knife versus rifle or shotgun

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eeuimvg0BdQ

03-07-11

by permission from Stephen P. Wenger

comments in () by the same

http://www.spw-duf.info

Website Update: I have added an article on the concept of expansion ratio to the Naked Emperor page. On a related note, I appreciate all the favorable comments I have received on yesterday's "diatribe." Perhaps the main reason that I do this so seldom in the mailings is that, when I have something of that length to share, I normally post it on the website. A while back I realized that most list members do not revisit the site on their own initiative, hence my announcements of these updates. For those of you of a broader political bent, I frequently add quotes, typically from the Founders, to my Favorite Quotations page but do not announce those additions. There's a very nice assortment of legitimate Jefferson quotations there.

http://www.spw-duf.info/emperor.html
http://www.spw-duf.info/quotes.html
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Not That New…: A list member just sent me an e-mail depicting cell-phone guns – disguised .22-caliber pistols. These started turning up in Europe a few years ago. I mention it because, from time to time, cops get in trouble when they shoot someone who proves to be holding a cell phone instead of a gun. Worse, there have been incidents in which gangbangers have actually assumed aggressive shooting stances, aiming cell phones at cops. It may prove very useful to be able to document that you were previously aware that firearms may be disguised as cell phones. If you cannot do so otherwise, feel free to ask me to forward this e-mail to you.
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Mexico "Requests" Gunwalker Data: The government of Mexico asked the United States for details of the ATF under Project Gunrunner, Operation name "Fast and Furious" implemented by the U.S. Department of Justice that allegedly allowed thousands of weapons into the Mexico. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) reported that Mexican authorities have proceeded with a request of detailed information on this matter to the American authorities, after the media of both countries made known such operation had been conducted by the (ATF). "The government of Mexico is very interested in the investigations announced by both the ATF and the Department of Justice," Mexico's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. He stressed that the aim of the governments of Mexico and the United States is to stop arms smuggling on the basis of the principle of shared responsibility. In that regard, he noted that both governments work to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the field…

http://www.mexico.vg/crime/mexico-atf-fast-and-furious/3096

Meanwhile…: Gun rights activists have been trying for weeks to get Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) to use his position as Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight  and Government Reform, one The Washington Post credits with  "almost limitless subpoena power," to initiate hearings on the "Project Gunwaker" scandal.  Their efforts were given fresh impetus by Rep. RaúlLabrador (R-ID), who pledged to encourage Issa to conduct such hearings. So far, Issa has been silent on the issue, which is curious when you consider his good record on gun issues, and also a pledge he made when he first decided to run for public office in the 1998 United States Senate campaign… There is one thing that could make it practically impossible for Issa to ignore, but in order to make it happen, we need an 800-Lb. gorilla.  We've seen the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms call for Senate Investigations, call to cut off ATF funding, and call for DoJ investigations.  We've seen Gun Owners of America call for expanding investigations into the House of Representatives, and provide just the tool to use.  Both groups have urged their members to take grassroots action to contact their representatives and ask for direct action…

http://www.examiner.com/gun-rights-in-national/issa-silence-on-project-gunwalker-enabled-by-nra-inaction
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Speaking of NRA's Inaction…: Linda Walker, Buckeye Firearms Association's Central Ohio Chair, is campaigning for election to the National Rifle Association's Board of Directors. Ballots have been distributed to the NRA's four million members throughout the United States, and are due back to the organization by April 10, 2011. As a member of the NRA's Board of Directors, Walker has promised NRA members that she would fight the encroachment of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms on the lawful use of firearms, "stop foolish registration schemes, encourage youth and women to participate in hunting and shooting sports, and do everything in my power to prevent the erosion our God-given rights." … (Linda Walker is the single candidate endorsed this year by the Firearms Coalition, the legacy of Neal Knox.)

http://pressmediawire.com/23978/bfa-linda-walker-runs-for-nra-board.html
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Good Prospects for North Carolina RKBA Bills: Several bills to relax North Carolina gun laws are under consideration at the N.C. General Assembly, and with the new Republican majority in charge, gun enthusiasts see a good chance of passing them. Legislation strengthening self-defense rights has already passed the state Senate. Bills expanding the places people can carry concealed weapons are in committee in the House. One bill removes the ban on licensed concealed weapons in local parks and restaurants that serve alcohol. The other would make it illegal for business owners to ban guns from their parking lots, provided the guns are legally owned and locked out of sight in a vehicle. It's not clear how far these bills will get, but they're getting public hearings this year, a good sign for any legislation. "I'm pretty optimistic," said Paul Valone, president of Grass Roots North Carolina, which lobbies the legislature to loosen gun restrictions…

http://www2.journalnow.com/news/2011/mar/06/wsmain01-prospects-bright-for-bills-easing-gun-law-ar-837606/
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Illinois Gunners to Rally: … Anger over Attorney General Lisa Madigan's recent decision to make public the names and other personal information belonging to law-abiding gun owners is expected to swell the ranks of protesters at a gun rights rally scheduled for Thursday, March 10th at the Illinois Capitol. The initial intent of the 2011 edition of Illinois Gun Owners' Lobby Day was to encourage the General Assembly to pass legislation allowing qualified citizens to carry defensive firearms.  Illinois is one of only two states that prohibit citizens from protecting themselves and their families by carrying defensive firearms.  The other state, Wisconsin, is expected to pass concealed carry legislation later this year. Last week, Attorney General Madigan announced that she plans to release sensitive personal information belonging to the state's 1.5 million firearm owners to newspapers, gun control groups, and just about anyone else who asks her for the information.  Madigan's decision to depart from the 40-year tradition of keeping this information secure has caused a shift in the focus of the 2011 IGOLD event.  This year, IGOLD has a dual purpose.  First, to send the message to Attorney General Madigan that gun owners do not want their privacy invaded.  Second, IGOLD will drive home the point that law-abiding citizens want the right to defend themselves and their families with the most effective means available – the defensive firearm…

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/massive-rally-at-illinois-capitol-will-protest-release-of-gun-owner-names-and-personal-information-117510513.html

