Keep and Bear Arms - Gun Owners Home Page

CO: A 30-round compromise?
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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It has been disappointing to see and hear the division that has occurred among pro-Second Amendment advocates over hypothetically changing the current �mag ban� limit from 15 to 30 rounds per magazine. Yes, such a change would resolve access and use restrictions for almost all firearms users. However, leading into the April 13 �gun bills� hearing of the House Committee on State, Veterans & Military Affairs, there wasn�t actually a bill that could have been amended to accommodate such a change.

DC: House committee votes to upend first D.C. law in 23 years Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: http://www.marktaff.com	There is 1 comment on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
And in an interview with The Washington Post on Tuesday night, Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), chairman of the powerful Oversight Committee, said he was inclined to support proposals to roll back D.C. gun laws. �I come from a belief that the Second Amendment should be equally implemented here in the District of Columbia. I should be able to carry if I so choose. I feel safer doing so.�

MO: Washington U. decides to study guns and public health
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Gun violence took center stage at Washington University on Tuesday, as the institution kicked off a yearlong initiative to study what has become a public health crisis on the streets of St. Louis and throughout the nation.

That a top-tier research university would seek to find out "what we know, what we need to know and what to do," as it relates to the country with the highest rate of gun ownership in the world, should not be controversial.

DC: Members of Congress can keep firearms in their offices, Capitol Police say Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: http://www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
A Republican congressman who brought an AR-15 rifle to his Capitol Hill office did so legally even though it�s illegal for most people to carry a firearm under Washington, D.C.�s strict gun laws, police say. Last week, Colorado Rep. Ken Buck tweeted a photo of himself and Rep. Trey Gowdy posing with the American-flag-painted assault rifle.

OR: Oregon House panel hears hours of gun-bill testimony Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: http://www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
Oregon House legislators held a rare marathon public hearing Wednesday on a bill expanding background checks to encompass nearly all private gun transfers. The proposal that has sped through the Legislature in the wake of an election that helped Democrats up their majorities in both chambers.

PA: Gun Ordinance Change for Altoona
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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At a meeting Wednesday, Altoona City Council will introduce a plan to change an ordinance that prohibits guns in parks. Just last fall, then Governor Tom Corbett signed a new law into effect that made it easier for guns rights groups to sue municipalities over ordinances that limited second amendment rights. Other things like slingshots, firecrackers and fireworks will still be prohibited under the ordinance.

WY: Gun-friendly Cody embraces Mantegna
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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OH: Concealed carry
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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But state Rep. Ron Hood, R-Ashville, has introduced a bill that would allow anyone 21 or older who is legally permitted to own a gun to carry concealed with no need for a permit or training.

This would eliminate the current safeguards for no good reason. Ohio's concealed-carry requirements are not onerous: Classes are widely available, convenient and affordable. Not only do they provide a basic introduction to gun handling and gun safety, but the instruction in self-defense law is valuable and sobering for anyone who assumes the responsibility of carrying a gun for self-defense.

TX: Parents sue Lewisville ISD over alleged bullying incident
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Two Carrollton parents filed a lawsuit this month against Lewisville ISD because Hebron High School suspended their son after a school fight in March.

The family says the boy was the victim of bullying and acted in self-defense. In a statement, Lewisville ISD declined to elaborate citing student privacy laws but noted that it investigates all bullying concerns brought to principals or district officials.

Karen and Scott Pittman said their son, a sophomore, was in a school shower March 19 when two students approached him to urinate and spit on him. They said their son pushed one student away and told him to stop. Then the two students were joined by two others who cornered the boy and wouldn�t let him out of the shower...

Your Uber Driver Could Be Packing Heat, and You Wouldn't Know It
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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On Friday night in Chicago, minutes after dropping off a passenger, an Uber driver came across a man shooting a pistol into a group of people on the sidewalk. The 47-year-old driver, who has a concealed carry permit, pulled out his shotgun and fired six times at the man, injuring him in the shin, knee, and back. The Uber driver has not been named and will not be charged, as he was �acting in self-defense and the defense of others,� Assistant State�s Attorney Barry Quinn told NBC Chicago.

Sen. Ted Cruz urges lawmakers to hold hearing about Second Amendment Rights on Military Bases
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
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Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is urging lawmakers to allow troops to carry personal firearms on military bases for protection.

In an interview Tuesday, Cruz said, "Now, I will acknowledge, I may have misspoken in New Hampshire when I said that I had been pressing John McCain, and what I had been pressing was the Armed Services Committee. John McCain is the new chairman of it, so I sent a letter to the previous chairman".

ID: Unveiling some reality on concealed weapons Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: http://www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
I read an article in The Press some time back where Concealed Weapons Permits (CWPs) are on the rise in Kootenai County. Because of a recent encounter (not an incident), I hope to set the record straight just in case some of these "anti-gun" fanatics may try to twist everything around and claim that us Idahoans think we live back in the "Old Wild West" days.

MN: Local lawmakers behind gun bills
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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A quartet of gun legislation bills passed by an overwhelming majority in the Republican-controlled House last Thursday, including the legalization of suppressors and clarifying out-of-state purchasing laws.

The bills would have to pass the Democrat-controlled Senate, then signed into law by Gov. Mark Dayton, who has stated that he�s not looking to make changes to Minnesota�s existing gun laws. It�s not surprising that most Range legislators voted in favor of the bills, given the region�s culture of outdoor recreation.

