Stephen P. Wenger http://www.spw-duf.info
comments in () by Stephen P. Wenger
comments in () by Stephen P. Wenger
Gun Owners Need Year-Round Commitment: Historically, politicians from all over the political spectrum have had a rather annoying habit of acknowledging the existence of firearms owners and gun rights groups only when they need their votes. While that's not a rule carved in stone, it is hardly a rare situation. I recall a certain long-term congressman from a western state who, years ago facing re-election, arranged through a staffer to have his photograph taken to appear on the cover of a now-defunct outdoors publication. So the congressman shows up, somebody hands him a shotgun that was not his, and a pheasant that he did not shoot and poses him in front of a tree in the alley behind the building so he could extol his support for sportsmen. And ever since, that guy has not supported a single major pro-gun bill… It is not enough for Democrats or Republicans to claim they "support the Second Amendment." That kind of rhetoric is cheap and meaningless, and it is dished out by people who think American gun owners are a stupid lot that meet the stereotype depicted in all too many anti-gun editorial cartoons, that of a paranoid fool. You know, the kind of conservative whack job that candidate Barack Obama whined about at a 2008 San Francisco fund raiser, people who "get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them." …
http://www.examiner.com/x-4525-Seattle-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m9d16-At-some-point-gun-owners-must-wonder-if-theyre-being-played
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Senate Approves Checked Firearms on Amtrak: The Senate voted on Wednesday to allow Amtrak passengers to carry unloaded and locked handguns in checked baggage, even though Amtrak officials had raised concerns that the proposal could present "numerous challenges." The provision, which was introduced by Senator Roger Wicker, Republican, as an amendment to a housing and transportation spending bill, is the latest in a string of Senate votes aimed at expanding gun rights. It passed 68-30, with a group of 27 Democrats and one independent, mostly from states where gun rights are widely supported, joining all 40 Republicans in voting for the measure… The House has already passed the spending bill without the gun amendment, so it remains to be seen whether the provision will make it into the final version of the legislation.
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/16/senate-votes-to-ok-guns-on-amtrak/?ref=politics
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The Beat Goes On: Background checks on the sale of firearms were up 12.3 percent in August, according to data released by the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). A total of 1,074,757 checks were reported for the month, up from 956,872 in August 2008. FBI background checks are required under federal law for all individuals purchasing either newly manufactured or used firearms from federally licensed retailers. As such, the checks serve as a gauge of sales but do not reflect the actual number of firearms produced or sold. The increase coincides with a rise in excise taxes reported by firearms and ammunition manufacturers, another key economic indicator for the firearms industry.
http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/node/6867
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Will These Eventually Be "Traced" to Border-State Gun Shows?: …Smith & Wesson has supplied 820 of its M&P15 tactical rifles to the Police of the Federal District of Mexico, as well as 1,500 of its M&P15 rifles to Mexico's Department of Energy. The company has commenced armorer's training for each agency, as well as range training for those specialized officers who will be authorized to carry the new patrol rifles. Leland Nichols, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Smith & Wesson Corp., said, "We are proud to continue our successful relationship with the Police of the Federal District of Mexico and Mexico's Department of Energy, as well as a number of other law enforcement agencies throughout Mexico." (Mexico's entire governmental structure is completely porous to corruption. I will not be surprised, when these rifles start being seized from Mexican drug gangs, to see the Mexican government, with complete collusion on the part of Eric Holder, Janet Napolitano and F Troop, once again blame their presence in Mexico on lax American firearm laws.)