… Huston, along with other working and retired law enforcement officers, is among the rare class of Illinoisans who can legally carry concealed handguns. Regular, responsible, law-abiding citizens ought to have the same right in Illinois, he says. Some 60,000 Tri-County residents with active Firearm Owners Identification Cards, not to mention new applicants, could get that chance if Illinois passes a concealed carry law this year. The operative words are "if," "might," and Governor Pat Quinn's position. But supporters say they're seeing more momentum to pass a concealed carry law this legislative session than they've seen in more than a decade. With a House committee set to hear testimony Tuesday and the annual Illinois Gun Owners Lobby Day on Thursday, gun-rights groups are loading up on political ammo. "Honestly, I think its time has come," says state Rep. Jehan Gordon, D-Peoria. State Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria, chief co-sponsor of one of six concealed carry bills introduced in the General Assembly this session, predicts some version of concealed carry will pass in the Senate - if it's called for a vote…

http://www.pjstar.com/news/x945639965/Adams-Gun-rights-groups-to-test-political-strength
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And in Maryland…: When the House Judiciary Committee meets this week, just days after it finished wrestling with a contentious same-sex marriage proposal, lawmakers will be greeted by another lighting rod issue: Guns. Tuesday is the House committee's annual "gun day," when hundreds of Second Amendment and gun control advocates clash over bills intended to shape how Marylanders purchase, carry and use firearms. This year, a dozen gun bills are on the schedule, including a pair backed by Gov. Martin O'Malley (D). But if recent history is any indicator, the vast majority of firearm proposals debated in the House committee Tuesday are poised to fail. It's the product of what advocates and lawmakers on both sides of the issue have described as the General Assembly's long-running stalemate when it comes to guns… Up to 200 members of the pro-gun community are expected to swarm the committee hearing, said Paul Dembowski, president of the gun-rights group Maryland Shall Issue. Showing up en mass to testify against gun restrictions is the best strategy to ward off new laws, Dembowski said. The group also floods the inboxes of committee members with emails in the days leading up to the hearing…

http://rockville.patch.com/articles/house-gun-day-highlights-stalemate-in-assembly
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Vote Today on Pennsylvania Castle Doctrine: State Rep. Scott Perry, R-Carroll Township, said the state House of Representatives is scheduled to vote Monday on the Castle Doctrine bill that he sponsored. Under current law, the use of deadly force in self-defense is not justifiable when safe retreat is possible, unless a person is attacked in his or her home or workplace. Perry's legislation would remove the requirement to retreat before using deadly force outside the home or workplace, as well. The term Castle Doctrine refers to the adage that a man's home is his castle. "Right now, the scales are tipped slightly in favor of the criminals," Perry said. Perry anticipates that committee members will approve the bill, because they approved it last legislative session. The same goes for the rest of the House and the Senate, both of which also approved the measure last session. The only reason it didn't pass into law was because former Gov. Ed Rendell vetoed it. But new Gov. Tom Corbett has expressed his support for it, so Perry is optimistic…

http://www.ydr.com/politics/ci_17549552
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Tennessee Professors Oppose Campus Carry: Faculty at the University of Tennessee have a message for the Legislature: We don't want to carry guns. The Faculty Senate is looking to pass a resolution at its meeting today opposing state House and Senate bills that would allow permit-holding gun owners on the faculty and staff to bring their firearms to campus. "Having a license doesn't make you trained to deal with a crisis, and the police are trained to deal with that, so they should be the ones with the guns," said senate past-President Toby Boulet, an engineering professor who is writing the resolution with fellow member Carole Myers. UT officials are closely watching activity on the issue in Nashville and vehemently expressing opposition to the bill, said Hank Dye, vice president for government relations. They have had multiple conversations with sponsors of the bill and other legislators, he said… (If campus police departments would conduct additional training for those who gain the right to carry on campus – possibly involving professors from the psychology department – it could help create a culture that discourages mass shootings in that environment.)

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/mar/07/ut-senate-vote-against-firearms-legislation-guns/
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Open Carry in Alabama: … Alabama Open Carry (ALOC) is a grassroots organization dedicated to protecting and fighting for the rights of those who choose to wear their firearms in public… Many people do not know the laws regarding open carry.  ALOC fights for it's members that continue to run into legal problems over their choice.  "We can give them information about how to handle it.  We can give them information from others who have gone through the same situations," says Tony Shifflet, a member of ALOC… ALOC is pushing for new state legislation to try and make open carry an easier and less hassling experience.  They have drafted a set of amendments called "The Self Defense Protection Act of 2011."  "It's a set of laws to further strengthen our second amendment laws in the state of Alabama.  We have a petition going right now that we actually have over 1,200 signatures supporting this legislation," says Jones. The organization is trying to get the bill on the agenda for the current legislative session.

http://www.cbs42.com/content/localnews/story/2nd-Amendment-Supporters-Rally-in-Magic-City/ZZbkB9o4Ekm-r_h3h-heEQ.cspx
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Life in New Jersey: A Newton pet food store owner kidnapped in front of his shop is appealing a judge's denial of his application to carry a handgun. Jeffrey Muller, 60, applied for a permit after his harrowing ordeal in January 2010. Authorities said Muller, owner of J&G Pet Food Store, was the victim of mistaken identity by three men in search of another Jeffrey Muller who supposedly bilked an acquaintance out of a large amount of money. State Police did a background check on Muller and initially approved his application. Permits to carry handguns in New Jersey need judicial approval, and last August, state Superior Court Judge Philip Maenza in Morristown denied the application. The judge determined that Muller's fear and his experience as a victim did not meet "the justifiable need" required by statute to carry a firearm. Muller has now asked Superior Court Judge David Ironson in Morristown to reconsider the denial. A hearing was supposed to occur Monday but has been postponed. Neither Muller nor his attorney, Dave Jensen, could immediately be reached for comment…

http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20110304/NJNEWS/103040302/Kidnap-victim-appeals-to-carry-handgun
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Oops, Wrong House: … Carmen Glass sat beside her husband, Burnell, as the trial opened for Ray Lemes, a Northwest Side homeowner who is claiming a "castle doctrine" defense in the August 2007 shooting of Tracy Glass, 19, an unarmed college student from San Angelo. In Texas, a person is legally justified in shooting someone who enters his home with nefarious intent. Some reports have suggested Glass might've gone to the wrong house. He was staying with his sister in an unfamiliar neighborhood and was legally drunk. Lemes' house looked similar. The hint of a tragic mistake is what caught my eye. It took me back two decades, to a case involving a 16-year-old Japanese exchange student who was shot to death in Baton Rouge, La. He died after mistaking the home of a man named Rodney Peairs for the scene of a party he was looking for. The man yelled "Freeze!" but the student, Yoshihiro Hattori, didn't speak English well. He kept moving and Peairs shot him… (There's a reason that these incidents are described as tragic but why should a homeowner be forced to presume that an intruder in his home has entered in error?)

