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FEMA Reverses No Guns Policy Following SAF Whistleblowing, Says Second Amendment Foundation (SAF)
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today reversed a policy of prohibiting firearm possession in emergency evacuee trailer parks -- so-called 'FEMA villages' -- and other temporary housing provided by the agency. The reversal followed complaints by the Second Amendment Foundation that the original policy violated the Second Amendment civil rights of evacuees and that it was discriminatory as well."

"'Victims of natural disasters should not be victimized a second time by FEMA or other relief agencies,' noted Alan Gottlieb, founder of the Second Amendment Foundation. 'A citizen doesn't give up his or her civil rights simply because a disaster strikes.'" ...

Gun law expert sees international counterattack on firearm controls in recent American and Brazilian votes
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"'Recent votes in the United States House of Representatives and in a national referendum in Brazil point to the beginning of an all-out international attack on unreasonably restrictive gun controls and on their proponents,' gun law expert John Michael Snyder said here today."

"'And its about time,' he added. 'For too long, for much too long, elitists of various stripes throughout the world have been working to undermine the right and ability of average, decent people to defend life and property against violent local, national and international criminal elements. Well, the tide is turning. ... We are telling the gun-grabbing elitists and hypocritical do-gooders of the world to go take a hike!'" ...

LA: Gun possession now OK at FEMA temporary housing
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Residents can now possess and store firearms in trailer parks or other temporary housing set up for hurricane victims by the Federal Emergency Management Agency under a new policy announced today." ...

"Gun rights groups had sought the change, saying the original policy violated Second Amendment protections for gun ownership. Kinerny said FEMA made the change after consulting with lawyers." ...

"The old policy banning possession or storage of firearms had been in place for years, according to FEMA spokesmen. But two gun rights groups the National Rifle Association and Second Amendment Foundation said they only found out about it earlier this month as a FEMA trailer park was opening in Baker, north of Baton Rouge." ...

Gunsmith with passion for precision creates art
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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"Custom gun-maker Don Klein is the antithesis of mass production. In his 30 years of working full-time, he has created about 60 firearms for discriminating buyers across the United States and Canada."

"Once a customer commissions the 72-year-old Ripon resident to build a firearm, it may take more than a year before it is finished."

"His most recent creation, for a customer in Oshkosh, took 900 hours (not including research) and more than 14 months to build." ...

Brazil: Brazil's Lula Says Access to Guns Won't Help Citizens' Security
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Brazilians' vote in favor of keeping access to handguns won't make them any more secure."

"Brazilians voted 64 percent to 36 percent in a referendum yesterday to reject a proposed ban on retail sales of guns and ammunition, the national elections authority said on its Web site. The balloting marks the first time a country put a gun- control measure to a popular vote, according to the human-rights group Amnesty International."

"'Common people having guns won't provide security,' Lula said after casting his ballot in favor of the ban, according to Estado de S. Paulo newspaper." ...
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Submitter's Note: From the horse's mouth: Commoners can't be trusted.

Did The Gun Industry Sell Out Its Best Customers?
Submitted by: D. Finlayson

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"I am convinced that S.397, the federal legislation recently passed to protect the firearms industry from frivolous civil liability claims, was nothing but industry protectionism, with little or no consideration provided for the protection of the rights of gun owners. From the way it was passed, I suspect a segment of the sporting arms industry received undue benefits at the expense of our individual rights."

"... the non-germane, anti-gun amendments contained in it call to question the purity of the motives of its more strident supporters. There was no need for anti-gun amendments to be included, yet the loudest industry lobbyists insisted that only the bill containing those features be passed." ...

"... I now suspect the unthinkable - that someone in the sporting industry has been paying off some of our highest profile gun rights lobbyists to sell us out. I can think of no other rational reason for industry lobbyists' adamant support of the recently passed travesty, at the expense of a viable, parallel bill that contained no gun controls." ...

Gun industry's new shelter from lawsuits suggests NRA really is in charge
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"It's nice to have friends in high places. ..."

"... Having said he favored an extension of the ban on military-style semiautomatic weapons, the president didn't lift so much as a pinky to accomplish that and the ban expired."

"Now Bush has championed and, with flourish, signed legislation that exempts the firearms industry from the reach of civil justice in all but a few very narrowly drawn and unlikely circumstances."

