Keep and Bear Arms - Gun Owners Home Page

The 20 Most Important Tools -- No. 7: The Rifle
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Forbes.com readers, editors and a panel of experts rank the rifle as the 7th most important tool of all time, in terms of its impact on human civilization. ..."

"For as long as humans have created tools, they've made projectile weapons. Our ancestors made spears, slings and bows and mastered their use in hunting and warfare. But the rifle put all those tools to shame, boasting unprecedented accuracy, power, reliability, and range. Rifles have won wars, tamed continents and overturned empires."

"The history of firearms stretches back more than a millennium. ... and by the late 1300s, handheld, muzzle-loading pistols were common in Europe. Long-barreled muskets started appearing in the 1400s." ...

Smith & Wesson M&P Pistol: The Next Evolution in Polymer-Framed Combat Pistols?
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"DefenseReview first heard that Smith & Wesson was developing an new polymer-framed pistol to go head-to-head with the Glock, Springfield XD, and Heckler & Koch (HK) polymer-framed pistols--as well as SIG aluminum-framed (and steel-framed) pistols--awhile back. But, we had never seen it. Then, about a month ago (July 21, 2005, to be exact), gunwriter Charlie Petty posted pics and info on the new 'evolutionary' (his word) Smith & Wesson M&P pistol at AmBackForum.com (Your American BackYard Forum). The new gun, which Petty somehow got first dibs on regarding a test and evaluation at Smith & Wesson headquarters, looks interesting, and features the Smith & Wesson Performance Center's signature 'snake-scale' ... slide serrations. ..." ...

Guns At Work (Deconstructed)
Submitted by: SayUncle
Website: http://www.saysuncle.com

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"Listen to the evening news and youre likely to hear a grizzly story about a disaffected worker or estranged spouse or dissatisfied customer arriving at a workplace and going ballistic. Its all too common."

"About 17 employees are murdered every week in American workplaces by someone with a gun, making gun-related killings the third-biggest safety hazard facing American workers -- right after vehicles and machines. In fact, gun-related homicide is the leading cause of death at the workplace for women." ...
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An excellent fisking of this article is available here.

A Custom Fit -- How to build your own rifle without breaking the bank
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"My first deer gun was a surplus Short Magazine Lee Enfield bought for $30, trench scars and all. I ordered a walnut semi-inletted blank from Herter's for $7.50, and in the time it would take a junior high shop student to fashion a Garand from an ore mine and a tree trunk, I managed to finish my first custom rifle." ...

"Resigned to spending my life in poverty writing about guns instead of spending my life in poverty building them, I still tinker from time to time. A few months ago I assembled one that not only looks good and shoots well, it didn't cost much either. Furthermore, it's a rifle anyone can put together for far less than the four figures custom guns command today." ...

UK: First case of AK-47 rapid fire
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"A gangland assassination saw an AK-47 machine gun used for the first time in full automatic mode in the history of British crime."

"Roger Vincent and David Smith were found guilty at Luton Crown Court of the murder of fellow gangster Dave King, after rumours that he was a police informant."

Father-of-two King, 32, was hit with a number of the 27 rounds fired from the Kalashnikov weapon ..."

"Police said the celebrity bodyguard was chopped down in a hail of bullets by a version of the Russian AK-47 assault rifle more commonly used by special forces in the former Eastern Bloc."

"It is thought the gangland hit was the first time such a weapon has been fired in automatic mode during a crime in Britain." ...

CA: Man Fatally Shot In HSB
Submitted by: Anonymous

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"A California man was shot to death early Thursday morning after attempting to enter the home of his son and ex-wife."

"At approximately 5:30 a.m. Thursday, officers from the Horseshoe Bay Police Department were called to Granite Shoals Street in regards to a man breaking into a residence there. Upon arrival, officers found a 33-year-old white male, Brandon Joseph Steele of Palm Desert, Calif., dead from an apparent gunshot wound." ...
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Submitter's Note: I am very thankful that Rex was there and took the action to save my daughter and grandchildren.

NC: South Charlotte Papa John's robbed, young wife fears for her husband
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"A pregnant woman was rattled after her husband was robbed at gunpoint and forced into a freezer."

"The suspects walked into the Papa John's store on South Boulevard and terrorized the five employees inside Monday night."

"The couple is very young. The groom 22-years-old his wife, 21. He works at the Papa Johns just to make ends meet. Monday night some gun totting robbers followed him inside his job and threatened the lives of everyone."

