By permission From: Stephen P. Wenger
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NRA's Democrat Endorsements: The National Rifle Association has endorsed incumbent Democrats in several crucial congressional races this year, frustrating Republicans who believe the group is hurting its cause - and the party's chances in November. Although the NRA's agenda usually aligns with that of the GOP, the powerful group also adheres to what it calls "an incumbent-friendly" policy: If an incumbent and a challenger candidate have equally strong records protecting gun rights, the incumbent gets the endorsement, regardless of party. The result: Of the 20 most endangered incumbent House Democrats in the country - based on race ratings by The Washington Post's "The Fix" - 14 have received the endorsement of the NRA's Political Victory Fund. The NRA's bipartisan strategy has existed for several years. But the stakes appear higher this cycle, as control of the House is in play and Democrats' red-state gains in 2006 and 2008 mean the party has a huge number of incumbents running for reelection in conservative-leaning districts…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/06/AR2010100603363.html?hpid=moreheadlines
Ever since the middle of Bill Clinton's second term, the highest-profile issue that the American left has been unable to push in any major way has been gun regulations. That's remarkable considering that during this time, Democrats have held the presidency for about four years and Democrats have had the presidency and the Congress for two. Credit for some of this has to go to the National Rifle Association which has built up a powerful lobbying force and also been more than happy to endorse candidates who are Democrats but in favor of gun rights. That position has rankled some conservatives over the years but especially so this year with Republicans hoping to retake the House and depose such liberal stalwarts as Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nevada). The NRA's bipartisan stance is potentially harming those hopes as it's endorsed 39 Democratic candidates in the House as blogger Daniel Horowitz notes: " Believe it or not, the only ones who might help Nancy Pelosi save her House majority are those who run legislative affairs at the NRA. So called Blue Dog Democrats across the nation are campaigning as red meat conservatives in their home districts, while running deceptive ads about their Republican opponents. They campaign as if they have nothing to do with the Democrat Party that they propelled to power and which passed all of the nefarious legislation that they purport to oppose. The sick irony is that the more successful these liars are in distancing themselves from Pelosi, the more likely it will be that Pelosi will remain Speaker. Here is my previous report on the need to expose the blue dogs. Also, check out the Club for Growth's excellent report on the lie of the conservative Democrat." …
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/nra-may-stop-gop-from-taking-the-house-104370898.html
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Brady Bunch Opposes Licensed CCW: The Legal Action Project of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence filed an amicus brief today in federal court in California in defense of San Diego County's concealed handgun permitting process in Peruta v. County of San Diego. The California Pistol & Rifle Association and five individuals sued San Diego County and its sheriff, claiming a constitutional right to carry loaded guns in public places, and challenging California's "may issue" permitting process, under which law enforcement officers determine who has "good cause" to receive a permit allowing them to carry a concealed handgun in public places. The Brady Center argues that the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decisions in District of Columbia v. Heller and McDonald v. Chicago held only that there is a Second Amendment right to possess guns in the home for self-defense, and do not require San Diego County to change its permitting process…
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/brady-center-fed-court-must-uphold-calif-gun-law
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Pennsylvania House Passes Stand-Your-Ground Bill: The state House passed a measure expanding gun-owners' rights while scuttling for the second time in as many days an effort by gun-control advocates to close the so-called Florida loophole. In a bipartisan 159-38 vote, the House approved expansion of the so-called castle doctrine, which allows individuals to defend themselves beyond their home - or castle - or vehicle. At the same time, House Republicans, backed by dozens of Democratic supporters, shut down attempts to consider any amendments proposed by gun-control advocates. One that had the wide support of law enforcement and mayors across Pennsylvania would have closed a loophole that allows individuals denied gun permits in Pennsylvania to get them elsewhere. Castle-doctrine critics, some of whom called it the "shoot first, ask questions later" bill, fumed over a procedural vote that stifled any debate on the issue or the amendments… (In his book On Homicide, Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote, "Detached reflection is not demanded in the presence of an upraised knife.")
