Keep and Bear Arms - Gun Owners Home Page

OH: 4 recent self-defense shootings raise questions about law, safety
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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In a recent four-week period, four local residents who were threatened by armed individuals opened fire, shooting the people who had allegedly drawn or fired the weapons first. One incident left a would-be robber dead after a homeowner shot and killed him inside his home.

It�s a recent trend that leaves police torn between public safety concerns and law enforcement objectives.

�If your life is genuinely in danger ... I would expect people to fight for their lives or their family�s lives,� said Dayton police Lt. Patrick Welsh, a former prosecuting attorney. �But we also encourage people to think, �What can I do to avoid being placed in that situation in the first place?� �

KY: Kentucky pastor drops his flock for his Glock
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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The Kentucky pastor who drew notice earlier this year for hosting a God-and-guns event at his church is giving up his flock for his Glock.

Pastor Ken Pagano resigned his post last month at the New Bethel Church in Louisville, Ky., after nearly 30 years in the ministry, saying he wants to focus on Second Amendment and church-security issues.

"Thirty years was a good, long run, but it's time for a change," Mr. Pagano said in an interview with The Washington Times. "If I can write my own ticket, I want to get involved more in Second Amendment issues as they affect the church, and I can do more from outside the pulpit than from behind it."

Feminist DV service providers fight for cash and control, not equality
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Respecting Accuracy in Domestic Abuse Reporting (RADAR,) a non-profit non-partisan organization of both genders working to improve our nation�s approach to solving domestic violence says the problem stems from the blatantly gender biased Violence Against Women Act. Their latest campaign �Restore Civil Rights to Domestic Violence Laws� shows how domestic violence laws violate Constitutional protections found in the First Amendment (right to assembly and to free speech), Second Amendment (right to bear arms), Fourth Amendment (probable cause for arrest), Fifth Amendment (due process), and Fourteenth Amendment (equal treatment under the law.)

TX: Vendors glad ammo is back
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Don Parsons stocked up on cases of bullets and shells Sunday at the Texas Gun & Knife Association show in the Abilene Civic Center.

�I sure am glad those prices have gone down a bit,� he said as he prepares to guide deer hunters on his land north of Abilene when open season starts the first Saturday of November. �It was pretty bad there for a while.�

Ammunition prices shot up after President Barack Obama�s election in November, which sent gun enthusiasts who had enjoyed eight years of Repulican rule rushing to stores to stock up on ammunition before any gun control laws could take effect.

GA: Students Carrying Guns Solution To Crime?
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Students For Concealed Carry On Campus is fighting to change Georgia law. The group wants to make it legal for students at all universities across the state to carry guns or knives on campus.

�Currently it is a felony for a student to have a weapon on campus. This is our second amendment right this is what we are guaranteed by the constitution and somewhere along the way people decided stripping that right would make us safer and it hasn�t it has made us targets,� said Matt Lewis with Students For Concealed Carry On Campus.

This year there has been a rash of crimes against Georgia Tech students on and off campus. Between May 4 and June 21, at least six Georgia Tech students were the victims of crime on or near the Georgia Tech campus.

Peace, Brother. But what about Chicago?
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Obama's so-called program for change never provided a single piece of peacemaking fruit, a thoroughly sad fact to which the Chicago Police Department can readily testify. In Barack Obama's entire tenure as a state senator in Illinois, the only "peace" initiative he undertook was his vote for a gun ban so radical that it would have single-handedly gutted the Second Amendment. Would a gun ban have saved Derrion Albert? No. Violence goes a whole lot deeper than a person's weapon of choice.

Campaign begins to start gun treaty negotiations
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Last year, the assembly overwhelmingly endorsed a working group to move toward negotiations by a vote of 147-2, with the U.S. and Zimbabwe casting "no" votes. Others were either absent or abstained.

Whether President Barack Obama's administration will now back negotiations remains to be seen.

Gun control is a hotly contentious issue in the United States, where the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees citizens the right to "keep and bear arms," and powerful lobby groups routinely oppose almost every effort to restrict gun sales and ownership _ and usually win.

Supporters of a new treaty stress that it will not interfere with legal arms sales but will target illegal weapons transfers.

