Keep and Bear Arms - Gun Owners Home Page

CA: Southern California patrol deputy loses his AR-15 rifle, ammunition
Submitted by: jac

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

A Southern California patrol deputy lost an AR-15 Tuesday after placing it on the trunk of a patrol vehicle and driving away before realizing his weapon was missing.

The Orange County Sheriff�s Department officer has yet to find the weapon, according to the Orange County Register. The deputy was getting ready to start a shift at the Aliso Viejo station and placed the AR-15 rifle in a black nylon bag with three loaded magazines on the car�s trunk. He got distracted and drove off with the weapon still on the vehicle, according to officials.

Submitters note: Obama needs to close this loophole where guns are transferred without a background check.

FL: Florida Senate approves changes to �stand your ground� law; fate in House unclear
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

By a 24-12 vote, the Florida Senate on Thursday approved changes to the state�s controversial �stand your ground� law that are endorsed by the National Rifle Association but which opponents argue would �stack the deck against justice for the dead,� especially if the victim is a racial minority.

The legislation shifts the burden of proof in a pre-trial hearing from defendants to prosecutors, requiring state attorneys to prove �by clear and convincing evidence� why a defendant could not claim �stand your ground� in self-defense cases.

AZ: Taser unveils new weapon for the public
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

A first of its kind self-defense weapon for the public has been released by Scottsdale-based Taser International.

Taser Pulse is about the size of a new smart phone and can easily fit in a pocket or purse, but it also packs a punch and can be used for self-defense.

�This is designed to give you a 30 second window to get out of a very dangerous situation so you can call 911 and get to safety,� said Steve Tuttle with Taser International.

FL: Unanimous Florida Senate removes aggravated assault crimes from mandatory 20-year sentences
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

A unanimous Florida Senate removed the crime of aggravated assault Thursday from the list of gun-related crimes requiring a mandatory 20-year prison sentence under a law known as 10-20-Life.

The 38-0 vote reflects a growing belief by political leaders inflexible minimum mandatory sentencing laws can produce arbitrary and unjust penalties. It's a philosophical evolution by a tough-on-crime Republican Legislature that passed 10-20-Life nearly two decades ago during an epidemic of gun-related crimes across the state.

FL: Open carry gun bill likely dead because of House, Senate disagreement
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

A bill that would allow holders of concealed weapon permits to openly carry handguns is likely dead this session with strong disagreement between the House and Senate over how far the proposal should go.

Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, said Thursday he will block an amendment to his bill that removes the allowance to openly carry weapons and replace it with language to only forgive accidental display of weapons in public. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami, said he would block the proposal if the bill does not include that amendment.

Field and Stream writer laments SHOT Show militarization
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

�You have to look fairly hard for something designed to kill animals instead of people,� wrote F&S�s David E. Petzal in his regular The Gun Nut column.

Decrying the steady evolution in items from guns to accessories and clothing that have moved away from more traditional hunting and shooting sports towards the growing self-defense, concealed carry and practical shooting market, Field and Stream regular Petzal had a week full of bad days at the 38th Annual event in Las Vegas earlier this month.

KY: Kentucky Legislative Sportsmen�s Caucus hears Second Amendment issue at first meeting
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

At Tuesday�s meeting, representatives from Knife Rights, Inc. � Chairman Doug Ritter and Director of Legislative Affairs Todd Rathner � talked about the need to strengthen Kentucky�s knife laws.

�One of our roles as a caucus is to protect our Second Amendment rights,� said Senator Webb. �Knife rights fall under the Second Amendment and some of us fear that those rights are at risk.�

IL: Illinois Supreme Court Strikes Gun Law
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

While a state may prohibit felons from carrying readily accessible guns despite the Second Amendment - and in fact Illinois has a law forbidding felons from possessing any kind of firearm - the AUUW law applies to everyone.

In reversing the appellate court ruling and vacating the conviction and sentence, Justice Anne Burke wrote for the court: "The offense, as enacted by the Legislature, does not include as an element of the offense the fact that the offender has a prior felony conviction. An unconstitutional statute does not 'become constitutional' simply because it is applied to a particular category of persons who could have been regulated, had the Legislature seen fit to do so."

With the Supreme Court on sidelines, gun control becomes fight over power
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

The current debate over gun control policy in Washington has Congress and the Obama administration at odds over which branch has more power -- and the Supreme Court has stayed on the sidelines.

President Barack Obama, expressing frustration with Congress not passing gun control measures, announced in January he would act on his own to require more background checks on gun sales.

But two weeks later, Attorney General Loretta Lynch went to Capitol Hill and confirmed what many legal observers noted: The actions seem to restate the current laws. Lynch told Republican lawmakers that the actions don't overstep the president's authority because they don't make new laws.

IA: Iowa House bill allows loaded guns on ATVs, snowmobiles Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: http://www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
Iowans could legally carry loaded firearms while using an all-terrain vehicle or snowmobile as long as they have a valid weapons permit under a bill advanced Thursday by an Iowa House subcommittee. House File 2066 was authored by Rep. Jarad Klein, R-Keota, who said it was requested by constituents in his largely rural district in southeast Iowa.

