Self-Defense Is A Right, Regardless Of Place: ...Restaurants and other
establishments that serve alcohol are not immune to life-threatening
violence, as recently evidenced by a shooting in Knoxville that claimed
the life of a restaurant manager. Law-abiding citizens deserve the
opportunity to defend themselves and their families at all times,
wherever they may be confronted by violence. Other states recognize this
right. Thirty-four states allow millions of law-abiding citizens with a
handgun permit to carry handguns where alcohol is served, provided they
do not consume alcohol. Neighboring states with such laws are Alabama,
Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi and Virginia. Remarkably, no state has
realized a problem as a result of such laws. In fact, there is not a
single reported incident of a lawfully permitted citizen committing an
act of violence with a firearm in these establishments...
http://www.rctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080120/OPINION01/801200360/1007/MTCN0305
---
Virginia College Students Lobby For Campus Carry: College students
across Virginia are heading to Richmond this weekend to lobbying for two
bills allowing concealed weapons on campus. "There was a lotta talk
after Tech that a lot of different issues would have to be dealt with,
and this is one we felt needed to be addressed," explained George Mason
University student Andrew Dysart. Dysart heads the group Students for
Concealed Carry on Campus. They are against an administrative ban at GMU
and other state schools that forbids anyone to carry a gun on campus,
even though Virginia law allows citizens to have guns with a permit.
(Actually, the permit is only required for concealed carry.)
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0108/489520.html
On The Other Side Of The Fence...: In the aftermath of the terrible
tragedy at Virginia Tech, concerned Virginia citizens are demanding
action to close loopholes in state law allowing people prohibited from
purchasing firearms to avoid background checks. This Monday, January 21
at 1:45 PM concerned citizens will stage a demonstration on the lawn of
the State Capitol to urge that more action be taken to keep guns out of
the hands of dangerous people.
http://www.pr-usa.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=58765&Itemid=9
---
Georgians Debate Enhancements Of RKBA: Less than one year after the
Virginia Tech massacre scuttled gun legislation backed by the National
Rifle Association, Georgia lawmakers are aiming to relax firearm
restrictions in the state...House Republicans have introduced an even
broader bill that would allow permit holders to bring weapons into
churches, political rallies or sporting events...Georgia's law limiting
weapons at public gatherings traces back to the aftermath of the 1868
massacre in Camilla, Ga. when white townsmen killed more than a dozen
armed black men protesting the expulsion of 32 newly elected black state
legislators...
http://www.myatltv.com/news/article_news.aspx?storyid=109879
---
Texans Still Debate Vehicle-Carry Law: ... The law allows Texans to
carry guns in their cars, even without a concealed handgun license. As
long you meet the law's other requirements - such as not being a gang
member, refraining from criminal acts and keeping the gun out of sight -
you can pack heat in your glove box... Nicknamed the "Carjacking Law" by
some, it is designed in part to give law-abiding drivers the right to
carry a gun for protection... Under the new law, someone committing any
crime other than a minor traffic violation can be charged for having a
gun in the car...
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/012008dnmetcarryingguns.6a7417.html
---
Liberal Questions California Waiting Period For Second Gun: When you go
to acquire a handgun in California you have to "wait" for 10 days while
a background check is conducted to insure that you are not a "prohibited
person" - a convicted felon or mental defective...But if you own a gun
already, the "cooling off" rationale no longer makes sense. You can use
your old gun in a fit of something while "waiting" for he new one. Nor
does it make sense to conduct a second or third background check every
time you acquire a new firearm. Background checks cost money. Currently
you undergo such a check the first time you acquire a gun - and again
every year or so as the Justice Department "rechecks" under a 2001 law
pushed by former AG Bill Lockyer to make sure you have not moved into a
"prohibited person" category since the original check... (Actually, the
ten-day waiting period in California applies to long guns as well.)
http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2008/01/redundant_waiti.html
---
Oregon Gun Owner Recalls McCain: Over at NW Republican, Coyote (a.k.a.
Ted Piccolo) is griping about Arizona Sen. John McCain's victory and
questioning whether he could ever support him. Among the usual
conservative complaints about the senator, he mentions one I had totally
forgotten: McCain's support for a 2000 ballot measure in Oregon that
required background checks for firearms bought at gun shows. The measure
was opposed by the National Rifle Association and sponsored by Sen.
Ginny Burdick, D-Portland, the legislator that gun-right types in Oregon
most love to hate.
http://blog.oregonlive.com/mapesonpolitics/2008/01/mccains_stand_on_oregon_gun_bi.html
---
Oops, Wrong House: A Beaver County (PA) man shot an apparent burglar in
the head after finding him prowling in his bedroom. Police say
23-year-old Keith McCue shot Gary Brooks as he fled down the steps of
the house. Police say 26-year-old Brooks and an accomplice, 41-year-old
Kelvin Raines, broke into the McCue house by kicking in the front door.
They took a rifle from the living room and headed upstairs. McCue was
alerted by his dogs' barking. He shot Brooks with a handgun he keeps by
his bed. Police say McCue's actions were just. (Note the possible risk
from the unsecured rifle.)
http://www.timesleader.com/news/ap?articleID=348136
http://www.wpxi.com/news/15096668/detail.html
---
Castle-Doctrine Cases Reviewed: Lethal force against intruders was
widely used in America long before the rise of castle laws, and police
today report cases across the country whether or not such laws are in
place. Here are recent cases from Dallas and across the country:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-fightvignettes_20met.ART.State.Edition1.377858e.html
Related Article:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-fightingback_20met.ART.State.Edition2.3777102.html
---
Here's A Rare One: A 47-year-old man was shot by a homeowner Friday
after he allegedly broke in to the home to get to his
ex-girlfriend...The suspect, Andrew Giebler, 47, was later arrested on
suspicion of violating a domestic restraining order, burglary and
stalking, according to a news release by the Kern County Sheriff's
Department...The homeowner shot Giebler in self-defense, the news
release said. The suspect was hit in the shoulder. Giebler took the gun
from the homeowner and ran away from the home. (In more than ten years
of following news reports, this is only the fourth one I recall where an
armed citizen was disarmed by a criminal. Account is third item on page.)
http://www.bakersfield.com/102/story/339222.html
---
Army Sticking With Beretta M9: Beretta has just announced that it has
been awarded a multi-year contract by the U.S. Army to deliver M9
pistols to servicemen and women as part of the U.S. Government
commitment to ensure the operational safety and readiness of U.S. Armed
Services worldwide. The contract is for 25,403 M9 pistols with
deliveries starting in June 2008 and continuing until February 2010. The
U.S. Army also reserves the right to purchase additional M9 pistols as
needed to meet their needs. All of these M9 pistols will continue to be
manufactured at the Beretta U.S.A. facility located in Accokeek, Maryland.
http://sev.prnewswire.com/aerospace-defense/20080117/LATH14317012008-1.html
---
There's A Reason God Put Those People On An Island: A Cornish village
drama group has had to register a toy gun with the police to comply with
health and safety rules. Carnon Downs drama group in Cornwall have also
had to keep their plastic cutlasses and wooden swords locked up for the
pantomime, Robinson Crusoe. Producers of the show called the Health and
Safety Executive (HSE) rules "farcical." A spokesman for the HSE said
the rules were designed to make risks "sensibly managed."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/7196104.stm
--
Stephen P. Wenger, KE7QBY
Firearm safety - It's a matter
for education, not legislation.
http://www.spw-duf.info