"'He told me he thought that was it for him and everything was going through his mind,' said the victims wife Ana Belei."

"Belei's husband was among five Papa Johns employees who were robbed at gunpoint and forced into a freezer." ...
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Submitter's Note: Papa John's prohibits employees from carrying weapons.

AK: Bill would broaden protection rights in home
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"If a 15-year-old intruder had been armed when Robert Locke found him in the bushes outside his Wasilla home Aug. 7, the boy would probably be dead today."

"And Locke, the owner of Sharpshooters Gun and Pawn in Palmer, might have been facing jail or a wrongful-death suit filed by the boy's family if that had happened."

"That's why Locke supports new legislation drafted by Rep. Carl Gatto, R-Palmer, known as the 'Defense of Self' bill. If passed, the bill would protect homeowners or legal occupants from being sued if they kill someone they felt was threatening their life, property, or family." ...

NC: HB 1415 Designed to Register Gun Owners (GRNC)
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"HB 1415, 'Gun Owner Registration Act', was scheduled for a 2nd reading today and is scheduled for a 3rd reading tomorrow, Tuesday, August 22. It had the original intention of simply reporting back to the home county sheriff if a person was denied a pistol purchase permit in a different county. As bills involving guns tend to do, this one has been amended beyond recognition. In its present form, it now will register anyone who is denied a permit in a DATABASE with the State Bureau of Investigation."

"The House has attempted to pull one over on you by amending and fast tracking this bill in order to avoid constituent input. In its present form, HB 1415 is unnecessarily obtrusive and is opposed by GRNC." ...

VT: Hale neighbors try to muzzle shooting
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Neighbors of the Hale Mountain Fish and Game Club say changes made to the club's shooting facilities are so substantial that the club should be forced to secure an Act 250 permit for its entire site."

"The state Environmental Board ruled Aug. 4 that the 300-member club had to obtain a permit for some construction projects since 1970, but not for changes made to its rifle, pistol and trap shooting facilities."

"An attorney for neighbors Owen and Kathy Beauchesne and Kenneth and Mary Kennedy filed a motion Friday saying the club failed to prove that the shooting facility changes didn't affect noise and traffic levels." ...

NY: Henderson: Rifle hunting bill reaches Pataki
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Southern Tier big game hunters should have an answer in the next three weeks on whether or not they will be able to use centerfire rifles in selected Southern Tier counties for the first time this fall."

"The legislation (A4853A/S918A) that would allow rifle hunting in Tioga, Chenango, Otsego and parts of Broome County passed the legislature in June and arrived on the governor's desk last Thursday. Since the legislature is not currently in session, he has 30 days (excluding Sundays) to sign or veto the measure. He can also ignore it during the legislative hiatus and it will be considered vetoed." ...

VA: ATF, VA Police Accused of 'Persecuting' Gun Shows
Submitted by: Ges@tapo

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"The federal agency that regulates U.S. gun dealers stands accused, along with at least three Virginia law enforcement agencies, of trying to shut down legal gun shows through alleged intimidation of gun buyers and sellers. The law enforcement organizations also allegedly broke the law by sharing gun buyers' information with members of the public."

"Annette Gelles, owner of gun show sponsor Showmasters.us, told Cybercast News Service that at least 30 agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) along with nearly 500 Virginia State Police, Henrico County Police and Richmond City Police officers were assigned to the ATF operation targeting her gun show on Aug. 13 and 14 at the Richmond International Raceway and Fairground Complex, outside Richmond, Va." ...

MA: Hank Investigates: License to carry
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"He's a family man--with a good job--he lives on the south shore---and he's allowed to carry a gun. Today--his firearm's for target practice--but he's legally licensed to carry it-concealed---for self defense." ...

"But we obtained town-by-town numbers---and found the percent of adults with those Class A licenses depends on where you live."

"In Boston and Cambridge--fewer than one percent. In Wareham and Millville..around 9 percent. Rowe and Savoy more than 26 percent..and Oakham, more than 44 per cent." ...

WA: Why did suspect have access to deputy's weapon?
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"A judge set bail at $1 million for a Kenmore man accused of murdering a convenience store clerk."

"The suspect lived with a King County deputy and now neighbors want to know how the suspect got access to the officer's gun."

"The 23-year-old suspect has several criminal convictions first-degree arson, first-degree burglary and third-degree theft and has threatened to commit suicide."

