Keep and Bear Arms - Gun Owners Home Page

Anti-Gun Schemers More Crow for Dinner Tonight
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"The Texas Department of Public Safety released the number of concealed carry license holders convicted of crimes in 2005. In yet another embarrassing defeat to the anti-gun schemers, permit holders in Texas proved to be in the 99th percentile of all law-abiding citizens. ..."

"For those out there who have fought the good fight on the concealed handgun issue, let the gloating begin."

"One more set of unquestionable data has proved what the anti-gun schemers do everything to deny: Americas concealed handgun license holders are among the most law-abiding of all citizens. That is in any country, and compared to any demographic group." ...

GOA's Message Goes Nationwide Following Yesterday's Supreme Court Hearing
Submitted by: MTrcic

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"Gun owners had their day in court on Tuesday, when the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the DC v. Heller case, which involves a challenge to the DC gun ban." ...

"More to the point, Justice John Paul Stevens asked Alan Gura, the attorney for Dick Heller, if it would be proper to say that the right protected in the Second Amendment shall not be 'unreasonably infringed'?"

"To our shock and horror, Gura answered 'yes.' He did qualify his answer somewhat by saying 'we don't know' exactly what this 'unreasonable standard looks like.' But he conceded a significant amount of ground with his answer, because any ban would be 'reasonable' to Chuck Schumer and Sarah Brady." ...

Constitution fully maintains the right to own a handgun
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Earlier this week, the Supreme Court of the United States heard arguments dealing with whether or not individuals have the right to own firearms." ...

"Some scholars have claimed that this only gives states the right to organize militias for self-defense. However, it seems that many of the justices are leaning toward the alternate view."

"The issue currently in question is a ban on handguns in Washington, D.C. Some of the members of the court were skeptical that the law could be upheld in light of the Second Amendment."

"Chief Justice John Roberts was quick to counter the militia-related view of the text. He rhetorically asked, 'If it is limited to state militias, why would they say 'the right of the people'?'" ...

Right to protect one's self does not translate into right to carry
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Imagine that you go to a college in which every student, faculty member and employee has the ability to carry a concealed weapon."

"The guy behind you in geology class can have a handgun in his waistband, and the three girls in front of you have weapons in their backpacks and purses. The professor of your 11 o'clock class carries a Luger hidden behind his blazer and your new roommate has a small collection of .45 caliber pistols neatly locked away under his desk. Now would be the time to ask yourself if you feel safe on this campus." ...
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Submitter's Note: No, now would be the time to ask "What do these people know that I don't, and where do I go to learn self-defense?"

Are You Following the Second Amendment Debate?
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"It is in the news. I've seen glimpses of both sides as they leave the courthouse after their arguments. Washington, D.C.'s mayor is insisting that allowing handguns in the hands of ordinary citizens will increase violence and murder within his jurisdiction's borders. Those arguing on the other side point out that handguns and other weapons are already in DC, the only issue is that law-abiding citizens are not allowed to carry them." ...

Gun Control Laws in the Cross Hairs
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"For decades, the U.S. Supreme Court has stood apart from the debate raging over gun control. It hasn't ruled on the Second Amendment since May 1939 almost four months before the Nazis rolled into Poland. But on Tuesday the Court injected itself into the center of a fiery dispute, hearing arguments in a gun control case that marks the amendment's greatest test since it was ratified in 1791. During the argument, a majority of justices appeared to signal that the right to bear arms extends to ordinary Americans, a belief that could redraw the lines of this contentious cultural battle." ...

The Right Kind of Gun Rights
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Yesterday, unbeknownst to itself, the Supreme Court heard arguments in a gay-rights case. To most people, admittedly, District of Columbia v. Heller is a gun-rights case. ... But to gay Americans, and other minorities often targeted with violence, Heller is about civil rights, not shooting clubs."

"Nine years ago [I] told the story of Tom G. Palmer. One night some years ago in San Jose, he found himself confronting a gang of toughs, as many as 20 of them, intent on gay-bashing him. Taunted as a 'faggot,' threatened with death, Palmer (and a friend) ran for their lives, only to find the gang in hot pursuit. So Palmer stopped, reached into his backpack, and produced a gun. The gang backed off." ...

