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Mike Vanderboegh: An Open Letter to Mary Mitchell (And Other Antigun Politicians and Journalists of Her Ilk)
Submitted by: Mike Vanderboegh

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"My dear Ms. Mitchell,"

"If I may, I would like to introduce you to the Law of Unintended Consequences and to Tomoslav Mitrovic. First, let me recap what I understand from your modest proposal to turn Chicago into a police state. I will assume that the limits of your tyrannical appetite are found at the geographical borders of 'Shortshanks' Daley's dysfunctional Democratic paradise, but if they do not then what I have to say is even more true."

"You recount approvingly the overwhelming police presence now guarding the sacred manse of Barack H. Obama -- the roadblocks, the personnel barricades, the invasive searches of pedestrians walking on public streets, the forced showing of identity cards. 'Ausweiss, bitte. Ja?'" ...

Concealed Carry: Stack the Salami
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Most of us are familiar with the 'salami' illustration � the analogy of gun owners losing our freedoms one tiny piece at a time like a salami being sliced extra thin. With each oh-so-reasonable 'first step' our rights are gradually diminished. What enables that 'salami' strategy is that the other side is smarter than we are � they are willing to take what they can get, and when that doesn't 'work' they use it as evidence that more is needed. Meanwhile many in our movement look for a total repeal of existing gun laws and consider acceptance of anything less to be the rankest compromise of principle." ...

Force, Liberty, and the Potential of the Third Party Vote
Submitted by: strarigharrow

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"The future of this nation will be settled by force. Make no mistake about that. Either the public will be victorious through the ability to muster the most force, or not enough will participate and state force will prevail. Or the public will only resist verbally and acquiesce to the threat of state force."

"Either way, the issue will be settled by force. If McCain wins, the usurpation of citizen rights will be much slower and much more subtle, thus making the possibility of non-resistance in any effective manner less likely. For, by the time the public awakes, they will no longer have the wherewithal to resist actively and most probably not even the right to speak in opposition. ..." ...

Study reveals the obvious: Gun shows do not increase homicides or suicides
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"The Detroit News recently reported on yet another academic study which has found no evidence that gun shows lead to substantial increases in either gun-related homicides or suicides."

"From the story:"

"Gun shows don't contribute to increased homicide or suicide rates, according to results of a study announced Wednesday by the University of Michigan's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy."

"The ... examination of gun death data in the weeks surrounding more than 3,400 California and Texas gun shows concluded tighter regulation of the flea market-like operations did nothing to reduce firearms-related deaths in the following month." ...

A Knob Creek Diary
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"WarOnGuns regulars know I took the weekend off. I was at Knob Creek. It was great."

"I got a chance to finally meet Len Savage and Mike Vanderboegh in person."

"Mike brought his in-development manuscript for 'Absolved' and shared how the story will continue to unfold and where we'll find ourselves when it 'ends.' I'll presume to believe you'll really like it. We also talked about strategies for promoting the book and getting it into the hands of the public."

"Len was extremely generous and let my son and Mike's daughter shoot several guns. You can tell a lot about a man by watching him exhibit pure joy, and while both kids had a blast, pun intended, it's hard to say who was having more fun." ...

Defending $3.6 Million Fee for Heller Case, Gura Returns D.C.'s Fire
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"The fee fight over the most high-profile Supreme Court case of the century carries on."

"The team of lawyers that represented Dick Heller before the High Court continues to face opposition from the District of Columbia over its nearly $3.6 million fee request. ..."

"As the Legal Times reports, negotiations over fees between Team Gura and D.C. broke down in September. The District filed an opposition brief, complaining that the $3.6 million request was 'highly unreasonable.' ..." ...

"Last week, Gura filed a reply[.pdf], attacking D.C. for mounting a defense valued 'into the millions' while attempting to diminish the work of the Heller team." ...

AL: Police say would-be robber shot dead
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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FULL TEXT BELOW:

A Fairfield man attempting to rob another man in Pleasant Grove was shot and killed by his intended victim Monday night, police say.

Authorities are looking for others believed involved.

Pleasant Grove Police Chief Bill Waites said a man went to check on a relative's home on Newberry Drive in the Ridgeway subdivision about 9 p.m. The man got out of his pickup truck and was approached by two armed men who demanded money

"He pulled his own gun and shot one of them," Waites said. Waites would not identify the shooter.

