Oppose Literacy Test for RKBA: From the late 1890s through the
mid-1960s, African-American citizens in the Deep South were
systematically and egregiously denied their voting rights through the
administration of so-called "literacy tests." It took an act of Congress
and some Supreme Court rulings to abolish this despicable form of
bigotry. But apparently history is lost on Congressman Bobby L. Rush,
who represents the 1st District of Illinois. Astonishingly, this black
congressman has introduced a gun control measure that would, among other
things, require potential gun owners to first apply for a firearm
license and before that license would be issued, they would have to
present "a certificate attesting to the completion . . . of a written
firearms examination." ... (Rush's bill is HR 45.)
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/opinion/109312.php
---
Brady Bunch Praises Holder Confirmation: ..."Eric Holder has been a
long-time supporter of strong Brady criminal background checks to stop
prohibited purchasers from buying guns, as well as other common sense
gun measures to keep dangerous weapons from dangerous people. As Deputy
Attorney General, he worked on many proposals to help protect our
families and communities from gun criminals, using a coordinated
approach that included both prevention and enforcement. America is
fortunate now to have him as chief law enforcement officer. Though his
nomination was strongly opposed by the gun lobby, I am gratified that
the Senate agreed with the judgment of law enforcement, the civil rights
community and gun violence prevention organizations and confirmed Mr.
Holder by an overwhelming margin." ...
http://www.bradycampaign.org/media/release.php?release=1104
---
Brady Bunch Decries "Loose" State Gun Laws: Most states have weak or
non-existent gun laws that help feed the illegal gun market, allow the
sale of guns without Brady background checks and put families and
children at risk, according to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun
Violence. But more and more states are pushing legislation to strengthen
their gun laws. The organization's 2008 state scorecards, which rate
each state on the strength of its gun laws, are being released today for
all 50 states. "Once again, the scores for most states are abysmal. Most
people don't realize how few laws we have on the books restricting easy
access to guns. As a result, we continue to make it too easy for
dangerous people to get dangerous weapons," says Paul Helmke, President
of the Brady Campaign. "We need tougher federal laws, but action at the
state level can halt gun violence and pave the way for common sense
federal gun laws." ... (As I recall, there are about 20,000 gun laws, at
the federal level and in the various states.)
http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/02-04-2009/0004966133&EDATE=
---
Virginia Gun-Show Bill Dead: The Virginia Senate killed legislation
Wednesday that would have required private sellers at gun shows to run
background checks on buyers after the bill's sponsor refused to allow it
to be weakened. Senators shot down the bill on Tuesday, but then
resurrected it, saying that changing it some could garner the three
votes needed to pass it out of the Senate for the first time. The bill,
which is proposed annually, usually dies before it even gets to the
Senate floor. This time around, without discussion, senators killed the
bill 21-19. The only vote to change was that of Sen. Charles J. Colgan,
Manassas Democrat, who favored the bill, but accidentally voted against
it on Tuesday...
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/feb/05/refusal-to-amend-kills-gun-show-bill/
http://www.nbc29.com/Global/story.asp?S=9789751&nav=menu496_2_5
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/05/us/05virginia.html?ref=us
---
Hope for Restaurant Carry: This week brought good news for Virginia gun
owners. Yesterday the Virginia Senate passed SB 1035, patroned by
Senator Emmett W. Hanger, Jr. (R - Mt. Solon), to repeal the hated
restaurant ban. A matching bill, HB 1821 patroned by Delegate Joseph P.
Johnson, Jr. (D - Abingdon), is pending action by the House of
Delegates. Meanwhile New Mexico's House Business & Industry Committee
unanimously recommended a bill to decriminalize gun carry in many or
most restaurants serving alcohol, and a similar bill will be also
considered by the Tennessee legislature this year... (Could this also be
the year for Arizona, where two bills, SB 113 and HB 2171, are pending?)
http://www.examiner.com/x-2782-DC-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m2d4-Virginia-Senate-passes-restaurant-carry-rejects-private-gun-sales-ban
---
Good Press for GeorgiaCarry.org, Restaurant Carry: ...But members of the
grassroots organization Georgiacarry.org say many statistics are twisted
and guns can save lives if they're in the right hands. Tim Huett, a
local soldier and licensed shooter said, "A lot of people think guns are
the problems. Guns cause crimes. That's not the case; criminals cause
crimes. Criminals kill people." He went on to say, "Guns save lives in
the hands of law-abiding citizens...the people who get guns illegally
are the people who need limitations. Not us." Georgiacarry.org began in
2006 and since they've gained support - signing up more than 3,400
members who fight for gun rights with them. They fought for the passage
of House Bill 89 last year, which in short allows you to carry concealed
guns in more places, like restaurants. To demonstrate responsible gun
use, the members invited us to participate in an International Defense
Pistol Association (IDPA) scenario with them. In today's scenario we
were dining at a restaurant when a gunman walks in. We pull our pistol
shoot him and his accomplices. Photojournalist Will Hammargren and I
went through training, donned proper safety gear and then shot pistols
for the first time... (Video accompanies article.)