Freddie Gray death: Should it really be illegal to carry a knife in the city?
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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In the end, Freddie Gray paid the ultimate price for the crime of clipping a common knife to his pocket.

After Mr. Gray ran from police seconds after �making eye contact,� officers quickly grabbed the 20-something black Baltimore man and arrested him for carrying what they called a concealed deadly weapon banned by Maryland � what turned out to be a short-bladed folding-knife similar to ones worn everyday by millions of law-abiding Americans.

There's scientific consensus on guns -- and the NRA won't like it
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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After the Sandy Hook tragedy, reporters often called me to ask for information on firearms. They wanted to know whether strong gun laws reduced homicide rates (I said they did); and, conversely, whether permissive gun laws lowered crime rates overall (I said they did not). I discovered that in their news articles journalists would write that I said one thing while some other firearms researcher said the opposite. This �he said-she said� reporting annoyed me � because I knew that the scientific evidence was on my side.

MI: Priest Pens Passionate Pro-Gun Plea, Presents Proposal To Parishioners
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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A Catholic priest serving a parish in Ann Arbor, Mich., recently made headlines for distributing a letter to churchgoers defending his belief that citizens should obtain firearms to combat area crime.

When he first broached the issue, a conversation that included the news that Christ the King parish would begin hosting concealed pistol license classes, Rev. Edward Fride attracted some criticism from within his flock. He countered these concerns with a letter he titled We�re Not in Mayberry Anymore, Toto.

CO: Colorado Man Cited for "Killing His Computer" With a Handgun
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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According to a rather humorous police report unearthed by Reuters, a 37-year-old resident of Colorado Springs, Colo. was driven to violence by his unruly computer.

Police responded to a shots fired call after sounds of gunfire emerged from a city alley. But all was not as it seemed. According to a police report:

Investigation revealed a resident was fed up with fighting his computer for the last several months. He took the computer into the back alley and fired eight shots into the computer with a handgun, effectively disabling it.

OK: Judge Rules Gun Ban On Streets & Sidewalks Is Unconstitutional Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: http://www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
In Oklahoma, Judge Thad Balkman ruled in favor of second amendment supporters when he issued a temporary restraining order to prevent the City of Norman from enforcing a ban on the carry of weapons during the Norman Music Festival. The city argued that it was not banning weapons; only that the private organization that it had given control of city streets and sidewalks to was banning arms.

Ted Cruz makes the argument for gun rights Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: http://www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
After much anticipation, Senator Ted Cruz formally announced last month that he was running for President. This means that the mainstream media has been working overtime to vet the freshman senator�s record. One thing that won�t take much digging is his history on gun policy.

Ruger�s new Tactical Mini 300 BLK and .17 WSM 77/17 bolt gun
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Sturm, Ruger & Company will make a lot of people happy � customers have been asking for both for quite some time � by introducing two new rifles in two new calibers: a semi-auto Mini-14 chambered for 300 AAC Blackout and a bolt-action Ruger 77 chambered for .17 Winchester Super Magnum.

The Mini-14 is Ruger�s semi-automatic rifle based on the time-tested M1/M14 design. Over the years it�s seen a handful of prominent calibers but this 300 BLK is a first. The .30-caliber cartridge continues to win people over as a flexible round for hunting, self-defense and sport.

Report: FBI In Cahoots With VA To Prevent Veterans From Getting Guns Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: http://www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
A new report shows the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) colluding with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to prevent veterans from exercising their Second Amendment rights to bear arms using not only medical information, but banking methods too.

IL: SAF Lawsuit Allowed Chicago Uber Driver To Carry, Defend Self And Others Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: http://www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
A defensive shooting incident in Chicago involving a legally-armed Uber driver who intervened when a gunman opened fire on a crowd in Logan Square could not have happened without a concealed carry law that was passed by the Illinois Legislature because of a federal lawsuit brought by the Second Amendment Foundation.

TN: Tennessee governor amends 'Guns in Parking Lots' law to protect workers
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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The Tennessee Firearms Association dubbed the law the �Lose Your Job if You Commute Act.�

Now, pro-gun politicians say they have fixed the law.

�No employer shall discharge or take any adverse employment action against an employee solely for transporting or storing a firearm or firearms ammunition in an employer parking area,� reads an amended version of the bill, signed into law earlier this month by Haslam, a Republican.

TX: Knife Rights� Texas Comprehensive Knife Ban Repeal Bill Needs Your Help
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Knife Rights� bill to repeal the ban on prohibited knives in Texas needs your help. HB 3884 sponsored by Knife Rights friend Representative Harold Dutton needs to be heard as soon as possible in the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee.

The Chairman of the committee, Representative Abel Herrero, is a proven pro-Second Amendment legislator and we have no reason to believe he is holding the bill for philosophical reasons, but the clock is ticking and if the bill is not heard in committee very soon, it will end up dead for the session. In Texas that means two years before we can try again! Your calls and emails make a difference. Help us rid Texas of its irrational knife restrictions.

OH: Ohio carry rights group sues Cleveland over gun control legislation
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Following passage of a vast new set of regulations on guns, Ohioans For Concealed Carry filed suit against the City of Cleveland citing violations of state preemption laws.

The action, filed Tuesday in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, seeks to block implementation of a city ordinance passed Monday that mandates gun owners report private gun sales as well as guns lost or stolen to local authorities and compels firearms offenders living within the Ohio city�s limits to register their place of residence and other personal information.