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/pa/20101006_State_House_passes_bill_expanding_gun-owners__rights.html
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Open Carry and Refusal to ID: A Spanaway [WA] man says his rights were violated when authorities asked for his ID after he walked into a Starbucks location wearing a gun. "Basically I go to Starbucks everyday for lunch, and get a coffee, usually sit there and eat my lunch," said Tom Brewster. "This time when I pulled up to the Starbucks I saw the sheriff's vehicle in the parking lot. I walked in, got in line, and as soon as I got in line the Sheriff approached me and asked me, 'Is that a gun? I'm going to need to see your ID.'" Brewster says the incident didn't end with his initial refusal to hand over his ID. "He just kept insisting that I show him my ID and I said, 'Look, am I being detained?' he said, 'No,' and I said, 'Ok, well, then this conversation is over.' While I proceeded to order my drink he went out to his car and radioed for some other sheriff's and by the time I got my drink they were already in the parking lot." "The issue here really isn't even with the gun. It's with the fourth amendment and my rights," says Brewster. "Basically I was standing up for my right for the unreasonable search and seizure of my papers." The fourth amendment is meant to protect citizens from unreasonable search and seizure… (My opinion: If the deputy responded to a call, he needs ID to close out his paperwork. If he acted on his own initiative, it would be more judicious to furnish ID and file a complaint. If a department shows a pattern of this sort of harassment, I would seek injunctive relief.)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/category/local_news_articles/20101005/Man-asked-for-ID-while-carrying-gun-says-his-rights-were-violated/
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Iowa Sheriff Completes Court-Ordered Course on Constitution: He didn't get an A+, but a Northwest Iowa sheriff reportedly made the grade recently in a court-ordered course on the U.S. Constitution. Osceola County Sheriff Douglas Weber enrolled in the course at the order of U.S. District Court Judge Mark Bennett, who ruled the sheriff must take the course for violating the rights of Ocheyedan resident Paul Dorr in wrongfully denying him a permit to carry a concealed weapon. According to court documents filed Tuesday, Weber completed a 300-level course through the University of Phoenix. He earned a B-. Dorr, 54, said a B- was pretty much what he thought Weber would get. Dorr and his son, Alexander, then 18, filed a federal lawsuit against Weber after they were denied applications to carry a concealed weapon… Dorr maintained he needed the weapon permit for safety, due to his work for taxpayer groups, and the denial violated his civil rights… (I find it quite sad that an adult who is the chief law enforcement officer of his county can do no better than "B-" in an online course on the Constitution. We would do well by requiring a similar course of anyone who is about to take an oath to support and uphold the constitutions of his state and his republic.)
http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/a1/article_c1ef32d8-5c9a-5ee0-bc36-7a935de6ea24.html
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Rule Four Reminder: In January, the Johnston County [NC] Sheriff's Office got a call from a woman who said she was hiding in her closet. Her neighbors, she told the dispatcher, were target shooting next door and stray bullets had hit her fence and house. When deputies arrived, the target-shooting neighbor apologized and agreed to pay for any damage, a report shows. But since then, deputies have been called twice more to the 300 block of Condary Road - off of U.S. 301 between Selma and Micro - as residents expressed concerns about stray bullets. On June 25, the 9-1-1 dispatcher could hear the gunfire in the background, and last week, a neighbor called for deputies after he confronted the shooters and said they threatened him, though he hasn't pressed charges. But the owners of the shooting range, Eddie and Vickie Jordan, said they built berms to prevent stray bullets from hitting neighboring properties, and the couple said they made no threats. The Jordans own the Second Amen-ment Gun Store in Smithfield, and Eddie is pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Selma… (Rule Four: Always be sure of your target and what's beyond it. A berm is of limited value if it allows ricochets or if you let the muzzle rise above the horizontal.)
http://www.theherald-nc.com/2010/10/06/16047/stray-gunshots-worry-neighbors.html
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Tangentially Related: Sue Krentz, widow of murdered Arizona rancher Rob Krentz and a member of this mailing list for many years, was seriously injured recently when she was struck by an uninsured drunk driver, while crossing a street in Douglas. If anyone would like to help her family with her extensive medical bills, contributions can be made at any Wells Fargo Bank to the Sue Krentz Recovery Fund (5206283169).
