Thank Goodness He Does Not Live in San Francisco

By Robin Mullins Boyd

I have a new hero. His name is Harry Carpenter and he is 83 years old. Mr. Carpenter suffers from chronic pulmonary disease and requires oxygen. He has been married to Jackie Carpenter for 57 years. On Wednesday November 16, 2005, Mr. Carpenter took on 2 young thugs and refused to be a victim.

According to a story by Bret Bell in the Savannah Morning News, the Carpenters were at home on Wednesday night when someone knocked on their door. Expecting a delivery of oxygen from the medical equipment company, Mr. Carpenter opened the door. It was not the medical equipment company � it was two hooded thugs armed with knives. Mr. Carpenter was forced to sit on the sofa at knifepoint while one of the intruders grabbed Jackie Carpenter while she was doing the dishes. It is a tragedy in the making.

Hold on. Mrs. Carpenter, who is 80 years old, faked a fainting spell while thug #1 ransacked the bedroom for cash. Thug #2 left Mr. Carpenter to see what the commotion was. Left alone, Mr. Carpenter got up from the sofa and retrieved his old bolt action shotgun. According to the Savannah Morning News article, Mr. Carpenter had this shotgun since he was a child. The gun was not loaded. Thug #2 appeared while Mr. Carpenter was trying to load the shells. Undeterred, Mr. Carpenter �slammed the bolt home and aimed the empty weapon at the intruder�. Both intruders high-tailed it out of the Carpenter home slowing only long enough to unlock the deadbolt.

Thank goodness Mr. Carpenter had the gun in his home. Even though it was not loaded, just the presence of the gun and the sickening thud of the bolt closing was enough to prevent an increase in the crime rate in Savannah. The quick thinking of Mrs. Carpenter, who certainly qualifies for an Academy Award, was just enough of a distraction for her husband to whip out the old �squirrel killer�. Thoughts of �what if� brings to mind carnage and suffering. Only the good Lord knows what would have happened if Mr. Carpenter did not have a gun in his home. The article in the Savannah paper could have been an obituary instead of a testament to self-defense.

Unlike San Francisco, Savannahians are still allowed to keep guns in their home. The PC police and the Brady Campaign have not infiltrated South Georgia with their 2nd Amendment violating actions. We may not be able to smoke in restaurants, but we can still have our guns. We are subjected to editorializing in �news stories� reported by the media but that is as far as it goes. Not one single gun in Savannah has jumped off the shelf, loaded itself with ammunition and hopped down the street spreading death and destruction.

Law abiding Americans have a right to protect themselves and their property. Imposing additional gun laws does not deter gun crimes. Those that commit crimes with guns have no concern about laws � they are criminals. Despite gun registration and waiting periods, thugs still have access to firearms. Instead of penalizing citizens that obey laws and are responsible gun owners, our judicial system rewards criminals with prison sentences that amount to nothing more than a slap on the wrist. We have laws � the punishment is what is lacking.

But Mr. Carpenter doesn�t live in San Francisco. He and his wife can continue to spend their twilight years together. Did Mr. Carpenter�s experience have an impact on his opinions on gun ownership and keeping guns in his home? It certainly did. Mr. Carpenter said that from now on he will �keep the damned thing loaded�. That is why Mr. Carpenter is my new hero.





Washington: Homeowner catches suspects: "Yakima Police were called to 84th and Summitview Avenues early Saturday morning. A homeowner had two burglary suspects held at gunpoint. Eighteen-year-old Tyler Walters and 20 year-old Rudy Delgado of Yakima, have been charged with theft, malicious mischief and possession of stolen property. Police say the two broke into a car. When the armed homeowner confronted them they tried to run him down with their own car. He fired a few shots at the car. No one was injured but one of the shots came close enough to cut through the shirt one of the suspects was wearing."

Connecticut: Suspect shot during home invasion: "One homeowner in New Britain says he took no chances when an intruder entered his home, and pulled the trigger. Angel Bennitez says he did what he had to do to defend his family and his home. 'I got my pistol and saw the guy outside,' says Bennitez. Wednesday night his wife was mopping the floor when a masked man came in. Bennitez says he pushed his wife as he came in. After hearing his wife scream for help, Angel came out with a 357 Magnum, and shot the gunman."

