get his .38-caliber revolver. Four of six rounds were fired from his gun. Police said when they arrived, Williams was found unresponsive at the bottom of a staircase leading to the basement of the house. The victim who struggled with Williams said he took the 9mm semiautomatic Smith & Wesson that Williams used in the attack and put it on a chair in the kitchen. Police said it won't be known which weapon was used to kill Williams until the coroner's report is completed. The victims told Youngstown police two other men also entered the house. One, who was identified as Michael Mims of Crandall Avenue on the city's North Side, was also shot. His injuries were treated, and he was released into police custody and charged with murder and aggravated robbery. The victims were taken to the Detective's Division of the Youngstown Police Department and later released."


Wayne County judge shoots at suspected robbers: "DETROIT - A Wayne County Circuit Court judge has shot at three men suspected of robbing his home. Police say Judge Craig Strong came home Saturday evening to find the men inside his Indian Village house on Detroit's east side. They say he shot at the suspects with his own gun and chased them outside, but it's unclear if any of them were hit. The suspects ran off, but a television was left on Strong's lawn and nothing else was missing from the house. Police tell the Detroit Free Press that it's not immediately known if Strong's weapon is registered."


Reply to a hater of weapon shows: "In response to the Nov. 21. letter, "Fairgrounds no place for weapons shows," the writer takes aim at a group of people who are my friends, my relatives, my associates, my employees and my bosses. They all attend the Indy 1500 Gun Shows at the fairgrounds and I don't consider any of them to be "sick individuals" purchasing "murderous weapons" at a "barbaric exhibition." Of course, there might be a small percentage of attendees who are there to find a weapon for devious exploits. But the overwhelming majority enjoys target-shooting, hunting, collecting firearms or knives, or just has an interest in the show offerings. A friend accompanied me to the last show and he owns no guns at all, but finds the show "interesting." Also, there are law-abiding citizens who have legal permits to carry a firearm for personal protection of themselves and their loved ones. The show allows them to find the latest and safest methods to do this."

CA: Gangbanger shot with own gun: "A 15-year-old gang associate was in critical condition Friday after he was wounded twice by his own gun during a struggle with a 32-year-old he pointed the weapon at, police said. The man, who police said was a former paratrooper in the Honduras army, was not hurt and waited for police to respond to where the confrontation happened. He gave a statement to investigators before he was arrested on suspicion of assault while the district attorney's office determines whether he acted in self-defense. Police would not release the name of the teen or the adult pending the district attorney's review. The shooting happened just before 2 a.m. Friday in the 3700 block of Foothill Boulevard in the Fruitvale district. The area is a known hangout of certain gang members and police said the 15-year-old is associated with the gang. The man was on his cell phone when he was confronted by the teen, and possibly some other youths, said Officer Robert Trevino, who is investigating the case with Sgt. Drennon Lindsey. The teen pointed a pistol at the man, who had never seen him before, and used a street term to see if he was in another gang, police said. Police said the man is not a gang member and has only been in Oakland eight months, seeking work. When the teen was momentarily distracted by a passing car, the man grabbed the gun and the two began struggling over it, Trevino said. During the struggle the gun went off twice, hitting the teen in the neck and shoulder, police said. He was taken to a local hospital by friends where he underwent surgery. The man waited for police to come to the scene and gave them the pistol."


Mississippi: Burglary suspect dead, shot by business owner : "The suspect in a Tuesday break-in at a Corinth business has died from a gunshot wound inflicted by the business owner, police say. James Thomas Parson, 25, of North Parkway, Corinth, was pronounced dead at Magnolia Regional Health Center on Tuesday, said Corinth Police Chief David Lancaster. The police department received an emergency call about 3:30 a.m. Tuesday through 911 to go to the scene of a burglary in progress at The Jewelry Box, 706 S. Tate St., Corinth, the chief said. Responding officers found Parson lying on the floor inside the business with a gunshot wound to the stomach and called emergency services, which transported him to the hospital. Lancaster said the business owner reported he heard a noise at the front of the store and took his handgun when he went to check it out. When he saw a man coming through a window, he ordered the intruder to stop, but he did not. Instead, the suspect came inside the business, reached up and ripped down the video surveillance equipment. The owner said he again told the suspect to stay where he was or get out, but the suspect charged toward him and he fired one shot, which struck the intruder in the abdomen, Lancaster said. The case remains under investigation, but no charges have been filed."


