Obama the anti-gun nut

Post below recycled from Taranto. See the original for links

Back in April, columnist Robert Novak noted that Barack Obama was performing a "dance" on the topic of gun rights:

Obama, disagreeing with the D.C. government and gun control advocates, declares that the Second Amendment's "right of the people to keep and bear arms" applies to individuals, not just the "well regulated militia" in the amendment. In the next breath, he asserts that this constitutional guarantee does not preclude local "common sense" restrictions on firearms.

The government of the District of Columbia is defending a gun ban before the Supreme Court, with a decision expected this month. The National Rifle Association Web site has a list of those "common sense" restrictions Obama has favored. One of them caught the eye of blogger David Hardy:

Barack Obama supported a proposal to ban gun stores within 5 miles of a school or park, which would eliminate almost every gun store in America.

The reference is to a post by David Bernstein of The Volokh Conspiracy, which quotes from a Chicago Defender article of Dec. 13, 1999:

He's proposing that all federally licensed gun dealers sell firearms in a storefront and not from their homes while banning their business from being within five miles of a school or a park.

Five miles? As Hardy notes, the effect of this would be to "eliminate almost every gun store in America." Alan Korwin, a Phoenix-based gun-rights advocate, has a series of maps of his hometown, showing areas that are "gun-free school zones" under a federal law that bans possession of firearms within 1,000 feet of a school. Phoenix is a sprawling city; to show the effect of such restrictions on an older, denser town, Korwin also has a map of downtown Cleveland, which shows dense concentrations of 2,000-foot-diameter circles.

The proposal Obama endorsed in 1999 would have banned gun stores within five miles, or 26,400 feet, of a school. Imagine the same maps with each of those circles 10 miles across. Gun stores would be permitted only in the most remote rural areas--and only if there is also no park within five miles.

The Defender article also reported that Obama proposed "to make it a felony for a gun owner whose firearm was stolen from his residence which causes harm to another person if that weapon was not securely stored in that home." This sentence is clumsily worded, but it seems to be saying that if someone breaks into your house, steals your gun, and uses it to rob a liquor store, Obama would send you to prison for failing to store it "securely."

To be sure, these are positions Obama took as a state legislator. It is unlikely that he would stand by them today, and even unlikelier that Congress would enact them. But it does lead one to think that Obama's instinct is to trash, rather than protect, the Constitution.






Florida: Gun scares off kidnapper: "A woman said she used a gun to scare away a man who was trying to lure her teenage daughter into a truck. The mother, who did not wish to be identified, said the man approached her 16-year-old daughter on Alhambra Circle near their home. "She was walking her dog in the median right out in front of our house here, and a man approached her in a truck and tried to get her to come to the truck," the woman said. The teenager ran to nearby Coral Gables Elementary School, calling her mother and 911. The mother confronted the man and showed him her 9-mm gun. "It's not until I showed him that I was armed and that I meant business to protect my daughter that he backed off," she said. Coral Gables police arrested Ramon del Risco in connection with the incident."


California man shoots would-be burglar : "An armed East Oakland homeowner who tried to dissuade a burglary suspect with several warning shots ended up shooting the man in the leg Monday in the most recent in a string of incidents in which victims have shot suspects. Neighbors of the home on the 2200 block of 100th Avenue said the house had been broken into before. "The guy is exasperated because they target his house," said the shooter's next-door neighbor, who declined to give her name. Police said the 37-year-old homeowner, who has lived in the house most of his life, was home a little before 11 a.m. Monday when he saw someone walk toward his garage, then reappear and try to pry open a back window with a garden tool. The homeowner walked to his deck and fired warning shots with a pistol, which seemed to drive the man away. But when the homeowner stepped out his front door, the suspect reappeared and began moving toward the house, as if determined to get in, according to a statement the man gave police. The homeowner fired two more warning shots into the ground, but the suspect kept coming forward, at which point the homeowner shot the suspect in the upper leg. Police identified the burglary suspect as Marcus Holoman, 51. He did not have a gun. Officials said he has a criminal record that includes arrests and convictions for burglary."

California - Handgun Ammunition Control

(Sacramento, California) California State Assemblyman Kevin De Leon has proposed legislation to require that sellers of ammunition obtain a state license, conduct background checks of employees and track people purchasing ammunition.

The bill, AB 362, has passed the California Assembly. It's now with the Senate. This is a bad idea, I think, simply another attack on the Second Amendment.

From the Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary for AB 362:

Amendments proposed by the author would require the study to include the feasibility of an instantaneous screening process limiting the approval of handgun ammunition sales to qualified purchasers, and maintaining a file of handgun ammunition records of sale that shall be integrated with existing criminal justice information systems.

Applicability will be any vendor who sells more than 50 rounds per month. If it passes the Senate, the bill is slated to become effective on June 1, 2009.

50 rounds! What's that? One box? And you go into a government database with background checks? Sheesh!

Kansas: Attempted robbery led to shooting deaths: "Police say an attempted robbery led to Saturday’s double homicide, and a 16-year-old boy arrested in the crime is likely to have his first court appearance today. Police also identified one of the deceased as Gage Hauk, 18, of nearby McLouth in Jefferson County. Police said Hauk and the 16-year-old suspect attempted to rob the residence just after 2:30 a.m. Saturday when the 20-year-old resident shot Hauk with a shotgun. The 16-year-old, who has not been identified, then allegedly shot the resident before fleeing on foot, said Lawrence Police Sgt. Paul Fellers. A firearm believed to have been used in the incident was found a block away. The resident has not yet been identified, Fellers said, pending identification by the coroner. The two would-be robbers were acquainted with the resident, Fellers said. The teen was arrested Sunday on suspicion of felony murder, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery and attempted aggravated robbery, Fellers said. He is being held at the county’s juvenile detention center. Police responded to the home where the incident occurred after several neighbors reported gunshots. One of the bodies was found inside the residence, in the 1300 block of Delaware Street. The other man was found outside.


North Carolina: Homeowner hits home invader with shotgun blast; Deputies following blood trail: "A Lincoln County man picked up his shotgun and fired twice when he saw a flashlight beam shining under the bedroom door and then heard someone grabbing the door handle, according to a Lincoln County Sheriff's Office release. The incident took place around 2:50 a.m. Monday at a home on the 4400 block of Catawba Burris Road in eastern Lincoln County. At least one person was hit and officers followed a blood trail out of the residence, down the driveway and a short distance south on Catawba Burris Road, according to the release. Lincoln County Sheriff's officers are searching door-to door and a reverse 9-1-1 call went out at 4 a.m. The homeowners told Lincoln County investigators they were awakened by the sound of breaking glass around 2:50 a.m. Officers do not know if more than one person was inside the residence. Deputies including the Tactical warrant Team and K-9 units have been searching the area looking for the suspect."


Kansas bar owner shoots at fleeing suspects: "Police are looking for two suspects linked to a clash Thursday night that prompted a bar owner o fire several shots at the men as they fled. The owner of Stix Bar, 2785 S. Meridian, asked two men to leave the bar shortly before 10 p.m., police said. One of the men reportedly told the owner, "I can do what I want, because I have a gun and you don't." The suspects went outside and were still in the parking lot when the bar owner stepped outside. He ordered them to leave again, and they got into a red two-door Saturn. They drove toward the bar owner and struck him with their car, then struck him again as they fled the lot, police said. The 43-year-old bar owner fired several shots at the car, police said, and three bullets hit an unoccupied house in the 2400 block of West Greenfield. Police don't know if the Saturn was hit. Police are looking for a 22-year-old man known by name, and an unknown 18-year-old man. He is about 5 feet 6 inches tall, 150 pounds, with dark hair. The bar owner suffered only minor injuries in the incident and was treated at the scene."


South Carolina Home Invasion Ends in Shooting: "A man who investigators say was shot, while breaking into a home early Monday morning in Fountain Inn, is undergoing surgery. A total of three men invaded the house. The Laurens County Sheriff's Office has not released the name of the man who was shot or his condition. Authorities say this happened during a home invasion on Fairview Road around 12:45am Monday. We're told three people kicked in the door of the home and dragged the resident out of his bed. Deputies say the homeowner was beaten, but he was able to get a gun and shoot one of the three robbers. That victim was able to get to Saint Francis Hospital where the surgery is being done. The homeowner was injured and was taken to Hillcrest Hospital in Simpsonville."

