Sunday, January 31, 2010



Va.: Intended victim turns baseball bat then gun against alleged attacker: "When a large, 21-year-old man walked into a store armed with a baseball bat, threatening a robbery, Kenny Justus did what any old man would do: He wrestled the bat from the intruder, beat him nearly to death with it and then shot him in the arm. "He was calling me an old man while we were fighting,” Justus, 64, said. “I told him, the next one he picks on better be older than me.” Police accused the bat-wielding intruder of trying to rob Justus’s car lot Thursday. Justin Gregory Charles, badly beaten and with a gunshot wound in his right forearm, was taken to Holston Valley Medical Center by helicopter. At first, Justus got out his little gun, but decided against shooting. “I didn’t want to kill him,” he said. “But I didn’t want to be killed, either.” That’s when it dawned on Justus to commandeer the bat. The two men wrestled for it until Justus, who describes himself as a lean man, pried it out of the intruder’s hands. Justus said he just wanted to knock him out, but the intruder kept getting up and coming back. "I beat on him until that bat was in three pieces,” Justus said. “You know if you can’t knock somebody out with a baseball bat, he’s gotta be crazy on drugs.” Justus said he hit him, straight on the head, until blood spattered the entire office and the bat fell apart. Still, the intruder charged him. So Justus pulled the trigger and then called the cops. Buchanan County Sheriff Ray Foster said charges against Charles are pending."


Louisiana: Business Owner Shoots and Kills Robber: "Incident occurred Friday night outside check-cashing establishment on Williams Boulevard. The owner of a Kenner check-cashing store shot and killed an alleged robber Friday night outside of his establishment in the 3200 block of Williams Boulevard. Investigators say the man was approached in a parking lot by three men as he left his business just before 9pm. One member of the trio produced a gun and struck the man in the head and then grabbed a backpack the victim had in his possession. The intended victim retrieved the backpack, pulled a gun from it and shot two of the suspects. One of the would-be robbers was pronouced dead on the scene and the other was taken to a hospital for treatment. The third man fled before police arrived. Authorities say the two men who were shot carried identification cards from Honduras".


WA: Drug dealer defends himself: "A suspect in an early December shooting pleaded innocent Thursday. David Palumbo, 23, of Evans, Wash., pleaded not guilty in Flathead County District Court to attempted deliberate homicide. Shots were fired after Schloss and Bo Hanger, 27, of Whitefish, allegedly attempted to rob Palumbo. At the time, Schloss had a 9-mm pistol, but it jammed during the incident. Palumbo turned himself in to Stevens County, Wash., authorities on Dec. 10 for violating his parole by leaving Washington. Schloss, who has been released from the hospital, has been charged with attempted robbery, a felony. After the shooting, authorities located a .9-mm pistol in the Four Mile Drive area and found a magazine in Schloss’ pocket that matched the magazine found in the gun. A round in the gun and rounds in the magazine also appeared to be the same type of ammunition found in Schloss’ pocket. Schloss admitted to authorities that he and Hanger picked up Palumbo intending to take drugs without paying."


IL: Off-duty cop shoots robbery suspect in restaurant: "A Chicago man who attempted to rob an Englewood Subway sandwich restaurant and was shot by an off-duty police officer on Thursday faces attempted armed robbery charges, officials said tonight. Harvey Green, 40, of the 600 block of West 62nd Street was charged with one felony count of attempted armed robbery, according to a Chicago Police news release. Green was shot just before 11 a.m. after he entered the Subway on the 6200 block of South Halsted Parkway with a gun and tried to rob the restaurant, police said. The off-duty officer shot the man in the leg and a weapon was recovered from the scene, police said. The man was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center."


Gun-Watch Safety Feature

(Las Vegas, Nevada) Introduced at this year's Shooting Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show was this high-tech gun and watch combination. Apparently, the safety feature prevents accidental shootings.



The gun-watch pair is manufactured by Armatix GmbH.
The German firm has an electronic safety that automatically disables the pistol when it’s not within a few inches of a custom wristwatch. The watch sends a wireless arming signal to the gun.

If the gun is picking up a signal from the watch, a green LED on the back lights up. Try squeezing the handle without wearing the watch, and you will see a red warning light.

Anyone can pick up a limited edition version of the pistol for about 7,000 euro, which is pretty steep for a .22cal plinker. They start shipping next month.
Note that 7,000 euros equals US$9,720 at current exchange rates.

Regarding the gun-watch combo, I'm curious as to whether the combination will work if the shooter wears his watch on his left arm which is typical for people who shoot right-handed. And another thing. What happens if someone steals the watch? It's pretty ugly but stranger things have happened.

In any event, the gun-watch combo places equal importance, if not more, on the control and protection of the watch as with the gun. To assure your firearm is secured, you now have to also make sure your watch is properly secured. Jeez! I'd hate to have to fumble around looking for my gun and watch in the dark late at night when I hear an intruder in my home.

Saturday, January 30, 2010



Kentucky: Suspect shot during attempted robbery: "A delivery driver turned the tables on a couple of would-be robbers late Thursday night. Lexington Police say two juveniles jumped the worker for China King outside an apartment building on Laketower Drive, near Lakeshore Drive around 9:15 p.m. The delivery man then pulled out a handgun, shooting one of the kids in the abdomen. He went to the hospital to be treated for non life-threatening injuries, according to police. The other suspect was taken into custody. Police say the delivery driver hasn’t been charged."


Arizona: Robbery suspect shot, killed by homeowner: "Police have identified a man who died after he was shot while trying to rob a Phoenix homeowner Wednesday afternoon. Phoenix Police Sgt. Tommy Thompson said 26-year-old Rudolph Gomes was seen breaking into a coin operated car wash machine near Tatum Boulevard and Union Hills Drive around 12:30 p.m.... Officers arrived on the scene and as they set up a perimeter and began searching the neighborhood they heard a ‘pop.’ Police then received a call that a homeowner had shot an armed intruder, Thompson said. According to Thompson, the 59-year-old homeowner told police Gomes tried to rob him at gunpoint and at some point he was able to get a shotgun and shoot the intruder. The injured Gomes was taken to a local hospital where he died of his injuries, Thompson said. There is no word yet if the homeowner will be charged in the shooting. He was not injured, according to police."


Canada: Gun-toting drug dealer killed in self defense: "A former Vancouver Island city councillor and his two sons have been found not guilty of second-degree murder in connection with the 2008 beating death of Colwood resident Keith Taylor. Ex-Highlands councillor Ken Brotherston, along with his two adult sons -- Ken Jr. and Gregory -- were cleared of charges by B.C. Supreme Court Justice Janice Dillon Friday. The trio was arrested in June 2008 after the badly injured body of Keith Taylor was found dumped in a parking lot of the West Shore RCMP detachment. During the trial, the Crown said that Taylor was beaten at a home where cocaine was being dealt. Lawyers said Taylor, himself a crack-addict and drug dealer, was trying to extort $100,000 from the Brotherston family. Defence lawyer Steven Kelliher successfully argued Ken Brotherston Sr. was acting in self-defense against Taylor, who had a knife and gun during a fight.


Groups Take Concealed Carry Self-Defense on the Road: "Gun Owners of America announced today that it has partnered with the New Jersey Coalition for Self Defense (NJCSD) and the Second Amendment March to launch a national program which assists citizens in asserting their Constitutional and human rights to self-defense. The “Right-to-Carry Road Show” is a mobile processing system where all of the steps necessary to obtaining a permit to carry a firearm are consolidated. In some states, politically-motivated bias against gun owners is so extreme that many local police departments refuse to perform the fingerprinting, going so far as to intentionally give citizens the runaround or intimidate people into giving up. In the past, completing the application process may have required several days to complete by the time the applicant arranged for fingerprinting and notarizing, sometimes even causing time off from work to coordinate scheduling with frequently uncooperative local agencies."

Friday, January 29, 2010



FL: Jury acquits shooter in 'stand your ground' trial: "Max Wesley Horn spent the past two years behind bars, awaiting trial for shooting a man at a crowded street festival. He killed Joe Martell, but he believed he was right in doing it. After deliberating nearly three hours Thursday, a jury agreed. "I knew all along that the law was with me," Horn said after being found not guilty of second-degree murder under Florida's "stand your ground" law that allows people to meet force with force anywhere they feel threatened. The shooting happened March 29, 2008, amid a huge crowd at the downtown after-party of the Chasco parade. Horn, a video producer with three kids, was there with his wife and friends. Martell was with another group. The two men didn't know each other. Horn, 48, testified that he was waiting to go inside Hot Shotz bar and grill with his wife and friends when Martell, 34, burst out the door, knocking down a woman and pushing several others. A fight began to erupt and Martell got into a dispute with two of Horn's family members. "Then he starts on me. … I told him, 'I can't fight you,' " Horn said. Horn had a concealed weapons permit and a serious heart condition. He lifted his shirt to reveal he was armed. "I'll shoot you," he told Martell. Horn said Martell advanced on him, and without warning punched him in the head. As he righted himself, he drew his gun and fired at Martell's abdomen. "I knew I couldn't sustain another punch like that," Horn said."