Georgia: Gun ordinance cast aside: "Houston County commissioners essentially killed a proposed firearms ordinance Tuesday after it had been gravely wounded in October when several residents took verbal shots at its restrictions. Staggering and stumbling from one commission meeting to another for more than a month, the proposal was finally cast aside Tuesday and allowed to die on the table when none of the five commissioners would make a motion to vote on it. 'The gun issue is dead,' said Chairman Ned Sanders. 'That was my major objective tonight -- was to make a decision up or down. So there's no plans to bring it back again anytime in the near future.' ... The ordinance initially included a 300-foot limit when shooting a gun near an occupied building anywhere in unincorporated Houston County and made no mention of protection from the law if a resident wanted to shoot a backyard nuisance."

Granny deserves self defense: "What chance would a 66-year old grandmother have against a bigger, stronger, man a third of her age? What chance would a 60-year old man have against two men, armed and in their 20s? And what chance would a 65-year old have against a man half his age? Without an equalizer, these individuals would have no chance. Because that equalizer was a firearm, all three are alive today. ... Americans over the age of 65 are now the most likely age group to be armed, according to the General Social Survey, part of the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago. The reasons for this are almost as varied as the individuals who make up that demographic."


Girls, get your guns : "Issues like same-sex marriage, Hurricane Katrina, the price of gas and many other pressing questions are currently eclipsing gun rights. When the issue reassumes center stage, some will be surprised to see that it wears a somewhat different face -- a more feminine face. One thing is certain: The issue of gun rights will keep emerging not only because it has highly organized advocates and detractors, but also because the average person has become more concerned about personal safety in a post-Sept. 11 world. Recent events have heightened people's concern."

Even a picture of a gun is wrong in Ireland: "Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea has rejected criticism of his decision to pose for photographers while holding an automatic pistol. Mr O'Dea is pictured on the front of two national newspapers this morning looking down the sight of the gun with a smile on his face. The photographs were taken at a training exercise in the Curragh yesterday. Opposition politicians have accused the minister of engaging in a tasteless and insensitive publicity stunt at a time when gun crime is creating real fear on the streets. Mr O'Dea later said he was sorry if anyone was offended, but he accused the opposition of trying to make a big issue of something meaningless.


Britain's gun-control "success": "The number of offences involving firearms in England and Wales has been increasing each year since 1997, according to the Home Office. Firearms incidents recorded by the police have nearly trebled in eight years. Provisional figures released last month showed that firearms offences had increased by 5 per cent on last year, to a total of 11,160. There were 4,903 such offences in 1997. The possession of handguns was banned in Britain that year after the Dunblane massacre. Yet the illegal ownership of handguns is believed to be higher than it has ever been, with nearly 300,000 illegal guns estimated to be in circulation. The increase in gun crime is linked to gang activity and the illegal drugs trade".

Ohio: Thief can dish it out but can't take it: "A convenience store owner thwarted an attempted robbery Monday by firing a shot of his own, according to an Ashtabula Police Department report. ... 'The intruder reached under his jacket as if he had a gun,' Capt. Gerald Cornelius said. 'The owner fired a single blast from his gun.' The weapon was fired into the air, but it was enough to ward off the intruder, who is described as being a black male. He wore a mask and dark clothing. The owner, who wishes to remain anonymous out of fear of retaliation, said he couldn't take a chance. A man entered his store and demanded money. He did not get any money or merchandise from the store."


Indiana: Store owner pulls gun on robber: "A store owner thwarted an armed robbery Thursday with a gun of his own. Employees at Saleh's Market, 401 Middlebury St., told Cpl. Robert Perry that a man wearing a Halloween mask entered the store at about 6:35 p.m. Thursday, aimed a BB gun rifle at them and said, 'If you move, I will kill you.' The 64-year-old owner of the store then grabbed a gun of his own and pointed it at the robber, who dropped his gun and fled down Middlebury Street with the owner in pursuit, said Perry. The owner lost sight of the robber after a short chase, he said."

North Carolina: Store owner turns gun on would-be thief: "Donald Ray Britt says, when he had to choose between his life and that of a masked gunman, he began firing. 'I knew he came back to kill me, so I guess I started shooting,' said Britt, who said he had been pistol-whipped moments before. The 58-year-old store owner shot Michael Breeden three times, striking him in the back, side and hand, according to sheriff's Detective Neil Tyner. After the shooting, Britt held Breeden at gunpoint until sheriff's investigators arrived."