NM: Homeowner fires shot, burglar flees: "Police are searching for a man who tried to steal $20,000 worth of natural gas equipment during a residential burglary in Mentmore early this morning. Deputy Police Chief John Allen, a spokesman for the Gallup Police Department, said someone broke into a garage of a residence on the 3400 Block of Blue Hill Avenue at about 5 a.m. The homeowner noticed his van that contained the valuable equipment had been stolen from the driveway. He then found the burglar inside the garage trying to steal additional equipment. Allen said the homeowner fired a shot from a handgun over the thief's head and demanded he remain inside the garage until police arrive, but the man fled on foot and has not been arrested."


Ohio: Grandpa Comes to the Rescue, Grabs Shotgun from Intruder: "As the door to the garage swung open, Sutton came face to face with an intruder. "The guy just came in and looked straight at me and pointed his gun at me," said Sutton. At first Sutton thought it was a joke, but as the man approached her, she knew her life was at stake. She started screaming for help as she turned and ran for the front door. What the gunman didn't realize was that Sutton's 72-year-old grandfather, Joe Sabol, was also in the family room, sitting in a chair, when the gunman came into the house..... That's when Joe sprang into action. The great grandfather sneaked in on the gunman for a surprise attack of his own. He quietly walked up behind him. Sabol saw his opportunity when the gunman turned the barrel of the gun to the floor as he cocked it. Sabol seized the moment. "I reached down then and I got a tight grip on the stalk of the gun and when I got a hold of (it) there was no way he was gonna get that back," said Sabol. When the struggle was over, Sabol had control of the gun. The intruder turned on his heels and ran back the way he had come in, through the garage, and off into a wooded area. Sutton quickly called the Carroll County Sheriff's Department. Deputies came out to search the area. They found 30-year-old Jason Haught hiding in the woods. He's been charged with one count of aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, and kidnapping, all of them are felonies of the first degree. According to court records, Haught has a criminal past, including a prison term served for domestic violence in 2007, another domestic violence case in 2005, drug paraphernalia in 2004 and in 1999 a DUI -- just to name a few of the charges."


CA: Gun, ammo bills go to Senate : "In the future, you may have to leave a copy of your driver's license if you want to buy .22-caliber rounds from your local big-box store. The California Assembly further reinforced the state's reputation as having the most stringent gun laws in the nation by passing two bills late last month that would put more restrictions on buying and selling handguns and handgun ammunition. Both bills must now win state Senate approval. One bill . would require any new handgun sold in the state to have a device installed that prohibits anyone other than the owner from pulling the trigger. . the technology for such devices isn't yet available for sale and the bill wouldn't take effect until after it is, according to the legislation."


Abusive customer tased: "A convenience store clerk used a stun gun on a customer after an argument got out of hand, authorities said. The altercation reportedly stemmed from the customer's attempt to purchase $3 worth of gas and an alcoholic beverage. Shaan Gandotra was behind the counter at Shannon's Grocery and Gas Station in Merced when the customer made his unusual demand. "He threw $5 in front of all the customers and said, 'Hey, give me $3 of gas,'" he said. The man then walked to the liquor aisle and brought back a bottled alcoholic beverage, and Gandotra said he became verbally abusive. "He started cussing, saying 'I want my gas now, hurry up,'" Gandotra said. He refused service to the customer. The 42-year-old man then threw the bottle at him, Gandotra said. "There's no other way I could have gotten him out of the store," he said. "I pulled out my stun gun." Merced authorities say the man was tased, and then called for an ambulance from a nearby friend's house. Authorities have not released the name of the customer, and are reviewing the surveillance footage of the incident to determine if the use of the stun gun was justified."

Texas woman shot to death by woman neighbor: "A 35-year-old Frankston woman was shot to death at a trailer park near Lake Palestine Saturday morning in what authorities are describing as an apparent act of self-defense after first charging the shooter with murder. Randhi Jo Allen, 35, of Frankston was deceased and had been shot once in the front of the head from "close range" when sheriff's deputies arrived at the scene of the shooting at a trailer park near Deep End Marina, approximately 5 miles east of Frankston, around 11:30 a.m. Saturday, according to Anderson County Sheriff Greg Taylor. The women lived next door to one another and had been involved in some type of ongoing dispute in recent days, according to authorities. During interviews conducted Saturday, the sheriff said investigators learned "the victim admitted to some people this (Saturday) morning that she beat up this woman (Fountain) last (Friday) night. "She (Allen) went over this morning to get some more," Taylor said. "From what we understand, the victim was told not to come in the house, but she came in the house anyway...The gist of it is, it appears to be self-defense."


Indiana: One jailed, one shot in alleged attempted robbery: "One man is in jail and another still in the hospital after being shot while allegedly attempting to rob a Greene County business. The Greene County Sheriff's Department reported Saturday evening that Chad Rollins was in jail on allegations of theft, burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary. John D. Lawson remained Saturday in Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. A condition update was not available. Rollins and Lawson were reportedly shot by the owner of K and H Auto in Greene County early Friday morning when he saw them on the property and ordered them to show their hands. One of the men allegedly pointed something toward the owner and the owner fired his weapon. The item was reportedly a flashlight."


South Carolina: No charges after barber shoots man: "A Columbia barbershop owner says he was just protecting himself. Johnny Cole admits he shot a man at his business Monday, but Tuesday he told WIS News 10 he had no choice. Now Columbia police say they're not charging either man in the incident, and are considering the case closed. Cole says it was self-defense, that he was trying to protect himself from a guy who punched him in the face and body-slammed him on the floor of his barber shop. Cole says he's never had trouble here before until Monday afternoon, when a car stopped at the intersection then backed up. Cole recognized a woman passenger, and spoke to her. He says next thing he knew, the man with her was on the attack. "He hit me first. And then I defend myself and when I defend myself, he reached for the bag I had on my shoulder," says Cole. The fight moved inside, and finally Cole says, he grabbed his gun. One shot was fired, hitting 44-year-old Anthony Sylvester Williams in the forearm."


Arizona homeowner shoots, kills armed would-be robber: "A homeowner shot and killed a suspect who was allegedly trying to break into his West Valley home early Thursday morning. It happened at about 1:30 a.m., in the area of 59h Avenue and McDowell Road. Police said the family of four was asleep at the time. The homeowner reportedly woke up when he heard somebody kicking in the door. That man grabbed his shotgun and waited near his bedroom door. When the bedroom door swung open, the man said he saw a man with a gun. That's when he opened fire. That suspect died on the scene. Police did find a gun near him. Investigators said there were two other suspects who took off, running to where their truck was parked a block away. Those suspects are still on the loose. Police said the homeowner was acting in self defense so he likely will not face any charges."

D.C. Police to Check Drivers In Violence-Plagued Trinidad

The people who run DC must be mentally diseased. The measures described below are even more futile than their ban on guns. And it certainly shows how much the gun bans have achieved

D.C. Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier announced a military-style checkpoint yesterday to stop cars this weekend in a Northeast Washington neighborhood inundated by gun violence, saying it will help keep criminals out of the area. Starting on Saturday, officers will check drivers' identification and ask whether they have a "legitimate purpose" to be in the Trinidad area, such as going to a doctor or church or visiting friends or relatives. If not, the drivers will be turned away.

The Neighborhood Safety Zone initiative is the latest crime-fighting attempt by Lanier and Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, who have been under pressure from residents to stop a recent surge in violence. Last weekend was especially bloody, with seven slayings, including three in the Trinidad area. "In certain areas, we need to go beyond the normal methods of policing," Fenty (D) said at a news conference announcing the action. "We're going to go into an area and completely shut it down to prevent shootings and the sale of drugs."

The checkpoint will stop vehicles approaching the 1400 block of Montello Avenue NE, a section of the Trinidad neighborhood that has been plagued with homicides and other violence. Police will search cars if they suspect the presence of guns or drugs, and will arrest people who do not cooperate, under a charge of failure to obey a police officer, officials said. The enforcement will take place at random hours and last for at least five days in Trinidad, with the option of extending it five more days. Checkpoints could be set up in other neighborhoods if they are requested by patrol commanders and approved by Lanier.

