Keep and Bear Arms - Gun Owners Home Page

Hiring more police is the real answer
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Among the 10 largest cities, Philadelphia now has the dubious distinction of surpassing perennial leader Chicago in terms of murder and violent crime, becoming number one in both categories. Murder and violent crime rates may be going down this year in the rest of Pennsylvania, but Philadelphia's numbers are still going up."

"Philadelphians are understandably scared. But city officials seem only to want to blame others. ... Democrats see the solution as primarily more gun control ..."

"So why are Philadelphia's crime rates increasing so dramatically? To put it bluntly, the city isn't doing a very good job at law enforcement. While the arrest rate for violent crimes such as murder has fallen across the state, arrest rates have plummeted in Philadelphia. ..." ...

Jeff Cooper Remembered (OFCC)
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"The handgun world today mourned the loss of Lt. Col. Jeff Cooper, one of the most influential figures in the shooting industry, who died in his home today surrounded by loved ones."

"Col Cooper was frequently referred to as the father of 'The Modern Technique' of handgun shooting, and considered by many to be the world's foremost expert on the use and history of small arms."

"In 1976, Cooper founded the American Pistol Institute (also known as 'Gunsite') in northern Arizona to train law enforcement, military personnel, and law-abiding citizens."

"Cooper introduced the 'color code' system of awareness in one of his many books, as well as being credited with coining the term hoplophobia, an irrational fear of weapons." ...

AZ: Cooper, firearms expert, dead at 86
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"World-renowned firearms expert Jeff Cooper, founder of the Gunsite firearms training center in Paulden, died Monday afternoon at his home near the training center."

"Cooper, 86, had been battling several health problems in recent years."

"The family plans a private burial ceremony and will announce a memorial ceremony at the National Rifle Association Whittington Center in New Mexico in the near future."

"Cooper had been a member of the NRA Board of Directors." ...

OR: Guns enable rash and fatal actions
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"'Oh, God. Oh, God. This is bad. This is really bad.'"

"With those words, 16-year-old Jeremy O'Sullivan died of a gunshot to the chest in an Albany backyard at about 3 a.m. on July 1, another victim of the Second Amendment."

"Jeremy and his buddies had done some really bad stuff that nigh: drinking, stealing from open cars, stealing a car ... Jeremy jumped a fence into a patio just when the homeowner came into an adjacent room with a gun. The homeowner was afraid. Jeremy is dead."

"The Linn County District Attorney recently found that the shooting met the states standards of an act of self-defense."

"Did Jeremy deserve to die after all those bad things he did? That decision belongs to the courts and a jury, not a bleary-eyed and frightened man at 3 in the morning." ...

AZ: State high court rejects 2 cases on self defense, another awaits
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"The Arizona Supreme Court turned away two appeals of lower court rulings that a new state law on self defense did not apply retroactively to cases pending when the law took effect earlier this year. The justices have yet to decide whether to rule in a different case that produced a contrary ruling on the law."

"The Supreme Court's orders in the two cases, issued without comment, left the reach of the law still in question, attorneys said."

"The justices turned away petitions filed on behalf of men who argued that their defenses should be permitted to cite the new law, which is considered more favorable to defendants than the law it replaced." ...

Philadelphia Area Congressmen Vote With the Gun Traffickers, Says Brady Campaign: What Were They Thinking? (BCPGV)
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"Congressmen Jim Gerlach and Mike Fitzpatrick must not have heard that many of their constituents were in the Pennsylvania state capitol of Harrisburg Tuesday, practically begging state lawmakers to do something to get illegal guns off the streets of Philadelphia."

"Because they were in Washington D.C. voting with the extreme gun lobby and against the law enforcement community for a bill that will make it harder to fight illegal gun trafficking."

"'The United States House of Representatives today chose to pass special interest legislation that benefits the law-breaking gun pushers who make money by selling firearms that end up in the hands of killers, muggers and thieves. ...'" ...