Tennessee: Clerk shoots and kills robber: "Memphis Police say the owner of the Citgo convenience store on Getwell and American Way shot and killed a robbery suspect minutes after he held up his store. The shooting happened around 8:30 Thursday night. Police say the robber entered the store, put a gun to the neck of the store owner, told him to get on the floor and then took around $300 in cash. Investigators say the store owner got up from the floor and pulled out .357 Magnum. Officer say when the robber ... pointed his weapon at the store owner the store owner fired one shot at the robber. The robbery suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say it appears the store owner acted responsibly and say if that's the case this is the 21st justified shooting this year."

Gun Rights as a Women's Cause: "When she moved from California to Arizona, Judy Dutko, had a short list of must-dos upon her arrival in her new home: obtain a driver's license, join a church and register for a gun. "I refuse to be a victim, so basically that's why I got interested," said Dutko who is in her 50s. "Most people will go through their life and never have a problem but if you're prepared, then you can take care of a situation." The retired history teacher is part of what appears to be a growing number of women who view carrying a weapon as an essential part of their safety, which has led the firearms industry to offer women only training classes, magazines and clothing for female gun owners. "We get calls from women who didn't grow up around firearms, yet they have an interest in their personal safety, and it kind of goes from there. We've seen such an increase in participation in our programs," said NRA spokesperson Kelly Hobbs. "It does seem to at least stem from that interest in protecting their families and themselves."



California: Win for a gun show: "A federal judge has ruled that a lawsuit brought by gun show promoters Russ and Sally Nordyke can proceed and that they can argue that their free-speech rights are violated by an Alameda County ordinance that bans guns on county property. By banning firearms on County property the ordinance was designed to, and did, put the gun show out of business. In a tremendous victory for gun rights activists, on September 27, 2005 United States District Judge Martin Jenkins ruled that the gun show promoters, who had filed a lawsuit challenging the Alameda ordinance, could proceed with their case. The Nordykes promoted gun shows at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton from 1991 to 1999, when the county adopted an ordinance making illegal the possession of firearms on county property. The county had asked the judge to dismiss the Nordykes challenge, arguing that the gun ban is a public safety issue rather than a constitutional one. But Judge Jenkins ruled that the promoters had established both a claim under the equal protection clause and the First Amendment of the United States Constitution."

Delaware: Homeowner shoots alleged intruder dead : "Police said Thomas Morganstern, 60, was sleeping in an upstairs bedroom of his Roselle home when two men entered his home early Thursday morning. Morganstern, who is an avid hunter, grabbed a handgun and chased the men downstairs. Police said the men fired on Morganstern in the living room area and he shot back. Morganstern was not injured and he called police and reported the home invasion and shooting. Police searched the area near the South Woodward Avenue home in New Castle County and found Cleveland Richardson, 28, of Wilmington, 100 feet away, behind a detached garage. Richardson was taken to Christiana Hospital with a gunshot to the abdomen area. Stephen Norwood, 26, whose last known address identified him as a Wilmington resident, was found around 8:45 a.m. across the street and hidden under bushes. He had died from his injuries."


New York: Fired professor gets gun collection back : "A fired Westchester Community College instructor waging a free-speech battle against college officials is no danger to them or anyone else and may have a gun license, a judge has ruled in White Plains. Patrick Munroe's gun collection was seized after a pair of arrests on trespassing and harassment charges at the college in early 2004. The county moved to revoke Munroe's pistol license, but Westchester County Judge Barbara Zambelli denied the motion last week and ordered the county to return his guns. 'Before this application was filed, he held a pistol license for more than 32 years without incident,' Zambelli wrote of Munroe, a former Sleepy Hollow village trustee. 'His writings provided to the Court by the County are primarily satirical, and any attempt to characterize them as threats must be based on misinterpretation.'"

THE SAN FRANCISCO FANTASY

It's not easy to do, but gun control advocates in San Francisco have come up with an anti-firearms measure that embarrasses even some gun control advocates. The red-faced ones may realize this one is not likely to work even if it is upheld in court, which it almost certainly will not be. But the pointlessness of the initiative didn't stop San Franciscans from approving it by a hefty majority.

Proposition H outlaws the sale, manufacture, transfer and ownership of handguns and ammunition in the city. Unlike other cities that enacted bans but allowed residents to keep weapons they already had, San Francisco included immediate confiscation in the deal: Anyone who now has a handgun must surrender it to the police by next April. The only people allowed to possess these firearms will be police, soldiers and security guards.

