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Sim Evans: Some Thoughts on Patriot's Day
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"April 19 was Patriots Day, a day to remember how it all started. Its not a very popular holiday nowadays, but nevertheless, I hope you didnt forget." ...

"Some, including many of our founding fathers, claim the rights of man are natural rights, bestowed upon us by our Creator. Others profess that our rights are mutually agreed upon by virtue of a social contract, and that is the same as saying our rights are privileges, courtesy of the government."

"All that aside, it is an uncontestable fact that our rights emanated from the barrel of a single musket, fired on the morning of April 19, 1775. Perhaps the founders had this in mind when they included the Second Amendment in the Bill of Rights."

Nation Of Laws Means . . . a nation of Law Enforcement..?
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"As a nation of laws, we are not ruled by men ... but laws ... Actually, the key is that we're not to be ruled at all. Not unless it's self-rule." ...

"One such way to utilize crime as doing the dirty work for officials' objectives is to pay lip service to the concept of our being a nation of laws (to obtain cooperation), but having done nothing about crime for forty years or more. ... Crime continues to serve officials by being the Bogeyman most elusive ... Crime grows, nothing seems to work."

"Ah, but one thing works if you remember a few things in planning for the safety of your home and of your nation:"

"1. Police have no mandate to protect individuals. ..."

"2. People already have the authority to act in self-defense when facing grave danger. ..."

"3. People are the first line of defense in time of violent crime. ..." ...

New Constitution of the Confederate States of America
Submitted by: Wm Mayhue

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... "ARTICLE V."

"Section I. Limitations on Government" ...

"12. A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. The right of the individual to keep and bear arms, ammunition, transportation, and weapons of war, for the purposes of defense of self, household, community, enterprise, State, Nation, or Republic, shall be sacrosanct, as shall the right to such defense, and no Government, corporation, artificial entity, or private individual shall infringe upon these rights, nor shall any Government regulate, tax, impede, prohibit, survey, or in any other manner interfere in the free possession, transport, import, export, sale, or keeping of arms, ammunition, transportation or devices or publications involved in maintaining these rights." ...

Mayoral Gun Violence Summit Gets Support from Congressman Fattah
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-Pa.) commends New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino for their initiative to bring an end to gun violence around the country:

"Today's summit of big city mayors was a step in the right direction to address the escalating violence that plagues all of our nation's cities.

"America's children need to know their local, state and Federal representatives are committed to their survival.

"I look forward to continuing to assist Mayor John Street and others as they work to address what has become one of our countries most dangerous and challenging concerns. I join with my colleagues in wanting to make certain that our children not only survive but thrive."

Mayors Meet in N.Y. to Discuss Efforts on Gun Crimes
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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"Asserting that the federal government has failed to curb the traffic of illegal guns, 15 mayors from across the country gathered at Gracie Mansion this morning for a daylong meeting on the proliferation of unlicensed firearms in crimes."

"Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of New York and Mayor Thomas M. Menino of Boston, who organized the meeting, said the mayors needed to use every tool, including tougher laws and litigation against firearms dealers, to combat gun trafficking because the federal government had abdicated its responsibility." ...

Bloomberg attending summit on illegal guns (another view)
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino criticized the federal government at a mayors summit Tuesday for not doing enough to stop the spread of illegal guns."

"'If the leadership won't come from Congress or from the White House, it will have to come from us,' said Bloomberg, who headed the event with Menino that was billed as the first-ever national gun summit of mayors."

"Bloomberg has focused on gun control as a priority for his second term. Crime statistics show the number of shootings this year is slightly lower than last year, but high-profile gun deaths - like that of a toddler killed by a stray bullet on Easter Sunday - continue to hold a spotlight on the issue." ...

Gun group rebuffed by mayor
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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"The trade association representing the firearms industry yesterday asked to be included in the 'gun summit' being held today at Gracie Mansion for more than a dozen mayors from around the nation."