Statement of Brady President Paul Helmke on House Passage of Bill that Protects Gun Dealers that Help Arm Criminals
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Website: HTTP://WWW.RPA-PAC.ORG

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"Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, issued the following statement today regarding the passage of a House bill regarding gun dealers:"

"'The United States House of Representatives today chose to pass special interest legislation that benefits the law-breaking gun pushers who make money by selling firearms that end up in the hands of killers, muggers and thieves. They ignored the concerns of our nation's Mayors and law enforcement leaders who opposed this awful bill.'"

"'One must ask the question: When does this end in our country? How many children and police officers must die before our elected members of Congress stop doing the bidding of the gun lobby? ...'" ...

Where Congress is soft on criminals
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Website: HTTP://WWW.RPA-PAC.ORG

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"House sycophants of the National Rifle Association are aiming this week to hobble the federal government's power to revoke the licenses of rogue gun dealers who arm the underworld. A shameless proposal would replace existing law with wrist-slapping penalties and an impossible definition of 'willful intent' that would hamstring efforts to close lawless marketeers."

"The rhetoric of the approaching debate will undoubtedly invoke sportsmen's rights, but the real issue is the rights of sociopaths and terrorists to make future purchases at their friendly local AK-47 dealer. The House proposal, in fact, would have stopped federal agents from ever revoking the license of Lou's Loans, the Pennsylvania dealer that sold battlefield weapons to one of the co-conspirators in the 1993 assault on the World Trade Center." ...

Mayor Bloomberg and Philadelphia Mayor Street Take Fight Against Illegal Guns to Pennsylvania General Assembly
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"Five months after hosting the first Mayors' Summit on Illegal Guns at Gracie Mansion and fulfilling a promise made in his January State of the City address, Mayor Bloomberg today traveled to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to join Philadelphia Mayor John Street and other mayors from the state to call on the Pennsylvania General Assembly to toughen state gun laws and increase penalties for gun offenders. ..." ...

PA: 'United We Stand for Safer Streets'
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:Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street today led a broad-based, bipartisan coalition of public and private citizens from around the country on an historic trip to the state capitol in Harrisburg to lobby the Pennsylvania General Assembly for stronger gun laws and increased funding for violence prevention programs and jobs."

"'This year 30,000 Americans will be killed not by terrorists or the Iraq War, but as a result of an epidemic of gun violence in our nation,' Mayor Street said. 'These deaths from guns affect every city and every state, rural, suburban, east and west. They diminish us all and they are an alarm we must answer.'" ...

NJ: Palmer on gun problem: Lawmakers dropped ball
Submitted by: RPA-PAC
Website: HTTP://WWW.RPA-PAC.ORG

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"Mayor Douglas H. Palmer yesterday chastised lawmakers for their failure to enact stricter gun laws that he said would reduce urban crime."

"'I'm not playing the race card but look at the victims, look at the areas where our young kids are being gunned down on a daily basis. They are African American, Latino and the poor,' said Palmer."

"'I think legislators in Pennsylvania and New Jersey should have acted on numerous bills that could stem the violence. I dont think we should wait until the victims are white and affluent.'"

"Palmer appeared yesterday before the Senate Law, Public Safety and Veterans Affairs Committee." ...

PA: The handgun limit is a reasonable step
Submitted by: Anonymous

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"Pennsylvanians closer to the center of the state seem more willing to try new ideas than their lawmakers in Harrisburg dare to believe."

"Why? Because when it comes to a proposal as reasonable as a purchase limit of 13 handguns per person per year, many members of the General Assembly have their priorities and loyalties all wrong."

"They would rather be on the leash of the absolutist gun rights lobby than lead Pennsylvanians to greater safety from gun violence. ..." ...

"Myers' bill exempts rifles and collectible antique guns. Add a provision allowing counties to opt out of even this mild limit, and you've got a compromise that most Pennsylvanians could live with. ..." ...

PA: Pennsylvania becomes center of gun-control debate
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Pennsylvania lawmakers held a special session on Tuesday to discuss 94 initiatives to tighten the state's relatively loose gun controls in an effort to reduce gun crime."

"The two-day meeting was attended by the mayors of New York and Trenton, New Jersey, who believe their cities' crime rates are affected by the laxer rules in Pennsylvania. The state has one of the strongest pro-gun lobbies in the country."

