The Beat Winds Down?: In the past few years, as the U.S. economy
faltered, demand for firearms skyrocketed: People worried that high
unemployment would lead to an increase in crime. Then, when President
Obama was elected, gun rights supporters feared that the new
administration would clamp down on their right to bear arms, which lead
to another gun sales spike. But both of those fears have eased, and
demand for guns and ammunition is weakening. The FBI's National Instant
Criminal Background Check System was used for 1.30 million background
checks in March 2010, down from 1.34 million a year earlier, according
to the National Shooting Sports Foundation. In 2008, there was an 18%
increase, and in the month after Obama's election, background checks
skyrocketed by 42%. Obama was even named "Gun Salesman of the Year" by
one pundit... Meanwhile, the firearms and munitions industry must
adjust, but though its growth will no longer be explosive, it is hardly
on the decline. "We really don't know what the new normal will be, but
will be higher than it was in 2008," says Bill Brassard, an NSSF
spokesman, in an interview. (I hope that gunners have learned the lesson
not to get caught short on ammunition and reloading components.)
http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/company-news/gun-sales-go-soft-as-economy-improves-fears-subside/19437972/
---
Speaking Of...: Jason Klinner went to the Quincy [IL] Plan Commission
Tuesday night with a request to sell firearms or firearm accessories
from his home. Commission members voted to reverse a staff
recommendation to deny the request, but added a stipulation that Klinner
could not have any ammunition on the property. "That's not acceptable. I
have my own firearms on the property," said Klinner, who had already
said that no ammunition would be sold from his home. Commission member
David Barnard told Klinner that "guns are a bad thing to a lot of
people" and the no-ammunition provision was one possible way to get his
special permit. It passed on a voice vote with two dissenters. Only
eight commissioners were present... Klinner said the Department of
Planning and Development had told him that only one special permit has
been issued for private firearms dealers working out of their homes.
Klinner then presented a list of nine Quincy residents who have similar
in-home operations as reported on the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and
Firearms Web site...
http://www.whig.com/story/news/plan-commission-041410
http://www.examiner.com/x-43006-Quincy-Libertarian-Examiner~y2010m4d14-Antigun-Quincy-officials-tell-man-he-can-sell-firearms-if-he-removes-all-ammo-from-his-property
---
Second Amendment March: If one believed all of the vitriol that has
been, and is being generated against the upcoming Second Amendment March
in Washington, D.C. next Monday, April 19, one might expect a parade of
gun-toting Klansmen marching down Pennsylvania Avenue. It appears to be
an unfortunate aspect of life in America that one cannot simply engage
in a rational conversation on a hot political topic. Civility has been
replaced by the politics of destruction, and nowhere is this more
evident than in the mounting criticism of the upcoming rally... From
campaigning to keep legally-armed citizens out of Starbucks coffee
shops, to portraying gun rights activists as a potentially dangerous
mob, there appears to be a concerted, though not necessarily
coordinated, effort to marginalize firearms owners as a bunch of
extremist loons. Seeing that level of obsessive demonization from the
Left leaves one to demand an explanation...
http://www.examiner.com/x-4525-Seattle-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2010m4d14-Vitriol-approaching-fever-pitch-as-2A-march-looms
Ohioans For Concealed Carry Executive Director Dan White and
Vice-President Bryan Torok report that the Ohio Second Amendment March
was a huge success. A substantial number of people between 250 and 500
gathered on Capitol Square at the Ohio Statehouse, many of them openly
carrying handguns and long guns. The speakers were well received by the
crowd and the significant law enforcement presence was clearly evident
from the Columbus PD, the Ohio Highway Patrol, and the Columbus PD
Mounted Unit on horseback. We could have told them there was no need for
crowd control - this was a group of law abiding gun owners, not code
pink or some other antagonistic gathering. We came to hear the Ohio
Attorney General, Nikki Goeser, Skip Coryell from SAM, and other invited
guests speak while showing our elected officials we are here and we vote...
http://www.ammoland.com/2010/04/14/350-with-guns-make-ohio-second-amendment-march-a-huge-success/
---
Gun Locks Versus Training: In a four-part series last week, we explored
physicians advising patients who own guns to lock them up and keep them
separate from ammunition. My main objection, aside from most doctors
being unqualified to dispense gun safety advice, is that it renders guns
useless should you need them. Does that mean I'm against locking up all
guns? Of course not. I've never recommended "one size fits all" for gun
storage. I'm merely observing that if you find yourself in a situation
where you need a gun immediately, chances are the reason for that need
isn't going to wait for you to go and get it. And then load it... What I
am against is people thinking that's enough, that a mere device is an
acceptable substitute for training and knowledge of their particular
circumstances, needs and level of preparedness. There's the quote
attributed to Gene Brown that "Foolproof systems don't take into account
the ingenuity of fools," and we find unintended consequences in life
bearing that out...
http://www.examiner.com/x-1417-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2010m4d14-Police-gun-lock-program-no-substitute-for-knowledge
---
Rule Five Reminder: ... Last week, Minnesota came within a horrifying
hair's breadth of yet another fatal school shooting. On April 5, a
14-year-old boy with a history of emotional problems and violent
tendencies walked through Hastings Middle School brandishing a
22-caliber handgun. Like McLaughlin and Weise, he'd had little trouble
getting his hands on a firearm. According to authorities, the weapon
belonged to his foster family. Only "by the grace of God, no one was
hurt," said Tim Connell, the school police officer who tackled the
youth. After this near-miss, the Minnesota Legislature is considering a
bill, championed by Rep. Sandra Peterson, DFL-New Hope, that would
strengthen penalties for bringing a gun to school. While the bill is
well-intentioned, the reality is that increasing the fine and prison
sentence won't likely deter a troubled kid. The real solution is rooted
in common sense: keeping guns out of kids' hands in the first place.
