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30 November, 2008

CA: Gangbanger shot with own gun: "A 15-year-old gang associate was in critical condition Friday after he was wounded twice by his own gun during a struggle with a 32-year-old he pointed the weapon at, police said. The man, who police said was a former paratrooper in the Honduras army, was not hurt and waited for police to respond to where the confrontation happened. He gave a statement to investigators before he was arrested on suspicion of assault while the district attorney's office determines whether he acted in self-defense. Police would not release the name of the teen or the adult pending the district attorney's review. The shooting happened just before 2 a.m. Friday in the 3700 block of Foothill Boulevard in the Fruitvale district. The area is a known hangout of certain gang members and police said the 15-year-old is associated with the gang. The man was on his cell phone when he was confronted by the teen, and possibly some other youths, said Officer Robert Trevino, who is investigating the case with Sgt. Drennon Lindsey. The teen pointed a pistol at the man, who had never seen him before, and used a street term to see if he was in another gang, police said. Police said the man is not a gang member and has only been in Oakland eight months, seeking work. When the teen was momentarily distracted by a passing car, the man grabbed the gun and the two began struggling over it, Trevino said. During the struggle the gun went off twice, hitting the teen in the neck and shoulder, police said. He was taken to a local hospital by friends where he underwent surgery. The man waited for police to come to the scene and gave them the pistol."



Mississippi: Burglary suspect dead, shot by business owner : "The suspect in a Tuesday break-in at a Corinth business has died from a gunshot wound inflicted by the business owner, police say. James Thomas Parson, 25, of North Parkway, Corinth, was pronounced dead at Magnolia Regional Health Center on Tuesday, said Corinth Police Chief David Lancaster. The police department received an emergency call about 3:30 a.m. Tuesday through 911 to go to the scene of a burglary in progress at The Jewelry Box, 706 S. Tate St., Corinth, the chief said. Responding officers found Parson lying on the floor inside the business with a gunshot wound to the stomach and called emergency services, which transported him to the hospital. Lancaster said the business owner reported he heard a noise at the front of the store and took his handgun when he went to check it out. When he saw a man coming through a window, he ordered the intruder to stop, but he did not. Instead, the suspect came inside the business, reached up and ripped down the video surveillance equipment. The owner said he again told the suspect to stay where he was or get out, but the suspect charged toward him and he fired one shot, which struck the intruder in the abdomen, Lancaster said. The case remains under investigation, but no charges have been filed."



North Carolina: Burglar no match for shotgun-toting couple: "A would-be burglar who'd been scared off from one house by a 70-year-old woman found himself a few minutes later staring down the wrong end of a shotgun at another, police say. Rutledge, 26, of Oakboro was reportedly climbing through a bathroom window of a woman's home on the 3500 block of N.C. 27 in Stanley at 4:30 a.m. Sunday when the woman, who'd had her 70th birthday the week before, spotted him and scared him away before he could get inside. He then apparently went to a house across the street off N.C. 27 on Watts Street, this time making it inside. But once inside he found himself staring at Richard Osborne and an old shotgun that his wife's grandfather had once used to slaughter hogs. Rutledge had pulled a bedspread down to cover him as he lay in the floor in a guest bedroom, Phyllis Osborne said. But the couple could see his knuckles poking out. "We told him, `If you don't come out we're going to blow your brains out,'" Phyllis Osborne said Monday. "We had to say it three times, but then he jumped up and said, `I'm in the wrong house. I'm in the wrong house.'" The Osbornes have been married 30-plus years. He has a little trouble hearing, she can hear a squirrel walking across the roof. When she heard something Sunday morning she knew someone had entered their home. Rutledge answered Mrs. Osborne with "Yes, mam," and "No, mam,'" she said. Mr. Osborne had to punch him once and hit him twice with the gun. As of Monday night, Rutledge remained in Gaston County Jail under $100,000 bond facing two charges of first-degree burglary.



GA: Black robber killed by restaurant security guard: "Richmond County's Sheriff says the investigator who shot a man to death during a robbery followed the proper procedure. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation says just before 8 p.m. Monday night Joseph Gooden ran into Captain D's wearing a bandanna over his face carrying what looked to witness like a sawed off rifle or shotgun. What Gooden didn't see was investigator Timothy Tobias hunched over tying his shoe near the entrance. Witnesses told investigators Gooden chased an employee into the back office where he put his gun to the restaurant manager's head and took a tray of money. The witness says Gooden was about to escape when Tobias pulled his gun on him and told him two times to drop his weapon. They say Gooden kept advancing before Investigator Tobias shot him several times in the chest. "Witnesses said they heard on two different occasions the investigator order him to drop his weapon," said Richmond County Sheriff, Ronnie Strength. "Did the officer have to do that? Absolutely not because the suspect had put the officer's life and other folk's lives in danger," Strength said. GBI says the gun Gooden used was a "BB" gun. "It doesn't matter if it's a BB gun," said Sheriff Strength. You've seen these BB guns and BB pistols that look identical to real weapons. Every employee and customer in the restaurant also thought it was a rifle or shotgun." Captain D's has had officers to guard its restaurant for the past eight years because of security problems".



29 November, 2008

South Carolina: Intruder shot while entering house: "A man who was at home when someone tried to break into his residence on Monday apparently shot the burglar as he was coming through a bedroom window, authorities said. Colleton County deputies arrived about 9:30 a.m. at the home on Turkey Hill Lane and learned that the homeowner had fired his gun at someone coming in the window but found no suspects on the property. They later got a call from a woman nearby who said her 15-year-old grandson had been shot, Sheriff George Malone said. The boy was taken to Colleton County Regional Medical Center, treated and taken to jail, Malone said. He and a 16-year-old boy and an adult were all charged with second-degree burglary, the sheriff said. Malone identified the adult as as Larry Speaks, 20, of Green Pond."



Vermont: Murder Charges Dropped, Shooting Was Self-Defense: "Murder charges have been dropped in a fatal shooting in Windsor County. Kyle Bolaski, 24, of Springfield, was charged with second-degree murder, for killing Vincent Tamburello, 32, of Springfield, in August during a fight at a park in Chester. Bolaski claims Tamburello was chasing him with an ax, so he shot him twice. A grand jury agreed the shooting was self-defense. Bolaski will face aggravated assault charges for allegedly hitting Tamburello with the gun after the shooting."



ATF finding new ways to infringe people's rights : "Last month, we told you how the ATF was trying to prevent the distribution of an electronic 4473 Form. This software has been developed by a private firm, Coloseum Software Corporation, and is intended to protect dealers against the `mistakes' that have allowed the ATF to prosecute or harass them into giving up their licenses. GOA issued a grassroots alert in mid-October explaining how the ATF had been dragging its collective feet for months - keeping Coloseum from distributing its software, even while the ATF was developing its own competing software (and possibly, violating the copyright which belonged to Coloseum)."



Finland: Finland's weapons register full of errors : "The national daily Helsingin Sanomat reports that the national weapons register is rife with mistakes and inaccuracies.The Interior Ministry's weapons register is outdated and highly inaccurate. Many mistakes were made when the register's data was converted from file cards to an electronic registry in 1992. Already before this, White Guard rifles, for example, have been registered with a type number instead of a manufacture number. `For God's sake, in Finland we have many Parabellums whose serial number has been marked as 1916, 1917 or 1918, for example, because it reads so on the side of the weapon. In reality that number is the year it was made,' says . a firearms salesman from Hamina."



28 November, 2008

Texas Homeowner Shoots Intruder Attempting to Break In: "A homeowner got a surprise wakeup call Monday. Gabriel Guzman was in his 59th Street home Monday morning, when he was startled by his doorbell continuously ringing. "They kept ringing the doorbell and it kind of worried me some so I kind of glanced out the window and I didn't see anything," said Guzman. Guzman kept peering out his windows, and that's when he saw 18-year-old Adrian Hardaway walk towards his backyard. Out of fear Guzman grabbed his gun. "I opened up the door and yelled at him and I just told him to get away. I looked and he was pointing his gun at me and I had mine and I warned him to get away. I looked again and that's when he had his gun and I thought he was going to shoot me - so I shot him," said Guzman. Guzman backed the suspect up into his backyard, once he shot him, the suspect fell over and Guzman warned the suspect several times to toss the gun away. Once he finally tossed it aside, then he called the police. Lubbock police say they believe the suspect was responsible for two other burglaries in the neighborhood before he was shot. The suspect was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries."



Oklahoma Store Owner Shoots At Would-Be Robber: "A robber is on the run after narrowly escaping a barrage of bullets at an Oklahoma City convenience store. Oklahoma County deputies said a man waited for the Buy Fast Foods store at Northeast 23rd and Boyd streets to close and started pistol-whipping the owner in the parking lot. Deputies said the robber forced the owner to go back into the store and get money. Instead, the owner got a gun and fired several shots at the man. The robber fled in a newer-model red pickup truck. Police said they're not sure whether any of the shots hit the robber."



Delaware robber shot by would-be victim: "An armed robber who tried to stick up a New Castle area man was shot himself when his would-be victim pulled out his own gun and fired at him. The gunshot victim later reported to police that he was shot during a robbery that went awry.New Castle County police spokesman Cpl. Trinidad Navarro said the holdup happened at 5:45 p.m. Monday in the first block of Chesterfield Drive in Garfield Park. A 37-year-old man told officers that he was taking items out of his car when two men walked up to him and stuck an object in his side and attempted to rob him. The victim said he thought the assailants were going to shoot him, so he pulled out his own 9 mm handgun and fired one round at the suspects. Navarro said the man was not sure if he hit either of the assailants, although he did hear a loud moaning sound after he fired the shot. The two would-be robbers ran off in the direction of Bizarre Drive."



Florida Father Shoots Neighbor's Pit Bull: "A local father shot and killed a neighbor's pit bull. The dog was loose and had followed a child into the dad's home. Law enforcement says no one will face charges because of the incident-- not the father for shooting the dog in front of children, nor the pit bull's owner for letting the dog get out. At least two girls were meeting at the Martin home for a ride to school. The pit bull followed one girl into the house and bit Martin's beagle. Martin first tried to scare away the pit bull with a BB gun, but the dog returned, reportedly growling at the children. Martin took out his .9 mm gun and shot the pit bull. The dog then ran down the street and died. The shooting upset neighbor Ofelia Cravens. Prior to the shooting, Cravens said her daughter found the dog wandering down the street. Cravens said the pit bull was large, but friendly.... Animal Control says the pit bull belonged to Fernando and Anna Flores, who live on another street."



27 November, 2008

Massachusetts clerk with handgun turns tables on would-be robber: "Police said Tyrone Lamb, 26, of New Bedford was armed with a knife when he tried to rob a clerk at a North End convenience store last weekend. Big mistake. Around 2:45 p.m. Saturday, Mr. Lamb allegedly walked into the Petro Mart at 171 Coggeshall St. The suspect wore a gray sweatshirt with the hood pulled over his head. He asked for a pack of cigarettes but did not take out cash. He kept his hands in his pockets and skulked around the store. The clerk, Antoine Khalife, knew something was going to happen. The suspect walked to the counter and pulled a switchblade from his pocket. He held it to Mr. Khalife's face and demanded money, according to police reports. Unfazed, the clerk stepped back from the counter. "I was waiting for him," he said. Instead of opening his register, Mr. Khalife drew a .40-caliber Sig Sauer handgun from a holster hidden in his coat. The tables had turned as the clerk ordered the man to drop his knife. "I don't think he was expecting that," Mr. Khalife said. "His face lit up like a Christmas tree. His eyes were about three times their size." The suspect backed off and said, "I'm sorry." He turned around and ran out of the store. Police tracked the suspect's license plate to a Roswell Street residence. Relatives there told police that Mr. Lamb drove the vehicle, according to police reports. Police obtained an arrest warrant for Mr. Lamb after Mr. Khalife identified him from a photo array as the robbery suspect, court records said." Mr. Lamb has a prior robbery conviction"



Tennessee oldster shoots intruder: "Metro police said the victim of a home invasion turned the tides on his intruder. John Lewis is sick and tired of being the victim. He said burglars have broken into his home four times this year. To a thief, Lewis may look like an easy target. On Sunday, the 69-year-old Air Force veteran shot a hole through that reputation. Around 10:30 p.m., he heard a crash. "So he started kicking on the door. He made more noise than anybody I've ever dreamed of trying to break into a house," he said. What he saw was a man holding a flashlight and a pickax. Lewis was packing a 357 pistol. "And the pistol went off. I had it cocked. It had a hair trigger and I touched it and it went off," he said. The bullet hit suspect Jerry Watson in the leg. Police said Watson, who has a lengthy criminal history, limped to the home next door and lost consciousness."