"'What happens in Pennsylvania or any other state doesn't stay in Pennsylvania or any other state,' New York's Michael Bloomberg told a news conference. 'We can't fight illegal guns from behind state lines.' He said 85 percent of the guns used by criminals in New York originated outside the city." ...

IL: NRA Backs Judge Powers
Submitted by: RPA-PAC
Website: HTTP://WWW.RPA-PAC.ORG

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"The National Rifle Association (NRA) announced its endorsement of Judge Michael J. Powers for the Third Appellate Court."

"'On behalf of the NRA Political Victory Fund and all our members in the State of Illinois, I am pleased to inform you of your 'A' rating and endorsement for the 2006 General Election for Illinois 3rd District Appellate Judge,' wrote Anthony Roulette, Illinois State Liaison for the NRA, in a letter to Judge Powers."

"Judge Powers also has been endorsed by the Illinois State Rifle Association." ...

NV: Duke endorsed by gun club, former assistant sheriff
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Website: HTTP://WWW.RPA-PAC.ORG

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"The National Rifle Association and a former Mono County assistant sheriff have endorsed Charlie Duke for Lyon County Sheriff."

"Terry Padilla, retired assistant sheriff, wrote in an endorsement letter on behalf of Duke that he has known the former Los Angeles Police Department sergeant for more than 30 years after serving together with the LAPD."

"'Charlie is a modern-day law enforcement professional with a high level of motivation and integrity. Charlie has proven he is not afraid to stand up for what is right, regardless of outside influence,' Padilla wrote." ...

IN: Deputy in standoff faces 3 felonies
Submitted by: Anonymous

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"A Clay County sheriff's deputy was formally charged Monday with three felony counts following a 14-hour standoff at his home with police officers who had come to arrest him."

"A not guilty plea was entered for Jonathan Lambert, 34, during a hearing in Clay Circuit Court. He faces charges of criminal confinement, intimidation and sexual battery, all felonies that each carries possible sentences of six months to three years in prison."
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Submitter's Note: 14 hours? They'd have brought their SWAT team out an assassinated a regular citizen if he didn't come out after five minutes. A domestic disturbance results in a standoff and three felonies. Cops do more harm than good.

IN: Court OKs Ball State shooting lawsuit
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"A federal appeals court is allowing a wrongful death lawsuit to proceed against a former Ball State University police officer who fatally shot an unarmed student."

"Robert Duplain had asked the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago to dismiss the lawsuit by the family of Mike McKinney, arguing that he had qualified immunity as a police officer and had used reasonable force when the student lunged at him in a dark alley."

"U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young previously refused to dismiss the case because he said there was a factual dispute over whether McKinney posed a threat to Duplain. In its Sept. 12 opinion, appeals court denied Duplain's request on the same grounds." ...

IN: Woman shoots self in Hendricks Co. squad car
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"A Brownsburg woman shot herself with a Hendricks County sheriffs deputys back-up handgun today while she sat in a squad car, sheriffs department officials said."

"Nicole C. Butler, 26, was taken to Wishard Hospital in Indianapolis with a gunshot wound to her abdomen. Her condition was unknown but police said she was undergoing surgery."

"The shooting occurred about 5:30 a.m. when two patrol cars responded to a call of a disturbance at the home of Butlers boyfriend in the 2500 block of West County Road 200 South, said sheriffs Capt. Brett Clark."

"Butler was placed alone in the front passenger seat of Deputy Evan Loves squad car while Love talked to Butlers boyfriend at the door of the house, Clark said." ...

ID: Man Who Hawked Rifle As Boy Gets It Back Submitted by: RPA-PAC Website: HTTP://WWW.RPA-PAC.ORG	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
"It was a ricochet nearly 50 years in the making. At age 8, Terry Jackson gave up his prized .22-caliber Winchester short-barrel rifle to get his grandmother a washer. Recently, the 57-year-old got the gun back through a series of chance encounters and conversations." "'I didn't even have much reaction,' said Jackson. 'I was so dumbfounded.'" ...

