Concealed-Carry Permits Save Lives: Allowing law-abiding people to arm
themselves offers more than piece of mind for those individuals - it
pays off for everybody through lower crime rates. Statistics from the
FBI's Uniformed Crime Report of 2007 show that states with
right-to-carry laws have a 30% lower homicide rate, 46% lower robbery,
and 12% lower aggravated assault rate and a 22% lower overall violent
crime rate than do states without such laws. That is why more and more
states have passed right-to-carry laws over the past decade... That is
why I, along with Representative Rich Boucher (D-Va.) introduced H.R.
197, the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act. Our legislation
proposes a federal law that would entitle any person with a valid
state-issued concealed carry permit to carry in any other state, as
follows: In a state that issues carry permits, its laws would apply. In
states that don't issue carry permits, the Federal law providing a
"bright-line" standard would permit carrying in places other than police
stations; courthouses; public polling places; meetings of state, county,
or municipal governing bodies; schools; passenger areas of airports;
etc. The bright-light standard in itself is not a license - the
individual would still have to possess a valid state permit issued by
their state of residence. It doesn't make sense to me for Americans to
forfeit their safety because they happen to be on vacation or on a
business trip. This legislation would greatly enhance the safety of
this nation's ever-increasing mobile society... (If there is a right to
carry, why does it require a permit?)
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=30405
---
Meanwhile, in Jamaica...: With the steady rise of the number of murders
in the country, the Government is again being pressured to allow more
private citizens to bear arms. The National Gun Rights Association
(NGRA) says it is the right time for the administration to cut some of
the red tape that prevents law abiding Jamaicans from carrying legal
guns. There have been talks that if more Jamaicans are allowed to carry
guns there will be more shootings. But according to Shawn Johnson NGRA
Chairman, the opposite will occur. "That argument is still being put
forward sometimes, but in the countries that where firearms are issued
liberally, we don't see any situation where people go out in the streets
and act widely," he said...
http://www.radiojamaica.com/content/view/15142/26/
---
Holder Clutches at Gun Rights: We'll return to our unfolding Barack
Obama series in due course, but for now, an update on the Eric Holder
confirmation story is in order. That this civil liberties nightmare is
intended as our next attorney general ought to scare all of us--enough
to motivate our personal and sustained involvement in opposing him.As a
quick aside, I went to Thesaurus.com looking for a suitable synonym to
use in my title for this article, and I think you'll find some of the
matches ironic. They remind me of an old version of WordPerfect that
suggested "Schumer" was a mistake and offered "schemer" as the correct
spelling...
http://www.examiner.com/x-1417-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m1d25-Holder-clutches-at-gun-rights
Coburn Likely to Vote "No" on Holder: Sen. Tom Coburn said Thursday that
he is likely to oppose President Barack Obama's choice for attorney
general because of his stand on Second Amendment rights. Coburn,
R-Muskogee, said Eric Holder didn't believe the Second Amendment granted
the right to individuals to own guns. Holder signed a brief in the case
decided by the Supreme Court last summer arguing that the right under
the Second Amendment was a collective one, meant for state militias.
Coburn sits on the Judiciary Committee, which is scheduled to vote next
week on Holder's nomination. Senate leaders had hoped to clear Holder
this week, but Republicans delayed the committee vote. Coburn questioned
Holder about gun rights at a hearing last week. Holder told Coburn that,
after the Supreme Court ruled in June that the Second Amendment
guaranteed an individual right to own guns, options for restrictions had
"narrowed." Coburn said he was concerned that Holder didn't respond
definitively to the question of whether he would defend state laws
allowing people to carry concealed weapons...