Ohio teen shoots burglar: "A 15-year-old shot a burglar late Friday night after the burglar and two cohorts broke into the teen's West Side home, police said Monday. The teenager and his 14-year-old brother were home alone when three men came to the house, police said. The teens recognized two out three of the men, according to their mother, who spoke with the Star Beacon Monday. When the boys refused to let the men in the house, one of the men took the butt of a shotgun and smashed the window out of the front door, police said. That's when the older boy ran upstairs to retrieve his father's handgun, his mother said. In the meantime, the intruders told the younger teen they would kill both of them if he didn't open the door, the mother said. "They held a gun to his head," she said. Sgt. John Koski said the 15-year-old came down the stairs and shot one of the intruders in the leg. The men then took off. "The bullet went in the leg and out through his buttocks," the mother said.... police received a call from Ashtabula County Medical Center that a 21-year-old city man showed up with a gunshot wound to the leg, Koski said. "He said a kid accidentally shot him," he said. "The wound was in the exact place the 15-year-old said he shot the intruder." Police arrested and charged the 21-year-old man with aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony; attempted felonious assault and having a weapon under disability, Koski said, noting the suspect is a known felon."



Vermont Burglary Suspect Arrested: "Police say they've arrested the burglar who was shot at by a homeowner Monday in North Hero. It turns out the suspect is a career burglar who is well-known to the police and he has even been interviewed by Channel 3 News several times. Now Eric Edson, 37, is back behind bars facing new burglary charges. And the police say he made catching him all too easy. The arrest came less than 20 hours after police say Edson broke into two homes in North Hero for burglaries. But he made a big mistake in the second house when the homeowner caught him red-handed. "The homeowner went to his residence, had a handgun, entered his residence, and confronted a male subject that was in his residence, and the homeowner fired two rounds from his handgun as the subject fled the area," Cooper said. Police say Edson escaped uninjured and stole a truck to make his getaway. That triggered a massive manhunt Monday night in Grand Isle. Edson made it easy for the police to figure out who the burglar was because he drove to the homes in his own Blazer and he left it behind. Police say the homeowner who shot at Edson identified him from a photo lineup. And his picture had been in many lineups in the last two decades. He has more than three dozen felony convictions for burglaries and thefts, which have kept him behind bars for most of his adult life."



26 November, 2008



FL: Another robber shoots himself: "Kody Michael Foehner, 25, and his girlfriend, Catherine N. Cartony, 20, were in the house just before 10 p.m. when they let in an acquaintance, Phillip Shaarief Perkins, 21, of Port Charlotte. Perkins was with four other men [see above], all carrying pistols, stun guns or shotguns, authorities said. The men yelled, "Where's the money?" and demanded that Cartony open a bedroom safe, which she could not. They assaulted Foehner. One man, Arien J. Mayo, shot the couple's dog and then grabbed the shotgun by the barrel to hit Foehner in the head. The gun went off, wounding Mayo in the femoral artery, authorities said. The suspects took off, carrying Mayo and snatching Cartony's purse -- with $6 inside. The getaway ride lasted about six minutes. A state trooper spotted their Toyota Camry speeding on Hillsborough Boulevard, and the suspects ran off the road near Prineville Street and Jefferson Boulevard. Four jumped out of the car, leaving Mayo, 19, of North Port to die. The remaining suspects fared no better on foot. The four men jumped into the Pellam Waterway, but only three emerged. Nine days later, a couple on Ravenswood Boulevard noticed buzzards flying over Perkins' body".



MO: St. Louis police board nixes gun buyback program : "The Board of Police Commissioners on Wednesday shot down Chief Daniel Isom's request to fund a repeat of last year's gun buyback that took more than 500 firearms off the street . board President Chris Goodson said he was against the idea because last year's buyback didn't prevent this year's rising murder rate. `I'm trying to understand what the benefit is,' he told Isom. `If it's to reduce crime, it doesn't seem to have an effect.' Board member Vincent J. Bommarito agreed. `I think it's a waste of money,' he said



Georgia: Board rejects pupil appeal in gun case : "Columbia County school board members rejected the appeal of an Evans High School student suspended for bringing a gun on campus, according to a summary report released Wednesday. Wes Ivie, a 16-year-old junior and star lineman on the school's undefeated football team, had been serving an in-school suspension during his appeal. He must now attend the alternative school for the rest of the semester before returning to Evans High, according to a written summary of the board's Tuesday night decision. The teen said he had forgotten that he'd left a hunting rifle in his vehicle after a weekend trip, according to both his mother, Anita Ivie, and a police report. When he saw police at the school conducting a random search Oct. 24 he reported the gun at the school office and was not charged. "It was clear to the investigating officer that this was a mistake and no criminal intent existed," Columbia County sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris said."



WI: Organization hopes for campus handgun rights : "Student groups supporting the right to carry concealed weapons on campus are preparing to push for legislation in their favor when state governments reconvene in January.David Burnett, board member at large for Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, said in an e-mail Friday the goal of the organization is to ensure holders of concealed handgun permits can enjoy the same rights on college campuses that current laws afford them virtually everywhere else."



25 November, 2008

MS: Man shot trying to steal SUV: "Jackson police said the property owner who fatally shot a burglary suspect Saturday night had a right to pull the trigger under the Castle Doctrine. Brandon Lenard, 20, of Jackson was shot outside a row of townhouses on County Cork Road after he allegedly broke into a Cadillac Escalade parked in front, police said. Police spokesman Lt. Jeffery Scott said no charges will be filed against the owner of the SUV, whose name was not released. Just before 9 p.m. Saturday, Lenard allegedly broke into the Escalade while its owner was inside a townhouse just a few feet away, police said. "The owner heard something outside, so he stepped out of the house to see what it was. When he saw someone was in his vehicle, he went back inside to retrieve a weapon. He then went back outside to confront the suspect," Scott said. Scott said there was an exchange of words between Lenard and the vehicle's owner just before Lenard tried to run from the scene. Police said that as Lenard was leaving, he is believed to have put the SUV owner's life in danger. Scott would not say what he did.... Hinds County Coroner Sharon Grisham-Stewart said Sunday that Lenard did have a gun at the scene. Lenard was shot once with a shotgun, Grisham-Stewart said. She said the pellets entered the back and side of his head."



PA: Homeowner kills burglar : "The sleeping resident was woken around 1030pm last night after hearing a strange noise in the downstairs of his home in the 1900 block of Montrose Street in South Philadelphia. After finding an open window on the first floor of his two story row home, the resident started to search the rest of the property from top to bottom, and was startled to find a male hunched up in the corner of a spare bedroom. The resident pulled his gun and a violent struggle ensued between the robber and resident. During the struggle the robber was shot. The burglar, a male in his 30's, was taken to the hospital where he later died.The homeowner was not injured and will probably not face charges."



CA: Crazed Swordsman Attacks Scientology Guard Who Fires Back in Self Defense: "Never bring a knife to a gunfight. That's the lesson learned by a sword-wielding intruder who broke into the Scientology Celebrity Center in Hollywood and threatened a guard. In classic Hollywood style, the guard pulled a gun and shot the intruder dead. A surveillance tape backs up the self defense claim, reportedly showing that the guard only fired after being physically threatened by the swordsman. Regardless of what you think about Scientology, the group has been under a series of rather bizarre attacks over the last year, including organized hacking attempts, public protests and even an attempt by the nation of Germany to outlaw the group"



Would-be Obama appointees quizzed on guns : "President-elect Barack Obama's transition team is asking potential appointees detailed questions about gun ownership, and firearms advocates aren't happy about it. The National Rifle Association has denounced the move, which has already led one Republican senator to consider legislation aimed at ensuring a president can't use an applicant's gun ownership status to deny employment. It's just one question on a lengthy personnel form - No. 59 on a 63-question list - but the furor over the query is a vivid reminder of the intensity of support for Second Amendment rights and signals the scrutiny Obama is likely to receive from the ever-vigilant gun lobby."



24 November, 2008

Georgia store owner shoots would-be thief: "A would-be robber apparently got more than he bargained for when he tried to rob a Cobb County package store. When a man wearing a hoodie and carrying a gun tried to rob the Windy Hill Package store, the owner fired a handgun at him, police spokesman Dana Pierce said. The owner of the store at 2425 Windy Hill Road in Marietta believes he shot the suspect as he ran from the store during the Nov. 15 robbery attempt. A store security camera captured the incident as it unfolded at about 7:30 p.m. at the store near Cobb Parkway. The suspect is seen on the security camera pointing a gun at the clerk. The owner, who asked that his name not be used because the suspect is still on the loose, said the robber first asked for a bottle of Bombay Sapphire Gin. When he came back to the counter, he pointed his gun at the clerk and gestured toward the cash register. As the store owner pushed a bag with the bottle in it toward the robber, the robber put his gun in the waistband of his pants. The owner quickly reached under the counter and brought out his own gun -- a .45 caliber -- which he fired at the robber. The robber appeared to be hit in his right side and staggered as he turned to leave. Pierce said no bullet holes were found in the walls of the store. Pierce said the suspect left without any money -- or his gin. No charges are expected to be filed against the store owner."



Georgia homeowner shoots burglary suspect: "A homeowner shot an armed burglary suspect Wednesday morning after a break-in at a house in the Waverly Pines subdivision, police said. Roderick Manigault, 20, was shot twice in the abdomen about 8:30 a.m. in a hallway of a neighbor's home in the 600 block of Mitscher Drive, Glynn County Police Chief Matt Doering said. Manigault was in fair condition at Southeast Georgia Health System's Brunswick hospital, a medical center spokeswoman said. Doering said investigators were taking out arrest warrants against Manigault. Police withheld the homeowner's name because the investigation indicates others might have been involved, he said. "The preliminary investigation shows the homeowner acted properly in self-defense. We have no intention of filing charges against him," Doering said. Although the burglar was armed, he didn't fire at the homeowner, who was not injured. Police recovered a firearm when Manigault was found wounded in an acquaintance's home about three blocks away from the shooting scene, Doering said. "The homeowner said he looked down the hallway and saw a burglar who was armed with a gun," Doering said. After being shot, the burglar fled. Responding to a phone tip, police found Manigault wounded shortly after the shooting, Doering said. Police recovered some stolen property after Manigault was found, Doering said."



Another handgun ban repealed in the Chicago area: "An emotional night inside the Winnetka Village Council chamber as residents pleaded with council members to keep a 20-year old handgun ban in place. The issue has come up because three Winnetka residents sued the village claiming the ban violated their Second Amendment rights. Council members expressed their frustration over the vote and feared if they didn't repeal the ordinance it would cost the village thousands of dollars to fight the suit with risk of losing in court. "This is a case of a lawsuit trumping democracy," said Councilman E. King Poor. The council voted 6-0 to repeal the ban which would mean handguns in homes would now be permitted but firing guns and gun sales would stay illegal. The lawsuit was filed in response to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that said residents of Washington, D.C., a city under federal juristiction, could keep handguns for self defense. In the Chicago area, five suburbs--including Wilmette, Evanston, Morton Grove and Oak Park--had gun bans at the time of the Supreme Court ruling and had to take simliar measures to repeal bans. Wilmette repealed its ordinance in July. Evanston revised its ordinance to allow possession of guns in homes, but the city is considering zoning changes that would prohibit gun stores and public shooting ranges."



