Keep and Bear Arms - Gun Owners Home Page

Industry Challenges Mayors' Coalition To Cooperate
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"U.S. mayors, who have pledged to reduce the criminal use of firearms, continue to ignore the firearm industrys offer of assistance and cooperation. Instead, the leaders of the mayors' effort seem more interested in media events than real progress, according to officials of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF)."

"That assessment came after an Oct. 5 press conference in Boston, where New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino announced the expansion of their mayoral coalition against illegal guns. NSSF officials called the press conference 'political grandstanding.'" ...

There Is No Such Thing As Sensible Gun Laws
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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... "The third argument got my attention. Gun violence."

"Again, there is the call for sensible gun laws, but in fact there is no such thing as a sensible gun law. Could there be such a thing as sensible censorship? The only sensible gun law exists purely as a civil right, only it is absolute. If you want sensible gun laws, try no one under eighteen owns a gun, felons dont own a gun, and non-citizens dont own a gun, and then, repeal all gun laws." ...

Allen's right to protect citizens' rights
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"It's true that carrying concealed firearms in national parks won't solve the issues of pollution, overuse and snowmobiles, as the Daily Press opines in its Nov. 27 editorial 'A bad bill.' But that is not the purpose of Sen. George Allen's legislation, and it seems irresponsible to suggest so. The truth and purpose of such legislation is to fulfill the Senate's constitutional obligation to guarantee one of the enumerated rights therein: the right of the people to protect themselves and their property." ...

Film Makes Weak Case Against Gun Control
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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... "While chronicling indisputable events, 'Innocents Betrayed,' by tenuous twists of logic, suggests that had the victims of the above holocausts been armed, they might have survived."

"Such inference, made post priori, is fallacious in that it assumes that one event is caused by another merely because it follows it."

"Failing to consider factors such as counter evidence - think Masada, think the Warsaw Ghetto, think Waco, Texas - the film does not convincingly explain how people would have resisted their tormentors had they possessed firearms. ..." ...
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Submitter's Note: Speaking of failing to consider evidence ... The Warsaw Ghetto uprising held the Nazis at bay for three months with two dozen guns or less. The Branch Davidians held the feds at bay until they were burned out.

Muzzleloader technology sparks new interest
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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"It was originally created to provide folks with an opportunity to hunt with their primitive firearms - old, curly-hammered percussion rifles and flintlocks."

"... Some of the early hunters bought kits and assembled their own muzzleloaders - you could buy a kit for less than a hundred dollars and the gun, when put together, worked well and looked good."

"Soon, various manufacturers recognized a growing trend and put new muzzleloaders on the market and those, too, were fairly inexpensive. Then someone (Knight, possibly) invented the in-line muzzleloader and the smokepole market just exploded."

"Now, we have in-line guns that are very sophisticated and very reliable." ...

PA: Man faces charges in home invasion shootout
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"A Champion man faces criminal charges after allegedly entering a house and shooting the homeowner in the foot, then fleeing with gunshot wounds after the homeowner returned fire." ...

"According to a police affidavit, Steven Anthony Glass ... was asleep in his bedroom at 4 a.m. Nov. 19 when he was awakened by a man shouting. Glass grabbed a loaded .22-caliber rifle he keeps by his bedside, looked down the hallway and saw a man, who he later identified as Jones, pointing a .12-gauge shotgun at him."

"Jones fired one shot at Glass, according to the affidavit, then began 'messing with' the shotgun after it apparently jammed. Glass then fired several shots at Jones before running down the hallway and tackling him." ...

GA: Elementary Students Suspended for Bringing BB Gun to School
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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FULL TEXT BELOW:

In the Low Country, an elementary student has been suspended after bringing a BB gun to school.

Authorities say the nine year old boy was arrested after students told school officials he was showing the gun off on the school bus.

According to the police report, the BB gun was his uncle's and he took it from his grandmother's house. No one was harmed but the boy has been suspended from school and the from riding the bus, pending the outcome of a disciplinary hearing.

FL: 9-Year-Old Orlando Student Found With Gun At School
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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A 9-year-old Orlando middle school student was in police custody Friday after being busted with a gun. The child attends Robinswood Middle School in Orlando.

Orange County sheriff's deputies said they found an unloaded .22-caliber pistol on the student as classes were dismissing Friday afternoon.

A school security officer said the student was acting suspiciously, so deputies confronted the child.

GA: Three Teens Accused Of Bringing Assault Rifle To School
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"A Gwinnett County grand jury has indicted 3 teenagers accused of bringing an assault rifle on Meadowcreek High School grounds."

"Police say the teens claim they forgot that the weapon was in the car when they came to Meadowcreek High in Norcross to pick up a student in September."