Second Amendment Intended to Prevent Absolute Despotism
Submitted by: MTrcic

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"Compelled to take up arms to regain their liberties as Englishmen, America's Founders knew that even the constitutional republic they had established could threaten the freedoms for which they had fought. In the First Amendment, they established a first line of defense the freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly and petition."

"Knowing that words and parchment barriers alone would prove inadequate to restrain those elected as servants from becoming tyrants, they added the Second Amendment to secure 'the right of the people to keep and bear Arms' not to protect deer hunters and skeet shooters, but to guarantee to themselves and their posterity the blessings of 'a free State.'" ...

Media Declares 'Victory' For Gun Rights As Second Amendment Is Systematically Destroyed
Submitted by: MTrcic

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... "Justice Kennedy's comments appeared to spell trouble for efforts by the District of Columbia to revive its strict handgun ban, although lawyers for both the Bush administration and gun-rights advocates acknowledged that some lesser regulation of the right would be acceptable." ...

"Joshua Horwitz, director of the Education Fund to Stop Gun Violence, who filed a brief in the case and watched the arguments, conceded he cannot count five votes for a strictly militia-rights view of the Second Amendment that would allow for almost unlimited regulation of firearms. But he could conceive of five justices adopting an individual-rights view that will mean 'a lot of regulations will be OK. The outcome is not necessarily poor for us.'" ...

9 Seem Set To Rule for Gun Rights Submitted by: RPA-PAC Website: HTTP://WWW.RPA-PAC.ORG	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
"The U.S. Supreme Court appears ready to acknowledge for the first time that the Second Amendment bestows on Americans the right to possess guns." ... ------- KABA Note: Then they would be incorrect. The Bill of Rights bestows nothing! The Bill of Rights protects pre-existing, G-d given, individual, civil and human rights.

Supreme Court appears to favor individual gun rights
Submitted by: Paul Shoemaker

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"The 2nd Amendment right to 'keep and bear arms' finally had its day in the Supreme Court on Tuesday, and the long-held view that it protected the rights of gun owners appeared poised to win a historic victory."

"Five of the justices, a bare majority, signaled that they thought the amendment gave individuals a right to have a gun for self-defense. It was not limited to arms for 'a well-regulated militia,' they said."

"By adopting that view, the justices are likely to strike down the nation's strictest gun control law, a ban on handguns in the District of Columbia." ...

D.C. gun rights case is of supreme interest
Submitted by: RPA-PAC
Website: HTTP://WWW.RPA-PAC.ORG

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"Eyes were on the U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday for arguments in a potentially landmark case involving the right to own a gun."

"Proponents and opponents alike have weighed in on the Second Amendment case that originated in the District of Columbia, where a law banning individual ownership of handguns was challenged by a resident, Dick Anthony Heller."

"A lower court upheld the 31-year-old D.C. law -- which permits ownership of rifles and shotguns and bans handguns -- but a federal appeals court overturned the lower court, saying it was unconstitutional to prohibit private ownership of handguns. The high court was then asked to intervene." ...

Heller at the High Bench
Submitted by: RPA-PAC
Website: HTTP://WWW.RPA-PAC.ORG

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"It isn't often that the Supreme Court gets to dig down to Constitutional bedrock in the Bill of Rights. But yesterday, at the Court's stately chamber, the nine took up the question of whether the Second Amendment gives individual Americans the right to keep a gun at home. The nine sat to hear, as in most great civil rights cases, the complaint of an ordinary American, in this case a retired security guard named Dick Anthony Heller, who felt the Columbia district was abridging a right guaranteed to him under our Constitution. The case could have wide impact, as there are some 192 million guns in the hands of 44 million persons in this country, according to a government sponsored survey in 1994." ...

After Supreme Court, DC Looking for Gun Ban Plan B
Submitted by: RPA-PAC
Website: HTTP://WWW.RPA-PAC.ORG

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"The Supreme Court appeared ready Tuesday to endorse the view that the Second Amendment gives individuals the right to own guns, but was less clear about whether to retain the District of Columbia's ban on handguns."