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/news_columnists/scott_stroud/article/Castle-doctrine-doesn-t-prevent-pain-1044517.php
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Oops, Wrong Pharmacy: When Jerome Jay Ersland, has his day in court, Oklahoma's self-defense laws will be tested too. The 57-year-old-pharmacist was charged with first-degree murder as a result of shooting death that took place May 19, 2009. Two teenage boys entered the Reliable Discount Pharmacy in Oklahoma City where Ersland worked, but Ersland was able to chase only one of the youths out the door of the store. The other youth, 16-year-old Antwun Parker, was shot by Ersland six times. Oklahoma was among the first states to enact the self-defense legislation referred to as the Make My Day law. The law, named after Clint Eastwood's character Dirty Harry, provided that Oklahoma residents had the right to defend themselves by using deadly force, if necessary, in their homes without fear of criminal or civil action. In 2006, State Sen. Harry Coates authored legislation that extended those rights of self-defense to include persons in or on motor-operated vehicles and at businesses. That bill, known as the Stand Your Ground law, passed the Oklahoma legislature with only nine opposing votes. At first glance, it would seem Ersland had nothing to fear from the criminal justice system when he protected himself and his female co-workers from the two robbers. But as often happens, there is more to the story…

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20110306/cm_ac/7991310_oklahoma_pharmacist_case_tests_selfdefense_law
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Mexicans Arm for Self-Defense: On the ranch lands near the U.S. border, people no longer take security for granted and have turned to weapons to stave off drug thugs. Teachers, ranchers, town officials, business owners and lawyers in rural towns of northwest Chihuahua near New Mexico have armed themselves. Legal or not, they are ready to use their guns for protection. In a country caught in the clutches of a vicious drug war, people have decided it's better to fight than to fall victim to the violence, which has claimed about 35,000 people nationally. It is estimated that 15.5 million weapons – including small-caliber handguns, shotguns and semiautomatic rifles – are owned by residents of Mexico while the army and the police have just under 1 million weapons at their disposal, according to a organization in Australia that tracks weapons worldwide. Fed up with chronic violence, some Mexican residents might be ready to push their government to make weapons more easily available…

http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_17553032?source=most_viewed
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Scandal Down Under: The Police Minister, Michael Daley, has asked for an investigation into allegations police frequently used a pistol range at the centre of a murder investigation free of charge. The police-run Firearms Registry enforces gun laws and oversees the licences of gun owners and pistol clubs, such as the Sydney Pistol Club in La Perouse, where last August an unlicensed shooter and provisional club member allegedly left the club with a pistol and 30 rounds of ammunition which were later used to shoot her father. After the incident, police indefinitely suspended operations at the club's La Perouse range, in the minister's electorate. But the club fought the suspension in the Administrative Decisions Tribunal and last week police and the club instead agreed on a range of stringent conditions for the shooting range. In a letter the club's lawyer, Stephen Mainstone, pointed out the club ''has always been only too happy to allow NSW Police to use the range at no cost''. The letter, written in September, about three weeks after the alleged murder and part of documents before the tribunal, said NSW police had used the club range weekly when their own, inside the Sydney Police Centre in Goulburn Street, was out of action… (How terrible! A legitimate shooting club extends a helping hand to the local cops.)

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/investigation-into-police-links-with-gun-club-20110306-1bjlm.html

03-04-11

by permission from: Stephen P. Wenger
comments in () by the same 

http://www.spw-duf.info 

CBS Pursues Gunwalker Investigation: Federal agent John Dodson says what he was asked to do was beyond belief. He was intentionally letting guns go to Mexico? "Yes ma'am," Dodson told CBS News. "The agency was." An Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms senior agent assigned to the Phoenix office in 2010, Dodson's job is to stop gun trafficking across the border. Instead, he says he was ordered to sit by and watch it happen. Investigators call the tactic letting guns "walk." In this case, walking into the hands of criminals who would use them in Mexico and the United States. Dodson's bosses say that never happened. Now, he's risking his job to go public. "I'm boots on the ground in Phoenix, telling you we've been doing it every day since I've been here," he said. "Here I am. Tell me I didn't do the things that I did. Tell me you didn't order me to do the things I did. Tell me it didn't happen. Now you have a name on it. You have a face to put with it. Here I am. Someone now, tell me it didn't happen." Agent Dodson and other sources say the gun walking strategy was approved all the way up to the Justice Department. The idea was to see where the guns ended up, build a big case and take down a cartel. And it was all kept secret from Mexico. ATF named the case "Fast and Furious." Surveillance video obtained by CBS News shows suspected drug cartel suppliers carrying boxes of weapons to their cars at a Phoenix gun shop. The long boxes shown in the video being loaded in were AK-47-type assault rifles. So it turns out ATF not only allowed it - they videotaped it…

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/03/03/eveningnews/main20039031.shtml

Someone Else Takes Note: Hoping to score a major prosecution of Mexican drug lords, federal prosecutors and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives permitted hundreds of guns to be purchased and retained by suspected straw buyers with the expectation they might cross the border and even be used in crimes while the case was being built, according to documents and interviews. The decision – part of a Phoenix-based operation code named "Fast and Furious" – was met by strong objections from some front-line agents who feared they were allowing weapons like AK-47s to "walk" into the hands of drug lords and gun runners, internal agency memos show. Indeed, scores of the weapons came back quickly traced to criminal activity. One of those front-line agents who objected, John Dodson, 39, told the Center for Public Integrity that these guns "are going to be turning up in crimes on both sides of the border for decades." Dodson said in an interview that "with the number of guns we let walk, we'll never know how many people were killed, raped, robbed … there is nothing we can do to round up those guns. They are gone." Dodson has taken his misgivings to the Senate Judiciary Committee as a whistleblower after his concerns were dismissed by his supervisors and initially ignored by the Justice Department's inspector general…

http://www.publicintegrity.org/articles/entry/2976/

But, According to the L.A. Times…: A federal operation that allowed weapons from the U.S. to pass into the hands of suspected gun smugglers so they could be traced to the higher echelons of Mexican drug cartels has lost track of hundreds of firearms, many of which have been linked to crimes, including the fatal shooting of a Border Patrol agent in December… But several veteran agents were outraged at the shift, saying that there is a big difference between tracking drugs and tracking guns. They saw the change as a violation of a sacred ATF policy: Make the big case or don't make the big case, but don't let the guns go… (So it would appear that F Troop merely "lost track" of the "walked" guns in their effort to "make the big case.")

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-guns-mexico-20110304,0,7581670,full.story

I Not Only Believe in It, I've Actually Seen It: At a joint presss conference with Mexican President Felipe Calderon on Thusday, President Barack Obama responded to a Mexican reporter who asked him if he had the power to veto the right of Americans to keep and bear arms by saying he believed in the Second Amendment… Obama responded: "Well, the Second Amendment in this country is part of our Constitution, and the president of the United States is bound by our Constitution. So I believe in the Second Amendment. It does provide for Americans the right to bear arms for their protection, for their safety, for hunting, for a wide range of uses. That does not mean that we cannot constrain gun-runners from shipping guns into Mexico. And so we believe that we can shape an enforcement strategy that slows the flow of guns into Mexico, while at the same time preserving our Constitution." …Obama did not address the U.S. government sting operation known as "Project Gunrunner," in which the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives deliberately moved weapons to suspected gun smugglers in Texas, so the ATF could trace their route to the Mexican drug cartels… (This article also mentions the issue of US agents being disarmed by Mexican law. I'm worried about some quid pro quo on that issue.)