Ohio: Elderly Man Shoots Intruder: "Emergency rooms around the Tri-State are on alert, waiting for a suspect police believe was shot by a 77 year old Avondale man in self-defense. “I shot because he was going to shoot me. I could have shot him two or three times.” Clyde Tucker says two men broke down his door at the Hale Apartments on Tuesday. Tucker says lately, residents of his building have been victims of the same kind of crime-thugs who break down doors and rob them. So Tucker says, he was ready. “The guy was knocking on my door and I didn’t respond so I got my pistol out.” Tucker fired, and the men ran out of the building. A witness, Eric Hamilton, saw the men run out and says it was clear one of the suspects had been hit by a bullet. He was holding his torso. Police found a trail of blood coming out of the apartment building. “I could have shot him if I wanted to kill the guy or something but I don’t want to do nothing like that. They’ll get their lesson though.” Police say the suspect will likely show up for treatment of his wound and when he does, they’ll be ready to arrest him."


AZ: Man shoots attacker as 4 people beat him: "Police are looking for four people who allegedly assaulted a man in Buckeye Tuesday, forcing him to pull out a gun and shoot one of the suspects. According to Buckeye Lt. Jared Griffith, the assault took place in the south parking lot of business near 195th Avenue and Indian School Road. During the assault, Griffith said the victim was beaten with a bat several times and sustained injuries to his head and arms. In the middle of the attack, the victim apparently pulled out a gun and shot one of the attackers in self-defense. According to a news release from Griffith, witnesses reported three of the attackers fled the scene on foot while the other injured suspect left in a car. The suspects are described as White or Hispanic, in their late-teens to early-twenties. None of the suspects have been located and the circumstances surrounding the injured suspect are currently unknown. The victim was treated at the scene by the Buckeye Fire Department, but is expected to be okay."


VA: No Jail Time for Student Shooter: "A Richmond man who shot and killed another man during a robbery attempt on Union Hill last Spring will not serve jail time for his crime... Driver shot and killed Jamall Holman last Spring. Police say Holman was breaking into Driver's girlfriend's car while wearing a mask when the two met face to face that April afternoon. Driver says he thought Holman was armed and reaching for a gun when he fired his own weapon killing Holman. It turns out Holman did not have a gun. In court Commonwealth's Attorney Michael Herring questioned whether or not Eric Driver really feared for his life because he never called 911 when he had the chance. But Driver's attorney John Luxton said this killing was in self defense. Outside of court Eric Driver told CBS 6 he felt blessed over the outcome of his trial. He also expressed sorrow for the family of the man he killed."

Thursday, January 28, 2010



MI: Suspect won't be charged in fatal shooting: "The man who shot and killed a 20-year-old Wayne man last week will not face charges, according to Wayne police. After an extensive investigation that included interviews from several witnesses and acquaintances of Andrew Turner, who was shot last week after allegedly trying to enter another Wayne home, uninvited, the police turned the investigation over to the office of the Wayne County prosecutor, which decides whether charges will be filed, said Lt. Jason Wright of the Wayne Police Department. “It was ruled self-defense, justifiable,” said Wright. Police were called to the 4000 block of Niagara Street at about 1:30 a.m. on Jan. 19 to respond to a 911 call that someone had been shot, according to police reports. They found Turner suffering from gunshot wounds, reports said. He was transported to Oakwood Annapolis Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. The homeowner was originally held as a suspect, but claimed that Turner had been trying to get into his home, uninvited. The homeowner leveled the gun at the victim and ordered him to leave, according to reports. A struggle for the gun ensued and that’s when Turner was shot, according to police reports of the incident."


FL: Drug dealer shot in self defense: "St. Petersburg police on Wednesday arrested a man who shot and killed a man during a drug transaction Sunday afternoon. Darryl Hooker Jr., 24, of St. Petersburg allegedly shot Robert Hall Jr., 24, at 30th Avenue and 25th Street North. The investigation determined that Hooker shot in self defense. But Hooker, who is a convicted felon, was charged with one count of a felon in possession of a firearm and taken to Pinellas County Jail, police said. During the drug transaction, a friend of Hooker reached to snatch a bag containing narcotics from Hall's friend, police said. Hall produced a handgun and pointed it at Hooker and his friend, police said. Hooker took out a gun and exchanged gunfire with Hall, police said. Police arrived at the scene to find Hall lying on the ground with a handgun in his hand and multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body. He was transported to Edward White Hospital, where he later died from his injuries."


New bill in Utah House would allow for self-defense: "Lawmakers are debating changes to state law regarding the use of deadly force by gun owners. Rep. Stephen Sandstrom, R-Orem, is sponsoring HB78, which would allow a person to use force or "the threat of force necessary to defend a person" against the threat of harm and "when a person may threaten or display a dangerous weapon in self defense," according to the bill's language. "This would actually de-escalate a situation," Sandstrom said in a committee hearing Wednesday. "If you are, by law, allowed to point a gun at someone, that would escalate the situation, but if you're just able to display it, it wouldn't escalate it." The bill, which originally intended to protect the brandishing of a "dangerous weapon," was substituted when presented to the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee to include the language regarding self-defense. The substitute bill was adopted by a 6-1 vote. The committee delayed voting the bill up or down, leaving it subject to further debate or amendment."


Opponents of Self Defense Recycle Old Lies: "Special interests hostile to armed citizens and self-defense are once again spreading tired lies about Students for Concealed Carry on Campus and its mission. In press releases published mainly by anti-gun websites and blogs, groups such as the Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus and the Brady Campaign claim that all efforts to rescind defense-free zones on college campuses in 2009 failed. Echoing similarly loaded and inaccurate allegations made earlier in the year, the notoriously anti-gun groups claimed failure in every state that considered concealed carry on campus legislation, calling such bills “dangerous,” “radical” and “extremist.” These allegations come on the heels of legislation announced in three states (Georgia, Arizona and Virginia) which would remove arbitrary bans of concealed firearms on campus. Furthermore, the critical eye of anti-defense groups somehow overlooked legislation passed in Arizona and South Carolina, which permits lawfully-armed citizens to keep firearms locked in their cars while on campus. They neglected to mention that legislation in Maryland, which would have criminalized concealed carry on campus, failed...."

Wednesday, January 27, 2010



OK: Fatal Road Rage Shooting: "Tulsa Police say Friday's fatal shooting on Brookside may be self defense. It happened Friday night near 41st and Peoria near the Slo Ride bar. Police say a motorcycle rider was being harassed by the driver of a pickup truck. The biker circled the block, then went inside the bar. Police say he then noticed the pickup had stopped in front of the bar. That's when detectives say one of the men in the truck got out and attacked the motorcyclist. Police say the motorcyclist then pulled a gun and shot him to death. TPD says the motorcyclist does have a weapons permit. It's still unclear if any charges will be filed."


South Carolina: Burglary Suspect Shot by Homeowner : "A burglar was shot Tuesday morning by a homeowner in Spartanburg County. The incident happened at a home at 632 Nodding Hill Road about 9:30 Tuesday morning. According to the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, deputies found Rick Clary standing in the driveway of his home, shotgun in hand. Clary told investigators that he was asleep inside the home when he heard the sound of breaking glass. He then said he grabbed his shotgun, went to the backdoor, and saw someone reaching through the broken door window, trying to unlock the door. Clary fired one shot at the suspect, saying he believed he hit the suspect with the shot. Two suspects fled on foot, but left a car registered to Apple Auto Rental, along with a 9mm pistol. The pistol turned out to be stolen. Soon afterwards, a 16-year-old male juvenile arrived at a local emergency room, suffering from shotgun wounds to his hand and forearm. Investigators were able to determine that the teen was one of the individuals involved in the break-in. The juvenile, identified as Jamarous Rogers, has been charged as an adult, with one count each of Burglary 1st Degree and Possession of a Weapon during a Violent Crime. Investigators are searching for two more suspects."


CA: Dubious prosecution of disabled home defender: "Wajeel said he had taken pain medications and begun an at-home treatment for a ruptured rectus femoris, an injury to a muscle in his upper right leg, when he heard banging around his house. He then walked down the hall and went to the front door. Wajeel said the front door opened as he got there and a man knocked him to the ground. “He was in my living room and I was yelling, ‘Get out of my house!’” Wajeel said. “I saw something pointed at me and all I remember a bang and a flash. Then a police officer was telling me to get back into the house. I was still on the ground. I can’t really walk or stand without help anymore.” Wajeel said he was being prosecuted due to Deputy District Attorney Shannon Faherty’s desire to get a promotion rather than the facts of the case. “I’m just a number or a conviction to them,” Wajeel said. “Even people from my church, where I’m the minority, have told me it’s because I’m black.” ... Wajeel was initially arrested as a murder suspect in Firkin’s shooting death on July 3, 2008. Police found Firkins with a fatal gunshot wound to the head in his truck, which was parked in front of Wajeel’s Barcelona Court home. Police also reported finding Wajeel in his front yard with a gun. Barstow Supervising District Attorney Michael Fermin later decided not to pursue the murder charges in court, saying that Wajeel shot Firkins in self-defense. However, Wajeel was arrested again by officers and was charged this time with voluntary manslaughter on Dec. 5, 2008".