So what's wrong with this plan? Just about everything. Start with the fact that it appears to conflict with the state constitution, which gives the state sole jurisdiction over firearms regulation -- a defect that doomed San Francisco's last handgun ban, passed in 1982. University of California at Berkeley law professor Franklin Zimring, a staunch supporter of gun control, says the new ordinance is a "sure loser" in court.

More here





Power to the People: "The solution to Brazil's high murder rate seemed obvious to the Brazilian government, the media, and United Nations: Ban guns. They all went to great efforts to pass an initiative doing just that last month, but in the end almost two thirds of Brazil's voters rejected the proposal. It is hard for most Americans to imagine what Brazilians are facing. For the most recent detailed numbers, the U.S. murder rate was 5.5 per 100,000 people in 2004. For Brazil it was 28.3 in 2002. That's just a little less than three times the record U.S. murder rate at the height of prohibition in 1933. Brazilians have a right to be skeptical that yet more gun control is the solution. Strict licensing laws that have been in effect in Brazil since 1940 have not solved the problem. Since 1941 it has been illegal to bring a weapon outside one's house without authorization."



Indiana: Mother threatens burglar with gun: "A gun-carrying Merrillville mom didn't pull any punches when a man wearing a black ski mask tried to break into her house Wednesday night. She threatened to shoot him with the 40-caliber handgun she was holding and he backed off and ran away, police said. The woman, who lives in the 5300 block of Cleveland Street, told police she was changing her baby's diaper at about 7 p.m. when she heard a noise, Detective Lt. Don Toth said. She told police she went to the front of her house, opened the front door and observed a man in a black ski mask attempting to break in. The woman slammed her door shut and pushed back as the man continued to attempt to open the door with his shoulder, Toth said. She yelled she had a gun and would fire if he continued, and the man fled on foot."

South Carolina: Murder charges dropped: "York County prosecutors have dropped charges against a 51-year-old woman accused of shooting a man she said attacked her. Linda Diane Nelson was accused of shooting and killing 57-year-old James Jackson Massey on June 5th. York County Public Defender Harry Dest says his client acted in self-defense and had bruises on her legs and face from her encounter with Massey. Julia Patterson-Massey says her common-law husband had a history of alcoholism and depression but that she had never seen him act violently. She says her husband had just returned to the area in hopes of reconciling with Nelson, who was described as Massey's long-time friend and drinking buddy."


In defense of gun manufacturers: "When is federal legislation that LOOKS like special protective legislation NOT a mere prop for a 'special interest?' When A. The industry being defended is the industry as a whole, not any particular company; B. The threat to that industry comes from numerous local governments set out to abuse the tort system; C. The issue at hand directly relates to one of the Amendments to the Constitution in the Bill of Rights; and D. The law is a good example of a rare Constitutionally PROPER use of the 'Commerce Clause.' I'm talking about the 'Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act,' which the House of Representatives passed 283 over 144, on October 20th. The bill puts the kabash on the growing number of lawsuits against gun manufacturers, for particular crimes committed with guns."


Are you connected? "The fact is, if you're a gun owner and you're not on the Internet, you are not informed, no matter how strong your opinions. You simply can't be. Even a magazine like this, as fine as it is, or your NRA membership magazine with its more politically-detailed content, can't change that. The words I write on this hot afternoon in July will not see print until autumn. If urgency exists to react to a proposed bill or to write a legislator, anyone relying on a periodical will arrive on the battlefield long after the smoke has cleared. You just can't get the information you need from any other source. Even so-called 'conservative talk radio' only occasionally mentions the Second Amendment, focusing most of its energies on politics, world affairs, and the cultural divide. The Internet, on the other hand, brings gun rights-specific information to you. ... The key to turning public opinion toward liberty at the birth of the Republic was information. Nothing about this basic truth has changed except for the superior means now at our disposal. We can exploit it to our advantage or ignore it at our peril."

BRITISH PEN-KNIFE OWNER EXONERATED

Post lifted from Nation of Riflemen

Longtime Readers may remember my wrath when a British lawyer was arrested for having a pen-knife and baton inside his locked briefcase, inside his car's trunk.

Well, he's been found not guilty, and several British cops are outraged-"one law for some, another law for others" seems to be the general feeling. A sample of the feeling can be found in the Comments section in David Copperfield's blog, along with some trenchant comments from Your Humble Narrator. (One cop's comment nearly caused me to have an aneurism:"A clear message needs to be sent that the carrying of all weapons is wrong..."-bloody fool.)