Media brainwashing: "There are a lot of people in New Jersey with open minds and open eyes, but the majority of us have been mentally conditioned to be afraid of guns. The Media in general have done an excellent job of demonizing firearms and the law-abiding citizens who own them. A two-year study by the Media Research Center concluded that television reporters are overwhelmingly opposed to Second Amendment rights. Broadcasts from major networks from July 1, 1995 to June 30, 1997, covering 244 gun policy stories, the ratio of anti-gun to pro-gun bias was 16 to 1. That means, for every one story of someone using their firearm in self defense or to save the live of another, they aired 16 stories of criminals using their guns to hurt the innocent. That ratio still remains the same today. It seems one sided and unfair, does it not? Despite what media coverage might seem to indicate, there are more deaths related to high school football than shootings. In a recent three year period, twice as many football players died from hits to the head, heat stroke, and other bizarre injuries as compared with students who were murdered by firearms during that same time period."



23 November, 2008

Chicago area barber shoots robber: "On Nov. 6 at about 11:40 a.m., Calumet City police responded to reports of a person shot at 524 155th Pl. Police arrived to find Kelly suffering from a gunshot wound to the back. He was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn for treatment, according to a release from police. As police were responding, they also received a report of an armed robbery at Marvelous Cuts Barber Shop at 804 Burnham in Calumet City. The victim told police a male subject came in for a hair cut and afterwards pulled a gun and demanded the victim's jewelry and money. The robber told the victim --reportedly the shop owner -- to place the items in a plastic bag and the victim complied, police said. As the victim handed the suspect the bag he grabbed his own weapon, but the suspect fired at him. The victim then shot at the suspect, who fled northbound on Burnham. The victim told police he believed he shot the suspect.



Son Shoots Ex-Stepdad To Protect Her, Kansas Mom Says: "A teen took aim with a gun, his mother said, but it was the shooting victim who was in trouble with the law Friday night. The teenager's mother, who was caught in the middle, said her son pulled the trigger and shot her ex-husband to save her. The woman's 16-year-old son shot her ex-husband Friday morning on the front lawn of their Leavenworth home, but she said he did it to protect her. "He started ranting and raving, and I told him he needed to leave and go home, and he got mad," the woman said. The woman said her ex-husband had been abusive many times before, so she divorced him two years ago. But at 2:30 a.m., he suddenly barged into her home. She said he pulled out a knife and dragged her into the front yard, and that was when she said her son grabbed a gun from the house and pulled the trigger, hitting his ex-stepfather in the stomach. "He's a very quiet kid, and he's not the type to do anything like that, but he had had enough," she said. Her wounded ex-husband jumped into his truck. Instead of heading to either of the two hospitals in Leavenworth, he drove himself all the way to Kansas City, Kan., to Providence Medical Center, where police said he lied about what happened. Police said the teen was not arrested. He will likely not face any charges because what he did was in self-defense to protect himself and his mother. In the meantime, the ex-husband is recovering in the hospital. From there, he will be moved to the jail to face possible charges of burglary, kidnapping and assault."



Court Rules Cops Can Carry Guns . Nationwide!: "A ruling on a case from South Dakota - where off-duty law enforcement officers were criminally charged for carrying guns despite the authority to do so under the federal `Law Enforcement Officer's Safety Act of 2004? (LEOSA) - has confirmed that all qualified off-duty and retired law enforcement are allowed, by federal law, to carry a concealed gun for personal self-defense irrespective of state law. The federal law supersedes the crazy, confusing and often conflicted state and local laws that limit legitimate self-defense. Law Enforcement Alliance of America's Executive Director, Jim Fotis said, "When LEAA co-authored the original draft of what became affectionately known as `National Cop Carry' back in the early 1990's, I knew it would save cops' lives and give those who choose to resist violent criminals a fighting chance. In 2004 I shook President Bush's hand after he signed our bill into law and rejoiced that our fight - for more than a decade - was finally over!"



Seattle Mayor's Plan Disregards State Law: "A draft proposal issued Friday by Mayor Greg Nickels outlining his scheme to ignore state statute and state legislative authority over firearms regulation amounts to a slap in the face against more than 250,000 Washington state residents, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms said in response. "We're going to review this draft proposal line by line," said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb, "but even a cursory glance at the document released Friday by Mayor Nickels shows that he has chosen to arrogantly ignore the State Attorney General's opinion. State statute clearly limits municipal authority, and the Nickels plan suggests he is attempting to be a little too clever in trying an end-run around the law. "If Nickels pushes ahead with this scheme," he added, "there will be two kinds of criminals in Seattle, thugs and those who win elections. Both seem to believe it's just fine to ignore the law by playing the system".



22 November, 2008

Alaska: Homeowner opens fire on intruder: "A homeowner interrupting a burglary in progress late last week morning opened fire on the intruder as the burglar approached him and his wife, Alaska State Troopers said. The burglar was not hit by the shots but did sustain minor injuries when he "went through the window" while fleeing the home, troopers said. Responding officers brought in a dog and tracked down a suspect, Bowen Alexander, 18, a short distance from the home, troopers said. Troopers say Alexander had been drinking when he crashed his vehicle, broke into a home and entered the homeowner's vehicle. For reasons that were not immediately clear, Alexander then fled to the neighboring home, where the homeowner shot at him, troopers said. Alexander was booked at the Fairbanks Correctional Center on charges of burglary, criminal mischief, driving under the influence, driving with a suspended license, criminal trespass, assault and resisting arrest."



Securing the Homeland with HopeandChange : "The HopeandChange Anti-Gun Dream Team keeps getting bigger and `better,' with the newest addition being Arizona's Governor Janet Napolitano as the next Secretary of Homeland Security. What's her stance on guns?Well, in 2007, she vetoed Arizona SB 1302, which would have made Arizona's `Stand Your Ground' law retroactive. This could have made the difference for Harold Fish, who is serving a prison sentence for second degree murder . Napolitano said that her veto came out of concerns that reopening all the cases that could be affected by the change in law would overburden the court system. That makes sense-we certainly wouldn't want to give innocent people a chance to get out of prison if doing so would be inconvenient."



Disarmament on the high seas : "The piracy case in Somalia is a perfect example of victim disarmament at sea. Most merchant ships are forbidden by their countries' laws from having weapons on board (a ban which is enforced by rigorous inspections), which leaves a 20,000tn ship worth hundreds of million of dollars vulnerable to a pirate dinghy with a crew of five armed with AKs and RPGs worth a few hundred bucks. So do we allow owners to spend a few thousand dollars on weapons and private security on board? God forbid! No, much better to send a carrier group, or just nuke the high seas."



Learn to use a gun; police can't protect us : "Let's assume for a moment that the gun control folks have succeeded in the elimination of all guns from our society. These basics would still be true.This would still be a violent world. There are people who have chosen for whatever reason to be criminals. They glory in breaking laws, and they take great pleasure in intimidating and violating people who they perceive as weaker than them. .It is unreasonable to expect the police to protect you from these crimes. Most of them take place in a few seconds or maybe a couple of minutes. At best the police are several minutes away.If you are going to be protected . either you or some other law-abiding citizen is going to have to do something."



21 November, 2008

La.: Would-be robber shot and killed : "A man was shot and killed in Shreveport early today as he tried to rob another man, police said. Police said patrol officers conducting a traffic stop on West 70th Street heard several gunshots coming from the next street over about 3:30 a.m. Officers went to the 300 block of West 69th Street and found Messiah Demery, 27, of the 8000 block of Line Ave., shot once in the chest. Demery was dead on arrival at LSU Hospital. Police said Demery had been trying to rob two men -- Rodrigus Kennedy and Shamicheal Kennedy -- as they sat in a car in the driveway of the house. Rodrigus got a gun and shot Demery, police said. The gun used in the shooting was located inside a house. Police said they also found some marijuana and arrested Rodrigus Kennedy on drug charges. He has not been charged in connection with the shooting of Demery; that part of the investigation is continuing, police said."



IL: Robber ends up shot: "A 22-year-old man is under arrest after a morning shooting that started as an armed robbery attempt. Police say C.L. Phillips got into 29-year-old Antwonne Hudson's car on Searles Avenue, pointed a gun at him, and tried to rob him. Phillips drove the car to Sablewood Drive where there was an altercation, he got his hands on the gun, and shot Phillips in the foot. Phillips was treated and released at Rockford Memorial Hospital. He is now charged with Unlawful Use of Weapons by Felon and Armed Robbery."



Gun owners are the last line of defense: "More than 50 million Americans went to the polls and chose Barrack Hussein Obama, heretofore referred to as Bo, to be the 44th president of the United States. He seeks to employ, deploy, and set upon our nation a civilian corps, better armed and trained than our military.... The status quo and Murphy's law stand in Bo's way. There are, according to government stats, between 60 and 100 million gun owners in this country. I expect a third of them to knuckle under and capitulate, a third will hide and deny, and a third will fight back. Even conservatively 20 to 25 million people in active revolt is going to be a problem for Bo. Don't fear Bo but don't assume that his plans don't include or apply to you. They do. Aim Low and follow up.



Nomination of Holder for AG signals Obama anti-gun agenda : "The nomination of Eric Holder for the post of attorney general of the United States sends an `alarming signal' to gun owners about how the Barack Obama administration will view individual gun rights, as affirmed this year by the Supreme Court, the Second Amendment Foundation said today. `Eric Holder signed an amicus brief in the Heller case that supported the District of Columbia's handgun ban, and also argued that the Second Amendment does not protect an individual right,' noted SAF founder Alan Gottlieb. `He has supported national handgun licensing and mandatory trigger locks. As deputy attorney general under Janet Reno, he lobbied Congress to pass legislation that would have curtailed legitimate gun shows.'"



20 November, 2008

Shot Brooklyn storekeeper saved my life, employee says: "The brave Brooklyn shopkeeper who snatched a gun from a gang of holdup men and killed two of them will not face criminal charges, police sources said Tuesday. Investigators believe Youssouf Drame, who is in critical condition after he was shot in the stomach, was acting in self-defense when he turned the tables on his assailants Monday night, the sources said. "He saved my life," said Drummond Bignott, 19, an employee in Drame's Crown Heights variety store. Bignott was helping a customer when the armed men burst in. "They stormed in and said, 'Everyone get down,' but he fought the guys," Bignott said Tuesday..... Despite being hit in the stomach, Drame squeezed off several shots, fatally wounding two of the would-be robbers. Shot in the torso, Leon Harris, 26, staggered to the sidewalk and died a short time later at Kings County Hospital, police said. A second man, who was not carrying identification, was shot several times in the stomach and died inside the store."



Florida Man Shot In Groin During Robbery Attempt: "A Coral Springs man is recovering after being shot in the groin by a man demanding his wallet, police said. Mark David Braun was confronted outside his home before dawn Monday, NBC 6 reported. Braun said he went out for a pack of cigarettes, and as he was coming back home a stranger approached him with a gun and asked for his wallet. He pushed the would-be robber's gun away, and then the robber saw Braun's gun and ran, but not before firing one shot, Braun said. Braun was airlifted to North Broward Medical Center. His wife, who was home with their 3-year-old son, saw the shooter run away and get into a car. Braun was released from the hospital a few hours after being shot. Police are still searching for the shooter".



