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Senate passes bill that would protect gun industry
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Bruce W. Krafft
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"The Senate has voted in favor of a measure that would protect the gun industry from certain kinds of lawsuits."
"The measure, which passed by a 65-to-31 vote, would shield the manufacturers, dealers and importers of firearms from lawsuits brought by the victims of gun crimes." ...
"New Orleans filed a landmark lawsuit against gun makers in October 1998, in an attempt to collect for the costs of gun-related violence. But the case was eventually killed when the U-S Supreme Court let stand a state law adopted after the case that retroactively banned lawsuits against the gun industry."
"The measure's sponsor, Republican Senator Larry Craig, says the 'bill says go after the criminal' -- not the law-abiding manufacturer or seller." ... |
Legislation Built on Corrupt Foundation of Lies Says VPC
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New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
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"Following today's passage of legislation (S. 397) shielding the gun industry from certain types of civil liability, Violence Policy Center Legislative Director Kristen Rand released the following statement."
"This bill is built on a corrupt foundation of lies that will leave a
legacy of pain and suffering. Proponents claimed that the bill was necessary to protect our armed forces from having to buy their guns from foreign manufacturers -- but the bulk of U.S. military and law enforcement sidearms already come from foreign gunmakers. They claimed that the gun industry is the most heavily regulated industry in America when, in fact, they are one of only two industries exempt from federal health and safety regulation. ..." |
Statement of Michael Barnes on Senate Action to Deny Justice to Gun Violence Victims
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New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
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"Michael D. Barnes, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, issued the following statement:"
"'This is a day in America when the little guy lost out to powerful special interests. The Senate has passed legislation that, if passed by the House and signed by the President, will lock the courthouse doors to gun violence victims.'"
"'The legislation, if allowed to become law, will give the most irresponsible gun sellers in America a license to act more recklessly than ever before. It removes the one threat facing those gun sellers that look the other way and help supply the criminal market -- that they will be taken to court and held accountable.'"
"'One irresponsible gun dealer says it 'lost' over 200 guns, some of which ended up killing people. That dealer gets immunity. ..." ... |
The Gun Lobby's Dead Aim
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D. Finlayson
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"The gun lobby is about to squeeze the trigger on its biggest shot in the post-Columbine era and perhaps its greatest bull's eye ever. ..." ...
"No other American industry, no other branch of commerce would have this kind of special protection from civil law. Not drug makers, hospitals, doctors, farmers, or food processors. Not knife makers, car companies, tobacco companies, brewers, distillers or firecracker makers. Just the gun industry."
"This legislation, for example, would have prevented the lawsuit that awarded victims of the Washington snipers $2.5 million from the gun store where John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo got their rifle. ..." ... |
House Votes for PATRIOT Act Renewal — Don’t Let the Senate Make the Same Mistake!
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3030@keepandbeararms.com
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"The House of Representatives has just passed a bill, H.R. 3199, that would renew all of the sections of the USA PATRIOT Act that were set to expire at the end of the year without including the checks and balances necessary to prevent abuse. Now the Senate could make the same mistake."
"The current Senate bill, S. 1389, contains new checks on two notorious PATRIOT provisions: Section 215 -- the 'library records' provision -- and Section 505, which allows FBI-issued National Security Letters (NSLs) that a federal court has already found unconstitutional. But there’s no guarantee that these checks will survive debate on the floor. What’s worse, there’s no guarantee that the Senate won’t include additional language to expand PATRIOT even further." ... |
FL: Gun range won't be muzzled yet
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New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
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"The sound of gunshots at Strickland Shooting Range in Daytona Beach won't quiet down -- not this year at least."
"Despite fears of possible disruptions at a school opening near the range, the Volusia County Council pulled back Thursday from any proposal to close the shooting area before classes start at David C. Hinson Sr. Middle School in August."
"The council decided to ask school officials to monitor the situation through the end of the year and report back if the sound of gunfire causes disruptions at the school, which is about a half-mile from the range." ... |
IL: Governor to shore up gun control
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New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
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"After a decade of work by gun-control activists, Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Friday plans to sign a new state law requiring background checks for all buyers at gun shows, closing what police say is a wide-open avenue for gangs and other illegal purchasers to get firearms."
"In a second action also supported by many law-enforcement officials, Blagojevich plans this weekend to veto a measure that would have required the Illinois State Police to clear out most records of background checks within 90 days of their creation." ... |
NY: Law banning weapons at all county buildings draws some fire
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New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
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"The Chautauqua County Legislature has passed a law to post signs on all county buildings banning anyone from bringing weapons into them."
"The plan was praised by some and criticized by others. All the county's 40-plus buildings will post signs noting that weapons are not allowed."
"Tina Hallquist of Jamestown said at the Legislature's meeting Wednesday that she has a permit to carry a pistol and believes her Second Amendment rights were being infringed upon."