If ever there's a need for a national health treatment, this is it. Not only are the politicians a bunch of hoplophobes, but both police and people seem to be strangely quiescent in the face of such nonsense.....

I should make it clear that PC Copperfield himself is NOT representative of the Plods in his Comments section, as he is not only a good shot, but is also a member of the NRA and is probably more proficient with a gun than any other cop in Britain.






California: Suit challenges San Francisco gun grab: "Gun owners and advocates wasted little time Wednesday in challenging San Francisco's newly enacted prohibition on handgun possession by filing a lawsuit in the same court that tossed out a local handgun ban 23 years ago and vowing to, if necessary, use shotguns to protect themselves. The lawsuit argues that Proposition H, approved Tuesday by 58 percent of the city's voters, oversteps local government authority and intrudes into an area entirely regulated by the state."


Colorado: Homeowner shoots prowler: "A registered sex offender who was trying to break into a home was shot early Monday by the homeowner. The wounded would-be intruder fled, leaving a trail of blood for police to follow. Aaron Joseph Vigil, 37, was found in the backyard of a nearby home. He was taken to Swedish Medical Center and treated for a gunshot wound to the arm and released into police custody. The homeowner probably will face no charges because of Colorado's 'Make My Day' law, which says homeowners have the right to protect themselves in their homes, using deadly force if necessary."

Intruder gets off lightly: "A woman who wounded an intruder hiding in one of her closets says she shot his leg because she didn't want to kill him. Susan Gaylord Buxton, 66, said she's a good shot and could have killed the man because her gun instructors taught her well. Instead, she said, she aimed for his leg and fired a second shot to warn him as he hobbled off. Buxton has a permit to carry a handgun and will not be charged with a crime because she was defending herself, police said. "If I didn't have a gun to protect myself, I probably wouldn't be here," Buxton said. When Buxton let her dog out about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, she noticed a muddy footprint on her back porch. Buxton heard glass breaking and noticed that her cats were not in the room where they slept and that items in another room had been moved, police said. She told her 28-year-old granddaughter to call 911. Clutching her gun, Buxton checked several closets, eventually opening one near the front door. She said she pulled a coat away and saw a man, then told him to get on the floor or she'd shoot. He kept trying to grab the gun, but she fended him off, she said. He fumbled with the front door with one hand and reached for the gun with the other. She fired once, striking him in the leg."


San Francisco: Pistol owners open legal fire on victim disarmers: "San Franciscans have voted to outlaw private pistol packing with a ban that called for handgun owners to surrender their weapons to police. The politically powerful National Rifle Association (NRA) vowed on Wednesday to shoot down the ban with a lawsuit charging that it violates the Constitutional right of US citizens to bear arms. Gun control advocates lauded the San Francisco disarmament measure that won the support of 58 percent of voters in Tuesday's vote. The measure made it illegal for anyone other than police, military or licensed private security officers to own handguns. It also banned the manufacture and sale of all firearms and ammunition in the city."


Colorado: Man shot during robbery: "A suspected burglar was shot in the arm early Monday by a resident of the small hamlet of Bow Mar in Arapahoe County, 7News reported. ... 'The subject then fled the scene and went door-to-door trying to get help from people,' said Bret Cottrell, chief of the Columbine Valley Police Department. He was taken to Swedish Medical Center, where he was treated and then released. The man was arrested following his release and booked into the Arapahoe County Jail."

The loonies win in San Francisco (Surprise!): "Voters approved ballot measures to ban handguns in San Francisco and urge the city's public high schools and college campuses to keep out military recruiters Tuesday. With 100 percent of San Francisco precincts reporting, 58 percent of voters backed the proposed gun ban while 42 percent opposed it. Measure H prohibits the manufacture and sale of all firearms and ammunition in the city, and make it illegal for residents to keep handguns in their homes or businesses. Only two other major U.S. cities - Washington and Chicago - have implemented such sweeping handgun bans".


South Carolina: Gunman,victim killed in robbery: "Two people were shot and killed in a possible robbery attempt in Anderson County Monday morning. Deputies were called to the Cleanup Shop on South McDuffie Street shortly after 8 a.m. When they arrived, they found two people with gunshot wounds. Witnesses said a man walked into the shop and opened fire, hitting one man four times, then ran away. As the gunman ran, another man in the store picked up a gun and opened fire on him, hitting him at least once. Both men were transported to Anderson Area Medical Center, where both died a short time later."

