From: Stephen P. Wenger
comments in () by the same
http://www.spw-duf.info
Lutz Poll Proves Need for More Education: Mike Bloomberg and his
Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG) caused quite a stir in the gun
rights community recently when they released a poll declaring that gun
owners and NRA members support the group's gun control agenda. The
poll was conducted by Frank Lutz's company "Word Doctors." The media
gleefully reported the poll as indisputable fact while NRA and others
cried "Foul," pointing out flaws in the pollster's methodology and
challenging the results. The flaws and distortions are undoubtedly
real, but it is important for rights activists to carefully examine
this poll to find data we can use to help our cause. In spite of its
flaws, this poll demonstrates a serious failure on the part of rights
groups and supporters in efforts to educate our less activist
brethren. We're not preaching to the choir enough and not getting the
right messages through to them… (It's nice to know that my daily
mailings are worth the effort in keeping gun owners informed. If you
know other gun owners who would benefit from the mailings, have them
e-mail me a request. I need a subject line such as "Subscribe to
mailings" and a first and last name. I insist on people making their
own requests.)
http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/node/7053
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The Argument for Open Carry: Desensitization is making somebody less
aware of something by making them become used to it. That is one of
the techniques used by those who want to normalize the act of openly
carrying firearms… When concealed carry was being considered in Ohio,
one tool that was used to get the law passed was getting groups of gun
supporters together for "open carry walks." The idea was to spread
awareness that carrying a firearm for personal protection was already
legal and that passing concealed carry would just add another method
of carrying. The initial walks got great media coverage. As more and
more were held, fewer and fewer reporters showed up. They, and their
readers, had become desensitized to the practice and it was no longer
news. That's what proponents of open carry hope to accomplish, that
citizens will no longer even bat an eye at openly armed citizens
because "everyone does it."
http://www.examiner.com/x-2206-Cleveland-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2010m1d12-Normalizing-carrying-guns
Speaking of Which…: There are people today who are shocked to discover
that gun manufacturers advertise their products in magazines displayed
on grocery store shelves. Gun ads? In a grocery store? What if the
children see those ads? As shocking as it might be to some people,
there was a time not so long ago when guns were not only advertised in
dedicated "gun" magazines, they were routinely advertised in popular
publications of all kinds. Guns used to be a normal and acceptable
part of American life. Guns were accepted as necessary tools and
respectable recreational equipment ... even for children. A boy
learned to shoot before the training wheels came off his bike. He
could even carry his rifle to school for shooting practice without
causing a panic that resulted in a S.W.A.T. team locking down the
school…
http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/node/7057
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From GONV: Your action is needed in a few ways. Please take the time
to read how you can help secure a better Nevada for all gun owners.
Many of you have already read the Vin Suprynowicz article in the
Sunday LVRJ. If you have not, please do so now:
http://www.lvrj.com/opinion/handcuffed-disarmed-for-obeying-the-law-81088092.html
Again, please read his article before continuing with this message. It
is important that you understand the context of this alert. After
reading Vin's article you might be wondering why Nevada has a CCW
requirement (concealed firearms permit or license). Most of the emails
and phones calls that we've received about Vin's article are asking
this question. From a voice mail message: "Why should anyone get a
concealed carry permit to then be treated with suspicion after dialing
911 as the victim of a crime?" And frankly, GONV would like to know
that answer as well. Mr. Mitchener was violated twice. Once by those
who broke into his place of business and again by "the system."
