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Anti Gun Rights to Pro Gun Rights--My conversion
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"I have been anti-gun all my life. When my sons were little, I wouldn't allow them to ever own a toy gun. But events in the past few years have radically changed my views. It starts with September 11, 2001." ...

"The following year my children were again terrorized by the 'Beltway Sniper.' The sniper was shooting people in front of their own homes as well as in public places. ..." ...

"The tragedy at Virginia Tech was the final straw. I was not going to be a victim anymore. My children were not going to be victims anymore."

"I took my first gun safety class, and I got my first concealed carry permit. Some people may be surprized that I have changed. I am surprized that some of them haven't."

Second Amendment Sisters Applaud Meleanie Hain
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"We at Second Amendment Sisters applaud the common sense of Meleanie Hain for taking a handgun to her 5-year-old's soccer game in Pennsylvania."

"Ms. Hain has her concealed carry permit, and was carrying her handgun openly, as allowed by Pennsylvania law. County Sheriff Mike DeLeo revoked her concealed carry permit, doubting her character and her reputation. Mike DeLeo had never met Meleanie Hain."

"Although some parents were 'upset' at the sight of the handgun, we hope they will think about all the mass shootings that could have been stopped in their tracks by one law-abiding person with a gun. Meleanie Hain could be just that person. I lived through one of those mass shooting ... my parents didn't. ..." ...

Opposing Viewpoints: The Second Amendment
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"College Republicans: the right of the people"

"... the Second Amendment of the Constitution secures the right for American citizens to own guns. In recent decades, this right has come under attack from every angle and for every reason imaginable. For one reason or another, there are those who would have you believe that an unarmed America is safer than an armed America." ...

"College Democrats: Common sense on gun control"

"The Second Amendment guarantees Americans a right to bear arms. That right should and must be upheld, but no constitutional right is absolute. Rather, constitutional rights have to be balanced against other rights. ..." ...

Bulletproofing the Mind
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"On Saturday, I spent the day 'Bullet Proofing' my mind . . . specifically, I attended a day-long seminar put on by Lt. Col. David Grossman, a psychologist, author and military instructor who teaches how to prepare to deal with high stress situations both in combat and in self defense."

"... Grossman was joined by Bruce Siddle, an expert on combat human factors -- the biometrics and physiology of developing warriors for the military and law enforcement. The two talked extensively of CCW holders being the logical backup to first responders if and when another terrorist strike is exacted upon the United States. Their two training organizations have been merged into one, Warrior Science ..." ...

Family vacation a lesson in other state gun laws
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"I just finished a family vacation traveling through and spending time in several states including West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania. It is interesting what is legal or illegal as you travel across state lines."

"I have concealed carry licenses from Ohio and Florida which allowed me to carry in each mentioned state, except Maryland. It is important to follow the laws of the state you are in, not where your license was issued. For researching state laws I used 'The Traveler's guide to firearms laws in 50 states' and www.handgunlaw.us as well as information from states Attorney General or State Police web sites." ...

Conservative judges fault Scalia opinion on guns
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia is no stranger to criticism. He gives as good as he gets."

"But two recent critiques of his opinion in the [Heller] decision ... are notable because they come from respected fellow conservative federal judges." ...

"'I cannot help but recall Justice Scalia's lament ... that 'by foreclosing all democratic outlet for the deep passions this issue arouses ... the Court merely prolongs and intensifies the anguish,' Wilkinson said, quoting from Scalia's dissent."

"'Yet, sixteen years later, the court now takes an issue about which the nation is deeply divided ... and imposes a rigid national rule,' he said." ...
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Submitter's Note: Civil rights are not subject to 'democratic outlets'.

IN: When deadly force is justified
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"The Indiana law that justifies use of deadly force for people defending themselves, their home or others in danger is seldom used, but this week's case involving a Northwestside family brings it to the spotlight."

"Sunday, Robert McNally put a chokehold on a naked intruder. The man died, and McNally faces no charges."

"Law enforcement officials said McNally's actions were merited by the law, which does not require people to back away before defending themselves or someone else from serious bodily injury or a forcible felony." ...
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Submitter's Note: If only Mr. McNally had had a gun, the intruder might still be alive . . .

TN: Armed Homeowner Confronts Trailer Thieves
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Sheriff's detectives say a Rosemark man held two thieves at gunpoint who tried to steal a utility trailer from his front yard yesterday. ..."