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NRA's Democrat Endorsements: The National Rifle Association has endorsed incumbent Democrats in several crucial congressional races this year, frustrating Republicans who believe the group is hurting its cause - and the party's chances in November. Although the NRA's agenda usually aligns with that of the GOP, the powerful group also adheres to what it calls "an incumbent-friendly" policy: If an incumbent and a challenger candidate have equally strong records protecting gun rights, the incumbent gets the endorsement, regardless of party. The result: Of the 20 most endangered incumbent House Democrats in the country - based on race ratings by The Washington Post's "The Fix" - 14 have received the endorsement of the NRA's Political Victory Fund. The NRA's bipartisan strategy has existed for several years. But the stakes appear higher this cycle, as control of the House is in play and Democrats' red-state gains in 2006 and 2008 mean the party has a huge number of incumbents running for reelection in conservative-leaning districts…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/06/AR2010100603363.html?hpid=moreheadlines
Ever since the middle of Bill Clinton's second term, the highest-profile issue that the American left has been unable to push in any major way has been gun regulations. That's remarkable considering that during this time, Democrats have held the presidency for about four years and Democrats have had the presidency and the Congress for two. Credit for some of this has to go to the National Rifle Association which has built up a powerful lobbying force and also been more than happy to endorse candidates who are Democrats but in favor of gun rights. That position has rankled some conservatives over the years but especially so this year with Republicans hoping to retake the House and depose such liberal stalwarts as Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nevada). The NRA's bipartisan stance is potentially harming those hopes as it's endorsed 39 Democratic candidates in the House as blogger Daniel Horowitz notes: " Believe it or not, the only ones who might help Nancy Pelosi save her House majority are those who run legislative affairs at the NRA. So called Blue Dog Democrats across the nation are campaigning as red meat conservatives in their home districts, while running deceptive ads about their Republican opponents. They campaign as if they have nothing to do with the Democrat Party that they propelled to power and which passed all of the nefarious legislation that they purport to oppose. The sick irony is that the more successful these liars are in distancing themselves from Pelosi, the more likely it will be that Pelosi will remain Speaker. Here is my previous report on the need to expose the blue dogs. Also, check out the Club for Growth's excellent report on the lie of the conservative Democrat." …
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/nra-may-stop-gop-from-taking-the-house-104370898.html
---
Brady Bunch Opposes Licensed CCW: The Legal Action Project of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence filed an amicus brief today in federal court in California in defense of San Diego County's concealed handgun permitting process in Peruta v. County of San Diego. The California Pistol & Rifle Association and five individuals sued San Diego County and its sheriff, claiming a constitutional right to carry loaded guns in public places, and challenging California's "may issue" permitting process, under which law enforcement officers determine who has "good cause" to receive a permit allowing them to carry a concealed handgun in public places. The Brady Center argues that the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decisions in District of Columbia v. Heller and McDonald v. Chicago held only that there is a Second Amendment right to possess guns in the home for self-defense, and do not require San Diego County to change its permitting process…
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/brady-center-fed-court-must-uphold-calif-gun-law
---
Pennsylvania House Passes Stand-Your-Ground Bill: The state House passed a measure expanding gun-owners' rights while scuttling for the second time in as many days an effort by gun-control advocates to close the so-called Florida loophole. In a bipartisan 159-38 vote, the House approved expansion of the so-called castle doctrine, which allows individuals to defend themselves beyond their home - or castle - or vehicle. At the same time, House Republicans, backed by dozens of Democratic supporters, shut down attempts to consider any amendments proposed by gun-control advocates. One that had the wide support of law enforcement and mayors across Pennsylvania would have closed a loophole that allows individuals denied gun permits in Pennsylvania to get them elsewhere. Castle-doctrine critics, some of whom called it the "shoot first, ask questions later" bill, fumed over a procedural vote that stifled any debate on the issue or the amendments… (In his book On Homicide, Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote, "Detached reflection is not demanded in the presence of an upraised knife.")
