Keep and Bear Arms - Gun Owners Home Page

�Permitless� Carry On The Move In Alabama, Texas And South Carolina Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: http://www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
Three states�Alabama, Texas and South Carolina�are currently vying to be the next state in the nation to do away with the requirement for law-abiding gun owners to be licensed by the government to carry a concealed firearm for self-defense.

New NRA Ad Pushes National Gun-Carry Reciprocity
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
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The National Rifle Association (NRA) published a new online ad Tuesday which advocates for national gun-carry reciprocity.

Now that Neil Gorsuch has been appointed to the Supreme Court, a top priority for the NRA during President Trump's first 100 days, the ad may signal a shift towards promoting national reciprocity as the group's next big push. National gun-carry reciprocity would require states to recognize each others' gun-carry permits. The NRA said the reform is needed to prevent otherwise law-abiding gun owners from being prosecuted for accidentally carrying in states they didn't realize their permits weren't valid in.

SC: S.C. congressional candidate Sheri Few holds military-style rifle, complains about 'bad laws' in newest ad Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: http://www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
Republican congressional candidate Sheri Few has released another political ad trying to fire up Second Amendment-loving, Confederate flag-waving voters in South Carolina. Few, one of a handful of Republicans running to fill the 5th Congressional District seat vacated by Mick Mulvaney, released a new ad Wednesday complaining about lawmakers reacting to tragedies.

LA: Bill would allow concealed carry without a permit in Louisiana
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
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More than 29,600 people in Louisiana have a permit to carry a concealed weapon, according to records from Louisiana State Police. To get that permit, a person must be at least 21-years-old with no criminal record, go through a gun training class, and pay a fee.

However, House Bill 68 by Baton Rouge lawmaker, Rep. Barry Ivey, would do away with the permitting process. That means anywhere a person can legally carry a gun openly, they could also carry a concealed gun without a permit. Convicted felons would still not be allowed to carry.

Surviving a Mass Killer Rampage: Book Review Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: http://www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
Surviving a Mass Killer Rampage� takes a detailed look at public mass shootings and how the response to them has changed over time. The book stresses the importance of eliminating �Gun-Free Zones,� so that armed citizens can defend themselves. The book is well-written and is an easy read.

Fear & Loading: Hornady's Employee NRA Membership Drive
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Hornady�s support for the shooting sports and gun rights is undeniable, and in that tradition, the company recently held an NRA membership drive that resulted in 100-percent participation from many of its departments and hundreds of new members throughout the company. �It�s reassuring to know our employees understand the impact the NRA makes on behalf of our industry,� said company President Steve Hornady. �They really stepped up to show their support.�

IL: How will Justice Neil 'Plain Words' Gorsuch tackle the Second Amendment? Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: http://www.marktaff.com	There are 2 comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
That brings us to the plain unambiguous text of the Second Amendment: �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.� For too long �well-regulated� meant �any firearm any place any time� and �militia� meant �individual person.�

ME: Why we have the Second Amendment Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: http://www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
The editorial mentioned that the British were marching to Lexington to try and capture rebel leaders John Hancock and Samuel Adams. As important, and not mentioned in the editorial, was the other focus of the British jaunt � to capture stores of rifles, black powder and shot and to confiscate arms. Ed.: 3rd story on page.

OR: Anti-Gun Bill Heads to Senate Floor Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: http://www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
Based on a California law enacted in 2014, SB 719 with the -5 amendment would create a so-called �Extreme Risk Protection Order� (ERPO) that could be obtained by a law enforcement officer, family member, or household member in an ex parte hearing to deprive someone of their Second Amendment rights without due process of the law.

MA: Cohasset gun story goes viral; police flooded with angry calls, comments
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
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The Cohasset Police Department�s Facebook posting about the incident involving guns being confiscated from a home at 50 Doane St. last Friday (April 14) was viewed more than 650,000 times by people from around the country, some of whom were expressing outrage in the comments section that the gun owner�s Second Amendment rights were violated.

Chief Bill Quigley has also been fielding phone calls from places as far away as Texas and Alabama, including from some callers who were angrily questioning the incident. Under Massachusetts State Law, firearms have to be secured in a locked cabinet or with a trigger lock.

NJ: Brady Campaign protests concealed-carry proposal
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
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Protesters from the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence gathered once again outside the office of U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ11) last Wednesday, continuing their fight against what the Sussex County Chapter President, Sue Hannon, referred to as the "Arm Anyone Bill."

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The bill's official name is H.R. 38, or the Concealed-Carry Reciprocity Bill. Introduced by Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) in January of this year, H.R. 38 has been a cause of alarm for gun control advocates, and a source of cautious optimism for many gun rights supporters.

