Interview with Robert Levy, Heller Attorney: ...It's tough to tell. I've
been involved in oral arguments where it looks like the justices are
leaning in one direction and you wait and you get the opinion and, lo
and behold, it goes exactly the opposite way. So I'm very reluctant to
get involved in the prediction business. But I do think this: Everybody
was concerned about Justice (Anthony) Kennedy because he's sort of the
swing vote on the court. Over and above his questions, Justice Kennedy
actually made some statements from the bench that suggested that he
believed it was an individual right. So I'm pretty comfortable that
we're going to prevail on that question - whether or not there's an
individual right or whether it's limited to militia service. I think
we're going to win that question. The other question, though - since you
can win that battle and lose the war -- is what kinds of regulations are
going to be permitted. That's a much closer call and frankly I'd just as
soon wait for the opinion before I venture a guess. (Heller is the
respondent, not the plaintiff, in the appeal to the Supreme Court.)
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/BillSteigerwald/2008/03/24/second_amendment_optimism_an_interview?page=full&comments=true
---
DC Initiates Gun-Search Program: The Metropolitan Police Department
yesterday moved cautiously into its program to ask to search homes in
the District for illegal guns while civil rights activists knocked on
doors and used bullhorns to keep residents from participating. "We
shouldn't make the next casualty of street violence cherished civil
rights," said Johnny Barnes, director of American Civil Liberties Union
of the National Capital Area. "We're very uncomfortable with police
randomly banging on doors without probable cause asking for access."
http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20080325/METRO/126475553/1004
---
Boston Police Postpone Warrantless Gun Searches: Boston police
officials, surprised by intense opposition from residents, have
significantly scaled back and delayed the start of a program that would
allow officers to go into people's homes and search for guns without a
warrant. The program, dubbed Safe Homes, was supposed to start in
December, but has been delayed at least three times because of
misgivings in the community. March 1 was the latest missed start date.
One community group has been circulating a petition against the plan.
Police officials trying to assuage residents' fears have been drowned
out by criticism at some meetings with residents and elected officials.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/03/25/police_limit_searches_for_guns/
---
The History of New York's Sullivan Act: ...In 1911, the Irish and Jewish
mobsters who put him into office faced a growing problem - the Italians.
Immigrant mafiosi newly arrived from Sicily and Naples were horning in
on what had once been their exclusive domain. Gunfights on the Lower
East Side and the neighborhood around Mulberry Street that was to become
Little Italy grew more and more frequent, and it was getting so that you
couldn't even shake down a barber shop or a greengrocer without some guy
fresh off the boat taking a shot at you. Not to worry, Big Tim told the
boys. And in 1911, he took care of the problem. The Sullivan Act was
passed into law in New York state in 1911 and remains Big Tim's primary
legacy. It effectively banned most people from owning and, especially,
carrying handguns. Under the onerous conditions of the corrupted law, a
peaceable citizen of sound mind could apply for a pistol permit, but if
any of a number of elected or appointed officials objected to its
issuance, he or she could be denied the license. The law remains in
effect to this day and has been used as the basis for gun laws in many
other states and municipalities...
http://www.niagarafallsreporter.com/column357.html
---
Sheriffs Have Too Much Discretion in Pennsylvania CCW: A sheriff revoked
a retired school teacher's firearm-carrying permit but under state law,
doesn't have to specify why. The man's lawyer and a gun rights group say
what happened to Gary A. Young shows that sheriffs may have too much
discretion deciding who can legally carry concealed guns. "There is no
record to justify the action of the sheriff of Crawford County except
for the sheriff's own conclusionary letter based upon nothing that the
court can consider except that it is one man's opinion," Young's
attorney, J. Michael McCormick, wrote in court papers filed earlier this
month.
http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/state/pennsylvania/20080325_ap_lawyercaseshowspasheriffshavetoomuchsayingunpermits.html
---
Arizona Senate Panel Votes to Decriminalize Unlicensed CCW: A Senate
panel voted Monday to make the penalty for illegally carrying a
concealed weapon less than for stealing a candy bar. The 4-3 vote by the
Senate Judiciary Committee puts the measure, making the violation a
petty offense punishable by a fine of up to $300, within striking
distance of the governor's desk. Misdemeanor theft can draw up to a
$2,500 fine and six months in jail. The bill already has been approved
by the House and now goes to the full Senate...John Wentling, who
lobbies for the Arizona Citizens Defense League, called it "a very
simple change" in the law. He said most people charged with this
offense, which now carries a penalty of up to six months in jail,
actually have been stopped for some other reasons. What happens,
Wentling said, is they get charged because of "inadvertent concealment
of their weapon."
http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/231213
---
Pennsylvania Gun Owners to Rally at Capitol: The last time gun owners
became irate over gun control measures introduced in the state
Legislature, a few thousand of them gathered for a rally in Harrisburg.
They're upset again, and Jerry Schutz, president of the Luzerne County
Federation of Sportsmen, is hoping for a similar reaction...The event is
dubbed the Second to None Rally and is a statewide affair organized by
the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs and the Allegheny
County Sportsmen's League. In the last few years, Schutz said 35
anti-gun bills have been introduced in the state House and 18 in the
state Senate. Most have been defeated...
http://www.timesleader.com/news/20080325_24guns_ART.html
---
Oops, Wrong House, Florida: A resident might have shot and killed one of
two intruders who tried to break into his southwest Miami-Dade County
home early Tuesday morning, police said. The fatal shooting occurred at
about 2 a.m. outside 5851 SW 118th Ave. Miami-Dade police said it
appeared two men tried to burglarize the home when the resident fought
with them outside and fatally shot one of them. The second intruder fled
the scene but was later found west of 118th Avenue, police said. He was
detained and is being questioned by police.
http://www.local10.com/news/15698648/detail.html
---
Oops, Wrong House, Arizona: A 74-year-old woman twice shot at a man
after he made repeated attempts to break into her house, extort money
from her and threatened to set fire to her garage, police said. Hugh
Turner, 52, was arrested by Scottsdale police about 2 p.m. Friday on
suspicion of threatening and intimidation and other offenses at a house
in the 27800 block of North 94th Street. The woman alleged that Turner
threatened to burn her house down after pouring gasoline in her garage
about midnight on Thursday if she refused to give him money, police
said. After the woman complied with his demands, Turner fled but later
returned about 4 a.m. Saturday and tried to break into an upstairs door
using a ladder. The woman fired two shots from a handgun, but the man
got away unharmed, police said.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/112055
---
There's a Reason God Put Those People on an Island: Patrriotic squaddie
Craig Briggs has been barred from joining the police - because he's got
an ENGLAND tattoo on his arm. The Iraq veteran, 22, had wanted to be a
cop since childhood and was advised to join the Army to get experience
first. But when he applied he was told: "Unfortunately, some people feel
intimidated by the word England." Last night Craig, who has just
completed 4� years with the 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, said:
"I am shocked and disgusted. "I don't understand how it can cause
offence. It is our country, after all."
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/campaigns/our_boys/article949586.ece
--
Stephen P. Wenger, KE7QBY
Firearm safety - It's a matter
for education, not legislation.
http://www.spw-duf.info