http://www.thecoastalsource.com/news/local/story/Grassroots-Group-Fights-For-More-Gun-Rights/WUL4mtYHi0CA6uttsY6_Kw.cspx
---
Virginia Senate Committee Approves Online CCW Training: The Virginia
Senate Committee for Courts of Justice moved forward a bill that allows
an applicant for a concealed handgun permit to demonstrate competency
with the weapon by taking an online, video or electronic course as long
as it is taught by a state-certified or National Rifle
Association-certified firearms instructor. In order to get a concealed
handgun permit, Virginia residents are currently required to complete a
hunting course or a firearms training and safety course with a National
Rifle Association or criminal justice-trained instructor. Exceptions to
this rule include people who can prove they are currently in the
military, were honorably discharged from the military, participate in
competitive rifle events, have formal training with government agencies
or previously had a concealed handgun permit...
http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=325160&paper=80&cat=104
---
Park Carry Legal in Pennsylvania: ...The issue of a section of
Pennsylvania law came up for debate at a Lower Salford Parks Board
meeting last month, and it brings to light how the law may affect other
municipalities in the area... The law, enacted Jan. 30, 2007, and
endorsed by 16 members of the state House basically says that anyone who
is not prohibited from owning a firearm in the state can carry a handgun
in public, no license required, and the gun must be visibly displayed,
or not concealed. A municipality may not enact any ordinance or take any
other action dealing with the regulation of the transfer, ownership,
possession or transportation of a firearm. It can, however, enact an
ordinance, upon approval in a public referendum, that regulates the
discharge of firearms within its boundaries...
http://www.thereporteronline.com/articles/2009/02/04/news/doc49898849c84e9760013759.txt
---
Rule Five Reminder: A gun used to kill a woman last month on the Far
West Side belonged to a Columbus [OH] police sergeant, and investigators
are trying to figure out how the murder suspect got it. Sgt. Douglas
Williams, a 31-year police veteran who works in the Strategic Response
Bureau, has told homicide investigators that he didn't realize the gun
was missing until detectives asked him about it. Williams, 56, told
investigators the gun might have been displaced or lost during a recent
move or taken when his unmarked police car was stolen in June, said
Amanda Ford, a police spokeswoman... (Rule Five: Maintain control of
your firearm.)
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/02/04/OFFICERGUN.ART_ART_02-04-09_B2_B9CPOPR.html?sid=101
---
Marine Corps Extends Colt Contract: West Hartford-based Colt Defense LLC
has received a $9.49 million firm five-year contract for gun parts,
according to the latest contract listings on the Defense Department's
Web site. The contract is for 18,000 gun barrels and front assemblies,
13,600 hand guards, 7,100 heavy barrel assemblies, 22,000 receivers and
cartridges, and 200,000 extractor spring assemblies, according to the
listing... Colt in September also received $151 million for the purchase
of nearly 89,000 M4 carbine rifles. Colt Defense is the military arms
division of Colt's Manufacturing Inc., which makes hunting and sport
shooting weapons.
http://www.journalinquirer.com/articles/2009/02/03/business/doc498892780384d013812439.txt
---
Tangentially Related: Four New Hampshire state legislators have
introduced a resolution affirming Thomas Jefferson's defense of states'
rights. House Concurrent Resolution 6 was recently introduced into the
New Hampshire's State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs Committee
by Rep. Itse, Rep. Ingbretson, Rep. Comerford, and Sen. Denley.
Interestingly, the authors of the New Hampshire Resolution took most of
the language from the document commonly known as "Jefferson and
Madison's Kentucky Resolutions of 1798." ...
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/02/the_shot_heard_round_new_hamps.html
---
Tangentially Related: Forensic evidence that has helped convict
thousands of defendants for nearly a century is often the product of
shoddy scientific practices that should be upgraded and standardized,
according to accounts of a draft report by the nation's pre-eminent
scientific research group. The report by the National Academy of
Sciences is to be released this month. People who have seen it say it is
a sweeping critique of many forensic methods that the police and
prosecutors rely on, including fingerprinting, firearms identification
and analysis of bite marks, blood spatter, hair and handwriting...
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/05/us/05forensics.html?_r=1&ref=us
--
Stephen P. Wenger, KE7QBY
Firearm safety - It's a matter
for education, not legislation.
http://www.spw-duf.info