http://www.gunreports.com/news/news/Smith-Wesson-Mexico-Police-MP15_1531-1.html?ET=gunreports:e525:183810a:&st=email
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Professional Prohibitionist Defeated in New York: Yesterday's primary defeat of career anti-gunner Richard Aborn in his race to become Manhattan's District Attorney shows that even residents of a city with some of the strictest gun laws in the nation reject the gun control philosophy espoused by Aborn and those who supported him, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms said Wednesday. Aborn, a former president of Handgun Control Inc. – now known as The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence – ran primarily on his gun control record. He collected only 26 percent of the vote. "Keeping guns out of the hands of law-abiding citizens may appeal to demagogues like New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy," noted CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb, "but it doesn't play well with average citizens who are tired of being victimized, not only by criminals, but by the very laws that people of Aborn's ilk have forced on them…
http://www.ccrkba.org/pub/rkba/press-releases/aborn.htm
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Yakima City Council Debates Bloomberg-Group Membership: …Instead of adjourning, Edler said he wanted to talk about his membership in the national gun control group Mayors Against Illegal Guns and a proposed forum in Yakima on gun crime. Repeating comments he made Monday, Edler complained of being "inundated" with calls and e-mails from members of the National Rifle Association over his membership in the mayors group. In that context, he asked his colleagues if they wanted him to "refrain" from hosting the forum. Officials in some of Washington's biggest cities, including Seattle, reportedly want to attend. After insisting that he "absolutely" knew what he was getting into when he joined the group, Edler stressed his belief that the organization's No. 1 goal is to enforce laws already in place…The comments led to an immedidate rebuke from Councilman Bill Lover, who said he was offended Edler joined a national organization without permission from the rest of the council… Over Councilman Micah Cawley's objection, the council eventually voted 4-1 to let Edler stay in the mayors gun group. (Members of the council also said they support Yakima serving as host of the gun crime forum.) …
http://www.yakima-herald.com/blogs/checks-balances/posts/23356
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Bringing a Baseball Bat to a Gunfight: Police say a man shot an intruder who was armed with a baseball bat Tuesday night. Mark Farrell, 24, of Beatty, entered Jim Westman's house armed with a wooden baseball bat, said Klamath Falls Sheriff Timothy Evinger in a news release. Farrell attempted to assault Westman with the bat and Westman fired one round from a .22-caliber rifle, which hit Farrell in the right forearm. Farrell continued to assault Westman after he was shot, Evinger said. Roxann Klobucar, Westman's mother, was able to wrestle the bat from Farrell. Klobucar hit Farrell several times in the head until he was subdued, Evinger said. Prior to entering the house, Farrell damaged Westman's vehicle with the bat, Evinger said. Evinger said the motive appears related to a theft from Farrell about a month ago… (While peripheral hits are often of limited value, this would seem to be even more true of peripheral hits with a .22.)
http://www.kptv.com/news/20816201/detail.html
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Oops, Wrong House, Florida Version: Two attempted armed robbery suspects were hospitalized with multiple gunshot wounds after the man police said they tried to rob shot them. According to police, Christopher Young, 38, and William Bell, 31, went into the home of Dane Rollins, 34, early Sunday morning armed with handguns. Police said after the suspects stole cash, Rollins grabbed his shotgun and went after them. The two suspects fled, but police said they later found them with several gunshot wounds. The men were taken to Halifax Medical Center. Rollins was not hurt. Police said shocked neighbors witnessed the entire gunfight. "'Boom, boom, boom!' Then I came outside and hear a neighbor yelling to get out of the house," said neighbor Jonathan Smith… (I have to wonder with what sort of load the burglars were shot and where they were hit. While buckshot and slugs do not guarantee incapacitation, birdshot is not a good choice for self- or home defense, contrary to the advice of many chairborne rangers.)
http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2009/9/14/homeowner_fires_back_at_armed_robbery_suspects.html?refresh=1
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Oops, Wrong House, Georgia Version: A burglar who broke into a Lithonia home was shot in the buttocks by the homeowner, police said. The burglary happened at about 11:30 a.m. at the home on Gadwell Circle. The intruder was taken to a hospital with moderate injuries, police said. The intruder's name was not released. Investigators said no charges are expected to be filed against the homeowner, who was not identified by police. (The historical basis for my advocacy of shots to the pelvis stems from the NYPD Stakeout Unit, which sought advice from the medical examiner on how to keep armed robbers from taking gunfights out of the businesses they were robbing, onto crowded sidewalks. Jim Cirillo assured me that every felon shot in the pelvic area by members of the SOU fell to the ground. I note that no mention is made of the police having arrested the burglar anywhere other than the home where he was shot.)