http://www.newsok.com/u.s.-sen.-tom-coburn-objects-to-cabinet-pick/article/3340100
---
Gillibrand Will Protect the Right to Hunt: Senator-designate Kirsten
Gillibrand pledged Sunday to combat gun violence while protecting
hunters' rights, saying "there's enormous space for common ground" on
issues that she differs from fellow New York Democrats... Gillibrand's
voting record has earned her a 100 percent rating with the National
Rifle Association, and her pro-gun stance is at odds with the views of
many politicians in New York City and other downstate areas. Gillibrand
said she was grew up a family of hunters, and that she had "always
believed in protecting hunters' rights. ... It's a core value for our
region and for our state." But she acknowledged there was "concern in
our city communities about gun violence." Shorenstein said Gillibrand
likely would be sworn in Tuesday. (Considering that she's a Democrat
from New York, I guess the question will become, is half a loaf better
than none or will she simply bolster her party's claim that it supports
the rights of hunters and sportsmen? Note that while she received a
"100%" rating from the NRA, she earned a "C" rating from GOA
[
http://gunowners.org/111hrat.htm]. She did, however, sign the
Congressional amicus brief in Heller.)
http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/ny_senate_seat/2009/01/25/175061.html
..At the news conference, Ms. Gillibrand defended her pro-gun
legislative stance, saying that she "very much believes in protecting
hunter's rights" and that the pastime is part of "heritage and culture"
of New York state. But she also said that now that she represented the
entire state, urban gun control issues would become part of her advocacy
work. "There's a lot of concerns in many of our city communities about
gun violence, about keeping our children safe and keeping guns out of
the hands of criminals," she said. "Those are concerns I share." ...
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/26/nyregion/26gillibrand.html?ref=us
..What is the most disappointing about Ms. Gillibrand's record is her
extreme opposition to reasonable gun control laws. Her opposition to new
efforts to trace illegal guns and support for rolling back gun control
laws in the District of Columbia go well beyond her declared support for
hunters' rights. She earned a top rating and vigorous campaign support
from the National Rifle Association. Her jarring views on guns could
cost her a bitter Democratic primary fight next year for re-election if
gun-control advocates like Representative Carolyn McCarthy of Long
Island challenge her on this issue. On Friday, Ms. Gillibrand seemed
ready to hear arguments against her views on guns. She vowed to help
push Ms. McCarthy's latest bill to speed background checks on those who
buy guns at gun shows. She should also agree to Senator Charles
Schumer's offer to escort her on a listening tour of New York's urban
neighborhoods where guns are not used for hunting the Thanksgiving
turkey. Senator Schumer said he was confident that once she saw the
problem, her views on this grave issue would "evolve." ...
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/24/opinion/24sat1.html
---
The Beat Goes On: The number of people applying for concealed-carry
weapons permits in Larimer County rose dramatically in the final months
of 2008, starting one month before the nation elected Barack Obama as
president. The Larimer County Sheriff's Office received an average of 70
applications a month through the first nine months of 2008, then saw
that spike to 107, 137 and 155 in October, November and December,
respectively. There have been 98 applications submitted this month. Few
of those applications have been denied, officials said. Sheriff's Office
permit coordinator Angie Corp said several people who applied said they
feared the new president would strengthen anti-gun legislation...
http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20090125/NEWS01/901250322/1002/CUSTOMERSERVICE02
Donna McCutcheon doesn't hunt or own a gun, yet still wants the right to
bear arms. But as she surveyed hundreds of weapons enthusiasts during
the weekend Eastman Gun and Knife Show at the Northwest Georgia Trade
and Convention Center, she thought many were displaying overkill. "It
seems like everyone's scared," the Adairsville resident said on
Saturday. "I know the new (Obama) administration is for gun control, but
I think it will be limited in what they can do. As far as a ban goes, I
don't see how they could take all the guns away, but it seems like
everyone here is scared all the guns are going to be bought up or taken
away. I just want the right to have a gun." Concern over a new
Democratic president and Democratic Congress limiting gun rights ran
deep at the show...