WA: Assault weapons ban likely to fail: "After 2009 ended in a hail of high-profile gun violence, Washington state's gun-control advocates are frustrated by an apparent lack of political support for an assault weapons ban, warning that the state will likely face more deadly shootings without it. The bill comes just weeks after a spate of deadly police shootings, and proponents of the ban say those killings should force politicians to confront gun violence. "There's more guns, a repressed economy and a lot of angry people," said Ralph Fascitelli, board chairman for state gun control group Washington Ceasefire. "You can't sweep this problem under a rug. Apparently the shooting of eight police isn't enough to confront gun violence in the state." Similar bans have not fared well in the state Legislature in the past, and in an election year, supporters face a battle to even get the bill out of committee."

Tuesday, January 26, 2010



CT: State Supreme Court Overturns Manslaughter Conviction: "After David B. Terwilliger shot and killed his son-in-law outside Terwilliger's home in 2003, a Superior Court jury convicted him of manslaughter and a judge sent him to prison for 15 years. But now the state Supreme Court has overturned Terwilliger's 2005 conviction, telling the lower court in Danielson to reconsider whether Terwilliger is a killer or if he was acting within his legal rights to use deadly force not to protect himself but to protect his property, a broader freedom allowed by law in certain situations. Terwilliger and his wife, Beverly Daniels, were in their home on Vandall Street in Thompson the night of Jan. 5, 2003, when Donald Kennedy, 53, got into an argument with neighbors. Kennedy was married to Daniels' daughter, Christine. Hearing the commotion, Terwilliger — a former U.S. Marine with law enforcement experience — armed himself with a gun and confronted Kennedy. According to court records, Terwilliger, then 63, testified that he ordered Kennedy to leave but that Kennedy refused. Terwilliger testified that Kennedy had an "explosive temper," frequently carried a knife and threatened to kill him, a threat he had made in the past. Terwilliger said that Kennedy also threatened to kill Daniels, whom he said Kennedy called "the mother of the beast." Terwilliger fired a single shot when, according to his testimony, he thought Kennedy's hand was moving toward Terwilliger's throat. Medical personnel found Kennedy dead in the driveway. A knife was also found in one of Kennedy's pockets."


CA: Deadly shooting was self-defense: "The Kern County Sheriff's Office has determined that a deadly shooting Monday morning was self-defense. Two men were shot at an apartment complex on the 2100 block of McCray Street, according to a sheriff's office news release. Buck McKay, 29, died, and an unidentified man is reportedly in critical condition at Kern Medical Center. Deputies were called to the complex about 5 a.m. There, they found McKay suffering from a single gunshot wound to the head. He was taken to KMC, where he later died. The second man was taken by private vehicle to Memorial Hospital and then taken to KMC. Investigators determined that McCray and the other man came to the apartments with a gun and "became involved in a disturbance with Jesse Ash," according to the news release. Ash, 26, and Gregory Alexander, 28, were interviewed by detectives and released. The shooting is still under investigation, but detectives believe Ash shot both men in self-defense. The sheriff's office didn't specify what sparked the confrontation."


WA: Man acquitted in gun trial seeks $92,000 from state: "A Longview man acquitted this month of assault on four Kesler's Bar and Grill employees has filed a claim against the state for more than $92,000 in court costs. Under state law, Brian Barnd-Spjut, 29, is entitled to recoup his attorney fees and other trial-related costs because a jury found that he acted in self defense. Barnd-Spjut, who works as a contractor, is asking for $92,209, which includes $75,000 in attorney's fees and $12,249 in lost wages, according to documents filed by his attorney, Duane Crandall. Other expenses include a $1,500 bond premium and $3,460 in miscellaneous costs. Barnd-Spjut faced four counts of second-degree assault after he waved a handgun at three Kesler's bouncers and the bar's manager, Brandon Kesler, on March 28. Barnd-Spjut, who has a concealed weapons permit, argued the bar's security staff have a reputation for attacking patrons and said he feared for his safety as they hauled him down a hallway and booted him into the alley. The bouncers said Barnd-Spjut refused to pay a $5 cover charge. A jury acquitted Barnd-Spjut on Jan. 15 and determined he was entitled to recover his court costs."


Federal Gov't Wants to Stop Montana Firearms Freedom Act: "The Federal Government is asking a judge to dismiss a lawsuit that seeks to exempt guns made in Montana from national gun control. Last year gun advocates in Montana filed a lawsuit claiming the state should decide which rules would control the sale and purchase of guns made in Montana. Any guns made here that stayed in the state would be exempt from the rules on federal gun registration, background checks, and dealer licensing. This week - the Department of Justice filed a brief that said federal gun control is a valid exercise of the commerce power that congress has under The Constitution. But advocates say if the gun never crosses state lines - then the government should not have control."

Monday, January 25, 2010



OH: Mother Shoots Would-Be Robber: "Police said a would-be robber was shot Saturday while trying to hold up a family on the city's west side. The shooting happened at a home in the 900-block of Harris Avenue at about 11:30 a.m. The homeowner said two acquaintances held his family at gunpoint, demanding cash and prescription painkillers, 10TV News reported. The homeowner said that's when his mother came out of a room with a handgun and opened fire, hitting one of the men. The man, whose identity was not immediately released by police, was taken to Mount Carmel West Hospital. There were no details on his condition. The other alleged robber was later apprehended, police said. He has yet to be identified. No other injuries were reported".


Tennessee: Teen shot dead by homeowner: "A teenager has been fatally shot by a man who said his mobile home was being burglarized. The Greeneville Sun quoted Greene County Sheriff Steve Burns who identified the dead youth as 17-year-old Michael E.A. Banner. Alan Burch, who lives in a mobile home, told investigators he fired shots toward the entrance door after being awakened late Thursday by someone kicking the door open. Burch said he then found at least one of the shots struck the teen. A deputy reported he was found lying on the front porch. The sheriff said three other persons were with Banner and police have an idea who they are.."


Florida: Homeowner Killed Would-Be Burglar: "Police said a homeowner shot and killed a would-be burglar Friday. The incident occurred at 2168 SW Pruitt St. shortly after 3 p.m. Port St. Lucie police said a man arrived at the home and tried to force his way inside. The homeowner, identified as Josh Moore, went to the bedroom and got a shotgun. Moore and the intruder fought over the gun, which discharged and hit the intruder in the chest, investigators said. Police got a search warrant to go into the house where the victim was discovered. Authorities said no criminal charges are pending at this time and that an autopsy is scheduled. The victim’s identity was not released pending notification of his next of kin. Detectives were interviewing a woman at the scene."


Australian Love song for firearms becomes an internet hit: "Steve Lee says he never set out to be an internet hit. He just loves guns - and thought he would write a song about it. He says he is as shocked as anyone that his YouTube clip I Like Guns has been viewed more than 1.26 million times in the six weeks it has been online. The paean to guns, produced by Bill Chambers - father of Kasey - features Lee shooting at everything from watermelons to cars, and with everything from muzzleloaders to a fully automatic M60 and a rocket-propelled grenade. Some of the guns are so dangerous that they are banned in Australia, meaning Mr Lee had to travel to Cambodia to film much of the clip. Mr Lee, who usually performs with his wife and four children, was inspired to write the song many years ago because of negative media coverage of guns. "When you watch movies firearms are portrayed as a bad thing … I wanted to show that they can be used for fun and sport and not violence.'' The song, which features lines such as ''[God] gave me this voice so I can be a singer, so you tell me why I've got a trigger finger'', has been particularly successful in the US, where the debate over gun control rages on."



Sunday, January 24, 2010



Arkansas: Liquor Store Robber Shot: "A Little Rock man who was shot by a liquor store owner during an armed robbery of the business was arrested Wednesday after being released from the hospital, police said. Christopher D. Williams, 19, is scheduled to make an initial court appearance today on charges of aggravated robbery and theft of property. Police located Williams soon after the Friday morning robbery, but he was first taken to UAMS to be treated for a gunshot wound to the back of his shoulder. He was released from the hospital Wednesday and immediately booked into the Pulaski County Detention Facility, said Little Rock Police Department Lt. Terry Hastings. The robbery occurred about 8:15 a.m. when a man entered Bopp Liquor, 1021 E. 9th St., pointed a gun at the owner and demanded money, according to a police report written by Detective Charles G. Eason. The owner reportedly handed over cash from the register but then grabbed his handgun as the robber was leaving. The robber turned back once before going, at which point the owner fired one time in his direction, according to the report. The owner was unsure whether the shot actually hit the man. Williams was stopped moments later when an officer responding to the robbery spotted a maroon Lincoln matching one the robber was reported to have left the scene in. He was a passenger in the vehicle, which was stopped in a gas station parking lot near 9th Street and Interstate 30."


Illinois: Liquor Store Robber Shot & Killed: "A 27-year-old man was fatally shot by a clerk while trying to rob a southwest suburban liquor store Thursday night, the Herald-News is reporting. About 10 p.m., the suspect, whose identity has not been released, came into S and A Liquor at 1480 Cedarwood Dr. in Crest Hill and demanded money, police said. “There was a struggle and the clerk fired a shot which appears to have hit the robber before he ran out,” Crest Hill Police Chief Dwayne Wilkerson said. Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet later contacted police after a man arrived with a gunshot wound and investigators were able to identify him as the robber. “He later succumbed to his injuries,” Wilkerson said."