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/obama-appearing-mexican-president-backs

Where's Tom Sawyer when You Need the Whitewash?: Attorney General Eric Holder has asked the Justice Department inspector general to take another look at the efforts of U.S. agents who hunt gun traffickers along the U.S. border with Mexico. Some on Capitol Hill have suggested the current strategy endangers law enforcement officers. The ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, says he has been told by some personnel at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that the agency has allowed assault rifles to be sold to suspected straw purchasers for an illegal trafficking ring. Grassley questions whether agents adequately tracked the weapons after that…

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/justice-inspector-general-look-anti-gun

Now that CBS News has delivered its second definitive report on the scope of "Project Gunwalker" and Senator Grassley has expressed his determination to not allow the Department of Justice to stonewall his investigations, the damage control at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have begun in earnest.  From one of the behind-the-scenes confidential sources advising Mike Vanderboegh of Sipsey Street Irregulars and this correspondent, someone who has been instrumental in bringing this story to light from long before major media became involved: "This just hit minutes ago.  Panic and chaos are taking place at ATF headquarters in advance of the anticipated media releases today and tomorrow.  Below is a message just sent from the subordinate of Jim McDermond from the ATF Office of Public and Governmental Affairs.  An emergency request is being issued to all ATF Public Information Officers to find ATF stories with a positive spin to counter-influence was is expected today.  Very insulting and very much the character of ATF management.  Please respond to me that you received this.  I think it will be critical to your stories and for Senator Grassley to further see demonstrated ATF's continued desire to spin and cover up." …

http://www.examiner.com/gun-rights-in-national/atf-begins-spin-wake-of-devastating-press-reports
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From GOA: … Congress has held many hearings looking into this rogue agency; it has tried to cut its budget and otherwise rein in the ATF. In fact, as far back as 1982, a Senate subcommittee noted that ATF "has trampled upon the second amendment by chilling exercise of the right to keep and bear arms by law-abiding citizens." But so far, congressional concern over the agency has not resulted in any substantive action. To the contrary, over the years the agency has continued to grow in its budget, personnel, and mission… GOA's petition asks Congress to exercise its constitutional authority get the ATF out of the firearms regulating business. This is an agency that should not exist, and one that is repugnant to the ideas of liberty the Founding Fathers sought to implement.
Of course, it won't be easy. But if enough Americans make their voices heard we can do away with this unconstitutional agency. So please, click here to sign the petition today, and then help spread the word.

http://gunowners.org/a03022011.htm
http://capwiz.com/gunowners/issues/alert/?alertid=32404501
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Jeff Knox on NRA Board Election: …There is little chance of any injection of new blood in this year's election. The candidate list is a bit larger than usual, but it includes 26 incumbent directors, including the current 76th director, vying for the 25 seats. The Nominating Committee nominated all 25 of the current 3-year directors plus an additional 6 candidates. There were 6 more candidates nominated exclusively by petition of the members. Historically we can expect that at least 23 of the 25 incumbents will win reelection. Since the NRA uses a cumulative total election – the 25 highest total vote getters win – the real race is always between candidates at the bottom of the list. The fact that the committee nominated actor Erik Estrada and members tapped actor and retired Marine Corps NCO R. Lee "Gunny" Ermey, does add some spice to the campaign. Another interesting tidbit is the Nominating Committee's refusal to nominate the current 76th director and perennial candidate, Steve Schreiner – again. Schreiner has run repeatedly for several years. Each time the Nominating Committee has snubbed him, and he has fallen short of the cut. As the next highest vote recipient, however, he has at least twice finished out a term after a death or resignation from the Board, as he is doing currently after the death of long-time Board member Donn DiBiasio… The Firearms Coalition usually endorses a handful of candidates and always advocates voting for only those candidates and no more, but this year the organization is only offering one endorsement: Linda Walker of Ohio. While all of the other candidates seem very qualified, there is only a slight chance of getting maybe one new person on the Board this year, and Linda Walker is the one we think would be best. We encourage NRA voters to mark their ballots for Linda Walker and only Linda Walker, because every other name you mark reduces the chances of Linda Walker being elected. Linda will need at least 65,000 bullet votes to have a chance at a seat. With only about 7 percent of eligible NRA voters actually casting ballots in any given election, it should be relatively easy to find an extra few thousand votes, but when faced with such overwhelming apathy, finding those votes is much easier said than done…

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=269741
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NRA Credits Palin for Rise in Female Membership: Sarah Palin knows how to field dress a moose, but she also knows how to get women to pick up a gun. A National Rifle Association spokeswoman credits the former Alaska governor with the 20 percent jump in female membership. Calling it the "Palin Effect," the NRA's Diane Danielson said the NRA is now "teaching 10,000 new women a year and making more girls want to take up shooting." And gun companies are taking notice of a new demographic in their sights. "Firearm manufacturers are gearing their products towards women. They're scaling down stocks, and shortening trigger pull lengths for our shorter fingers,' Danielson told The Daily Mail. (The issue, Ms. Danielson, is not finger length. "Length of pull" is mostly an issue of arm length, which determines the proper distance between the butt of the stock and the face of the trigger.)

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0311/50667.html
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Otis McDonald Speaks Today: Otis McDonald, the cornerstone plaintiff in the landmark Supreme Court Second Amendment Case McDonald v. City of Chicago, will appear Friday in Chicago, IL at a special event featuring the rolling "Guns Save Lives" billboard sponsored by the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Mr. McDonald will appear at a press conference at 3 p.m. at the Jewels Store parking lot at 87th Street and Lafayette on the west side of the expressway. Joining him will be Valinda Rowe, spokesperson for IllinoisCarry.com; Mike Weisman, vice president of the Illinois State Rifle Association; Gerald Vernon and Shawn Gowder of the Chicago gun Owners' Association, and Dr. Paula Bratich with the Second Amendment Sisters. From there, the rolling billboard will proceed south to 95th and Lafayette (Rapid Transit stop) and from there it travels west on 95th Street to the Wal Mart parking lot one block west of Western Avenue…

http://www.ccrkba.org/?p=2548
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A Rabbi Responds to Bloomie: … Mr. Bloomberg, our Jewish tradition tells us that righteous self-defense is not only permissible but an obligation: "If a murderer comes for you, strike him down first." (Talmud Sanhedrin 72a) In your own New York City, hand guns are illegal for all practical purposes, yet the murderers, drug dealers, gangs, and other criminal predators in your City manage to acquire them nonetheless. How do you expect civilians to defend themselves against those who would harm them if we cannot use the most practical tool at our disposal – the handgun? You tell us to "Dial 911"? And then wait ten minutes or more for police rescue? (See "Dial 911 and Die") It deeply troubles me that I – along with millions of others who live and work in your city – are on your "disarmed" list. Mr. Mayor, this is not only immoral, it goes against the fundamental precepts of Judaism that you and I both honor. The Torah teaches: "Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor." (Leviticus 19:16), which Rashi explains means that one who is able to help another escape harm and fails to do so is held culpable in the Heavenly Court for the harm he failed to prevent. You, Mr. Mayor, by disarming your citizens, place them in harm's way every day…