"The justices were aware of the historic nature of their undertaking, engaging in an extended 98-minute session of questions and answers ..." ...

"The local Washington government argues that its law should be allowed to remain in force whether or not the amendment applies to individuals ..."

"The City Council that adopted the ban said it was justified because "handguns have no legitimate use in the purely urban environment of the District of Columbia.'" ...

Rights always can disappear
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"The gun argument the Supreme Court heard Tuesday tells us something about our Constitution that most of us don't want to admit: The Constitution is a piece of paper, and its words mean nothing unless the government agrees to enforce them. And even when the words seem clear, there can be a ferocious dispute about what they mean." ...

"The Second Amendment certainly sounds as though owning firearms is among the many rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. But the awkward wording of the amendment has allowed opponents of gun rights to make a case that it was really meant to refer only to keeping and bearing arms for military service in the state militia, the way the Swiss apparently still do." ...

Machine Guns and the Second Amendment
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Pro-gun attorney David Hardy attended the oral argument in Heller, and he writes :"

"Joe Olson and I were out drinking with Alan Gura [an attorney representing the pro-gun side] last night, and he was getting a constant stream of emails from machinegun owners on his pda, denouncing his statement that full auto arms' possession might not be protected by the 2nd Amendment."

"I think EVERYONE associated with this case who knows anything about appellate argument ... agreed that if you cannot come up with a 2nd Amendment test that lets the government [regulate] full autos, you lose. . . . I was very relieved when the Court showed signs of taking the view that Heller is asking to own a .38, not a Thompson ..."

IL: 81 Year Old Man Kills Home Invader
Submitted by: Anonymous

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"Tucker home, but he fired when the intruder rushed him, according to a family friend."

"DeKalb police said the shooting was justified, and Jenkins will not be charged in the death of the suspect, a man possibly in his 20s who had not been identified Wednesday."

"'He defended his home, defended his wife,' police spokesman J.T. Ware said. 'He did what everybody would hope to do in a situation like that.'" ...
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Submitter's Note: Thank the lord he didn't live in D.C. or he and his wife might not be here today.

Guns, Fear, the Constitution, and the Public's Health
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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... "Gun violence is often an unintended consequence of gun ownership. Americans have purchased millions of guns, predominantly handguns, believing that having a gun at home makes them safer. In fact, handgun purchasers substantially increase their risk of a violent death. This increase begins the moment the gun is acquired suicide is the leading cause of death among handgun owners in the first year after purchase and lasts for years."

"The risks associated with household exposure to guns apply not only to the people who buy them; epidemiologically, there can be said to be 'passive' gun owners ... Living in a home where there are guns increases the risk of homicide by 40 to 170% and the risk of suicide by 90 to 460%. ..." ...

Handgun Violence, Public Health, and the Law
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Firearms were used to kill 30,143 people in the United States in 2005, the most recent year with complete data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ... When we consider that there were also nearly 70,000 nonfatal injuries from firearms, we are left with the staggering fact that 100,000 men, women, and children were killed or wounded by firearms in the span of just one year. ..."

"By any standard, this constitutes a serious public health issue that demands a response not only from law enforcement and the courts, but also from the medical community. In this issue of the Journal, Wintemute provides an analysis of the important public health implications of gun violence in America." ...

Interpreting the Right to Bear Arms Gun Regulation and Constitutional Law
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"On March 18, 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in District of Columbia v. Heller, a case challenging handgun-control statutes adopted in 1976 in Washington, D.C. ..."

"What we do about handguns is of course a question of public policy. Because of the Second Amendment, it is also a question of constitutional law. And the point of constitutional law is to make it difficult for us to adopt some policies that seem to us to be good ones at the moment. The Supreme Court's upcoming decision in District of Columbia v. Heller dramatizes the tension between public policy and the Constitution." ...

Empty Holster Rallies Planned On Campuses
Submitted by: ChareltonHest
Website: http://atfabuse.com

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"A number of so-called empty holster rallies are being planned next month at college campuses around the country."

"The gatherings are planned to protest licensed and trained gun holders not being able to carry guns on campuses."