Pennsylvania: Man shoots at aggressive dog; owner cited for leash law violation A dog owner was cited for not having his dog on a leash after a pedestrian on the Schuylkill River Trail in Norristown shot at the animal claiming it had charged at him Sunday morning. After Cpl. David Brooke heard gunfire around 6:12 a.m., he went to the trail near Markley Street and encountered 27-year-old William Lee Bennett, who admitted shooting at a dog, according to Norristown Police Department. Bennett said after he crossed the bridge over Markley Street on the way to the Norristown Transportation Center, he spotted a dog running free that was growling in a threatening manner and headed in his direction. Fearing he would be attacked, he fired at the animal with a Glock brand handgun. Shooting at a dog or other animals threatening to attack a domestic pet or person is legal in Pennsylvania; however, as a precaution, Brooke took the man’s gun and pepper spray he was carrying. While interviewing Bennett, Brooke saw the dog on Barbadoes Street running loose and coming toward them. Though the animal wasn’t charging them, it barked and growled at them. Then Spruill appeared and said he owned the dog and was told he was required to have the dog on a leash. Brooke ordered the man to take control of the animal and detained him. Ultimately, police gave Bennett back his firearm and pepper spray and Spruill was told to expect a citation in the mail for violating the law that prohibits dogs from running loose".


Niagara Falls, New York: Man shoots home invader coming up his stairs: "A 52-year-old city man shot a 22-year-old man in the chest Wednesday evening, but police said he is not expected to be charged after investigators learned he was likely defending himself from a burglar. The younger man, Parrish C. Spencer Jr., of Falls Street, broke the window of a side door and kicked in the door about 5:30 p.m. to get inside the two-story home of Willie J. Carson in the 500 block of 25th Street, police said. After Spencer got inside and went upstairs, Carson shot him, police said. Spencer is in stable condition today at Erie County Medical Center. Investigators found broken plexiglass at the scene. Captain Ernest C. Palmer, chief of detectives, said Carson was not charged but the case has been turned over to the Niagara County district attorney’s office for further investigation. Charges may be filed against Spencer, Palmer added."


Feds Against Firearms Freedom

Regarding firearms made in Montana:
The Federal Government is asking a judge to dismiss a lawsuit that seeks to exempt guns made in Montana from national gun control.

Last year gun advocates in Montana filed a lawsuit claiming the state should decide which rules would control the sale and purchase of guns made in Montana.

Any guns made here that stayed in the state would be exempt from the rules on federal gun registration, background checks, and dealer licensing.

This week - the Department of Justice filed a brief that said federal gun control is a valid exercise of the commerce power that congress has under The Constitution.
I suggest the words "federal gun control" tend to mean "no guns."

Saturday, January 23, 2010



Nevada: Man shoots, kills intruder who broke into his home: "An intruder is dead and the resident who shot him is still shaken after a home invasion in the central valley early Tuesday morning. The resident, a man in his 60s who uses a cane to walk, was visibly upset as he emptied the trash outside his home in the 700 block of Clarkway Drive, near Bonanza Road and Rancho Drive, at about 7:30 a.m. Tuesday. “I took a human life,” said the resident, who declined to give his name. “I’m still dealing with that.” The resident said he awoke about midnight to a sound at his front door. As he investigated, he saw a man kick open the door, breaking the chain lock, he said. The suspect took two steps inside the house, where the resident waited in the living room with a .45- caliber handgun at his waist. “I said, ‘Get the hell out of my house,’ and he stood there laughing,” he said. “He said, ‘I’m going to beat your ass and then I’m gonna kill you,’ and he took one more step. Then I shot him.” ... Homicide Lt. Lew Roberts said the incident appears to involve “a criminal preying on the elderly.” According to a release, police arrived on scene and found the suspect’s body in the doorway of the home, with a single gunshot wound to the chest."


CA: Surprising how handy a gun can be: "One man escapes death by shooting his way out. Sounds like a line from a movie doesn’t it? Well apparently, a man ended up driving into a creek after his hands-free device for his cell phone activated. Apparently the sound scared himself so much that he veered off the road into a creek. After the driver drove into the creek his vehicle began sinking. Thankfully, he was packing a pistol and shot out the window to escape the cold waters. This was only because he was an armed security guard at the Thunder Valley Casino just north of Sacramento. The man only sustained minor injuries. His name has yet to be available. He got away with just minor injuries. According to the Roseville Fire Department, the man was driving northbound on Industrial Avenue in Roseville. Police described the situation saying he drove into the guard rail and toppled over it in his SUV. He began to sink in Pleasant Grove Creek. If it wasn’t for his gun, he might not have escaped."


FL: Self defense shooter charged for having the wrong weapon: "A Collier County man who was involved in the March shooting death of a teenager during a possible burglary of the man’s Willoughby Acres home has been jailed on a charge of possessing a short-barreled shotgun. Collier County jail records showed Saturday that Sterlin Misener, 45, was arrested on a warrant when he turned himself in Friday at the Collier County Sheriff’s Office station in East Naples. Misener shot and killed 19-year-old Patrick Hutchison with a sawed-off shotgun after reports say he caught the teen exiting the family’s camper that was parked in the driveway at 91 Willoughby Drive in the North Naples subdivision. Misener’s bond was set at $5,000." [At least his self-defense claim seems to have been accepted. The events concerned go back to March 2009]


Indiana Bill Creates Hurdles for Gun Owners: "A recently introduced Indiana bill would greatly restrict the ability of residents to purchase firearms. Senate Bill 304, sponsored by Senator Connie Sipes (D- New Albany), would, with limited exceptions, prohibit anyone from purchasing, renting, or obtaining a firearm by transfer without completing a new firearms safety course administered by the state police department. The measure only allows those that have their concealed carry licenses, are current law enforcement officials, or are current and former members of the armed forces to be exempted from the safety training mandate. Sportsmen who are licensed hunters and have fulfilled their hunter education requirements, would still be prohibited from purchasing a new or used firearm without first taking the state’s mandated safety course. “Law abiding citizens should not have to jump through hoops to exercise their second amendment rights,” said Jeremy Rine, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) associate director of state services. "This bill creates a new level of bureacracy without cause."

Friday, January 22, 2010



NM: Home Invader Shot and Killed: "A man who deputies say was trying to break into a North Valley home was shot and killed early Thursday. Bernalillo County deputies report that they found 43-year-old Dimas Apodaca, dead in a front yard at Pueblo Luna near Second Street and Osuna. Neighbor Orlando Lucero said that he heard “three loud thumps, sounds like they kicked the door in. Come to find out it was a sledgehammer followed by four or five shots and a car speeding off.” Sergeant Mark Kmatz of the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office says people at the scene have been detained. “We’ve made contact with everybody here that we have detained, but just for interview purposes,” he said. “It doesn’t mean they were involved.”


Philadelphia Altercation Leads To Shooting: "The victim of a shooting outside of Fox 29's studios in Old City early Sunday is the nephew of city Republican leader Michael Meehan and part of the family that's run Philadelphia's Republican party for three generations. Edward "Eddie" DiDonato Jr., 23, remains in critical condition at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital after being shot six times by Temple Law student Gerald Ung, 28, following a confrontation on Market Street near 4th about 2:30 a.m., police said. Details of what led to the shooting, which occurred shortly after closing time in the popular nightlife area, remain sketchy. Fox 29, whose surveillance videos caught the shooting on tape, reported that Ung was rushed by a group of people and that “when the video is slowed down, the shooting victim can be seen delivering punches even as the gun is discharging.” Lt. Frank Vanore, police spokesman, said that Ung waited at the scene and approached the first officer who arrived. A gun, believed to be the weapon used in the shooting, was recovered from the scene, Vanore said. Fox reported that Ung had a permit to carry a concealed weapon, issued to him in his home state of Virginia, yet one of the charges against Ung, along with attempted murder, is firearms not to be carried without a license, according to court records. Ung was ... released Monday on 10 percent of $200,000 bail, which appears to have been posted by his mother. As of last night, 36 people had joined a Facebook group titled “Gerald Ung is innocent.”


Kansas: Shotgun greets bomb threat: "A man who put a container on a pharmacy counter, claimed it was a bomb and demanded prescription drugs left after the pharmacist wielded a shotgun. The pharmacist at the Kansas City, Kan., pharmacy at 4501 Rainbow Blvd. fired at the would-be robber as he drove off in a car, police said. It is not know if the robber or his car was hit in the incident about 11:30 a.m., they said. The bomb squad soon determined that the package was not a bomb. The crime is similar to another incident Jan. 4 in Overland Park where a robber put a clock taped to a box on a pharmacy counter, said it was a bomb and left with a small amount of drugs.... He drove an early 2000 model, four-door Ford Taurus that was either blue or gray with Johnson County tags. Shotgun fire might have damaged the car’s right rear quarter panel, they said."