"'Our industry has developed programs that are working to reduce criminal misuse of firearms,' Lawrence Keane, senior vice president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, wrote the mayor."

"'We would welcome the opportunity to educate mayors about these programs.'"

"He didn't get very far."

"'Are they mayors?' asked Stu Loeser, Bloomberg's press secretary, dismissing the request out of hand."

"Bloomberg indicated that the battle to contain the flow of illegal weapons into cities wouldn't be easy." ...

MT: Intruder prompts elderly Sula woman to get her gun
Submitted by: Bob Anderson

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"Phyllis Friesen sat in her bedroom Sunday night with a .357 pistol in her lap while a strange man raided her refrigerator and trashed her house."

"Law enforcement officers arrived at the 80-year-old woman's cabin 15 miles up the East Fork of the Bitterroot River near Springer Memorial more than an hour after she called 911 to report the alleged intruder, 42-year-old Jerry D. Gensamer."

"'I asked what the heck he was doing in my house and he never answered me - just started trashing the living room,' Friesen said."

"Gensamer was charged in Justice Court Monday with a host of felony and misdemeanor offenses, including burglary and resisting arrest." ...

FL: 87-year-old man could be charged for firing at bear
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"An 87-year-old Longwood man could face a felony charge for possibly shooting at a Florida black bear that ventured into his neighborhood Monday evening, authorities said."

"About 6 p.m., Edilio Perez spotted a 350-pound bear in his yard on Oak Haven Drive. Authorities said that, according to witnesses, Perez fired his handgun at the bear, a young male, but it was not injured." ...

"Osvaldo Velez, a Perez family friend, said the bear was scavenging for food when it started heading across the street toward a group of children. Perez got his 32-caliber snub-nose pistol and fired one warning shot, Velez said."

"'Mainly out of concern for all those kids, he fired one shot,' Velez said. ... He fired one shot into the grass, ...'" ...

FL: Teen Suspects Take Off When Homeowner Gets His Gun
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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Police are searching for two teenagers who got a surprise when they tried to attack a man in his own home.

Police said the teenagers forced their way into Bob Martin's apartment on Adriel Lane on Sunday and pointed a gun at him. But when the retired Air Force sergeant noticed it was a BB or pellet gun, he got his own real gun out and the teenagers took off.

"They come darn close to getting shot real quick. I don't like anyone putting even a toy gun in my face. Whether its a pellet gun or toy gun I don't know," Martin said.

When the teenagers fled, they left behind the BB gun. Police were checking it for fingerprints.

OR: Man found shot to death in Salem apartment
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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A man was shot to death in a Salem apartment while two children were sleeping inside a nearby room, police said Tuesday.

Some sort of disagreement escalated in the Lancaster Commons Apartment Complex on Coral Avenue just after 9:30 p.m., Monday and the fight ended in gunfire, according to Lt. Jim Anglemier with the Salem Police Department.

Two other adults who were inside the apartment during the time of the shooting were interviewed by police and there are indications that this incident may be one of self defense, Anglemier said.

Police identified the man who was shot as Jason Benjamin Scott, 31, of Salem.

The investigation continues.

UT: Orem man in jail after firing gun during fight
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Though he claims he was protecting himself, a 22-year-old Orem man is in jail after police say he twice fired a shotgun at people on his lawn early Sunday." ...

"After they departed, police say Martin retrieved the shotgun, loaded it and placed it near a window that overlooked the front door of the house."

"Shortly after the unwelcome persons returned, a heated verbal exchange ensued. It was then, police say, that Martin fired twice at people on the lawn."

"At an in-custody bail hearing ... Martin told the judge he fired the weapon in self-defense." ...

"'I was sitting in my house and they rushed it,' he said. 'I asked them to leave five times and they would not leave. My girlfriend was scared to death.'" ...

