comments in () by Stephen P. Wenger
http://www.spw-duf.info
Virginia Gubernatorial Race: …Given their other differences, Deeds and
McDonnell hold remarkably similar records on guns. Deeds often sided
with Republicans, including McDonnell, and rural Democrats in opposing
gun control bills. They voted repeatedly to stop localities from
enforcing more restrictive gun laws than the state, including proposed
bans at community centers and parks. Both voted to limit government
lawsuits against gun manufacturers and against firearm bans on school
campuses. The two split over a bill that limited handgun purchases to
one a month. Deeds voted no; McDonnell, yes. But both men have changed
their views. After the 2007 Virginia Tech shootings, Deeds began to
support closing the loophole that allows some private vendors at gun
shows to make sales without background checks. McDonnell now supports
repealing the one-gun-a-month law because of improvements he says have
been made in instant background checks. Deeds's gun-friendly record
earned him the National Rifle Association's endorsement in 2005 but
cost him the support of former governor L. Douglas Wilder. This year,
the NRA switched to McDonnell, citing his record as attorney general
and Deeds's "flip-flop" on the gun show loophole.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/26/AR2009092602516.html
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Interesting Urination Contest: The owner of Badger Guns just posted a
sign that accuses Milwaukee Police officers of pulling over African
Americans when they leave the store. The sign makes an ugly claim. It
reads, "Racist Milwaukee Police Department is pulling over African
Americans leaving this store. Sorry for the inconvenience." Badger
Guns owner Adam Allan insists MPD officers have been hiding nearby and
pulling over his black customers. Allan claims it started about three
months ago after two MPD officers were shot in Walker's Point. Both
officers suffered permanent injuries. The gun used in that June
shooting was bought at Badger Guns by someone with a clean record,
then sold to the suspected shooter. Despite the owner's claim, he
couldn't provide any proof that African Americans had been targeted,
nor could he put reporters in touch with them, saying, "His customers
had been through enough." A spokesperson for the MPD says they won't
comment until Monday. The owner says the sign is staying up until the
racism stops. (Alternatively, I suppose the owner might simply be
trying to dissuade "African Americans" from patronizing his store.)
http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/61564512.html
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Texas County Plans New Range: A state-of-the-art, $2.5 million
shooting range is beginning to take shape in South Bexar County, a
project county commissioners hope will turn a profit by eventually
serving dozens of area law enforcement agencies. When the first phase
is completed late next year, the open-air training facility will host
live-fire sniper and SWAT training and will feature multiple
computer-operated targets and hostage-rescue simulations, sheriff's
Lt. Darrell Sanders said. Commissioners authorized the $2.5 million
expenditure - another $5 million will be needed for subsequent
portions - this month, and they are eager to determine whether the
range will attract paying customers. According to a report to
commissioners, potential users include law enforcement officers from
23 cities and towns in the region, 10 public school districts, three
universities and federal and state agencies in the area… But he
acknowledges that the facility won't be fully built-out for several
years. At that point, when all phases are complete, the county will
consider admitting non-law-enforcement gun enthusiasts… (San Antonio
is the seat of Bexar County. Camp Bullis, an Army facility on the
north side of San Antonio, has hosted a lot of law-enforcement
training over the years but has been taxed by increased military
demand as medical personnel from all the services take field training
there, including preparation for dealing with IED's.)
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/County_firing_range_in_the_works20090927.html
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New Arizona Laws Take Effect Wednesday: Expanded gun rights, new
restrictions on abortion and a ban on forcing animals to fight for
gambling purposes are among the new laws set to take effect this week…
Meanwhile, laws will take effect Wednesday allowing concealed weapons
into bars and requiring property owners to allow guns on their
properties if locked inside a car… (This mention is incomplete and
slightly misleading. List members are referred to yesterday's mailing,
which contained more detailed information from AzCDL. Of note, no
mention is made of the bill authorizing the defensive display of a
firearm, which reduces the risk of being prosecuted for aggravated
assault if the firearm is mentioned or displayed before one is fully
justified in firing it. The AzCDL alert, on the other hand, was
confusing as to when the new laws take effect.)
