From GOA: ...If you were watching the "sausage making" on Sunday -- or
have been listening to the news today -- you know that we narrowly lost
the battle over ObamaCare. [Click here to see how your Representative
voted.] That's the bad news. The good news is that we only lost a
battle... for the war is not over. Here's what your GOA is doing to
stall ObamaCare in its tracks:
* Gun Owners of America has been working in Virginia to pass
legislation that will exempt citizens from purchasing ObamaCare.
This legislation has passed both houses and is now sitting on
Governor Bob McDonnell's desk. He is expected to sign this bill
tomorrow, making the Old Dominion the first state to take such an
action. Other states are looking to follow Virginia's example,
and you can be sure that GOA will be involved in those states, as
well.
* GOA is ready to assist the 38 states which are now planning to
file suit against the anti-gun health care law as soon as the
President signs it tomorrow. Over ten years ago, GOA helped
Sheriffs Richard Mack and Jay Printz sue the federal government
after the Brady Law required law enforcement to run background
checks. You may remember that in Printz v. U.S. (1997), the
Supreme Court ruled in our favor. We will now try to parlay that
victory and make the same case here, namely, that the federal
government can not force state authorities to act on its behest.
* Finally, GOA is committed to targeting the sell-out congressmen
who turned a deaf ear to your letters, phone calls and emails.
For almost a year, Gun Owners of America has been the ONLY gun
group at the national level working to kill this legislation.
Some thought this was an impossible battle... but what they don't
realize is that even though we narrowly lost, the fight has been
well-worth the effort...
http://gunowners.org/a032210.htm
With the passage of the legislation allowing the federal government to
take control of the medical care system of the United States, a major
turning point has been reached in the dismantling of the values and
institutions of America. Even the massive transfer of crucial decisions
from millions of doctors and patients to Washington bureaucrats and
advisory panels - as momentous as that is - does not measure the full
impact of this largely unread and certainly unscrutinized legislation.
If the current legislation does not entail the transmission of all our
individual medical records to Washington, it will take only an
administrative regulation or, at most, an Executive Order of the
President, to do that. With politicians now having not only access to
our most confidential records, and having the power of granting or
withholding medical care needed to sustain ourselves or our loved ones,
how many people will be bold enough to criticize our public servants,
who will in fact have become our public masters? Despite whatever
"firewalls" or "lockboxes" there may be to shield our medical records
from prying political eyes, nothing is as inevitable as leaks in
Washington. Does anyone still remember the hundreds of confidential FBI
files that were "accidentally" delivered to the White House during Bill
Clinton's administration? ...
http://townhall.com/columnists/ThomasSowell/2010/03/23/a_point_of_no_return?page=full
Related Polls:
http://www.startribune.com/polls/88767787.html
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/health.care/?hpt=htopic
---
Why Is "Gun Crime" More Serious?: In order to burnish their "tough on
crime" credentials, many government officials--including many who would
like to be known to "support the Second Amendment," advocate legislation
that would subject a crime committed with a gun in the perpetrator's
possession to more severe punishment than the same crime committed while
unarmed. Indeed, such legislation is widespread... This sort of idea is
what we in the gun rights advocacy community often derisively refer to
as making a crime "more illegaller." The concept deserves our
derision. The mere presence of a gun does not make a crime any more
heinous than the same crime would be absent a gun. A rape victim is no
less raped by an unarmed beast than one carrying a gun. A murder victim
is no less dead after being stabbed to death, beaten to death, or
strangled with a bikini top, than one who is shot to death...
