Police Can't Be Sued For Failing To Enforce Protection Orders: The US
Supreme Court has ruled against a Colorado woman whose three daughters
were killed by her estranged husband, against whom she held a
restraining order.
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050627/D8B017TG0.html
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Self-Defense vs. Municipal Gun Bans: Article focuses, in great detail,
on the case of Hale DeMar in Wilmette IL, then segues into the issue of
how to best deal with DC's firearm ban.
http://www.reason.com/0506/fe.rv.self.shtml
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Shoot Back First: A Phoneix-area jeweler opened fire when two masked,
armed men entered his store. One wounded suspect is in custody. Note the
wound to the suspect's leg, consistent with jerking or pushing the shot
low and to the non-dominant side.
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0628EVshooting0.html
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Hundreds Apply For Minnesota Permits: Hundreds of people are seeking the
mandated training and applying for concealed-carry permits now that
Minnesota's shall-issue law has been reinstated.
http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=100911
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Arizona CWP Unit To Be Re-Structured:
From Officer Russ Hamilton:
I am sad to inform you that the Director of DPS has decided to move all
sworn personnel out of the Concealed Weapon Permit Unit and put us in more
"traditional" enforcement positions, primarily due to manpower shortages.
This means that Sgt Bill Whalen and myself will likely be moved to another
unit by the 1st of September. Ofc Ray Rigby will be allowed to remain until
he retires, likely in the end of September. Unless we have some sort of
"divine intervention", we will be replaced by civilian administrative
personnel during this transition. While I expect that the unit will
eventually stabilize, I suspect things will become somewhat chaotic here
until the unit adapts to its new responsibilities. My primary concerns
after my departure consist of interaction between CCW instructors and this
unit, reciprocity/recognition with other states and legislative issues. We
have a good program and I hope it will continue.
I have already written to the new director -
Col. Roger Vanderpool, Director
Arizona Department of Public Safety
P.O. Box 6638
Phoenix AZ 85005-6488
Dear Col. Vanderpool:
I have just returned from the 25th Annual Training Conference of the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors to learn that you intend to reassign all the sworn members of the Concealed Weapon Permit Unit. I am deeply saddened and concerned to hear this.
As an Arizona resident I am mindful of the current shortage of DPS officers. As a former Civilian Volunteer, with 12 years of service to the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, I am also mindful of the role of "civilianization" in placing more officers on the streets or roads.
However, as an Arizona CWP-holder and Authorized Firearms Safety Training Instructor, I am also mindful of the fact that the administrative support staff of the CWPU has not always provided the public with reliable information. Further, I doubt that they are qualified to write or rewrite Administrative Rules, nor to comment on pending legislation, nor to interpret new legislation.
As an example, last year new Administrative Rules were drafted regarding instructor authorization standards. Aside from the fact that these rules are somewhat arbitrary and excessive in one or two respects, they will require rewriting in light of the passage of HB 2325. I cannot imagine that a non-sworn employee, who is not a firearms instructor, would be qualified to do so.
I truly believe that the public would best be served if at least one officer could remain with the CWPU. While I admit to bias in this regard, Officer Russ Hamilton has done an outstanding job in serving both the general public and those of us who elect to carry concealed firearms. I feel that he, or someone comparable, would make a crucial difference in the future success of the CWP program in Arizona.
(An additional issue, which I failed to mention in my letter, is that I would not expect administrative support personnel to show much initiative in pursuing reciprocity with other states. Currently pending are potential reciprocity with New Mexico and Wyoming's failure to reciprocally recognize the Arizona CWP.)
--
Stephen P. Wenger
Firearm safety - It's a matter
for education, not legislation.
http://www.spw-duf.info