VA: Fatal shooting in Prince George called self-defense : "A Prince George County man acted in self defense when he fatally shot a Hopewell man during a gathering last month, county authorities have determined. After an extensive investigation by Prince George police and the county commonwealth's attorney's office, authorities have concluded that Jeremy W. Atkins, 21, was fatally shot Oct. 11 after pointing a handgun at a resident of the home in the 3000 block of High Peak Lane, authorities said today in a statement. The resident, who was not identified, fired two blasts from a hunting-style shotgun, fatally injuring Atkins, authorities said."



NC: Business owner shoots back: "Police said the men broke into Big Rob's Sports Bar on Nevin Road in north Charlotte around 3 a.m. Monday. The burglars tripped the burglar alarm, which alerted police and the bar's owner. The owner went to the bar and saw the men loading electronics into the back of a truck. When the burglars saw the owner, one burglar shot at him. The owner shot back and the burglars got away."



19 November, 2008

FL Man Defends Home From Two Robbers : "A Tampa man turned the tables on two home invaders, killing one and sending the other fleeing for his life. 21-year-old Anthony Velez was at his home at the Tusancy Apartments on W. Hillsborough Avenue when two Hispanic males came in, tied him up and robbed him. According to Tampa Police spokesman Laura McElroy, the suspect, fearing he would be killed by the invaders, managed to break his bonds and wrestle a gun away from one of the suspects. Velez shot one suspect, while the other managed to flee the scene. The shot suspect was later pronounced dead at the scene. Velez suffered only minor injuries in the attack."



FL: Big tow yard shooting ends with gunman down: "A man wielding a semiautomatic assault rifle went on a rampage at a tow yard Wednesday morning, wounding two employees and firing at a sheriff's deputy before the deputy shot him down in a brief gunfight, authorities said. Edward F. Voltz Jr., 51, of suburban West Palm Beach twice drove to Lake Park Towing, at 803 13th St., to confront employees.... Hedrick and her boss, Kathryn Gadoury, were wounded as they tried to flee the gunman, who squeezed off shots without saying a word, sheriff's officials said. Both women were taken to nearby St. Mary's Medical Center, where Gadoury, 53, was treated for a gunshot wound to the hip. Hedrick was shot through the elbow. Both women were released from the hospital Wednesday afternoon. Voltz, riddled with bullets after a gunfight with a sheriff's deputy, also was taken to St. Mary's. He underwent emergency surgery and was expected to survive, sheriff's officials said. When Voltz started shooting, Hedrick said, she huddled under a desk with Gadoury, a truck driver and another employee. Employees dialed 911 as the company truck driver retrieved a handgun. He fired at Voltz, Bradshaw said, but it wasn't clear whether any of those shots hit the gunman. As Voltz walked back to his blue Chevrolet Suburban sport utility vehicle, the deputy drove up, Chisholm said. When the shooting stopped, Chisholm said, she looked up to see Voltz on the ground, the deputy standing over him."



Gibsonville, NC: Bring back squirrel shooting law: "Nearly a year after the town outlawed the use of firearms against squirrels, the crafty critters gnawed their way back into discussion at Town Hall. At least one resident told the Board of Aldermen that the town's law infringes on his Constitutional right to bear arms and defend his property. In February, the board removed the police chief's authority to issue pest control firearm permits within city limits. At that time, Chief Mike Woznick asked the board to scrap the pest control permits, calling them dangerous and in conflict with state and local gun and hunting laws. But on Monday, Bobby Webster said he'd lost $600 in pecans to the voracious rodents this fall. He said he needs to be able to use a gun to kill the squirrels in his yard. Last month, just as the nuts were ripening on two trees at his Apple Street home, the squirrels began their annual raid, scaling power lines from around the neighborhood and leaping from trees in neighboring yards to steal his crop. In three weeks, they'd stripped his trees."



OH: Stopping active killers: "There have been so many school shootings over the last 40 years that researchers have been able to develop a profile of the typical mass murderer. .The other statistic that emerged from a study of active killers is that they almost exclusively seek out `gun free' zones for their attacks. .Now tacticians believe the signs themselves may be an invitation to the active killers. The psychological profile of a mass murderer indicates he is looking to inflict the most casualties as quickly as possible. Also, the data show most active killers have no intention of surviving the event.They may select schools and shopping malls because of the large number of defenseless victims and the virtual guarantee no on the scene one is armed. As soon as they're confronted by any armed resistance, the shooters typically turn the gun on themselves."



18 November, 2008

Louisiana Woman Shot After Being Mistaken For Intruder: "A Keithville woman is recovering from a gunshot wound after she was mistaken for an intruder at her home. Denise Giddens, was taken to LSU Health Sciences Center after being shot in the stomach by her brother, Michael Henderson. Henderson said he'd been staying with his sister at her residence in the 8300 block of Godfrey Road. Two nights ago, someone tried to break into the residence, and Henderson believed the intruder was looking for him. Henderson obtained a handgun and was sleeping with the gun last night. When Giddens got up during the night to check the locks on the doors, Henderson heard the noise and fired the shot not knowing the target was his sister. The case remains under investigation by Sheriff's Detective Donnie Laney."



CA: Sheriff tries to limit concealed weapon permits: "Orange County's new sheriff is cracking down on concealed weapon permits, leaving some gun owners in a huff. Sheriff Sandra Hutchens has ordered a review of the 1,100 permits issued under her predecessor Michael Corona, and 422 permit holders have gotten letters saying the licenses will be revoked unless better justification is provided. California law allows sheriffs and police chiefs to grant the permits to anyone who shows `good cause.' Hutchens says jewelry store owners and other potential robbery targets should hold the permits but many are harder to justify. . County supervisor Chris Norby says his office has been flooded with phone calls and e-mails from angry permit holders."



Pa. court hears challenge to Philadelphia gun laws: "A lawyer for the National Rifle Association told a state appeals court Wednesday that the city has no authority to implement an assault weapons ban because such a measure deals with constitutional rights. The NRA is challenging a series of gun control measures that City Council passed in an effort to combat gun violence. Mayor Michael Nutter signed the bills even though the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has previously upheld the state's exclusive right to enact gun laws. Lawyer C. Scott Shields, who represents the NRA, said the city simply isn't allowed to regulate firearms. "When you deal with firearms rights, you deal with constitutional rights which have statewide concern," Shields told the Commonwealth Court during arguments Wednesday. "If you're not a prohibited person and you own an AR-15, that's lawful."



17 November, 2008

Oklahoma Homeowner Halts Burglary With Shotgun Blast: "A man sent suspects running after firing a shot from his 12-gauge shotgun to end an attempted burglary overnight. It happened at about 10:40 p.m. Tuesday night near 45th and South Evanston. The victim told police his estranged wife and ex-girlfriend came to his home with two unknown men. The victim says his wife broke through the front window and the two men kicked in the front door. The man retreated to his bedroom and got out his shotgun and fired one shot through the front room wall. All of the suspects ran away from the scene. There were no injuries reported and no arrests have been made."



Pennsylvania Man Fires 3 Shots At Burglar: "No charges will be filed against a man who shot at a burglar in his home Thursday, Steelton police said. Officers were called to the 500 block of Lincoln Street just after 3 p.m. A resident called police and said he was holding a burglar at gunpoint. The resident had caught the burglar in the second floor of his home, police said. Before police arrived the burglar placed his hand in his pocket, which made the victim believe he was armed. The victim fired three shots at the burglar who fled. It's not known if the burglar was injured. The suspected burglar is a Hispanic male, about 5 foot 7 inches tall with some facial hair and a pony tail."



Panic gun buying mounts: "The outcome of the presidential election has spurred a huge boost in gun sales both nationally and locally. Gun owners are stocking up prior to President-Elect Barack Obama's anti-gun administration, fearing that certain now-legal firearms will be outlawed under new policies and proposals once he takes office. It amounts to "panic buying" — people are buying now because of the strong possibility that their sale could be outlawed within Obama's term, especially if the so-called "assault weapons ban" in reinstated. The uptick began in October, with many gun-owners fearing Obama would be elected. Data released by the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) showed 1,183,279 background checks were performed on firearm sales in October, a 15.4 percent increase from October 2007. More than 150,000 more guns were bought before the election as compared to October of last year. Richard Pacheco of Ritchie's Sporting Supply in Westport agreed, saying his business increased steadily in October and skyrocketed after the election. "My sales doubled the day after the election," said Pacheco. "The sales on that day set a new record for my business and it's been like that ever since. Hasn't stopped yet." The most popular being sold are the AR-15- and Bushmaster-type rifles, which many gun owners fear and predict will be outlawed simply on appearance. These guns are not "weapons that belong on foreign battlefields" as Obama misleads Americans into believing. They are not machine guns and do not provide selective fire, like many of the rifles used in the military. AR-15 and Bushmater types owned by civilians are simply semi-automatic.



16 November, 2008

KY: Confused woman cleared of guilt in firing at cops: "Reminded that Americans have always had the right to defend themselves and their homes, a Fleming County jury found a woman accused of shooting at sheriff's deputies not guilty of all five wanton endangerment charges. "I heard a truck come through the house. It woke me up," Wells said. "I thought it was the Mexicans.... There was no truck that morning just before 10 o'clock. The sound Wells heard was probably the back door of her home being kicked in. Before Kinder kicked in the door he asked Kissick again if there was a chance that Wells was inside and unable to come to the door because she was hurt or sick. Kissick said yes. With that the deputy, who has made several welfare checks on residents, kicked in the door. Kinder also testified that throughout the incident he had identified himself as a deputy with the Fleming County Sheriff's Office. Galbraith, however, reminded the deputies that lately home invasions were taking place all over the country with men claiming to be police, breaking in the home then stealing, beating and even raping the residents. Once the door was opened Kissick and Miller ran into the home, according to Kinder. Both came back quickly after finding Wells with the gun. Kinder said he and Orem stood by the back door trying to get Wells to put the gun down. She fired a shot and both men ran out the door and off the porch. Kentucky State Police Trooper Michael Fogelman was on the scene by this time. He talked to Wells on her cell phone and asked her to come out of the house. Wells surrendered to Fogelman and was arrested."





FL: Robber shoots, kills self in botched home invasion: "A Fort Myers man is wanted in connection with a botched home invasion robbery in Port Charlotte on Monday that ended with one of the robbers fatally shooting himself. Charlotte County sheriff's spokesman Richard Carpenter said 19-year-old Arien Mayo of North Port, accidentally killed himself while striking 25-year-old homeowner Kody Michael Foehner with a gun after fatally shooting his dog. According to detectives, Shanks [above], Perkins, Garcia, Johnson and Mayo forced their way into Foehner's home on Fort Smith Circle in Port Charlotte around 10 p.m. The others said Mayo shot and killed Foehner's dog and then turned the shotgun around and struck Foehner in the head. As he did that, the gun went off, wounding Mayo. At that point, the other suspects carried him to a car and drove away. Foehner and his girlfriend, who also suffered a minor injury, were taken to a local hospital, treated and released, Carpenter said. A short time later, a trooper with the Florida Highway Patrol tried to stop a speeding Toyota Corolla on Hillsborough Boulevard. It turned out to be the getaway car, and the driver wouldn't stop. On Prineville Street, the four men ran from the car, jumped into a canal and fled on Ravenswood Boulevard. The trooper found Mayo in the back seat, dead. Deputies deployed road patrol, K-9 units, a helicopter and additional troopers, and were able to catch Garcia and Johnson.



Update to case blogged here on 10th: "An accused robber has been arrested after his alleged partner was shot and killed last week during a Sacramento home invasion, police said Friday. Gary Hobbs, 22, was taken into custody in Sacramento County Thursday for warrants related to the Nov. 8 break-in, police Sgt. Norm Leong said. Police said officers were called at 8:02 a.m. regarding a report of a shooting at a residence the 4000 block of 51st Street. Authorities arrived to find a man suffering from gunshot wounds. He was later pronounced dead at the scene. The deceased man was described as white, in his early 30s, 6 feet 5 inches tall and 260 pounds. His name was not released. Leong said investigators believe that Hobbs and the other man broke into the residence and tried to rob a resident. The resident grabbed a gun and shot one of the robbers in self-defense, Leong said. Hobbs is believed to have fled after the shooting, police said. The victim was said to be an acquaintance of Hobbs and the deceased man."



