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Holder Back-Pedals on "AWB": Attorney General Eric Holder is retreating on his commitment to pursue a controversial gun-control measure. Holder's statements, recently delivered to senators in writing, clearly indicate the Obama administration is in no rush to reinstate the assault weapons ban, which expired in 2004. In response to written questions from Senate Judiciary Committee members, Holder adopted a much different tone on the ban than he did in February, when he said, "As President Obama indicated during the campaign, there are just a few gun-related changes that we would like to make, and among them would be to reinstitute the ban on the sale of assault weapons." That comment attracted many headlines, but the nation's chief law enforcement officer is now downplaying his earlier remarks… Holder's response to Coburn is the latest in a series of mixed messages from Obama and his team after the president vowed during his campaign that he would seek to reinstate the ban… A bi-national panel of former government officials and scholars issued a report on Friday recommending the reinstatement of the assault weapons band. It also called for a crackdown on the illegal export of guns to Mexico.
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/67833-holder-dials-back-commitment-to-assault-weapons-ban
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The Beat Winds Down?: Exhibitors and attendees of the Wanenmacher's Tulsa Arms Show on Sunday said sales were down slightly this year and that pistols and small rifles appeared to be more popular than larger, military-type weaponry that dominated last year's show. "We're down a little," said the show's vice president, Mark Wanenmacher. He added that part of the slowdown is likely because it is deer-hunting season. The event, dubbed the largest gun show in the world, took place Saturday and Sunday at Expo Square… The most popular items seemed to be pistols. People say they are buying them to have at their home, he said… Wanenmacher said accessories and items from special collections were also selling well. Some rare items marketed at the show can't be found in stores or other places, he said. "The antique guns and collectibles are still moving," he said. (Curiously, no mention is made of ammunition and reloading components. I believe that primers are still the rare-limiting step in normalization of the ammunition supply.)
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20091116_11_A1_Thousa983206
David Farmer considers himself a gun enthusiast. He's an avid hunter and owns several guns. If only he could find the bullets. "You can't find ammo anywhere," the Jerseyville [IL] man said. "When you do find it, it's basically highway robbery. They know they can charge whatever they want, so they're just ripping you off. Definite price-gouging." All this, in the center of the ammunition manufacturing capital of the world. The historic election of President Barack Obama has caused some uneasiness among gun enthusiasts and sportsmen, who are fearful that his administration will infringe upon their constitutional right to bear arms. That fear, in part, has caused a sharp increase in sales of guns, rifles and ammunition across the country… For three consecutive quarters, East Alton-based Olin Corp. reported record earnings from its Winchester division. In a quarterly report released Oct. 26, Olin said, "Winchester's earnings more than doubled in the third quarter of 2009 compared to the third quarter of 2008." …Olin expects a dip in sales for the fourth quarter, normal for the end of hunting seasons, but still is forecasting "stronger than historic fourth-quarter levels" for 2009. Winchester, a division of Olin that manufactures sporting ammunition, reloading components, small-caliber military ammunition and components, and industrial cartridges, saw its sales grow from $140.8 million in the third quarter of 2008 to $168.2 million in 2009…
http://www.thetelegraph.com/news/ammunition-33137-sales-demand.html
---
Firearm Industry Thrives in Maine: … Today, Dietrich Gunsmithy in the small Hancock County town of Otis, is one of the most sought-after gun repair shops in eastern Maine and is getting more business all the time… The state has a handful of gun manufacturers that contribute hundreds of jobs, but the many licensed gun shops and trading posts provide even more collectively. From a gun sales perspective, data are harder to find. Anecdotally, retailers all agree that business is steady and even on the rise in the last several years, but there are no comprehensive numbers to support that. "Maine doesn't require owners to register their firearms, so there is really no telling how many guns are being sold out there," said Sgt. William Gomane, who oversees the licensing and permitting division for the Maine State Police… Hunting is likely the biggest economic indicator associated with guns, and it's an area that can be tracked relatively easily, through hunting licenses, which are overseen by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife… According to the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, approximately 450 licensed gun dealers are operating in the state of Maine… Gun manufacturing, historically, has had a strong presence in Maine. Smith & Wesson, one of the largest producers of guns and one of the most recognizable names in the industry, has a facility in Houlton that employs nearly 150 people. In 2007, Smith & Wesson's Houlton plant produced 45,635 pistols, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives…