http://www.cbsatlanta.com/news/20836107/detail.html
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Oops, Wrong House, Wisconsin Version: The Dane County Coroner's Office has identified the man killed Wednesday afternoon in an apparent home invasion in Fitchburg as Roberto Vega-Gil, 42, of Madison. Preliminary autopsy results indicate Vega-Gil died of a single gunshot wound, said interim Coroner Kurt Karbusicky. Police said they believe Vega-Gil was trying to break into a home at 2969 Osmundsen Road when he was shot and killed by one of the home's residents, Jamie Chen, 41, shortly before 2 p.m. Wednesday. Vega-Gil is not believed to have been armed at the time he was shot, police said. According to police, Vega-Gil was wearing gloves, and there was evidence of forced entry to the residence… No charges are pending against Chen, who is the son of the home's owners, Peter and Mei Chen, police said.
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/crime_and_courts/article_b4185a76-a2fd-11de-8aa7-001cc4c002e0.html
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Oops, Wrong Businessman: Starkville [MS] Police Department detectives say they are tracking several leads in the early Saturday morning robbery attempt that saw the victim fire gunshots at the suspect who tried to hold him up. Around 5:30 a.m. Saturday, the owner of Starkville Ready Cash on Highway 12 West was arriving at the business to prepare to open for the day when a black male approached him, pointing a handgun at him. The owner, whose name SPD detectives would not release amid concerns for his safety, then pulled out a handgun of his own and fired multiple shots at the suspect, but none struck him, said Sgt. Chadd Garnett. The owner had begun carrying the gun after previous break-ins and robbery attempts at the business, Garnett said. The suspect then ran behind the building and fled north toward a neighboring residential area, Garnett said. Nothing was stolen in the robbery attempt, and no one was injured, Garnett said… (All's well that ends well but those rounds that missed the robber all ended up somewhere. It sounds as though some more training may be in order.)
http://www.starkvilledailynews.com/content/view/170131/60/
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Rule Four Reminder: A man who a Phoenix police officer shot after mistaking him for an armed intruder filed a complaint Wednesday in Maricopa County Superior Court, six months after he filed a notice of a claim seeking $5.75 million… Arambula, 36, who was armed and holding the intruder at bay, suffered gunshot wounds to his back and arm. The complaint alleged that Lilly shot him twice as he lay bleeding on the floor of his living room, his wife and two young sons nearby. Lilly shot Arambula after officers chased armed gunman Angel Anastacio Canales into the neighborhood. Canales, who was wanted in connection with a shots-fired call in the same area, had broken into the home and was hiding in the room of Arambula's 12-year-old son. Canales was arrested… According to the complaint, Lilly claimed he fired because he was fearful for his safety after seeing an armed Hispanic man at the end of the dark hallway, even though Lilly admitted that the gun was not pointed toward him. (Rule Four: Always be sure of your target and what's beyond it. Unfortunately, a lot of training may condition officers to shoot anyone holding a gun who is not in uniform or holding a badge. This is why I emphasize that a holster should allow one-handed reholstering without the need to take your eyes off the threat – getting the gun back into the holster, the moment it's safe to do so, is a crucial step once police arrive on the scene.)