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2009/09/27/20090927newlaws0927.html
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Rule Five Reminder: Police say a woman and little girl were injured
Saturday when a gun accidentally fired at a Mesa [AZ] gun show. "I was
two rows away, we heard the gun go off and everybody just kind of
stopped," said Mike Todd, a gun show regular. "It could've been much
worse." It happened just before noon at the Mesa Convention Center,
near Center and Main streets. Police told ABC15 that a dealer brought
a loaded handgun into the convention center and placed it under a
table. Someone later pulled the trigger of the gun. The bullet
apparently hit the wooded [sic] butt of a rifle then went through a
side door made of metal. A woman was hit in the neck along with a
little girl. Both were taken to the hospital as a precaution… Police
were questioning the gun dealer involved and may charge him with
recklessness. "He won't be invited back to this gun show" said Bob
Templeton, who runs the gun show. "We just had a guy here who didn't
think he had to follow the rules." … (Rule Five: Maintain control of
your firearm. I think it's foolish for all firearms to be unloaded at
gun shows so long as those that are loaded for emergency use are not
handled absent an emergency. The problem here was that a loaded gun
was not properly controlled.)
…Witnesses reported that an accidental shooting occurred Saturday at
the Crossroads Gun Show at Mesa's Centennial Hall. The gun show on
Center Street saw hundreds of sellers and buyers milling around in the
noisy venue until the loud crack of a solitary gun shot. The show,
packed with an estimated 200 to 300 people, fell silent about 11:30
a.m., and then came the screams of a woman who was grazed in the neck
by a bullet witnesses said was accidentally discharged by a vendor…
Wright said witnesses reported that the vendor was crouched below his
table when the gun went off…
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/145004
Video: This report suggests that the woman who was shot is the one who
picked up the loaded gun from under the dealer's table. (Rule Three:
Keep your finger out of the trigger guard, up on the frame, until your
sights are on the target and you're prepared to fire.)
http://www.kpho.com/video/21126862/index.html
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Tangentially Related: The indictment of suspected terrorist Najibullah
Zazi, who is charged with acquiring and preparing bombs similar to the
ones deployed in the 2005 London subway attacks, rides substantially
on Zazi's Internet surfing habits… As you read the indictment and
order for permanent detention you can almost picture the various
connected databases and monitoring techniques at work. Simply put,
Internet surveillance and information technology sleuthing played a
big role in the Zazi case. FBI agents arrested Zazi in Colorado… (As
the article goes on to point out, "You are your internet search
history.")
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/09/25/tech/main5339112.shtml
Same Tune, Different Spouse: Bill Clinton says a vast, right-wing
conspiracy that once targeted him is now focusing on President Barack
Obama. The ex-president made the comment in a television interview
when he was asked about one of the signature moments of the Monica
Lewinsky affair over a decade ago. Back then, first lady Hillary
Rodham Clinton used the term "vast, right-wing conspiracy" to describe
how her husband's political enemies were out to destroy his
presidency…
Former President Bill Clinton told NBC's David Gregory on "Meet the
Press" that the so-called "vast right-wing conspiracy" still exists
and is "as virulent as it was," but has had its impact diminished by
the nation's changing demographics… (I guess that's why we've seen
record purchases of firearms and ammunition, along with all the nearly
spontaneous Tea Parties and a related massive march on Washington. Mr.
Clinton ignores the "Roe effect," which is the concept that since
left-leaning women have been more likely to abort than right-leaning
women, we are actually seeing a demographic shift to the right. Then
again, since the events to which I've alluded, along with much of the
other resistance to Big Brother, have been nearly spontaneous, it's
actually inaccurate to label them as part of a conspiracy.)
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