Sierra Leone: Police hunt killer chimps
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Armed Sierra Leonean police are hunting up to 20 chimpanzees which killed a local taxi driver and injured three American visitors after they broke out of a wildlife sanctuary, officials said on Tuesday." [emphasis added]

"The Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary ... has been closed since Sunday's attack by the screaming and excited apes, which mobbed and mauled the four men."

"'Some people had turned up at the gate before normal opening time, and before staff could react, they realized somebody was being attacked,' the sanctuary's director, Bala Amarasekaran told Reuters."

"The animals killed local taxi driver Issa Kanu and bit and mauled three U.S. employees of a construction company ..." ...

TX: Teen shoots fellow student with pellet gun at Missouri City school
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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FULL TEXT BELOW:

A 15-year-old student at Hightower High School was shot and wounded in the leg by another student with a pellet gun today.

The incident happened about 3:15 p.m. in the school's fieldhouse, said Fort Bend Independent School District spokeswoman Mary Ann Simpson.

Simpson said the wound was superficial and that the boy's parents were called to the school and later took him to a local hospital for treatment. The teen, who had brought the pistol to school in a backpack, was taken into custody by school district police for questioning.

Both students are in the ninth grade, Simpson said.

CA: Assemblywoman Parra announces action on gun safety legislation
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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"Assemblywoman Nicole M. Parra (D-Hanford), today, announced the placement of AB 2096 onto the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committees suspense file for consideration at a later date. AB 2096 would exempt gun safety devices from state sales and use taxes."

"'By removing the state sales and use tax obligations on gun safety devices, I believe more gun owners will purchase such devices for use on their weapons,' said Assemblywoman Parra. 'Over the long-term, I am confident that AB 2096 will lead to a reduction in the number of firearm related injuries.'"

"There are currently many firearms that were purchased prior to the 1999 law requiring individuals to purchase gun safety devices to accompany their new weapon. ..." ...

LA: House votes to ban confiscation of guns
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"People could head into hurricanes and civil crises packing firearms under legislation the state House of Representatives unanimously approved Monday."

"House Bill 760 would forbid law enforcement from confiscating firearms from law-abiding citizens during times of civil disorder."

"Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, said he was appalled that police took guns from people during the riotous days following Hurricane Katrina."

"Such confiscations violated the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees the right to bear arms, he said."

"He said police officers from New Orleans used Gov. Kathleen Blancos emergency declaration as its legal basis to seize firearms." ...

MI: House approves self-defense bills
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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FULL TEXT BELOW:

The state House has passed bills that supporters say would strengthen and clarify self-defense rights in Michigan.

The four-bill package is backed by the National Rifle Association but opposed by anti-gun groups including the Million Mom March.

A key provision in the legislation is a presumption that someone who forcibly enters a home or a vehicle intends to harm the occupant.

The legislation also would eliminate a requirement that people being attacked must retreat before responding.

The legislation now goes to the Senate, which has introduced its own version of the bills.

FL: Legislature May Bring New Gun Law To Floridians
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Floridians with a gun permit would be guaranteed the right to continue to do so should a state of emergency be declared under a measure passed unanimously Tuesday by the House and now awaiting Senate approval."

"The bill ... was inspired by, according to Needelman, threats of weapon confiscation in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina."

"Police and soldiers removed guns from houses after the storm flooded New Orleans, and confiscated guns from some evacuees."

"The National Rifle Association (NRA) and other groups sued the city, arguing it took away citizens' means of protection amid the lawlessness around the city."

"The suit was later dropped after the city agreed to return the seized firearms." ...

OK: Bill Gives More Protection To Gun Owners
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"A bill to expand legal protections to people who shoot or use other deadly force when threatened or attacked easily passed the state Senate on Tuesday."

"The state House, which approved the bill earlier on a 96-2 vote, will now vote on the Senate-passed bill in a procedural move necessary before it goes on to Gov. Brad Henry to be signed into law."

"Senators voted 39-5 for the bill, despite arguments it could lead to more street violence." ...