http://jpfo.org/rabbi/rabbi-bloomberg-letter.htm
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This House Is Gun-Free: … The anti-gun lobby has sought to impose what it calls "sensible restrictions" on gun ownership ever since Otis McDonald, a 76-year-old Army veteran who lives in a high crime area of Chicago, won his case before the U.S. Supreme Court saying the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution he fought to protect gives him the right to bear arms. These restrictions vary from training and education requirements to waiting periods to limiting the number of purchases. Some are indeed sensible, but most are simply designed to discourage prospective gun owners with too many hoops to jump through. Gun-rights opponents in Illinois apparently have hit on a new tactic – shame and embarrass gun owners by publicly naming them in much the same manner some communities print the names of johns who patronize hookers in the local paper. In the liberal mind, patronizing a lady of the evening and protecting your family with a firearm are illicit activities that should be discouraged…

http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article/564926/201103031851/Attention-This-House-Is-Gun-Free.htm
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Interesting Ruling: Federal prosecutors in Washington failed to timely turn over exculpatory information to the lawyers representing a man in a shooting case, a divided appeals court said today in throwing out the conviction and sending the case back for a new trial in D.C. Superior Court. The D.C. Court of Appeals, voting 2-1, said prosecutors "effectively suppressed" favorable information, violating their obligation to disclose exculpatory information to the defense lawyers representing a man named Tyree Miller. At issue in the case: testimony that the shooter held the gun in his left hand. Miller is right-handed… (While this, technically, could be exculpatory, depending on the distance, I could envision a right-handed person who may not be skilled in shooting left-handed shifting a gun to his left hand during a close-range confrontation.)

http://legaltimes.typepad.com/blt/2011/03/voiding-assault-conviction-appeals-court-splits-on-whether-to-investigate-prosecutors.html
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Once Again, the Sky Is Falling in Arizona: The Arizona Senate has passed a measure that would allow guns in public establishments and events unless the facility is secured with metal detectors and armed guards. Republicans supported Senate Bill 1201, and Democrats opposed it. The bill now goes to the House for consideration. Debate was emotional. Sen. Linda Lopez, D-Tucson, cried as she spoke. "Has this body no shame, no compassion, no respect?" said Lopez, a good friend of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. "Six people died, and 13 were injured in Tucson ... and we are further loosening gun control in this state. Couldn't this body have the decency to wait until next year?" Sen. Steve Gallardo, D-Phoenix, said his opposition to the bill has nothing to do with the right to bear arms. He said the bill would allow guns to be carried into Arizona Cardinals, Diamondbacks and Phoenix Suns games… (If Mr. Gallardo is so concerned about drunkenness at sporting events, would it not make more sense to ban the sale and consumption of alcohol in those venues? After all, what's to guarantee that everyone who has a few beers during the game is accompanied by a designated driver?)

http://www.azcentral.com/news/election/azelections/articles/2011/03/03/20110303arizona-gun-rights-bill-senate-passes.html
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…In Georgia: A year after Georgia lawmakers passed a sweeping gun rights expansion that allowed permit-holders to carry guns into some bars and more parking lots, the Legislature is considering new changes that would allow them to carry their weapons into churches and make it easier for them to renew their licenses. A proposal unveiled Thursday would allow licensed gun owners to carry their weapons into churches, synagogues and other houses of worship with the approval of the congregation. It would also allow them to keep their weapons in locked boxes within school parking lots and safety zones. Another provision would require probate judges to send notices to gun owners at least 90 days before a firearm license expires. The proposal also would no longer require those seeking to renew their license to undergo another criminal background check, although the measure's backers said they expect to delete that language after it came under fire…

http://wsbradio.com/localnews/2011/03/new-bill-permits-guns-at-churc.html
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…In Idaho: Idaho lawmakers gave initial approval Thursday to a bill that would curtail the power of administrators to restrict where students, faculty, staff members and visitors can carry concealed firearms on Idaho's public university and community college campuses. Rep. Erik Simpson, R-Idaho Falls, says his bill is about making campus safer, and the version approved by the House State Affairs Committee would allow people to carry concealed firearms everywhere on campus except in undergraduate residence halls.
Idaho code allows the carrying of concealed firearms in places like the state capital, but not on Idaho campuses… Simpson argues his bill would increase safety at the state's four public universities and community colleges. He said letting students, faculty or others carry concealed guns heightens the chances they could help prevent a violent crime…

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20110304/UPDATE/110303044/New-bill-would-allow-concealed-guns-ID-campuses?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s
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…In Kentucky: Legislation expanding the legal definition of where handguns may be stored in vehicles in Kentucky has cleared a Senate committee. Currently, Kentuckians without concealed carry permits may keep a firearm in their vehicle, but only if it's stored in the glove box. Representative Will Coursey's bill expands the definition to include consoles, enclosed compartments and storage areas originally installed by the vehicle's manufacturer. "That's where I like to keep mine, in the side pocket of the door," says Senator Robin Webb of Grayson "So, I'll be fine doing that now. No question. Well, thank you Rep. Coursey for bringing this. That's the intention of this legislation," says Coursey. "It just allows the law abiding citizen that wishes to exercise his Second Amendment rights to adhere to the laws of the commonwealth," he says. The bill, which already has House approval, is expected to meet little resistance on the Senate floor. (Unfortunately, "storing" firearms in vehicles does not provide great access in an emergency and facilitates their theft.)

http://www.wfpl.org/2011/03/03/concealed-carry-expansion-bill-clears-senate-committee/
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…In North Carolina: There could be more guns in parks, restaurants and workplaces under two bills state legislators are considering. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing is something lawmakers have just begun to consider. One bill would make it legal for people with concealed handgun permits to bring their weapons into restaurants and parks. The other would allow gun owners to lock their weapons in their cars while they're at work. And a bill filed Thursday by Youngsville Republican Rep. Glen Bradley would exempt from all federal regulation any firearm, accessory and ammunition made and kept in North Carolina…

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/03/04/2109036/bills-would-allow-guns-in-parks.html
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Oops, Wrong House: Police said a 53-year-old woman shot her ex-boyfriend after he broke into her house and started beating her. Donald Bryant, 40, approached the woman in the 2300 block of West 19th Avenue while she was starting her car, according to a police report. Bryant said he wanted to talk with her about getting back together, the report said. She ran into the house and he chased her inside and pushed in the door while she yelled for her sister to call 911, Lt. Sam Roberts said. Bryant "began punching her with his fist and began to grab and choke her," Roberts said. The struggle continued into the bathroom, where the two fell into a tub. The victim pulled out a gun and shot Bryant in the stomach, police said. He yelled "ouch, ouch" and ran away, Roberts said. Bryant was arrested for residential entry and battery after being transported to Methodist Hospital Northlake Campus in Gary [IN]. The woman was not arrested for shooting Bryant. She had bruising on her face, neck and body, Roberts said. (Note the limited value of shooting someone in "the stomach.")