"An industry that exists solely to manufacture products that have no other purpose except to kill and wound is thus granted a privileged shelter from lawsuits enjoyed by no other business. Is this a precedent for the political purchase of legal safe harbors ..." ...

Gift to the gun lobby
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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"Congressional approval of a bill that gives gun manufacturers sweeping, unprecedented protection against lawsuits shows where too many lawmakers' true allegiances lie - with deep-pocketed special interest lobbyists and against ordinary Americans."

"The legislation, which President Bush has promised to sign, would bar practically all lawsuits against gunmakers by victims of shootings and by cities with high rates of gun violence." ...

The Gun Control Movement Is Talking -- But Nobody Is Listening (ISRA)
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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"For the second time in less than a week, the world-wide gun control movement has suffered a serious setback in its campaign to disarm law-abiding citizens. Late last week, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed legislation to derail the gun control movement's attempts to litigate firearm manufacturers into bankruptcy. That victory for freedom-loving people was made all the sweeter on Sunday when Brazilian voters turned back a referendum to ban private firearm ownership by nearly a 2 to 1 margin." ...

Gun lobby pushes; Congress wilts . . .
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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"The gun industry has built its popularity on promoting the 2nd Amendment Americans have a right to bear arms and protect themselves. But when it comes to protecting itself, the industry runs to Congress. Lawmakers, like victims of an armed robbery, give the industry everything it demands."

That's exactly what happened Thursday, when the House passed legislation preventing victims of gun violence from bringing lawsuits against gun manufacturers and dealers. All of Iowa's House delegation voted for the bill, except Rep. Leonard Boswell, who could not vote because he's recovering from surgery. The Senate passed the bill in July. The White House has said President Bush will sign it."

"He shouldn't." ...

Guns before justice
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"The gun lobby got its bill, the House last week following the Senate, approving legislation that would shield gun manufacturers and dealers from liability lawsuits. President Bush conveyed his eagerness to sign the measure, citing the need to 'stem frivolous lawsuits.'"

"Few people applaud such suits. If the legislation were so narrowly tailored that careless attorneys and their clients were the only ones nabbed, who wouldn't cheer? Unfortunately, the protection afforded the gun industry is sweeping, alarmingly so."

"No other industry, ever, has been armed with such a broad shield, the few exemptions making little difference. Consider the retroactive application. ... Defendants who have behaved negligently will walk." ...

MA: Gun Manufacturers used for Target Practice
Submitted by: D. Finlayson

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... "Gunmakers such as Springfield-based Smith & Wesson - arguably one of the most responsible firearms manufacturers in the industry - make a legal product and distribute it lawfully."

"This legislation does not shield manufacturers from lawsuits based on design flaws or defects ..."

"An automobile manufacturer is not responsible if a teenager steals a car and smashes it into a tree, killing his passengers. That same manufacturer is liable if the brakes or the steering on the same car are defective." ...

"There is no silver bullet in the fight against gun violence, but the nation might begin by enforcing the existing laws."

CA: Appeal-Democrat Editorial: Don't Hold Gun Makers Liable for Criminals
Submitted by: D. Finlayson

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"... gun-control activists decided to take a new tack. They would litigate instead of legislate ..."

"...Chicago Mayor Richard Daley hosted a meeting of officials from 15 cities and the U.S. Conference of Mayors to plan litigation strategy and boasted, 'This is just the beginning.'" ...

"But a funny thing happened on the way to the jackpot: Suit after suit was thrown out of court. ..."

"...The people responsible for crime are criminals, and there is no shortage of legal weaponry to go after them with. Absent criminal intent or gross negligence, guns are not inherently dangerous, and their makers should not be the target of repression - litigious or otherwise."

OR: Gun fanciers hail liability bill
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Dealers and collectors at a gun show at the Lane Events Center were noticeably elated Saturday by Congress' approval of a new legal shield making weapon sellers bulletproof against liability lawsuits." ...

"Fans of the bill such as Wes Knodel of Salem said gun prices should stabilize now that manufacturers won't be spending so much on litigation and lobbyists."

"'This is a common sense decision. The manufacturer should not be responsible for a tool after it's sold,' said Knodel, organizer of the Collectors West Gun Show at the fairgrounds." ...