"The bill would expand a law passed in 1987 that protects people who shoot in self defense in their own homes. The new measure would allow citizens to use deadly force when they believe they are in danger in their cars, or office or elsewhere." ...
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Submitter's Note: Not that I would ever accuse a MSM journalist of slipping bias into a 'news' story, but the bill specifies 'reasonably believe' they are in danger.

TN: Southern Fried Justice Becoming Epidemic
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"We just covered one story about justice served southern style. Radly Balko also brings to mind another case, this time in Tennessee. While the transcript of the Lester Eugene Siler torture tape has been available for some time, Balko's link provided my first chance to hear the audio." ...

"People say that Abu Ghraib was an isolated event. They say the Cory Maye case is an isolated event. They say the same of Abner Louima and many more cases. How many torture cases do we have to endure before we begin to realize they aren't so isolated. There is an evil streak within some people. We are placing these people in positions where they can abuse their power. We need to change our policies and our political leadership." ...

NC: Ex-soldier gets 3 years for 1991 killing
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"A former soldier who was brought back from Afghanistan to face charges in the 1991 killing of another soldier was sentenced to three years in prison."

"Harrison Victor Fitzwater Jr., 36, pleaded guilty this month to charges of voluntary manslaughter ... in the killing of Sgt. Terry Lee Webb. He claimed he shot Webb, 43, in self-defense when the older man sexually assaulted him."

"Webb vanished in July 1991 while stationed at Fort Bragg." ...

"In 2004, fragments of Webb's remains were found buried under a shed in the backyard of the Fayetteville home that Fitzwater had shared with his mother and stepfather."

"Fitzwater, an Army private serving in Afghanistan, was brought back to North Carolina to face a murder charge."

TN: Interrogation in Campbell County (follow-up)
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Eugene Siler was allegedly beaten and threatened by five Campbell County Sheriff's deputies on July 8, 2004. The abuse was taped on a hidden recorder placed by Jenny Siler and the officers have since been charged."
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Submitter's Note: A good overview of the case.

OK: Police officer mistakenly shoots at fellow officer
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"A Tulsa police officer accidentally shot at and narrowly missed another officer Tuesday while the two were searching a house on a burglary call."

"The two were at a house ... where they were called about the burglary around 10 a.m., Officer Scott Walton said." ...

"'During that search, the officers became separated ...' Walton said."

"One officer saw a hand holding a pistol protruding from around a corner inside the house. He then yelled ... telling him to drop the weapon and put his hands up."

"The second officer heard the commands and, thinking the first officer had spotted a burglar, walked forward with his gun to assist. The first officer then fired one round, striking that officer 'in the garment,' Walton said." ...

NM: Report: APD officers started fight
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"New Mexico State Police on Monday released their version of an October fight between a State Police officer and two Albuquerque police officers, which suggests the city cops were the aggressors."

"The new report, released after The Tribune filed a request under the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act, contradicts parts of the city's report on the incident."

"It is also the version of the fight that state prosecutors in Santa Fe believe."

"The Santa Fe prosecutors ... say they received two 'clearly different (police) reports' about the fight: one listing State Police Officer Perry Boyd as the victim and APD Detective Steve Hindi as the suspect, and the other suggesting the opposite." ...

CT: Honored Cop Facing Rampage Charges
Submitted by: Michael Corona

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"As a patrol officer, John Biehn received one of the Police Department's highest honors for bravery."

"But today he faces a Superior Court jury on charges he went on a rampage in a South End housing project, firing his gun at nearly a dozen people. 'But for the grace of God and a jammed weapon, we would be in court on three murders,' Senior Assistant State's Attorney John Massameno said at a court hearing earlier this year."

"He has charged Biehn, 29, a Bridgeport police officer for four years, with six counts of attempted murder ..."

"If convicted on all charges, he could face more than 100 years in prison. Biehn's lawyer ... is expected to claim that Biehn was so drunk he couldn't have had the intention to kill anyone." ...
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Submitter's Note: Another one of our trusty public servants...