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/gary/article_facbf182-17fd-5f55-8efc-ef613e6264ab.html
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Canada Drops Gun charges in Self-Defense Case: In a move that acknowledges the difficulty of prosecuting people who feel forced to act in self-defence, Crown attorneys have dropped two gun charges against an Ontario man who shot at masked intruders firebombing his home, saying they had no "reasonable prospect of conviction." The rules around self-defence in Canada are "complex," prosecutors said, and courts have "repeatedly" established that victims can't be expected to thoughtfully examine all consequences of using deadly force while under attack. "Because each case is unique, with widely diverse and sometimes contradictory evidence, no broad policy statement is intended with respect to the use of firearms in the defence of one's home," the Crown brief says…

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/charges+dropped+against+Ontario+self+defender/4380391/story.html
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Winchester Ranger .223 Recall: Olin Corporation, through its Winchester Division, is recalling six (6) lots of its RANGER® 223 Remington 64 Grain Power-Point® (PP) centerfire rifle ammunition (Symbol Number RA223R2). Lot Numbers (last four characters): DK01, DK11, DK21, DK31, DK41, and DK51. Through extensive evaluation Winchester has determined the above lots of RANGER® Law Enforcement ammunition may contain incorrect propellant. Incorrect propellant in this ammunition may cause firearm damage, rendering the firearm inoperable, and subject the shooter or bystanders to a risk of serious personal injury when fired…

http://www.winchester.com/library/news/Pages/News-ProductWarningandRecall.aspx
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Tangentially Related: One of the investigators with our group likes to eat, but he doesn't like to cook. He's a delivery or takeout type of guy. He was recounting a story when on a particularly cold day in Phoenix (45 degrees) he thought it best to order in. When he called for the Chinese food delivery, he offered to give the delivery driver the pin number for the gate, so that the driver could enter without calling. The delivery driver stated, in
a polite but dismissive tone, that he didn't need to call, as he had the universal code
for the fire department, and that he could go in and out of any complex as he needed… Then, in a moment of both desperation and curiosity - I remembered the gate card key in the backpack, placed it in the slot, and viola [sic]! The gate opened. This was cool. I continue to use the gate key with great fanfare, especially with impressionable kids in the car, since this is exactly what an investigator should have - a magic gate key. It works in
most every residential community gate I have tried… Note to security people: remove default settings, create a new master code, and to one in particular thank you for the card. I will use it for good and not evil.

http://aegisjournal.com/ejournal/ej201102.pdf
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03-02-11

by permission from: Stephen P. Wenger
(comments in () by the same

http://www.spw-duf.info 

Website Update: I received a warning about the risks of repeatedly chambering the same round in AR-15-style rifles, which I have posted in the Thoughts on Rifle Ammunition section on the Long Gun Selection page.

http://www.spw-duf.info/longgun.html
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A List Member Replies: Intrigued by my comment to the effect that Chicago's handgun ordinance does not actually place registered handgun owners under house arrest, one list member looked up the ordinance. It reads, in part, "It is unlawful for any person to carry, own or possess a handgun except when in the person's home." (§ 8-20-20) Does Chicago really have its own definition of "ownership," such that it ceases temporarily when one walks out the door?
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UN Lies: "Currently, the United Nations is drafting an Arms Trade Treaty to impose strict controls on firearms and other weapons," David B. Kopel, Paul Gallant and Joanne D. Eisen write in a just-released New York University Journal of Law & Liberty Article.  From the Abstract: "In support of hasty adoption of the Treaty, a UN-related organization of Treaty supporters have produced a report claiming that armed violence is responsible for 740,000 deaths annually. This Article carefully examines the claim. We find that the claim is based on dubious assumptions, cherry-picked data, and mathematical legerdemain which is inexplicably being withheld from the public. The refusal to disclose the mathematical calculations used to create the 740,000 factoid is itself cause for serious suspicion; our own calculations indicate that the 740,000 figure is far too high. Further, while the report claims that 60% of homicides are perpetrated with firearms, our review of the data on which the report claimed to rely yields a 22% rate. The persons responsible for the report have refused to release their homicide calculations, or any other calculations." Globalist gun-grabbers fudge numbers to advance an agenda? And then refuse to share their methodologies and data? This is my shocked face…

http://www.examiner.com/gun-rights-in-national/researchers-challenge-un-arms-trade-treaty-gun-death-claims
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I Haven't Heard the Fat Lady Sing: The left has permanently lost the argument on gun control. Despite their best efforts to take advantage of the tragic shooting in Arizona to promote pointless restrictions on things like the size of handgun magazines, the propaganda campaign is unlikely to go anywhere. Instead, the right to keep and bear arms continues to gain steam as state lawmakers around the country are enacting measures that would have been unthinkable not so long ago… Whenever the left is defeated at the statehouse and ballot box, it turns to the courts. The Supreme Court shot down most of these efforts with the District of Columbia v. Heller and McDonald v. City of Chicago rulings reviving judicial recognition of the Second Amendment. Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe received legislation on Monday that forbids local governments from attempting to file liability lawsuits against manufacturers of guns and ammunition. The same bill also prohibits localities from passing any sort of "emergency ordinance" to seize Americans' firearms as happened in New Orleans during the Katrina hurricane…

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/mar/1/no-hope-for-gun-grabbers/

Recent Poll: Since the tragedy in Tucson, Arizona on January 8, Americans' desire for their Second Amendment rights show no signs of weakening. President Obama ignored a change in gun policy in his State of the Union speech, but the White House promised on January 27 that Obama would unveil a push for more gun control in the coming weeks. This push for more gun control from the White House has yet to happen. A poll conducted by Zogby International just ten days after the President's State of the Union speech shows that, if anything, voters have become more supportive of their Second Amendment rights. The poll surveyed 10,000 likely voters and was commissioned by ATI-News and The O'Leary Report. For polling purposes, all 10,000 voters were divided into three camps: 1) Red states that did not vote for Obama in 2008 and are unlikely to do so in 2012; 2) Blue states that did not vote for McCain in 2008 and are unlikely to vote GOP in 2012; and 3) The following battleground "Green" states that could go either way in 2012: FL, IN, IA, MI, MO, NH, NM, NC, OH, PA, VA, and WI.

http://townhall.com/columnists/bradoleary/2011/03/01/poll_shows_voters_of_all_stripes_oppose_more_gun_control/page/full/

