Can INTERPOL Really Seize your Firearms?: Recently, President Obama
amended an Executive Order allegedly giving the International Criminal
Police Organization (INTERPOL) additional powers within the United
States. Press reaction has been mostly inaccurate, but Obama's action
nevertheless highlights issues that all Americans should be concerned
about: The balance of power between Americans, DC politicians, and the
international community. Some writers verged on hyperbole. For example,
the Anchorage Conservative Examiner alleged that Obama's amendment
"signed away Americas [sic] rights under the US Constitutional
protection of the 1st, 4th, and 5th amendments," heralding the arrival
of the "New World Order." However, he based his conclusions upon an
editorial at National Review, which was long on opinion and short on
research... (Nemerov's points are well taken but I doubt that, prior to
Hurricane Katrina, any residents of New Orleans would have thought that
officers of the California Highway Patrol or other out-of-state agencies
would have been able to make warrantless entry into their homes and
forcefully seize their firearms. To my knowledge, none of those officers
have been held to answer for such actions. Responding to Nemerov's
closing paragraph [click link to read], perhaps sooner is better than
later for placing further restrictions on what INTERPOL and the UN can
do on US soil. Recall that there are justices on the Supreme Court who
look to foreign law, ostensibly as a guide to how to interpret out own
Constitution.)
http://www.examiner.com/x-2879-Austin-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2010m1d7-Obamas-Executive-Order-Can-INTERPOL-take-your-guns
---
F Troop Invites Tracing by Latin American Countries: In a move to crack
down on weapons from the U.S. that are funneled to drug cartels, police
in Latin America will soon be able to track American gun sales in their
own language, despite privacy concerns by gun-rights advocates. The U.S.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will begin testing
this month on a Spanish-language version of eTrace, a computer system
that law-enforcement agencies use to request traces of weapons by the
ATF. The first users will be national police in Mexico, Guatemala and
Costa Rica. The ATF is trying to catch U.S. buyers who help get weapons
to drug runners. Because many foreign police officers do not speak
English, the ATF hopes the new system will encourage more of them to
submit information on guns seized from cartels for tracing, Scot
Thomasson, a spokesman for the U.S. agency, said on Wednesday. The
information is especially important for Mexico, which has been fighting
a bloody crackdown on the cartels since December 2006. Mexican
authorities complain that most of the traffickers' weapons are smuggled
in from the United States... (Mexico has a long history of blaming its
woes on the US, to cover up the corruption of its own government. The
military-grade armament routinely used by the Mexican drug cartels,
including grenades and full-auto AK-47's, is simply not available to
private citizens in any significant quantity in the US in order to be
smuggled into Mexico.)
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2010/01/07/20100107guntracing0107.html
---
NRA Seeks Voice in McDonald Hearing: The National Rifle Association
asked the Supreme Court on Tuesday to allow its lawyer to take part in
the oral argument March 2 in the case testing whether the Second
Amendment restricts the power of state and local governments to pass gun
control laws. It sought 10 minutes of time allotted to the individuals
and groups that are pursuing the Amendment's extension, to put more
stress on an alternative constitutional argument. The request, the NRA
noted in its motion, is opposed by the lead parties in McDonald, et al.,
v. Chicago (08-1521). Those parties are expected to file a written
opposition shortly. The Court will consider the NRA request at its
private Conference on Jan. 15... In their merits brief in the case, the
NRA noted, Otis McDonald and the others appealing "have concentrated
their argument on a Privileges or Immunities Clause theory that would
require overruling at least three of this Court's precedents." And, the
motion added, only 7 pages of the 73-page McDonald brief discuss the Due
Process Clause... The NRA maneuver brings further out into the open the
strategic differences in pursuing the two alternative arguments...
http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/nra-wants-time-at-podium/
..In short, the NRA is unhappy that so much of McDonald lawyer Alan
Gura's arguments in his brief rely on an attempt to revive the
"privileges of immunities" clause of the 14th Amendment, as opposed to
relying on what has generally been used in the past century to extend
the Bill of Rights to the states, the "due process" clause of the
14th... (My take is that the NRA simply feels that "due process" is an
easier route than "privileges and immunities" while others have
misgivings about expansion of the appliation of the "due process" clause.)