Marquis Ledelle Strange, 18, of Fairfield, was pronounced dead on the scene.

This is Pleasant Grove's first homicide of the year, he said.

TN: Police: Homeowner Shot & Killed Burglar
Submitted by: RPA-PAC
Website: http://www.rpa-pac.org

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FULL TEXT BELOW:

Memphis police & homicide investigators are looking into the city's latest homicide. Officials tell Eyewitness News that a homeowner found the burglar in his home early Tuesday morning.

It happened in the 3200 block of Scenic Highway near Dundee around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. Police say the homeowner shot the accused burglar after a struggle insued, killing him.

The homeowner was pistol whipped by the burglary suspect, and is being treated at the hospital. It's unknown if he will face charges.

OH: Not Your Typical School Shooting
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"In modern times, the words 'school' and 'shooting' put together, always rocks us parents to our knees. We hear the headline news about another school shooting and instantly fear for our childrens lives, regardless of whether they are elementary age or college age or anything in between."

"Recently I witnessed something I have not witnessed in three decades! Yes, you can put the words school and shooting together in the very best sense of the words. Let me explain." ...

SC: 12-year-old charged with concealed toy pistol
Submitted by: LaneRN

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FULL TEXT BELOW

Authorities say a 12-year-old Charleston student was arrested and faces expulsion for bringing an unloaded air gun to school.

The Post and Courier of Charleston reported Tuesday that police found the gun in the boy's bookbag after a student alerted a teacher at C.E. Williams Middle, a magnet school for creative and scientific arts.

A police report said the juvenile was charged Oct. 7 with possession of a concealed toy pistol, then released to his mother.

District spokesman Elliot Smalley said the boy was suspended and recommended for expulsion.

AFL-CIO Joins The Gun Wars With Targeted Mail Blitz Defending Obama On Gun Rights
Submitted by: RPA-PAC
Website: http://www.rpa-pac.org

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"Micro-targeting is the name of the game in this election, and the AFL-CIO is about to unleash one of its most micro-targeted pushes yet -- a blitz of mailers defending Obama on gun rights that's aimed strictly at union households made up of gun owners."

"Here is the first mailer, a piece going to some 80,000 gun owners in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. It offers a stout defense of Obama on gun rights and ties it directly to an economic message (click on the images to enlarge):" ...

"'I want to protect two things: My job and my gun,' union member Mike Day says in the mailer. 'That's why I'm supporting Barack Obama.'" ...

What's the real story? Obama's stance on gun rights
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Question 3: From Dave Hiatt, Dayton truck driver: 'I would like to know how Sen. Obama stands on the Second Amendment. As far as gun rights, what specifically would he support and oppose?'"

"Answer: Like so much else about a race whose crossroads seem to run through Ohio, Barack Obama has framed his stand on gun rights through a Buckeye State prism."

"Here's what Obama said during his acceptance speech Aug. 28 at the Democratic National Convention in Denver:"

"'The reality of gun ownership may be different for hunters in rural Ohio than they are for those plagued by gang violence in Cleveland, but don't tell me we can't uphold the Second Amendment while keeping AK-47s out of the hands of criminals.'" ...

Will Guns Sink Obama in Va.?
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"The Brady Campaign To Prevent Gun Violence announced today it is endorsing Sen. Barack Obama's (D-Ill) presidential campaign." ...

"But in a state like Virginia, which his home to the National Rifle Association and more than one million hunters, the endorsement carries considerable risk. The NRA, which has endorsed GOP nominee John McCain, is already running ads in Virginia noting that Obama once supported a ban on handguns in Chicago."

"And if Obama has made any gains in rural Virginia, it will be tempting for Republicans to use the Brady Campaign endorsement to undercut Obama on the gun issue." ...

John Lott: Taking aim at Obama's stance on gun control
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Barack Obama claims he is a friend of gun owners. He certainly has convinced the media."

"On Thursday, the Los Angeles Times said the NRA's opposition to Obama seemed strange because 'Obama does not oppose gun rights. He has made a point of pounding this home to rural audiences, telling them he has no intention of taking their guns away: not their shotguns, not their handguns, not anything.'" ...