The strategy, patterned after a similar effort conducted years ago in New York, is not airtight. There are many ways to get in and out of Trinidad, not just on the one-way Montello Avenue. And pedestrians will not be stopped, which is something critics say might render the program ineffective. "I guess the plan is to hope criminals will not walk into neighborhoods," said D.C. Council member Phil Mendelson (D-At Large). "I also suppose the plan is to take the criminal's word for it when he or she gives the police a reason for driving into a neighborhood."

Since taking over as chief in December 2006, Lanier has struggled with the issue of violent crime. She has added patrols, revived a unit specializing in getting guns off the streets and changed commanders in six of the city's seven patrol districts. Last weekend, officers were close enough in one case that they heard the barrage of gunfire coming from a triple homicide on Holbrook Street in Trinidad.

The program is aimed at the city's most troubled areas. The 5th Police District, which includes Trinidad, has had 22 killings this year, one more than all of last year. Since April 1, the Trinidad neighborhood has had seven homicides, 16 robberies and 20 assaults with dangerous weapons, according to police data. In many cases in Trinidad and across the city, gunshots are fired from passing cars, victims are found in cars or cars are used to make fast getaways.....

One of Lanier's plans, the Safe Homes initiative, has yet to get off the ground because of a community backlash. The plan, announced by Lanier and Fenty at a news conference in March, called for police to go door-to-door in crime-ridden areas and ask residents whether they could go inside and search for guns. Residents and some council members voiced concerns that homeowners would feel intimidated by police. Lanier backed off, but said she plans to move forward soon by having residents call police to set up appointments.

Another plan, to arm hundreds of patrol officers with semiautomatic rifles, starting this summer, also got mixed reviews from residents.

More here





AZ: Resident kills home invader: "A Phoenix homeowner shot and killed a home invader who had kicked in the front door of the house and was attempting to break into the bedroom where he and his family were sleeping, Phoenix police said. The victim died at the scene near 59th Avenue and Thomas Road, investigators said. The unidentified 38-year-old homeowner awoke and found the man was carrying a weapon, police said. The resident pulled out a rifle and opened fire, killing the intruder, officers said. Police said they found the intruder's weapon by his body. The homeowner, his wife and two children were not injured.Two other people who were with the intruder fled the scene,"


Maine machine shop owner surprises metal shop thieves with shotgun : "The owner of a machine shop where thieves stole $3,000 worth of scrap steel, iron and aluminum wasn't going to let it happen again. After Saturday night's theft, Joseph Lord loaded his shotgun and laid low, expecting the thieves to return. They came back on Tuesday, in broad daylight. When Lord saw their 2008 F-250 pickup truck, he shot out its tires and windshield and blasted its radiator, Kennebec County Sheriff Randall Liberty said. The startled thieves took off on foot, but investigators quickly tracked down the truck's operator, who will be charged with theft, Liberty said. Charges are pending against an accomplice, the sheriff said."

Man shot, killed during confrontation in apartment parking lot: "Metro Police say a 17-year-old shot during a confrontation in the parking lot of a Las Vegas apartment complex early this morning and died later at the hospital. At 5:46 a.m. Monday police received several 911 calls reporting a shot fired at the Wellington Meadows Apartment complex at 9550 West Sahara Ave. Police and emergency medical officials found Johnny Boyd Eagletail with a gunshot wound to his torso. He was taken to University Medical Center where he died from his injuries hours later. A man at the apartment complex confronted Eagletail and asked about damaged vehicles in the parking lot. The victim allegedly pulled a knife and moved toward the man who fired one shot from the pistol, police said. The man with the gun remained at the scene and spoke with Metro detectives. He was not arrested. The case will be submitted to the district attorney's office for review."


Texas man kills suspected burglar: "Authorities in Cass County are still sorting out the details surrounding an alleged burglary, where a suspect was fatally shot. Cass County investigators say an Antioch, Texas man came home Wednesday afternoon to find a burglar inside the residence. The homeowner told police he grabbed a gun and found a woman running out the back door. He confronted her and another man in the back yard. He called 911, telling the operator he was holding the pair until authorities arrived. By the time deputies got to the scene, some kind of altercation had taken place and the male suspect was dead from a gunshot wound. Authorities have not released the name of the man who was killed. The woman also at the house was last seen leaving in a white car. So far no charges have been filed."


PA: Court voids victim disarmament ordinances: "A judge ruled that the City of Philadelphia could not enforce new ordinances that would ban assault weapons and limit handgun purchases to one per person per month. The judge, Jane Cutler Greenspan of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, ruled in favor of the National Rifle Association, which argued that only the legislature had the right to make gun laws. But Judge Greenspan denied on procedural grounds the association's request to overturn three other gun ordinances. One would allow guns to be removed from people who were declared to be a risk to themselves or others, and another would do the same for those under a protection-from-abuse order. The third would require the reporting of lost or stolen guns."


Gun manufacturers continue to aid gun banners: "Having just devoted a substantial chunk of pro bono legal work fighting governments committed to destroying your gun rights, I was horrified to read the March 2008 editions of several of my favorite gun magazines. Prominently featured in each edition was a feature story about a large manufacturer of 1911-type guns, breathlessly detailing the 'gee whiz' details of their newest model dedicated to a California police agency. Each of the stories went into the history of the department the gun was designed for, yet one critical piece of background information was omitted from the tide of 'fanboy' coverage.'These guns were all designed for a local government committed to stripping civilians of the right to own this same gun."

Kentucky: Two teen intruders shot: "Two teens are dead, but police aren't charging the man who shot them with a crime. The shooting happened Tuesday at a house in west Louisville. "For sure, there's not a doubt in my mind, my wife and I would be dead if I didn't do what I did," said property owner Billy Jackson. Jackson said he was sprucing up an apartment in the house he owns at 3517 West Broadway when two masked men forced their way inside. He said one had a large gun, and threatened to kill him and his wife. "I figured I was going to die and they were going to die, too," said Jackson. "I faked a heart attack; shot him in the side." The coroner released the names of the alleged intruders late Wednesday afternoon. They are Earl Springer and Dazmond Turner, both 19. "At least one of the suspects was armed with a handgun," said Metro Police Detective Phil Russell. "The property owner was assaulted. He sustained minor injuries." Police said Springer died at the scene, while Turner died early Wednesday morning at University Hospital. "They will confer with the commonwealth attorney's office in order to determine if charges need to be placed," Russell said. "At this time in the investigation, it looks as though this was self-defense."


TX: Shooter avoids charges in man's death: "Harris County Sheriff's investigators said Wednesday they do not plan to file charges against a Spring man who said he shot another man to death in self-defense. Thomas Hightower, 24, was gunned down about 4 p.m. Tuesday during a fight involving two groups of people in the 4440 block of Quailgate and the 4440 block of Hickorygate, investigators said. The shooter, whose name has not been released, admitted he shot Hightower and handed investigators his pistol, said Harris County Sheriff's Sgt. Larry Davis. He has a concealed handgun permit, Davis added. He was not arrested. Davis said shell casings from two handguns were found at the scene of the shooting. He also said witnesses told investigators that Hightower had a gun. "We feel confident (of the witnesses)," Davis said. The shooting occurred after a feud started between two Spring High School girls, Davis said. Friends and relatives got involved in the dispute that erupted into a fight. "It just wouldn't stop," Davis said. "It continued to fester and came to a boil Tuesday."


Assault Weapons: Evil Black Rifles (or perhaps not): "Assault rifles" are being demonized by many politicians, media-types, and other anti-gun folk who actually have no idea what it is they are demonizing. Most people who hear the truth are quite surprised to find out just how off-base and factually wrong these nay-sayers are. Actually, many of the national leaders in the gun banning community know they are lying to the public. Josh Sugarmann, author of the 1988 book "Assault Weapons and Accessories in America" laid out the strategy for all to see. "Assault weapons-just like armor-piercing bullets, machine guns, and plastic firearms-are a new topic. The weapons' menacing looks, coupled with the public's confusion over fully automatic machine guns versus semi-automatic assault weapons-anything that looks like a machine gun is assumed to be a machine gun-can only increase the chance of public support for restrictions on these weapons."