Good guys with weapons benefit society: "The UF population, having engaged in debate concerning carrying concealed weapons on campus, would do well to reread Wednesday's article "Police name suspect." This article demonstrates two truths. First, bad people ignore the law. Why do you think so many felons, such as the one who was shot Saturday, always pop up in the news for committing crimes with firearms? The obvious answer is that, as criminals, they ignore the law by definition and obtain guns illegally. Furthermore, do you really think that someone bent on armed robbery, rape or murder will really heed the laws prohibiting them from bringing guns onto campus? The second point is that good people with firearms are a good thing. In the article, a local convenience store clerk with a concealed weapons permit shot and wounded a felon who entered his store and began firing his weapon. The police are a great asset to society, but what can they do the moment someone opens fire on innocent victims? Response times simply aren't quick enough to protect the people in harm's way."



15 November, 2008

South Carolina Store Clerk Fires Shot At Would-Be Robber: "An Anderson County convenience store clerk shot at a would-be robber Wednesday night. Police said a man tried to rob the Sunoco on Highway 76 and Millwee Creek Road in the Sandy Springs area of Anderson County just before 10 p.m. Susann Griffin with Anderson County police said the man pointed a gun at the store's clerk and demanded money. The clerk told the man to hang on a second while he got the money together, and then pulled out a gun and fired a shot at the robber. Police said they don't think the man was hit, but he fled the scene."



California: Armed Homeowner Kills Suspected Burglar: "An armed homeowner shot and killed a man who was allegedly trying to rob his home, according to authorities. The Sacramento Police Department says two suspects entered the victim's home on 51st Street Saturday morning and confronted the homeowner, who was able to retrieve a firearm. The man then shot one of the suspects in self-defense, according to authorities. The second suspect -- a white male in his late 20s, standing 5'6", weighing 135 pounds -- fled the scene. Police believe the victim knew the suspects.



Philadelphia Barbershop Owner Shoots Attempted Armed Robber: "A barbershop owner fought back against a would-be armed robber in the city's West Oak Lane section. It happened at 'Cross Cutz', on the 7400 block of Briar Road, around 6:07p.m. Thursday. Police told Fox 29 News that a man in his early 20s stormed the barbershop with a 9mm gun and demanded cash. The male shop owner forked over everything he had but he and the suspect still got into an altercation, police said. Minutes later, the shop owner pulled out his own gun and shot the alleged robber in the head. The suspect collapsed right at the door. Police said all of this took place with a 9-year-old boy playing video games in a back room of the business. "The owner has a 9-year-old son who was in a back room playing video games, in a room right-next-door to where the robbery occurred at the time of the robbery and shooting. However, the 9-year-old boy did not see the actual robbery or shooting," said Chief Investigator Scott Small of Philadelphia Police. As police tried to shelter the boy from the scene, medics rushed the wounded suspect to Albert Einstein Hospital where he is in critical condition. Both weapons were recovered at the scene."



Florida Would-be Robber Shot by Store Clerk : "A would-be robber was shot by a Gainesville store clerk when he tried to rob a convenience store Sunday night. The man walked into a West University Avenue business, armed and looking for quick cash. Instead, he was shot once in the torso and ran from the store. According to a report, he fired shots at the business as he left. The clerk was not injured during the robbery. The would-be robber went into the store and walked up to the clerk, who was apparently talking on the phone. That's when the man demanded cash. The clerk asked him to repeat what he had said. He again demanded cash and this time fired a round from his gun inside the store. The clerk pulled a gun from under the counter and shot him in the chest. The Gainesville Police Department spent much of Sunday afternoon searching for the would-be robber."



14 November, 2008

A manifesto

Everyone should have guns; all other freedoms derive from that.

The God given rights thing is hard for some people to understand, so I think this makes things simpler. We all get guns and that cannot be infringed anywhere, and people can figure out the other rights from there. Is some hippie going to tell a guy with a gun what he can and can’t say? Only once.

Only whiny little bitches care how much money other people have.

The only reason anyone should be concerned about the success of others is if they want to copy it. How much money someone makes shouldn’t even be the concern of the government. If someone making a lot of money gets you all bothered because it reminds you of what a tiny little penis you have, then you need to live in a sissier country that tolerates whiny babies, pinko.

Other countries should fear us like an angry god.

Having the respect of other countries is nice and all, but usually pretty fickle. Fear is a nice constant. All other countries should know that if you cross us, we will come at you with like a spider monkey. You won’t know what to expect. While you’re running around in caves with AK-47s, we’ll have robots with gattling gun arms, lasers shooting you from space, micro-nukes, death rays, and of course genetically engineered dinosaurs with rocket launchers on them. To have victory against us is as infeasible as winning in a fist fight with the sun.

Government is evil.

It’s a necessary evil, but it is an evil. Any application of government should be done in a somber fashion, as it is a failure of our humanity that we couldn’t handle it as individual citizens. Deciding whether to apply government to solve a problem should be considered on the same level as burning down an orphanage full of children to solve a problem. Deciding to tax should be thought of like deciding to stab an innocent man for our own gain. Anyone who celebrates government is a ghoulish wretch who must be ostracized from polite society.

More here




Three shot in SC home invasion: "Greenville County Deputies were called to a home on New Dunham Bridge Road around 11:30 pm Tuesday night. Deputies say a group broke in the back door of the house and started shooting at the people who were inside. A homeowner grabbed a gun and fired back. Investigators tell our sister station WSPA, three people were wounded. Two victims were sent to the hospital. Officers were going through the house for clues early Wednesday morning while deputies tried to put their neighbors at ease. Lt. Tim Ridgeway with the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office said, “There are no other injuries everybody’s fine. A couple of houses were hit with bullets”. Investigators do not think this was a random crime. They have not made any arrests or named any suspects. Officers do not know the conditions of the victims, but one was shot in the chest."



WI: Crazy man shot: "A 24-year-old man is dead after a domestic dispute in Mequon. Police Monday identified the man they shot as Ryan Carey. He has no prior criminal record. Police said he was the live-in boyfriend of Jackie Chiarelli, 26, the woman who owns the house. It all started when they got in a physical fight, according to investigators. "The resident tried running away from the residence and upon leaving, in her in vehicle, was shot at by Carey," said Mequon Police Captain Scott Tyler. Chiarelli was not hit. Then Carey shot at responding patrol cars, shattering two windows on one squad with the officer inside. “He hit the car, from what I understand there are bullet fragments inside the car,” Tyler said. One officer fired back at Carey, striking him down in the driveway. “There were no words exchanged,” Tyler said. Police tried CPR on Carey, but he was pronounced dead a short time later at Columbia St. Mary’s Ozaukee."



Ohio: Shopowner too slow to fire: "Both Nelson and Smith testified against Christopher Cameron, 23, who could get the death penalty if convicted of aggravated murder in Shalash's death. He also is charged with two counts of aggravated robbery. Nelson, now 17, said he was standing next to the cash register when Shalash startled him by saying, "I know you, I know you!" before grabbing a loaded .357 Magnum from under the counter. "I told (Shalash) to lay down, and he wouldn't," Nelson said. "He pulled a gun from somewhere under the counter, and we began to wrestle." Shalash fired twice, Nelson said. "I was scared, and I told Chris to shoot him. Then there was gunshots, and the man fell. I know I didn't shoot him because my gun wasn't loaded." The pair took Shalash's pistol and $200 from the register. In March 2007, Smith and Nelson each pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and aggravated robbery and agreed to testify against Cameron. Both are serving 20-year prison sentences."



13 November, 2008

FL: Robbery suspect found in hospital: "A wounded man, admitted to a Citrus County hospital, is the suspect in two weekend robberies in Gainesville including one Sunday evening where a store clerk shot the would-be robber, police reported. Aaron Michael Rooks, 30, of Crystal River, underwent surgery at Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center Monday afternoon, according to Gainesville Police. Rooks is facing charges of attempted felony murder, carrying a concealed firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and two counts of robbery with a firearm. Police believe Rooks tried to rob the Chevron station at 3328 W. University Ave. on Sunday, the same store they allege he robbed Saturday night. A gunman entered the business Sunday at about 7:15 p.m. and fired a shot inside the business when a clerk questioned his demands for cash. The clerk pulled out his own gun, a compact .380-caliber semi-automatic handgun, and shot the suspect, hitting him in the upper torso. The robber fled the store, firing shots as he left... The store clerk acted in self-defense, according to police, and no charges are pending against the employee."



Nevada oldster, 83, gets off a few last shots: "John Herda was a respected business owner who was gunned down inside his guard-gated home two years ago. Police quickly determined that what had happened was no suicide. A kicked-in rear door and an open safe were evidence of something much more sinister. Police would also learn that Herda himself had managed to fire off a few shots at the intruder. Prosecutors say Bryan Crawley is responsible for the murder. They believe he was looking for cash and didn't expect a fight from the much older man. Prosecutors say the evidence will show that Crawley went to Mexico during the days following the murder and had a doctor there remove a bullet from his body - the same caliber as the gun fired by John Herda. Defense attorneys, however, say it's not enough for a conviction. "There's an absolute absence of anything physical tying Mr. Crawley to the scene," claims Tony Sgro, Crawley's attorney. Along with murder, Crawley has also been charged with numerous other crimes, including a stabbing, a beating, and a high speed chase with police. "Once you sit here and hear all the evidence, there is simply no doubt he is the murderer of John Herda," says prosecutor Marc DiGacamo.



WV: Domestic violence gun case goes to SCOTUS: "A Second Amendment gun case that originated in Marion County is now at the United States Supreme Court. The Highest Court in the Nation began hearing arguments from the 2004 case of United States vs. Hayes on Monday.The case revolves around a federal law that makes it a crime to possess a gun after a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to decide whether a misdemeanor of simple battery fulfills the definition of domestic violence. The Court will also decide if the law can be applied retroactively since the conviction of battery happened back in 1994 before the federal statute was passed."



'Broken gun' appeal cites government's own witnesses: "A Wisconsin man who contends he's been imprisoned simply for loaning a broken gun to a friend, asserts in a new court brief that the government's own witnessess support his claim. David Olofson was convicted of transferring a machine gun, or a weapon that releases more than one bullet with a single pull of the trigger, and sentenced to 30 months in prison. But his case is on appeal to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, because his lawyers argue it was a malfunctioning rifle, not a machine gun, that loosed the shots. The case arose when Olofson loaned an Olympic Arms AR-15 semi-automatic rifle to a friend, who fired it at a gun range. The weapon reportedly misfired, letting loose several shots at the same time, and drew the interest of authorities."



12 November, 2008

TX: Attempted carjacker gets shot: "The clerk warned Alejandro Salinas about the suspicious men who had been hanging out in front of the convenience store for the past hour. He told Salinas to be careful as he went back out to his Chevrolet Z-71 pickup truck, that he had just filled at the Aziz Convenience Store about 11 a.m. Saturday. Salinas walked out to his truck and hopped in. But before he could close the door, 18-year-old Hector Severo Ramos was holding a .25-caliber pistol at Salinas' neck, said Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Trevi¤o. "He says `Get out of the truck. I'm going to take it and I'm going to kill you," Trevi¤o said of Ramos. Salinas told the gunman to calm down; they could work things out. Then he pushed Ramos' pistol away, pulled out his own pistol and fired two 9 mm bullets into Ramos' chest. Ramos fired once into the air and his arms fell onto Salinas. The two men tumbled to the pavement as blood spilled from Ramos' chest. Three men who were with Ramos took off from the convenience store at Texas Highway 107 and Alamo Road in a brown Chevrolet Impala, deputies said. Sheriff's deputies responded to the scene and emergency crews rushed Ramos to McAllen Medical Center, where he died upon arrival. Salinas had a license to carry a concealed firearm and a clean criminal record, Trevino said."