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2009/09/17/20090917arambula0917.html
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Gun Rights iPhone App: With the current political climate and the dynamic nature of firearms laws throughout the nation, it is essential that those who care about our Second Amendment Right to Bear Arms maintain a constant watch on those that seek to diminish that right. With major media either not reporting or under-reporting important firearms related news, it is often difficult to know what is happening to our rights until it is too late. With that in mind, Davis & Associates created the Gun Rights iPhone Application to keep concerned citizens up to date and informed. The Gun Rights iPhone application by Davis & Associates (gunrightsapp.com) gives readers instant access to firearms related news, media, gunshows, and important updates with links to the related articles and personalization options for the iPhone and iPod touch models. Available for free at the iPhone App Store, the Gun Rights iPhone application allows users to take advantage of the advanced capabilities of the iPhone and iPod touch user interface…
http://www.newswiretoday.com/news/57349/
http://www.examiner.com/x-4525-Seattle-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m9d16-At-some-point-gun-owners-must-wonder-if-theyre-being-played
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Senate Approves Checked Firearms on Amtrak: The Senate voted on Wednesday to allow Amtrak passengers to carry unloaded and locked handguns in checked baggage, even though Amtrak officials had raised concerns that the proposal could present "numerous challenges." The provision, which was introduced by Senator Roger Wicker, Republican, as an amendment to a housing and transportation spending bill, is the latest in a string of Senate votes aimed at expanding gun rights. It passed 68-30, with a group of 27 Democrats and one independent, mostly from states where gun rights are widely supported, joining all 40 Republicans in voting for the measure… The House has already passed the spending bill without the gun amendment, so it remains to be seen whether the provision will make it into the final version of the legislation.
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/16/senate-votes-to-ok-guns-on-amtrak/?ref=politics
---
The Beat Goes On: Background checks on the sale of firearms were up 12.3 percent in August, according to data released by the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). A total of 1,074,757 checks were reported for the month, up from 956,872 in August 2008. FBI background checks are required under federal law for all individuals purchasing either newly manufactured or used firearms from federally licensed retailers. As such, the checks serve as a gauge of sales but do not reflect the actual number of firearms produced or sold. The increase coincides with a rise in excise taxes reported by firearms and ammunition manufacturers, another key economic indicator for the firearms industry.
http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/node/6867
---
Will These Eventually Be "Traced" to Border-State Gun Shows?: …Smith & Wesson has supplied 820 of its M&P15 tactical rifles to the Police of the Federal District of Mexico, as well as 1,500 of its M&P15 rifles to Mexico's Department of Energy. The company has commenced armorer's training for each agency, as well as range training for those specialized officers who will be authorized to carry the new patrol rifles. Leland Nichols, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Smith & Wesson Corp., said, "We are proud to continue our successful relationship with the Police of the Federal District of Mexico and Mexico's Department of Energy, as well as a number of other law enforcement agencies throughout Mexico." (Mexico's entire governmental structure is completely porous to corruption. I will not be surprised, when these rifles start being seized from Mexican drug gangs, to see the Mexican government, with complete collusion on the part of Eric Holder, Janet Napolitano and F Troop, once again blame their presence in Mexico on lax American firearm laws.)