http://www.northwestgeorgia.com/local/local_story_024233005.html
"I've been through Y2K and I've been through 9/11," says gun shop owner
Scott Moss. " I have never seen people so afraid as what we are seeing
right now." Business is booming at gun shops across the country, reports
CBS news correspondent Jeff Glor. And at his store, Moss says it's
because of uncertainty fueled by the economic crisis. "If the banks
didn't have any money there'd be rioting in the streets," says Moss. "So
you're protecting yourself from Americans going crazy, rioting, looting
and hurting each other." FBI statistics show that in November, 2008
firearm purchaser background checks increased 42 percent over the
previous year. In December they were up 24 percent. Moss says his sales
are up something like 300 percent. Moss also believes says fears that
President Obama might make it more difficult to get a gun have led
people to flock to his Norwalk, Conn. store. One of those is 24-year-old
Anthony Silvestro, a first time buyer. Silvestro, who runs an auto body
shop, says he's worried Mr. Obama might raise taxes on new gun
purchases. He also worries that people will become more violent if the
economy gets worse. He's getting a gun for personal protection...
http://www.knx1070.com/Bad-Economy-Boosts-Gun-Sales/3721058
---
New Rule Has Little Effect at Olympia National Park: A new federal rule
that allows visitors to carry loaded firearms into Olympic National Park
has not changed the way the park operates. The Interior Department rule,
which was approved by the Bush administration on Dec. 5, took effect
Jan. 1... The federal rule allows an individual to carry a loaded weapon
into a national park or wildlife refuge if the person has a
concealed-weapons permit and if the state allows loaded firearms in its
parks. Washington state does, which means that people with the proper
permits can legally carry loaded guns into Olympic, Mount Rainier and
North Cascades national parks...The new rule gives gun owners permission
to carry concealed loaded weapons as long as their concealed-weapons
permits are recognized by the state in which the park is located.
Washington state recognizes concealed-weapons permits from only eight
states, each of which has requirements as stringent as its own. The
closest of those is Utah, so many visitors from outside the state will
not be able to carry loaded guns into the parks... (This article is full
of errors, including the effective date of the new rule. There is no
requirement that the state allow firearms in state parks. While Utah may
not be contiguous to Washington, a great many gun owners around the
nation hold non-resident permits from that state. Any LEO who fails to
assume that a subject he approaches may be armed needs a new line of work.)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090125/news/301259996
---
Illinois State Police Drag Feet on FOID's: ... Over the past several
weeks, the ISRA has received several dozen phone calls from irate
firearm owners who have been waiting a month or more to have their
applications for Firearm Owner Identification (FOID) cards processed by
the Illinois State Police. Under Illinois law, persons wishing to
purchase or possess firearms and/or ammunition must hold a valid FOID
card. To obtain a FOID card, one must complete an official application
form and submit the form along with a recent photo and the required fee
to the Illinois State Police (ISP) for processing. Once issued, a FOID
card is valid for 10 years. Upon expiration, the application process
must be repeated. Persons who possess firearms or ammunition without
holding a valid FOID card are subject to arrest and felony prosecution.
Illinois law also requires that, within 30 days of the application date,
the ISP must either issue a FOID card to the applicant or provide the
applicant with written notification explaining why their application was
turned down...
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/illinois-state-rifle-association-demands/story.aspx?guid={434CF2A2-02ED-4E53-9D09-595409CF79F0}&dist=msr_3
Related Commentary:
http://armedandsafe.blogspot.com/2009/01/illinois-state-police-breaking-law.html
http://daysofourtrailers.blogspot.com/2009/01/isp-sitting-on-foid-applications.html
---
Gun Buy-Backs Don't Work: ...A gun buyback in Suffolk the same weekend
also far surpassed expectations, and in both counties law enforcement
officials proclaimed overwhelming success. But nationwide, a debate has
long raged about whether such events really take guns out of the hands
of criminals. Most law enforcement officials say they do - that an offer
of $200 per gun - the deal in both Nassau and Suffolk - prompts would-be
criminals to turn in guns that they might have used to hurt people...
Still, some analysts say the events are more about making people feel
good than stopping crimes... Garen Wintemute, who directs the Violence
Prevention Research Program at the University of California at Davis,
conducted one of several studies around 2000 that showed buybacks don't
significantly reduce crime. He found that most buybacks remove only an
estimated 1 to 2 percent of the guns in a community, and that those
turned in aren't the ones likely to be used in crimes... (It's hard to
find anyone more anti-RKBA than Garen Wintemute.)
