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TX: Assistant Bryan Police Chief arrested for assault
Submitted by: jac

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BRYAN, Tex. (KBTX) - An arrest report released on Wednesday provides additional information about an alleged assault involving an off-duty assistant police chief and provides information from witnesses that contradict statements he gave to officers.

Wayland Ray Rawls, 47, of Bryan was arrested Wednesday and charged with assault causing bodily injury.

Several witnesses told investigators Rawls first struck the victim with a closed fist multiple times in the face and body, and the man never struck back or attempted to fight back.

He's also on Paid Administrative Leave at the police department.

Submitter's note: Paid vacation for breaking the law.

TX: Two Bryan police officers injured after accidental shooting
Submitted by: jac

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BRYAN, Tex. (KBTX) - Two Bryan police officers were injured Wednesday night after a gun accidentally went off at the police station.

According to officials, two officers with the department's Tactical Response Team were injured when the gun went off. They were taken to CHI St. Joseph Regional Health Hospital to be treated.

Both officers were released the same night.

The department says an administrative review of policies, procedures, and training will take place to determine what can be done to ensure that similar incidents never occur.

Submitter's note: There are no details, but in all likelihood this was negligence. It was not an accident.

MI: Several residents voice concerns over shooting range expansion at Pugsley
Submitted by: Corey Salo

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A shooting range could be expanded in Grand Traverse County and people who live nearby are not happy about it.

Nearly a dozen people voiced their concerns over the Brownfield Plan at the Grand Traverse County Commission Meeting Wednesday morning.

�Unfortunately, no matter where you try to put a facility like this, you�re going to have a 'not in my backyard mentality,'� Commissioner Sonny Wheelock said.

Right now, Grand Traverse County Commissioners are on track to buy 20 acres of land at the former Pugsley Correctional Facility in Grand Traverse County.

But before that happens, commissioners are being asked to approve the Brownfield Plan.

WA: New Mag Ban Introduced
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Despite the bills to ban standard capacity magazines failing to meet the crossover deadline, anti-gun legislators are playing procedural games in an attempt to resurrect this legislation. They introduced House Bill 2947 with much of the same language as the previous bills plus a �buy-back� provision in order to make this an appropriations bill that is not subject to the same deadlines. Additionally, the title of the bill has been changed in an effort to limit amendments on the floor.

Please contact your state Representative to express your disappointment in this stunt and ask them to OPPOSE HB 2947.

Mindless Rage of Collectivist Groupthink
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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That same day, the Tulsa Tribune headlined its editorial, �To Lynch Negro Tonight.� A menacing crowd of armed whites surrounded the jail on the evening of May 31 to demand that Rowland be turned over to them. The sheriff refused. Seeing a black man in the street with a pistol, a white civilian tried to take the firearm away. The black man refused to disarm, insisting on his right to bear a weapon in self-defense. In the subsequent scuffle, the pistol discharged. Then all hell broke loose. In short order, Tulsans shot fellow Tulsans, many hundreds in all. White mobs invaded the black district, torching businesses, homes, and churches and shooting men, women, and children in cold blood.

WA: Second Amendment sanctuary law could be headed to November ballot
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Douglas County officials would be forbidden to enforce gun registration or semi-automatic firearm bans under a new countywide measure that could appear on the November ballot.

Gun rights advocates filed a petition Tuesday for a Second Amendment Sanctuary Ordinance.

The chief petitioners are Republican U.S. Senate candidate Paul J. Romero of Roseburg and Teresa McKirgan of Camas Valley. McKirgan is the wife of the late Tom McKirgan, who had pushed for the similar Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance approved by Douglas County voters in 2018.

MN: Clearwater, other counties become Second Amendment sanctuaries; Otter Tail County delays action
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Less than a week after Roseau County became the first county in Minnesota to be designated a "Second Amendment sanctuary" county, the movement has "taken off like wildfire," said state Rep. Jeremy Munson, R-Lake Crystal.

On Tuesday, Feb. 18, Wadena, Clearwater and Marshall counties passed similar Second Amendment sanctuary resolutions, and votes are planned in Kittson, Pennington and Mille Lacs counties in the coming days, Munson said.