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/pa/20101006_State_House_passes_bill_expanding_gun-owners__rights.html
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Open Carry and Refusal to ID: A Spanaway [WA] man says his rights were violated when authorities asked for his ID after he walked into a Starbucks location wearing a gun. "Basically I go to Starbucks everyday for lunch, and get a coffee, usually sit there and eat my lunch," said Tom Brewster. "This time when I pulled up to the Starbucks I saw the sheriff's vehicle in the parking lot. I walked in, got in line, and as soon as I got in line the Sheriff approached me and asked me, 'Is that a gun? I'm going to need to see your ID.'" Brewster says the incident didn't end with his initial refusal to hand over his ID. "He just kept insisting that I show him my ID and I said, 'Look, am I being detained?' he said, 'No,' and I said, 'Ok, well, then this conversation is over.' While I proceeded to order my drink he went out to his car and radioed for some other sheriff's and by the time I got my drink they were already in the parking lot." "The issue here really isn't even with the gun. It's with the fourth amendment and my rights," says Brewster. "Basically I was standing up for my right for the unreasonable search and seizure of my papers." The fourth amendment is meant to protect citizens from unreasonable search and seizure… (My opinion: If the deputy responded to a call, he needs ID to close out his paperwork. If he acted on his own initiative, it would be more judicious to furnish ID and file a complaint. If a department shows a pattern of this sort of harassment, I would seek injunctive relief.)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/category/local_news_articles/20101005/Man-asked-for-ID-while-carrying-gun-says-his-rights-were-violated/
---
Iowa Sheriff Completes Court-Ordered Course on Constitution: He didn't get an A+, but a Northwest Iowa sheriff reportedly made the grade recently in a court-ordered course on the U.S. Constitution. Osceola County Sheriff Douglas Weber enrolled in the course at the order of U.S. District Court Judge Mark Bennett, who ruled the sheriff must take the course for violating the rights of Ocheyedan resident Paul Dorr in wrongfully denying him a permit to carry a concealed weapon. According to court documents filed Tuesday, Weber completed a 300-level course through the University of Phoenix. He earned a B-. Dorr, 54, said a B- was pretty much what he thought Weber would get. Dorr and his son, Alexander, then 18, filed a federal lawsuit against Weber after they were denied applications to carry a concealed weapon… Dorr maintained he needed the weapon permit for safety, due to his work for taxpayer groups, and the denial violated his civil rights… (I find it quite sad that an adult who is the chief law enforcement officer of his county can do no better than "B-" in an online course on the Constitution. We would do well by requiring a similar course of anyone who is about to take an oath to support and uphold the constitutions of his state and his republic.)
http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/a1/article_c1ef32d8-5c9a-5ee0-bc36-7a935de6ea24.html
---
Rule Four Reminder: In January, the Johnston County [NC] Sheriff's Office got a call from a woman who said she was hiding in her closet. Her neighbors, she told the dispatcher, were target shooting next door and stray bullets had hit her fence and house. When deputies arrived, the target-shooting neighbor apologized and agreed to pay for any damage, a report shows. But since then, deputies have been called twice more to the 300 block of Condary Road - off of U.S. 301 between Selma and Micro - as residents expressed concerns about stray bullets. On June 25, the 9-1-1 dispatcher could hear the gunfire in the background, and last week, a neighbor called for deputies after he confronted the shooters and said they threatened him, though he hasn't pressed charges. But the owners of the shooting range, Eddie and Vickie Jordan, said they built berms to prevent stray bullets from hitting neighboring properties, and the couple said they made no threats. The Jordans own the Second Amen-ment Gun Store in Smithfield, and Eddie is pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Selma… (Rule Four: Always be sure of your target and what's beyond it. A berm is of limited value if it allows ricochets or if you let the muzzle rise above the horizontal.)
http://www.theherald-nc.com/2010/10/06/16047/stray-gunshots-worry-neighbors.html
---
Tangentially Related: Sue Krentz, widow of murdered Arizona rancher Rob Krentz and a member of this mailing list for many years, was seriously injured recently when she was struck by an uninsured drunk driver, while crossing a street in Douglas. If anyone would like to help her family with her extensive medical bills, contributions can be made at any Wells Fargo Bank to the Sue Krentz Recovery Fund (5206283169).
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