…Several things need to be done. First, Sheriff Gilespie needs to hear
from the voting constituency (via email) that law abiding tax payers
will not be treated as criminals when exercising their second
amendment rights. Encourage everyone you know to also email the
sheriff. See the bottom of this alert for the email address and
suggested text. Spread this email around and encourage others to join
our email alerts…
http://gonv.org/Alerts011210.htm
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LaPierre Makes New York Appearance: Wayne LaPierre, the face and voice
of the National Rifle Association, ventured, as he put it, "into the
heart of the beast" Tuesday, visiting the state Legislative Office
Building's "Well" area where he addressed a cheering crowd of NRA
members who crammed the large meeting area, even lining the stairs
into the balconies overhead. The NRA's executive vice president since
1991, LaPierre is known for his strident defense of gun rights and for
his attacks on those who he believes are threatening them. He didn't
disappoint the crowd in a lengthy speech that was part
fire-and-brimstone and part O'Reilly/Palin/Savage-style media and
government bashing. "I look around here and I feel like I'm in the
heart of the beast," he said before launching into attacks against the
New York triumvirate of Bloomberg, Schumer, and Clinton (all of whom
have been staunch gun control supporters) and stressing his belief
that better enforcement of existing criminal laws, rather than banning
guns, would lower the crime rate…
http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/21488/nra-and-the-belly-of-the-beast/
The New York State Rifle and Pistol Association wants New York to
become the 41st state to allow carrying a concealed firearm for
personal protection. Advocates are pushing for what they see as being
protected under the second amendment. In addition, they want to
eliminate what they call the "useless" ballistic database. They are
also against micro-stamping. (It would have been more accurate
reporting to say that NYSRPA is lobbying for a shall-issue law for CCW
licensure. New York already has provisions for lawful CCW; they are
just not applied fairly and uniformly throughout the state.)
http://wnyt.com/article/stories/S1358988.shtml?cat=300
The National Rifle Association held a "Second Amendment Advocacy Day"
at the capitol today. Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president of the
NRA, addressed a large crowd of supporters. Members met with
legislator's from both houses to lobby on gun rights. Assemblywoman
Michelle Schimel, a long-time gun-control advocate, went on the
defense trying to make sure the NRA didn't sway any of her colleagues
away from supporting her microstamping legislation. Schimel handed out
a fact sheet to legislators to refute the NRA's take. Microstamping is
a technology that would mark fired bullets with information that would
link them back to the gun that discharged them. Schimel and other
legislators like Sen. Eric Schneiderman say the technology should be
required for all semi-automatic pistols sold in the state because it
would help solve gun crimes. They insist the legislation is not about
gun control. Gun rights advocates say the technology is flawed and
expensive and the legislation is a back door to banning semi-automatic
weapons…
http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2010/01/12/schimel-plays-defense-on-microstamping/
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Meanwhile, in California…: Firearms microstamping, signed into by Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-Calif.) in October 2007 and slated to take
effect this New Year's Day (2010), is not in effect since the
technology remains encumbered by patents. Microstamping - the process
by which firearms manufacturers would have to micro laser-engrave a
gun's make, model and serial number on two distinct parts of each gun,
including the firing pin, so that in theory the information would be
imprinted on the cartridge casing when the pistol is fired - must be
certified as patent-free by the California Department of Justice
before the law can go into effect…
http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/node/7059
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Bills Attack Washington Gun Shows: Washington's Legislature convened
Monday at noon, and a quick check of the legislative website reveals
that gun control proponents are a busy bunch. One name in particular
has risen to the fore already, and it is not Adam Kline, Jeanne
Kohl-Welles or Ross Hunter, but a state representative named Brendan
Williams, a Democrat from the 22nd District, representing north
Thurston County primarily… Rep. Williams so far is sponsoring two
bills, both assigned to the House Judiciary. These are HB 2477 and HB
2264. HB 2477 would hold a person responsible if they sell a gun at a
gun show to someone who would not have passed a NICS background check,
and who subsequently uses that gun in a crime, especially if someone
is injured or killed. This would effectively kill private transactions
at gun shows, which are perfectly legal under existing federal law. HB
2264 also deals with gun shows, and requires every transaction to go
through a licensed dealer. This absolutely kills private transactions
at gun shows…
Washington County Must Scrap Gun Ban: Somewhere in the distant past,
apparently back in the 1970s, Snohomish County adopted a ban on
firearms in county parks; a ban that remains on the books today, but
thanks to the passage of a state preemption law in 1985, it is a
regulation without teeth. Indeed, because of language in RCW 9.41.290,