OK: Canadian County becomes Second Amendment Sanctuary County, Sheriff says Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: http://www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
Sheriff Chris West declared Canadian County a 2nd Amendment Sanctuary County on Thursday. Sheriff West said he will oppose any infringements on the rights of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms. Canadian County joins Logan County, Major County, Stephens County, and Haskell County as a 2nd Amendment Sanctuary.

NY: Jefferson County sheriff lukewarm to Second Amendment sanctuary movement Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: http://www.marktaff.com	There are 2 comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
Jefferson County�s sheriff is going on record as being against the creation of a so-called Second Amendment sanctuary in the county. "[Although] I am sure we all have our personal opinions regarding the NYS SAFE ACT, eliminating or ignoring laws is not a luxury we enjoy," said Sheriff Colleen O�Neill in a press release. "It is our duty to enforce the laws of New York State, as written."

OK: The Second Amendment is local
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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In the six years since, many counties in states across the U.S. have followed that lead. Last week, it was Oklahoma�s turn. First, Logan County Sheriff Damon Devereaux, in a signed resolution, vowed no public funds will be used to enact policies that restrict the Second Amendment rights of Logan County residents. The next day, Stephens County (Duncan) Sheriff Wayne McKinney did the same. Since that time, a dozen additional county sheriffs across the Sooner State have followed their lead and declared their county a Second Amendment sanctuary.

Critics claim the declarations are purely for optics and are meaningless, but that is not true because the Second Amendment is a local issue.

OK: 'Persuasive' or 'political stunt?' Some rejoice, others recoil as 'Second Amendment Sanctuaries' sprout up in Oklahoma
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Efforts in Virginia have inspired nearly two dozen Oklahoma sheriffs to declare their counties as refuges for gun rights.

Damon Devereaux, sheriff of Logan County, became the first in Oklahoma to sign a �Second Amendment Sanctuary� resolution on Feb. 12. Since then, the sheriffs of another 19 counties � predominantly in southeastern Oklahoma � have posted documents they signed or social media messages proclaiming similar sentiments.

WV: Clarksburg, WV, charter amendments moved to public vote; 'Second Amendment sanctuary' ordinance tabled
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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The final reading and public hearing on an ordinance recognizing Clarksburg as a "Second Amendment sanctuary" was tabled in order to look into the ordinance further.

"I think it was good we tapped the brakes tonight," Kennedy said. "I'd always rather get something right than get it fast. And so I think by taking a little more time to see how exactly we want to word some things so we can have the best possible thing to roll out � I think it's a good move by council."

In a work session prior to Thursday's council meeting, Clarksburg Police Chief Mark Kiddy voiced his concerns about the "Second Amendment sanctuary" ordinance.

MI: Manton commissioners approve 2nd Amendment sanctuary city resolution
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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A divided Manton commission on Tuesday approved a resolution stating the city should hereby be known as a �Second Amendment Sanctuary.�

By a 4-2 vote, the commission passed the resolution introduced by Mayor Sam Cronkhite.

�That the Mayor of Manton hereby declares his intent to oppose an infringement on the right of law-abiding citizens in the City of Manton to keep and bear arms, using such legal means as may be expedient, including without limitation, court action;� the resolution reads. �That the Mayor of Manton hereby expresses his intent that public funds will not be used to restrict Second Amendment rights of the citizens of Manton, Michigan or to aid federal or state agencies in the restriction of said rights...�

AL: Senate Committee Hearing on Lifetime Carry Permit Bill
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Senate Bill 47, sponsored by Senator Randy Price, creates a new statewide, uniform system to provide lifetime permits for qualified applicants at a cost of $200. For state residents over 65, the fee drops to $150.

Most aspects of the current permitting process will not change. Individuals interested in obtaining a lifetime permit will apply at their local sheriff�s office for a background check and to fill out the appropriate paperwork.

Lifetime permits are something that citizens in other states enjoy � there�s no reason we can�t have this option in Alabama!