(Rule Five: Maintain control of your firearm. This is a challenging
issue for parents and guardians. It is equally tragic if the law denies
youngsters access to a firearm they may need for self-defense inside the
home [a specific exemption from the federal prohibition of handguns by
juveniles, under 18 USC � 922(x)(3)(D)]. Adolescents are vulnerable to
emotional shifts that may not be readily apparent.)
http://www.startribune.com/opinion/editorials/90792869.html?elr=KArks7PYDiaK7DUqEiaDUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU
---
Website Debates Lawful CCW: ProCon.org, a nonpartisan 501(c)3 nonprofit
public charity dedicated to promoting critical thinking, created the new
website
http://concealedguns.procon.org to explore the core question
"Should adults have the right to carry a concealed handgun?" Carrying a
concealed handgun in public is permitted by non-law enforcement
officials in 48 states as of Mar. 12, 2010. Two states (Wisconsin and
Illinois), and Washington, DC do not allow concealed carry except by
active and retired law enforcement officers, although Wisconsin permits
openly carrying firearms in public. In 1986, 35 states had provisions
for concealed carry and eight of these states had "shall-issue" laws. On
May 12, 1987, Florida, a "may-issue" state, passed a "shall-issue" law
that stripped law enforcement of discretion in issuing permits.
Following a campaign by the National Rifle Association (NRA), 28 states
followed Florida's lead and adopted "shall-issue" laws between 1987 and
2009. As of Mar. 18, 2010, 35 states have passed "shall-issue" laws...
(While the 1987 reform of Florida's permit system is generally credited
with initiating the bulk of the nationwide shift to shall-issue permits,
prior to that five other states were already shall-issue by statute, one
[Alabama] by practice and one [Vermont] has never required a permit.)
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/should-adults-have-the-right-to-carry-a-concealed-handgun-new-website-researches-pros-and-cons-in-concealed-carry-debate-90860679.html
http://concealedguns.procon.org/
---
Disposition of Firearms after Felony Conviction: Felons can't lawfully
possess guns - does it mean they can't even arrange for their sale, and
that the court may just order them destroyed? That seems to have been
the government's view in United States v. Brown (D.N.H. Apr. 9, 2010),
and at least one court has apparently taken this view, but the court in
this case disagreed (some paragraph breaks added): "...Senior Judge
Longstaff's pragmatic solution to this problem is the appropriate one:
the court, exercising equitable powers, may order the transfer of title
to firearms lawfully owned by a person later convicted of a felony
(which are not subject to forfeiture or confiscation as contraband) for
the felon-owner's benefit. See United States v. Approximately 627
Firearms, 589 F.Supp.2d 1129, 1140 (S.D.Iowa 2008) (quoting Cooper, 904
F.2d at 306 ("We see no reason that a court ... could not order a sale
for the account of a claimant who ... legally could not possess
firearms, were forfeiture to be denied for any reason.")); United States
v. Seifuddin, 820 F.2d 1074 (9th Cir.1987) (convicted felons retain a
non-possessory interest in seized firearms). That approach precludes
convicted felons from constructively possessing firearms (to the extent
that term can be teased to include transferring mere legal title); it
precludes a convicted felon from unilaterally dictating or directing
disposition, as some courts have found objectionable; it avoids serious
constitutional issues arising under the Takings Clause; and it fully
protects the felon-owner's legitimate property interests in a manner
consistent with applicable criminal law."
http://volokh.com/2010/04/14/the-second-amendment-and-the-takings-clause/
---
Pennsylvania County May Amend Ordinance: Westmoreland County
commissioners are considering an ordinance that would legalize guns in
county parks. Officials said Wednesday the proposal would update a 1974
code that generally outlawed firearms at the parks but allowed guns in
specific areas for hunting. Solicitor R. Mark Gesalman said that
ordinance, amended in 1995, conflicts with a state law that permits guns
in public places. "In Pennsylvania, you cannot restrict somebody's right
to carry a firearm, except in restricted areas like courthouses,"
Gesalman said. The proposal strips existing language from the code that
specifically bans guns from the parks. The revised ordinance would allow
guns in all areas of county parks, but permits the discharge of firearms
only in designated hunting areas...