http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/129553.html
---
Firearms or Falls?: The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence claims to be "speaking out to save lives" on its home page. However, Brady is curiously silent on one of the biggest killers of elderly Americans. While this author waited to speak at an AARP meeting, one of their members quoted Centers for Disease Control data indicating that senior citizens died from falls at an alarming rate. Later research confirmed that in 2006, over 45 elderly died each day from accidental falls… Between 2001 and 2006, the fatal falling accident rate increased 35.8%, from 32.90 to 44.68 (per 100,000 population age 65 and older). Meanwhile, the unintentional fatal firearms injury rate remained around an average of 0.22, falling to its lowest rate in 2006. During the same period, fatal firearms injuries from all causes (violence, suicide, unintentional, and undetermined intent) dropped 9.1%… Considering Brady's espoused goal of saving lives, it seems reasonable that they should speak out on this subject, since there's obviously a need to raise public awareness about these preventable tragedies. There could even be a Million Adult Child March on Washington, appealing to Congress to ban stairs and high-rise elderly communities, which present unique risks to our senior citizens. After all, if it saves one life…
http://www.examiner.com/x-2879-Austin-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m11d16-Brady-Campaign-to-Prevent-Stairways
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Will This Be the Seattle Gun-Ban Suit?: Bob Warden alerted everyone that he was going to take his legal, concealed, and holstered Glock into the Southwest Community Center at noon… Warden was protesting the recent executive order by Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels to ban the possession of firearms at designated city facilities and parks… The state Attorney General's Office says it doesn't believe the city has the legal right to make such an order. "Some people are going to look at this as if the city of Seattle has a big sue me sign on it," said Dan Sytman of the Attorney General's office. The one-man protest was over in a minute. The media circus made little sense to some parents… But Warden says it now lays the groundwork to continue to fight the issue. "I now have the legal standing to file suit to challenging the rule," he said. He says that's because he was personally turned away, unlike the plaintiffs in another case… The mayor's order states if anyone with a gun refuses to leave the designated areas they could be arrested for criminal trespass. Warden left, and was not detained.
http://www.king5.com/news/Kent-man-protests-gun-ban-at-community-center-70116362.html
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/412301_guns14.html
http://www.examiner.com/x-1417-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m11d14-Seattle-gun-owner-to-defy-Nickels-park-ban
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Californians Address Ammo Law: Some hunters and target shooters are stocking up on bullets before the enactment of a state law that they say could impact their sport… Under the law, handgun ammunition sales by mail are barred. Purchasers must show identification and submit a thumbprint. Retailers must conduct background checks on employees handling bullets and store ammunition sales records for up to three years. Law enforcement could inspect those records at any time. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger once vetoed a similar bill. He changed his mind and signed AB 962, introduced in February by Assemblyman Kevin De Leon, D-Los Angeles, saying in a prepared statement that some ordinances in Los Angeles and Sacramento that required thumbprints and ID had been effective at catching criminals barred from owning guns… He said the association is examining AB 962 and expects lawsuits will be filed against the law before it takes effect. The organization is also waiting for the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on McDonald v. Chicago, a case that centers on the application of the Second and Fourteenth amendments of the constitution on state laws regulating firearms, Michel said. The Supreme Court should make a ruling on that case by early next year… (Theoretically, a California resident could order handgun ammunition by mail and have it shipped to a local dealer, as is done with firearms.)
http://www.pe.com/localnews/sbcounty/stories/PE_News_Local_S_guns16.4244647.html
---
Oops, Wrong House: For the second time in three days a home invasion suspect has been shot and killed by a Las Vegas homeowner. Police say that around 2 a.m. Saturday two armed suspects broke into a house near Durango and Grand Teton in Northwest Las Vegas. 1 of the suspects grabbed a 13-year-old boy. The noise alerted his father who grabbed a handgun and waited for the suspects to make their appearance. Police say the suspect released the boy and walked toward the room where the man was poised with his weapon. The father then jumped out and shot the suspect once in the chest, killing him. The other suspect fled and remains at large. On Thursday, another homeowner gunned down an intruder after he kicked open the man's door near Rancho and Vegas drives.