Alabama: Mayor praises man for using gun: "Despite recent criticism, Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright says he still recommends that citizens fight back against crime with guns. And it appears that at least one man is following the mayor's advice. Police say the man was moving his belongings from one vehicle to another Thursday night when two other men approached him. That's when the man went for his gun. Several shots were fired. And in the end, the man got shot twice in the thigh. But the mayor says by getting his gun, the man did the right thing. 'I want to thank him and encourage him and others to continue their fight for their protection and the protection of others,' Mayor Bright said."


Utah: Gun classes offer options to abuse victims: "Until Christmas Eve 1996, she had never contemplated carrying a gun. Then her husband beat her. The woman, of Salt Lake City, promptly got a divorce and a protective order -- and a 9mm Glock pistol. 'I was always terrified of guns. But my fear of my ex-husband became far greater than my fear of guns. I saw what he was capable of,' said the woman. ... She said protective orders alone are not enough to protect her and others like her. A piece of paper won't save them from an abuser hurtling toward them with a fist or a weapon. So they're taking up arms. And Clark Aposhian, manager of Totally Awesome Guns and Range in Kearns, is helping them do it. The certified firearms instructor offers a five-hour course on most Saturdays."

MORON POLICE CHIEF

Another cash-checking business in Monterey was robbed Friday morning. But this time, the victim, a woman, fought back, firing a gun at the robber, who was armed with two handguns, police said. However, the bullet fired by the business owner apparently did not strike the robber, who got away and was still being sought by law officers this morning.

It happened just before 9 a.m. Friday at the Hair Depot on W. Commercial Ave., the main street in Monterey. The hair salon also includes a cash-checking business which is used by many Perdue Farms employees, police said. Two women, the owner and her sister, were working in the business at the time, and a Hispanic man who is a regular customer was in the store getting his check cashed when a masked man with a pistol in each hand entered and demanded money, according to Putnam Sheriff's Detective Shane Higgenbotham.

The owner of the business was counting out the customer's cash and had just placed $404 on the counter when the robber walked in and shouted, "This is a robbery, this is a robbery," according to Higgenbotham, who interviewed the victims on Friday. The owner said the robber pointed one of his guns at her and one at her customer, and when she shoved the money on the counter toward him, he shouted, "I mean all the money," the detective's report says. The owner then reached down to a drawer under the counter as if to get more cash, but instead, pulled out her own pistol and pointed it at the robber, telling him, "Something is going to happen to one of us," the report says.

The robber, who did not appear to be afraid, told her, "Shoot me." But he did start backing up in the direction of the front door, while keeping his guns pointed at her. As he reached the front door, the owner fired her pistol "and then ducked down in case he returned fire," Higgenbotham said. And though she felt she had fired "right at the robber," the bullet apparently did not strike him, she told Detective Higgenbotham. "After she shot at him, she believes he stopped and she thought he was going to fall, but instead, he grabbed the door handle and exited the store," the report says.....

Leads and suspects have been developed in the current case, and Monterey Police patrol of the city's businesses has been stepped up, Police Chief Bruce Breedlove told the Herald-Citizen this morning. "This is the second robbery of a check cashing business within a month, and we are working on both cases and hope to make arrests," Chief Breedlove said. "We are also putting more patrol attention to all businesses."

He also noted that it is "not a good idea for victims to resist armed robbers." "I know that victims sometimes want to fight back, but it is much safer not to resist," Chief Breedlove said. [Yeah! Just let yourself get shot!]

More here




SOUND GUN USED

The crew of a luxury cruise ship used a sonic weapon that blasts earsplitting noise in a directed beam while being attacked by a gang of pirates off Africa this weekend, the cruise line said Monday. The Seabourn Spirit had a Long Range Acoustic Device, or LRAD, installed as a part of its defense systems, said Bruce Good, a spokesman for Miami-based Seabourn Cruise Line. The Spirit was about 100 miles off Somalia when pirates fired rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns as they tried to get onboard.

The subsidiary of Carnival Corp. was investigating whether the weapon was successful in warding off the pirates, he said. The ship's captain also changed its course, shifted into high speed and headed out into the open sea to elude the pirates, who were in two small boats, he said. He had no further details.

Device maker American Technology Corp. said earsplitting "bangs" were directed by trained security personnel toward the pirates. That, combined with ship maneuvers, caused the attackers to leave the area, the company said. The LRAD is a so-called "non-lethal weapon" developed for the U.S. military after the 2000 attack on the USS Cole off Yemen as a way to keep operators of small boats from approaching U.S. warships.