Gun shop quits?: "The trial of a Georgia gun shop, which Mayor Bloomberg has accused of selling a high volume of guns that were subsequently trafficked into New York City, has been postponed indefinitely. The trial had been set to begin tomorrow at a U.S. District Court at Brooklyn. The judge hearing the case, Jack Weinstein, had decided last week that he - and not a jury - would decide the case. That decision apparently discouraged the lawyer for the gun shop, John Renzulli, enough to default the case. Mr. Renzulli, who has long accused Judge Weinstein of bias against the firearms industry, said that the default was a procedural maneuver to rush the case up to an appellate court to seek an order requiring Judge Weinstein to dismiss the case or hold a trial by jury. In an interview, he said that the gun store, Adventure Outdoors, would continue to fight the city's lawsuit. The city, however, counted the development as a win".

AZ: Homeowner shoots robbers: "Police say a homeowner confronted two men who forced their way into a house with the intention to rob it, shot and killed one of the men and injured the other. The robbers injured the unidentified homeowner, who was rushed to the hospital, in the Monday morning incident at 2809 W. Almeria Road, Sgt. Andy Hill said. His condition was not immediately known. "I heard two shots, real loud, then saw dust on the ground," said Josie Carillo, a neighbor. "Don't know if it was a bullet or what." Police said they were are especially concerned because children also live in the home. "We believe two suspects came to rob the house, do a home invasion, and forced their way in," Hill said. The other intruder who was hurt is believed to have jumped in a getaway vehicle parked down the street. Police gave no immediate description of the robber.


Arkansas Homeowner shoots man stealing gas: "With prices nearing $4 a gallon, sheriff's deputies say Mark Holsted wanted to steal some gasoline from an unsuspecting resident of Crawford County. However, that high price likely kept a homeowner armed with a 9mm pistol alert as well. Deputies say an unidentified homeowner shot Holsted in the arm and thigh late Sunday night after spotting him stealing gas from a car parked outside a home in Rudy. Officers say Holsted was armed with a rifle at the time of the shooting and had an accomplice and a getaway driver. Holsted was listed in stable condition at a Fort Smith hospital Monday. Deputies say he'll face charges once he is released from the hospital's care."


California: Robber In Fatal Store Holdup: "Authorities released the name today of an alleged robber killed in an exchange of gunfire that erupted during a holdup at a small East County business, seriously injuring the shop's two proprietors. Phillip Lashon Whitmore, 29, died at the scene of Tuesday afternoon's shootout at Travel Wizard in the 7700 block of University Avenue in La Mesa, according to the county Medical Examiner's Office. Whitmore allegedly was robbing the business -- a combination vacation-planning agency, currency-exchange outlet and coin shop -- when gunfire erupted shortly before 1 p.m., according to police. It was unclear who fired first. Whitmore suffered two to four bullet wounds, LMPD Lt. David Bond told reporters. The La Mesa resident ran out of the business with a satchel of stolen money, fell to the ground about 50 feet away and died, Bond said. Medics took the wounded business owners -- a 59-year-old man and 58-year-old woman, both of whom suffered at least two gunshot wounds -- to Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego. Their names and conditions were not released."


Angelina Jolie Touts Gun Ownership: "When it comes to worldview, Angelina Jolie is gaining fame for standing out from the Hollywood crowd. After meeting with Gen. David Petraeus a while back, Jolie made clear her preference that the U.S. not withdraw from Iraq as quickly as some prominent Democrats wanted to. Most recently, Jolie is talking as if she's adopted some of the late Charlton Heston's viewpoints. The actress reveals that she and Pitt are gun owners and keep firearms in their home. "I bought original, real guns of the type we used in `Tomb Raider' for security. Brad and I are not against having a gun in the house, and we do have one," Jolie tells the U.K. Daily Mail. In case you're wondering whether a Malibu celeb would really use a firearm for self-defense, Jolie supplies the answer: "Yes, I'd be able to use it if I had to. I could handle myself. I think there are certain combat skills that would come out. "If anybody comes into my home and tries to hurt my kids, I've no problem shooting them," the someday Mrs. Pitt says."

SC: Property owner charged with shooting: "A North man charged with shooting an alleged burglar on family property last week was released on a $15,000 surety bond Monday. Officials said 30-year-old Stanley Weber of 262 Breezehaven Road was released Monday after a bond hearing before Orangeburg County Magistrate Don West. Weber was arrested on a charge of assault and battery with intent to kill, with police alleging he shot an individual around 6 p.m. Friday. The warrant against him alleges that Weber, "did intentionally, with total disregard for human life, fire a .22-caliber rifle at the victim (Justin Kemmerlin), striking him in the mouth area." Meanwhile, 18-year-old Justin Kemmerlin is charged, along with his sister Amanda Kemmerlin, 35, with third-degree burglary. Justin Kemmerlin was expected to be released from the hospital on Monday evening, Orangeburg County Sheriff Larry Williams said. Deputies believe the Kemmerlins were trying to steal fuel from a backhoe on the property Friday afternoon. "On private property, there is no duty to retreat," Pascoe said, "unlike public property." With the attention of the solicitor's office, the decision to amend or stay the charge against Weber could be made by week's end."


Arizona: 1 Dead, 2 Hurt In Phoenix Shooting: "Police say a homeowner confronted two men who forced their way into a house with the intention to rob it, shot and killed one of the men and injured the other. The robbers injured the unidentified homeowner, who was rushed to the hospital, in the Monday morning incident at 2809 W. Almeria Road, Sgt. Andy Hill said. His condition was not immediately known. "I heard two shots, real loud, then saw dust on the ground," said Josie Carillo, a neighbor. "Don't know if it was a bullet or what." Police said they were are especially concerned because children also live in the home. "We believe two suspects came to rob the house, do a home invasion, and forced their way in," Hill said. The other intruder who was hurt is believed to have jumped in a getaway vehicle parked down the street. Police gave no immediate description of the robber."


Ohio set to expand limits on self-defense: "Potential victims who harm or kill apparent intruders in their homes or vehicles would get the legal benefit of the doubt under a just-passed bill destined to get Gov. Ted Strickland's signature. Sponsored by state Sen. Stephen Buehrer (R., Delta) and pushed by the National Rifle Association, the measure served as a magnet for changes to Ohio's 4-year-old law allowing law-abiding citizens to carry concealed handguns. The changes will make it easier for motorists to carry weapons in their cars and in school zones and will prohibit landlords from forbidding tenants from having guns in their rented residences. The measure was among a flurry of bills sent to the governor this week as lawmakers near summer recess. It won strong bipartisan support in both chambers, despite a lack of support from some law enforcement organizations. The bill would take effect 90 days after Mr. Strickland signs it. "He believes the legislation provides law-abiding gun owners with appropriate and reasonable protections, and he's looking forward to signing the bill," said Strickland spokesman Keith Dailey. Commonly called the "Castle Doctrine," the bill shifts the burden away from the apparent victim to prosecutors and police to prove that an individual did not act in self-defense. The bill specifies that the legal resident does not have a duty to retreat when someone is illegally entering or attempting to enter his home or car.


McCain not good on guns: "John McCain sponsored an amendment to S. 1805 on March 2, 2004 that would outlaw the private sale of firearms at gun shows. According to GOA, the provision would effectively eliminate gun shows, because every member of an organization sponsoring a gun show could be imprisoned if the organization fails to notify each and every "person who attends the special firearms event of the requirements [under the Brady Law]." John McCain also sponsored an Incumbent Protection provision to the so-called "Campaign Finance Reform" bill, which severely curtails the ability of outside groups (such as GOA) to communicate the actions of incumbent politicians to members and supporters prior to an election. The GOA report of the 106th Congress reveals that out of 15 votes relating to the right to keep and bear arms, Senator John McCain voted favorably only 4 times. Put that into a percentage and McCain's pro-Second Amendment voting record is a pathetic 27%. In addition, GOA warns that John McCain supported legislation that would force federal agents to increase efforts in arresting and convicting honest gun owners who may inadvertently violate one of the many federal anti-gun laws, which punish mere technicalities, such as gun possession."

US army uses bullets ill-suited for new ways of war

As Sgt. Joe Higgins patrolled the streets of Saba al-Bor, a tough town north of Baghdad, he was armed with bullets that had a lot more firepower than those of his 4th Infantry Division buddies. As an Army sniper, Higgins was one of the select few toting an M14. The long-barreled rifle, an imposing weapon built for wars long past, spits out bullets larger and more deadly than the rounds that fit into the M4 carbines and M16 rifles that most soldiers carry. "Having a heavy cartridge in an urban environment like that was definitely a good choice," says Higgins, who did two tours in Iraq and left the service last year. "It just has more stopping power."