the state preemption act, this parks ban is null and void. The Everett
Herald noted that Attorney General Rob McKenna has weighed in on this,
due to the parks gun ban in Seattle – which is being challenged in
court by the Second Amendment Foundation and National Rifle
Association – and said that such parks bans are prohibited by the
statute. But Wednesday morning, the Snohomish County Council is
scheduled to discuss this ban in a public hearing that will
undoubtedly bring out sentiment pro and con, with rhetoric ranging
from adherence to the Second Amendment to protecting children… It's
wasted breath. The council really has no option to a proposal by
Councilman John Koster, a Republican, to a code revision that
recognizes citizens with valid concealed pistol licenses can enter
county parks while armed. Right now, if some legally armed citizen
were arrested for criminal trespass, the county would lose, thanks to
specific language in the state preemption statute that "preempted and
repealed" those old ordinances, "regardless of the nature of the code,
charter, or home rule status of such city, town, county or
municipality." …
Wisconsin Pols Prepare Attack on RKBA: In a recent story appearing in
Madison's Capital Times (Ready, Set, Fire! Pols take on NRA), State
Senator Spencer Coggs (D-Milwaukee), revealed his true agenda when he
admitted recent gun control bills introduced in the state are only the
beginning. But Coggs's statements revealed something even more
chilling: State democrats don't believe gun owners can or will defend
themselves against gun control advances, and more anti-gun legislation
has been planned. "When you look at the fact we are taking on the NRA
and other pro-gun groups during a re-election year, we're bucking the
trend," said Coggs, a sponsor of several gun control bills before the
Wisconsin legislature. "I used to be surprised by the power of the
pro-gun opposition, but not anymore." …The story continues, saying,
"Coggs may not have that tough of a fight. Rep. Scott Gunderson,
R-Waterford, has already introduced a similar bill in the Assembly.
Gunderson has sought to make straw purchasing a state felony for the
past 10 years but with no luck." …Gun owners are urged to contact
Gunderson and tell him that his efforts to turn gun owners into a
whole new class of criminals aren't appreciated…
http://www.ammoland.com/2010/01/12/wisconsin-politicians-admit-to-war-on-gun-ownership/
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Georgia RKBA Bill Revised: State Sen. Mitch Seabaugh (R-Sharpsburg) on
Tuesday dropped his bill to rewrite Georgia's laws governing where
concealed weapons may be carried by licensed citizens. University
dorms? No. K-12 schools? No. K-12 school parking lots? Yes. In the
state Capitol? Yes to the halls and rotunda, but no to specific
offices… Current state law bars them from "public gatherings" –
including churches, public buildings and sporting events. Seabaugh
said his bill is intended to make clear where weapons can be carried,
and where they can't… Seabaugh's measure would continue a ban on
firearms in K-12 schools, public and private. But it would permit
firearms in locked cars on K-12 school property, extending to others a
right he said was now enjoyed by teachers. Permit holders could carry
concealed in unsecured areas of airports. Firearms would be banned
from government offices, jails and prisons, and dorms in public
universities. "You would be able to carry into the Capitol. However,
you could not carry into any one of the government agency offices that
that are located in the Capitol," Seabaugh said. That would include
the House and Senate chambers, when the Legislature is in session.
Firearms are currently barred from all portions of the Capitol.
Licensing for concealed weapons would be taken out of the hands of
probate judges in the state's 159 counties, and centralized in the
secretary of state's office – to create a more accurate data base for
monitoring violations… (It sounds to me as though a revised version of
this bill is still alive so how can it have been dropped?)
Bozos and Non Sequiturs: Saturday's movie theater shooting has many
questioning New Mexico's law on gun control… "If this young man had
actually had a license to carry the weapon, he would have been much
better trained. I doubt, very seriously, that he would have actually
been in a situation where the gun would have just discharged," said
State Rep. Gail Chasey. Police said Dante Aikins had no permit to
carry the loaded revolver. It went off in a crowded theater, injured
one person, and it has lawmakers asking questions. "Would we then want
to look at changing the law?" Chasey said. "But I don't think there's
the political will to further restrict the law." Chasey said that is
the main issue - no desire to change the state law. The current law
prevents weapons from being brought into courthouses, on school
property and inside establishments that serve liquor. Chasey even
tried to introduce a bill called the Handgun Safety Standard Act in
2001. Her bill never made it passed debate on the floor of the House.
So for now, crowded venues, like theaters, stores and sporting events
are fair game until the state gun law can be tightened. (It is unclear
if Aikins was initially violating New Mexico law, which requires no
permit for open carry. What does safety training have to do with
restricting the right to carry in a crowded venue?)
http://www.koat.com/news/22222292/detail.html
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Oops, Wrong House: A grand jury finds a central New York woman was
justified in fatally shooting a man who ransacked her home in October.