CA: Man attacks woman. Shot by neighbor: "A 60-year-old Stockton man remains in critical condition in an area hospital after he was shot several times early Sunday by a neighbor trying to intervene in a domestic violence attack. Alcide Doucet, 60, shortly after 1:50 a.m. Sunday allegedly went to the Kelley Drive home of a 43-year-old woman and kicked in the door, according to a police report. Doucet allegedly hit the woman in the head with his fists and a handgun. A 42-year-old neighbor heard screaming and other noise coming from the woman's house and went to help, according to the report. The neighbor, who police did not identify, apparently knew of the problems between the woman and Doucet, according to the report. Once inside the woman's home, the neighbor saw Doucet holding the woman by her hair and raising his hand with the gun in it, according to the report. The neighbor told Doucet several times to stop. Doucet allegedly turned the gun on the neighbor and fired once, hitting the man. The neighbor returned fire with his own gun, hitting Doucet several times in the upper body. The woman and neighbor were treated for non-life threatening wounds and Doucet was taken to an area hospital and underwent surgery for his wounds. Doucet likely will face at least felony domestic violence and assault with a deadly weapon once released from the hospital. The neighbor will not face charges since he was defending the woman, according to police."



Don't violate Second Amendment rights : "It's late at night and you hear your front door being kicked in. What do you grab for to protect your home and family? A gun, one of mankind's best tools and inventions; cold sleek steel, brass, gunpowder and lead all together has never been so important until now.There is a belief that guns kill people and we would have less violence without them. This is about the same as saying pencils make mistakes, not the writer. As bad as it sounds in an open and free society, there will be terrorist attacks both foreign and domestic. You simply cannot control everyone, nor can there be a policeman stationed on every block"



11 November, 2008

Kentucky home invader shot: "A home invasion ended with the intruder shot and killed after the homeowner said it was kill or be killed Sunday morning in the Pleasure Ridge Park area. Shooter Joseph McCoy is not facing charges because police said it appears he fired in self-defense. It was early Sunday morning when Joseph McCoy says he woke up to the sound of gunshots. McCoy said once the intruder was inside, he fired off a round of bullets that sprayed through the home, hitting the walls and the ceiling. Then, McCoy said, the intruder, Charles Lanham Sr., left to reload his gun. "I ran and got my fiancee's daughter's gun and loaded it and the guy came through the door shooting, so I shot him," McCoy said. Lanham was pronounced dead at the scene. McCoy said he killed him in self-defense.



SC: State plans tax-free period on guns : "Some confusion still surrounds state legislation passed earlier this year, waiving the sales tax on handgun, rifles and shotguns during the 48 hours following the Thanksgiving holiday. The bill passed in the General Assembly on June 4, was vetoed by the Governor on June 11 and was then overridden by the legislature later that month. On Thursday, the Department of Revenue issued a press release announcing what they are calling the `Second Amendment' Sales Tax Holiday . A spokesperson for the Department of Revenue . said she was familiar with the legislative quagmire, but was assured the 48-hour tax break on firearm purchases would begin at 12:01 a.m. on Nov. 28 and continue through midnight Nov. 29."



GA: Gun shop takes heat over sign: "A local gun shop that used Barack Obama's name to hawk weapons has backed down, saying the message was meant to champion gun rights, not threaten violence. Georgia Outdoor Sports owner Carrie Mentel said she advertised an `OBAMA SALE!' - on `GUNS AMMO ARCHERY' - outside her Hull store Wednesday morning, hours after the election, because firearms enthusiasts are worried the new Democratic president soon will step all over their Second Amendment right to bear arms. But some passing motorists interpreted the sign as a call for violence against the country's first black president."



Chief's missing gun a bigger threat to safety than most firearms : "Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske, quoted by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer today claiming that more guns in the community does not deter crime should remember that his stolen gun is out there posing a greater threat to public safety than firearms belonging to typical law-abiding gun owners. So said Alan Gottlieb, chairman of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, a Bellevue-based grassroots civil rights organization. CCRKBA still has a reward for the recovery of Kerlikowske's stolen 9mm Glock pistol, taken from his city-owned car that was parked on a downtown street almost four years ago."



10 November, 2008

CA: Police Release Video Of Shootout: "Sacramento police said they have released video of a robbery that turned into a shootout. The shooting happened Wednesday at a convenience store at Second Avenue and Santa Cruz Way. The surveillance video showed one of two suspects firing a handgun at the clerk who had also grabbed a gun in self-defense. The clerk fired back and the suspects ran out of the store."



California: Armed Homeowner Kills Suspected Burglar: "An armed homeowner shot and killed a man who was allegedly trying to rob his home, according to authorities. The Sacramento Police Department says two suspects entered the victim's home on 51st Street Saturday morning and confronted the homeowner, who was able to retrieve a firearm. The man then shot one of the suspects in self-defense, according to authorities. The second suspect -- a white male in his late 20s, standing 5'6", weighing 135 pounds -- fled the scene. Police believe the victim knew the suspects."



MO: Fatal carjacking: "A St. Louis firefighter who thought he was helping a motorist after a wreck Wednesday evening instead found himself confronted by an armed carjacker who shot the firefighter and left him dying in the street. Minutes later and a few blocks away at the northern tip of St. Louis on Riverview Drive, the carjacker fired at St. Louis County officers, who shot back and killed the man, ending a carjacking spree that authorities called "chaotic" and pieced together based on witness accounts. The firefighter, Leonard Riggins, died later at a hospital from a gunshot wound to the chest. Riggins, 52, was a 14-year veteran of the St. Louis Fire Department and left behind a wife and children. "He stopped, he tried to help, and he was shot for no reason at all," said St. Louis Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson, speaking at Christian Northeast Hospital on Wednesday night. Authorities were still trying to reconstruct the chain of events Wednesday night but said it appeared the man who killed the firefighter carjacked or attempted to carjack four cars within a span of minutes. They did not release any information on the carjacker late Wednesday and didn't have a motive for his crimes.



Obama a great gun salesman: "Gun enthusiasts nationwide are stocking up on firearms out of fears that the combination of an Obama administration and a Democrat-dominated Congress will result in tough new gun laws. "I think they're going to really try to crack down on guns and make it harder for people to try to purchase them," said Smith, 32, who taught all five of her children - ages 4 to 10 - to shoot because the family relies on game for food. Last month, as an Obama win looked increasingly inevitable, there were more than 108,000 more background checks for gun purchases than in October 2007, a 15 percent increase. And they were up about 8 percent for the year as of Oct. 26, according to the FBI. No data was available for gun purchases this week, but gun shops from suburban Virginia to the Rockies report record sales since Tuesday's election. Stewart Wallin, owner of Get Some Guns in the Salt Lake City suburb of Murray, Utah, said he sold nine assault weapons the day after Obama was elected. That same day, the gun store Cheaper Than Dirt! in Fort Worth, Texas, sold $101,000 worth of merchandise, shattering its single-day sales record, store owner DeWayne Irwin said."



9 November, 2008

Alabama muggers shot by victim: "Two teens shot during a robbery attempt Friday apparently followed their victim to his home after seeing him withdraw money from an ATM miles away, police said. Seventeen-year-old Antonio Austin was killed in the confrontation. Nineteen-year-old Robert Howez was shot in the back and taken to the University of South Alabama Medical Center, where he was listed in fair condition Monday. Howez will face a charge of first-degree robbery upon his release, authorities said. Barber declined to identify the 60-year-old man who was the alleged robbery target, saying the man does not currently face criminal charges in the shooting, which has been characterized by Mobile County District Attorney John Tyson Jr. as a case of self-defense.... The man was returning to his home on West Belvedere Circle, near Hank Aaron Stadium, shortly after 6 p.m. Friday when, as he was getting out of his car, he was accosted by two teenagers, one armed with a revolver. The armed teen demanded that the man hand over the money from the ATM. Instead, he drew his own pistol and opened fire. Howez could face a murder charge in Austin's death even though he didn't fire the shot that killed him, Barber said, as Alabama law allows criminals to be held liable for the death of an accomplice killed in the commission of a violent felony."



Florida homeowner kills one of 3 intruders: "A homeowner who shot and killed a robber during a home invasion Thursday night has been charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; but authorities say early indications are that the shooting was in self-defense. According to a police report, Isaac Collins, 31, of the 5700 block of Sunberry Circle in Fort Pierce, was shot by Glenn Everett Hedrick, 54, about 8:45 p.m. Thursday as Collins and two other men broke into Hedrick's home in the 1200 block of South Raymond Avenue in Fort Pierce. Collins was taken to nearby Lawnwood Regional Medical Center and Heart Institute, where he was pronounced dead at 9:45 p.m. Thursday.... Hedrick told police he was sitting in his house Thursday evening when he heard a noise in an adjacent room that he thought was his wife returning home. When three masked men entered the room, Hedrick grabbed a gun, referred to on the police report at a .410-gauge shotgun. "There was an exchange of gunfire," Humm said, "and (Collins) fell to the floor. The other suspects fled." According to the report, Hedrick came out of his house with his hands above his head as police arrived."



Mistrial ends murder case against Ariz. border agent: "A judge in Tucson declared a second mistrial in the high-profile murder prosecution of a Border Patrol agent. A defense attorney said he was told that prosecutors will not seek a third trial... On Jan. 12, 2007, Corbett spotted four illegal immigrants fleeing south to Mexico. He whirled his patrol truck to intercept the group and ordered the Mexican nationals to lie down and surrender. Francisco Javier Dominguez-Rivera, a 20-year-old worker in a New York cereal plant, refused. Corbett shot him from less than a foot away, from slightly behind and above the smaller man, evidence showed. Prosecutors presented Corbett, 41, as a cold-blooded killer and liar. They argued that forensic evidence and eyewitness accounts disproved Corbett's initial claims that Dominguez-Rivera was getting ready to pelt him with a rock from a few feet away. The jury included one Latino and 11 Whites, but it was unknown whether the 11-1 impasse broke along racial lines." [11 jurors said he was innocent]



CA: School cop who killed deranged student seeks damages: "A Fresno police officer who killed the high school student that attacked him with a baseball bat wants the district to pay him for his injuries. Officer Junus Perry said his neck was injured April 16 when Jesus "Jesse" Carrizales hit him on the head. Perry then shot and killed the 17-year-old special education student, an act he says was self defense. In a legal claim filed with the Fresno Unified School District, Perry says school officials failed to warn him about Carrizales' "emotional profile and propensities." The 11-year veteran has been on leave since the shooting. Trustees are expected to deny the claim at a meeting next week. A denial would open the door to a lawsuit in the state court system."



8 November, 2008

TX:Suspected robber shot: "A Bryan man is in jail after police say he was shot in the arm by someone he was trying to rob. College Station police say, Wednesday night, five people were in a home on the 3500 block of Wild Plum when three suspected armed robbers broke inside the home. Officers say those suspects ordered the people in the house on the floor and took their personal property. According to witnesses the suspects left the scene. Officers say that's when the victims locked the door. Police say the suspects returned and busted into the home. Officers say two people were hiding in the bedroom and when one of the suspects fired a gun, one of the victims returned fire hitting one suspect in the arm. That suspect, 20-year-old Cardell Anthony Jackson was arrested after a 911 call was made about his gun shot wound and he was treated at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. He's charged with nine counts of aggravated robbery and one count of burglary of a habitation with intent to commit a felony."