"He is accused of grabbing a gun belonging to the King County Sheriff's deputy with whom he lived and using that Glock semi-automatic pistol to fatally shoot a convenience store clerk near his home in Kenmore, Wash." ...

AZ: Shot motorist denies provoking officer
Submitted by: Michael Lewis

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"A Phoenix man shot in the back by a Tolleson police officer during a traffic stop said Tuesday that he did nothing to provoke violence as authorities have alleged."

"'Police pulled me over for making a U-turn,' David Dewayne Russell said. 'I wish they would have given me a ticket instead of a bullet.'"

"Russell, 33, said he was treated Monday at a Phoenix hospital before Arizona Department of Public Safety officers told him later in the day that he was free to go." ...

"Officer Frank Valenzuela, a DPS spokesman, said Tuesday that based on a preliminary investigation, the officers believe Russell made a move, as if lunging for a weapon. ...."

"Russell said he never made such a move. He said there were no weapons or contraband inside his car." ...

MI: Mayor's pal gets deal in gun case
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Bobby Ferguson, a contractor for the City of Detroit and a close friend of Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, pleaded guilty Monday to a charge that he pistol-whipped an employee last year."

"Ferguson's plea came just before his trial was set to begin, sparing him intense media coverage at a time when Kilpatrick is running for re-election."

"The deal Ferguson struck with prosecutors, however, conflicts with Kilpatrick's calls for the prosecutor's office to stop bargaining with people accused of using guns to commit crimes."

"Under the plea agreement, Ferguson, 36, would serve 10 months ... and be on probation for five years. ... Ferguson would be placed on work release so he can leave the jail during business hours to run his company." ...

New Zealand: Police to destroy old Remington firearms
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Police will destroy $200,000 worth of firearms when they upgrade to semi-automatics because of a UN convention designed to prevent the illicit trade of weapons."

"During the next 12 months police will spend $3 million replacing 880 Remington rifles with semi-automatics."

"NZ First MP Ron Mark, and the Sporting Shooters Association have criticised the decision to destroy the Remingtons, saying it's a 'politically correct move' that wastes taxpayers' money."

"However, police say they have no choice because New Zealand, as a member of the United Nations, is compelled to abide by a convention designed to control firearm numbers and prevent illegal trade in them." ...

AL: 7-year-old found playing with gun
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"'Finders keepers, losers weepers.'"

"We've all heard it said and probably have said it ourselves, but the way of the playground is not the way of the world."

"Recently, a .22 caliber, single-shot pistol made it's way into the hands of a 7-year-old boy who found it lying on the ground near his home on Fourth Avenue North."

"The boy took the pistol into his house and began playing with it until his mother saw him and notified police."

"'Fortunately, the gun wasn't loaded,' said Clanton Police Detective Keith Maddox. 'If it had been loaded, it could have been a whole different story.'" ...
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Submitter's Note: A perfect example of how 'lock up your safety' programs can fail to 'protect the children'.

SD: Fall River County 4-H youths do well at county shoot
Submitted by: Chuck B

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"The South Dakota 4-H Shooting Sports program offers training and guidance in safe and responsible handling of firearms in a fun and challenging environment under the guidance of trained leaders and coaches. The goal of the 4-H Shooting Sports Program is to teach life skills, such as self-confidence, respect and concentration using firearms and archery as a means to achieve this. ..."

This year Fall River County had 13 youths qualify for and attend the State Shoot in Ft. Pierre in April. Nathan Woehl qualified for the National Team in .22 pistol and attended the National 4-H Shoot in Columbia, Missouri in June placing seventh in 22 pistol - Camp Perry Round and ninth in 22 pistol-slow fire bullseye."...

MN: Churches challenge handgun law
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Two Twin Cities churches asked a Hennepin County judge to issue a temporary injunction against some of the requirements in Minnesota's handgun law."

"Attorneys for Edina Community Lutheran Church and Unity Church-Unitarian in St. Paul on Monday asked Judge LaJune Lange for an injunction against some of the law's requirements as they apply to religious institutions."

"David Lillehaug, representing the Edina church, and Marshall Tanick, representing Unity, argued that requirements to put up signs using a specific size, typeface and language infringe on the churches' religious messages. Such requirements make the state an editor over the churches' message, Lillehaug argued." ...