"The gun was spotted in the vehicle by a private investigator who was at the school to pick up a child. The parent alerted campus police when he saw the rifle in the trunk of their car."

"Eighteen-year-old Demarcus Fort and 17- and 19-year-old brothers Jerald and Jaymes Buckley are all charged with possession of a weapon on school property. They were not students at the high school." ...

VA: Schools & guns: Boy detained at Jamestown High; Toano Middle searched
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"James City County police detained a 14-year-old boy today for bringing a loaded handgun to Jamestown High School."

"James City Police spokesman Mike Spearman said police received news of the gun about 10 a.m. The 14-year-old had shown the weapon to several other students at the school, who notified school security. Security then notified the school resource officer, who took the student and weapon into custody, he said."

"The student told police he took the .25-caliber semi-automatic handgun from his mother's locked box, and that he had brought it to school to scare other students, Spearman said. Charges against the teen are pending." ...

OH: Taft veto might not kill gun bill
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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"Gov. Bob Taft has dug in his heels in opposing legislation overriding local gun laws, but it may only be a matter of time before such a bill gets a gubernatorial signature."

"Ted Strickland, the Democrat who takes office shortly after midnight on Jan. 8, generally supports the bill that moved through the Senate and House Wednesday after months of talks in a Senate committee."

"The bill eases restrictions enacted two years ago when Ohio decided to join most other states in allowing law-abiding citizens to carry concealed handguns on themselves and in cars, purses, briefcases, and backpacks." ...

OH: Hey Bob: Even the Cleveland Plain Dealer supports Statewide Preemption (BFA)
Submitted by: Buckeye Firearms Association
Website: http://www.buckeyefirearms.org

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"Using the same tactic he did in an eleventh hour attempt to derail Ohio's concealed carry law, Bob Taft has threatened to veto a gun rights bill over a provision that has been a part of the legislation since the day it was first introduced more than one year ago." ...

"'You cant have a patchwork of laws that no one can keep track of, let alone comply with,' said NRA's John Hohenwarter. 'Its common sense legislation.' ..."

"Other arguments in favor of this common sense legislation have come from an unlikely place - the Cleveland Plain Dealer." ...

OH: House Speaker, Senate President: WE HAVE THE VOTES TO OVERRIDE (BFA)
Submitted by: Buckeye Firearms Association
Website: http://www.buckeyefirearms.org

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"Ohio news reports today indicate that the reforms contained in HB347, including statewide preemption of local gun laws, is likely to become law soon with or without Bob Taft's support."

"The first option to prevent Taft from thwarting the will of the people will be for the General Assembly to override a veto, if it comes."

"The second option begins in January - that's because voters have finally chosen a truly pro-gun governor in Democrat Ted Strickland, and because voters have returned an even larger pro-gun majority in the General Assembly than we already now enjoy." ...

PA: Defense recruits officer for trial
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Police officers often testify in trials to prove criminals guilty, but rarely do they offer expertise to help vindicate the accused -- as was the case in a trial to be decided today."

"Robert Swartzwelder, 42, a Pittsburgh patrolman, testified earlier this week -- against the prosecution -- that Lawrence J. Harvey, 24, probably feared for his life and acted in self-defense when he shot Chad Stefanakis, 24, of Allentown."

"Acting as an expert in the use of deadly force, Swartzwelder is one of a few officers who have worked for the defense in criminal trials."

"'I go by the facts and render my opinions based on facts,' Swartzwelder said. ..." ...
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Submitter's Note: Kudos to an oath honoring officer.

NY: Critics Warn of Backlash in NYC Shooting
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Officers have raided at least one home, picked up the son of a clergyman for an unpaid ticket and scoured vacant lots with a leave-no-stone-unturned intensity akin to a manhunt in a murder case. But the search has nothing to do with a fugitive killer."

"Instead, police are trying to locate a key witness - and perhaps a missing gun - in hopes of explaining why five police officers unleashed a 50-shot barrage that killed a man on his wedding day outside a strip club last week."

"Police critics on Friday warned of a backlash: They claim the search has created a climate of fear in a community already outraged by the death of Sean Bell, 23, and the wounding of two other unarmed men who attended his bachelor party at the club." ...

MI: Sheriff officials still searching for stolen rifle
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Police still are searching for a semi-automatic rifle stolen Thursday from a Wayne County sheriffs unmarked car outside his home ..." ...

"Police officials in Northville Township, who fielded tips today, said they hadn't received any credible information leading to the Colt M4 Carbine's recovery."

"The county's Violent Crimes Task Force is offering a reward, but Roach said the task force wont disclose how much. The deputy's name hasnt been released."