"About 11:30 yesterday morning, Steven Rutter ... heard a vehicle slow down in front of his house. Rutter saw a gray Dodge Ram pickup truck back into his front yard."

"Two men then began hooking up Rutter's utility trailer to the pickup truck. Detectives say Rutter got his pistol and confronted the two men. Initially, Jessie Brown, 51, of Munford and Kelvin Nathaniel, 45, of Drummonds, told Rutter a neighbor said they could use the trailer to move some hay."

"Rutter didnt believe their story and called for Deputies. ..." ...

KY: Woman Shoots, Kills Ex-Boyfriend, Claims Self-Defense
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"A Hardin County woman shot and killed her ex-boyfriend Monday, but no charges have been filed because the shooter is claiming self-defense." ...

"[Trooper] Pavey said it happened at a home where Angie Ricketts, the alleged shooter, lives with her husband and children." ...

"'He showed up unwanted yesterday and that he allegedly assaulted her and that's what led to all this,' Pavey said."

"West ... was pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives said Ricketts claims this isn't the first time her ex has caused problems."

"'She is telling investigators that he is the father of a couple of her children and that he has made threats towards her and her family in the past,' Pavey said." ...

TN: Homeowner Shoots And Kills 19-Year-Old In Self-Defense
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Police said a homeowner shot in self-defense when armed suspects tried to rob him overnight."

"Shortly before 10:30 p.m. Monday, 67-year-old Douglas Dabbs pulled into his driveway on Tobylynn Drive and was getting out of his pickup truck when two armed men came up to him and tried to rob him. ..."

"Armed with BB guns the two men demanded money from Dabbs. Dabbs said he reached into the console of his truck, retrieved a handgun that fires .410 shotgun rounds and opened fire on the two robbers."

"Yosef, 19, was wounded and transported by ambulance to Southern Hills Medical Center where he died shortly after arriving." ...

GA: GCO Appeals Airport Case
Submitted by: Mark McCullough
Website: http://www.georgiacarry.org/

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FULL TEXT BELOW:

GeorgiaCarry.Org has filed a notice of appeal from the September 26, 2008 judgment of the federal court in GCOs case against the City of Atlanta regarding the Citys program of illegally searching, detaining, and arresting GFL holders for lawfully carrying firearms in the non-secure areas of the Atlanta airport. The appeal will be heard by a 3-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

Obama Wants NRA Ads Banned
Submitted by: Larry

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"The Obama camp has been threatening television and radio stations to keep them from airing anti-Obama ads."

"The latest target is the NRA and stations in Pennsylvania."

"Earlier this week, the [NRA]'s Political Victory Fund released a series of radio and television spots to educate gun owners and sportsmen about Barack Obama's longstanding anti-gun record. In response to the NRA-PVF ads, a clearly panicked Obama campaign and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) are doing everything they can to hide Obama's real record by mounting a coordinated assault on the First Amendment."

They have gone to desperate and outrageous lengths to try to silence your NRA by bullying media outlets with threats of lawsuits ..." ...

Obama promises support for gun owner rights
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Sen. Barack Obama said Tuesday he is 'a strong supporter of the Second Amendment' who will not try take Americans guns away if elected."

"'I believe it's an individual right,' he said in an interview following Tuesday's speech at UNR. 'Lawful gun owners have nothing to fear from an Obama Administration.'"

"But, Obama said, he is for 'some common sense gun safety laws.' He said that means keeping weapons out of the hands of criminals, the mentally ill and children."

"'And we need a system that makes sure we can trace guns back to the original owners and dealers.'" ...

Obama says gun owners are bitter clingers; Supporter now says we're racist anti-Semites
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Barack Obama had not yet locked up the nomination for his party when he revealed his true feelings about gun owners to attendees of a private fund raiser in San Francisco last April:" ...

"The 'bitter clingers' comment continues to resonate, with John McCain regularly citing Obama's snide remarks on the campaign trail, and the NRA using the phrase in campaign materials."

"Last week, an Obama supporter and U.S. Congressman from Florida took the stereo-typing of gun owners to a whole new level."

"To Rep. Alcee Hastings, Democrat-FL, gun owners and hunters aren't just 'bitter clingers'. To Rep. Alcee Hastings, Democrat-FL, we are racist anti-Semites." ...