The military version is a 45-pound, dish-shaped device that can direct a high-pitched, piercing tone with a tight beam. Neither the LRAD's operators or others in the immediate area are affected. American Technology, based in San Diego, compares its shrill tone to that of smoke detectors, only much louder. It can be as loud as about 150 decibels, while smoke alarms are about 80 to 90 decibels. The devices have been deployed on commercial and naval vessels worldwide since summer 2003, the company said.

Source

Ship outruns guns: "Pirates armed with grenade launchers and machine guns tried to hijack a luxury cruise liner off the east African coast Saturday, but the ship outran them, officials said. Two boats full of pirates approached the Seabourn Spirit about 100 miles off the Somali coast and opened fire while the heavily armed bandits tried to get onboard, said Bruce Good, spokesman for the Miami-based Seabourn Cruise Line, a subsidiary of Carnival. The crew enabled the ship to escape by shifting to high speed and changing course. The 161-member crew gathered the passengers into a central lounge away from windows and decks during the attack, Good said. Norman Fisher, 55, a passenger, said the captain tried to ram one of the pirate boats in an attempt to capsize it and stop the pirates from getting aboard.... The attackers never got close enough to board the Spirit, but one crew member was injured by shrapnel, cruise line President Deborah Natansohn said.... The vessel's 151 passengers, mostly Americans with some Australians and Europeans, were unhurt. The Press Association, a British news agency, said passengers awoke to the sound of gunfire as two 25-foot inflatable boats approached.... "There were at least three rocket-propelled grenades that hit the ship, one in a stateroom," Laird wrote. "We had no idea that this ship could move as fast as it did and [the captain] did his best to run down the pirates.""


Georgia: Homeowner will not be charged in shooting: "Police will not charge a Macon man who shot a burglary suspect in the arm Friday night on Houston Avenue, Macon police said. Hubert O'Neal, 39, was shot twice in the arm and charged with burglary, according to a police report. He told police he was shot during a drive-by shooting, the report stated. The shooter, Robert Nichols, 60, told police that he saw a man in his fenced-in yard shortly before midnight Friday, the report said. Nichols told police that he followed the man to the side of the house and the man came at him, the report stated. Nichols said he shot six bullets at the man, who jumped the fence and ran away."

Alabama: 80-year-old goes down fighting: "'Brutal' and 'gruesome' are the adjectives Athens Police Chief Wayne Harper is using to describe the shooting and stabbing death of an 80-year-old Athens man who apparently fought with and shot his assailant. Police plan to get an arrest warrant charging a suspect, who is in serious condition at Huntsville Hospital, with capital murder. ... The victim, Charlie Newman of 611 North Hine St., was a retired contractor and builder who lived alone in his multi-story brick home. Neighbors said he was quiet and kept to himself. Someone encroached on Newman's solitude Halloween night, shot him once in the chest and stabbed him numerous times, Harper said. The chief did not know the number of stab wounds but said a preliminary autopsy indicates Newman died of massive blood loss. 'I would never in my life have thought Charlie would go down without a fight, so there is some consolation in that he shot the person who did this to him, which probably helped police find a suspect,' said Newman's minister, The Rev. Patrick Lawrence of Berea Baptist Church."


Louisiana: Homeowner shoots burglar: "Police said a couple arrived at their home about 6 a.m. today and found their home burglarized. They were in the house about two hours later when another burglary attempt occurred. 'They fired shots at this individual,' Police Department spokeswoman Kacee Hargrave said. 'We believe the suspect was shot. We have a blood trail that's leading from the house.'"

Oklahoma: Intruder shot and killed : "The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation says one of two men who allegedly broke into an Okmulgee home was shot and killed by someone inside the home. It happened late Sunday night. Investigators say the two men, who have not been identified, came through the front door and that shots were exchanged between them and 26-year-old Brian Currin, who was inside. One of the suspects was struck several times by the gunfire and died at the scene. The second suspect ran from the home and has not been arrested."

Ohio: Man, 83, discusses shooting at home: "Walter Swita used a German Luger 9 mm pistol he brought home from World War II to shoot an intruder he suspects robbed him a few weeks ago. The intruder, Benjamin Brooks, 44, of East Philadelphia Avenue, died Sunday at St. Elizabeth Health Center. Swita shot him in the head and chest around 10:30 p.m. Friday. Brooks, whose record included robbery and breaking and entering, lived around the corner from Swita. 'Watch out for the blood on the rug,' Swita, 83, said as he welcomed a reporter into the living room of his South Avenue home Monday. 'That's his blood. I hit my head on the TV stand when we fell.'"