Indianapolis Home Invader Shot Dead: "An Eastside resident fended off a botched home invasion this morning that left a female robber dead, Indianapolis police said. Miguel Duarte, 30, shot and killed the attacker after she had shot him at his home in the 4600 block of East 21st Street. The neighborhood is southwest of the I-70 and North Emerson Avenue interchange. Police have not identified the female who died. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Lt. Jeff L. Duhamell said two Hispanic males and two Hispanic females — none who were identified — confronted Duarte at the front door of his home shortly before 7 a.m. A scuffle ensued; one male suspect pulled Duarte into the front yard, joined by the second male, while one of the female suspects went into the home, pulling a gun on Duarte’s wife. Police say Duarte broke free and ran into his home to discover his wife being held at gunpoint. Police say the female suspect aimed a gun at Duarte head, but shot him in his neck during the struggle. He then grabbed the handgun from her and shot her. She died there. The three surviving suspects fled east from the home in a white Ford van."

Thursday, January 21, 2010



World's First Assault Rifle

Sturmgewehr MP-44 - The story of the MP-43/44, German assault rifle of World War II



The narrator cannot pronounce "Sturmgewehr" very well. It should be "shtormgavair"





Texas: Teen shoots alleged thief in home invasion: "A teenager at a Southwest Side home fired shots late Tuesday night at alleged burglars, striking one in the buttocks. San Antonio police were called to a home in the 8500 block of Timber Wolf Drive at 11:45 p.m., when two men in a blue Honda Civic allegedly dropped off the injured man. He was taken to University Hospital, where he remains in stable condition under police supervision, officials said. He told police he had been shot at a home where he and his friends had tried to “score some marijuana,” an incident report states. During the course of the investigation, officers learned the man had been shot in the 5400 block of Prairie Flower, where he allegedly tried to break in, the report states. Vinny Vasquez, 17, told police he shot at men who were trying to break in through the back door of his family's home, the report states. Officers noticed a set of footprints near the back door and a small amount of blood, the report states. The man Vasquez shot will likely be charged with criminal trespass, police said. Vasquez is not expected to face charges, police said."


Florida: Homeowner Shoots At Intruder With Shotgun: "A homeowner shot at an intruder Tuesday night in Cantonment, and deputies are still searching for the suspect. About 6:30, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department responded to the home in the 1800 block of Wareham Way. That’s where a homeowner says he shot at a man trying to get into his house. Deputies don’t believe the homeowner’s shotgun blast hit the intruder, but they were not completely certain. The intruder was not found."


More gun control nonsense: "The New York Times has another silly editorial on gun control. The paper’s editorial board is calling for a renewal of the assault-weapons ban, which expired in 2004. The paper’s justification? ‘A survey of more than 130 local police chiefs and officials found 37 percent reporting an increase in assault weapons in street crime,’ along with other evidence indicating an increased criminal use of assault weapons. Notice the implication: If the Congress reenacts the assault-weapons ban, those violent criminals will obey the law. Now, if that’s not silly, what is? What the Times is suggesting is that if Congress makes it illegal to own an assault weapon, the violent criminal will say to himself: “Oh my gosh, it’s now illegal to own an assault weapon. I now need to figure out how I am going to commit my robbery or murder without violating the new gun-control law.” That’s ridiculous. If a would-be murderer or robber doesn’t give a hoot for laws against murder or robbery, why in the world would he give a hoot about a law against owning a gun?"

Wednesday, January 20, 2010



California: Resident Shoots Home Invasion Suspect: "Police are searching for suspects after a homeowner apparently shot an intruder who was trying to break into his home. The Sacramento Police Department said one or two suspects are still at large after the incident on the 7800 block of Ann Arbor Way on Sunday evening. Two or three suspects hopped over a back fence at about 8:30 p.m. and attempted to break into a home, according to authorities, and a grandfather inside heard the commotion and grabbed a firearm. He shot one of the suspects, according to police. The injured suspect is expected to survive. None of the home occupants were injured."


Man held after 5 found dead in Texas home: "Authorities working to determine what spurred a flurry of gunshots that left five people dead in southeast Texas are questioning a 20-year-old relative who lived with the victims in the isolated house surrounded by pasture land. Police said Monday the victims of the weekend bloodshed all lived in the single-story brick home in Bellville, a town of about 4,000 people located 55 miles northwest of Houston. They included a retiree and his wife, a younger woman and man, and a girl believed to be about 3 years old, police said. Investigators were questioning a 20-year-old man, who a relative said is a son of the wife. He remained jailed on burglary and attempted burglary charges after allegedly trying to break into a Bellville home. The man - arrested about 3 a.m. Sunday after a homeowner pulled a gun on him - could face capital murder charges. Prosecutors are reviewing the case. No one else is being sought and it does not appear any other people were involved in the shootings, Sheriff DeWayne Burger said. Those found inside the house were identified as George T. Washington, 69; his wife, Debra Washington, 54; Kiana Shree Thearse, 25; and Khalilah Masse-Chambers, about 3. A man found in the thick expanse of woods behind the house was identified as Cedric Thomas, 19." [Sounds like the shooter was a rural retard]


California: Retired couple defend home against burglary: "A man in a ski mask was shot by a resident after he forced his way into an Indio home Saturday night, police said. The suspect fled the home with a gunshot wound, the weapon and an undisclosed amount of money after he confronted the residents, a couple in their “60’s or 70s,” Indio Police spokesman Ben Guitron said. The couple was transported to a hospital with minor injuries. “They were mostly shaken up,” Guitron said. Police responded to the home at the 48-000 block of Andorra Street around 8 p.m., Guitron said. The suspect allegedly entered the backyard through a side gate and smashed the rear glass sliding door, Guitron said. The suspect ordered the residents to lie down on the floor, began searching the residence, then scuffled with the husband, Guitron said. During the scuffle, the wife obtained a 38-caliber handgun and shot the suspect once in the upper torso, according to evidence the police gathered, Guitron said. The suspect disarmed the wife and was encountered by a neighbor who heard the commotion, Guitron said. The suspect fled in a waiting vehicle, described as a red Ford Mustang with a black top. A partial plate of 5PA was reported, Guitron said. The suspect is described as white man, 5 feet, 8 inches tall with a medium build and wearing black clothes."


Indiana: Guns fired during beauty shop robbery: "Gunfire erupted during a robbery in a Northwestside beauty shop last night. No one was injured in the exchange at Diana’s Beauty Shop, 7011 N. Michigan Rd., but the robber escaped with $340, according to an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department report. Shop employee Hendry Rodriguez, 23, Indianapolis, told police that a gunman entered the shop at 7 p.m. and demanded money. Rodriguez gave the man about $30 from his pockets and opened the cash register for him. The robber then told Rodriguez to go into a backroom while he cleaned out the cash drawer. When Rodriguez reached the rear of the shop he pulled out his own gun, a Glock with a 14 bullets in it, and fired a shot into the ground to scare the robber. The bandit fired one shot at Rodriguez, missing him, and ran out the front door, according to the report. Rodriguez said when he looked out of the back door of the shop, he saw the gunman fire two or three shots into the air as he entered a nearby apartment complex. Rodriguez had a permit to carry a handgun."

Tuesday, January 19, 2010



NC: Bar owner shoots convicted black killer in self-defense: "A shootout at a west Charlotte bar injured three, including Mark Bowens, a convicted killer from Belmont who police say initiated the Sunday night shooting. The incident occurred around 10:40 p.m. Sunday just across the Gaston County line at the Get-A-Way Lounge at 9305 Wilkinson Blvd., according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police. Police say Mark Anthony Bowens, 37, and Rodney Bowens, 45, both of Belmont, were kicked out of the nightclub and then returned a short time later with at least one handgun and started shooting. Bar owner Roosevelt Hinton, 67, of Charlotte, grabbed a handgun and fired back in self-defense, shooting Mark Bowens in the head and abdomen, police said. Police found Mark Bowens on the pavement outside the club. Mark Bowens has served four stretches in North Carolina prisons, including more than six years for a 1991 second-degree murder conviction in Mecklenburg County. He also served time for a March 2004 drug conviction in Gaston County. Hinton was not injured in the incident and will not face charges, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police. Rodney Bowens left the scene and remains at large. Mark Bowens was in critical, but stable condition at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, according to police. Two others at the bar also were injured."


Missouri: Dispute over woman preceded shooting, police say: Police are still investigating the Saturday night shooting that took place east of Harrisburg at the 14600 block of Proctor Road. The homeowner and intruder, who knew one another, were having a dispute over a woman, Boone County Sheriff’s Department Detective Tom O’Sullivan said. Police responded to the homeowner’s 911 call at 9:44 p.m. Upon arrival, they found signs of forced entry, such as damage to the front door frame and part of the door’s lock on the floor, O’Sullivan said. The homeowner used a .22-caliber rifle to shoot the intruder, a 49-year-old male from Sturgeon, at least five times in the chest and upper body. O’Sullivan also said there are no current indications the intruder was armed. “He’s lucky to be alive,” O’Sullivan said. Despite the gunshot wounds, the intruder made his way back to his vehicle and drove away. Other officers on their way to the house pulled him over on a traffic stop near the intersection of Highway 63 and Pinnacles Road, O’Sullivan said. Upon seeing his wounds, the officers called an ambulance and the man was taken to University Hospital. As of early Sunday morning he was in stable condition. No updates on his current condition have been made available. The investigation is still ongoing as police question those involved. At this time, charges have not been filed."