http://reason.com/blog/2010/01/06/the-nra-takes-on-mcdonald-v-ch
Meanwhile...: In a brief detailing the "serious threat" of armed
violence by extremists and extremist groups, the Anti-Defamation League
(ADL) today urged the U.S. Supreme Court to ensure that states retain
the right to reasonably regulate the possession of firearms by those who
practice and preach racial and ethnic violence... ADL's "friend of the
court" brief in McDonald v. City of Chicago points to the long history
of gun violence by anti-government and racist extremists. The brief
describes three such examples in detail: the June 2009 shooting at the
U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC, by avowed anti-Semite
and white supremacist James Von Brunn (an incident which left a security
guard dead); the April 2000 shooting spree in Pittsburgh by white
supremacist Richard Baumhammers (which left five dead); and the deadly
standoffs in Waco, Texas in 1993 and Ruby Ridge, Idaho in 1992... (I was
under the impression that the latter incidents are better examples of
government malfeasance than threats to public order.)
http://www.adl.org/PresRele/SupremeCourt_33/5684_33.htm
---
What's the Value of a Carry Permit?: I've lamented the struggle for
people who openly carry firearms, particularly in Wisconsin where that's
our only option to carry. However, Massachusetts, like 47 other states,
observes the right of their citizens to carry a concealed weapon - with
a permit, of course. However, to cops on a power trip, the law means
nothing. Apparently, the same goes for the courts... Let's take a look
at the case. In order for Stern's actions to be at all justifiable,
there has to be reasonable suspicion, articulable by Stern. In other
words, he has to be able to say exactly what Schubert was doing that
made him suspicious enough to jump out of his patrol car and point his
weapon at Schubert's face and disarm him. First, Stern claims that he
noticed the gun under Schubert's jacket. Not good enough. Around
200,000-250,000 concealed carry permits are issued in Massachusetts
every year. While I have not been able to find an exact count, the fact
that the permits last for four years means there are around a million
residents of Massachusetts legally carrying a concealed weapon at all
times. In a state with seven million people, that means it's not
uncommon for a person to be armed. Stern claims that several other
people also saw the weapon and alerted Stern to it. Oh, wait...
http://hotair.com/greenroom/archives/2010/01/06/disgrace-circuit-court-rules-ma-concealed-carry-permits-are-worthless/
---
Bloomberg Ally to Resign: [Baltimore] Mayor Sheila Dixon agreed to
resign Wednesday as part of a deal with prosecutors, ending a three-year
tenure that began with promise but unraveled amid embarrassing
allegations that she stole from the poor. Dixon, 56, was convicted last
month of misappropriating about $500 in gift cards donated to the city
for distribution to needy families during her time as City Council
president. Had she not agreed to step down, she could have been thrown
out of office. On Wednesday, she entered an Alford plea to a charge of
perjury, meaning she admits there is enough evidence to convict her on
that charge but does not acknowledge guilt. It wasn't immediately clear
how the plea will affect her embezzlement conviction. Her resignation is
effective Feb. 4...
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/jan/06/baltimore-mayor-sheila-dixon-resign/
..After she satisfies the terms of her probation - including a $45,000
charitable contribution and 500 hours of community service - the
convictions will be wiped off her record and she'll be free to run for
public office again. The probation will last a minimum of two years,
meaning she will be barred from running in the next citywide election in
2011. Dixon, a 56-year-old Democrat, also gets to keep her city pension,
which she would have had to forfeit with a conviction on her record...
http://townhall.com/news/us/2010/01/07/baltimore_mayor_resigns_under_plea_deal?page=full
---
Atlanta Reporter Invites Comments on Expansion of RKBA: HB 615 would
make Georgia's list of places off limits resemble more liberal states
like New Hampshire, Oregon, or, as has been written here before,
California. As with any bill that seeks to reduce Georgia's overly
restrictive list of places where the right to bear arms is categorically
prohibited, HB 615 has drawn its share of detractors, including those
who help shape public opinion for the mainstream media. This morning,
Maureen Downey, a long time reporter and editorial opinion writer for
the Atlanta Journal Constitution, writes about HB 615 in her blog and
invites your comments. Ms. Downey is a bright and articulate reporter
who writes about public policy issues with a focus on education in
Georgia. When it comes to bills affecting the right to bear arms,
however, hyperbole and emotion sometimes get the best of her, especially
if the bill also touches on school campuses. Ms. Downey writes: "The
proponents of this bill - and there are many in the General Assembly -
argue that more guns in more places equals more safety. They want more
guns in airports, restaurants and on college campuses. Somehow, they
believe public safety is enhanced by drunk, emotionally unstable college
kids with guns in dormitories or at frat parties." ...
