Merry Christmas: Thanks to all of you who have sent me holiday
greetings. Apologies to any who may prefer to celebrate other holidays
at this time of year, for not having recognized them. As an aside, James
Taranto of The Wall Street Journal offers some comments on some of the
other holidays and the war on Christmas.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123012864528832845.html
---

Attorney Advises Burress to Claim Self-Defense: ..."If Burress was my
client," Brill said, "I would immediately discuss the self-defense
matter with the DA and make them see that my client felt his life was in
danger and that carrying a gun was his best and only option to protect
his person and property. I would drive home the fact that Burress did
not possess the gun with the intention of using it unlawfully." ...

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/12/prweb1790014.htm
---

New Jersey Supremes May Have Restored Man's RKBA: A Millburn man who
surrendered his right to purchase firearms after he and his ex-wife
filed domestic violence complaints and sought restraining orders against
each other 11 years ago can have that right restored now that the
restraining orders have been lifted, the state Supreme Court ruled
today. The court concluded that a 2004 gun control law that prevents a
person from obtaining or possessing a firearm if that person's firearms
have been seized or surrendered under a domestic violence prevention act
and not returned did not apply in this case...

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/12/a_millburn_man_who_surrendered.html
---

Ohio Hunters Feed the Needy: Ohio deer hunters have donated more than
33,550 pounds of venison to local food banks so far this deer season,
according to Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH) and the Ohio
Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. The 33,550
pounds equals approximately 134,000 meals for needy Ohioans. Last year
FHFH collected 20,902 pounds of venison through the entire year. With 17
of the 27 FHFH chapters reporting, 671 deer have been donated so far
with plenty of deer hunting opportunity left in the 2008-09 season...

http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/node/6352
---

Arizona Jeweler Recovers from Shooting: ...Customers on Tuesday visited
the Chandler diamond store, at the Loop 101 and Chandler Boulevard, for
last-minute holiday gifts. Many were unaware of the earth-shaking
experience that happened over the weekend, in which the owner was shot
in the face by one of the robbers. Uptain said of her brother-in-law,
who suffered injuries that were not life-threatening: "We still don't
know what his eyesight will be like." Rusty Uptain was shot between the
eye and nose during the attempted robbery and has since been released
from the hospital. During the robbery, one suspect sprayed Rusty
Uptain's son, Chris, with pepper spray and chased him behind the store
while the other removed his gun and demanded jewels from Rusty Uptain
and his wife, Debbie, at 6:45 p.m., according to Chandler police
Detective David Ramer. After the robber brandished the firearm, Rusty
grabbed his own gun and tackled the man and the two exchanged gunfire.
Police identified the attacker as El Mirage resident Kevin William Murray...

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/133028
---

Oops, Wrong Bus Rider: Two people remain on the loose after an attempted
mugging at Fashion Square Mall Tuesday night. Police said a woman got
off a bus at a stop near the Bank of America at around 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday. The woman was walking across the mall parking lot, when three
men, including one armed with a handgun, tried to rob her. A bystander
saw what was happening, pulled out his own gun and exchanged gunfire
with one of the muggers. The suspects ran, but one was later caught.
That suspect was wounded, but did not realize it until police caught him...

http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2008/12/24/mugging_suspect_shot_by_witness_at_mall.html
---

Even in Mexico: Narrated video from approximately one year ago shows a
Mexico City store owner retrieve a handgun from his business, after
having been carjacked, and fatally shoot an apparent would-be kidnapper.
He then discards his handgun, presumably not registered, in a storm
drain. Prosecutors decided not to charge him with a crime as the
shooting was obviously self-defense.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=006_1230051635
---

Rule Five Reminder: A veteran police officer faces possible disciplinary
action and has been placed on desk duty after his on-duty handgun and
Taser were stolen from the back seat of his car. Salem police said they
are searching for suspects in connection with the break-in. Police Capt.
Shawn Patten said the Police Department was notified by the officer
Wednesday afternoon that his duty belt was stolen. It had his
40-caliber sidearm, a Taser, pepper spray and handcuffs. The theft
happened outside the officer's home in Windham either Tuesday night or
Wednesday morning. A thief or thieves rifled through the officer's
personal car and four others parked outside the house... (Rule Five:
Maintain control of your firearm. Recently we have seen a spate of auto
burglaries in which police vehicles were targeted by thieves prepared to
disable locked gun mounts. This appears to have been a more casual theft
of an inadequately secured firearm.)

http://www.eagletribune.com/punewsnh/local_story_358021734.html?keyword=topstory
---

More on Theft from Dealer's Vehicle: Federal authorities are expected to
spend today combing through the inventory of a Western Pennsylvania gun
dealer to determine exactly what was stolen from his truck while it was
parked outside a restaurant in King of Prussia. According to Upper
Merion Township police, at least 24 firearms, including machine guns and
sniper rifles, valued at more than $200,000, were stolen from a Ford
F-350 pickup around 8:30 p.m. Sunday. The weapons belonged to a dealer,
Arms & Ordnance, in Warrendale, a suburb of Pittsburgh, said John
Hageman, spokesman for the Philadelphia division of the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. He said the ATF was working
with Upper Merion police on the case...

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20081223_Gun_cache_stolen_from_dealer.html
---

Australian Gun Amnesty Questioned: The NSW government has announced a
three-month amnesty for unregistered and unlicensed firearms in a
crackdown on gun crime across the state. But the initiative has been
criticised by the opposition and a gun control expert. Police Minister
Tony Kelly said the amnesty would begin on March 1 next year to give
those with unregistered guns an opportunity to hand them in to police.
Under the amnesty, people without a gun licence will be able to
surrender their firearms without penalty to any police station. And
those who do have a licence, but have unregistered weapons, will be able
to register them...

http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/nsw-gun-amnesty-wont-work-says-expert-20081223-73rn.html

--
Stephen P. Wenger, KE7QBY

Firearm safety - It's a matter
for education, not legislation.

http://www.spw-duf.info