Brady Bunch Files Brief in Domestic-Violence Case: National law
enforcement groups joined the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence and
other gun violence prevention groups in filing a "friend of the court"
brief in United States v. Hayes urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse
an appeals court ruling allowing convicted domestic violence abusers to
possess guns. If upheld, the appeals court ruling could require the
names of thousands of dangerous, convicted abusers purged from the Brady
background check system, enabling these individuals to possess firearms.
(If I recall correctly, the Hayes case involves a man who was unaware
that the Lautenberg Amendment had retroactively made him a prohibited
possessor.)
http://www.bradycampaign.org/media/release.php?release=989
---
New Appeal Filed in Arizona Trail Shooting: A new defense team has filed
an appeal of the second degree murder conviction of Harold Fish, a
retired Tolleson school teacher who shot a man in the woods near
Strawberry. The Coconino County jury in the widely publicized case
rejected Fish's plea of self defense after a judge barred testimony
concerning the past behavior and medical history of the victim, Grant
Kuenzli, 43...Spearheading the plea to the Arizona Court of Appeals are
Flagstaff attorneys Lee Phillips and John Treborn...Among those he
identifies are Judge Mark Moran's refusal to allow testimony about
Kuenzli's bizarre behavior and medical history that included psychiatric
treatment and counseling in Mesa and at Rim Guidance Center in Payson...
http://www.paysonroundup.com/section/localnews/story/34700
---
An End to an Era in Orange County?: Newly appointed Orange County
Sheriff Sandra Hutchens said Tuesday that she intends to review all the
concealed-weapons permits that her indicted predecessor issued and
revoke those of gun owners who can't prove a legal need to carry the
weapons. When former Sheriff Michael S. Carona resigned in January to
focus on his upcoming federal corruption trial, he had issued more than
1,100 active carry permits - among the most issued by any sheriff or
police chief in the state. Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, by
contrast, has issued fewer than 400. Many were issued to traditional
holders: judges, prosecutors, jewelers or others whose occupation leaves
them in fear for their safety. But others included wealthy white-collar
businessmen, doctors, dentists and financial contributors to Carona's
political campaigns... (California is a discretionary-issue state and
each sheriff and police chief sets his own standards of "good cause" for
issuance. The Los Angeles Times has a history of hounding sheriffs who
issue freely.)
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-gunpermits18-2008jun18,0,5805212.story
---
Demand for Ohio CHL's Surges: The Ohio Attorney General's office has
released the concealed handgun license (CHL) statistics for the first
quarter of 2008. The numbers indicate demand is strong and increasing.
Demand for initial CHL's surged 28% compared to year earlier data. This
represents the forth quarter in a row that demand has exceeded the year
over year numbers. The 6,834 regular licenses issued bring the latest
four quarter total to 23,851. To find four consecutive quarters with a
higher total number of CHL's issued, you have to start with the last
quarter of 2004, starting when the shall issue law was less than six
moths old!
http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/node/5756
---
Nevada CFP Loses NICS Exemption: The Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives recently notified all federal firearms dealers
in Nevada that persons with a Nevada Carry Concealed Weapon permit (CCW)
will no longer be exempt from a background check when they purchase a
firearm. Following the defeat of Assembly Bill 21 in the 2007
legislative session, Nevada residents who hold a CCW permit will be
required to pass the same background check as all other State residents,
including law enforcement personnel, every time a firearm is purchased
after July 1, 2008...
http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080618/FERNLEY01/806180387/1306/BIZ01
---
Open-Carry Advocates Claim Police Harassment: With his Smith & Wesson
40-caliber semi-automatic holstered on his right hip, Travis Deveraux
addressed the mayor and City Council on Tuesday. Deveraux says he has
been harassed by West Valley City police for carrying that gun and
treated like a criminal. "A criminal does not want [police] attention,
and they will not openly carry a gun," Deveraux said. With 10 other
gun-toting civilians - who came from as far as Bountiful, Santaquin and
Lehi - to support him, Deveraux told the council that their police
department has consistently overreacted to his gun carrying. And in one
occasion last year, he said, the police officers violated his civil rights.
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_9619863
---
Open Carry Can Be Educational Opportunity: ...Open carry is legal in
Colorado, except where specifically banned. Locally, open carry was the
subject du jour in 2003 when a man began carrying a shotgun with him as
he went about his business. When his business included attending City
Council meetings, council members took notice and banned open-carry in
city-owned buildings. El Paso County has a similar law. Other than
government buildings, including public schools and post offices,
carrying firearms openly is legal most places in the Pikes Peak
region...Open carry is not without its problems, though. Many police
officers might not be aware of the legality of the practice and are apt
to err on the side of caution when they come in contact with an armed
citizen. Other people can feel uncomfortable in the presence of a
firearm and might complain to management or call the police. Those who
carry openly must be ready to explain their rights and let others know
they don't present a threat... (Those who opt for open carry need to
ensure that they are using some sort of security holster, to reduce the
risk of being disarmed; training in weapon retention is also recommended.)
http://www.gazette.com/opinion/educate_37356___article.html/firearms_business.html
---
Rule Five Reminder: Miami-Dade County police continue to investigate
whether a man fatally shot himself while in a car with an off-duty
police officer who was his friend. Police say officers responded to a
possible suicide attempt in the Kendall area of Southwest Miami-Dade
County early Monday and found 24-year-old Miguel Martinez with a gunshot
wound. He was dead before paramedics arrived. Police say he shot himself
with the friend's gun. The two were sitting inside a black Lexus in the
driveway. How they ended up in the car and how Martinez got the gun are
under investigation. The death remains unclassified. (Rule Five:
Maintain control of your firearm.)
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20080617/APN/806170762
---
Oops, Wrong Bank: A 39-year-old Ypsilanti man used his concealed weapon
and his experience in the Lebanese army to stop an alleged bank robber.
Police say a 54-year-old Joseph Webster of Washtenaw County attempted to
rob a bank in Canton on Monday but his plans were foiled by Nabil
Fawzi...Another teller realized what was happening and informed Fawzi,
who was the customer she was serving, about the robbery. "I asked her is
everything all right. They looked confused. She told me we might be
getting robbed," said Fawzi. Police said the Fawzi then turned toward
the suspect, pulled out a concealed handgun and pointed it at the
suspect. "I said, 'You're not going to rob this bank today.' He said, 'I
have a bomb,'" said Fawzi. "I said 'I don't care. You're not going to
rob this bank today." Fawzi then escorted the suspect at gunpoint over
to a chair where he was cornered until police arrived. Police said he
had a concealed weapons permit and the suspect did not have a bomb.
http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/16623012/detail.html
--
Stephen P. Wenger, KE7QBY
Firearm safety - It's a matter
for education, not legislation.
http://www.spw-duf.info