NY: Ex-cop convicted in killing now teaching self-defense
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"A disgraced patrolman convicted in one of the most notorious abuse cases in city history the 1994 chokehold death of an unarmed Bronx man who was tossing a football in the street has chosen a new career path: motivational speaker and self-defense trainer."

"A Web site ... boasts that during 15 years patrolling the South Bronx, he 'single-handedly fought and disarmed knife-wielding felons on numerous occasions ...' The former officer offers his services as a personal trainer in hand-to-hand combat and as a 'lecturer/motivational speaker' on a variety of topics, including 'the ramification of the use of force.'"

"What the site doesn't mention: Livoti's 1998 civil rights conviction in the killing of Anthony Baez ..." ...

Canada: Police gun stolen in Surrey
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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FULL TEXT BELOW:

A 9 mm Police pistol has ended up in the hands of a Surrey thief.

The service pistol was taken from an unmarked police van in a north Surrey parking lot yesterday, just after noon, near the 102 avenue loop.

Corporal Roger Morrow says investigators are working on recovering the gun and the briefcase it was in, but aren't saying much more. I don't why but the investigators request we not put out any further details as to the ownership if you will, of the vehicle or why it was there or what have you, Morrow said.

Anyone who may have witnessed the break-in is asked to contact Surrey Mounties or Crime Stoppers.

Police are also investigating why the gun was left in the vehicle.

South Africa: Manhunt for traffic cop
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Pretoria - Police have launched a manhunt for a 45-year-old North West traffic officer who allegedly shot and killed his girlfriend in Mabopane near Pretoria on Monday night."

"Transport department spokesperson Matshube Mfoloe said on Tuesday the officer shot and killed the 35-year-old woman at about 20:00."

"'She was shot five times and died instantly,' said Mfoloe."

"It was established that the officer did not use his service pistol, because the department took it back after it was determined that he was unfit to possess a firearm."

"This was after his ex-wife reported to authorities that he had threatened to shoot her. Police hoped to make an arrest soon, said Mfoloe." ...

Nepal: Human rights expert condemns Nepal's 'shoot-on-sight' policies
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"'The Nepalese Government must immediately repeal its 'shoot-on-sight' policy for dealing with demonstrators', according to a United Nations human rights expert."

"Philip Alston, the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, said that such a policy represented a clear violation of international human rights law. 'The Government is, in effect, instructing its forces to shoot innocent people, in complete disregard for the right to life. ...', he said. The Special Rapporteur noted that the fourteen deaths so far reported in the media are particularly troubling against such a background and a full, independent investigation must be undertaken as soon as possible." ...

WA: ATF yanks General Store's firearms dealer license
Submitted by: ChareltonHest

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"The General Store sells more guns than any other Spokane retailer, but not for much longer since the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is revoking the General Store's federal firearms dealer license." ...

"However in 2003 the General Store notified the ATF that it had lost the paperwork for eight gun purchases over the course of twenty years, and the Justice Department worries those guns may have fallen in the wrong hands. Managers of the General Store, however, say their clerks always do the mandatory background checks and follow the five-day waiting period regulations." ...

"ATF officials say they've given the General Store plenty of chance to improve their paperwork practices but gun counter clerks say the ATF hasn't inspected their files since 2003 and wonder why the Justice Department has waited until now to pull their federal firearms dealer license." ...

Canada: Canada enforcing new laws for bringing guns into country
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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"If you are planning a deer, caribou, moose, bear, elk or waterfowl hunt in Canada this year, be advised that regulations will be different concerning bringing firearms into the country."

"Effective June 1, a one-way handling fee of $65 (Canadian) will be collected for firearms transport."

"As before, rifles and shotguns are accepted as checked baggage only, and must be unloaded and you must sign a declaration form attesting to the fact that the gun is unloaded. But now the firearm must be inhibited from being fired by using a secure, locking device mechanism on the weapon."

"The firearm must also be packaged in a specially designed, non-see through case that cannot be broken into during transport." ...