http://www.gunreports.com/news/news/Smith-Wesson-Mexico-Police-MP15_1531-1.html?ET=gunreports:e525:183810a:&st=email
---
Professional Prohibitionist Defeated in New York: Yesterday's primary defeat of career anti-gunner Richard Aborn in his race to become Manhattan's District Attorney shows that even residents of a city with some of the strictest gun laws in the nation reject the gun control philosophy espoused by Aborn and those who supported him, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms said Wednesday. Aborn, a former president of Handgun Control Inc. – now known as The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence – ran primarily on his gun control record. He collected only 26 percent of the vote. "Keeping guns out of the hands of law-abiding citizens may appeal to demagogues like New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy," noted CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb, "but it doesn't play well with average citizens who are tired of being victimized, not only by criminals, but by the very laws that people of Aborn's ilk have forced on them…
http://www.ccrkba.org/pub/rkba/press-releases/aborn.htm
---
Yakima City Council Debates Bloomberg-Group Membership: …Instead of adjourning, Edler said he wanted to talk about his membership in the national gun control group Mayors Against Illegal Guns and a proposed forum in Yakima on gun crime. Repeating comments he made Monday, Edler complained of being "inundated" with calls and e-mails from members of the National Rifle Association over his membership in the mayors group. In that context, he asked his colleagues if they wanted him to "refrain" from hosting the forum. Officials in some of Washington's biggest cities, including Seattle, reportedly want to attend. After insisting that he "absolutely" knew what he was getting into when he joined the group, Edler stressed his belief that the organization's No. 1 goal is to enforce laws already in place…The comments led to an immedidate rebuke from Councilman Bill Lover, who said he was offended Edler joined a national organization without permission from the rest of the council… Over Councilman Micah Cawley's objection, the council eventually voted 4-1 to let Edler stay in the mayors gun group. (Members of the council also said they support Yakima serving as host of the gun crime forum.) …
http://www.yakima-herald.com/blogs/checks-balances/posts/23356
---
Bringing a Baseball Bat to a Gunfight: Police say a man shot an intruder who was armed with a baseball bat Tuesday night. Mark Farrell, 24, of Beatty, entered Jim Westman's house armed with a wooden baseball bat, said Klamath Falls Sheriff Timothy Evinger in a news release. Farrell attempted to assault Westman with the bat and Westman fired one round from a .22-caliber rifle, which hit Farrell in the right forearm. Farrell continued to assault Westman after he was shot, Evinger said. Roxann Klobucar, Westman's mother, was able to wrestle the bat from Farrell. Klobucar hit Farrell several times in the head until he was subdued, Evinger said. Prior to entering the house, Farrell damaged Westman's vehicle with the bat, Evinger said. Evinger said the motive appears related to a theft from Farrell about a month ago… (While peripheral hits are often of limited value, this would seem to be even more true of peripheral hits with a .22.)
http://www.kptv.com/news/20816201/detail.html
---
Oops, Wrong House, Florida Version: Two attempted armed robbery suspects were hospitalized with multiple gunshot wounds after the man police said they tried to rob shot them. According to police, Christopher Young, 38, and William Bell, 31, went into the home of Dane Rollins, 34, early Sunday morning armed with handguns. Police said after the suspects stole cash, Rollins grabbed his shotgun and went after them. The two suspects fled, but police said they later found them with several gunshot wounds. The men were taken to Halifax Medical Center. Rollins was not hurt. Police said shocked neighbors witnessed the entire gunfight. "'Boom, boom, boom!' Then I came outside and hear a neighbor yelling to get out of the house," said neighbor Jonathan Smith… (I have to wonder with what sort of load the burglars were shot and where they were hit. While buckshot and slugs do not guarantee incapacitation, birdshot is not a good choice for self- or home defense, contrary to the advice of many chairborne rangers.)
http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2009/9/14/homeowner_fires_back_at_armed_robbery_suspects.html?refresh=1
---
Oops, Wrong House, Georgia Version: A burglar who broke into a Lithonia home was shot in the buttocks by the homeowner, police said. The burglary happened at about 11:30 a.m. at the home on Gadwell Circle. The intruder was taken to a hospital with moderate injuries, police said. The intruder's name was not released. Investigators said no charges are expected to be filed against the homeowner, who was not identified by police. (The historical basis for my advocacy of shots to the pelvis stems from the NYPD Stakeout Unit, which sought advice from the medical examiner on how to keep armed robbers from taking gunfights out of the businesses they were robbing, onto crowded sidewalks. Jim Cirillo assured me that every felon shot in the pelvic area by members of the SOU fell to the ground. I note that no mention is made of the police having arrested the burglar anywhere other than the home where he was shot.)