North Carolina: Burglar no match for shotgun-toting couple: "A would-be burglar who'd been scared off from one house by a 70-year-old woman found himself a few minutes later staring down the wrong end of a shotgun at another, police say. Rutledge, 26, of Oakboro was reportedly climbing through a bathroom window of a woman's home on the 3500 block of N.C. 27 in Stanley at 4:30 a.m. Sunday when the woman, who'd had her 70th birthday the week before, spotted him and scared him away before he could get inside. He then apparently went to a house across the street off N.C. 27 on Watts Street, this time making it inside. But once inside he found himself staring at Richard Osborne and an old shotgun that his wife's grandfather had once used to slaughter hogs. Rutledge had pulled a bedspread down to cover him as he lay in the floor in a guest bedroom, Phyllis Osborne said. But the couple could see his knuckles poking out. "We told him, `If you don't come out we're going to blow your brains out,'" Phyllis Osborne said Monday. "We had to say it three times, but then he jumped up and said, `I'm in the wrong house. I'm in the wrong house.'" The Osbornes have been married 30-plus years. He has a little trouble hearing, she can hear a squirrel walking across the roof. When she heard something Sunday morning she knew someone had entered their home. Rutledge answered Mrs. Osborne with "Yes, mam," and "No, mam,'" she said. Mr. Osborne had to punch him once and hit him twice with the gun. As of Monday night, Rutledge remained in Gaston County Jail under $100,000 bond facing two charges of first-degree burglary.


GA: Black robber killed by restaurant security guard: "Richmond County's Sheriff says the investigator who shot a man to death during a robbery followed the proper procedure. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation says just before 8 p.m. Monday night Joseph Gooden ran into Captain D's wearing a bandanna over his face carrying what looked to witness like a sawed off rifle or shotgun. What Gooden didn't see was investigator Timothy Tobias hunched over tying his shoe near the entrance. Witnesses told investigators Gooden chased an employee into the back office where he put his gun to the restaurant manager's head and took a tray of money. The witness says Gooden was about to escape when Tobias pulled his gun on him and told him two times to drop his weapon. They say Gooden kept advancing before Investigator Tobias shot him several times in the chest. "Witnesses said they heard on two different occasions the investigator order him to drop his weapon," said Richmond County Sheriff, Ronnie Strength. "Did the officer have to do that? Absolutely not because the suspect had put the officer's life and other folk's lives in danger," Strength said. GBI says the gun Gooden used was a "BB" gun. "It doesn't matter if it's a BB gun," said Sheriff Strength. You've seen these BB guns and BB pistols that look identical to real weapons. Every employee and customer in the restaurant also thought it was a rifle or shotgun." Captain D's has had officers to guard its restaurant for the past eight years because of security problems".

South Carolina: Intruder shot while entering house: "A man who was at home when someone tried to break into his residence on Monday apparently shot the burglar as he was coming through a bedroom window, authorities said. Colleton County deputies arrived about 9:30 a.m. at the home on Turkey Hill Lane and learned that the homeowner had fired his gun at someone coming in the window but found no suspects on the property. They later got a call from a woman nearby who said her 15-year-old grandson had been shot, Sheriff George Malone said. The boy was taken to Colleton County Regional Medical Center, treated and taken to jail, Malone said. He and a 16-year-old boy and an adult were all charged with second-degree burglary, the sheriff said. Malone identified the adult as as Larry Speaks, 20, of Green Pond."


Vermont: Murder Charges Dropped, Shooting Was Self-Defense: "Murder charges have been dropped in a fatal shooting in Windsor County. Kyle Bolaski, 24, of Springfield, was charged with second-degree murder, for killing Vincent Tamburello, 32, of Springfield, in August during a fight at a park in Chester. Bolaski claims Tamburello was chasing him with an ax, so he shot him twice. A grand jury agreed the shooting was self-defense. Bolaski will face aggravated assault charges for allegedly hitting Tamburello with the gun after the shooting."