Obama's profile in fascism
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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... "Voters should take notice. If how candidate Obama runs his campaign is an indicator as to how a President Obama would run the government, then look out."

"Last week, in the all-important swing state of Missouri, the Obama campaign took a pre-emptive strike aimed at silencing its critics in the Show-Me State when it announced that the campaign had recruited a number of the state's Democratic prosecutors and sheriffs to head up its so-called 'Truth Squad.'" ...

"Gov. Matt Blunt responded quickly to the Obama campaign's heavy-handed tactic. The Missouri Republican claimed in a written statement that what 'Senator Obama and his helpers' were doing was 'scandalous beyond words.' ..."

Obama, Not Bush, The Quasi-Fascist On Free Speech
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Barack Obama poses as a champion of true American values. He sees himself as 'a symbol of the possibility of America returning to our best traditions.'"

"In reality, though, Barack Obama is just another in a long line of Chicago-style, free speech-squelching political thugs springing from the festering pit of Democratic machine politics."

"His rhetoric quashes debate. For all his talk about Americans uniting, he's not afraid to attribute opposition to his candidacy to xenophobia -- people who think he has a 'funny name' or that he 'doesn't look like all those other presidents on those dollar bills.'"

"His supporters run roughshod over legitimate criticisms of Obama. ..." ...

NRA Delivers New Ad in Spanish
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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"The latest TV ad from the National Rifle Association yokes immigration fears to the gun rights debate by raising the specter of crime by illegals before noting that Barack Obama voted against a 2004 Illinois bill to provide additional legal protections to individuals defending themselves with firearms against home-invading criminals."

"The ad will air in both English and Spanish on broadcast and cable stations in Colorado, New Mexico and Texas through Election Day."

"'Families should be able to defend themselves against rapists, drug dealers and other criminals illegally crossing our borders,' says Andy Vaquera, who is described in the spot as a retired Texas police officer and NRA member. ..." ...

MO: Gov. Blunt Statement on Obama Campaigns Abusive Use of Missouri Law Enforcement
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Gov. Matt Blunt today issued the following statement on news reports that have exposed plans by U.S. Senator Barack Obama to use Missouri law enforcement to threaten and intimidate his critics."

"'St. Louis County Circuit Attorney Bob McCulloch, St. Louis City Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce, Jefferson County Sheriff Glenn Boyer, and Obama and the leader of his Missouri campaign Senator Claire McCaskill have attached the stench of police state tactics to the Obama-Biden campaign.'"

"'What Senator Obama and his helpers are doing is scandalous beyond words, the party that claims to be the party of Thomas Jefferson is abusing the justice system and offices of public trust to silence political criticism ...'" ...

OK: Cole Endorsed By Oklahoma Rifle Association
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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"A demonstrated commitment to the preservation of the Second Amendment Right to keep and bear arms has earned Oklahoma Fourth District Congressman Tom Cole the endorsement of the Oklahoma Rifle Association."

"'The Oklahoma Rifle Association is proud to endorse the candidacy of Tom Cole for the office of United States Representative, Dist. 4, in the 2008 General Election', wrote Executive Director Charles H. Smith. Smiths letter continued saying 'Rep. Cole is highly qualified for this position and is a strong proponent of the 'right to keep and bear arms' and has demonstrated strong support for the sportsmen of Oklahoma. His re-election to this position would well serve the citizens of our great State.' ..." ...

VA: AG: Open Carry OK in State Parks!
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"VCDL had been aware that Senator Ken Cuccinelli put in a request several months ago for a formal opinion from Attorney General Bob McDonnell on whether it is legal to open carry in Virginia State Parks."

"The answer came in this morning and it is YES!"

"VCDL expected that to be the case, but it was important for the Attorney General to actually rule on the issue."

"CAUTION: I am determining if this opinion has officially overridden the park regulation or if the park regulation must be rewritten before we can carry openly. ..." ...

"Here is a link to the opinion:"

"http://www.vcdl.org/pdf/08-043-Cuccinelli.pdf"

VA: Up in Arms Over the Right to Shoot Varmints (WAPO)
Submitted by: Mile66

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"When Mayor Pranas Rimeikis walked into the council chamber and saw it filled with armed men -- guns tucked inside jackets, guns on hips, some people packing their heat so openly they "looked like Pancho Villa" -- he knew his town had inadvertently touched the third rail of far-exurban politics."