"'It's not right to take a select group of people, a small group of people, and allow them to take away other people's constitutional rights. Also, what your idea is of what you call a weapon differs from everybody else's.'" ... |
IL: Out of control gun control: why Democrats can't be trusted
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New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
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"This is one of those editorials where I wear two hats, as a columnist and as a politician."
"Today Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is signing a law making it harder to sell guns at a gun show. He says that will make Illinois safer. What nonsense. The old right-wing truism is as true as it ever was: guns don't endanger people, people endanger people. No gun has ever fired itself."
"For the benefit of national readers I should explain that Democrats control both branches of the legislature as well as the governor's office in Illinois. They have a monopoly on power. So what kind of laws do they pass? Feel good laws burdening honest citizens that do not improve the safety of our communities by one grain. Why do Democrats focus on such silly laws?" ... |
Senate Republicans move up vote on gun lawsuits
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Bruce W. Krafft
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"Senate Republicans moved Wednesday to force a vote on a bill that would ban lawsuits against gunmakers when their firearms are used in crimes."
"Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., moved the proposed legislation ahead of a planned vote on a Pentagon budget bill. A vote on the ban could take place Friday." ...
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Submitter's Note: Please not the poll at the bottom of the page:
Should gun makers be protected against lawsuit damages resulting from the illegal use of a firearm? |
Digger's Corner -- Beware 'American Hunters and Shooters Association'
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Bruce W. Krafft
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"Some of you might have recently heard of a new organization claiming to represent hunters and gun owners. As is often the case this organization builds a nice website and claims to be a friend of hunters when the reality is they are nothing more than the enemy in camouflage."
"The new group calls itself the American Hunters and Shooters Association, a friendly sounding name designed to part unsuspecting hunters and shooters from their hard earned dollars. They claim to be a 'rational' voice in the hunting and gun rights policy debate, implying that groups like NRA are irrational."
"... Quickly you realize that they want to regulate certain calibers of guns, allow the FBI to keep records on people who buy guns ..." ... |
Of Guns and Men - Dr. Eric Ross
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D. Finlayson
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"Guns bad, gun laws good, confiscate guns, put gun manufacturers out of business, and let’s all live happily thereafter, crime-free. Right? – Wrong, my dear friend, dead wrong."
"That’s what the Bolsheviks did in 1917 when they usurped power. They confiscated guns, then turned Soviet Russia into the bloodiest tyranny in history. ..."
"Let’s look at another country, Switzerland. Tourists are astonished to see citizens carrying military rifles in public, especially at the time of a rifle competition ..." ...
"In fact, Switzerland has more firepower per person than any country in the world, and an average Swiss citizen has more firepower than available to combat troops in many armies. Yet, Switzerland is one of the safest places on the planet, a country where crime is virtually non-existent." ... |
Safe Shooting -- Starting out right with recreational firearms
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Bruce W. Krafft
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"When guns and shooting are mentioned, certain images spring to mind. For many Americans, especially those who live away from the land-starved megamesses we call cities, the images are of recreation, competition, personal challenges and family fun. Unseen and unreported by the mass media, millions of people enjoy guns and shoot billions of rounds of ammunition every year in complete safety. And they do it primarily for one reason—shooting is one heck of a lot of fun!"
"Shooting is traditionally taught by fathers. Many women shoot, but it seems fair to say that in most cases the teaching is done by the menfolk. If your father didn't teach you to shoot, you might be frightened by the thought of learning by yourself. ..." ... |
OK: Chamber Uncocks Gun Law Stance
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Bruce W. Krafft
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"Nearly two years after the Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce cocked its guns and took legal aim at a new Oklahoma gun law, it has decided there is a 'conflict of Freedoms' and it is no longer supporting a challenge filed by a handful of major corporations."
"And its state President Dick Rush denies the decision had anything to do with a telephone lobbying effort sparked by the National Rifle Association which encouraged its members nationwide to phone the State chamber."
"The Chamber joined Whirlpool, ConocoPhillips and the Williams Company in challenging a law created after the 2002 firings of a dozen employees of Weyerhaeuser in Valliant. The workers ... left hunting rifles in their vehicles in the company parking lot. ..." ... |
TX: Judge rips Kmart raid's mass arrests -- Calling actions unconstitutional, she rules 10 suits can now proceed
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Bruce W. Krafft
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"Calling the operation "almost totalitarian," a federal judge says a Houston police plan that led to 278 arrests in a Kmart parking lot almost three years ago was unconstitutional."
"The ruling by U.S. District Judge Nancy Atlas allows all 10 lawsuits filed in the wake of the Aug. 18, 2002, mass arrest, and a smaller operation the previous night, to proceed."
"The 'plan to detain all persons ... with no regard for the existence of open businesses and their customers, is facially unconstitutional,' Atlas wrote in an opinion made public this week." ...