CA: Contra Costa Supes, Politicians to be Honored
Submitted by: D. Finlayson

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"Four members of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors will be among the recipients of the Contra Costa chapter of the Million Mom March's Apple Pie awards at a statewide conference Saturday."

"Supervisors John Gioia, Gayle Uilkema, Mark DeSaulnier, Federal Glover and state Sen. Tom Torlakson, D-Antioch, and Assemblywoman Loni Hancock, D-Berkeley, will be recognized for their gun-control efforts."

"We particularly want to bring attention to our outstanding Board of Supervisors, because in March 2004, they passed an ordinance banning the sale of .50-caliber rifles, said Diane Barde, Contra Costa chapter president." ...
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Submitters Note: "Baseball, apple pie & Chevrolet..." MMM - you can shove that pie!

MI: State considers change to self-defense statute
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Several years ago, William 'Dick' Turner and his wife came home to find people robbing their Kimball Township home."

"The thieves stole several guns and were going through jewelry when the Turners interrupted them, he said. The robbers ran out the back door."

"'I felt violated,' Turner, 73, said. 'My wife still doesn't feel safe at home alone.'"

"Since then, Turner has taught his family how to load guns in the home in case they need to protect themselves."

"Legislation introduced in the state House would allow residents who feel they are being threatened to use force against an intruder without facing criminal or civil prosecution."

"Reaction to the proposed law is mixed." ...

MI: Saginaw tightens school security
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Students in the Saginaw School District will report to class this morning under tighter security."

"This is the Saginaw School District's response to last week's shooting inside of Saginaw High School.
Saginaw School leaders haven't wasted any time taking action against the violence." ...

"The district is scheduled to install a total of six metal detectors ..."

"Meanwhile, Russell is facing five felony charges, including attempted murder, and four felony weapons charges."

"Russell's mother says her son shot Daniel Foster in self defense."

"She went on to say that her son was shot at the week before and that this is all gang-related." ...
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Submitter's Note: What's that old adage? Something about horses and barn doors?

MT: Bison hunters set sights on easy pickings in Yellowstone park
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"It has been compared to shooting a parked car and condemned as a glorified massacre, but barring any last-minute pardon the bison of Yellowstone national park will next month find themselves looking down the business end of some very high-powered rifles."

"In the first such planned event since 1990, Montana wildlife officials have chosen 50 people to hunt bison outside the north and west entrances of the park. They claim it is a necessary measure to prevent the spread of cattle disease. But animal welfare activists are planning a hunt of their own - using video cameras - to show what they say is the unfair fight between the hunter and the almost tame Yellowstone bison. ... the showdown promises to be a classic." ...
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Submitter's Note: Especially since the Montana Criminal Code 87-3-142 states: "Harassment prohibited. (1) A person may not intentionally interfere with the lawful taking of a wild animal or fishing by another."

MN: Police story: Rybak and McLaughlins war over crime
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"When Mayor R.T. Rybak and the newly elected City Council took office in 2002, they first had to deal with a $5.2 million budget hole left by the previous mayor and Council." ...

"... From 2002 to 2005, the number of sworn officers dropped by 98, from 893 to 795, according to data provided by the mayors office."

"At one point, sworn officer staffing was down roughly 150 from the 1997 peak. More than half of the drop is due to the loss of so-called federal Clinton Cop money ..."

"Whatever the fiscal realities, police 911 response times are up 17 percent from 2000 from an average of 7 minutes, 18 seconds for a top-priority call to 8 minutes, 48 seconds in 2005, police data says. ..." [emphasis added] ...

TX: Police Gear Stolen From Vehicle
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Law enforcement officials throughout our area are on alert. They're looking for stolen police gear including an officer's gun."

"Officer Michael Jennings pickup truck was parked in front of his home in Lago Vista this weekend when it was burglarized."

"The thief didn't just steal a CD player and few CD's, but the officer's duty belt."

"On that duty belt was a semi-automatic 9 MM Glock handgun, 52 rounds of ammunition and a pair of Smith and Wesson handcuffs. Altogether, it was $2,000 worth of police property."

"Now, the Lago Vista Police Department is investigating the case and will give out no additional information. They say it could jeopardize the investigation." ...