http://www.ktvn.com/Global/story.asp?S=11507915
---
Oops, Wrong Car: A 33-year-old man is in critical condition at a local hospital after he was allegedly shot by another man following what appears to be a road rage incident in Detroit on Friday afternoon. Two men - the 33-year-old male victim and another driver, a 29-year-old man - were traveling east on I-94 when police say the victim was cut off by the other driver, said Detroit Police Sgt. Eren Stephens. Both men exited the freeway at Cadieux and pulled up next to each other at a red light. The victim got out of his car, knocked out the other driver's window and began to pull the man out of the vehicle. The 29-year-old then shot at the 33-year-old, hitting him twice, Stephens said. The 29-year-old had a valid permit for the gun. The victim was driven to the hospital by a female passenger and was in critical condition as of Friday night, Stephens said. The 29-year-old remained at the scene of the shooting and was interviewed by police. A report will be forwarded to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, which will determine if any charges will be filed, she said. (The man who was shot was only a victim of being cut off by another driver – once he broke the window and laid hands on the shooter, he became a violent criminal. I don't know Michigan law but in Arizona the shooter would be covered by the 2006 castle-doctrine statute.)
http://www.detnews.com/article/20091106/UPDATE/911060442/1361/Man-shot-in-apparent-Detroit-road-rage-incident
---
When the Cops Arrive: Undercover police officers responding to a report of a brawl at a Brooklyn bar early Sunday fatally shot a 43-year-old security guard and wounded a 19-year-old man, both of whom were holding guns, the police said… As the officers made their way into the bar, Mr. Kelly said, they saw the security guard, Kevin White, pointing a pistol at them. One of the officers shot Mr. White once in the neck. He was pronounced dead at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center. Mr. Kelly said several witnesses later told detectives that the two officers had identified themselves before opening fire. The officers can be seen on a surveillance video from the bar with their badges out, according to law enforcement officials… We may never learn the exact dynamics of this shooting but it emphasizes the risks of having gun in hand when the police arrive. Perhaps the most argument I receive over what I teach is the importance of being able to get the gun back into the holster, one-handed, without taking the eyes off potential threats, as soon as one can, to minimize the risk of being shot by responding officers.)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/16/nyregion/16shoot.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion
---
More on Korean Range Fire: … The Ganadala shooting range, a popular destination for Japanese travelers, is located on the second floor of a five-story building in a busy entertainment district. Police investigating the cause of the fire inspected the site Sunday. Six of the suspected victims belonged to a group of nine tourists, all alumni of a junior high school in Unzen, Nagasaki Prefecture… Customers could use the shooting range only if they showed their passports. Most of the customers were Japanese. The fee was about 3,000 yen for 10 bullets. There are at least three other shooting ranges in Pusan and three in Seoul. "The largest number of customers are from Japan because the country does not have a conscription system and so people have no experience firing guns," an industry source said. (At today's rate, ¥3,000 is approximately $33.50. As I said before, fires at indoor ranges are often initiated in accumulated granules of unburned powder, then spread to combustible material, such as plastic foam, used for sound insulation.)
http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200911160058.html
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20091116TDY02307.htm
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/67833-holder-dials-back-commitment-to-assault-weapons-ban
---
The Beat Winds Down?: Exhibitors and attendees of the Wanenmacher's Tulsa Arms Show on Sunday said sales were down slightly this year and that pistols and small rifles appeared to be more popular than larger, military-type weaponry that dominated last year's show. "We're down a little," said the show's vice president, Mark Wanenmacher. He added that part of the slowdown is likely because it is deer-hunting season. The event, dubbed the largest gun show in the world, took place Saturday and Sunday at Expo Square… The most popular items seemed to be pistols. People say they are buying them to have at their home, he said… Wanenmacher said accessories and items from special collections were also selling well. Some rare items marketed at the show can't be found in stores or other places, he said. "The antique guns and collectibles are still moving," he said. (Curiously, no mention is made of ammunition and reloading components. I believe that primers are still the rare-limiting step in normalization of the ammunition supply.)