Below the Radar: The Gun Safety Board and Research Act of 2019
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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This is the case with HR 4177, the Gun Safety Board and Research Act of 2019, introduced by Representative Mark Desaulnier (D-CA). According to a release from his office, the legislation will create a so-called �Gun Safety Board.� This board would be responsible for doing research and for proposing what the release calls �evidence-based� solutions.

However, we should not be fooled. This Gun Safety Board is not out to look at the facts objectively. Just look at what Desaulnier has on his Congressional web page � a separate page that discusses what he calls �America�s Gun Problem.� The numbers there are a host of out-of-context claims and a fair bit of demonizing the National Rifle Association.

MO: Stabbing death believed to be �justifiable homicide�
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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A coroner�s inquest jury of six Ozark County residents has found the stabbing death of Robert Christian Chambers of Gainesville on Feb. 12 to be �justifiable homicide.� The decision came Thursday afternoon.

The Ozark County Times is reporting the opinion of the coroner�s inquest jury is only taken as a consideration by the prosecutor. It is not a legally binding verdict. The prosecutor may still file charges.

The jury was charged with determining if criminal charges should be filed in connection with the incident or if the action was the result of non-criminal self-defense.

SCOTUS: Wilson v. Cook County, Illinois
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Issues: (1) Whether the Second Amendment allows a local government to prohibit law-abiding residents from possessing and protecting themselves and their families with a class of rifles and ammunition magazines that are �in common use at [this] time� and are not �dangerous and unusual�; and (2) whether the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit�s method of analyzing Second Amendment issues � a three-part test that asks whether (1) a regulation bans weapons that were common at the time of ratification ...

Federal Premium Shorty Shotshell Loads
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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The first thing folks think when they see the new Shorty Shotshells from Federal Premium is that they are cute, and indeed they are. The second thing they think is that, due to their shorter length, they could be used to increase the capacity of defensive shotguns. I�ve heard good and bad reports about the use of reduced-length shotshells in repeating shotguns. About 5 years ago I tested and reported on the Aguila short shotshells in this very column. I found them less-than-reliable in a Mossberg shotgun.

OK: Stephens County now officially a "2nd Amendment Sanctuary County" for gun owners
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Stephens County is officially a �2nd Amendment Sanctuary County� after the board of county commissioners approved a resolution put forth last week by the sheriff.

The Stephens County Board of Commissioners approved the resolution by a vote of 3-0. The passage makes Stephens County one of 19 out of the state�s 77 counties to declare themselves �Sanctuary Counties,� as of Wednesday.

Sheriff Wayne McKinney issued a declaration for the resolution on Feb. 13. The resolution declares the sheriff�s office�s �intent to oppose any and all infringement on the rights and liberties of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms� through any legal means to include court action.

AL: 7 firing ranges + 3 ways to learn to shoot safely in Birmingham
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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People from all sorts of different backgrounds like to practice shooting for a variety of different reasons: hunting, personal or home protection, sport and more. If you�re looking to find a place to practice your aim in Birmingham, there�s no shortage of shooting ranges to choose from. Keep reading to find out all the details, plus three organizations that will help you learn to shoot safely.

Vortex Razor makes the cut
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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First introduced a few years ago, the Razor is Vortex�s top of the line red dot optic.

The Razor occupies the same place on the red dot continuum as the C-More and the DeltaPoint from Leupold. (Let�s call it the high mid-range). All of the above are exceptionally light and qualitatively better than what you�ll find on the next tier down, occupied by products in the $200 range such as the Bushnell Fastfire.

Of course you can get military grade optics by dropping more money. However for most people, unless you have a special application (or are making some kind of statement), spending the extra dollars may not be worth it.

MN: Otter Tail County delays action on Second Amendment sanctuary proposal
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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The Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners, which has been requested to act on a Second Amendment sanctuary resolution, continues to take this this matter under advisement.

As of Thursday, Feb. 20, four county boards in Minnesota had given approval for sanctuary status.

These resolutions are designed to prevent counties from enforcing certain gun-control measures that some residents believe are contrary to the Second Amendment.