Strange as it sounds, nearly seven years into the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, bullets are a controversial subject for the U.S. The smaller, steel-penetrating M855 rounds continue to be a weak spot in the American arsenal. They are not lethal enough to bring down an enemy decisively, and that puts troops at risk, according to Associated Press interviews.

Designed decades ago to puncture a Soviet soldier's helmet hundreds of yards away, the M855 rounds are being used for very different targets in Iraq and Afghanistan. Much of today's fighting takes place in close quarters; narrow streets, stairways and rooftops are today's battlefield. Legions of armor-clad Russians marching through the Fulda Gap in Germany have given way to insurgents and terrorists who hit and run. Fired at short range, the M855 round is prone to pass through a body like a needle through fabric. That does not mean being shot is a pain-free experience. But unless the bullet strikes a vital organ or the spine, the adrenaline-fueled enemy may have the strength to keep on fighting and even live to fight another day.

In 2006, the Army asked a private research organization to survey 2,600 soldiers who had served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Nearly one-fifth of those who used the M4 and M16 rifles wanted larger caliber bullets. Yet the Army is not changing. The answer is better aim, not bigger bullets, officials say. [Big deal! Don't they think that the troops already aim as well as they can??] "If you hit a guy in the right spot, it doesn't matter what you shoot him with," said Maj. Thomas Henthorn, chief of the small arms division at Fort Benning, Ga., home to the Army's infantry school.

More here





North Carolina: Man shoots bear in backyard: "David Jenkins woke Wednesday morning to the barking of his dog, Sammy. He soon discovered the cause of the commotion — a black bear in the backyard of his Henderson County home. Jenkins said he grabbed his shotgun for protection. He told his wife to stay in the house as he went to try to scare the bear and rescue his dog. “The bear was standing up on his hind legs and I knew it was going to kill my dog. ... I had to do something,” Jenkins said. After an attempt to scare off the bear failed, Jenkins said he knew he had to protect his dog and himself. So Jenkins fired his shotgun in the direction of the bear. The shot hit the bear. “The bear started to wander off and I didn’t want to leave a wounded bear wandering around the neighborhood,” he said. “So I followed the bear and shot him again.” Jenkins said he immediately alerted the local game warden about what happened. He said a biologist came to his house first and extracted a tooth from the bear to determine its age. Jenkins said the black bear was about 2 years old. It weighed about 250 pounds, he said. “When the game warden arrived he said that I was fully justified in the shooting because I had attempted to scare the bear away before firing my first shot,” he said. “It was a very unfortunate situation.”


Idaho man shoots, kills agressive pit bull: "Police say a Boise man shot a pit bull with a shotgun after the man says the animal was being threatening towards him. It happened on the 2700 block of Westland Place in Boise near Ustick and Cole. Officers say Dave Davies called police just before 8:00 p.m., saying his neighbor’s pit bull was being aggressive toward him. Two minutes later – Davies called back and said he shot the dog. Davies said he was outside working on his motorcycle when the dog jumped a fence and came toward him in an “aggressive” manner. When Davies was inside calling police, he grabbed his shotgun. Police say he went back outside and shot the animal. Boise Police Lt. Ron Winegar said the man may have a warranted defense. "We would never advocate it happening within the city limits in this kind of a neighborhood can be very dangerous,” Winegar said. “At the same time, depending on the circumstances, we always have the right to defend ourselves." Davies says he has reported the pit bull in the past – and said he was told he has the right to defend himself on his property if an animal is being aggressive."

Texas: Store clerk fatally shoots robbery suspect in N. Houston: "As a gas station attendant, "Ash" Hussain had heard the horror stories about convenience store robberies and deadly shootings. On Friday afternoon, he would find himself in just that situation. Loaded with cash taken from the Texaco gas station in the 9400 block of North Freeway, the robbers left the store headed for their getaway car. The 22-year-old clerk had followed with his own pistol, hoping to get the vehicle's license plate number. Then one gunman turned and pointed his pistol at Hussain. The clerk fatally shot him - something he thought he'd never have to do. "This is a day I'll never forget," said Hussain, who has worked at the store for about a year and a half. "I wish it hadn't happened, but it did." Authorities have not identified the dead man, who was found in a field about a quarter-mile from the store. Police dogs found his alleged accomplice hiding in a nearby abandoned trailer, said Houston Police Department Homicide Division investigator Dan Arnold. No charges have been filed against Hussain".


Pennsylvania: Armed homeowner foils invasion: "Eugene Johnson reacted in a flash when his wife heard someone kick in the back door of their Carlisle home at 2:30 a.m. Friday. Johnson, 75, a retired Army sergeant first class who fought in the Korean War, grabbed his pistol. He was ready when a silhouette of a man appeared in the darkened doorway of his bedroom. "He said, 'Don't move, I have a gun,'" Johnson recalled. "I said, 'Buddy, I've got a gun, too, and it's [aimed] right on you. "Things got quiet then," he said. They got quiet because the would-be home invader had high-tailed it out of there, police said. Johnson would have been legally justified in pulling the trigger, Cumberland County District Attorney David Freed said... The back door that was damaged in the earlier burglary had not yet been repaired when the invader or invaders kicked it in Friday. Once inside, the culprit or culprits turned off the home's electricity, he said. "My wife heard the back door being smashed. All at once the lights went out, and she told me, 'Get your gun,'" Johnson said."




SC burglar shot: "On Wednesday at about 6:30 a.m. a 54-year-old Spartanburg man told officers he shot at a man attempting to steal from a building outside his home. Andre Maurice Curenton [above], 17, of 425 King Court, Inman, was later charged with third- degree burglary. The homeowner said a motion alarm from the building woke him up, and he saw a man inside the shop. He said he shot into the shop toward the ground, and Curenton came out with his hands up. The homeowner then shot at the man's legs. Maj. Dan Johnson of the sheriff's office said Curenton was treated for minor injuries resulting from shotgun pellets".


Pennsylvania: Burglar Shot: "A man is in the hospital and facing multiple charges today after police say he and another man broke into a South Side home in a burglary attempt. Police say Dale Boehm, 19, is facing charges of burglary, robbery, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and criminal conspiracy. According to police, the owner of the Josephine Street home was watching television when he heard breaking glass and his back door being kicked in around 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Authorities say that's when the homeowner retrieved his weapon and then found two men in his kitchen. Officials report that the men fired at one another. Authorities say one of the suspects fled the scene after the gunfire. He has not been found, but police say they recovered a baseball bat and firearm while searching in the woods. Police report that Boehm suffered a gunshot wound and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. He is listed in critical condition, officials say. Police say they have questioned the resident. Meanwhile, Boehm will be taken to the Allegheny County Jail when he is released from the hospital."

TX: 14-year-old shoots 13-year-old assailant: "Police say a 14-year-old boy who was stabbed about 20 times by a 13-year-old friend in his south Fort Worth home shot and killed the assailant on Wednesday. Investigators said the 14-year-old told police Danny Allen, 13, was visiting his house on Buffalo Springs Drive near Interstate 35 when an argument ensued and Allen began stabbing him at about 5:30 p.m. According to police, the two teenagers struggled before the 14-year-old grabbed his father's handgun and shot Allen several times."


SC: Homeowner wounds burglar: "A homeowner told deputies that when he saw a burglar breaking into his outbuilding Tuesday morning, he grabbed his shotgun and fired a couple rounds. Deputies said the wounded suspect was found a couple miles away. Spartanburg sheriff's Maj. Dan Johnson said the man lives on Bellew Carver Road off Blackstock Road. He said he saw the burglar trying to break into the building at about 6:30 a.m. Johnson said the wounded suspect ran about two miles to a Chevron Gas Station on New Cut Road off Interstate 26, where deputies found him about 40 minutes later."


Canada: Mayor seeks to ban guns with bylaw: "Mayor David Miller wants guns out of Toronto -- and he's backing a tough new bylaw that would ban the manufacture and warehousing of guns in the city. And while Miller says handguns are the particular target of the proposed bylaw, a staff report doesn't distinguish between handguns and rifles and shotguns used in hunting. The bylaw, proposed in a staff report, would give the city zoning powers to restrict or ban the manufacture and warehousing of firearms. Miller said he wants to add ammunition to the bylaw as well."