NV: Gun Permit Changes
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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"Starting Sunday, even those of you with concealed weapons permits will not be exempt from a background check when you buy a new gun."

"The next time you come to a gun store, you'll have to take out more money to pay for a federal background check."

"Before Sunday, Nevada was exempt from the federal background checks required under the 1993 Brady Act."

"The [BATFE] took away the exemption, they say, after an audit found the sheriff's departments around the state could not keep up with federally required updates on those permit holders."

"But, John Morreale, the owner of The Gun Trader, says the process just to get your concealed weapon permit is extensive, and expensive... this is just too much." ...

NJ: Vintage weapon turned in
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"A World War II-era assault weapon was among the 35 firearms collected by authorities at a 'Guns for Cash' program on Friday, Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis A. Valentin said."

"The owner of the vintage Harrington & Richardson .45-caliber assault weapon with a 30-round ammunition magazine received $100 for turning it in, under a schedule of payments that also calls for $50 payments for handguns and $25 for rifles or shotguns."

"The program continues today between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. at the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office at 132 Jerseyville Ave. in Freehold."

"The program is anonymous and voluntary, and those bringing in weapons do not need a permit to do so, Valentin said." ...

UK: Police are given shoot-to-kill powers in domestic violence and stalking cases
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Scotland Yard's 'shoot to kill' strategy has been widened to include other offences such as kidnapping, stalking and domestic violence, The Independent has learned."

"However, the decision to shoot a suspect in the head without the marksman giving a warning would only be used under exceptional circumstances, one of the country's most senior police chiefs said yesterday."

"The Operation Kratos shoot-to-kill policy was adopted to deal with suicide bombers but a review has identified other types of crimes in which a firearms officer could shoot to kill without issuing any challenge. These include when an offender holding a weapon to a victim was thought to be on the brink of murder." ...
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Submitter's Note: Or a Scottish painter with a table leg.

FL: No guns in cars? No way, bill says
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Some businesses are sweating bullets over workplace safety as the Legislature debates passage of a law that would allow employees and customers to store firearms in their vehicles on company property." ...

"Hammer [executive director of the Unified Sportsmen of Florida] said that having guns secured in the parking lot would make workplaces safer by allowing people to protect themselves. Paul Viollis, who advises companies on preventing workplace violence as president of New York-based Risk Control Strategies, said the proposed gun legislation would have the opposite effect. There are 17 workplace homicides a week in the United States and more than 80 percent are committed with a firearm, he said." ...
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Submitter's Note: And how many of those have anything to do with this topic?

OH: No real reason: Toledo Blade opposes firearms law reform bill (BFA)
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"When one first learned of some of the sweeping changes proposed in Rep. Jim Aslanides' firearms law reform bill, House bill 347, it would have been logical to predict that establishment media opposition would come on language which would make all firearms laws in the state uniform, or language which would redefine what constitutes a 'loaded' firearm in a motor vehicle. ..."

"But these predictions have all been wrong, because logic rarely makes it onto the editorial pages of Ohio's major newspapers." ...

"In the case of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the editorial page editor admitted to Buckeye Firearms Association that he had not read the bill before his newspaper wrote an erroneous editorial calling for it to be killed in committee or vetoed." ...

NH: Not much suspense in House gun vote
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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"Last week was a big week for surprises. U.S. Sen. Judd Gregg won $853,492 on a Powerball ticket."

"Tedy Bruschi announced he was returning to practice eight months after suffering what many felt might be a career-ending stroke."

"And the U.S. House joined the Senate in passing legislation to protect gun manufacturers from lawsuits stemming from the unlawful use of a firearm."

"OK, so maybe not everything was a surprise. Especially when you throw in that the states two Republican House members Charles Bass and Jeb Bradley were on the winning side of the 283-144 vote." ...

NE: Rifle team continues streak, defeats Falcons Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Website: http://www.nysrpa.org	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
"The Nebraska rifle team opened the season with victories over Air Force at the Nebraska Rifle Range on Saturday and Sunday. The Cornhuskers won Saturday 4,686 to 4,565 and defeated the Falcons again Sunday 4,687 to 4,607." ...

MI: Women shooting up a storm
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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"Hunting is no longer a sport dominated by men alone."