Brady Brays: The Brady Campaign has taken upon itself the devilishly tricky task of crowing over the "success" (more on that in a minute) of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (the "Brady Bill," requiring criminal background checks for all gun sales from licensed dealers), while simultaneously decrying the inadequacy of that law, and the need for a whole fleet of new laws to make it actually work.  From their press release: "Seventeen years after the Brady Law went into effect on February 28, 1994, Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, expressed pride in the law's accomplishments, but also urged political leaders to do more to protect Americans from gun violence. Helmke outlined 17 common sense measures, including closing loopholes allowing too many gun sales to be conducted without background checks, holding gun dealers and manufacturers accountable, slowing illegal gun sales and trafficking and more." …This year's "17 Common Sense Recommendations for Change," as the Brady Campaign calls them, are not limited to small infringements, either, with just one of them being "Require Licensing of Gun Owners and Registration of Gun Purchases." Sounds as if they're hoping to get back to the heady days of thinking they could pass "Brady II." In the interest of fairness, it must be admitted that the Brady Campaign is at least capable of impressive feats of alliteration, as illustrated in their alternate name for this one: "Stop the Sale of Large Capacity Ammunition Magazines (aka Big Bullet-Blasting Boxes)."  Really, Brady Campaign, "Big Bullet-Blasting Boxes"?  Seriously? …

http://www.examiner.com/gun-rights-in-st-louis/coming-next-year-from-the-brady-campaign-18-new-infringements-on-rkba
http://www.bradycampaign.org/media/press/view/1359/

Meanwhile, in LaLa Land…: Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Police Chief Charlie Beck and other top officials voiced their support Wednesday for federal legislation that would ban large-capacity ammunition magazines such as the one used by the alleged gunman in the Tucson shooting rampage. "It boils down to simple math: It's 20 lives," said Beck, describing the difference between a 10- and 30-round magazine attached to a weapon. The pending federal law – H.R. 308, sponsored by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) – would ban magazines that hold more than 10 rounds. Chances of its passage are considered slim amid strong opposition from gun-rights advocates… Displayed on a table beside Beck at a City Hall news conference Wednesday was an array of seized semi-automatic weapons. Such seizures have risen dramatically since a federal assault weapons ban expired in 2004, City Attorney Carmen Trutanich said… (As I recall, when Trutanich ran for city attorney, much of the opposition focused on his being in the same law firm as Chuck Michel, the primary litigator for the California Rifle & Pistol Association. So much for birds of a feather…)

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/03/la-mayor-police-chief-voice-support-for-federal-ban-on-large-capacity-firearms.html

And in Colt's Home State…: Tuesday, Senate Bill 1094 was introduced and referred to the Joint Committee on Judiciary. SB 1094 seeks to prohibit the possession of firearms magazines that accept more than ten rounds of ammunition. If passed and signed into law, any person in possession of any magazine greater than ten rounds, who has not already surrendered the magazine prior to enactment or ninety days after enactment, will be guilty of a class D felony. SB 1094 is a bill in search of a problem, despite the recent media attention given to "large capacity" magazines, no correlation exists between the size or arbitrary capacity of a detachable magazine and violent crime. Owners of "large capacity" magazines are not criminals or individuals intent on committing atrocious acts; they are sportsmen or firearm enthusiasts who own the magazines for a variety of reasons, including sport, competition or self-defense.

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/connecticut-moves-to-ban-%E2%80%9Clarge-capacity%E2%80%9D-gun-magazines
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Illinois AG – Out Gun Owners: Illinois State Police stood their ground today after the state's attorney general determined the agency must disclose the names of people authorized to own guns in Illinois to comply with public records law. Attorney General Lisa Madigan's public access counselor issued a letter Monday night rejecting state police arguments that releasing the information is an unwarranted invasion of privacy prohibited by the state public records law or that its disclosure would automatically endanger the lives of gun owners or those who don't have firearms. State police determine who gets Firearm Owners Identification cards but have always kept the information confidential. Despite the decree, the names likely won't be uncloaked soon. A state police lawyer indicated in a letter Tuesday the agency planned to ask a judge to decide the matter. And Republican lawmakers have filed legislation to make names permanently private. Through the Freedom of Information Act, The Associated Press requested in September the names of each FOID cardholder in the state and the expiration date of each card. State police denied the request, prompting the public access counselor's intervention… (These are not carry permits – there currently is no such thing in Illinois – these are the permits required to own firearms and ammunition in Illinois.)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chibrknews-atty-general-illinois-should-release-foid-card-list-20110301,0,6114050.story
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Illinois Gunners to Rally Next Week: Illinois gun owners will gather March 10 in Springfield for Illinois Gun Owner Lobby Day (IGOLD) and the largest show of support for an Illinois Right to Carry law the state has ever seen… An expected crowd of 7,000 to 10,000 will gather at the Prairie Capitol Convention Center at the corner of Adams and 8th streets. Doors open at 10:30, with the pre-rally program set to begin at 11:45. Leaders of the Illinois State Rifle Association will present a legislative briefing before sending attendees on a march to the State Capitol through the streets of Springfield. A reception for attendees and legislators will be held later that evening at the State House Inn, 6 p.m., 101 E. Adams St. All Illinois gun owners are urged to attend. IGOLD organizers have scheduled charter buses from all corners of the state to make travel to the event worry free. Buses will depart from the Marion Sam's Club parking lot and the Wal-Mart parking lot in Mt. Vernon. Advance reservations required. To reserve a seat on the bus and avoid the hassles of driving and finding parking places, or for more information, go to IGOLD.isra.org or call 815-635-3198.

http://www.carmitimes.com/newsnow/x868510556/Southern-Illinois-gun-owners-to-converge-on-state-capitol
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Constitutional Right to Prompt Hearing: From Razzano v. County of Nassau (E.D.N.Y. decided yesterday), an interesting decision holding that the gun owner wins under the Due Process Clause, and might also win under the Fourth Amendment (if he amends his complaint to plead it properly)… Gabriel Razzano ... asserts that the defendants, all associated with the Nassau County Police Department, violated his Fourteenth Amendment due process rights by failing to provide him with an adequate opportunity to recover rifles and shotguns that the defendants had confiscated from his residence.... Along with protesting for stricter enforcement of the immigration laws, Razzano has also repeatedly contacted local and federal legislators relating to immigration. One such legislator was United States Representative Carolyn McCarthy. In the six years leading up to the events precipitating this lawsuit, Razzano telephoned McCarthy's office approximately one hundred times, and visited the office approximately six times… As Razzano was not offered this type of hearing, Nassau County violated his Fourteenth Amendment due process rights....

http://volokh.com/2011/03/01/court-finds-due-process-clause-violation-in-nassau-county-n-y-failure-to-provide-prompt-hearing-as-to-return-of-citizens-guns/
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Empty-Holster Protests Planned in Oklahoma: University officials and student governments at the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University have been against weapons on campus for years. But students in favor of concealed guns at schools are planning to don their holsters in larger numbers during April across several campuses, according to OSU graduate student Adrienne O'Reilly, the Oklahoma director of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus. "Some of us are wearing empty holsters as a symbol of not only showing we are in support of the concealed-carry laws being changed, but we also want people to see that there are people on campus who do have their concealed-carry license," O'Reilly said. "Though the official empty holster protest will come in April, some of us want people to see that concealed-carry license holders are just like everyone else instead of continuing to allow people to stereotype us." Proponents of the bills say they are fighting misinformation, O'Reilly said…