http://www.examiner.com/x-5619-Atlanta-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2010m1d6-Maureen-Downey-is-soliciting-your-comments-on-HB-615?cid=exrss-Atlanta-Gun-Rights-Examiner
Carrying guns in public might only be outlawed at the courthouse and the
jailhouse under one of at least two major firearms bills expected to be
before state lawmakers this year. Lawmakers don't officially converge on
the state Capitol until next week for a session expected to focus mainly
on bleak revenues and budget cuts. But already the firearms bill that
might bring about the most sweeping changes is set Thursday to go before
a House committee for a first hearing. Its sponsor, state Rep. Tim
Bearden (R-Villa Rica), championed the law change in 2008 that allows
Georgians who have the proper permits to carry guns at state parks, on
mass transit and in restaurants where alcohol is served. Some areas of
airports also would have been covered, but that provision was thrown out
in court. The law is believed to have helped spark a statewide increase
in gun permit applications. Bearden's latest bill would eliminate almost
all of Georgia's public assembly restrictions, including those for
churches and college campuses. Exceptions would keep guns out of
courthouses, prisons and other facilities that house criminals...
http://www.ajc.com/news/gun-carry-expansion-bill-268589.html?cxtype=rss_news_128746
---
This Year in the Florida Legislature: ...At the end of this message is a
list of gun bills already filed for the upcoming legislative session
here in Florida. We're counting on your help, through financial support
and activism, to help keep Florida gun rights safe. Already, an anti-gun
south Florida Democrat has filed a bill to diminish Florida's
Right-to-Carry law and yet another bill attempts to define "assault
weapons" by placing a list of firearms and accessories into statutes - a
scheme that anti-gunners have attempted for years...
http://www.ammoland.com/2010/01/06/upcoming-florida-gun-bills-that-effect-your-gun-rights/
---
Hearing Scheduled for Ohio Restaurant-Carry Bill: Public Safety and
Homeland Security committee chairwoman Linda Bolon's office has
confirmed that House Bill 203, the bill Ohioans For Concealed Carry
drafted in conjunction with Representatives Danny Bupb and Jarrod
Martin, has been scheduled for its second reading and PROPONENT
testimony on Tuesday, January 19 at 3:00pm. A room number will not
likely be assigned until the prior week. This important fix would add
restaurants to the current exemption that covers class D retail stores
provided the licensee is not consuming alcohol.The bill was cosponsored
by 16 other legislators, including Representatives Adams, J., Amstutz,
Blair, Combs, Hall, Huffman, Jones, Jordan, Maag, McGregor, Sears,
Snitchler, Uecker, Wachtmann, Wagner, and Zehringer. This hearing is for
proponent testimony and anyone can speak in favor of the bill. Anyone
interested in testifying is requested to provide 30 copies of testimony
to the office of House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee
Chairwoman Linda Bolon 24 hours prior to the meeting...
http://www.ohioccw.org/201001064749/restaurant-carry-bill-second-hearing-confirmed.html
---
Indiana May Provide CCW Confidentiality: State lawmakers submitted a
series of bills this week to protect the privacy of Hoosiers who hold
gun permits. The proposed laws would prohibit the Indiana State Police
from publicly releasing the names, home addresses and other identifying
information about permit holders. Two of the bills bars all non-law
enforcement sources from accessing the data. Current law allows anybody
to purchase the state's full permit database for $32. It includes a
permit holder's race, height, hair color, eye color and more.