http://www.examiner.com/x-2581-St-Louis-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2010m3d22-Is-gun-crime-inherently-worse-than-other-crime?cid=channel-rss-Politics
---
Colorado Court to Hear Campus Gun Ban: The Colorado Court of Appeals
will hear arguments in a lawsuit by a gun rights organization
challenging the University of Colorado's ban on guns on campus. The
Students for Concealed Carry on Campus will appear Tuesday to argue that
a 1994 CU policy banning concealed weapons from its campus violates
state gun laws. El Paso County District Judge G. David Miller threw the
case out of court in May 2009. A decision from the Court of Appeals is
expected within six weeks. Miller said in his ruling he found nothing in
the state constitution that would prohibit a campus gun ban. Many
college campuses nationwide ban concealed weapons, but gun-rights
advocates say gun-free campuses make students vulnerable to attack.
http://www.kjct8.com/Global/story.asp?S=12186898
---
Louisiana Bill to Allow Carry in State Parks: A bill has been introduced
in the Louisiana legislature that can capitalize on the momentum from
the national parks rule change by updating their law to allow for carry
in state parks. On Friday, State Senator Troy Hebert submitted SB534:
"PARKS: Allows the possession of firearms on certain state lands.?" It
will amend the existing Title 56 that deals with state parks as follows:
"A person who lawfully possesses a firearm may possess or transport such
firearm within the boundaries of a state park, state historic site,
state preservation area, or other lands under the jurisdiction and
control of the office of state parks." The bill was assigned to the
Senate Natural Resources Committee on March 19... (I am under the
impression that if a state bans carry in its own parks, carry is not
legal in national parks in that state. Am I mistaken?)
http://www.examiner.com/x-1417-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2010m3d22-Louisiana-bill-provides-for-guns-in-state-parks
---
National-Park Carry in California: Federal law now allows visitors to
carry guns in national parks, but you can't just slip a loaded pistol
into your backpack and take a hike. Pay attention, because this is a
little complicated. You will need a concealed weapons permit to carry
the loaded gun in the backpack. But you don't need any kind of permit if
you just want to stash your loaded weapon in the tent. At the same time,
unless you feel your life is being threatened, don't shoot the gun at
all. What's going on? Guns in national parks are now under both state
and federal restrictions, and the result can be confusing. State law
generally applies to the way guns are carried and how a concealed
weapons permit is enforced. California's odd exemptions to the concealed
weapons rule include sleeping in a tent, which is considered your
temporary home. Federal restrictions aim at a bigger picture. They do
not allow guns in many federal buildings, such as park visitor centers.
They also forbid hunting, target shooting or even firing a gun...
Another point of contention: A loaded firearm can be carried openly in
an unincorporated area without a concealed weapons permit, unless the
area forbids firing weapons. Yosemite officials say the park qualifies
as an unincorporated area with a gun-firing ban. But Stollenwerk said he
is not so sure Yosemite or any other national park can qualify for the
gun-firing ban under state laws. He said California's law could be
interpreted to apply only to local jurisdictions, such as counties, not
the federal government...
http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/03/22/1868629/fed-state-rules-blur-issue-of.html
More on California Open Carry Movement: A San Bruno man approached a
police officer he recognized one day last month and asked, "Jack, want
to check me?," referring to the holstered gun on his hip. The officer
checked the gun and found that it was unloaded--then arrested the man
for public intoxication. California law allows registered gun owners
such as 29-year-old Christian Gonzalez to carry their handguns in public
- even while drunk - as long as the weapons are holstered and unloaded.
Gonzalez, who pleaded not guilty to the public intoxication charge
Monday, is part of a movement across the Bay Area hoping to normalize
firearms in public that seems to be making small but steady progress...
(With friends like these...)
http://sfappeal.com/alley/2010/03/local-gun-advocates-move-to-normalize-firearms-in-public.php
---
Meanwhile, in Washington...: A Vancouver man was cited Friday for
wearing his pistol in a grocery store even though it's legal to carry a
gun in Washington and Oregon. The incident is part of a growing
controversy over what's called the "Open Carry" law and highlights the
debate over people openly wearing firearms in public places. While
police said it is legal in Washington and Oregon to openly carry
firearms in public places, Kurt Kirby was ticketed by Vancouver Police
on Friday outside an Albertsons on East 4th Plain after shopping with
his loaded semiautomatic pistol holstered on his waist. The owner of the
nearby martial arts studio called 9-1-1, and according to the police
report, the owner was alarmed because he teaches small children and was
concerned for their safety. The police officer cited Kirby under the law
that says it is wrong to carry a weapon if it "manifests an intent to
intimidate another or that warrants alarm for the safety of other
persons." ... (Generally, the law requires that fears be reasonable, in
order to justify a response. Phobias, by definition, are not reasonable,
hence the hoplophobia of the martial-arts instructor is not reasonable.