"The sheriffs office has policies dictating how deputies should secure their weapons, Roach said, and the rifle shouldn't have been left unattended in the deputys car." ...

NJ: Bail reduced for Millville cop
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Superior Court Judge Richard Geiger reduced bail for Police Sgt. Robert Vanaman to $500,000 saying that the defendant had no prior convictions and was not seen as a flight risk due his ties to the area, specifically Millville."

"Vanaman was charged with the shooting death of his wife on May 11 at his Wedgewood Court home and fabricating evidence, authorities said."

"Vanaman's lawyer, Joseph O'Neill, said that his client, who had to be hospitalized for various knife wounds, acted in self-defense."

"During the bail motion, First Assistant Prosecutor Kenneth Pagliughi said that the state has collected 'a mountain' of evidence against Vanamans claim of self-defense." ...

South Africa: Cop shoots his wife 'after heated row'
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"A Durban police officer shot his wife and then turned the gun on himself early on Friday morning, police said."

"Captain Vincent Mdunge said Inspector Cedric Nzama, 37, had apparently been having a heated argument with his 34-year-old wife at their Umlazi home when he drew his service pistol and shot her three times. He then turned the gun on himself."

"The policem officer, based at the Isipingo police station was apparently unhappy that his wife had brought home one of her late sister's children."

"An aunt who lived in the house tried to intervene, but was pushed out of the main bedroom and told to look after the children." ...

KS: Commission reviews action on shooting range
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"The Leavenworth County Commissioners attempted to clarify their action over a shooting range in rural Leavenworth County during a meeting on Thursday."

"In Mondays session, the commission heard the request for a special use permit for the shooting range, owned by Joe and Cheryl Nave. In addition to the shooting range, the Naves are licensed to sell firearms and instruct firearm safety classes."

"After hearing from residents who both supported and opposed the range, the commission decided to send the issue back to the Planning and Zoning Commission. The commissioners recommended that the Planning and Zoning Commission look at allowing a special use permit for the sale of arms and conducting firearm training ..." ...

TX: In The Spotlight TCU's Tanya Gorin
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Going through a bit of a 'sophomore slump' after a great freshman year on the TCU rifle team, Tanya Gorin hopes last week's down time helps out."

"The Frogs were scheduled to participate in their last competition of the fall season Thursday night against Air Force and Nebraska in Colorado Springs, Colo., and Gorin went to the meet feeling refreshed."

"'What I needed was a break,' Gorin said. 'The first thing to do when you're having a problem is to keep working through it. If that doesn't work, you just need to stop and take a week off. I did that over Thanksgiving, and I feel like that's what I needed.'" ...

CA: Suit: Lead ammo in carrion kills condors
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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"Advocates for the California condor sued state wildlife regulators for allowing lead hunting ammunition despite concerns that the rare birds can die after eating carcasses contaminated with the pellets."

The environmentalists, who filed the federal suit Thursday in Los Angeles, claim the state is violating the Endangered Species Act. They want the state to require hunters to use ammunition made of copper or other materials."

"One plaintiff, the San Francisco-based Center for Biological Diversity, said 46 of the giant vultures have died or disappeared after being released in California from 1992 through July 2006, and that lead poisoning may have factored into many of those deaths." ...

NY: Residents, Sportsmen Continue To Butt Heads
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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"Since re-opening this past July, the range has been a subject of contention between local homeowners and the sportsmen who use the facility. The town of Brookhaven has issued the facility 15 citations for violating the town's noise code, but proponents of the shooting range contend that the facility existed long before this code was put in place."

"'There is still an ongoing investigation, and there will be until the noise is mitigated,' said Brookhaven Town Councilwoman Connie Kepert, noting that the town hired a noise consultant to do a study of the trap and skeet. ..." ...

PA: Gun buy-back set for Saturday
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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"Allegheny County's 13th annual Goods for Guns event -- which allows gun owners to trade in weapons in exchange for gift certificates -- will be held Saturday at seven different locations."

"A $25 gift certificate will be given for every rifle and shotgun turned in and $50 gift certificates for handguns. Free gun locks also will be available, but there is a limit of four gun locks and two gift certificates per household. Additional firearms, ammunition and gun accessories can be traded in without a gift certificate exchange." ...

Cayman Islands: Firearm owners must license their weapons
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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"The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, (RCIPS) said all owners of firearms permits that expire on 31 December need to apply for renewal forms well in advance."

"The step-by-step process is fairly straightforward and should be considered a priority for all holding these permits, the police said." ...

"A police officer will visit the residence and physically check the security of the faculty used to store the firearms and give any advice that is needed. Additionally, random checks will be made and those found to be in breach of the requirements will have their licenses revoked." ...