"Some of those holsters are to be collected and-or donated by a Green Bay company."

"It is T-G-S-Com Incorporated, which runs more than 100 gun and sporting goods Web sites." ...

"Eric Thompson of T-G-S-COM says ... 'These killers are going into their classrooms and lecture halls with the full intention to kill as many people as possible and the full intention of killing themselves before the police can get there. ... And no matter how good the law enforcement is, they're still late.'" ...

OK: State college students unload their views on guns
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Oklahoma college students are 20 paces apart in their views about guns on campus, with much of the battle taking place on student-oriented Web sites like Facebook."

"Nearly 500 people have joined the Facebook site Students Against Guns on Campus, started by Oklahoma State University students. One of them, Matt Beier, said allowing concealed weapons would make it harder to tell the 'good students from the bad' because now any weapon raises an alarm. He said police would find it hard to know which students are a threat and which are protecting themselves."

"'I don't think the way we solve the problem is by giving people more guns,' Beier said." ...

ID: Senate panel votes to limit local gov control of shooting ranges
Submitted by: RPA-PAC
Website: HTTP://WWW.RPA-PAC.ORG

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"Idaho gun enthusiasts won another victory when the Senate State Affairs Committee unanimously backed a bill that protects outdoor shooting ranges from neighbors who complain about the noise."

"The measure, which has passed the House, forbids local governments from setting noise standards that are more restrictive than standards for state outdoor shooting ranges."

"As Idaho grows, more and more residents are moving into areas where shooting ranges have long been a staple of rural life." ...

"Brian Judy, a lobbyist for the National Rifle Association, told the Senate panel Wednesday that nothing about his bill absolves shooting ranges of their responsibility to keep ammunition from straying onto neighboring property."

CT: Cop Accused Of Stealing Hot Dogs Gets Fired
Submitted by: jac

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FULL TEXT BELOW:

A Bridgeport police officer accused of stealing hot dogs from a courthouse concession stand has been fired.

Officer Murphy Pierce has been accused of stealing hot dogs from a vendor starting in late 2006 and later trying to tamper with witnesses in the case when the vendor complained.

A panel of police commissioners has signed off on the decision to fire Pierce. The board says the intimidation began in September 2006 when Pierce approached Michael Pinto, who operates the "Snappy Dog" concession stand near the courthouse.

The panel says Pinto feared losing his permit for the stand because the Police Department oversees that function.

Pierce has denied all the charges.
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Submitters note: Stupid cop gets fired over hot dogs.

KABA Note: Other cops man up and fire him. Kudos to them.

FL: Aiming to tow more cars for minor offenses
Submitted by: AJ

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"Driving with your car stereo too loud here can already get you a ticket. If Sarasota police have their way it could also get your car impounded and cost you at least $500 to get it back."

"Sarasota police want the authority to tow away drivers' cars if they are caught playing the stereo too loud, driving with a suspended license or leaving the scene of a minor crash -- all misdemeanor charges."

"Sarasota police Lt. Steve Breakstone said towing a car and charging the owner a $500 fine to pick it up is an effective crime-fighting tool ..."

"'There are certain people in the community who don't care how many times police arrest them or issue a citation,' Breakstone said. 'But they care if you impound their car.'" ...

DC: DC Police Chief: What handgun ban? (video) Submitted by: Bruce M. Website: http://massbackwards.blogspot.com/	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
DC Police Chief Cathy Lanier (via C-SPAN): "I think the reasonableness standard of the handgun laws in the District, which are not completely banned, because there is licensed handguns in the District of Columbia for law enforcement, retired law enforcement, federal law enforcement, security agencies. So, there is not a complete ban on handguns."

CA: SoCal animal control officer charged with drowning kittens
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"The head of this city's animal control office is a facing multiple animal cruelty counts after authorities say he drowned dozens of kittens last year."

"Kevin Murphy, who has not been arrested, faces up to six years in prison if convicted. He is accused of drowning up to 50 kittens over a four-month period."

"Kathy Williamson of the Victor Valley Animal Protective League takes in animals that Adelanto Animal Control workers bring her. She says the city pays her $23 to take in a live cat for up to 10 days. She says Adelanto pays $10 for her to take a dead cat." ...
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Submitter's Note: So he drowned 50 kittens to save the city $650?