PA: Serial robber shot in self defense by concealed carry permit holder
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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A Philadelphia, PA robber who victimized three people in a single night was fatally shot in self defense by his third victim.

Police say that a robber, who had already victimized two other people that evening, approached his third victim just after midnight. The robber reportedly shoved the victim against a vehicle, threatened him, and demanded money. The victim, who was armed for self defense, drew his handgun and shot the robber, ending the attack. A bystander called 911, and police arrived to find the robber dead and the victim unharmed. The victim had a concealed carry permit, and police say they do not expect any charges will be filed against the robbery victim.

TX: Texas home invader shot in self defense
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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An early morning home invasion in Bexar County, TX ended with the home invader shot and his victim unharmed.

Police say that shortly after 5 AM on Thursday, 24 year old Cardell Deon Joseph broke in through the front door of a home on the 11400 block of South Foster Road. The home owner, whose name has not been released, is said to have shot Joseph once in self defense, striking him in the ribcage area. Joseph then fled to a nearby vehicle, which he drove a short distance before crashing, according to police. Joseph is said to have been conscious after the crash, but then died shortly thereafter. County records reportedly indicate that Joseph has previous arrests for drug possession and resisting arrest.

TX: 'Zero tolerance' a thing of the past in Waco schools
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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�Zero tolerance� is officially a thing of the past as Waco schools make it policy to consider mitigating factors such as self-defense when doling out punishment to students.

The Waco Independent School District board of trustees recently approved the 2009-10 Code of Conduct, which includes the requirement that district staff consider certain factors when issuing out-of-school suspensions and expulsions and when making placements to the disciplinary alternative education program. Those factors include: self-defense, student disability, student�s disciplinary history and intent or lack of intent at the time the student engaged in the conduct. Previously, it was a recommendation rather than a requirement to consider these factors.

Polls Show Record Low Support for Stricter Gun Laws
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Among the surveys highlights:

*Only 39% of Americans say the United States needs stricter gun control;

*50% are opposed to stricter gun control laws and 11% are not sure;

*69% of adults say city governments do not have the right to prevent citizens from owning handguns;

*87% of Republicans, 52% of Democrats, and 72% of "unaffiliateds" say cities do not have the right to ban handgun ownership;

*71% of Americans continue to believe that the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right of an average citizen to own a gun, and;

*63% of voters agreed with the Supreme Court's landmark District of Columbia v. Heller decision, saying the Second Amendment granted individuals the right to own a gun for self-defense.

VA: McDonnell and Deeds give a personal take on social issues
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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GUN CONTROL

Q. Do you have a handgun in your home? How would you explain its presence or absence to your children? Did any personal experience influence your position on gun rights?

Deeds: I own several hunting rifles and a shotgun, but I don't own a handgun or keep a handgun in my home.

My grandfather taught me to shoot at a young age, and I've taught my children to enjoy the outdoors through hunting, fishing and horseback riding.

...

McDonnell: I don't personally own a handgun. The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution clearly states that every law-abiding citizen has the right to own a firearm and that such fundamental rights must be protected.

CA: Keep an eye on the big picture
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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I'm unsure which case Cynthia Van Auken was referring to in her recent letter to the editor. There are many instances where authorities continually violate civil rights. Property confiscation from alleged criminals not yet prosecuted or convicted, Ruby Ridge and Waco come to mind. ...

All civil rights are guaranteed by the Second Amendment. This protection gives each citizen the power and tools to protect themselves, not only from criminals, but from allegedly well-intentioned government actions as well. In the cases mentioned above, the authorities acted beyond their powers and outside of legal bounds, and citizens paid the price. If we aren't cautious, the ultimate price will be all of our rights.

GA: Weapons not necessary in daily life
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Those stories brought back the frightening images sent over the news wires recently of people at "peaceful, tea-bag protests" sauntering around with semi-automatic weapons on their person. Of course, these individuals were only demonstrating their Second Amendment right to bear arms.

If these instances - and a growing number of others like them - don't scare you, then you're probably one of those people who has fooled himself into believing the NRA types who are calling for "right-thinking, God-fearing Americans" to arm themselves against ... well, that's the part they're not so clear on.

God and guns, Part 1
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Here's "Freedom" entry No. 49 on the Second Amendment:

Official Chuck Norris Fact No. 49:

"Chuck Norris sleeps with a pillow under his gun."