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20091116_11_A1_Thousa983206
David Farmer considers himself a gun enthusiast. He's an avid hunter and owns several guns. If only he could find the bullets. "You can't find ammo anywhere," the Jerseyville [IL] man said. "When you do find it, it's basically highway robbery. They know they can charge whatever they want, so they're just ripping you off. Definite price-gouging." All this, in the center of the ammunition manufacturing capital of the world. The historic election of President Barack Obama has caused some uneasiness among gun enthusiasts and sportsmen, who are fearful that his administration will infringe upon their constitutional right to bear arms. That fear, in part, has caused a sharp increase in sales of guns, rifles and ammunition across the country… For three consecutive quarters, East Alton-based Olin Corp. reported record earnings from its Winchester division. In a quarterly report released Oct. 26, Olin said, "Winchester's earnings more than doubled in the third quarter of 2009 compared to the third quarter of 2008." …Olin expects a dip in sales for the fourth quarter, normal for the end of hunting seasons, but still is forecasting "stronger than historic fourth-quarter levels" for 2009. Winchester, a division of Olin that manufactures sporting ammunition, reloading components, small-caliber military ammunition and components, and industrial cartridges, saw its sales grow from $140.8 million in the third quarter of 2008 to $168.2 million in 2009…
http://www.thetelegraph.com/news/ammunition-33137-sales-demand.html
---
Firearm Industry Thrives in Maine: … Today, Dietrich Gunsmithy in the small Hancock County town of Otis, is one of the most sought-after gun repair shops in eastern Maine and is getting more business all the time… The state has a handful of gun manufacturers that contribute hundreds of jobs, but the many licensed gun shops and trading posts provide even more collectively. From a gun sales perspective, data are harder to find. Anecdotally, retailers all agree that business is steady and even on the rise in the last several years, but there are no comprehensive numbers to support that. "Maine doesn't require owners to register their firearms, so there is really no telling how many guns are being sold out there," said Sgt. William Gomane, who oversees the licensing and permitting division for the Maine State Police… Hunting is likely the biggest economic indicator associated with guns, and it's an area that can be tracked relatively easily, through hunting licenses, which are overseen by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife… According to the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, approximately 450 licensed gun dealers are operating in the state of Maine… Gun manufacturing, historically, has had a strong presence in Maine. Smith & Wesson, one of the largest producers of guns and one of the most recognizable names in the industry, has a facility in Houlton that employs nearly 150 people. In 2007, Smith & Wesson's Houlton plant produced 45,635 pistols, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives…
http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/129553.html
---
Firearms or Falls?: The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence claims to be "speaking out to save lives" on its home page. However, Brady is curiously silent on one of the biggest killers of elderly Americans. While this author waited to speak at an AARP meeting, one of their members quoted Centers for Disease Control data indicating that senior citizens died from falls at an alarming rate. Later research confirmed that in 2006, over 45 elderly died each day from accidental falls… Between 2001 and 2006, the fatal falling accident rate increased 35.8%, from 32.90 to 44.68 (per 100,000 population age 65 and older). Meanwhile, the unintentional fatal firearms injury rate remained around an average of 0.22, falling to its lowest rate in 2006. During the same period, fatal firearms injuries from all causes (violence, suicide, unintentional, and undetermined intent) dropped 9.1%… Considering Brady's espoused goal of saving lives, it seems reasonable that they should speak out on this subject, since there's obviously a need to raise public awareness about these preventable tragedies. There could even be a Million Adult Child March on Washington, appealing to Congress to ban stairs and high-rise elderly communities, which present unique risks to our senior citizens. After all, if it saves one life…
http://www.examiner.com/x-2879-Austin-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m11d16-Brady-Campaign-to-Prevent-Stairways
---
Will This Be the Seattle Gun-Ban Suit?: Bob Warden alerted everyone that he was going to take his legal, concealed, and holstered Glock into the Southwest Community Center at noon… Warden was protesting the recent executive order by Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels to ban the possession of firearms at designated city facilities and parks… The state Attorney General's Office says it doesn't believe the city has the legal right to make such an order. "Some people are going to look at this as if the city of Seattle has a big sue me sign on it," said Dan Sytman of the Attorney General's office. The one-man protest was over in a minute. The media circus made little sense to some parents… But Warden says it now lays the groundwork to continue to fight the issue. "I now have the legal standing to file suit to challenging the rule," he said. He says that's because he was personally turned away, unlike the plaintiffs in another case… The mayor's order states if anyone with a gun refuses to leave the designated areas they could be arrested for criminal trespass. Warden left, and was not detained.
http://www.king5.com/news/Kent-man-protests-gun-ban-at-community-center-70116362.html
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/412301_guns14.html
http://www.examiner.com/x-1417-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m11d14-Seattle-gun-owner-to-defy-Nickels-park-ban
---
Californians Address Ammo Law: Some hunters and target shooters are stocking up on bullets before the enactment of a state law that they say could impact their sport… Under the law, handgun ammunition sales by mail are barred. Purchasers must show identification and submit a thumbprint. Retailers must conduct background checks on employees handling bullets and store ammunition sales records for up to three years. Law enforcement could inspect those records at any time. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger once vetoed a similar bill. He changed his mind and signed AB 962, introduced in February by Assemblyman Kevin De Leon, D-Los Angeles, saying in a prepared statement that some ordinances in Los Angeles and Sacramento that required thumbprints and ID had been effective at catching criminals barred from owning guns… He said the association is examining AB 962 and expects lawsuits will be filed against the law before it takes effect. The organization is also waiting for the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on McDonald v. Chicago, a case that centers on the application of the Second and Fourteenth amendments of the constitution on state laws regulating firearms, Michel said. The Supreme Court should make a ruling on that case by early next year… (Theoretically, a California resident could order handgun ammunition by mail and have it shipped to a local dealer, as is done with firearms.)