AR: Almost 300 county residents are carrying concealed weapons
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Website: HTTP://WWW.RPA-PAC.ORG

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"Nearly 300 residents of Clark County have concealed weapons permits, according to the Arkansas State Police. A concealed weapons permit allows a person to carry a weapon, out of view of the public, for self-protection." ...

"Records indicate that 210 residents of Arkadelphia have the licenses, and 38 residents of Gurdon have been issued permits. The breakdown of the remaining licenses is: Amity, six; Alpine, two; and Okolona, 11."

"The number of permits in the county is not excessive, according to David Turner, sheriff-elect of Clark County. 'It all has a lot to do with how people were raised and whether they're comfortable carrying a gun or not,' Turner said." ...

NY: New Yorkers rally for 'illegal' guns
Submitted by: Protector

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"Protesters carried giant-size cutouts of guns as they rallied yesterday in New York City in support of the constitutional right to bear arms, which, they say, Mayor Michael Bloomberg is trying to destroy."

"'He's attacking our gun rights under the guise of attacking illegal guns and crime,' Nic Leobold, an organizer for the event held outside the gates of City Hall in downtown Manhattan, told WND."

"'Tens of thousands of New Yorkers actually own guns which are not registered and are therefore so-called illegal. But these people are not criminals, nor are they violent, they are respectable, responsible citizens and residents who want a dependable way to protect themselves and their loved ones,' Leobold said." ...

IN: What's the danger?
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"I couldn't believe my eyes as I read the front page of the Sept. 22 Star, 'Pack a picnic -- or a gun.' I don't know where to start. How could anyone even consider such a stupid policy? When was the last time you heard about a rape or an armed robbery or a dangerous assault in one of our state parks? Why would anyone even need a handgun in the park? ..."

"Maybe DNR Director Kyle Hupfer is afraid to go into our state parks unarmed, but I can assure him most Hoosiers have enjoyed the beauty and safety of the parks for many years. A voice of reason comes from former Republican mayor of Fort Wayne, Paul Helmke: 'I know I won't feel safer going to a state park thinking everyone could be carrying a gun.'" ...
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Submitter's Note: Hardly everyone: just those who have been fingerprinted, passed a background check and registered with the state. Oh, and criminals who don't care about the damned laws.

VA: In Newport News, ban on weapons amid library stacks ignites war of words
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Let's just call what's going on in Newport News a case of library lunacy."

"Because no matter how hysterical people get about it - pistols in the periodical section, watch out! - this is nothing more than a silly shootout of words."

"On one side, we have the librarians. On the other side, we have the gun-rights folks."

"The issue is whether public libraries in Virginia can ban guns. The short answer appears to be no."

"That hasn't stopped the well-intentioned librarians of Newport News from trying. Yet, chances are, if they don't edit their official 'Library Behavior Guide' - posted in all city libraries - they could find themselves on the losing end of a court challenge." ...

TX: Packing heat, post-Katrina
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"When the 'Katricians' rise up in violence, Houstonians had better be packing some serious heat."

"That's the inflammatory message of a gun-shop commercial on the radio that gives Hurricane Katrina evacuees a vaguely alien-sounding name and advises Texans to take up arms to defend themselves against crimes committed by the newcomers."

"'When the 'Katricians' themselves are quoted as saying the crime rate is gonna go up if they don't get more free rent, then it's time to get your concealed-handgun license,' warns the radio ad by Jim Pruett, who co-hosts a talk-radio show and owns Jim Pruett's Guns & Ammo, a self-styled 'anti-terrorist headquarters' that sells knives, shotguns, semi-automatic rifles and other weapons. ..." ...

IN: Gun-control rhetoric
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"I was surprised to read such an anti-gun editorial in the Sept. 23 Star. I see nothing wrong with the repeal of laws prohibiting licensed permit holders to carry weapons onto state park territory. The rhetoric in the piece could have been taken directly from Handgun Control's literature."

"The editorial begins with the conspiracy theory that only subservience to the gun lobby could cause Gov. Daniels to repeal the prohibition. Respect for the Constitution and the basic human right to self-defense can't possibly enter into the governor's decision. Later, it repeats the gun controllers' propaganda that issuing gun permits somehow gives citizens the liberty to shoot fellow human beings. ..." ...