"The lawsuits accuse police of brandishing pistols and shotguns, verbally abusing customers and knocking food from diners' hands and off their tables." ... |
MD: County Cop Charged With Sex Abuse Of Teen
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lifeisdeath
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"A Baltimore County police officer faces charges he sexually abused a 13-year-old boy."
"Police say Officer James Mark Blankenship, 27, turned himself into authorities yesterday."
"He had been School Resource Officer at Dundalk Middle School. The victim was a student at the school."
"Police say Blankenship and the boy became friends between April and May of this year. The boy told police the relationship escalated to sexual contact."
"Police say Blankenship denies the allegations. He faces two sex offense charges, along with sex abuse involving a minor and perverted practice. He is now free on $30,000 bail, and has been suspended with pay." ... |
FL: Officer fired in gun-security case
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Bruce W. Krafft
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"A Fruitland Park police officer was fired early Thursday after sheriff's officials said she left her three young daughters at home alone with a loaded handgun."
"When deputy sheriffs arrived at Marie Kasinger's home late Wednesday, they were greeted at the door by the oldest girl, 12, wearing her mother's bulletproof police vest."
"She and her sisters, frightened by a banging noise outside, had been hiding inside a closet where they found the gun. The 12-year-old, who called 911, had been holding the pistol for protection." ...
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But according to Sarah Brady and her ilk, people like this should have a monopoly on guns because only they are sufficiently trained. |
Haiti: Peacekeepers Accused after Killings
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D. Finlayson
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"Evidence is mounting that United Nations peacekeepers shot and killed unarmed civilians, including children, during a recent raid in Haiti. The UN said it was ready to investigate the alleged 'use of unnecessary force'."
"Independent witnesses say up to 23 people were killed during the raid and that many were shot in the head. Video footage seen by The Independent shows the bodies of many killed in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and contains testimony from witnesses claiming the victims were killed by 'blue helmets' common parlance for UN peacekeepers." ...
"Among the dead were four-year-old Stanley Romelus, who was shot in the head; his mother, Sonia, and his one-year-old brother, Nelson. The boy's father said they were killed in their house after UN forces threw smoke grenades. ..." ... |
Canada: Judge: Man struck by cop
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Bruce W. Krafft
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"JAMA SAID JAMA had to sit outside a Brampton courtroom yesterday while a judge convicted a Toronto cop of assaulting the 22-year-old man two years ago."
"Const. Roy Preston was found guilty of a single count of assault for punching and beating Jama in August, 2003."
"'Someone has believed me,' Jama said outside court. 'I'm glad the judge believed my words.'"
"Another man with a video camera caught Preston punching Jama in the face. The now-famous tape was eventually broadcast on television."
"Justice Peter Wilkie said the videotape was important evidence, adding the testimony from Preston, backed by some fellow officers, was not credible or reliable." ... |
CO: Massaro: You sure Annie Oakley started this way?
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Bruce W. Krafft
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... "And on a hot July day, little-girl giggles mixed with grown-woman cheers as another bird bit the dust."
"Or maybe became dust is more accurate, because the birds weren't real, just clay pigeons."
"But the women gunning them down were using real shotguns."
"The women's shooting clinic - one of several during the year - was sponsored by the Colorado Division of Wildlife, which supplied the guns, ammunition, instructors and barbecue lunch."
"The women shot at a target on the ground first. Then they went to the flying targets."
"They missed mostly. When they did hit, the blaze-orange target would usually break into three pieces. But on a direct hit, the target exploded into a puff of black dust." ... |
MA: Gunmaker hires 2 Glock execs
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Bruce W. Krafft
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"Smith & Wesson has hired two sales executives from Glock USA, as the Springfield company takes aim at Glock's law enforcement sales with a new pistol."
"Smith & Wesson said it has hired Glock Training Director Bryan K. James to be director of law enforcement sales. The local company also hired Douglas Grier III, a former senior district sales manager for Glock, to head regional sales for Smith & Wesson's law enforcement products."
"Glock spokesman William C. Grosse said the company was not concerned about the hirings." ... |
MI: Turkey Fun Shoot is enjoyed by all
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New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
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"Clay targets flew through the air, balloon targets fluttered in the breeze and running deer targets flew along their path as mature shooters and excited youngsters alike joined in Saturday's Turkey Fun Shoot at the Belding Sportsman's Club."
"The event, sponsored by the Flat River chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) and the host club, drew more than 100 to the family oriented festivities." ... |
UT: Women shooters to compete in Spanish Fork
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New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
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"Women shooting enthusiasts of all ages are invited the All Ladies Trap Shooting Competition at the Spanish Fork Gun Club on Aug. 6."