"Women's hunting groups are forming across the country, with many ladies invading deer camps traditionally only inhabited by males. The western Upper Peninsula is no exception."

"The Ontonagon Valley Sportsmen's Club, with an eye toward training more female hunters, is taking the lead locally toward getting women safely involved in the outdoors."

"The club recently hosted its annual 'Ladies Shoot.' A half-dozen women from Ewen, Watersmeet and Bruce Crossing showed up to learn basic bow and shotgun fundamentals taught by National Rifle Association-certified instructors." ...

AL: State's whitetail deer hunters lead in kills
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Deer hunter Clay Hardy can lay claim to being a national champion of sorts, part of a team that racked up the highest whitetail deer harvest numbers in the nation for the 2004-2005 hunting season."

"Hunters in Alabama bagged 535,000 deer last year, according to state estimates. Wisconsin came in second with a harvest of 517,169 animals, according to the National Rifle Association and state wildlife department Web sites. The rest of the top five includes Georgia, Michigan and Texas."

"Hunting creates an $800 million a year economic impact in Alabama, according to information from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. And whitetail deer are the most popular game animal in the state." ...

SD: Hunting abilities relished
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Like many 19-year-old men in South Dakota, Tyler Gamber loves autumn. Since he was 14, he's been out in the fields around his hometown of Watertown, bagging birds and taking deer."

"But Gamber's never walked into a single slough in his five seasons of hunting. He rides an all-terrain vehicle to find his quarry because, like 70,000 other Americans, he's living with spina bifida. This neural tube defect can cause paralysis, as it did with Gamber's legs."

"But don't ask his dad if the illness curtailed his shotgun skills. "Tyler does a lot of hunting on his own," said Jeff Gamber, 43, of Watertown. 'Heck, he's a better shot than I am.'" ...

NC: Deer hunting season begins
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"We're a week into deer rifle hunting season. And already people all over our area are grabbing their camo pants, neon hats, and rifles. It's a sport that some people don't understand... And others can't get enough of."

"Jeffrey Murray, a hunter says, 'Oh it's great. I love hunting. I'd rather hunt than do anything else.'"

"Deer season will run until January 2nd. Between now and then hunters are allowed to shoot just 2 deer per day. That can be a combination of a doe and a buck, 2 bucks, 2 doe, it makes no difference. But hunters can't take shots during darkness. That's 30 minutes before sunrise or 30 minutes after sunset." ...

TN: Oh deer: Season opens for muzzleloaders soon
Submitted by: Anonymous

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"The first segment of the muzzleload deer season opens Nov. 5-11 in all three big game units. Season bag limits: Our Unit B is one antlered deer, except one either-sex Nov. 5-7; Unit A is five, max one antlered; Unit L is two antlered deer (max one per day) and three antlerless deer per day."

"Tennessee's first segment of the statewide Young Sportsman Deer Hunt will be Oct. 29-30. This special hunt is open to youths ages 6-16. Each youth must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult, 21 years of age or older, who does not need a license, but both youth and adult must wear 500 square inches of fluorescent orange." ...

MD: 8-Year-Old Girl Bags First Bear Of Season
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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FULL TEXT BELOW:

The first black bear of Maryland's 2005 season has been tagged and the successful hunter is an 8-year-old girl.

The Department of Natural Resources said Garrett County resident Sierra Stiles downed the 211-pound adult male with two rifle shots at about 7:30 a.m. Monday.

DNR Wildlife and Heritage Director Paul Peditto said she killed the animal on a family farm near Kitzmiller.

State wildlife managers have set a quota of 40 to 55 bears for the hunt, which runs through Saturday.

KY: Soldiers sentenced for smuggling weapons from Iraq
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Two Fort Campbell soldiers and the uncle of one of the soldiers were sentenced in federal court on charges of conspiring to import machine guns from Iraq and aiding and abetting the possession of a machine gun, prosecutors said Tuesday." ...

"The indictment filed last May said that while in Iraq, Nigel Brown and Uran acquired 17 Russian-made AK-47s and a Type 56, 7.62-caliber assault rifle, a Chinese replica of the AK-47."

"Nigel Brown and Uran allegedly sawed off the bottoms of oxygen tanks, placed the machine guns inside, then welded the bottoms back on the tanks so they could be shipped back to Fort Campbell, court documents said." ...