GOA’s State of the Union update on gun rights: "By the end of the month, President Barack Obama is expected to give the State of the Union address. Oh, what a year it’s been. It was almost a year ago that President Obama took his oath of office. But soon after he raised his right hand and promised to ‘preserve, protect and defend’ the Constitution, Americans became engaged in the fight of their lives to safeguard their liberties. The extremist Obama administration began pushing an anti-gun, socialistic agenda of the kind that most Americans have not seen in their lifetimes.”


NRA Blasts Washington State's Gun Control Bill: "Last week, NRA-ILA informed you about Senate Bill 6396, legislation that would bring California-style gun-control to the Northwest and ultimately ban many semi-automatic firearms commonly owned by Washingtonians. In fact, SB 6396 is more far-reaching than it appears on the surface and will absolutely impact a gigantic swath of Washington firearm owners, including concealed pistol license holders, hunters and competitive pistol shooters. As examples, consider the following restrictions that flow from the provisions of this horrendous piece of gun control legislation" -- Every semiautomatic AND PUMP-ACTION rifle and shotgun that has a detachable magazine and has a pistol grip located rear of the trigger (yes, that is just about all of them) is defined as an “assault weapon” and is banned under SB 6396! -- If you and your child/children are out in the woods plinking with his or her Ruger 10-22 and there are more than 10 rounds in the magazine, you are a FELON! -- If you are a Concealed Pistol License holder and your semi-auto self-defense pistol contains more than 10 rounds, you are a FELON! -- The use of firearms defined as “assault weapons” (see first bullet point) are banned for use in hunting!"

Monday, January 18, 2010



The Swiss version of the 2nd Amendment







TN: Teen Shot By Store Manager: "Around eleven Sunday morning police say an armed, 17-year old boy tried to rob Ben Call market. The robbery attempt failed when the store manager pulled a gun and shot him. The teen was taken to the med and is in critical condition. The store owner didn't have anything to say about what happened but Edward Howard did. "He didn't do nothing wrong he was protecting his life and property." He says the area where the shooting took place is plagued with crime and believes the store manager's reaction was justified... "The general public need not to worry. He's not going to rob anybody any time soon. I will assure you of that," said Whitlock. The name of the 17-year old was not released."


Texas: Three held in Palmview home invasion: "Three men are being held for a Palmview home invasion where an 11-year-old boy was shot defending his mother. Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office deputies told Action 4 News that it happened off Minnesota Road and 8 Mile Line between Palmview and Mission around 12:30 a.m. Friday. The homeowner said she and her 11-year-old son were in bed when she heard banging coming from the front door. She got up to check and she saw two Hispanic males men wearing masks and armed with handguns walking towards her. She quickly closed the bedroom door but one of the men allegedly tried to force it open. The woman told deputies that the home invaders shot through the door and hit her son on the left hip area. Her son had a 22 cal. Rifle and shot back at the alleged robbers. The woman waited, opened the door, saw that the suspects were gone and called 911. Deputies found blood all over the floor and noted that the front door had been knocked down. Paramedics took the woman’s 11-year-old son to the McAllen Medical Center where he’s listed in stable condition. But deputies told Action 4 News that a man with a gunshot wound to his neck ended up at the same hospital. Investigators said nothing was taken from the home and that the wounded suspect was taken to a hospital in San Antonio for further treatment. He remains under guard. Deputies said Border Patrol agents detained two Mexican nationals who were found in the area. The two men are being questioned about the home invasion."


Nutty Indiana businesses hate guns: "Gun owners in Indiana will be able to keep their firearms locked in their vehicles at work without fear of reprisal from employers if a bill progressing in the General Assembly becomes law. Opponents of the bill, mostly businesses and business groups, say it violates the rights of property owners to make policies that keep their workplaces safe. “We feel a property owner or employer ought to have the right to say what can or cannot come on their property,” said George Raymond, vice president of human resources and labor relations for the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. Sen. Johnny Nugent, R-Lawrenceburg, emphasized that his bill does not prevent employers from prohibiting guns in the workplace. It simply allows people to keep legally permitted firearms outside in their vehicles while they are working. Nugent said he wrote the legislation in reaction to instances in Indiana and other states where workers have been fired for keeping a handgun or hunting rifle locked in their cars in a company parking lot."


OK: Bill Exempts Guns From Federal Law

(Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) A bill has been introduced in the Oklahoma legislature to protect the Second Amendment rights of the state's citizens.
House Bill 2884, creates the "Oklahoma Firearms Freedom Act," which declares that a "personal firearm, a firearm accessory, or ammunition that is manufactured commercially or privately in Oklahoma and that remains within the borders of Oklahoma is not subject to federal law or federal regulation, including registration, under the authority of Congress to regulate interstate commerce."

The legislation notes that regulation of intrastate commerce is vested in the states under the Ninth and Tenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and that Article II, Section 26, of the Oklahoma Constitution "clearly secures to Oklahoma citizens, and prohibits interference with, the right of individual Oklahoma citizens to keep and bear arms."

As a result, under the bill, guns manufactured in Oklahoma and sold to citizens of the state would not be subject to federal regulations since "those items have not traveled in interstate commerce."
Applicable firearms will be required to clearly display "Made in Oklahoma" on a major metallic part.

And there's more:
Some supporters of the legislation say that a successful application of such a state-law would set a strong precedent and open the door for states to take their own positions on a wide range of other activities that they see as not being authorized to the Federal Government by the Constitution.

The principle behind such legislation is nullification, which has a long history in the American tradition. When a state ‘nullifies’ a federal law, it is proclaiming that the law in question is void and inoperative, or ‘non-effective,’ within the boundaries of that state; or, in other words, not a law as far as the state is concerned. Implied in such legislation is that the state apparatus will enforce the act against all violations – in order to protect the liberty of the state’s citizens.

Oklahoma’s bill brings the number to 16 states that have seen a Firearms Freedom Act introduced in the past year – most recently, New Hampshire, Virginia and Missouri.
Frankly, I believe everything possible should be done to challenge the federal power grab.

Sunday, January 17, 2010



WA: Jury clears man who pulled gun at bar: "A Longview man who pulled a gun on bouncers at a local bar has been found not guilty of second-degree assault. A jury determined that 29-year-old Brian Adam Barnd-Spjut acted in self-defense on the night of March 28. A security video showed bouncers from Kesler's Bar and Grill hauling the man down the bar's hallway toward a back alley. When thrust into an alley, he spun around and pointed the gun at three bouncers and the bar manager. Barnd-Spjut, who has a concealed weapons permit, says he displayed the gun because he feared the bouncers would beat him up".


Ohio: 1 Person Shot, 4 Arrested in Columbus: "Police were called to the area of Republic Avenue and Bremen Street on Friday night on a reported shooting involving a robbery. Reports say Thomas Clark, Larry Smith and Christopher Frasure arranged to meet at Clark’s house so Smith could purchase two television sets and a Play Station. Once Frasure and Smith arrived at the agreed-upon location, the suspects jumped Smith and Frasure and attempted to steal their money. Smith is a concealed carry permit holder and had his personal weapon with him. Smith was able to obtain his weapon and fire a single shot striking two of his attackers. The suspects fled the scene and the victims called police. One suspect, 23-year old Thomas Clark was transported to the hospital in critical condition with a gunshot wound to his abdomen. Austin Young, 21, was transported in stable condition with a gunshot wound to the hip. Police also arrested 22-year old Tyrone Clark and 23-year old Erick Brown in connection with the robbery."


TN: Token verdict against man defending his family: "A jury convicted a Memphis man of negligent homicide on Friday for killing a woman and critically injuring a man during a 2008 melee involving feuding families. Jarvis Robinson, 25, was convicted in the killing of Charlotte Branch, 37, and the wounding of her common-law husband, Edwin Boswell, 40, in a fight that occurred at Fourth and Keel on July 30, 2008. The conviction was more lenient than the original voluntary manslaughter and aggravated assault charges, pleasing defense attorney Gerald Skahan, who had argued that Robinson acted in self-defense when he brought a gun to a fight involving family members. According to police reports, Robinson had returned home from his janitorial job to find his sisters involved in a knife and stick fight with members of the Branch family. Robinson ended the argument when he pulled out the gun and fired, killing Branch with a shot to the chest and critically injuring Boswell. But the decision left members of the Branch family in tears after state prosecutors explained that this conviction means Robinson probably will not spend much, if any more, time behind bars. "I think it's stupid," said Michael Branch, Charlotte's brother. "But that's how the system works when it's black-on-black crime."


