Supremes Refuse To Expand Meaning Of "Use" In Gun Case: The Supreme
Court unanimously refused on Monday to broaden the impact of a law that
adds extra prison time to the sentences of drug traffickers who use a
gun in carrying out their crimes...The issue in the case was whether
receiving a gun in exchange for drugs constitutes "use" of the gun under
federal law. The federal government "may say that a person 'uses' a
firearm simply by receiving it in a barter transaction, but no one else
would," wrote Justice David Souter. "Given ordinary meaning and the
conventions of English, we hold that a person does not 'use' a firearm"
under federal law "when he receives it in trade for drugs."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/10/AR2007121000575.html
---
Former DC Police Chief Shifts Stance On Handgun Ban: Former D.C. Police
Chief Charles H. Ramsey has shifted his position on Washington's 31-year
ban on handgun ownership as the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear
arguments on the issue. Mr. Ramsey, who turned the job over to Chief
Cathy L. Lanier 11 months ago, said yesterday on WTOP Radio's "Ask the
Chief" program, that there needs to be reasonable control over guns, but
that handgun registration can provide that control. The former chief,
who is set to take over Philadelphia's police department next month,
said the nation is not going to ban handguns and he is taking a
realistic approach to the issue. He said any weapons ban should cover
assault weapons and more dangerous guns.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20071211/METRO/112110050/1004
---
California Tracks Gun-Owning Felons: Aided by a new database that
matches criminal histories with gun owners, state and local law
enforcement agents have begun rounding up California's most violent
gun-toting felons. The state Department of Justice and the LAPD have
identified 110 fugitives, ex-convicts and other offenders who legally
purchased guns, then later were convicted of violent crimes. Some 890
others have been identified across the state. "Having armed, convicted
felons is a risk to public safety," said Wilfredo Cid, the chief of the
Bureau of Fireams at the California Attorney General's Office. "Those
people do not have a right to carry a weapon." (California recognizes
the right of very few people to carry a weapon, even if they have
squeaky clean records.)
http://www.presstelegram.com/ci_7678704
---
Pennsylvania Governor Persists In Quest Form More Infringements: Gov. Ed
Rendell joined dozens of state legislators, mayors from Eastern
Pennsylvania, police officers and gun control groups today in trying to
step up the pressure on the General Assembly to enact "sensible" laws to
protect the police and public from growing handgun violence. The
governor acknowledged those on his side are going up against a strong
and well-organized opponent in the National Rifle Association, which has
opposed passage of three gun bills that Mr. Rendell calls "common
sense," but which he can't get out of the House Judiciary Committee.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07344/840595-100.stm
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/103-12102007-1453900.html
---
Church Security Officer Who Stopped Gunman Speaks: The female security
guard who shot and stopped a gunman at a Colorado Springs church
yesterday is crediting God for helping her to resolve the threat by
killing the assailant...Boyd said Assam probably saved 100 lives, and
police confirmed the attacker's backpack contained clips that could have
held more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition for the assault weapon he
carried. (This incident demonstrates what one trained person with a
handgun can accomplish.)
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59138
Related Article:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-12-09-missionariesshot_N.htm
Related Commentary:
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59142
---
Ohio Bans Church Carry: In Colorado, an armed citizen who volunteers to
provide security at her church is being hailed as a "hero" after
stopping a man who went on a killing spree Sunday...In Ohio, on the
other hand, if a church member with a concealed handgun license brings
their firearm to church as a means of protection against such an attack,
the law calls for her to be arrested and charged with a felony of the
fourth degree, and a conviction would earn her up to $5000 in fines and
18 months in prison.
http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/article4086.html
---
Witness Account Of Omaha Mall Shootings: ...Honestly, and as God as my
witness, when I saw him shooting and as watched for a few seconds trying
to figure out what he was going to do and what I should do, the thought
that when through my mind was, "If I had a gun, I have a perfect shot."
Yes, a perfect shot. I had a full side profile, I was close, and no one
was visible behind him except a wall. I had a clear shot during the
second round of fire. I told this to every cop I came in contact with.
The interviewer agreed. When I realized that I had no gun, fear
instantly struck me, along with anger, and severe panic...
http://joemerchant24.blogspot.com/2007/12/firsthand-account-of-von-maur-shooting.html
---
Oops, Wrong House: A man in Orange County (FL) grabbed a shotgun and
shot and killed one of three home invaders inside his apartment late
Sunday, according to police. Investigators said three men burst into a
home at the Pine Harbor apartments located near state Road 408 and Rouse
Road just after 11:30 p.m. Monday. During the incident, the homeowner
fired a shotgun at the men, causing the three men to flee, police
said...Authorities said it did not appear the victim would face criminal
charges for the shooting, Local 6 reported.
http://www.local6.com/news/14810259/detail.html
---
Death Threat In Controversial Texas Shooting: An anonymous death threat
was made against the Harris County District Attorney's Office and police
said it was connected to a case of a homeowner accused of killing two
burglary suspects at his neighbor's house, KPRC Local 2 reported Monday.
Officials said the caller threatened to kill Joe Horn, the homeowner, if
the district attorney does not charge him with a crime...An autopsy
revealed that the men were shot in the back. Investigators said a
plainclothes officer witnessed the shootings and saw the two men
crossing Horn's yard. One ran away while the other angled toward Horn
and then ran away, the officer said.
http://www.click2houston.com/news/14813727/detail.html
---
No Charges For Liquor-Store Owner Who Shot Robber: The El Paso County
district attorney says the owner of a Colorado Springs liquor store will
not be prosecuted for shooting and killing a suspect during an attempted
robbery. Police say Charles Kellogg shot 21-year-old Gibran Gayton on
Nov. 27 after Gayton pulled out a semiautomatic weapon and demanded
money at Jet-Way Liquors...District Attorney John Newsome says Kellogg
exercised a legal right of self-defense and will not be prosecuted.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2007/dec/03/no-charges-springs-liquor-store-owner-who-killed-r/
---
Strange Place For A Stabbing: Police are investigating what led to a
fatal fight between two employees at a West Lubbock gun store Thursday.
Wayne Knox, 66, died Thursday after a co-worker stabbed him during a
fight at the store...Police arrested Knox's co-worker Ricky Lee Parrish,
48, on a murder charge...Knox and Parrish were not the only two people
in the store at the time of the stabbing, Gomez said.
http://lubbockonline.com/stories/081807/loc_081807045.shtml
---
Grandmother Released After Disney World Arrest: Channel 9 was the only
station there as a 63-year-old grandmother was released from the Orange
County jail Monday morning. Mary Ann Richardson of Pennsylvania was
arrested for trying to take a loaded handgun into a Disney theme
park...Richardson was headed inside Magic Kingdom with her daughter and
three young grandchildren Sunday when security screeners found a loaded
32-caliber handgun at the bottom of her bag, along with a pocket knife
and a pair of scissors...Richardson doesn't have a permit to carry the
gun, but said she carries it for protection back home and she never had
plans to hurt or scare anyone at the park.
http://www.wftv.com/news/14808302/detail.html
--
Stephen P. Wenger, KE7QBY
Firearm safety - It's a matter
for education, not legislation.
http://www.spw-duf.info