ME: Portland officer charged with domestic violence
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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FULL TEXT BELOW:

A Portland police officer who was acquitted of assault five years ago in a police brutality case has been charged with domestic violence.

more stories like thisAuthorities say Brian Regan was arrested Tuesday night on charges of domestic violence and reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon following an incident the night before.

Regan and another officer were acquitted of assault charges after being accused of brutality during an arrest that followed a high-speed chase in 2002.

Despite the acquittal, an internal investigation found that Regan used excessive force. Regan returned to the force with a demotion but the other officer chose to resign.

OH: Officer Charged With DUI Pleads Not Guilty Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
FULL TEXT BELOW: A Cleveland police officer arrested on drunken driving charges faced a judge on Wednesday. The Ohio State Highway Patrol stopped Sgt. Damien Glaser on Sunday. They said he was going 95 mph an hour on Interstate 90 in Ashtabula County. Glaser pleaded not guilty and was released on bond. He's due back in court in July.

MA: Officer charged with OUI resigns
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"A Dedham Police officer facing a drunken driving charge resigned Tuesday afternoon."

"Tye Donahue, 24, of 102 Mt. Vernon St., was cited for driving under the influence of alcohol and negligent driving after his sport utility vehicle rolled over on Interstate 93 South near the Interstate 95 South ramp in Canton, said Massachusetts State Police Capt. Barry O'Brien."

"Donahue had been on medical leave from the department since the March 3 accident."

"State police issued a summons for Donohue to appear in Stoughton District Court to answer the charges, which are misdemeanors, O'Brien said." ...

GA: APD officer charged
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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FULL TEXT BELOW:

An Albany Police officer was arrested Wednesday afternoon and charged with stalking his ex-wife.

Thirty-four-year old patrol officer Phares Taylor, Senior was picked up by deputies at his Lee County home around 3:00PM.

He's charged with following and harassing his ex-wife in Leesburg today. The charge is a misdemeanor.

Taylor is now on leave with pay pending an Albany Police internal investigation. Taylor has been with APD for 16 months

TN: Police officer resigns following DUI charge
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Metro Police Office Stephanie Callahan, 37, has resigned after being charged with a DUI and leaving the scene of an accident after crashing her Ford Explorer into a stop sign Sunday night."

"Her resignation is effective immediately, the department confirmed today."

"Callahan was driving on Shelby Avenue at 19th street when she failed to make a turn at the intersection and crashed, according to a police affidavit."

"She left the scene and upon her return police said she had an obvious odor of alcohol on her person and she stated she had been drinking, according to the affidavit."

"She registered a .17 when administered a breath test." ...

NY: State Police gearing up for 'Project ChildSafe'
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Website: HTTP://WWW.RPA-PAC.ORG

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FULL TEXT BELOW:

The New York State Police is preparing to participate in a national firearm safety education and gun lock program.

Major Christopher L. Cummings will hold a press conference Wednesday to announce the state polices upcoming distribution of free gun locks and safety information as part of Project ChildSafe.

The press conference will be held at the Clarence Public Library, 3 Town Place, Clarence. About 1,000 free gun locks will be distributed in the Clarence area by the state police in conjunction with the Floss Agency, a member of the EMS Group.

For more information about Project ChildSafe, visit www.projectchildsafe.org for a firearm safety message from world champion marksman Doug Koenig and country music star Travis Tritt.

WV: Rifle: Five Earn NRA All-American Honors
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Website: HTTP://WWW.RPA-PAC.ORG

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"Senior Lafe Kunkel and freshman Brandi Eskew have been named to the National Rifle Association (NRA) All-American first team after the West Virginia rifle team took sixth place at the 2008 NCAA Championships this past weekend."

"Freshmen Tommy Santelli and Kyle Smith both were named to the NRA All-American second team, while freshman Andrew Lamson earned honorable mention honors. Head coach Jon Hammond was honored as well, being named the 2008 NRA Distinguished College Coach."

"The five Mountaineer All-Americans are the most named since the 1999 season." ...