Sunstein Attacks Second Amendment: "In a lecture at the University School of Law on October 27, 2007, Obama’s administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs emphatically stated that you do not have a right to own firearms. “It is striking and noteworthy,” said Cass Sunstein, “that well over two centuries since the founding, the Supreme Court has never suggested that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to have guns.” It is said Sunstein is a constitutional scholar. And yet he fails to mention that opinions dealing with the Second Amendment come from almost every period in the Court’s history and almost all of them are consistent with the proposition that the Second Amendment is an individual right. See David B. Kopel, The Supreme Court’s Thirty-five Other Gun Cases: What the Supreme Court Has Said about the Second Amendment. “My coming view is that the individual right to bear arms reflects the success of an extremely aggressive and resourceful social movement and has much less to do with good standard legal arguments than [it] appears,” Sunstein said"

Saturday, January 16, 2010



Minnesota: Homeowner Shoots Intruder: "An 11-year-old shot during a home invasion is expected to recover. But one of the men involved in the crime is now in a San Antonio hospital. Sheriff’s deputies say he was shot in the neck, as he and two other masked men tried to rob a home. It happened overnight in Mission on Minnesota Road and 8 Mile. The men allegedly forced their way into the home. We’re told the family barricaded themselves in a bedroom. Deputies say the home invaders shot through the door and hit the 11-year-old. The homeowner had a rifle and fired back, hitting one of the men. The homeowner’s son was the child hit. The 11-year-old is in the hospital and expected to recover."


Florida: Would-be robber shot dead in Fort Myers: "Fort Myers police have confirmed that a shooting Monday night at an apartment complex near the Edison Mall during an attempted robbery has left one of the assailants dead and the would-be robbery victim wounded. The shootings and attempted robbery took place outside on the second floor of the Sundance Grove apartments off East Mall Drive. Fort Myers police Capt. Dennis Eads said one of the two robbers was shot in the head and killed by the would-be robbery victim, who was armed. The other robber fled the scene and is considered armed and dangerous. He’s described as a large man dressed in all black, and police believe he may be hiding at a residence in the area. Read the rest of this entry"


Kansas: 2 Shot At KCK Car Wash: "Police are investigating a double shooting at a car wash at 2780 Merriam Lane Friday morning. Investigators said a man was washing his car at the Shamrock Car Wash when two men walked up and tried to rob him. Police said the man washing the car shot the would-be robbers. One of the shooting victims was transported to a hospital from the scene. One of the robbers jumped into a waiting car and drove off. An ambulance was called to a convenience store at 42nd Street and Shawnee Drive for that shooting victim. That person was also taken to a hospital. Police said a third person was also taken into custody."


Kansas: Clerk Shoots Would-Be Robber: "Police said a convenience store clerk shot a would-be robber early Friday morning. According to investigators, a man armed with a rifle walked into a convenience store in the 5900 block of Leavenworth Road just after midnight. The clerk was not behind the counter. Police said he was in a back room and spotted the man with the gun when he came out. Police said a shot was fired, and they believe the man armed with a rifle was wounded. The man fled the store. The clerk was not hurt. Police said the clerk did have a conceal-carry permit."

Friday, January 15, 2010



SC: No charges in shooting death: "No charges will be filed against a man who admitted he shot and killed another man in a gun battle on a McClellanville road Wednesday, authorities said. An autopsy performed Thursday revealed that Patrick Young, 25, of McBride Road, died of two gunshot wounds, Charleston County Deputy Coroner Dottie Lindsay said. An incident report said he was shot in the head and the chest. Here's how events unfolded leading up to the shooting, according to the incident report: --Young was at home with his father when the telephone rang; Young answered the phone and left the house. --A short time later, the phone rang again and it was Young, who told his father, "I'm gonna kill Charlie." --Young's father heard gunfire and went outside, where he saw "Charlie" down by his house and his son, Patrick, standing in the road. --The father heard another gunshot and saw his son fall to the ground. Investigators quickly located the man known as "Charlie," who was standing in front of his house with his rifle nearby. He told them he had shot Young because Young was shooting at him. "I'm not running," he told deputies. Charlie was identified in the report as James Edward Williams Sr., 55, of 1111 McBride Road. He was taken into custody Wednesday night because of an outstanding Family Court warrant"




OH: Attacker gets Tased by victim: "A woman grabbed by a man Wednesday night at the main library in downtown Cincinnati used a Taser stun gun on him before he was arrested, police said. Aaron Crutcher, 20, [above] was booked into the Hamilton County jail just before 8:30 p.m. on two counts of assault and one count each of disorderly conduct and menacing. According to Cincinnati police, he grabbed a woman at the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, 800 Vine St. She happened to be armed with a Taser stun gun, which she fired at him, records show. He began punching her in the chest. Library security personnel and Cincinnati police intervened and took him into custody. He screamed and threatened the woman and library staff, court records show. Taser International, which supplies 15,000 law enforcement agencies with equipment, markets a new model of its stun gun designed for use by private citizens. It’s small enough at 6 inches long and weighing about 7 ounces to be stashed in a purse or backpack, according to the Arizona-based company’s Web site. The Taser C2 ranges in cost from $299 to $349. It’s less powerful than the police version. Some states, including Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey and New York, ban private citizens from owning Taser stun guns"


CO: Man won't face charges in shooting but is charged for possessing explosives: "A Loveland man will not be charged by Larimer County prosecutors after he fatally shot James Doyel last year. A press release from the Larimer County District Attorney's Office indicates prosecutors are not convinced they would be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Forrest Hummel was not acting in self defense when he shot Doyel. Hummel told police he shot Doyel during a domestic dispute at Hummel's home between Doyel and his wife Natasha Doyel. According to the press release, both James and Natasha Doyel were highly intoxicated during the two-hour-long dispute and there was property damage at the home as a result of the fight. According to prosecutors, the dispute escalated to the point that James Doyel threw his wife to the ground while in the back yard of Hummel's residence. At that point, Hummel came out of his home and James Doyel began approaching him in an "aggressive manner," according to prosecutors. "Mr. Hummel had his gun pointed at Mr. Doyel and was telling Mr. Doyel to stop and to leave. Mr. Doyel continued to approach in an aggressive manner and Mr Hummel, believing Mr. Doyel was going to take the 9mm handgun from him, fired one shot hitting Mr. Doyel in the chest," prosecutors said in the press release. The release indicates prosecutors at trial would have had to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the shooting was not in self defense"


Iowa Gun Owners Set for 2010 Legislative Session: "As you will see below, the 2010 Legislative Session is underway in Des Moines and concealed carry promises to be a big issue. Representatives from Iowa Gun Owners will be on hand all session long to advocate for the REAL Right-to-Carry bill. We are also pushing a bill that would eliminate Iowa’s abusive Permit-to-Acquire law that makes law abiding Iowans get government permission before being able to buy a handgun for self-defense. We will also be keeping a watchful eye over any attempts made by the anti-gun politicians to move bad gun bills. One seems to be in the works right now"

Thursday, January 14, 2010



Montana: Self-defense law leads to no charges in shooting: "No one will be charged in connection with the front-yard skirmish on the city's southwest side last month that ended with two men being shot. The Great Falls Police detective working the case, Brian Black, said the investigation was hampered by uncooperative witnesses and the state's self-defense law. None of the names of the people involved in the incident have been released by authorities. "The people who allegedly fired shots were already under attack and, in this situation, had the lawful authority to use force to defend themselves," Parker said. The root of the skirmish was a relationship between a girl in one family who was dating a boy in another family, Black said. One group went to the home at 624 4th Ave. S.W. on Dec. 9 for a confrontation with the other group. Guns and bats were believed to be involved, according to police. Black said it still is not clear exactly how many people were involved, but it's believed to be three to six. Investigators said the confrontation escalated, resulting in one man being shot in the leg and another man being shot in the leg and ear. The men were shot with one gun. Someone shouted that police were on their way and the groups scattered, according to police. Black said the shooter was the owner of the home. Parker said the two men who were shot attacked the shooter with a blunt instrument. Parker called the two men the "aggressors" in the incident."


CA: Man shot at scene of vandalism to be in court: "A 23-year-old man who officials said was smashing the windows of a parked car, and then was shot in the leg by a resident who tried to stop him, is expected to appear in court today. Ryan Ford was arrested after a vandal was seen smashing a car's windows in the 2200 block of Via Santa Maria on Monday night, said Lt. Mike Gavin of the Orange County Sheriff's Department. A neighbor yelled at the vandal to stop, Gavin said. The vandal ran toward the neighbor and tried to go inside his home while the man blocked the door, Gavin said. But the resident, who Gavin declined to identify because of the ongoing investigation, had brought down a handgun and set it by the door before he yelled at the vandal to stop. The two men struggled by the door while the vandal tried to get inside the house, Gavin said. At that point, the man grabbed the handgun and fired a shot through the door. The shot hit the vandal in the leg, and he walked away from the neighbor. When deputies responded, they took Ford into custody and he was taken to Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo to be treated for the wound. Deputies believe Ford was intoxicated, Gavin said. Ford was booked at Central Men's Jail, where he is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail. Ford is facing one charge of vandalism and two charges of unlawful entry into a noncommercial dwelling. Gavin said the resident is being considered a victim in the case, and believed to have fired the gun in self-defense."


CA: concealed gun bill shot down: "Assemblyman Steve Knight’s measure to allow law-abiding citizens to obtain concealed weapons permits was voted down Tuesday in the Assembly Committee on Public Safety. Assembly Bill 357 would have ensured law-abiding citizens are treated fairly when applying for a permit to carry a concealed weapon. There are 58 counties and even more local law enforcement agencies throughout California that each have separate interpretations of who they believe can lawfully carry a concealed weapon ... in California applicants must demonstrate “good cause,” which allows agencies to subjectively deny most, if not all, CCW permits, according to a Knight news release. California has one of the most stringent prerequisites to gain permission to carry a weapon for self defense, he said, including an extensive background check, firearm training, and in some cases face-to-face interviews. “This is a fairness issue — when all the requirements are met for a CCW the local jurisdiction should honor our Constitution,” said Knight, R-Palmdale. "The arbitrary system of issuing conceal carry permits needs to be changed, and I will not give up on this issue."


