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A Taxpayer Complaint to ATF's "Waco Jim" Cavanaugh
Submitted by: Mike Vanderboegh

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"Dear 'Waco Jim,'"

"I am writing you this evening to complain about the generally poor level of fieldcraft demonstrated by your agents at the Alabama Gun Collectors Association show in Birmingham this weekend. Given all of the many millions of dollars which are poured into the ATF's coffers each year by the taxpayers of this country, I would like to think that you could do a better job than the pitifully inept performance I witnessed this weekend. "

"Unless their intention was intimidation (which as you know is lost on me), they failed miserably at surveillance."

" They were even made by my teenage daughter. 'Who's the big creepy bald guy in the black tee shirt and why hasn't he moved in a half hour?'" ...

D.C. v. Heller: The Court's Liberal Wing Shoots Itself In The Foot
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"District of Columbia v. Heller was historic, the first Supreme Court decision to clearly hold that the Second Amendment right to arms was an individual one not linked to militia service. But it was historic for another reason: the sheer number of mistakes made in the dissenters' opinions. Given that all four dissenters co-signed the Stevens and Breyer dissenting opinions, this means that the mistakes must have escaped, not only four members of the highest court in the land, but their sixteen research clerks!" ...

NRA means 'No rentals available.'
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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"My sister is a proud Republican. She loves lower taxes, big business ... and an individual-rights approach to the Second Amendment. She's among the many that are thrilled by the Supreme Court's ruling to lift the handgun ban in the District ... To celebrate she and a family friend went to the National Rifle Associations shooting range this past week."

"They toured the museum and paid for the range. My sister had to fill out paperwork and get a 30-minute evaluation on using a hand gun. ... When she passed the written test they indicated a lane for shooting. She asked how much for gun rental. And that is when she got a shock."

"There are no guns for rental at the National Rifle Associations shooting lanes." ...

The 6.8 Remington SPC as an Animal Control or Patrol Rifle Cartridge...
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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"Usually, a police agency does not spend a lot of time utilizing unusual calibers or cartridges in its rifles for animal control. My town, which is a first ring suburb of a major mid-west city, is in an area known for record class whitetail deer. To protect my administration, I will not identify myself or the location. My department has allowed me to cull three problem whitetail deer with my 6.8 Remington SPC (6.8x43mm Remington SPC a.k.a. 6.8 SPC) chambered custom bolt gun. From that brief experience, I have been able to formulate a few opinions on its suitability as a patrol cartridge. In addition to being an avid prairie dog shooter, I have also hunted big game in several states ..." ...

Happiness is a warm gun
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"I guess the Supreme Court justices were acid-tripping hippies at some point, because they apparently agree with The Beatles when John Lennon sang 'Happiness is a Warm Gun' in 1968. In response to a law suit sparked by a Washington D.C. ban on guns, the high court decided the Second Amendment's 'right to bear arms' does extend to personal households."

"In the sleepy town of Oxford, the landmark case probably won't have much of an effect, but the mayors of large metropolitan areas with rampant gun-related crimes are having a difficult time accepting the ruling with an open mind." ...

Right wing guilty now
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"What struck me most about the Supreme Court's Second Amendment decision is the irony of a right-wing judge doing what conservatives had always complained about -- making new laws and ignoring the founders' intent."

"Has Justice Sam Alito abandoned the shibboleth, the philosophical underpinning of the conservative movement -- original intent?"

"That is a theory that leads these conservative thinkers, through historical research and imagination, to conjure what was on the minds of the great men that sweltering summer of 1787 in Philadelphia." ...

How do you interpret the Second Amendment?
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"I was talking briefly this morning with online editor Matt Sanders about the Second Amendment and the passion that it evokes. We thought it would make a good blog post to ask local residents to discuss their interpretations of the amendment, particularly in light of the recent Supreme Court decision that struck down the DC handgun ban." ...

"In my opinion, the wording is notably vague and raises lots of questions, some of which I have listed here. What is a militia -- the National Guard? Where is the line that defines what is necessary to the security of the state? What exactly are arms -- guns, baseball bats, or knives? Are hunting weapons necessary to the safety of the state?" ...

DC: Keep it simple on guns
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"The District government appears to be headed for disaster as it prepares to craft policies to regulate handgun registration and licensing in response to the Supreme Court's decision declaring unconstitutional the city's absolute ban."

"A hearing last week clearly showed that most members on the D.C. City Council want regulations tailored to discourage, to the point of infringement, the ownership of guns. That isn't surprising considering the handgun ban lasted 32 years, but the city's legislative body should get used to the new limits. Any regulations they pass will likely be the subject of a court action if they go too far." ...