Montana man shoots griz in self defense: "The latest incident came Oct. 27 when hunter Shawn Damschen of Coram encountered a sow grizzly with cubs while hunting near Marias Pass. He was cow elk calling when he heard a crashing through the woods and saw three grizzly bears, two young and a sow, coming at him. Damschen yelled and the two younger bears ran off but the sow lowered her head and charged. Damschen fired two shots from his rifle at approximately 10 feet and knocked the bear down. After he shot the bear, Damschen was joined by a hunting companion, who heard Damschen yelling. The two immediately hiked out and used a cell phone to call Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Warden Perry Brown and reported the incident. Upon investigating the scene the wardens found the shooting to be consistent with self-defense. FWP biologists believe the two bears that ran off were more than likely 2-year-olds and should have a good chance of survival. Normally grizzly bear cubs stay with the sow for two years and separate on their own in the spring."



GA teen, suspect killed in robbery attempt: "Clayton County police say three people were shot during a robbery attempt that left a teenage girl and a suspect dead. The shootings occurred Tuesday night in Riverdale. Clayton Co. Police Lt. Rebecca Brown said a man wearing a bandanna on his face fired into a car killing 16-year-old Rikia Ross of Riverdale. An unnamed 15-year-old girl was shot in the hand. Brown said the gunman, 34-year-old LaShawn Minor of Atlanta, was shot and killed by a man inside the vehicle. Police would not identify the man who shot the suspect. No charges were filed because the shooting was ruled self-defense."



OK jury acquits animal control officer who shot dog : "A Washington County jury has acquitted a Copan animal control officer who was charged with animal cruelty in March 2007 after she shot a dog with a .22-caliber rifle. The jury last week found Carlotta Gail Evans, 57, not guilty of the charge filed in Washington County District Court following an incident in which she shot a dog that was chasing her vehicle in the municipal limits. The dog was treated by Bartlesville veterinarian who amputated one leg. The shooting occurred shortly after Evans had gone to the home of Justin and Jessica Shaffer to warn them that their dog had been accused of chasing children. When Evans drove away from the home, the dog chased her vehicle. She got out of the vehicle and fired at the pet. Evans said during the trial she acted in self defense. Copan, which has a population of 794 and is located just south of the Kansas border, has an ordinance stating the control officer is authorized to destroy animals considered stray, a nuisance or vicious."



7 November, 2008

Florida Shooting Was Self-Defense: "A jury agreed that a 26-year-old Winter Haven man was acting in self-defense when he shot a man in his mother's yard, but that he shouldn't have ruined the man's Christmas decorations. Matthew Lankford was charged with attempted second-degree murder, aggravated assault and criminal mischief. On Saturday, a jury acquitted Lankford of attempted murder and assault. However, he was found guilty of criminal mischief, a misdemeanor. He was released with time served. Prosecutors said that Lankford shot Douglas Sheldon with a .45-caliber handgun when a neighborhood dispute got out of control. During opening statements, Shearer told jurors that Sheldon's drunken behavior was what got him shot. Shearer said Sheldon assaulted Lankford's mother, who was struck to the ground. A fight then erupted between Sheldon and Justin Pellegrino, a friend of Lankford. Lankford went into his truck and got his handgun but kept the weapon holstered, Shearer said. Lankford told Sheldon repeatedly to leave, but Sheldon wouldn't go even when the gun was drawn and pointed at him, Shearer said. Lankford fired a single bullet when Sheldon came toward him, Shearer said."



DE:Gun purchase glitch examined : "Delaware State Police stopped Alvina Vansickle from purchasing a .22-caliber pistol for self-defense because she was too old and a woman, said Superintendent Col. Thomas MacLeish.The outrage that followed led to the revelation that Delaware State Police had been keeping lists of gun buyers for years; state law requires them to destroy these records after 60 days.Without so much as a traffic ticket, the 81-year-old Lewes resident should have sailed through the mandatory state police background check when she tried to buy a Taurus revolver from Charlie Steele's Lewes gun shop last August."



ACORN uses public funds to steal elections, now your gun rights : "ACORN, the publicly-funded national organization linked to voter fraud in several states is now actively interfering with the exercise of firearm civil rights in New Jersey, and the Second Amendment Foundation is calling for an immediate federal investigation. `ACORN has, since 1998, received an estimated $31 million in government funding,' said SAF founder Alan Gottlieb."



Australia: Stupid fake-gun film-makers: "Four filmmakers have been charged on summons after Carlton residents mistook a gun-wielding confrontation for the real thing. Police locked down an apartment building and blocked off streets in Carlton about 10.40pm after a distressed woman told police she'd seen a man with a gun. Sen Sgt Stephen Cooper said the filmmakers' actions were extremely dangerous. "They hadn't notified any persons what they were doing down here today, there were no permits, they hadn't had the courtesy to notify even the security within the premises here,'' Snr Sgt Cooper told the Nine Network from the scene last night. "Police went to the apartment block on Canning St and saw a man pointing a firearm at the head of another," police spokesman Wayne Wilson said. Sen-Con Wilson said it was only when officers recovered the filming equipment that they realised it had all been an act. The four men in their 20s face charges of possessing a firearm - which includes imitation weapons - and causing a public nuisance."



6 November, 2008

WI: Man Shot by Son After Stabbing Wife: "An estranged husband was shot to death by his son after he stabbed his wife repeatedly early Monday morning, Milwaukee Police said. Jesus Reynoso De La Cruz began stabbing Mirtha Romero Perez after he broke into her Milwaukee home near 19th and Euclid. De La Cruz's son grabbed a gun and repeatedly shot his father in order to stop the stabbing. De La Cruz was pronounced dead at the scene. Perez was taken to the hospital where she later died. "What I heard was a pop or a pop," said family friend Kevin Finn. "It sounded like gunfire but I wasn't quite sure." Police said the shooting was in self-defense and released the son from custody. Perez just filed for divorce and issued a restraining order against her husband last month. De La Cruz was charged with violating the restraining order last week. The couple owned a bar near 6th and National."



WA: Shot burglar now goes to jail: "Last November, Moore arrived home during the day to find a strange car parked in his driveway. Seeing the back door damaged, he retrieved a .45-caliber pistol from his truck and then encountered the two suspects in a rear bedroom. Moore said he fired because he saw that Bojorquez had one of his shotguns and was turning it toward him. Defense attorney Greg Scott said he believed Moore was mistaken about that, though McCarthy deemed the testimony very credible. Bojorquez was sentenced to four years concurrently for both the burglary charge and unlawfully possessing the shotgun, due to his prior convictions. Another five years was added because the crime involved a weapon. He was sentenced to another 365 days on a misdemeanor harassment charge for threatening Moore as he was held at gunpoint. He will be given credit for serving most of that time while awaiting trial. McCarthy told Bojorquez that he could have been a "fading memory" if Moore's shot had been more accurate. The judge, noting that the defendant's criminal history suggested he's on the way to becoming a career criminal, told Bojorquez he should see the conviction as an opportunity to turn his life around. Bojorquez has juvenile convictions for theft, auto theft, malicious mischief and robbery."



Utah gun shop urges court to dismiss suit over shootings: "A gun shop is asking a judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a survivor of the 2007 Trolley Square shootings. Sportsman's Fast Cash and Westley Wayne Hill, the employee who sold a 12-gauge shotgun to Sulejman Talovic, say Talovic's actions were unforeseen and independent of the gun shop. The defendants also say the shootings would have happened if they did not sell Talovic a 12-gauge shotgun and deny anything was illegal about the sale. As part of their argument, defense attorneys cite a 2001 case where a man rented a car, drove it while drunk and killed a person. A court dismissed a lawsuit against the rental company and said renting the car to the driver was not the immediate cause of the accident. Feb. 12, 2007, Talovic entered Trolley Square mall with the pistol-grip shotgun and a .38-caliber pistol he bought from a former co-worker. Talovic used the weapons to kill five people and wound four. Talovic died in a shootout with police."



5 November, 2008

Wisconsin: Woman shoots aggressive neighbor: "A man shot by his neighbor while he allegedly was vandalizing her home is charged with criminal damage to property -- and the neighbor isn't expected to face any charges. The criminal complaint filed in Crawford County Circuit Court said 53-year-old Harvey Townsend used a metal fence post to smash 16 windows and a storm door of the neighbor's house in Steuben Oct. 20. According to Sheriff Jerry Moran, the neighbor, a 54-year-old woman, said she fired warning rounds from a pistol but didn't intend to hit Townsend, who fled and was located by a police dog in a nearby woods with a wound to the abdomen. The woman has since filed for a temporary restraining order against Townsend. A hearing on that action is scheduled Monday -- the same day Townsend is due for his preliminary hearing.



Texas Homeowner Grabs Robber's Gun, Kills Him: "A homeowner in North Dallas who answered his door Sunday night to find a man pointing a gun at him killed the would-be-robber. Police say the resident grabbed the man's handgun and used it to shoot the would-be robber. A second would-be-robber escaped on foot. The homeowner wasn't injured, but the man he shot later died at an area hospital. Names of the homeowner and the victim were not released. Police Senior Cpl. Kevin Janse told The Dallas Morning News that the resident "was protecting himself."



Australia: You can be lucky: "A Corio man has described how he and his partner cowered in bed fearing for their lives when a man was shot at their Fairbairn Dve home last night. Ray Dannatt, 52, said he and his partner Sharon barricaded themselves in their bedroom as up to four men tried to break into their house. A 35-year-old man was rushed to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a critical condition after being shot in the head and chest at the address about 10pm. Mr Dannatt said the shooting was not related to a bikie gang dispute and instead was an attempted robbery gone wrong. The father of five said he was lying in bed when the gunshot was fired. He believed the men were trying to break into the home by smashing the patio window with a rifle before one of them was accidentally shot."



Woman Says Killing of Husband Was Self-Defense: "Behind the smiles and closed doors, though, Barbara Sheehan said her family lived in fear of her husband, Raymond. That is, until February 2008, when Sheehan snapped and police say she admitted to shooting and killing her husband with 11 bullets from his own gun. Sheehan, 47, said the ex- cop terrorized the family for 18 years, and she believed she had nowhere to turn for help. "I was sure that he was going to kill me. There was no doubt about it," Sheehan said in an exclusive interview with WABC-TV in New York. Sheehan said the abuse began after the birth of the couple's second child. "It started with pushing, shoving, him apologizing, and then it would get worse, and then it got to a point where he just stopped apologizing. Her 22-year-old daughter, Jennifer Sheehan, said her father would lock her and her brother, Raymond, in the bedroom and told them he'd kill them if they came out. "It's terrible to say, but it's better since he's been gone," Jennifer said. "But I still have nightmares that he's gonna come home in the middle of the night. I wake up sweating, crying" she told WABC-TV. A 2007 family vacation to Jamaica turned into a horror show. "The walls in the hotel were like cinder block and he kept banging my face into it until my head cracked open. There was blood all over the room, and I wound up in the hospital on the island of Jamaica," Barbara Sheehan said. Sheehan said she didn't dare file a report or call the police on her [police] officer husband."



4 November, 2008

Alabama: Two teens shot in failed robbery: "A 19-year-old shot in the back Friday night after allegedly trying to rob a Mobile man was in serious condition Sunday as authorities continued to investigate an apparent botched robbery, police said. The man's accomplice, a 17-year-old, was killed during the incident, police said. The shooting happened Friday evening on West Belvedere Circle, east of Hank Aaron Stadium, after the two teenagers, at least one of whom was armed, tried to rob a man as he pulled into his driveway, according to police accounts. After the alleged robbery victim opened fire, police said, a car on the street sped away. Its passengers are believed to have been involved in the attempted robbery, police said. Hargrove also declined to comment on the possible identities or ages of those in the car. He said police had yet to arrest anyone in the case. Mobile County District Attorney John Tyson Jr. has said that the man who shot the teenagers does not face charges at this point. Tyson called the shooting a case of self-defense.