Preparation, not fear: "People who are not 'firearms enthusiasts' often react predictably when the notion of carrying a handgun enters the discussion. ... One such predictable reaction is 'what are you afraid of? I can't imagine being so fearful all the time that you feel like you need to carry a gun. Why do you feel you need to have a gun all the time? Are you really that paranoid?' Or other words to that effect. ...Owning a gun is not at all about being 'fearful' or paranoid. It is about being prepared. If someone has fire insurance or a fire extinguisher, it's not because he or she is afraid his or her house is going to burn down, it is so that he or she is prepared to deal with the (hopefully) unlikely event of a fire."

Ohio: Young intruder shot during robbery: "A 17-year-old boy shot during a failed robbery attempt is in stable condition and facing possible arrest by Montgomery County Sheriff's deputies. The juvenile allegedly entered an apartment at 5121 Northcutt Place in Northland Village Apartment Complex at about 3:10 p.m. Monday, May 26, in an attempt to rob the place, according to sheriff's Capt. Jeff PaPanek. The apartment is undergoing renovation, and a construction worker living in the building was asleep inside when the boy entered. When the man awoke, the juvenile brandished a gun and a struggle ensued. The construction worker wrestled the gun away from the juvenile and then shot him in the upper chest, PaPanek said. The juvenile fled the scene but was later picked up by Dayton police and transported to Miami Valley Hospital for non-life threatening injuries. Investigators are waiting until the boy recovers from his injuries enough to speak before pursuing any charges, sheriff's Chief Phil Plummer said. The man in the apartment suffered a minor cut on his hand."


Texas: Guard shoots man at grocery store: "A man suspected of stealing may have been fatally shot outside a Fort Worth grocery store after he was followed to his car. The incident began after a Sack 'n Save manager became suspicious of a man exiting the store who he believed was carrying stolen merchandise at around 8:25 p.m., authorities said. The manager followed the man into the store's parking lot in the 3400 block of Altamesa Boulevard and confronted him as he got into a white truck. As the manager attempted to detain the man, the suspect began to drive off. A security guard, who had walked outside to check on the manager, said the truck drove straight towards him, which was when he fired a shot at the vehicle. The truck fled the scene. Authorities later discovered a man was admitted with a gunshot wound to the Huguley Hospital in Fort Worth. The man, who police believe may have been the driver of the white truck, was pronounced dead at the hospital."


South Carolina: Store Owner Shoots Robbers with birdshot: "Deputies say that early Saturday morning, two teenagers broke in to Dixon's Grocery on Highway 261 in Rembert. Authorities say that the owner of the store arrived and was able to shoot two of the suspects with bird shots, who were attempting to steal alcohol. When Sumter County deputies arrived at Dixon's, the suspects had taken off. An incident report says that Sumter dispatch received a call from 17-year-old Philip Steinle, who said he was on his way to the hospital with two people who had been shot in a neighborhood behind Wal-Mart on Broad Street. Steinle was pulled over by a city police officer, who discovered that the two passengers had apparently been shot by a shotgun with a bird shot. The city officer was then notified by a Sumter County deputy of the incident at Dixon's Grocery. One of the teens, a 16-year-old from Hopkins, is at Sumter's Tuomey Hospital in fair condition, while the other, 17-year-old Dontrell Jenkins, was airlifted to Palmetto Richland. Steinle admitted to authorities that he waited in a car while Jenkins and the 16-year-old attempted to break in to Dixon's. Steinle said that both teens ran back to the car, injured. Steinle was taken to the Sumter County jail, where he is being charged with burglary and larceny."


AZ Governor vetoes bill on lifelong weapons permits: "Gov. Janet Napolitano on Tuesday vetoed a pair of proposals to expand gun rights in Arizona, arguing the measures would have needlessly put law enforcement and the public at risk. Senate Bill 1106, sponsored by Sen. Chuck Gray, R-Mesa, would have created a state-issued, concealed-weapon permit valid for a lifetime. Under current law, a gun owner must renew the permit every five years, and each time undergo a new criminal background check. "The concept of lifetime validity for a concealed-weapons permit is unwise public policy," Napolitano, a Democrat, wrote in a letter that accompanied her veto".


Names and details for the fourth story from yesterday:

FL: Man shoots intruder: "David Hadden, 50, told police he heard a noise around midnight and went to investigate. When he tried to go one of his back patio doors, he found that it wouldn't open. When he tried the second door he ran into 35-year old Michael Anderson. Hadden said he pulled his gun and fired on Anderson to stop him from breaking into his home. One of the bullets grazed Anderson in the leg, he collapsed in a backyard area as he tried to make an escape. He was taken to hospital where he was treated for his wound. Late Monday morning he was transported to the main jail in Broward County.No one inside the home at the time of the shooting was injured. Police have not said if Hadden will face any charges. "

FL: Store owner kills robber: "Vigil said her husband had been working alone about 6:45 p.m. Monday, when he was attacked at the CNK Beverage Pit, 12002 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. She said her husband was waiting for a customer's truck to pull farther into the drive-through bay when a masked man ran in through the exit of the drive-through beverage business. The driver took off, she said. Vigil said the would-be robber swung at her husband, striking him in the head. Deputies now say the attacker, identified as Kenneth Charles Heidkamp, 19, of Seffner, struck Cres Vigil in the head with a can of French-cut green beans in a sock. Vigil said her husband shot the attacker and didn't know the man had died until this morning. She said the couple have kept the gun at the business because she was held up at gunpoint a year ago. In that incident, the robber obtained no money because Vigil screamed, and homeless people hanging around the retention pond behind the business chased him away."


Florida: Pawn shop thief shot: "Detectives say David Gardner did what he had to do. When a robber barged into his pawnshop with a baseball bat, smashing glass display cases and stealing whatever he could, Gardner grabbed a gun and opened fire. The 51-year-old storeowner shot the suspect as he ran out the door. Investigators followed the suspect's blood trail through the parking lot, down the street and into the neighborhood nearby. Detectives scoured the scene and the neighborhood searching for the suspect, but they didn't have to go far. Within a few hours, detectives say the suspect, 20-year-old Willie Clarkson, turned up right across the street. They say he was bleeding from at least two gunshot wounds at the Briar Hill Apartments. Clarkson's 16-year old girlfriend found him in her apartment, called his sisters, and then called 911. Paramedics rushed Clarkson to the hospital where deputies arrested him. He's charged with armed robbery. Detectives say he'll remain in the hospital until he's well enough to be transported to jail."


Nevada: Three Men Killed in Shooting: "Deputies with the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office are investigating a shooting in Winnemucca early Sunday morning that left three people dead and others injured. The shooting happened at the Player's Bar & Grill on South Grass Valley Road. Investigators say a feud between two local families is behind the early-morning shooting inside the bar. Three men from Winnemucca died from gunshot wounds, and two others are in critical condition at the hospital. Deputies say about 2:25 a.m., 30-year-old Ernesto Villa Gomez walked into the bar and starting shooting. 20-year-old Jose Torres and his 19-year-old brother Margarito Torres were killed. When Villa Gomez was reloading his semi-automatic gun, a man from Reno took out a gun and shot Villa Gomez. That man has a concealed weapons permit. The unidentified man who shot Villa Gomez is not expected to be charged in this incident; law enforcement call it a justifiable homicide. The Player's Bar & Grill was full of about 300 people, because a local biker event "Runnemucca" is going on this holiday weekend."


Florida Man Shoots Intruder: "A Ft. Lauderdale man shot a man who he claimed was trying to break into his home. The shooting occurred just after midnight in the 100 block of Southwest 31st Avenue. The homeowner reportedly told police he charged the would be robber with gun his after noticing that a door to his home which had been broken into. One of the bullets grazed the suspected thief in the leg, he collapsed in a backyard area as he tried to make an escape. He was taken to hospital where he was treated for his wound. Late Monday morning he was transported to the main jail in Broward County. No one inside the home at the time of the shooting was injured. Police have not said if the homeowner will face any charges."

A Taser can be GOOD for your heart!