Will D.C. Replace a Handgun Ban With Prohibitive Regulations?
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Yesterday the District of Columbia unveiled new firearm rules that are meant to comply with the Supreme Court's recent ruling overturning D.C.'s 32-year-old handgun ban. The proposed legislation makes an exception to the ban for handguns kept in the home for self-defense, and it 'clarifies that no carry license is required inside the home.' It also 'clarifies' the storage rule for firearms, saying a gun can legally be unlocked and loaded 'while it is being used against [a]reasonably perceived threat of immediate harm to a person.' Otherwise "firearms in the home must be stored unloaded and either disassembled [or] secured with a trigger lock, gun safe, or similar device." ..." ...

SC: Intruder Killed During Break-In
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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"A Laurens County man told deputies that after he heard a noise early Tuesday morning, he shot and killed an intruder."

"Sheriff Ricky Chastain said the man, who lives across the street and who was working on the home, had decided to spend the night there." ...

"The man said he was asleep when heard a noise coming from the living room area. He said he went into the living room armed with a shotgun. He said when the intruder startled him, he fired two shots at him, hitting him in the stomach and neck area."

"The coroner's office said that the man ... broke into the home ... around 12:30 a.m."

"Darden died as a result of those injuries."

"Chastain said it seems unlikely that the man would be charged in the shooting." ...

VT: Shooter's acquittal worries authorities
Submitted by: Anonymous

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"Matthew Martel is polite and has soft, boy-band looks. He was home-schooled and lives with his genial parents ..."

"Martel does not look like a member of the Franklin County Sportsmans Club, but he is. He does not come off as someone who would buy a $450 handgun for target practice, but he did. Nor does he strike you as someone who pocketed a loaded handgun for protection four or five times during the last three years, but he has." ...

"... he loaded his Smith & Wesson with 10 rounds of ammo before walking to a friends house to play video games ... At 2:45 a.m. the next day, Martel ... dropped a friend at his North Elm Street home and trekked toward his residence, his gun concealed."

"This is Martels account of what happened next." ...

Souder fights D.C. gun moves
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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"The mayor and other officials in Washington, D.C., are trying to circumvent the Supreme Court's rejection of the city's gun ban, Rep. Mark Souder, R-3rd, says. So he is trying to repeal all restrictions the city has on guns."

"'Their intent is basically to try to get around the court ruling,' Souder said. 'In other words, ban the gun, keep all the strict registration, track all the ammunition and, in effect, keep a D.C. gun ban fully operating as if there hadn't been a court decision.'"

"He's pushed the congressional levers to force a vote on his bill to overturn the city's ban of semiautomatic handguns, its registration requirements and its limits on ammunition." ...

GA: Ga. gov: Allow guns in Atlanta airport
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue said Monday that guns should be allowed in public areas of the nation's busiest airport."

"And he suggested his own wife might want to pack a firearm for long walks between the parking lot and the terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International."

"'If my wife wanted to carry a gun, if she was going from the parking lot, walking from one of those far parking lots to pick up a grandchild or something like that, I think that's a good idea, yes,' he said Monday." ...
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H/t to David Codrea who suggests letting the Governor know if you approve of his statement.

IA: Council moves on changes to weapons law
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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"Councilman Aaron Rochester voted against first-round approval toughening up the transport of weapons in vehicles and requiring people to obtain permits in order to target practice in their yards."

"Mayor Mike Hobart and Councilmen Dave Ferris and Jim Rixner voted for the changes to the firearms and weapons ordinances. Councilman Brent Hoffman was out of town. The council will need to take two more votes on both proposals."

"Rochester noted he owns weapons and has target practiced with his sons using BB guns or air rifles in their back yard. He said a number of Sioux Cityans have done so, not knowing they were violating city law." ...

MI: Pistol rules signed into law
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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"Revisions to post-purchase pistol registration requirements have been signed into law by Gov. Jennifer Granholm."

"... the new law gives pistol owners the option of mailing the registration within 10 days after the pistol was purchased or hand delivering it."

"'The new registration process will be simpler and more convenient for law-abiding gun owners,' said Sen. Richardville ... 'I heard from several residents in my district who felt the previous registration requirements were burdensome and redundant. Although inspections were required, many times the pistols were not even inspected.'"

"Previously, the law required the owner to take the pistol to a local law enforcement officer for an inspection ..." ...

IL: If the Tribune Blacks It Out, Does that Mean It Didn't Happen?
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"There was a pro-Second Amendment rally at the Thompson Center on July 11, 2008, and bloggers know about it."

"There were quite a few people, up to 500, by some counts, photos and some reporting on the events that occurred, by an independent website or two."

"Some pundits questioned whether the Chicago Tribune would cover the rally."

"But, to no one's surprise, the Chicago Tribune skipped the story, regardless of the significance of the recent Supreme Court decision ... Perhaps the Tribune did not have room in the paper for the story, as they are running a series of windy PR pieces painting Sen. Obama is a centrist demanding individual responsiblity ..."

"Kudos to ABC-7 and Chicago Public Radio for covering this event."

Gun expert claims feds punishing him
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"A gun expert who testified against the government when David Olofson was on trial for loaning to an acquaintance a gun that misfired now says the government is punishing him for that testimony."