This is the same BS that gets people charged with disorderly conduct in
Las Vegas, where open carry is legal under state law.)
http://www.katu.com/news/local/88892207.html
---
Texas City to Auction Firearms: For the first time in the city's
history, it will hold a public auction online featuring thousands of
dollars worth of firearms. Rifles, shotguns, handguns and other types of
firearms will be sold as part of the auction being hosted by Assiter
Auctioneers. The auction is scheduled to start this afternoon and run
through April 6. The guns are mainly unclaimed property or were seized
by Amarillo police. All are in the legal possession of the city and in
varying condition. An appraiser valued the nearly 40 guns at more than
$7,100. Taylor Norman, the purchasing agent for Amarillo, said the
auction is a test to determine just how much revenue it can generate for
the city, but at the same time ensure the weapons are not being
purchased by criminals. He said it's also important the firearms are
re-registered with federal databases. Many of the weapons on the block
this year, he said, have been off federal registrations for so long
there is no record of their existence. City officials want the guns back
"on the books," he said... (I assume that these are not NFA-registerable
firearms, such as machine guns, suppressors and short-barrel rifles and
shotguns. Thus, it is not entirely accurate to refer to FFL logs and
subsequent BATF 4473 forms as a true database although they certainly
lead in that direction.)
http://www.amarillo.com/stories/032210/new_news4.shtml
---
Those "Cute" e-Mails: ... While this anecdote may be humorous at first
reading, it creates some potential problems for gun owners. First, why
give anti-rights proponents ammunition? How about if we use this as an
example to show why, after a certain age, people shouldn't be allowed to
own firearms? Of course, once such a law is in place, we can justify
declaring people under a certain age just as incompetent. Then we can
gradually raise the threshold and lower the ceiling until everybody is
either too old or too young to own firearms. Second, it introduces an
element of bigotry. Are we to consider elderly people too incompetent to
own firearms? Further, Snopes noted that variations of this email
included bias against black men, implying that if one finds them sitting
in a car in a parking lot, they must be up to no good. In any case, such
emails create more risk and reward. As with just about all email stories
arriving in your inbox, do a little research before unwittingly risking
damage to the cause of Liberty. Enough real threats exist, so if you
simply must relay an email, send one around that gets people politically
active.
http://www.examiner.com/x-2879-Austin-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2010m3d23-Think-before-sending-Some-emails-damage-gun-rights
---
Oops, Wrong Little Old Lady: An 82-year-old woman takes matters into her
own hands after she's attacked in a Wal-Mart parking lot in Sierra Vista
[AZ]. Police said the suspect Stephen Prickett beat the woman with her
own cane until she grabbed her gun from her purse and started firing...
She said she was just walking to her car with some groceries when she
was approached by the suspect. She said, "In a very mild voice he said,
'this is your day. You are too old to be alive anyway.'" Moments later
she said he grabbed her cane and started beating her and she's got the
bruises to prove it. She said, "I got boo boos where I didn't know I had
a place to put boo boos." She eventually went for the gun in her purse
and opened fire. She didn't hit him but said it still saved her life.