Bad in theory, good in practice? Electroshock has long had recognized therapeutic uses



A man's irregular heartbeat returned to normal after he was shot with a Taser gun in a hospital emergency room, according to a medical report. The man had been taken to hospital experiencing atrial fibrillation after jumping into an icy lake while trying to escape police in April. "I don't know exactly what he had done but he fled capture from them and he hid in a lake," said Dr Kyle Richards, a cardiologist at Hartford Hospital in Connecticut.

After treatment, the patient was eager to leave and became aggressive. "He got very combative and started yelling in my face and that's when I left the room and got security," Dr Richards said. Police and security used a Taser stun gun, which shoots out a lead connected to two barbs that can deliver up to 50,000 volts, to subdue the man. They used a low-voltage charge meant to cause pain rather than a longer, higher-voltage jolt meant to incapacitate.

The patient calmed down and another electrocardiogram showed his heart rhythm was normal. Dr Richards and others said the incident was evidence that the stun guns may affect the heart, as critics allege.....

This case provided a controlled situation, with almost continuous monitoring of the patient's heart. Dr Richards noted that the patient was not hooked up to the electrocardiogram at the precise moment of being shocked. "People can spontaneously go from atrial fibrillation into a normal rhythm without any intervention at all. You cannot conclusively say that the Taser did it," he said. But Dr Richards said he believed the weapon was responsible. "It's just one more thing that says, hey, Tasers can actually affect the heart."

Source






Texas: Burglar Shot By Homeowner: "Two Wichita Falls men are charged with burglary of building. One of those men was shot in the process of the alleged crime. Police say 22-year-old Scott Alan Michael and 21-year-old Dustin Logan were caught trying to steal from a residence on Taft Boulevard about 2:30 yesterday morning. The homeowner fired at them and Michael was hit in the chest. Michael made it to the Stripes Convenience Sstore at Kemp and Southwest Parkway, where the clerk called 911. He was taken to United Regional, treated, and released into police custody. Officers say the men had stolen property in their vehicle from a garage on Devon Street. That's the crime they are charged with, but more charges are expected. No one is charged in the shooting as the case will be handed over to the Wichita County Grand Jury."


North Carolina: Men Attempt Robbery, Woman Shoots One Dead: "A woman who was awakened Friday morning to two men trying to ram a van through the front door of her business shot and killed one of the men, Montgomery County deputies said. Deputies said the two men had robbed a motel in Troy earlier before driving to a Mount Gilead coffee shop and attempting to rob it. That's when deputies said Bouaphan Chanthunom, 51, opened fire with an assault rifle, instantly killing Joseph Murphy McRae, 36, of Mount Gilead. The other suspect, Jeffery Ray Liles, 36, fled from the scene but was later arrested at his residence. He was not injured and is being held in the Montgomery County Jail on charges of first-degree burglary, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and injury to real property. Deputies said Chanthunom and her family own the coffee shop and also use it as a residence. Liles and McRae had been under investigation for other crimes in the area. No charges will be filed against Chanthunom"


Tennessee: Burglar Shot by Memphis Homeowner: "Memphis Police say a man broke into another man's home and was shot. The accused burglar is charged with aggravated burglary. Police say Nakia Bohannon broke into a home in the 2000 block of Rile on Thursday, May 22, 2008. Investigators say the homeowner confronted Bohannon and shot him; Bohannon ran from the home, but was quickly picked up by police nearby. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Police believe Bohannon is also responsible for a burglary at a home in the 200 block of First Avenue. Police say WIC voucher checks, shoes, food, and hygiene products were taken from the house. Bohannon was also charged with possession of burglary tools and drug paraphernalia."

Texas roofer shoots robber: "A roofer fatally shot a suspected robber Sunday, only minutes after the man shoved a pistol in his back in the parking lot of a southeast Houston town house complex. Identified by his employer as Juan Ibarra, the roofer was hitching a trailer to his pickup about 9 a.m. when the suspected robber moved up behind him, police said. Ibarra "was ordered to go around to the cab of the truck and give him his money," said Ramon Cervantes, a Houston police homicide detective. The man grabbed Ibarra's wallet and cell phone, then began walking away. Police said he stopped after noticing that some cash had fallen to the pavement. That's when Ibarra pulled out his revolver and fired at least three times, police said. The man was struck in the left chest area and fell to the ground, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said Ibarra has a license to carry a concealed handgun. The suspected robber, 21, lived in the area, police said... Ibarra was not charged in the fatal shooting."


Tennessee man shoots and kills would-be burglar: "A Mount Vernon man shot and killed a would-be burglar when two men allegedly broke into his 517 Old State Road home about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Madisonville Detective Jennifer Bledsoe said. Mark Fryer called 911 to say he had shot a burglar. When Monroe County sheriff's deputies arrived, they found 19-year-old Bristin Self dead from a 9 mm gunshot wound, according to Detective Travis Jones, who investigated the shooting. Jones said Self was unarmed. Bledsoe said Self and another man apparently borrowed a van from a friend and loaded a washer into the van before going back into the Fryer home. Fryer gave authorities a description of a second alleged burglar, and officers began canvassing the area with a police dog. They captured James Cheek, 31, who was charged with aggravated burglary. Bledsoe said Cheek admitted being involved in the burglary. Records indicate that, in 2005, Fryer held at bay with a pistol two men who were burglarizing his home."


Texas Homeowner Shoots Teenage Burglar: "Police say a homeowner took the law into his own hands Tuesday and defended his property from a burglar. Police believe the burglar is responsible for other crimes in the area. Investigators say 17-year-old Alexander Aguilar broke into a home on the 2300 block of Larry Drive in Dallas Tuesday afternoon. The 64-year-old homeowner said he was awakened by a noise. Police say the suspected burglar had broken a window and was able to enter into the back door. The homeowner confronted Aguilar, who then allegedly charged at him and threw a backpack at him. The homeowner shot him in the arm and held him until police arrived. "The homeowner won't face any charges. You have a right to defend yourself and your home," said Dallas Police Sgt. Steven Shaw. "This burglar is actually someone who has active warrants out. We've been trying to catch him for the last two weeks." Police say the suspect was skipping school at the time of the crime."

Brandishing leads to conviction

There are conflicting versions of how Tillory, a sweet-natured construction worker, came to have his first serious run-in with the law at age 52. But everyone agrees that it began with a quinceanera - and a dispute over the most common of neighborhood problems, loud music. The celebration of Imelda Barragan's 15th birthday was held on a Saturday, the day before Mother's Day 2007, outside her family's two-bedroom apartment in Mountain View. A carport had been emptied so a DJ could set up his equipment. The Latin music reverberated off its stuccoed walls and boomed into the neighborhood where, a short walk away, Tillory's 87-year-old mother was in bed trying to rest.

Tillory, an accomplished jazz musician, said the music had an underlying "base boom" similar to what's emitted by cars with outsize stereo systems, where you feel the music before you hear it. "It pierced right into the house, so you couldn't enjoy your television or get any peace at all," he told me.

About 7 p.m., Tillory walked over to complain, crossing an alley where street gangs tag even the abandoned couches. He spoke to the DJ, who agreed to lower the volume. Tillory was told not to return, but to call the police if he thought a noise law was being violated. Ignoring that advice, he returned a few hours later with what sounds to me like a do-it-yourself noise-busting kit: a bottle of water in his hand and a gun hidden in his pocket.

Somehow the water ended up splashing onto the DJ's computer. Tillory claims it was an accidental spill. The partygoers claim he was laughing as he poured out the water. As you might imagine, this led to a ruckus.

Accounts differ. Tillory said he was jumped, knocked down and choked. Partygoers said he shoved a woman and was pushed down as a result. Everyone agrees the ruckus ended once Tillory showed them the handgun. The piece was never fired, but the crowd backed off and Tillory took off.

I later asked Tillory why he brought a gun. In my neighborhood, he said, I often carry a gun for protection. I also asked him why he hadn't just called the police. Force of habit, he said, from growing up in a neighborhood where calling the police on anyone had severe repercussions.

When police did arrive, they believed the Barragans' account of a crazy neighbor disrupting the party and brandishing a gun, not Tillory's account of an accidental spill and a weapon drawn in self-defense. It didn't help Tillory's case that he was not especially cooperative, or that paramedics had to treat a young child in shock.