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/westmoreland/s_676547.html
---
Open-Carry Backlash in California: Could tactics used by the "open
carry" movement backfire? Assemblywoman Lori Salda�a, D-San Diego, and
allies of legislation she introduced Wednesday to ban the public display
of unloaded weapons believe so. State law permitting Californians to
display their empty-chamber firearms has been on the books since about
1968, drawing little attention... "It wasn't a problem we had to deal
with. As it's become more prevalent over the last two years, we've had
to deal with it," said Emeryville Police Chief Ken James, whose
statewide law enforcement organization supports the measure. "If we
hadn't had a lot of these open-carry events, police chiefs probably
wouldn't be involved in it," he added. Salda�a cited an open-carry event
in Pacific Beach last year as alerting her to the need for a ban on
displaying guns, even unloaded, in public. There, with thousands of
people at the beach on a Saturday, about 60 members of the movement
walked along the boardwalk... (Note that the open carry of loaded
firearms [in public places] in California was banned in response to a
demonstration at the capitol by armed Black Panthers, a bill signed by
then-governor Ronald Reagan.)
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/apr/15/state-bill-would-end-open-carry-gun-rights/
---
Arizona Gunners Defend Constitutional Carry: When a Tucson firearms
instructor called a new gun bill "stupid" on TV, it set off predictable
objections from some gun-rights advocates. When the owner of the store
where the instructor works also criticized Arizona's new concealed-carry
bill - which only needs the governor's signature to become law - that
raised the heat in the debate... Now the gun owner who first objected,
Tucsonan David Bliss, is organizing a protest at the gun store and
shooting range, Marksman Pistol Institute, 5051 E. 29th St... The
exchange got hotter when Bliss responded: "It boils down to this. You
either respect the constitution or you don't. You either promote
individual liberty or you promote slavery. There is no grey area.
Freedom is an absolute." In her response, O'Connell accused Bliss of
misquoting her and said "It is my responsibility to protect my patrons.
This [the new law] means now I have to watch even closer the nutcakes
who wave guns in the air and act like total testosterone-filled
jackasses." That's when Bliss decided to launch his protest, this
Saturday morning. As of today, the protest had 19 confirmed attendees.
(The term "constitutional carry" actually refers to the state
constitution, which states, "The right of the individual citizen to bear
arms in defense of himself or the state shall not be impaired..." What
we've got here is basically a business and its employee seeking to use a
state law to continue to provide a market for their instructional
service. Arizonans who opt to carry firearms in exposed holsters,
without permits, have not shown a tendency to "wave guns in the air and
act like total testosterone-filled jackasses."
http://azstarnet.com/news/blogs/senor-reporter/article_8d57d648-47fb-11df-b7db-001cc4c03286.html
---
In the Aftermath of a Shooting: Carl Mintz, the 27-year-old Farmington
Hills man accused of shooting a fellow driver who approached his car
during an altercation, on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to charges of
assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder and felony
firearm. Farmington Hills police say both men were traveling north on
Orchard Lake Road on Monday afternoon when Mintz irked the 20-year-old
driver behind him by tapping his brakes repeatedly. The victim
approached Mintz's car, the two exchanged words and Mintz shot him in
the arm... Fox 2 spoke with his brother Monday, who said Mintz has "been
very angry lately," citing the fact that both their parents have died in
the past decade. The television station now reports Mintz is a regular
YouTube commentator who has uploaded a number of hate-filled videos,
typically targeting Islam... (Without attempting to divine the merits of
the case, note how YouTube postings enter, as a minimum, into the press
coverage, as can forum postings, etc.)
http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2010/04/farmington_hills_road_rage_sus.html
---
When Guns Are Outlawed: A former police firearms instructor arrested
after he "inadvertently" kept two bullets has been fined �450. At an
earlier hearing Sergeant Steven Campbell, 40, from Hamilton, admitted
having the ammunition without the necessary paperwork. The serving
officer was given an additional fine of �300 for assaulting a women at a
farm in Lanarkshire... "She made, amongst others, an allegation that the
accused kept ammunition at the house, albeit two bullets." Mr Ogg said
two cartridges were later seized which Campbell would have "perfectly
lawfully" had access to at work. He was a firearms instructor at the
force training centre at Jackton, South Lanarkshire... Campbell's QC
Paul McBride previously told the court that the police officer had
"inadvertently" took the bullets home with him. Mr McBride said: "He was
absent minded having attended some police training events. "He had taken
them, had planned to return them to the police, but forgot to do so."
The lawyer said Campbell acted Campbell acted out of "sheer frustration"
when he assaulted the woman...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8617307.stm
---
Tangentially Related: The White House very quickly got out in front of a
story. There is no truth to the rumors that President Obama might name
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to the Supreme Court. The president
has the highest respect for his onetime rival for the Democratic
presidential nomination, we are assured. But why did the administration
go out of its way to shoot down this particular trial balloon? They
didn't jump up to say no, they would not be naming outgoing Michigan
Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D) or current Secretary of Homeland Security
Janet Napolitano (D). Or even HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Why did
they jump up so fast to jump down on the name of Hillary? Well, the
summer might already see a battle over this nomination. With Stevens
leaving after nearly thirty-five years on the Court, his replacement is
sure to raise a storm of controversy. Do they really want more? ...
http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/04/what_no_hillary.html
--
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