"The event begins at 10 a.m. and the $40 cost of the event includes 50 targets, raffle tickets for every target hit or missed (whichever is higher), prizes, lunch and a one-year subscription to the National Wild Turkey Federation women's magazine, 'Women in the Outdoors.'"
"Participants must bring their own shotgun and ammunition for the event. The event, hosted by the Utah County Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation ..." ... |
NY: Young gun Jenna on target
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Bruce W. Krafft
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... "Here at the Dutchess County Pistol Association, they shot from an open-air barn-like facility toward the outdoor targets 50 yards away. ..."
"The best part, outside of Middletown High sophomore Jenna Hansen, was that it represented the only gathering in North America without the sudden teeth-gritting squeal of cell phones ringing." ...
"... At which I retreated to find Jean Hansen, mother of Jenna, who at 14, is Hudson Valley's youngest competitor. Jean provided the background: Dad (Jim) has been shooting for at least three decades, so Jenna and her three brothers grew up with it. Each of the boys got a .22-caliber rifle for their 10th birthday, though Jenna didn't get hers until last year." ... |
NY: Shooting competitors revel in camaraderie at Games
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New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
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"Like all of his fellow Dutchess County Pistol Association members, Charles Poles is ecstatic about having his club host the shooting sports at the Empire State Games. From the association president to volunteers to members like Poles who were also competing, their pride was evident."
"But around midday Thursday, that's not what Poles was thinking about. What was going through his mind was this: 'How the heck did I completely miss that first target?'" ... |
NY: Taking their shot
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New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
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"There are 14 lady shooters who shoot for one of the six clubs that compete in the Tri-County Trap League Wednesday evenings at the Falcon Sportsmen's Club. Their ages vary from 20 years old to an 80-year-old great grandmother. Their backgrounds range from college student to legal secretary to business officer to bookkeeper to court recorder. But they all have one thing in common: a great passion for shooting trap." ... |
South Africa: Cops seize 31 weapons, nab 17 in North West
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Bruce W. Krafft
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FULL TEXT BELOW:
Thirty-one weapons were confiscated during the "Operation Kijima Tsotsi "crackdown on illegal firearms in the North West today. Seventeen people were arrested in connection with possession of illegal firearms ranging from pistols, pump-guns to semi-automatic rifles during the round-the-clock blitz.
The special police task team has launched a crackdown on illegal firearms in Bloemhof, Wolmaranstad and Lichtenburg.
The owner of an illegal private security company in Klerksdorp was also arrested and more weapons were dug up in his private property. They were released on R2 500 bail each.
Fanie Molapo, a police task team leader, says the operation will continue.
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Submitter's Note: In this context "illegal private security company" means someone daring to operate a business without the requisite government forms and 'fees'. |
UK: Gun cops in ring of steel
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Bruce W. Krafft
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"POLICE were patrolling London’s transport system in record numbers yesterday as the capital braced itself for another terror strike."
"Officers from across the country were drafted on to the capital’s trains as the hunt for would-be suicide bombers intensified."
"British Transport Police confirmed it was the biggest-ever deployment of officers on transport in London."
"More than 3,000 officers in the capital were armed yesterday — some carrying AW50 heavy sniper rifles which have a range of ONE MILE."
"In Leicester Square, police carried MP5 submachine-guns and Glock 17 pistols."
"Others on the streets held 7.62 Lee Enfield weapons which are able to stop a car." ...
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Submitter's Note: Wouldn't it be easier to just encourage your fellow subjects to carry guns? |
Philippines: Steel Challenge of Speed Shooting set this Sunday
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Bruce W. Krafft
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"Some of Cebu’s top marksmen will once again test their speed and accuracy as the Kamagong Gun Club stages the 'Steel Challenge of Speed Shooting' this Sunday at the AFP Headquarters in Camp Lapu-Lapu, Brgy. Lahug, this city."
"The shootfest will start at 10 am and will wind up at 5pm."
"The competition is divided into two categories. The one is open to club members or enthusiasts who possess licensed firearms, while the other bracket is intended for media practitioners who have the passion for pistol shooting or those who just simply want to hone up their shooting skills."
"Even those media people who haven’t tried the sport are very welcome to try and experience the fun of speed shooting." ... |
Canada: Fifty-nine stun guns seized at border
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R. Smith
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"An attempt to smuggle 59 stun guns into Alberta has shocked police, who say Tasers in the hands of the public is anything but common." ...
"White added the bust was the largest seizure of stun guns in recent memory."
"'Obviously, Tasers are prohibited weapons,' he said. 'Be it for self-protection, protection of their illicit gains -- they could be looking for something that flies under the radar a little bit more than a firearm. It wouldn't be as recognizable to some people.'" ...
"'While it would be very interesting to know what the end use (would have been), in some regards, the switchblade knives should raise an even higher level of concern because it's a weapon with the capacity of yielding lethal results.'" ... |
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