NH House Votes To Allow Gun Display As Warning: "Displaying a gun to warn a potential attacker away would not be considered a crime under a bill passed by the New Hampshire House. The bill approved Wednesday would make it legal to respond to a threat by displaying a gun. It is more limited than an earlier bill that would have expanded the use of deadly force, which was vetoed by Gov. John Lynch two years ago. That proposal would have allowed the use of deadly force in public whenever someone felt threatened. Current law requires people in public places to try to retreat to safety before resorting to deadly force in self defense. Deadly force is permitted to protect against certain crimes and when an intruder enters the person's home. The bill heads to the Senate."

Wednesday, January 13, 2010



IA: Group attacks pawnshop employee; One shot: "Geromy Gilliand, 20, of Dubuque, is recovering at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics from a gunshot wound while Dubuque police investigate the incident outside a pawnshop Monday afternoon. Gilliand suffered what police called non-life-threatening injuries to his lower torso when he was shot at Dubuque Pawn, 2175 Central Ave., about 3:20 p.m. Monday, Assistant Police Chief Terry Tobin said. Police haven’t identified who shot Gilliand. According to Tobin, the shooter wasn’t the pawnshop’s owner, “but someone otherwise associated with the pawnshop.” The shooting grew out of a dispute between Gilliand and someone at the shop. Gilliand and three others went to the shop and became involved in a physical confrontation that ensued, ending with the shooting. Officers called to the scene found Gilliand at a convenience store across the street from the pawnshop. The weapon has been recovered, and the shooter is cooperating with police, according to Tobin. No charges have been filed."


MI: Shooting inside home was self-defense, homeowner says: "Ernestine Jones was at a friend's house, a block away, when she got word that someone had been shot in her home. Once she reached her house, she collapsed. Police told her one of the two men who allegedly were robbing her son, Billy Wayne Welch Jr., 18, was shot and killed Monday night while the victim and Welch struggled to gain control of a handgun. The injured man ran across 33rd Street SE, and asked for help at a neighbor's house before he died, around 9:30 p.m. The other alleged robber was arrested while hiding in a garage. Police said he had a handgun in his possession. Investigators said a 911 caller, who lived at 1015 33rd St., said two men had tried to rob him. They struggled over a handgun before it discharged, and the suspects fled, police said. Jones said her son had been robbed of about $50 at another location when he was led into his house at gunpoint. "They figured he had more money at the house," she said. Jones said she felt badly for the man who died, but insisted her son acted in self-defense. She said Welch isn't prone to fighting, but would protect himself."


North Carolina: Woman turns tables on rape suspect: "A Charlotte woman managed to get a gun from her attacker and held him until authorities arrived, the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office reported. O.C. Billings of Harmony faces seven charges, ranging from first-degree rape to possession of drug paraphernalia, and is in the Iredell County Detention Center in lieu of a $225,000 bond. Billings has an extensive criminal history, dating back 20 years, and many of the offenses involved sexual conduct with children. The victim in this case, said Capt. Darren Campbell, is an adult. She called the sheriff’s office early Thursday morning from Billings’ home on East Memorial Highway and said she’d been raped and was holding her attacker at gunpoint, Campbell. Deputies arrived and took Billings into custody. The woman told authorities she was able to free herself during the assault and grab the gun, which Billings earlier held on her, and strike him in the head, Campbell said."


WA sheriff says gun laws can't stop killers: "Maurice Clemmons, who gunned down four Lakewood police officers Nov. 29, was an evil man and no changes in gun laws are going to prevent murders like he committed. That is a conclusion that Chelan County Sheriff Mike Harum said he came to while serving on a panel of law enforcement officers looking into the shootings. He was appointed by Gov. Chris Gregoire to a panel that was asked to determine if changes in state laws might have prevented the murders, or if any changes could prevent similar murders in the future. "Our fear was that if a legislator has a knee-jerk reaction to this whole incident, he might come up with something that we would not be able to work with as a community," Harum said. Harum said he has heard rumors that some legislators want to ban assault weapons and others want to require that all guns be registered. "Maurice Clemmons violated many firearms laws before he murdered the officers, so it seems rather dubious to argue additional laws might have prevented this tragedy," Harum said. He noted that the gun Clemmons used in the murder was stolen, and that he stole a gun from a police officer during the shooting rampage. "If people talk about registering every firearm in the state of Washington, that's going to put a tremendous burden on law enforcement, and won't do anything to solve the problem," Harum said, noting criminals will continue to get their weapons illegally."

Tuesday, January 12, 2010



Mayors wrong about Tiahrt amendment

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg knows a lot, and what he knows has helped bring him success on many levels. But when it comes to federal firearm laws and the Second Amendment, Bloomberg is either uninformed or intentionally deceptive. In recent weeks, Bloomberg and his organization, Mayors Against Illegal Guns, have used victims of the Fort Hood massacre as political tools to seek repeal of a law known as the Tiahrt amendment. This law protects the privacy rights of legal firearm owners and ensures undercover agents and their investigations are not compromised.

Bloomberg's inability to overturn the Tiahrt amendment has led to a series of brash accusations, wild theories and deceitful self-financed smear campaigns.

Bloomberg has brazenly charged that investigators were "blocked" from searching alleged terror suspect Maj. Nidal Hasan's records — and that maintaining records beyond the 24 hours permitted by the Tiahrt amendment "could have saved lives." One of his solutions to prevent another Fort Hood tragedy: repeal the Tiahrt amendment.

There's just one problem with Bloomberg's so-called solution — the FBI already has 90 days to maintain and investigate firearm sale records related to suspects on the FBI's terrorist watch list. Not only are the FBI and counterterrorism agents notified when a suspect tries to purchase a firearm, but they can and do place holds on transactions to allow further review by field agents.

If Hasan was on the FBI's terrorist watch list, the agency would have had direct knowledge about his firearm purchase. If Hasan was not on the FBI watch list, that raises ample questions as to why not. But it should not lead us to dangerously conclude that owning or purchasing a firearm makes you suspect for committing an act of terrorism.

The FBI is not restricted by the Tiahrt amendment in its ability to monitor actions of suspects being watched for terrorist activity. The recent attacks on the Tiahrt amendment and use of American deaths to achieve a solution that already exists are a disgrace on the mayors' reputations as public servants.

For all Bloomberg's pretenses about wanting to fight crime and stop illegal guns, maybe he should stop listening to his front organization and start paying attention to the one organization that really understands this issue — the Fraternal Order of Police. As the world's largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers, the FOP supports the Tiahrt amendment. That's because, contrary to what Mayors Against Illegal Guns asserts, the Tiahrt amendment does not affect background-check outcomes, does not affect who is permitted to own a firearm, and does not restrict local law enforcement officials or the FBI from accessing all available firearm data for criminal investigations.

What is clear from the political smears is that gun-control advocates are willing to ignore the truth if it helps them achieve their objectives of establishing a national firearm registry and, ultimately, being able to sue firearm owners and manufacturers for crimes committed by criminals and terrorists.

Source






La: Intruder shot in home invasion: "A 22-year-old was killed late Sunday after he and an accomplice broke into a house in the 5700 block of Sussex Street. … Willie Lee Baker told police he arrived home during the robbery and confronted the suspects. Taylor shot Baker, 29, in the leg as the two began to fight, police said. Baker managed to take the gun and shot Taylor once in the head.”


TN: Couple, shooter all injured in shooting: "Investigators with the McMinn County Sheriff's Department say they know who's responsible for a triple shooting that was witnessed by young children. The incident happened around 10:30 Saturday morning on County Road 240 between Athens and Englewood. Sheriff Steve Frisbie says a husband and wife, John and Daniele Belleisle, were shot, Daniele in the arm and John in the thigh. Both are in the hospital tonight. During the scuffle someone turned the gun on the shooter and a bullet hit 35-year Steven Holden in the arm. He's also in the hospital and is facing a list of charges."


AL: Gun-Toting Judge: "An Associated Press report Sunday about a judge who carries a handgun into her courtroom shows that people need guns for self-protection," says John M. Snyder, named the senior rights activist in Washington by Shotgun News. According to the article, Suzanne Childers, a judge for the Jefferson County Domestic Relations Court in Birmingham, Alabama, keeps her .38 caliber Smith & Wesson revolver with her in the courtroom for the protection of herself, her staff and the general public. "The fact is that law-abiding citizens generally need guns for defense of life and property," said Snyder. "This news story shows how important it is for people to be able to have access to guns to be able to protect themselves and others". He noted that about 100 million law-abiding Americans own about 200 million rifles, shotguns and handguns. He pointed out that people in the United States use firearms over a million times a year to prevent crimes from taking place or to interrupt crimes that already are in process. "Guns save lives," said Snyder. "Millions of people each year in the United States use firearms to protect themselves, their loved ones and the public from predatory criminals. Laws which facilitate such ownership serve to recognize the rights, health and safety of the people"