"In fact, Obama has a long history of supporting city gun bans. The Associated Press described his vote on a gun-control bill in 2004: 'He also opposed letting people use a self-defense argument if charged with violating local handgun bans by using weapons in their homes. ...'" ...

The Game Changing Play John McCain and the Republicans Need to Win the Election
Submitted by: Anonymous

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... "Proposed Amendment Number 2 to be Announced 1 Week before the Election" ...

"... the Heller decision needs to be set in stone by a simple one-sentence amendment to the Constitution." ...

"'A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. The individual right to keep and bear arms shall not be denied or infringed by the State or a political subdivision of the State.'"

"The reader will note the amendment is basically the Second Amendment with a bonus sentence to prevent government [and liberals] from misconstruing the intent of the first sentence." ...

NY: Arcuri & Hanna on 'urban gun violence'
Submitted by: Gun Legislation & Politics in New York
Website: http://blog.nysrpa.org

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"The Observer-Dispatch asked this question of Rep. Michael Arcuri and challenger Richard Hanna:"

"'Urban gun violence remains a significant issue in many U.S. cities. What steps should be taken to quell this issue?'"

"Their responses:"

"Arcuri: 'As Oneida County District Attorney for 13 years, I saw firsthand that it isn�t legal guns that end up in murder investigations, it is illegal guns. That's why I've worked in Congress to protect citizens from illegal guns and to ensure that the gun laws already on the books are enforced. We need to get illegal guns off the streets and increase the number of cops on the street �'"

"Hanna: 'I believe there are adequate gun laws which need to be enforced to the fullest extent.'" ...

GA: NRA, others endorse Reece
Submitted by: RPA-PAC
Website: http://www.rpa-pac.org

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"Barbara Massey Reece has received an 'A+' rating and been endorsed by the [NRA] for re-election to State House District 11."

"A letter announcing the NRA endorsement states, 'Your endorsement is based on your stalwart voting record throughout your years of service in the legislature including your most recent support of House Bill 89, the most important Right-to Carry reform bill to pass in Georgia in over 20 years. The NRA recognizes your valiant service to protect the Second Amendment by rewarding you with an 'A+' rating and endorsement for the 2008 General Election.'"

"Other endorsements for Reece's campaign include ... the Georgia State AFL-CIO, the Georgia Conservancy and the Georgia Sierra Club."

CT: The Guns of November -- NRA Rates Candidates
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Last week, the NRA graded the state's congressional candidates on their gun-rights stances (or, in the case of those who don't have a legislative voting record, their responses to a questionaire.)"

"The pro-firearms group mostly liked the Republicans, though Republican Rep. Chris Shays got one of the three Fs. The other failing grades went to Rep. Rosa DeLauro and Rep. John Larson."

"In the districts with the heaviest rural acreage ... the contests went to the Republicans. Challenger Sean Sullivan's answers to the questionaire earned him an A, while 2nd District Democratic Rep. Joe Courtney landed a D+ [so it looks like he'll at least get to avoid summer school.] ..." ...

NY: A vote for Gillibrand is a vote for, uh, Obama
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"You might have thought that Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand's receiving the endorsement of the National Rifle Association last week would have removed that particular line of attack from GOP opponent Sandy Treadwell's quiver."

"Think again: Today's release from the Treadwell campaign calls on Gillibrand to repudiate the Democratic presidential candidate's position on guns. (A slight correction to the release below: Treadwell received a grade of AQ, not A, from the NRA � his grade was based on his answers to the group�s questionnaire.)"

"Gillibrand�s response can be found at the end of the release." ...

MI: Hoogendyk challenges Levin for U.S. Senate
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"One of Michigan's two seats in the U.S. Senate is on the Nov. 4 ballot."

"Democrat Carl Levin, Michigan's senior senator in Washington, D.C., is running for re-election to a sixth six-year term. Among his challengers is state Rep. Jacob Hoogendyk Jr. (R-Texas Twp.)." ...

"Both Hoogendyk and Levin said they strongly support Second Amendment rights."

"What Levin said he doesn't support is weapons and ammunition that have no sporting use, specifically those known as 'cop killers' that are able to pierce vests of police officers."