She said, "In the long run I think it saved me because if I hadn't shot
the thing no one would have known there was anything wrong and come
running." ... (As of two days ago, there were 153,209 valid CWP's in
Arizona. Of those, only 175 (approximately 0.1%) are held by women over
the age of 80.)
http://www.kvoa.com/news/82-year-old-fights-off-attacker/
http://www.examiner.com/x-18149-SelfDefense-Examiner~y2010m3d20-Armed-82-year-old-woman-fends-off-wouldbe-killer
---
Meanwhile, in California...: When confronted by a robber, police
encourage store clerks to comply with demands for money or items. Still,
an isolated number of liquor store and minimart employees take other
steps to protect themselves. An armed Modesto liquor store clerk shot
and killed a suspect in an attempted robbery late Friday night. Although
the would-be robber was armed, the Super Liquor cashier decided to fight
back... Officer Scott Nelson said people working at liquor stores, like
many businesses, can become targets of robberies. Late shifts also can
be dangerous. He advises workers to do whatever is ordered of them. "The
best thing they can do is give the robber the cash or items they
demand," Nelson said. "But they can also be a very good witness. We tell
them to calm down and remember descriptive information like moles or
tattoos and describe the direction of travel when (robbers) leave."
Neither the Super Liquor clerk or owner could be reached for comment
Monday. The store's video surveillance was being reviewed by police, but
officials doubt the clerk will be charged with a crime, Nelson said...
(And if you lie down on the floor to be executed, it will make an easier
crime scene for Nelson to investigate. Modesto is located in one of the
few counties in California's Central Valley which is rated unlikely to
issue a CWP to an average citizen.)
http://www.modbee.com/2010/03/23/1098583/police-warn-against-self-defense.html
---
Oops, Wrong Popeyes: Fearing for his life, a Popeyes Famous Fried
Chicken and Biscuits' manager in Covington [LA] wrestled a gun away from
a robber, then - after firing a warning shot into the ceiling - told him
to scram, police said... The manager, Connie Robinson, 34, told police
he was walking out of the store just before midnight on Sunday when he
was accosted by a man wearing a black ski mask and a dark-colored,
hooded sweatshirt, with the hood up, Covington Police spokesman Capt.
Jack West said. The assailant, described as about 5 feet 8 inches tall
with a slim build, was armed with a blue steel revolver, West said. The
man, who is still at large, ordered Robinson back into the business and
told him to open the safe, West said. As he attempted to open it, the
suspect told him he was going to kill him, and so, feeling he had
nothing to lose, Robinson attacked the gunman, West said. After a
struggle - which West described as fierce, saying both men were injured
- Robinson gained control of the gun and told the robber to leave. The
man then asked for his gun back and Robinson refused, firing one round
into the ceiling, which prompted the robber to flee, West said... (note
how much more common it is for victims to disarm criminals than vice versa.)
http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2010/03/popeyes_manager_fights_off_all.html
---
Rule Four Reminder: Investigators believe a Citrus Heights [CA] police
officer who shot and killed a suspect may also have wounded his own
partner. Police Sgt. Lee Herrington says no weapon was found on or near
the suspect's body. The officers had responded Saturday afternoon to a
domestic disturbance call and found a 35-year-old man in an alley who
appeared "intoxicated and belligerent." Herrington says one of the
officers opened fire after they failed to subdue him with stun guns and
the suspect charged them. The suspect was taken to the hospital, where
he died. His name has not been released.
Herrington says a male officer suffered a head injury and a female
officer was shot in the leg. Both have been placed on administrative
leave pending the investigation. (Rule Four: Always be sure of your
target and what's beyond it.)
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/ap/calif-cop-targeting-suspect-may-have-shot-partner-88870822.html
An Israeli soldier was accidentally shot dead by fellow soldiers along
the Gaza border on Monday in an operation aimed at stopping three
Palestinians who were thought to be trying to infiltrate the border
fence, an army spokesman said. The three, who were unarmed, were
detained. The shooting occurred when a tank team that saw the men along
the fence called for reinforcements. The new arrivals thought the
soldiers were the infiltrators and shot them. The army has opened an
investigation.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/23/world/middleeast/23briefs-Israelbf.html?ref=world
---
Tangentially Related: Not since Watergate's John Mitchell has a U.S.