http://www.cbsatlanta.com/news/20836107/detail.html
---
Oops, Wrong House, Wisconsin Version: The Dane County Coroner's Office has identified the man killed Wednesday afternoon in an apparent home invasion in Fitchburg as Roberto Vega-Gil, 42, of Madison. Preliminary autopsy results indicate Vega-Gil died of a single gunshot wound, said interim Coroner Kurt Karbusicky. Police said they believe Vega-Gil was trying to break into a home at 2969 Osmundsen Road when he was shot and killed by one of the home's residents, Jamie Chen, 41, shortly before 2 p.m. Wednesday. Vega-Gil is not believed to have been armed at the time he was shot, police said. According to police, Vega-Gil was wearing gloves, and there was evidence of forced entry to the residence… No charges are pending against Chen, who is the son of the home's owners, Peter and Mei Chen, police said.
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/crime_and_courts/article_b4185a76-a2fd-11de-8aa7-001cc4c002e0.html
---
Oops, Wrong Businessman: Starkville [MS] Police Department detectives say they are tracking several leads in the early Saturday morning robbery attempt that saw the victim fire gunshots at the suspect who tried to hold him up. Around 5:30 a.m. Saturday, the owner of Starkville Ready Cash on Highway 12 West was arriving at the business to prepare to open for the day when a black male approached him, pointing a handgun at him. The owner, whose name SPD detectives would not release amid concerns for his safety, then pulled out a handgun of his own and fired multiple shots at the suspect, but none struck him, said Sgt. Chadd Garnett. The owner had begun carrying the gun after previous break-ins and robbery attempts at the business, Garnett said. The suspect then ran behind the building and fled north toward a neighboring residential area, Garnett said. Nothing was stolen in the robbery attempt, and no one was injured, Garnett said… (All's well that ends well but those rounds that missed the robber all ended up somewhere. It sounds as though some more training may be in order.)
http://www.starkvilledailynews.com/content/view/170131/60/
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Rule Four Reminder: A man who a Phoenix police officer shot after mistaking him for an armed intruder filed a complaint Wednesday in Maricopa County Superior Court, six months after he filed a notice of a claim seeking $5.75 million… Arambula, 36, who was armed and holding the intruder at bay, suffered gunshot wounds to his back and arm. The complaint alleged that Lilly shot him twice as he lay bleeding on the floor of his living room, his wife and two young sons nearby. Lilly shot Arambula after officers chased armed gunman Angel Anastacio Canales into the neighborhood. Canales, who was wanted in connection with a shots-fired call in the same area, had broken into the home and was hiding in the room of Arambula's 12-year-old son. Canales was arrested… According to the complaint, Lilly claimed he fired because he was fearful for his safety after seeing an armed Hispanic man at the end of the dark hallway, even though Lilly admitted that the gun was not pointed toward him. (Rule Four: Always be sure of your target and what's beyond it. Unfortunately, a lot of training may condition officers to shoot anyone holding a gun who is not in uniform or holding a badge. This is why I emphasize that a holster should allow one-handed reholstering without the need to take your eyes off the threat – getting the gun back into the holster, the moment it's safe to do so, is a crucial step once police arrive on the scene.)
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2009/09/17/20090917arambula0917.html
---
Gun Rights iPhone App: With the current political climate and the dynamic nature of firearms laws throughout the nation, it is essential that those who care about our Second Amendment Right to Bear Arms maintain a constant watch on those that seek to diminish that right. With major media either not reporting or under-reporting important firearms related news, it is often difficult to know what is happening to our rights until it is too late. With that in mind, Davis & Associates created the Gun Rights iPhone Application to keep concerned citizens up to date and informed. The Gun Rights iPhone application by Davis & Associates (gunrightsapp.com) gives readers instant access to firearms related news, media, gunshows, and important updates with links to the related articles and personalization options for the iPhone and iPod touch models. Available for free at the iPhone App Store, the Gun Rights iPhone application allows users to take advantage of the advanced capabilities of the iPhone and iPod touch user interface…
http://www.newswiretoday.com/news/57349/
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