"'I favor banning the 'cop-killer' bullets,' he said."

"Hoogendyk said he scored an 'A' with the National Rifle Association, which scores Levin with an 'F.'" ...

PA: City considers stolen gun law
Submitted by: RPA-PAC
Website: http://www.rpa-pac.org

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"Following what�s becoming a trend across the state, the City of Pottsville is aiming to make its gun laws stronger."

"At its October meeting Monday, city council held the first reading of an ordinance requiring gun owners to report lost or stolen firearms within 24 hours or face fines up to $1,000 and up to 90 days in jail."

"'So often stolen guns or lost guns end up getting into the hands of the wrong people. This would help prevent guns getting into the hands of the wrong people,' Mayor John D.W. Reiley said."

"While residents expressed mixed opinions, Pottsville police Chief Joseph H. Murton V supported the ordinance, saying, 'It's not an infringement of the Second Amendment.'" ...
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KABA Note: It is also not going to affect straw purchasers (the supposed target) because just like registration schemes, self-reporting would constitute self-incrimination.

NJ: Ex-chief LaBruno collects $350K after retiring in wake of scandal
Submitted by: Anonymous

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"Former Police Chief Carmen LaBruno, who retired July 1, received a termination payment from the city of $350,000 in August, city officials confirmed Friday."

"The payment, which was mandated by his contract, included 'terminal leave pay' of five days per year for each of his 37 years with the department, and 156 days of unused vacation and compensatory time." ...

"LaBruno retired in the wake of the notorious SWAT scandal during which a photo of him surfaced posing with a Mardi Gras flasher."

"An internal investigation following the scandal alleged LaBruno had abused his position on a variety of fronts, including entering into a 'secret' and possibly 'illegal' deal with former SWAT Commander Lt. Angelo Andriani ..." ...

NJ: 11-Month Paid Leave
Submitted by: Anonymous

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"As the city searches for a way to plug its $10.1 million deficit, it continues to pay about $10,000 a month to Lt. Angelo Andriani, who has been on paid administrative leave for nearly a year following the SWAT scandal."

"'It's outrageous. It's nothing more than a vacation,' said Luis Zayas, the attorney representing five Latino Hoboken police officers in a discrimination lawsuit against Andriani."

"Andriani was put on administrative leave in November 2007 after embarrassing photos taken during two trips to Louisiana surfaced showing him and SWAT team members posing with Hooter waitresses holding the police officers' guns."

"He was later hit with official administrative charges following an internal investigation ..." ...

NJ: Ex-Barnegat officer out of hospital after arrest at parkway service area
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"A hospital spokeswoman confirmed Monday that the former Barnegat Township police officer accused of violating a restraining order was released from Southern Ocean County Hospital on Sunday."

"Former Barnegat police Sgt. Frank DeSanto Jr., 31, was arrested at the Atlantic City Service Area on the Garden State Parkway. ..."

"Officials from the Middlesex County department confirmed Monday that it was their department that made the arrest, but could not release more information ..." ...

"DeSanto sent his wife a text message saying he was suicidal, armed and threatening to harm police officers, which violated the restraining order, according to State Police." ...

NJ: Lawrence police officer charged with stealing from PBA coffers
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"A township police officer was charged with theft for allegedly stealing money from the Police Benevolent Association, officials said."

"Todd Sparks, 41, of Hamilton allegedly took $500 to $8,000 from Patrolmen's Benevolent Association coffers, said Assistant Prosecutor Angelo Onofri, a spokesman for the prosecutor's office. Sparks was charged last week."

"The thefts, which allegedly occurred over a period of time, were reported by the PBA, Onofri said. The Mercer County Prosecutor's Office handled the investigation."

"Lawrence police spokesman Lt. Charles Edgar said that Sparks, a patrolman and 16-year police veteran, has been suspended without pay from his $95,777 a year job, pending the outcome of his court case." ...

PA: Mother Wants Weapons Permit Restored
Submitted by: jac

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FULL TEXT BELOW:

A Lebanon County mother who carries a pistol will ask a judge to restore her concealed weapons permit.

Meleanie Hain is scheduled to appear Tuesday afternoon in county court.