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=19&articleid=20110302_11_A1_CUTLIN929455

While in Texas…: Student Congress took an overwhelming stance, 36–6, against concealed carry on campus Tuesday night. SC held an official vote on behalf of the student body to decide what position UTA would take on carrying concealed guns on campus. The vote is in response to three bills currently in the Texas legislature that would allow licensed holders to carry on campus. According to the bill's author, Rep. Joe Driver, R-Garland, 81 of 150 Texas House members have already signed on as co-authors to House Bill 750. The floor opened for discussion 45 minutes before congress made a private vote. Senators were allowed two minutes a piece to speak, and all remarks were solely made to SC President Aaron Resendez. Resendez said he is going to the UT System Student Advisory Council Friday to inform them on the campus' stance. Once legislation allows, he said the executive board will go to Austin to speak with legislators…

http://www.theshorthorn.com/index.php/news/university/1048-guns-on-campus-shot-down-by-student-congress

And in Florida…: A new bill in Florida would allow for the open-carry of firearms in the state, including on the campuses of Florida's universities. Sen. Greg Evers (R-Crestview) introduced the legislation, SB 234, which is currently in committee. If passed, the bill would allow anyone with a concealed weapons permit to also carry a firearm visible to the public. Florida is one of seven states in the country that currently does not allow a person to do that. The legislation would also allow people to openly carry a firearm on campus at a Florida university. Under current law, they are not allowed to do that. Even if the bill passes, people will still not be allowed to carry a gun into a police station, jail, courtroom, government building, professional sporting event, or public school. A group of university police chiefs, including Chief Thomas Longo from the University of South Florida, have written a letter to the Florida Legislature asking them to not change the law. They believe open carry would make their campuses more dangerous… (Hidden guns on campus, flaunted guns on campus – how's a gun-banner to know which to paint as the greater evil?)

http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_tampa/Bill-would-allow-guns-to-be-carried-openly-at-Florida-universities

Louisiana Campus-Carry Poll:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/os-poll-concealed-weapons-college-campus-022511,0,109338,post.poll
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Pennsylvania Self-Defense bill Advances: A measure that would expand Pennsylvania's so-called Castle Doctrine passed the state Senate Judiciary Committee in an impromptu meeting held just off the Senate floor today. The bill by state Sen. Richard Alloway, R-Franklin County, would allow residents to use deadly force to defend themselves outside their homes and vehicles without first having to retreat. The committee voted 10-3 to advance the proposal to the full Senate. Virtually the same plan also passed last year, but it was amended into another bill pertaining to closing loopholes in the state sex offender reporting law, Megan's Law. Former Gov. Ed Rendell vetoed the bill saying it was unconstitutional because it contained two different subjects.  Rendell later said he might have signed the bill if it had closed the "Florida loophole," which allows Pennsylvanians to obtain a gun permit from another state even if they are denied one here… (Let me see if I got that straight – Rendell would have signed a bill he thought was unconstitutional if it had only had one more provision that he desired?)

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/03/state_senate_panel_approves_ca.html
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Clayton Cramer vs. Open Carry: It has been over a year since I ran a series of articles chastising Clayton Cramer for criticizing both open carry and the gay community in his Shotgun News column as well as for his follow-up attack on open carry in his Pajamas Media column. Given the vitriol with which Mr. Cramer attacked open carriers in those instances, I suppose it is little surprise that he has once again taken aim (pun intended) at open carry. This time, his target is Michigan Open Carry and their efforts to force the Capital Area District Library (CADL) in Lansing Michigan to comply with Michigan's preemption law that forbids local units of government from regulating the otherwise lawful carry of firearms.  And while there are a number of interesting legal issues surrounding this preemption battle that I will address in next week's column, today I want to talk about Mr. Cramer's latest attack on open carry… (Cramer is known to many in the RKBA community for his essay "The Racist Roots of Gun Control." He also exposed Michael Bellesiles' fabrications in the latter's book Arming America and used that research as the basis of his own outstanding book Armed America. To the dismay of the open-carry community, he has expressed concerns that using open carry as a political statement may backfire. In the CADL case, it's pretty hard to protest by carrying discreetly.)

http://www.examiner.com/gun-rights-in-minneapolis/with-friends-like-this-part-ii

Meanwhile, in Wisconsin…: An "open carry" rally is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 5, at the Holiday Gardens in Potosi. The event features antique gun appraisals, sporting goods vendors and a discussion on Second Amendment rights. Gun-rights advocates are confident that a concealed-carry law will be implemented in Wisconsin this year. Gov. Scott Walker has expressed support for the idea. The event carries a $5 suggested donation and proceeds will benefit the Wisconsin Badger Camp located in northern Grant County. Lunch will be available. The event is sponsored by the Grant County Republican Party. (With no current lawful options for discreet carry, Wisconsin leaves little alternative to open carry.)

http://www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=313371
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Comedy of Errors?: …When questioned by authorities, Allen Jones stated he had taken his Glock .40 handgun from the glove compartment of his truck. He was walking to the house when he tripped and fell. The gun discharged, and he was hit in the leg just above the knee, he told police. Jones yelled to his wife for help. Aleisha Jones was upstairs bathing their young son when she heard her husband's call for help. When she arrived on the screened porch, she tried to secure the gun but her son beat her to it. As she attempted to take the gun from the child, a round fired. Aleisha Jones was hit in the left side of her neck. A neighbor heard the gunshots and cries for help and came to Aleisha Jones's aid. The neighbor's husband called 911. When authorities arrived, Allen and Aleisha Jones were transported to USA Medical Center in Mobile [AL]. Investigators say the individuals' stories parallel each other. At last report, the Joneses were in stable condition with injuries that did not appear life-threatening. No charges have been filed. (The Rules are posted at http://www.spw-duf.info/safety.html. The car-gun concept is discussed at http://www.spw-duf.info/emperor.html#car%20gun. It sounds as though the injuries could have been prevented by the use of some sort of holster, such as the Safepacker mentioned in the car-gun article.)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41837186/ns/local_news-mobile_al/
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The Horror of It!: A startled man has told how he found a bullet lying in a York city-centre street. Tim Stark said he was unloading items into the MOR Music store where he works in Fossgate yesterday morning when he spotted what he believed to be a live .22 bullet gleaming in a puddle. He said he immediately called police, who came and took it away… A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said the bullet had been put into safe storage, and CID had confirmed it was not thought to be connected with any incident currently under investigation… (It appears that British journalists also fail to understand the difference between a bullet and an entire cartridge.)

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/8805022.Fossgate_bullet_find_mystery/
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