"Varmints. And the shooting thereof." ...

"'This is about shooting rights, not gun rights,' Rimeikis said yesterday, the same afternoon that the police chief tried to finally put the matter to rest. And shooting, he said, does not have the same place here that it once did: 'In the old days, when there were more varmints and less [developed] land . . . you could get away with it.'" ...
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Submitter's Note: What's next? You have the right to keep and bear arms, but not to keep and use ammunition?

How Cops See Themselves Submitted by: Larry	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
"A few days ago I wrote a post that referenced a story in POLICE: The Law Enforcement Magazine. POLICE is a glossy journal of blue thug culture, which includes charming pieces like America Needs a Surge Against Gangs, How to Justify Officer Safety Searches, Working Informants. Here is a collage of cover photos from the past two years of POLICE." ...

LA: City settles lawsuit against NOPD officers accused of planting drugs
Submitted by: Larry

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"The raid on Russell's Tire Shop had the look of a successful garden-variety drug bust."

"Acting on an informant's tip, police stormed the building on North Galvez Street and hauled out three suspects, a bag of heroin, a quarter-ounce of crack cocaine and more than $4,000 in cash. Police say they found the evidence in plain sight."

"But 11 months after the August 2002 bust, prosecutors dropped the charges. And this June, attorneys for the city offered the men accused of dealing the drugs $85,000 to settle a lawsuit that alleged the four New Orleans police detectives involved in the raid planted the drugs -- and uprooted the lives of innocent people." ...

CO: Denver officer charged with sex assault on child
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Sixty-one-year-old Denver Police Technician James Edward Dennis has been charged with two felony counts of sexual assault on a child." ...

"According to the Aurora Police Department affidavit for arrest, in March, Technician Dennis took a young girl for lunch and then to a house for sale where no one lived."

"There, according to the warrant, the girl says Dennis 'went into my pants and started squeezing my butt.'"

"The girl said Dennis lifted her shirt and 'started licking her' on the chest." ...

"She told him to stop and he said he was a 'little drunk.' He also told her not to tell anyone."

"According to the affidavit, the girl told Dennis's wife, who also told her 'not to tell anyone.'" ...

VA: Hopewell police: Weapons, $20,000 still missing
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Three firearms and nearly $20,000 in cash that had been stored in the Hopewell police property and evidence room still cannot be accounted for, according to results of an internal police investigation announced today."

"The probe also found that 87 drug cases had been compromised or affected as a result of narcotics that have turned up missing or can't be accounted for." ...
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H/t to VCDL who call for closing the police evidence room loophole!

NY: Effort seeks to get guns off of Schenectady streets
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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"Jerome Cannon was shot and killed last month in a dispute that erupted over a dice game, the latest victim of gun violence in Schenectady."

"His killer remains at large, but city and community officials hope a new gun buy-back effort will help get weapons off the street and prevent the next killing." ...

"Pastor Charlie Muller of Victory Christian Church in Albany is bringing a program that has been successful in his city to Schenectady and Troy."

"The program, funded by the church, offers $150 gift cards to Crossgates Mall in exchange for a gun. The program began in Albany in May and has since removed 80 guns from the street, Muller said." ...

VA: Norfolk City Council meeting!
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"As you might recall, Norfolk paid VCDL member Danladi Moore $10,000 for unlawfully harassing him for openly carrying a gun. The check was barely in the bank when the Norfolk police did it to him again on a Norfolk bus, as was detailed in the VCDL mini-update on September 22nd."

"You would think that Norfolk would have learned their lesson ..."

"We need you to join us next Tuesday, October 7th, as we tell City Council that these repeated violations are not acceptable." ...

"Tidewater - you are great at huge turnouts (we had over 100 last time we did this). Can we have another big turnout to make sure our message is clear yet again?" ...

MS: Embattled MPD officer arrested for DUI
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Meridian Police Department patrolman Keith Moody, who was recently acquitted of charges he contributed to the delinquency of a minor in connection with an incident involving alcohol that reportedly occurred in July, was arrested and charged with DUI early Friday morning."

"MPD Chief Benny DuBose confirmed Tuesday afternoon Moody had been charged during the incident. Moody, who was not on duty at the time of the arrest, had been back on the police force after his acquittal Sept. 2." ...

"Moody is still on the force pending the outcome of his court hearing."