attorney general prepared for a Senate appearance under fire on as many
different fronts as Eric H. Holder Jr. will face on April 14 before the
Senate Judiciary Committee. He deserves to feel the heat. On Friday,
Sens. Jeff Sessions, Alabama Republican, and Jon Kyl, Arizona
Republican, sent Mr. Holder a letter blasting him not just for failing
to turn over key briefs to the committee, but also for seeming to
obfuscate his true analysis of the subject covered in two of them. That
subject - the detainment and trial of known and suspected terrorists -
becomes more controversial with every passing day because of what the
senators called "national security risks associated with putting
terrorists into our civilian criminal justice system." ...On other
subjects, Mr. Holder has inflamed racial tensions by calling Americans
"a nation of cowards" about racial issues, has allowed his department to
tell black residents of Kinston, N.C., that they are too stupid to hold
the nonpartisan elections they chose in a referendum, and stonewalled
congressmen and the U.S. Civil Rights Commission after dropping
already-won voter-intimidation cases against the New Black Panther
Party. No wonder the senators think it is Mr. Holder who deserves to be
sharply interrogated. (Unfortunately, The Washington Times has given
Holder a pass on his call to reinstate the federal ban on "assault
weapons.")
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/mar/23/eric-holder-on-the-griddle/
Attorney General Eric Holder was scheduled to appear before the Senate
Judiciary Committee today. But less than 24 hours before the appearance,
committee Democrats sent out word that Holder's long-awaited testimony
has been rescheduled for April 14, after the Easter recess. Why? Word is
that it's because of the signing ceremony for the national health care
bill, but well-informed Republicans suspect the occasion may also have
given Democrats an opportunity to put off what could turn into another
embarrassing performance by the attorney general...
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Holder-Senate-testimony-postponed-delay-raises-questions-88895867.html
---
From AzCDL:
Your immediate action is needed to support SB 1108, the AzCDL-requested
Constitutional Carry bill, which eliminates the prohibition and
penalties for law-abiding adults who carry a concealed weapon without a
permit.
We are expecting SB 1108 to be placed on the Senate Committee of the
Whole (COW) agenda for March 23rd (tomorrow!). It is critical that you
immediately contact your Senator and urge them to support SB 1108 during
the COW debate. A letter is waiting to be sent by you at AzCDL's Action
Center:
http://capwiz.com/azcdl/issues/alert/?alertid=14820506 .
On March 18th both Constitutional Carry bills (SB 1108 & HB 2347) were
scheduled for debate in their respective chamber's Committee of the
Whole (COW). Both were pulled from the calendar to be rescheduled, for
a very good reason. On March 17th the Governor's staff requested some
minor changes that they felt would improve the chance of Constitutional
Carry becoming law. SB 1108 has now been rescheduled for COW debate
tomorrow, March 23rd.
If you haven't contacted your Senator on SB 1108 please don't hesitate
any longer. Your letter to send to your Senator is waiting for you at
AzCDL's Action Center.
http://capwiz.com/azcdl/issues/alert/?alertid=14820506 .
Stay tuned! When critical legislation moves, we will notify you via
these Alerts.
If you want to get legislative news as it happens, follow AzCDL on
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/AzCDL_Alerts .
AzCDL "tweets" from the Capitol with committee votes and breaking news
as it happens.
You can also follow AzCDL on Facebook:
http://tinyurl.com/FacebookAzCDL .
AzCDL's Political Action Committee (PAC) is also on Facebook:
http://tinyurl.com/FacebookAzCDLPAC .
These alerts are a project of the Arizona Citizens Defense League
(AzCDL), an all volunteer, non-profit, non-partisan grassroots
organization. Join today!
http://www.azcdl.org/html/join_us_.html .
AzCDL - Protecting Your Freedom
http://www.azcdl.org/html/accomplishments.html .
Copyright � 2010 Arizona Citizens Defense League, Inc., all rights
reserved.
--
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