Women Are More Likely to Be Killed in States With Higher Rates of Gun Ownership Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: http://www.marktaff.com	There is 1 comment on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
Women are more likely to be killed by someone they know in states with high gun ownership, a new study says. The paper, written by researchers at the Boston University School of Public Health, is the first to examine state homicide rates against gender, state gun ownership levels and the relationship between victim and killer.

VT: Lawmakers Hear Testimony On BTV Firearms Bills
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

Advocates on both sides of the gun control issue testified to a Vermont House committee Thursday on three bills that would only affect the Queen City.

�It's chipping away at my right to self-defense and my ability to defend myself,� said Arthur Veto, a gun owner from Burlington.

�We have a solution to a problem that doesn't exist,� said another gun owner.

Gun rights advocates were at the State House to dissuade the House Committee on Government Operations from approving changes to Burlington�s city charter.

�If one municipality gets that control, we will see a series of ballot issues to take up,� said Evan Hughes, Vice President of NRA Foundation Projects for Vermont Federation of Sportsmen�s Clubs.

ME: Living In Lembo Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: http://www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
Sixty-seven-year-old Harvey Lembo of Rockland, Maine, is disabled and relies on a motorized wheelchair to get around. His disability, coupled with the stash of prescription drugs that he needs to get through the day, has made him an attractive target for criminals�in six years, he has been robbed six times.

KS: Proposed bill focuses on anti-discrimination of gun dealers
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

The bill is designed to protect the gun industry from discrimination by banks and insurance companies. The industry says there's been a problem nationwide with denial of loans and insurance policies to businesses that are involved with the gun industry.

In testimony Thursday, though, only one instant of apparent discrimination could be found, a case in eastern Kansas where a dealer was denied an insurance policy he later got with another provider.

But that growing concern about discrimination against gun dealers is why Senator Jacob LaTurner, (R) Pittsburg, introduced this bill.

Anti-gunners unveil measure to repeal �junk lawsuit� protection law
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

Four pro-gun control Democrats yesterday announced legislation aimed at removing protections for firearms manufacturers and dealers from junk lawsuits, claiming that the 2005 �Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act� (PLCAA) made gun companies �immune from lawsuits.�

Backing the measure are Maryland Rep. Chris Van Hollen, Connecticut Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, and California Rep. Adam Schiff, according to a press release from Van Hollen�s office.

CA: I Bought a Gun Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: http://www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
A single mom goes from gun hater to gun owner in a firsthand experience with the right to bear arms.

IL: No charges expected in shooting death near mayor's house
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

No charges are expected to be filed in the killing of a man during an exchange of gunfire after a dispute at a party blocks from Mayor Rahm Emanuel�s house, police said Thursday.

Pablo Ulloa, 25, was shot and killed about 7:30 p.m. Jan. 8 following an incident at an apartment building in the 1900 block of West Belle Plaine Avenue, authorities said at the time. Ulloa was killed after he pulled out a gun and began shooting, police said.

No charges are expected to be filed in connection with the killing because the man who shot Ulloa acted in self-defense, a police spokesman said Thursday.

TX: Open Carry: "A Tale of 2 Coffee Shops" Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: http://www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
Open Carry has been the "law of the land" here in Texas since January 1st. Now that more businesses are aware of it some are not only choosing to ban open carry but concealed carry too. Some Second Amendment advocates have taken notice and aren't too happy. You could call this 'A Tale of 2 Coffee Shops�, coffee shop number 1, Cafe Aragona on Congress Avenue in downtown Austin.

KY: Two self-defense shootings this week in Louisville
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

A deadly shooting near Louisville�s Iroquois Park may have been an act of self-defense. Louisville Metro Police Department officers responded to a report of a home invasion Thursday at 4 a.m. in the 6800 block of Manslick Road.

Officers found a man shot to death outside the home. They said it appeared the homeowner shot and killed the man after he tried to break in to the home. Investigators would not say if the alleged intruder was shot inside or outside the home.

WV: Bill Would Allow Concealed Carry Without Permit in West Virginia
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

A bill that would allow West Virginians to carry concealed handguns and other deadly weapons without a permit triggered strong opinions during a public hearing at the state Capitol.

House Bill 4145 would allow eligible residents 21 years or older to concealed carry for self-defense purposes without a permit, and also would also allow people between the ages of 18 and 21 to obtain a concealed carry permit. Criminal penalties for carrying without a permit would only apply to people under the age of 18.

MS: Picayune gun dealer: Restore gun rights once felons serve their time
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

A Picayune gun manufacturer and firearm dealer wants felons to have the right to bear arms restored once they have served their time.

�Punishing anyone for possessing the means of self-defense violates our God-given rights,� said Kelly Firearms manager Tavish Kelly in a news release. �If someone is too dangerous to be trusted with his own self-defense, then keep him locked up. But if we believe he should be back on the street, restore his rights. Our Constitution doesn�t let the government make someone a second-class citizen.�

FL: �Open carry� law ready for vote in Florida House
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

Despite discord among the state�s law enforcement officers and passionate efforts to derail it, a National Rifle Association-backed measure to allow nearly 1.5 million people to openly carry guns in Florida is ready for consideration by the full state House.

A compromise version of HB 163 � by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach � easily passed the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday. The 12-4 vote came after 2 1/2 hours of debate that included mentions of terrorism, God and the Wild West, and four unsuccessful amendments aimed at scaling back the drastic shift in public policy.