South Carolina: Police investigating shooting death : "An Anderson man was shot and killed early Sunday morning, authorities said. Vernon Honeycutt died around 2 a.m., roughly two hours after being shot on Sayre Street, said police. Honeycutt died at Anderson Area Medical Center. Police said a woman shot Honeycutt to stop him from beating her daughter."


Keep the canary alive : "Congress finally did something right, and we should all applaud. The Senate and the House passed a law that shields gun manufacturers from politically-motivated lawsuits. ... Machiavelli once remarked that the Swiss were the 'most armed and most free' people in Europe. When the day comes that your government tells you it is forbidden for you to own and keep a firearm, you will no longer be living in a free country. A government that is afraid of its own citizens is undemocratic and authoritarian. The Second Amendment is the canary that monitors our freedom. When it dies, freedom dies. Even if you don't wish to own a firearm, you should join the National Rifle Association and defend the Second Amendment against those who want the government to have a monopoly on force."



'Land of the Free' or Land of the Goons?: "It was something we never believed we would see in the United States: Armed police and National Guardsmen taking firearms from law-abiding citizens -- at gunpoint. This happened in New Orleans, beginning about 11 days after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city and other Gulf Coast areas. Not only did it happen, but the officers and soldiers weren't very gentle about it. For whatever reason, local officials decided that even lightly hit residential areas had to be evacuated, forcefully if necessary. Police entered the home of elderly Patricia Konie, who told them she did not want to leave her home and ordered them out of her house. She said she could protect her home and possessions with her gun, which police asked to see. Konie displayed a small pistol in her open palm and a big cop body-slammed her into a wall, took her gun and dragged her outside to be forcefully evacuated. This happened in America, 'Land of the Free.'"

Florida: Man dies after breaking into home : "A 44-year-old man who broke into a Mulberry Street house Sunday night, fought with its two residents and collapsed as police led him out in handcuffs died later at Halifax Medical Center, authorities said. Paul and Shelly Laughman were in their house on the 600 block of Mulberry Street about 6:30 p.m. when a man punched their front door. Shelly ran to lock it, but the man kicked in a plastic window and clawed his way into her home. 'He had a crazy look in his eyes,' Shelly said, 'and he mumbled something that sounded like I'm not here to hurt you.' Shelly, 36, screamed for her husband, who was sleeping in the other room. He dashed over and wrestled with the man in their living room. While the men were wrestling, Shelley called police and grabbed a shotgun from a closet. Paul, 52, pinned the man on the floor and Shelly aimed the shotgun at him, she said. Paul let the man up slowly and said to him, 'We've called the police. We've got a gun. Just go.' The man stared at them for a moment; the shotgun still aimed at him. The man then rushed at Paul again, the couple said. Shelly aimed the shotgun and pulled the trigger, but the safety was still on and the gun never fired. Eventually, Paul would need the help of a neighbor to subdue the man again."


New Hampshire: No license needed to openly carry gun: "'The streets are not running red with blood out here,' said Elbert I. Bicknell, who was in Arizona last week. He said he can walk into a store with his holstered gun on his hip and 'nobody even takes a second look at me.' Bicknell is from Northwood, a Republican state representative, a retired state trooper and president of Gun Owners of New Hampshire. ... New Hampshire allows most people -- convicted felons are excluded -- to carry a loaded pistol in plain sight in public or a concealed unloaded weapon. No license is required. Under law that dates back to 1923, a pistol license issued by local authorities in the community of residence is necessary only if the individual intends to carry the weapon concealed and loaded, or loaded in a motor vehicle."


Florida: Bill seeks to limit gun confiscation: "Police shouldn't be allowed to confiscate guns from hurricane victims as they reportedly did in New Orleans, said a state lawmaker who has introduced legislation to make sure that doesn't happen in Florida. The National Rifle Association supports the bill from state Rep. Mitch Needleman, R-Melbourne, but Gov. Jeb Bush questioned it Friday. ... The bill (HB 285) would amend a law that permits the governor to suspend the sale, dispensing or transportation of firearms. It would add that nothing in the law 'shall be construed to authorize the seizure, taking or confiscation of firearms that are lawfully possessed.' 'We have an opportunity to reassert the right to bear arms and avoid the clear violation that occurred in Louisiana,' Needleman said in a prepared statement."