CA: Man Attacks Couple, Gets Fatally Shot: "An armed man who allegedly forced his way into the home of a married couple is dead after he was fatally shot in what officials are saying was self defense, police said Sunday. Modesto police officials said they think the suspect who was fatally shot had a previous relationship with the remarried woman who lived at the home, which was located in the 1500 block of Victor Way. The man who was found dead at the scene was arrested in March after he allegedly made criminal threats against the woman injured in Sunday's altercation. He also allegedly vandalized her car, police said. A restraining order was also served to the suspect in April, protecting the woman from him. The woman had reported one violation of that restraining order in October, officials said. Both residents of the home suffered non-life-threatening injuries during the altercation and were brought to a local hospital for treatment."



Oklahoma homeowner opens fire on intruder: "A 19-year-old man was shot several times by a homeowner Saturday night after he reportedly broke into the home, police said. The victim, Stephen Richardson, was taken to an area hospital, where his condition was not immediately available. Authorities said officers were dispatched at 9:40 p.m. to the home in the 3100 block of West Norman Circle. Officers said Richardson reportedly was drunk when he entered the house, where the homeowner shot him. Maj. Mark Irwin said Richardson "thought he was breaking into his (own) house." He said he wasn't sure whether Richardson lived in the vicinity. Officers attempted to interview Richardson, but he was too drunk to be coherent, Irwin said."



Alabama Granny Shoots Intruder: "An investigation is underway in Pennsylvania after police say a 75-year-old granny shot a man who allegedly broke into her home. The woman was sleeping upstairs, when an intoxicated man entered her home. She first asked him politely to leave, but when he proceeded up the stairs she grabbed her 38 caliber revolver and shot the man in the groin. Turns out the man lives nearby and accidentally walked into the wrong house. Police are investigating the case, but so far no charges have been filed.



3 November, 2008

Young Undecideds Who Love Guns: Vote Your Glock

Check out this list from gunbanobama.com

Reality. Obama voted to allow the prosecution of people who use a firearm for self-defense in their frickin' homes. (Illinois Senate, S.B. 2165, vote 20. 3/25/04)

Reality. Obama supported increasing taxes on firearms and ammunition by 500%. That means the $500 Ruger you want to buy that currently has an excise tax of $55 would skyrocket to $330 tax. (Chicago Defender, 12/13/99). But that shouldn't bug you, Obama backers, because you're all about "spreading the wealth," aren't you?

Reality. Obama voted to allow reckless lawsuits designed to bankrupt the firearms industry. (United States Senate, S. 397, vote 219, 7/29/05).

Reality. Obama wants to reimpose the failed and discredited Clinton Gun Ban. (Illinois State Debate #3: Barack Obama vs. Alan Keyes, 10/21/04).

Reality. Obama endorsed a ban on all handguns. (Independent voters of Illinois/Independent precinct organization general candidate questionnaire, 9/9/96; Politico, 3/31/08).

Reality. Obama opposes the Right to Carry laws. (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, 4/02/08; Chicago Tribune, 9/15/04).

Reality. Obama voted to ban almost all rifle ammunition commonly used for hunting and sport shooting. (United States Senate, S.397, 7/29/05).

More here




Texas: Sledge Hammer Wielding Man Shot in Northwest Side Bar: "A scary guy with a sledge hammer sounds like a Halloween prop, but it was the real deal this morning for a northwest side bar employee, 1200 WOAI's Michael Main reports. A maintenance man at the I Don't Know Yet lounge in the 100 block of Babcock stationed himself in a back room at the bar, following a series of bar break-ins in the area around Babcock and Hillcrest. About four this morning, the maintenance man heard glass breaking and a smashing sound. He emerged to find a man pounding the juke box with a sledge hammer. When the maintenance man told the intruder to stop, he instead turned toward the maintenance man with the sledge hammer. The maintenance man responded by firing four shots, and at least two of them struck the intruder, who stumbled to a waiting car and sped off. About fifteen minutes later, a man was dumped in the parking lot oft he emergency room of Northeast Baptist Hospital suffering from gunshot wounds. The car that delivered him sped away. The guy was airlifted to BAMC with life threatening wounds. Police say they don't expect to file charges against the maintenance man."



Arkansas Store Clerk Shoots Would-be Robber: "A would-be robber was shot in the leg Thursday morning in Little Rock after a store clerk turned the tables on him. The suspect walked into the Pic-Pac Liquor store at 12th & Peyton around 7:00. After pulling a gun on the clerk, the clerk pulled his own weapon, fired at the man, then chased the suspect outside the store, and held him at gunpoint until police arrived. Police say the store was "ready for a robbery," and that this was not the first time the store had been held up. "We have recovered both weapons, the robber's weapon plus the owner's weapon and we'll continue the investigation. Any charges that may be filed, we'll put that up to the prosecutor's office once we get the file complete," said Lt. Terry Hastings, spokesman for the Little Rock Police Department. "We don't recommend that anyone use violence against a person, but businesses do have that right, and he does have the right to defend himself. When this individual came into the store, pulled a gun, it's a robbery, he does have that right," Hastings said. Police have not yet released the names of the clerk or the suspect as their investigation into the incident continues. The suspect's gunshot wound is not believed to be life-threatening."



Montana hunter shoots grizzly in 'self defense': "A hunter says he was defending himself when he shot a grizzly bear in Western Montana. The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks said an adult female grizzly charged Shawn Damschen of Coram on Monday near Marias Pass. FWP said Damschen reported the adult bear and two younger ones approached him. He said he yelled and the younger bears ran off, but the sow charged. Damschen fired two shots from his rifle at a distance of about 10 feet, and hit the bear. Later a wildlife warden, Damschen and a companion returned to the area and found the wounded bear. The warden killed it."



2 November, 2008

Alabama: Two men shot in robbery attempt: "A Mobile man shot at two would-be robbers, killing one of them, when "he was accosted" tonight in his driveway, a police spokesman said. Sgt. Marcus Young said the injured man was taken by ambulance to the University of South Alabama Medical Center, while the other man was pronounced dead at the scene, at 1050 W. Belvedere Circle off Halls Mill Road. A man living at the residence was pulling into his driveway when he was approached by the two men, one of whom had a handgun, Young said. The men demanded money from the resident, who retrieved a handgun and shot both robbers, Young said. The man taken to the hospital was critically wounded, said Sgt. William Reed, who responded to the scene. He said it did not appear that the alleged robbers returned fire, and the shooter was not injured."



Missouri woman shoots, kills would-be rapist at her home: "A Cape Girardeau woman shot and fatally wounded Ronnie W. Preyer, 47, a registered sex offender who had broken into her home early this morning with the intention of raping her a second time, Cape Girardeau Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle said today. Swingle said he will not be charging the victim, an older woman who positively identified Preyer this morning as the man who raped her on Saturday.... the woman was at home watching television, when Preyer broke the same basement window and came in, getting the still-wet calking on his clothing as he did so, police reports said. He found a main fuse panel in the basement and shut off the electricity. The victim immediately tried to call 911, but the phone would not work because there was no electricity. Having recently purchased a shotgun, she grabbed the weapon and when Preyer began banging on the basement door, she was ready for him. When he crashed through the basement door into her kitchen, she shot him once in the chest and ran, heading for a neighbor's house, where she called the police. It only took officers 45 seconds to respond to the 911 call, Swingle said. When they arrived, they saw Preyer stumbling away from the home.. He was transported to Saint Francis Medical Center where he died several hours later."



Ohio Homeowner Shoots Break-in Suspect in Head: ""I woke up and heard the alarm and came out at 3:30 in the morning," Ivan Hurt said. Hurt lives alone in rural northern Gallia County. He has a shed full of equipment he values and fiercely protects it. That's why when two men broke into the building early Friday morning, Ivan was ready. "I saw him come, and he turned like this and he had a flashlight in one hand and something else in the other, so I shot," Hurt said. Mr. Hurt wasted no time, he was barely out of his house when he pulled the trigger from more than 30 yards away. "You see this spray pattern. That's what happens when you shoot from so far away. I didn't want to kill anyone, and it still makes me sick that I even had to wound someone. I've been robbed before and that's when I installed an alarm so I could be ready," Hurt said. And if there's any doubt about what the man was up to, Hurt said he left an incriminating piece of evidence behind. "This is a mask he was wearing, and you can even see the blood from where he was hit," said Hurt. Ronald J. Johnson was the suspect and shooting victim. He was in fair condition Friday evening at St. Mary's Medical Center in Huntington. The second suspect got away. Police are still searching for him. Both men will face charges. There was no word on whether Hurt will be charged with anything."



Florida: Dog bites man; man shoots at dog: "A Labrador mix had its tail nicked by a bullet after the dog attacked a man in a Plantation neighborhood on Wednesday, according to Plantation police. The man had a concealed weapons permit, said police spokesman Detective Robert Rettig. The confrontation happened shortly after 3 p.m. in the 10100 block of Southwest Third Street. The man was walking down a driveway to the street when the dog attacked him, Rettig said. So the man fired a shot at the dog, nicking its tail. The man suffered a minor dog bite. The dog had an injured tail. Both are expected to recover."



1 November, 2008

Florida man fights off gun-toting robber: "A man confronted by an armed thief while working at his family's auto repair shop said he took matters into his own hands when the barrel of a gun was shoved into his chest. Instead of handing over his cash, Doug Walker said he looked the thief in the eyes and said no. He said he was working at his family's shop on Lenox Avenue when a man came up and asked him the price of an oil change, but something didn't feel right. He said he sensed something wasn't right, and that's when he said he saw another man. The second man was wearing a ski mask and carrying a gun. "He was about 10 feet away from me to start off with, had the gun pointed toward me. I walked up to him and stood feet shoulder width apart, and he had the gun out and put it to the middle of my chest," Walker said. "I said, 'You want my money?' He nodded yes. I told him no." That's when Walker said he just reacted and used a technique he teaches in his church's self-defense class. "I grabbed this way, stepped back to the right, grabbed the barrel in between here. He shot once, and then I just kept holding onto it, and he punched me in the side of the head," Walker said. While struggling, a bullet grazed his finger. He said he was fortunate only one shot was fired before the gun jammed. Realizing his gun was not working, the gunman took off. Walker said he was never really afraid but just worried about his niece who also works at the shop."



SAF Founder Says His Book's Message Affirmed by New Data on Self-Defense: "Newly-reported data showing a rise in justifiable homicides reflects a renewed philosophy of self-reliance that was examined in the book America Fights Back: Armed Self-Defense in a Violent Age, co-authored by Second Amendment Foundation founder Alan Gottlieb late last year. Gottlieb and co-author Dave Workman, senior editor of Gun Week, took a hard look at self-defense in their book, which has stayed at or near the top of Amazon.com's "Gun Control" category for the past 11 months. The 2007 data, released by the FBI, shows 254 self-defense justifiable homicides by private citizens, the most reported for a single year since 1997. There were also 391 killings by police last year, the FBI reported. "Interestingly," Gottlieb observed, "USA Today noted that Florida State University criminologist Gary Kleck thinks the FBI is under-estimating the number of self-defense homicides by private citizens, maybe by as much as two-thirds. "American citizens have realized that they are on the front lines of the war on crime, and the police cannot be everywhere, all the time".



PA: Philly gun-law case appealed to high court: "Two City Council members appealed to the state Supreme Court yesterday in their case against the state legislature to allow Philadelphia to pass and enforce its own gun laws.Darrell L. Clarke and Donna Reed Miller asked the court to reconsider its landmark 1996 ruling, which appeared to leave local municipalities no leeway to regulate guns. Only the state had that power, the court ruled then. Council passed seven gun-control laws last year that included regulations to limit handgun purchases to one per month and to require the reporting of lost or stolen firearms. Recognizing the state's traditional control over gun laws, Council's bills required approval by the legislature before they could take effect."