MA: Mass. Police Officer Charged With Sex Assault
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"A Massachusetts police officer charged with rape and kidnapping was arrested in Pelham on Tuesday morning."

"... Officer Kevin Sledge, 46, was arrested ..."

"Police said a woman reported that she was raped by Sledge early Friday morning. Lawrence Chief John Romero said Sledge left his assignment in the booking room without permission and apparently picked up the woman."

"Romero said Sledge took the woman to a parking lot near the police department. Sledge went back and forth between the police station and the car ..."

"After at least an hour and a half, the woman called a friend, and the two went to the police department and filed a report. Romero said the woman reported that Sledge had sexually assaulted her." ...

WI: Police Officer Accused Of Starting Fire; Fiancee A Firefighter
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Officer Melissa Kronebusch, 26, found herself in jail Tuesday night, facing two felony charges."

"Kronebusch is accused of setting fire to an empty building that was set to be torn down, next to the police department, and then lying about it."

"According to court records, surveillance video showed Kronebusch going into the building minutes before the fire started and driving away with smoke."

"Saukville Police Chief Bill Meloy said the officer did a satisfactory job in law enforcement and that he is disappointed."

"'I hired you and now you just let me down,' Meloy said. He added that Kronebusch was placed on paid administrative leave in June." ...

VA: Portsmouth Police Officer charged with rape faces judge
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"A Portsmouth police officer is off the job and under arrest. 37 year old Paul Ewing is accused of sexually assaulting a 16 year old girl. Tuesday, he faced a judge."

"... Officer Paul Ewing and the alleged victim are acquaintances. Ewing was arrested Monday night even though his accuser says she was raped in January of 2007."

"More than a year and a half after the alleged rape occurred in ... Portsmouth police say the teen and her mother contacted them. On September 28th, the report was filed and the accuser passed a polygraph test according to the police report. September 29th, investigators arrested Officer Paul Ewing at the Portsmouth Police Department on rape charges. Tuesday, he was in court." ...

OK: Be responsible
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Admit it. Guns are a way of life for many Oklahomans. The tradition of shooting and hunting has been passed down through the generations."

"An organization recently met to help perpetuate American shooting sports hunting tradition."

"Ada Friends of National Rifle Association held a fundraising event Thursday night for funds for the NRA. ... The funds raised go to important projects such as youth shooting programs, hunter education, range development and improvements, safety and marksmanship training, wildlife conservation and endowments for the future of the shooting sports."

"Despite organizations such as Friends of NRA, many want gun control and to take away the guns and the sport handed down through generations. ..." ...

PA: Gun law attorney remains upbeat, while city councilman plans to review Easton's own gun law
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Attorney George Bochetto was in a pretty good mood last week for a guy who just lost a state Commonwealth Court challenge."

"Bochetto represents two Philadelphia city council members who sued the Pennsylvania Legislature for not allowing the city to enact its own gun laws. The quick and dirty of this complicated matter is that an individual city cannot enforce tougher laws than those enforced by the state."

"No problem, Bochetto said, because what we really wanted was to take our argument to the state Supreme Court." ...

"Bochetto said was encouraged by the lower court's ruling because the judges based their decision on Supreme Court precedent, not their own reasoning." ...

Finland: A farewell to small arms?
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"As a country, Finland is armed to the teeth. There are more than 1,6 million legal weapons in the weapons register, spread out among nearly 650,000 owners."

"On a per capita basis we have the fourth largest number of small arms in the world, right after the United States, Yemen, and Switzerland. According to a Swiss estimate, Finland has an estimated 2,375,000 legal and illegal firearms - that is, one gun for nearly every second Finn."

"The good news is that the law requires a permit to own even a slightly heavier weapon, and most licenced gun owners are upstanding citizens."

"The bad news is that the licencing system does not work." ...

Australia: People urged to handover illegal or unwanted firearms
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"VICTORIANS holding illegal or unwanted firearms are being urged to hand them to police under amnesty this month."

"Victorian Police Minister Bob Cameron said today the amnesty provided Victorians an opportunity to surrender weapons to police without facing penalties."

"'This amnesty is being offered to reduce the overall number of weapons in the community and also help individuals who are unsure about how to properly dispose of firearms.'"

"He said the Government had worked to toughen up weapons and firearms laws, including a zero tolerance approach to carrying weapons in or near licensed venues." ...