GunReports.com reported last week that the The Herald-Times newspaper
had published parts of the state's permit database, raising privacy
concerns for permitholders.
http://www.gunreports.com/news/news/Indiana-CCW-Permit-Data_1758-1.html?ET=gunreports:e608:183810a:&st=email
---
Oops, Wrong Car: Philadelphia [PA] police were continuing their
investigation on Wednesday afternoon of the fatal early-morning shooting
of a robbery suspect by an off-duty officer. Authorities say the traffic
cop was driving his own car near 7th and Willow Streets, just north of
Callowhill, about 3:30am when a man jumped in, demanded cash and
jewelry, and hit the officer with a gun: "During the course of the
confrontation, the officer was able to get to his weapon. It was
discharged, and the male was struck." Lt. Frank Vanore says 23-year-old
suspect Altariq Hutchinson of Edgewater Park (Burlington County) NJ, was
pronounced dead a short time later at the hospital. The 55-year-old
officer was treated for injuries to his face and head. Officials
recovered the gun they say was used to pistol-whip him...
http://www.kyw1060.com/Off-Duty-Officer-Shoots-Assailant-in-Spring-Garden/6048656
---
Oops, Wrong House: Charges are pending against a man who was shot in the
chest by a Jarales resident while allegedly trying to break in. Valencia
County Sheriff's Deputy Chris Trujillo said the shooting occurred
shortly after midnight on New Years Day at a house on Mill Road.
According to the deputy, the homeowner, whose name has not been
released, heard someone trying to break into his home and called 911.
When the suspect entered the house, the homeowner shot him once in the
chest, Trujillo said. "The intruder was airlifted to University of New
Mexico Hospital," Trujillo said. He said the suspect's condition was not
immediately known Monday, but he is expected to face breaking and
entering and other charges upon his release from the hospital. Police
are not releasing the suspect's name until the charges have been filed.
Trujillo said the homeowner is not being charged with any crime. "He was
defending his property," Trujillo said.
http://www.news-bulletin.com/nb/index.php/news/1309-Burglary-suspect-shot-by-Jarales-homeowner.html
---
British Cops Target Lawful Shooters: Shooting groups are reporting a
growing number of cases where officers in armed response vehicles and
helicopters are swooping on people who are legally shooting. In many
cases, the shooters are arrested and have had their guns seized. They
are sometimes locked up and have their DNA taken, before police accept
their error. The Countryside Alliance has described as "hysterical", the
"massive overreaction" by officers, while the British Association for
Shooting and Conservation (BASC) has warned that an incident could lead
to a lawful shooter being killed by police marksmen. The problem has
become so great, that the field sports' bible, Shooting Times, has
launched an initiative - called the Campaign for Common Sense - to urge
police to improve their dealings with field sports enthusiasts. The
publication has also submitted a dossier detailing its complaints and
proposals to a recent consultation by the National Police Improvement
Agency (NPIA) on police firearm use...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/countryside/6677915/Shooters-complain-of-hysterical-police-response-to-legal-field-sports.html
Ruger Expands Handgun Offerings: For 2010, Sturm, Ruger will roll out
the SR9c compact pistol and two more revolvers chambered for the .327
Federal Magnum round. The first extension of the SR9 striker-fired
pistol family, the SR9c compact pistol weighs in at 24 oz. and features
an overall length of 6.875", a height of 5.00", and the same 1.27" grip
width as the full-sized SR9... The Ruger New Model Blackhawk and the
Ruger GP100 revolvers now shoot the .327 Federal Magnum cartridge. The
327 Federal Magnum offers near-.357 Magnum performance with less
recoil, pushing a 100-grain American Eagle load at 1,655 fps. "We worked
with Federal Premium Ammunition to
introduce the first .327 Federal Magnum cartridge in our mid-sized SP101
revolver, and we're excited to expand this well-received round into our
full-sized New Model Blackhawk and GP100 product lines," said Vice
President of Sales and Marketing Chris Killoy... (So far, Ruger seems to
have more luck with new revolvers than with new pistols. Compact pistols
typically involve different geometry from their larger brethren so I
repeat the dictum of "wait and see." As to the .327 Magnum, I'm sure it
beats a pocketful of rocks but I have yet to see any data showing that
it's better than several known entities of +P .38's. I'm surprised that
Ruger opted to chamber it in the relatively large GP100 instead of the
small, lightweight LCR but I imagine that doing so in the latter will
require more engineering. Like the .22 Magnum, I suspect the .327 Magnum
offers a high ratio of blast to actual power.)
http://www.gunreports.com/news/news/Ruger-SR9c-327-Federal-Magnum-Revolvers-New-Products_1753-1.html?ET=gunreports:e608:183810a:&st=email
--
Stephen P. Wenger, KE7QBY
Firearm safety - It's a matter
for education, not legislation.
The tactics and skills to use a firearm
in self-defense don't come naturally
with the right to keep and bear arms.
http://www.spw-duf.info