Let's be honest �

This past year I shot (no pun intended) an NRA public service announcement [now on YouTube] in which I shared my conviction about self-defense: "If some thug breaks into my home, I could use my roundhouse kick. But I prefer he look down the barrel of my gun."

VT: A Bear Ate My iPhone!
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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The bear sniffed and pawed at the iPhone, as Rowley briskly made her exit. Apparently, Rowley was not too concerned that her iPhone was now in the possession of a dangerous teenager and considered a data security breech.

Two days later, armed with a baseball bat, Rowley returned to the scene of the crime. She wanted her iPhone back--and found it. Of course, it was marred with teeth and claw marks.

Rowley figured the good folks at Apple would understand and help her out. Heck, they might even applaud the iPhone's new application for self-defense. Alas, they didn't believe her. (If Apple doesn't believe the CISO of the state of Vermont, then the rest of us don't stand a chance.)

CA: With 9th Circuit set to fear Firearms case, California AG is mum on gun control
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Dan Levine in The Recorder writes in a Sept. 22 article that as "a hard-fought firearms case" is set to go before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for arguments that start Sept. 24, California Attorney General Jerry Brown has not submitted a brief on the case as yet -- even though it comes from Alameda County, his home county.

Meanwhile, Levine notes, "in another case across the country, involving the same issue, Brown filed an amicus that has gun control advocates shaking their heads."

"After the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided that the Second Amendment didn't apply to state or local governments ... Brown joined those asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review the ruling," Levine continues.

Do Gunshows Have Loopholes?
Submitted by: Larry

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Thursday�s Nashville Tennessean newspaper�s lead story headline is "NY slams gun show �loophole� in Tenn." The story is about a purported undercover investigation of gun shows done by the City of New York. Mayor Michael Bloomberg has long been an anti-gun activist.

Apparently, Bloomberg sent investigators to gun shows in Tennessee and other states, using tiny hidden cameras to record what they considered illegal activity. They allege that guns from Southern states are regularly found to be used in felonies in New York, and that it is too easy for criminals to buy guns at gun shows.

Who Will Protect Our Children from the Police? Submitted by: Larry	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
"In February of last year, Lloyd gunned down a man named Cornel McKinney, at the time his ex-wife�s new husband. Lloyd shot McKinney twenty-four times, but wasn�t prosecuted because the Chicago Police Department, for which he worked at the time, accepted his claim that the shooting was an act of self-defense."

New York Post Promotes Bigotry against Gun Owners Submitted by: David Codrea Website: http://www.examiner.com/x-1417-Gun-Rights-Examiner	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
"Ms. Haberman and her editors are engaging in what statist elites like themselves call 'hate speech' when it's employed against one of their preferred demographic groups. That makes them bigots, and prejudice, we know, stems from ignorance and hate."

ATF may take action vs. gun show dealers caught in Mayor Bloomberg's gun sting Submitted by: NYSRPA-PVF Website: http://www.nysrpa-pvf.org	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
Smile, gun show dealers: You were on hidden camera, and the federal government may be coming after you. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is looking into Mayor Bloomberg's gun show sting project and may take action against the dealers involved.

Why Won't Press Question Bloomberg Gun Show Motives?
Submitted by: David Codrea
Website: http://www.examiner.com/x-1417-Gun-Rights-Examiner

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"This strikes no one as... creepy? This sounds like someone who should be commanding a monopoly of armed force?"

"Forgive some of us if we suspect all the pots and pans Bloomberg is banging over out-of-state gun shows is more a matter of generating tons of free publicity, stoking his insufferable ego and imposing his will on all American gun owners, and less about combating violent crime in the Big Apple."

NY: Guns in homes actually promote safety
Submitted by: NYSRPA-PVF
Website: http://www.nysrpa-pvf.org

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Your Wednesday editorial, "Bigger threats to home safety," regurgitates the unsubstantiated claims of the Brady campaign to eliminate firearms, while ignoring scholarly work that proves the exact opposite - i.e., thoroughly documented and researched books such as "More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun Control Laws," by Professor John R. Lott Jr., which statistically and irrefutably proves that in every instance where a concealed weapon permit has been issued, violent crime decreases.