ATF finding new ways to infringe people's rights : "Last month, we told you how the ATF was trying to prevent the distribution of an electronic 4473 Form. This software has been developed by a private firm, Coloseum Software Corporation, and is intended to protect dealers against the `mistakes' that have allowed the ATF to prosecute or harass them into giving up their licenses. GOA issued a grassroots alert in mid-October explaining how the ATF had been dragging its collective feet for months - keeping Coloseum from distributing its software, even while the ATF was developing its own competing software (and possibly, violating the copyright which belonged to Coloseum)."


Finland: Finland's weapons register full of errors : "The national daily Helsingin Sanomat reports that the national weapons register is rife with mistakes and inaccuracies.The Interior Ministry's weapons register is outdated and highly inaccurate. Many mistakes were made when the register's data was converted from file cards to an electronic registry in 1992. Already before this, White Guard rifles, for example, have been registered with a type number instead of a manufacture number. `For God's sake, in Finland we have many Parabellums whose serial number has been marked as 1916, 1917 or 1918, for example, because it reads so on the side of the weapon. In reality that number is the year it was made,' says . a firearms salesman from Hamina."

Texas Homeowner Shoots Intruder Attempting to Break In: "A homeowner got a surprise wakeup call Monday. Gabriel Guzman was in his 59th Street home Monday morning, when he was startled by his doorbell continuously ringing. "They kept ringing the doorbell and it kind of worried me some so I kind of glanced out the window and I didn't see anything," said Guzman. Guzman kept peering out his windows, and that's when he saw 18-year-old Adrian Hardaway walk towards his backyard. Out of fear Guzman grabbed his gun. "I opened up the door and yelled at him and I just told him to get away. I looked and he was pointing his gun at me and I had mine and I warned him to get away. I looked again and that's when he had his gun and I thought he was going to shoot me - so I shot him," said Guzman. Guzman backed the suspect up into his backyard, once he shot him, the suspect fell over and Guzman warned the suspect several times to toss the gun away. Once he finally tossed it aside, then he called the police. Lubbock police say they believe the suspect was responsible for two other burglaries in the neighborhood before he was shot. The suspect was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries."


Oklahoma Store Owner Shoots At Would-Be Robber: "A robber is on the run after narrowly escaping a barrage of bullets at an Oklahoma City convenience store. Oklahoma County deputies said a man waited for the Buy Fast Foods store at Northeast 23rd and Boyd streets to close and started pistol-whipping the owner in the parking lot. Deputies said the robber forced the owner to go back into the store and get money. Instead, the owner got a gun and fired several shots at the man. The robber fled in a newer-model red pickup truck. Police said they're not sure whether any of the shots hit the robber."


Delaware robber shot by would-be victim: "An armed robber who tried to stick up a New Castle area man was shot himself when his would-be victim pulled out his own gun and fired at him. The gunshot victim later reported to police that he was shot during a robbery that went awry.New Castle County police spokesman Cpl. Trinidad Navarro said the holdup happened at 5:45 p.m. Monday in the first block of Chesterfield Drive in Garfield Park. A 37-year-old man told officers that he was taking items out of his car when two men walked up to him and stuck an object in his side and attempted to rob him. The victim said he thought the assailants were going to shoot him, so he pulled out his own 9 mm handgun and fired one round at the suspects. Navarro said the man was not sure if he hit either of the assailants, although he did hear a loud moaning sound after he fired the shot. The two would-be robbers ran off in the direction of Bizarre Drive."


Florida Father Shoots Neighbor's Pit Bull: "A local father shot and killed a neighbor's pit bull. The dog was loose and had followed a child into the dad's home. Law enforcement says no one will face charges because of the incident-- not the father for shooting the dog in front of children, nor the pit bull's owner for letting the dog get out. At least two girls were meeting at the Martin home for a ride to school. The pit bull followed one girl into the house and bit Martin's beagle. Martin first tried to scare away the pit bull with a BB gun, but the dog returned, reportedly growling at the children. Martin took out his .9 mm gun and shot the pit bull. The dog then ran down the street and died. The shooting upset neighbor Ofelia Cravens. Prior to the shooting, Cravens said her daughter found the dog wandering down the street. Cravens said the pit bull was large, but friendly.... Animal Control says the pit bull belonged to Fernando and Anna Flores, who live on another street."