The jury that heard the case believed the Barragans, too. Wednesday Tillory was back before Superior Court Judge Bradford L. Andrews for sentencing. The sentencing guidelines called for seven years. The prosecution argued for one. And the Probation Department, like Tillory's attorney, recommended probation.

Judge Andrews, while sounding perplexed by Tillory's behavior, placed him on probation and ordered him to pay restitution to the Barragans. After a month in jail, Tillory went home. That's where I found him Friday, still remorseless and convinced he was the victim of a travesty of justice. "I just wanted them to turn the music down," he told me. "In this age of modern equipment, there has to be some restrictions. This is not stereo equipment. This is a band and public-address equipment."

More here




TX: Clerk shoots robber: "According to police, a man was killed Friday night after he was shot by a clerk during an armed robbery of a convenience store in the 1400 block of Brunswick Boulevard. Police Chief William McManus said the robber came in, pointed a gun at the clerk and demanded cash. The clerk then gave the robber the cash, police said, but the clerk then shot the man before he could run out of the store. Police said the robber then jumped into a getaway car, but was found dead inside the car a few blocks away. The cash was also inside. Police are still looking for the getaway driver. The clerk has not been charged in the death, police said, citing self defense."


AZ: Truck thief shot: "A vehicle theft suspect was shot and killed by a homeowner as the suspect drove his vehicle at him Thursday morning. Cody Geneha, 22, told police he was inside his home, near 31st and Glendale avenues, when he heard his truck being started at around 12:30 a.m. Geneha picked up a gun and went outside where he saw a man driving away in his truck. The vehicle thief made a U-turn and accelerated toward the homeowner, who was standing on the sidwalk, according to police. The homeowner fired several shots at the man in the truck. The vehicle crashed into a wall and when police arrived they found the suspect slumped over the wheel. The suspect had been shot in the head and died at the scene. Phoenix Police Homicide detectives are investigating, along with the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. The homeowner was not arrested".

SC: No charges expected in fatal shooting: "Authorities say they don't plan to charge a man who shot another man who tried to hit his estranged wife with his truck. The coroner's office told WSPA-TV that 36-year-old Kenneth Ross Jr. of Greer was shot several times early Saturday morning and died at the hospital. Deputies say Ross confronted his estranged wife and a male friend at her Spartanburg home and tried to hit the woman with his truck, but struck her car instead. Authorities say Ross then started coming toward his estranged wife. The man got his gun and ordered Ross to stop. Deputies say Ross kept getting closer, so the man fired. Investigators say they consulted with prosecutors and decided not to charge the shooter because he was acting in self defense."


SC: Mini mart shooting was self-defense: "Richland County deputies say 40-year-old Willis Brown, the victim in a shooting Friday at the Mini Mart on Percival road, has died. Authorities say Brown entered the Mini Mart Friday and began verbally and physically assaulting 63-year-old store clerk Edward Kent. Lt. Chris Cowan said the situation came to ahead when Brown punched Kent, who pulled out a handgun in retaliation and shot the victim three times. Cowan says the shots were clearly in self-defense. Richland County deputies say Kent won't face charges. Bystanders identified the shooter as Kent, also known as "Pops." "He's like an old guy the whole neighborhood know. You know he knows everybody in the neighborhood. All the girls and stuff like that. He's just like an old man of the neighborhood," says Gregory Hill."


WA: Robber got off free, then got killed : "A 34-year-old man shot and killed by four bail bond agents Thursday in Lakewood was no stranger to his hunters. Seven weeks ago, he robbed the Tacoma bond company that hired the agents, confessed to the crime in front of the company owner and Tacoma police, and walked away without a legal scratch, according to documents filed in Pierce County Superior Court. He also saddled the company with tens of thousands of dollars in debt to the court. Whether those circumstances played a role in the man’s death was unclear Friday. The man was facing charges in three criminal cases filed earlier this year when agents for Liberty Bail Bonds Inc. tracked him down in Lakewood. The crimes were drug and weapon offenses; the man was a convicted felon and a self-proclaimed meth dealer who often carried guns and wads of cash. Agents told Lakewood police they shot him in self-defense. When they cornered him outside an auto shop on Pacific Highway Southwest at 4:40 p.m. Thursday, he quickly backed up his car, hit one of the agent’s cars and then drove forward, they said. Two agents fired their guns, striking and killing the man, Lakewood police Lt. Dave Guttu said. The man died a short time later. No one else was injured. A search of the car turned up two guns.... The agents involved in the shooting were interviewed but not arrested Thursday night, Guttu said. Bail bond agents in Washington can and do use firearms, handcuffs, batons and stun guns to apprehend suspects out on bail who fail to show up in court."

Car dealer offering free guns 'did it for Obama'

A US car dealer says sales have soared since he started offering a free handgun or a petrol card with every purchase. Max Motors, a small Butler, Missouri dealership that has as its logo a grimacing cowboy wielding a pistol, has sold more than 30 cars and trucks in the past three days, far more than its normal volume. And owner Mark Muller credits his decision to start offering buyers their choice of a petrol card or a credit at a gun shop.

"This thing has taken off. Sales have quadrupled," said Muller. The store sells both used and new vehicles including General Motors and Ford products. Every buyer so far "except one guy from Canada and one old guy" has elected to take the gun, Muller said. Muller recommends his customers select a Kel-Tec .380 pistol. "It's a nice little handgun that fits in your pocket," he said.

Muller said the promotion was inspired by presidential hopeful Barack Obama. "We did it because of Barack Obama. He said all those people in the Midwest, you've got to have compassion for them because they're clinging to their guns and their Bibles. I found that quite offensive." "We all go to church on Sunday and we all carry guns," said Muller. "I've got a gun in my pocket right now. I have a rifle in my truck. "We've got to shoot the coyotes out here, they're attacking our cows, our chickens."

"We're not clinging to nothing. We're just damn glad to live in a free country where you can have a gun if you want. This is the way it ought to be."

Source






What? Obamessiah now sells himself to rural Pennsylvania as the pro-gun candidate?

Post below recycled from Michelle Malkin. See the original for links

The gall of this man. Here's a clip from my post from Thursday, where's he's talking tough on guns for urban Democrats in Philly and Pittsburgh:

"I am not in favor of concealed weapons," Obama said. "I think that creates a potential atmosphere where more innocent people could (get shot during) altercations.

But then Politico looked at Obama's strategy to woo blue-collar pro-gun voters in rural PA:

Barack Obama did not hunt or fish as a child. He lives in a big city. And as an Illinois state legislator and a U.S. senator, he consistently backed gun control legislation. But he is nevertheless making a play for pro-gun voters in rural Pennsylvania. By highlighting his background in constitutional law and downplaying his voting record, Obama is engaging in a quiet but targeted drive to win over an important constituency that on the surface might seem hostile to his views.

You know, sometimes I start to suspect that liberals think we're stupid. `Yeah, I'm tough on guns, and.a great fan of the Second Amendment! Hope! Change! Arugula!' Alas, apparently, we're not:

Melody Zullinger, the executive director of the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs who received the Obama campaign e-mail on his gun record, said Obama sounds like he is "speaking out of both sides of his mouth." "I was at one of our county meetings last night and I mentioned this to [federation members]," Zullinger said Friday of the Obama outreach. "Everyone basically blew it off and weren't buying it."

They also quote a pro-gun Democratic state legislator who's all ga-ga for Obama and trying to tell everyone who'll listen what a great Second Amendment advocate Obama is. His name's Dan Surra, and I'll bet this really hurts his credibility. His constituents now know that his long commitment to gun rights is for sale when the Obamessiah turns on the charm.





Conn. Man Found Not Guilty In Boxer's Killing: "A jury acquitted Juan Antonio Pena Thursday of the murder of an up-and-coming boxer. He was charged in the shooting death of Gregory Cuyler, 23, who was killed outside a Hartford nightclub in April 2005. Ballistics experts testified that three guns were fired at the scene but none of them was ever found. Pena was convicted on weapons charges. Pena was arrested about two months after the shooting when he was featured on the TV program "America's Most Wanted." When testimony began earlier in May, a prosecution witness said Cuyler, who had a chance to train for the Olympics, was killed during a dispute over a drug deal. However, the defense claimed that Cuyler was an active participant in a shootout that left him dead. Pena's lawyer said the shooting was self-defense." [More details here]