She's appealing the county sheriff's revocation of her permit after other parents complained last month that she was carrying her loaded handgun in a holster at her daughter's soccer game.

Hain's lawyer said state law allows gun owners to carry their weapons openly without a license everywhere but Philadelphia.

Dozens of second amendment rights supporters are expected to attend the hearing.

NJ: 'War zone' label is insulting: Jersey City PD chief
Submitted by: Anonymous

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"A fter reading Mr. Morgan's article in The Jersey Journal, 'Life in a War Zone,' as chief of the Jersey City Police Department, I feel it necessary to respond. ... Mr. Morgan's column brings to light the cancer of wanton violence that infects our society today. That cancer manifests itself in the total disregard for the value of human life, compounded by the staggering number of illegal firearms on the streets of every major city throughout the country."

"Now I know the first thing that pops up is that 'Comey is anti-gun.' Some will rally around the Second Amendment to the Constitution and say 'we'd be better if everybody carried a gun.' Nothing could be further from the truth. I am not anti-gun ..." ...

IN: Clark County corrections officer arrested for rape
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"A second suspect was arrested Friday in a Jeffersonville rape case."

"Adonis Walker, who is a community corrections officer in Clark County, appeared in Clark County Circuit Court on Monday afternoon on allegations of rape. ..."

"Court records allege that on Sept. 13, Walker and Johnny Colastin, 20, of Jeffersonville raped two female college students they met at Fourth Street Live, an entertainment complex in downtown Louisville."

"Colastin was charged Sept. 26 with rape, a class B felony, and criminal confinement, a class D felony."

"Deputy Prosecutor Dawn Elston said she did not know if Walker would be charged with class A or B felony rape." ...

NY: Extra time sought for gun task force
Submitted by: RPA-PAC
Website: http://www.rpa-pac.org

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"The city's Gun Violence Task Force may get its life extended to help implement its recommendations."

"Originally slated to end its year of study next month, the task force is still on target to complete a final report in November, said Dominick Calsolaro, the Common Council member who first proposed its creation."

"Calsolaro is now proposing to extend the task force's life until March 1 or until an implementation team is created. Some task force members want to make sure their recommendations are adopted."

"'Some of them are concerned we make sure what they have done takes place,' Calsolaro said."

"The 13-member task force was created in November 2007 and given one year to study the causes of violence in the city ..." ...
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KABA Note: Nothing quite so permanent as a 'temporary' commission.

IL: 14 counties have 'concealed carry' referendum
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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FULL TEXT BELOW:

Voters in 14 Illinois counties will have a chance next month to let Springfield know what they think about citizens' right to carry concealed firearms.

The referendum will ask whether the state should enact so-called "concealed-carry" legislation.

The referendum is advisory only. Voters will not be deciding whether individual counties should adopt those rights, but whether state legislators should bring the issue to a vote.

Advocates of the legislation say such a law is long overdue in Illinois, which is one of only two states that haven't passed some form of the statute.

NY: City auditors heap high praise on second gun buyback program
Submitted by: RPA-PAC
Website: http://www.rpa-pac.org

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"City auditors gave Buffalo's second gun buyback high marks, saying they found no discrepancies as they reviewed data from the Sept. 27 anticrime initiative."

"In an audit that will be reviewed today by the Common Council, ... analysts detected no serious problems with the implementation of the buyback. Auditors wanted to make sure all weapons collected at seven churches throughout the city were accounted for, along with cash cards that were provided to people who turned in weapons."

"The final weapons count in the audit is slightly higher than the estimate given hours after the buyback ended. Auditors said 723 guns were collected. This includes 235 nonworking guns, 220 rifles, 263 handguns and five assault weapons." ...

VA: Women take aim at learning about handling firearms
Submitted by: RPA-PAC
Website: http://www.rpa-pac.org

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"Their ages were more varied than the reasons they were spending the biggest part of a Saturday learning to handle a pistol and rifle safely."

"More than 70 women gathered with a couple dozen members of Ridge Rifle Association (RRA) at the RRA range Saturday for a NRA Women on Target firearms safety training session where the women went through a course about safely handling and shooting firearms."

"The women ranged in age from grandmothers to granddaughters�including at least one family that covered three generations." ...