Massachusetts clerk with handgun turns tables on would-be robber: "Police said Tyrone Lamb, 26, of New Bedford was armed with a knife when he tried to rob a clerk at a North End convenience store last weekend. Big mistake. Around 2:45 p.m. Saturday, Mr. Lamb allegedly walked into the Petro Mart at 171 Coggeshall St. The suspect wore a gray sweatshirt with the hood pulled over his head. He asked for a pack of cigarettes but did not take out cash. He kept his hands in his pockets and skulked around the store. The clerk, Antoine Khalife, knew something was going to happen. The suspect walked to the counter and pulled a switchblade from his pocket. He held it to Mr. Khalife's face and demanded money, according to police reports. Unfazed, the clerk stepped back from the counter. "I was waiting for him," he said. Instead of opening his register, Mr. Khalife drew a .40-caliber Sig Sauer handgun from a holster hidden in his coat. The tables had turned as the clerk ordered the man to drop his knife. "I don't think he was expecting that," Mr. Khalife said. "His face lit up like a Christmas tree. His eyes were about three times their size." The suspect backed off and said, "I'm sorry." He turned around and ran out of the store. Police tracked the suspect's license plate to a Roswell Street residence. Relatives there told police that Mr. Lamb drove the vehicle, according to police reports. Police obtained an arrest warrant for Mr. Lamb after Mr. Khalife identified him from a photo array as the robbery suspect, court records said." Mr. Lamb has a prior robbery conviction"


Tennessee oldster shoots intruder: "Metro police said the victim of a home invasion turned the tides on his intruder. John Lewis is sick and tired of being the victim. He said burglars have broken into his home four times this year. To a thief, Lewis may look like an easy target. On Sunday, the 69-year-old Air Force veteran shot a hole through that reputation. Around 10:30 p.m., he heard a crash. "So he started kicking on the door. He made more noise than anybody I've ever dreamed of trying to break into a house," he said. What he saw was a man holding a flashlight and a pickax. Lewis was packing a 357 pistol. "And the pistol went off. I had it cocked. It had a hair trigger and I touched it and it went off," he said. The bullet hit suspect Jerry Watson in the leg. Police said Watson, who has a lengthy criminal history, limped to the home next door and lost consciousness."


Ohio teen shoots burglar: "A 15-year-old shot a burglar late Friday night after the burglar and two cohorts broke into the teen's West Side home, police said Monday. The teenager and his 14-year-old brother were home alone when three men came to the house, police said. The teens recognized two out three of the men, according to their mother, who spoke with the Star Beacon Monday. When the boys refused to let the men in the house, one of the men took the butt of a shotgun and smashed the window out of the front door, police said. That's when the older boy ran upstairs to retrieve his father's handgun, his mother said. In the meantime, the intruders told the younger teen they would kill both of them if he didn't open the door, the mother said. "They held a gun to his head," she said. Sgt. John Koski said the 15-year-old came down the stairs and shot one of the intruders in the leg. The men then took off. "The bullet went in the leg and out through his buttocks," the mother said.... police received a call from Ashtabula County Medical Center that a 21-year-old city man showed up with a gunshot wound to the leg, Koski said. "He said a kid accidentally shot him," he said. "The wound was in the exact place the 15-year-old said he shot the intruder." Police arrested and charged the 21-year-old man with aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony; attempted felonious assault and having a weapon under disability, Koski said, noting the suspect is a known felon."


Vermont Burglary Suspect Arrested: "Police say they've arrested the burglar who was shot at by a homeowner Monday in North Hero. It turns out the suspect is a career burglar who is well-known to the police and he has even been interviewed by Channel 3 News several times. Now Eric Edson, 37, is back behind bars facing new burglary charges. And the police say he made catching him all too easy. The arrest came less than 20 hours after police say Edson broke into two homes in North Hero for burglaries. But he made a big mistake in the second house when the homeowner caught him red-handed. "The homeowner went to his residence, had a handgun, entered his residence, and confronted a male subject that was in his residence, and the homeowner fired two rounds from his handgun as the subject fled the area," Cooper said. Police say Edson escaped uninjured and stole a truck to make his getaway. That triggered a massive manhunt Monday night in Grand Isle. Edson made it easy for the police to figure out who the burglar was because he drove to the homes in his own Blazer and he left it behind. Police say the homeowner who shot at Edson identified him from a photo lineup. And his picture had been in many lineups in the last two decades. He has more than three dozen felony convictions for burglaries and thefts, which have kept him behind bars for most of his adult life."