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/crime/ny-liguns256012055jan25,0,6150073.story
---
Oops, Wrong Ex-Girlfriend: An Ama [LA] man was shot in the chest
Wednesday afternoon by his ex-girlfriend after he allegedly lunged at
her, according to the St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office. Dustin M.
Robert, 17, was listed in good condition at St. Charles Parish Hospital,
and was booked with aggravated burglary and simple assault. Bond had not
been set on Friday, Sheriff's Office Spokesman Sgt. Dwayne LaGrange
said. The woman was not charged in the incident because Robert allegedly
showed up uninvited and attacked the woman after being repeatedly asked
to leave. The Sheriff's Office did not release the woman's name.
http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/01/ama_man_shot_after_attacking_e.html
---
Bringing a Gun to a Knife Fight: In March 1983, S.W.A.T. magazine
published an article titled "How Close Is Too Close" by an instructor
from the Salt Lake City Police Department named Dennis Tueller. That
article discussed the research that Tueller had conducted to answer a
question posed by one of his students, in essence, "How close can you
let someone armed with a contact-distance weapon get before you can no
longer effectively draw and fire your sidearm?" ...Tueller's
groundbreaking research became the inspiration for the often-repeated
"Tueller Drill," which basically replicates his initial experiments and
validates how quickly an attacker can close the distance on you.
Unfortunately, to some trainers it also gave rise to the term "21-foot
rule." And at that point, the real meaning of Tueller's research began
to get lost... (As to the empty-hand technique, here is more than one
way to skin a cat but it is unrealistic to expect to solve close-range
problems with just a firearm.)
http://www.policemag.com/Articles/2008/11/Beyond-the-Tueller-Drill.aspx
---
Interview with Alex Rose: ...American military history can be divided
into a debate between two sides: You've got the advocates of accuracy,
and you've got the pharisees of firepower. In many countries, firepower
rules. And by firepower I mean a massed amount of projectiles heading
toward the enemy. Basically, brutal assaults, lots of lead flying about
- which the machine gun exemplifies. Just a lot of bullets coming out of
there, even if you waste 99.9 percent of the bullets because you're
shooting all over the place. But the accuracy guys still have a strong
presence: U.S. troops, even now, are trained to a much greater extent to
place their shots accurately than in other countries...
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military_law/4300862.html
---
From Alan Korwin:
BLM "Planning" the Future of Target Shooting at Table Mesa!
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is developing a recreation plan for
Table Mesa, a site north of Phoenix that receives heavy recreational use
from target shooters and off-highway vehicle users. In recent months,
NRA has sent emails to our Arizona members about this planning process
and the importance of participating in it to ensure that the interests
of shooters are addressed in the plan. A number of NRA members have
participated in a clean up of Table Mesa and in preliminary meetings
about the plan.
The next set of meetings will be held on Tuesday, February 3 from 6 - 8
p.m. at the Deer Valley Senior Center, located at 2001 W. Wahalla Lane
in Phoenix. Another will be held Tuesday, February 17 from 6 - 8 p.m.
at the same location. (Take the 19th Ave. exit south 1 block off Rt. 101.)
If you target shoot at Table Mesa or want to ensure that access to
federal lands for target shooting is protected, please attend one of
these public meetings and stay tuned for upcoming events at BLM's
website for Table Mesa:
http://www.tablemesarecarea.com. Please look at
the map on the web page showing areas proposed for closure and areas
proposed for opening and be prepared at the meetings to discuss whether
these alternatives work and if there are other alternatives that need to
be addressed. [I couldn't find these on a quick look.]
--
Alan Korwin
Bloomfield Press
"We publish the gun laws."
4848 E. Cactus, #505-440
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
602-996-4020 Phone
602-494-0679 Fax
1-800-707-4020 Orders
http://www.gunlaws.com
[email protected]
Call, write, fax or click for free full-color catalog
(This is our address and info as of Jan. 1, 2007)
If you can read this, thank a teacher.
If you're reading this in English, thank a veteran.
"No one could make a greater mistake than he who did nothing
because he could do only a little."
--Edmund Burke
--
Stephen P. Wenger, KE7QBY
Firearm safety - It's a matter
for education, not legislation.
http://www.spw-duf.info