Per Gun-Grabbers, April 19 Commemorates Armed Citizen �Treason� against Government
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
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On this day in 1775, volunteer Minuteman militia leader Captain John Parker, along with over 70 of his neighbors, stood their ground against government enforcers. They refused to disarm and defended themselves against lethal coercion. From the point of view of those who would rule them, these brave Patriots committed treason.

That�s the position of latter-day gun-grabbers. It brings to mind an episode from years past, when colleague Kurt Hofmann wrote a rebuttal to tyrannophiles who argued, among other things, that armed citizens would be helpless to resist a government armed with sophisticated weaponry that included tanks and more.

OH: What open-carry walkers hoped to prove remains a mystery
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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A group of openly armed gun-rights activists invaded the International Street Fair in uptown Athens on Saturday. Or perhaps �invaded� is overstating the situation.

The several openly armed men � two or three middle-aged or older wearing polo shirts and khaki shorts or jeans and a couple of younger men � strolled down Court Street amid the various international booths and attending crowds. Their grand entrance mainly elicited indifference from international and domestic students alike, as well as from the many Athens area residents who attended the popular annual Street Fair.

TX: House committee approves bill allowing gun carry without a permit
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Lawmakers in the House Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee voted to advance House Bill 1911, which would allow gun owners age 21 or older to carry without a permit.

Rep. James White, R - Hillister, who authored the bill, said his legislation reinforces constitutional rights.

"I believe that they should be able to exercise their full constitutional right to carry their weapons in the appropriate manner," White said.

While the bill would remove the permit requirement, White said there are still some other restrictions.

"We do have provisions that will require people to be 21 years of age...be mentally competent and to be able to legally possess a firearm under current and federal guidelines."

AL: Limestone County sheriff furious over concealed carry vote
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
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Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely is furious that the Alabama Senate passed a bill allowing people to carry a concealed handgun without a permit.

"A lot of people who are right to carry people try to say I'm anti-second amendment, and totally ludicrous,� he said Blakely.

Ed.: You are anti-Second Amendment Sheriff Blakely. The Second Amendment protects the right to keep and bear arms, not the right to beg government for permission to keep and bear arms.

AL: NRA Congratulates Senate for Passing Bill to Expand Self-Defense
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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The National Rifle Association�s Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) congratulates the Alabama State Senate for passing Senate Bill 24 � a Constitutional Carry bill that would expand the options of law-abiding citizens to defend themselves. The NRA-ILA is asking its members and supporters in Alabama to urge state representatives to take swift action to pass this bill and send it to Governor Kay Ivey. SB 24 passed the senate this week by a vote of 25-6.

FL: Cowboy Killed In Self-Defense During Ranch Shootout: Deputies
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The bullet that killed Milton Lamar Varn during a Saturday shootout on a Plant City ranch was fired in self-defense by the 62-year-old man�s ex-wife, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff�s Office.

The agency on Wednesday released more details in the case that left self-described �cowboy� Milton Varn and his brother, Perry Edward Varn, 66, both dead. George Terrell Long, 71, was also injured during the dispute, which took place on the Varn family�s Rocking V Ranch.

MI: Prosecutor says woman shot her boyfriend in self-defense Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: http://www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
The Eaton County Prosecutor says the death of Mark Mazurek at his girlfriend's hands was self-defense. It happened in her home in Charlotte on August 10, 2015. Police say she shot Mazurek after he threw her down the basement stairs, then threatened to cuff her to a post and kill her and their baby.

AL: Alabama one step closer to ending conceal carry gun permit requirement Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: http://www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
Alabama gun owners are a step closer to not having to buy conceal carry gun permits. For Cottondale Senator Gerald Allen, doing away with the conceal carry requirement is a constitutional right. "The purpose of the bill is to continue the efforts to protect the second amendment of the constitution," said Allen.

IL: City Crackdown On Party Buses Doesn�t Ban Legal Guns
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
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Some party buses in Chicago will soon be required to include a security guard and surveillance camera under a crackdown that sailed through the City Council on Wednesday.

But, under state law, the city could not ban passengers with valid firearms licenses from boarding the buses with their guns.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel proposed the new requirements last month after a string of shootings involving party buses.

DC: Dems' Dire Warnings After Heller Prove False
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
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A recent analysis has determined that since the 2008 District of Columbia v. Heller Supreme Court decision overturning DC�s hand gun ban, there has been no increase in violent crime. If anything, there has been a slight decrease in the number of murders committed with a firearm � from nearly 80% of all homicide victims from 2000 to 2007 to 74% in 2008, the year following the court�s decision. That number has continued to decline since the decision.