"The allegation comes from Len Savage, who runs Historic Arms LLC and works with antique and historic weapons as well as weapons design and parts for gun makers." ...

"Savage told WND that in the short time since the trial, one of the government witnesses against Olofson within the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was transferred to a position of overseeing Savage's work."

"Now a decision by that agency could cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars, he said." ...

OR: Judge: No bail for police officer charged with abuse; officer shot Irishman in burglary call
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Police officer Tony Gonzalez will remain behind bars as the courts process sex abuse charges against him and investigators ready a case for a grand jury that will consider the killing of a 20-year-old Irish citizen."

"The 35-year-old Gonzalez appeared in court Tuesday for arraignment on the abuse charges."

"Salem police say he had been touching a girl inappropriately for years but had stopped."

"The girl and her mother told police the abuse resumed after Gonzalez shot and killed A.J. Hanlon in June."

"Investigators have said little except that Gonzalez was responding to a burglary call. The case is expected to go to a grand jury soon." ...

NY: State funds kick off Troy gun buyback
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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"State Sen. Joseph Bruno secured $25,000 to help kick off a gun buy back program created by the Rev. Willie Bacote, of the Missing Link Ministry and will work in conjunction with the Rensselaer County District Attorney's office and the city Police Department."

"'There is no greater tragedy that we face as a society than the senseless loss of life as a result of the use of firearms for illegal purposes,' Bruno said. 'Recent events in Troy and the greater capital region that involved the use of guns has motivated people like Rev. Bacote to act in a positive way ...'"

"The program's mission aims to remove illegal weapons from city streets while seeking to prevent idle firearms from being accessible to children ..." ...

LA: Slidell police officer charged with theft, malfeasance; resigns
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Slidell Chief of Police Freddie Drennan announced Friday his department had arrested one of its own for using legal traffic stops to steal money from Hispanic males."

"Jonathan M. Lutman, 25, a two-year veteran of the Slidell Police force, was charged with nine counts of theft ... plus four counts of malfeasance, after an investigation turned up evidence Lutman stole cash during five routine traffic stops going back to April 6."

"'It's a sad day when I have to do this,' Drennan said at a Friday press conference. 'This is a blemish on us here and law enforcement as a whole.' Drennan said Lutman resigned from the police department early Friday morning after he was arrested and has confessed to the five thefts. ..." ...

PA: Ex-Hamburg police officer pleads guilty to theft
Submitted by: jac

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"A Hamburg man pleaded guilty Monday in Dauphin County Court to failing to properly account for $3,280 seized in drug investigations while he was police chief in Lykens, Dauphin County." [emphasis added]

"Chris W.R. Wade, 40, a former Hamburg policeman, pleaded guilty before President Judge Richard A. Lewis in Harrisburg to theft and related charges."

"Investigators said they could not find the money seized during drug investigations in 2005 and 2007."

"Wade, who was named police chief in Lykens in January 2005, was fired in January."

"Wade of Hamburg remains free pending sentencing in August."

"Assistant District Attorney Jenni Henley Allen said prosecutors have agreed not to object to a sentence of probation." ...

MN: Minneapolis police officer indicted on corruption charges
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"A Minneapolis police officer was indicted on three federal corruption counts today for allegedly giving private law enforcement information to a self-proclaimed gang member in exchange for money."

"Michael D. Roberts, 57, is charged with two counts of depriving citizens of his honest services and one count of unauthorized access to a protected computer." ...

"Roberts [was] put on paid administrative leave in April, pending the FBI investigation. ..."

"According to the indictment, Roberts met on Aug. 9 with a person he knew was committing crimes. Roberts conducted a computer search of a law enforcement database and gave the person ... nonpublic information about a driver's license plate."

"Roberts then took $100 ..." ...

MN: City needs more cops, guns
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"I've been following the opinion page for the past few months and coming to the conclusion our history has changed in the past 40 years. ... According to what I read about the War of Independence when I was in high school ... after about 200 years of early American settling in our current day United States, the very same government we sought to leave across the Atlantic Ocean came to control us again. The 'Minute Men' were every able bodied man in the village able to prepare himself for battle within one minute. Today, four of nine Supreme Court Justices believe Minute Men are exclusively sanctioned, armed and supported by the Pentagon. Minute Men are whoever they say are Minute Men..." ...

CA: Standing up for the Second Amendment (third letter)
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"My letter about having a Winchester 30/30 in my home seems to have evoked a detraction from my message of protecting the United States, my family, against terrorism."

"I suppose I am a gun rights supporter. I am not at all ashamed of that. I am proud of that. Just because some do not believe they should own a gun, should that take away from my rights guaranteed by the Second Amendment?"

"Let me cite an example of gun control. It has been quite some time since Australia demanded gun surrender of its citizens. ... The bad guys did not surrender their stolen or illegal firearms. Nor will they here in the United States. Felons are not to have guns by any standards of today." ...