http://www.pe.com/localnews/sbcounty/stories/PE_News_Local_S_guns16.4244647.html
---
Oops, Wrong House: For the second time in three days a home invasion suspect has been shot and killed by a Las Vegas homeowner. Police say that around 2 a.m. Saturday two armed suspects broke into a house near Durango and Grand Teton in Northwest Las Vegas. 1 of the suspects grabbed a 13-year-old boy. The noise alerted his father who grabbed a handgun and waited for the suspects to make their appearance. Police say the suspect released the boy and walked toward the room where the man was poised with his weapon. The father then jumped out and shot the suspect once in the chest, killing him. The other suspect fled and remains at large. On Thursday, another homeowner gunned down an intruder after he kicked open the man's door near Rancho and Vegas drives.
http://www.ktvn.com/Global/story.asp?S=11507915
---
Oops, Wrong Car: A 33-year-old man is in critical condition at a local hospital after he was allegedly shot by another man following what appears to be a road rage incident in Detroit on Friday afternoon. Two men - the 33-year-old male victim and another driver, a 29-year-old man - were traveling east on I-94 when police say the victim was cut off by the other driver, said Detroit Police Sgt. Eren Stephens. Both men exited the freeway at Cadieux and pulled up next to each other at a red light. The victim got out of his car, knocked out the other driver's window and began to pull the man out of the vehicle. The 29-year-old then shot at the 33-year-old, hitting him twice, Stephens said. The 29-year-old had a valid permit for the gun. The victim was driven to the hospital by a female passenger and was in critical condition as of Friday night, Stephens said. The 29-year-old remained at the scene of the shooting and was interviewed by police. A report will be forwarded to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, which will determine if any charges will be filed, she said. (The man who was shot was only a victim of being cut off by another driver – once he broke the window and laid hands on the shooter, he became a violent criminal. I don't know Michigan law but in Arizona the shooter would be covered by the 2006 castle-doctrine statute.)
http://www.detnews.com/article/20091106/UPDATE/911060442/1361/Man-shot-in-apparent-Detroit-road-rage-incident
---
When the Cops Arrive: Undercover police officers responding to a report of a brawl at a Brooklyn bar early Sunday fatally shot a 43-year-old security guard and wounded a 19-year-old man, both of whom were holding guns, the police said… As the officers made their way into the bar, Mr. Kelly said, they saw the security guard, Kevin White, pointing a pistol at them. One of the officers shot Mr. White once in the neck. He was pronounced dead at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center. Mr. Kelly said several witnesses later told detectives that the two officers had identified themselves before opening fire. The officers can be seen on a surveillance video from the bar with their badges out, according to law enforcement officials… We may never learn the exact dynamics of this shooting but it emphasizes the risks of having gun in hand when the police arrive. Perhaps the most argument I receive over what I teach is the importance of being able to get the gun back into the holster, one-handed, without taking the eyes off potential threats, as soon as one can, to minimize the risk of being shot by responding officers.)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/16/nyregion/16shoot.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion
---
More on Korean Range Fire: … The Ganadala shooting range, a popular destination for Japanese travelers, is located on the second floor of a five-story building in a busy entertainment district. Police investigating the cause of the fire inspected the site Sunday. Six of the suspected victims belonged to a group of nine tourists, all alumni of a junior high school in Unzen, Nagasaki Prefecture… Customers could use the shooting range only if they showed their passports. Most of the customers were Japanese. The fee was about 3,000 yen for 10 bullets. There are at least three other shooting ranges in Pusan and three in Seoul. "The largest number of customers are from Japan because the country does not have a conscription system and so people have no experience firing guns," an industry source said. (At today's rate, ¥3,000 is approximately $33.50. As I said before, fires at indoor ranges are often initiated in accumulated granules of unburned powder, then spread to combustible material, such as plastic foam, used for sound insulation.)
http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200911160058.html
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20091116TDY02307.htm