MO: Conservation area's rifle range open to the public
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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"The rifle range at Ranacker Conservation Area is now open to public use. The existing range was closed and a new one constructed across the creek above the floodplain."

"The new range has an additional 100-yard target, larger target berms and a partial perimeter berm. New shooting benches have been installed on a concrete slab, allowing for the sweeping up of shell casings."

"A large parking lot has also been built to allow for increased usage of the area."

"The previous range did not offer a 100-yard target, was subject to flooding and was not designed to handle the amount of use that it received."

"The renovations were designed to address these shortcomings and improve the area for public use." ...

NY: Triggering gun safety
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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"In his 19 years with the Fulton Police Department, Investigator Dean Burridge hasn't responded to a case of a child being accidentally shot."

"'I've been lucky,' he said Saturday morning at the Fulton Farmers Market, where he was distributing free gun locks that will, he hopes, keep his luck going."

"According to Safe Kids, an international injury-prevention organization, gun accidents killed 60 children under the age of 15 in 2002. Gun accidents, the group said, sent 231 children under 15 to the hospital in 2003." ...
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KABA Note: A gun lock on your gun at home will not protect your child from the gun they find in the bushes or at a friend's house.

ME: Small Arms Range Opens at Bangor
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"The Navy opened a new $12 million small arms shooting range Monday in Naval Base Kitsap at Bangor."

"The 43,500-square-foot indoor facility quadruples the capacity of the Navy's old shooting range at Camp Wesley Harris."

"Only one of five ranges has been in use at that site, which is listed on the state's register of hazardous sites for lead and chromium contamination from spent ammunition."

"In addition to four operational ranges, the new facility has state-of-the-art environmental safeguards, including a protective catch system for bullets and an air filtration system." ...

MI: Michigan Committee Formed to Protect Hunting
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Michigan sportsmen have formed a campaign committee to protect the state's proud hunting tradition. The committee will raise funds and awareness to defeat a 2006 ballot issue to ban dove hunting."

"The Citizens for Wildlife Conservation Committee (CWCC) is a coalition of leading sportsmen's organizations established to defeat a referendum to ban Michigan's dove hunt. The CWCC partners include the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance (USSA), National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), Michigan United Conservation Clubs, National Rifle Association and Safari Club International. All sportsmen's organizations are being recruited to join the coalition." ...

MO: Gun-lock group targets Joplin
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Supporters touted a program that provides free gun locks for gun owners with children on Monday afternoon in Joplin."

"Representatives from Project ChildSafe, a national program that promotes safe practices for handling and storing firearms, said they have distributed more than 840,000 free gun-safety kits in Missouri since embarking on program more than two years ago."

"A cable-style gun lock and a firearm-safety brochure compose each kit. The locks can be used with any rifle, shotgun or handgun, and require only 10 seconds to apply, said Shari LeGate, a spokeswoman for Project ChildSafe."

"'Ten seconds is worth the life of any child,' she said." ...
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Submitter's Note: And in some situations, ten seconds could be the rest of your life . . .

UK: Caught in Gun Terror
Submitted by: Mark Townsend

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"A FISHING trip turned into a nightmare for a Sheffield father and son after they were surrounded by armed police and locked up - for buying toy guns."

"Martin Pearson today hit out at the 'heavy handed' treatment after he and son Alex, aged 14, were arrested and held for more than five hours by police."

"The drama unfolded after the pair bought a plastic pistol and rifle from a stall on the seafront during their fishing trip to Scarborough."

"A worried member of the public spotted the father and son with the guns and alerted police."

"Armed police swooped on the pair and surrounded them before they were handcuffed and put in a van while sniffer dogs searched the car." ...

UK: Most Britons Would Sacrifice Liberties for Better Security
Submitted by: D. Finlayson

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"Almost three-quarters of respondents in a new British poll say they would be willing to give up some civil liberties to improve security against terrorist attacks." ...

"An ICM poll for The Guardian newspaper asked: 'Do you think it is right or wrong to lose some civil liberties to improve our security against terrorist attacks?' Seventy-three percent of respondents were in favor of the trade-off, while 17 percent rejected it." ...

"Government ministers have expressed hope that British judges will weight security considerations against individual suspects' rights when acting in terror-related cases, and Blair warned that he may amend human rights legislation if necessary." ...
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Submitters Note: What Liberties do they have left to surrender?

KABA Note: Interesting assumption in the question, that losing "some civil liberties" will, in fact, "improve our security against terrorist attacks".