Deanna Candee of Schroeppel (SCROO'-puhl) in Oswego County was cleared
of wrongdoing in the death of Timothy Hartigan, whom she found inside
her home after returning from a shopping trip. Deputies said Hartigan
had ransacked her home and attacked Candee. Her son pulled Hartigan
off of her and she grabbed her revolver and shot the intruder.
Hartigan's relatives said he had a history of mental illness. The
Oswego County district attorney's office said it would have no further
details of the grand jury findings.
http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=11806199
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Guns Are Not Sex Toys: A gun collector who introduced several weapons
into sexual play with two other men contends the weapons were intended
to fulfill a sexual fantasy. Instead, a lethal combination of drugs,
extreme sex and Russian roulette has put him on trial for
manslaughter. Both the defense and prosecutors say there was no
intention to kill. But prosecutors say defendant Bruce
Lavallee-Davidson, a farmer from Skowhegan, was responsible for
ensuring his gun wasn't loaded when it was being handled… "You never
point a loaded gun at someone's head," Marchese said after resting her
case Tuesday, emphasizing it's the responsibility of the person
holding the revolver to ensure the chamber is empty. "You don't point
a gun and pull the trigger unless you're 100 percent sure." …One of
his lawyers, Mike Whipple, says his client checked three times over
the course of the night to make sure the .44-caliber Rossi revolver
wasn't loaded. Whipple contends it's likely Wilson loaded the gun
while Lavallee-Davidson briefly stepped away to use the bathroom…
(Actually, Rule Three says you don't point a firearm at anything
you're not prepared to shoot. A corollary to Rule One is known as the
Condition Check: Whenever you pick up a firearm that has been out of
your control, even if only for an instant, open the action to
determine that it is in the condition in which you want it, loaded or
unloaded. Other sources claim that these guys took turns having each
other suck on the barrel of at least one revolver.)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34837974/
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Firearm Modifications: …Before the new gun owner delves into the many
options to gild the lily, they should become proficient shooting their
gun as is, so not to be psychologically dependent on gee-whiz
technology. One of the greatest snipers in history, Finnish Simo
Häyhä, KIA'd over 500 Russian soldiers during the 1939 Winter War
armed with a humble Mosin Nagant bolt-action rifle with iron sights.
Anne Oakley in a single day shot 4472 out of 5000 targets tossed in
the air with an unadorned .22. So remember, it's the shooter, not the
gun, who counts… (Even with specialized training, I don't advise
"navigating around the corners of the house at night" with a shotgun.
First of all, unless you must do something like bringing children into
the designated safe room, it's best to remain in that safe room.
Secondly, if you must leave the safe room, there are too many things
for which you may need a free hand to commit yourself to a firearm
that requires two hands. Even using a stone on the interacting
surfaces of a revolver can produce unintended consequences if you have
not been trained to do so. Revolvers often benefit from a "trigger
job" but it is best performed by a gunsmith with a history of working
on that model and a concentration on "duty tunes" or "street" trigger
jobs, not target guns. It is all too easy to impair reliability by
lightening the trigger stroke too much.)
http://www.lewrockwell.com/shirtz/shirtz19.1.html
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For Me but Not for Thee?: The journalists in Mindanao are asking the
authorities to allow them to carry firearms for self-protection. After
learning a bitter lesson from the tragedy of the Maguindanao massacre
on November 23 where 57 people were murdered in cold blood at the
Ampatuan town, 31 of whom were members of the media, "the advocacy for
arming of reporters by many members of the Fourth Estate in the South
has intensified," according to a high official of a media organization
on Tuesday… Unson who writes for Philippine Star was himself ambushed
in Cotabato City by unidentified armed men on May 28, 1999. He had his
caliber .357 mm revolver with him at the time and was able to return
fire. The armed men retreated. Not a single bullet they fired hit the
journalist… (It is not clear from this article whether the beleaguered
Filipino journalists are seeking firearm permits or an exemption from
the carry ban during the election season. It does not appear that they
are speaking out against that latter for the rest of the population.)
http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/regions/9534-mindanao-journalists-want-to-carry-guns
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