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CA: Ninth Circuit Clarifies Elements of Self-Defense Claim
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"A defendant claiming self-defense need not prove that he or she lacked a reasonable alternative to using force, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday." ...

"Senior Judge Robert Beezer, writing for the Court of Appeals, said the Ninth Circuit requires a 'no reasonable alternative' showing in support of a claim of justification, 'whether labeled duress, coercion, or necessity,' but not to show self-defense."

"'Self-defense is distinct from these other justification defenses and is a viable defense for any defendant who presents evidence that he had a reasonable belief that the use of force was necessary to defend himself against the immediate use of unlawful force,' Beezer wrote." ...

Lady Liberty: Without exception
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Last week, I was searching through news headlines when I found another story about another state working for passage of a 'stand your ground' law ... While I thought the law was a good thing, when I passed along the news to others online I also pointed out (just a little tongue in cheek) that all of us already had one of those, no matter where we lived, and that it's called 'The Second Amendment.'"

"States have some good reasons to consider these 'stand your ground' laws. ... What probably pushed at least some legislators over the edge is the added factor of state's utter inability to protect those they've sworn to keep safe (just this month, an appalling story out of Tennessee showed that 911 operators weren't even answering some of the calls that were coming in)." ...

Accurate Shooting With Cast Bullets From 100 To 1000 Yards
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Back in my college years I was poorer than the proverbial church mouse, so there was no big time partying or traipsing off to Florida during spring breaks for this young shooter and handloader. What I did with the small amounts of money I could scrape up was buy some quality guns and the powder and primers needed to shoot them. As for bullets, I made all those myself."

"For my rifle shooting I managed to find a Springfield Model 1903A3 .30-06 still in full battle dress. And for a few dollars I acquired a Lyman No. 311291 mold with which to cast 170-grain roundnose gas-checked bullets. I fired thousands of rounds through that rifle, and not even one of them was a factory load or jacketed bullet. ..." ...

Canada: Anti-gun activist stunned by raid
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"When her son was shot dead five years ago, Julia Farquharson made it her life's work to keep guns off the streets. She rallied her community, pleaded with officials to effect change, and enlisted the media to help spread her message of hope."

"Today, that hope is under siege."

"On Saturday evening, Farquharson's 23-year-old son Kadfi was arrested for possession of weapons. On Sunday morning, police showed her the handgun, rifle magazine, and a large bag of what appeared to be cocaine they'd found in her son's room during their overnight search. The woman who launched United Mothers Against Violence Everywhere (UMOVE), accepted the discovery with steely composure." ...

TX: Fake cops try to abduct man outside store
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"A couple of men posed as police officers and tried to kidnap a man in Pasadena."

"It happened Sunday afternoon in the parking lot of a shopping center ... An eyewitness told us two men wearing shirts bearing the word SWAT and caps that read 'State Police' pistol whipped a Best Buy assistant manager, then handcuffed him and tried to put him in a car." ...

"The assistant manager fought so much that the two fake cops finally decided just to give up and leave. They took off in a white Crown Victoria that police later found out was stolen. The suspects are still on the loose."

"The victim was taken to an area hospital. He will be alright."
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Submitter's Note: Best Buy disarms its employees.

Iraq: Sectarian Strife Fuels Gun Sales in Baghdad
Submitted by: Haddock
Website: http://www.servicerifle.com.au/qmrcabout.htm

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"With chipped, painted fingernails, Nahrawan al-Janabi picked up a cartridge and slid it into the chamber."

"'Like this,' she said, loading her new Glock pistol with a loud, satisfying click. 'You see, like this.'"

"Akram Abdulzahra now keeps his revolver handy at his job in an Internet cafe. Haidar Hussein, a Baghdad bookseller, just bought a fully automatic assault rifle and has been teaching his wife how to shoot." ...

VA: Student Leaves Rifle, Ammo In Truck At School Lot
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"A 17-year-old Loudoun County High School student was suspended for 10 days last week after a school police officer found a gun and beer cans in his truck."

"Leesburg Police Lt. Jeff Dub� said there is no indication the student, whose name was not disclosed because of his age, planned to do any harm."

"He never gave a good reason to staff or the SRO why had had the gun in the truck, but he did make a statement that he liked to shoot opossums,' Dub� said."

"A .22 caliber rifle and ammunition was inside the truck that had been parked in the student lot on March 27, Dub� said."

"School administrators received a tip that morning and a school resource officer investigated the matter." ...

Shh! Hill takes aim at guns
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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"Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has quietly stepped up her fight for tighter gun control by signing on to a new push to make public a national database of weapons used in crimes and illegal sales."

"Her r�sum� on gun control, a pet issue among the Democratic Party's liberal base, includes calls for a ban on assault weapons and so-called 'cop killer' armor-piercing ammo - yet she hasn't personally taken a lead role in any gun legislation in this Congress." ...

"But Clinton was so eager to have her name attached to the bill that she called Sen. Bob Menendez out of the blue to co-sponsor it, the rookie New Jersey Democrat told The Post." ...

NY: In His War on Illegal Guns, Bloomberg Is Facing Uphill
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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"Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's war against the gun industry went into overdrive last week, with an appearance on Capitol Hill on Tuesday and a speech two days later, at a fund-raising dinner for the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, in which he assailed illegal guns as 'scourges to our society.' And his campaign will only intensify in the next few months, as Mr. Bloomberg intends to announce the city's first lawsuits against rogue gun dealers and to press Albany to toughen the penalties for criminal gun possession."

"The mayor has made fighting illegal guns a signature of his second-term agenda and vowed to use 'every means at our disposal,' from legislation to litigation, to curb the influx of out-of-state weapons ..." ...

IL: Tragic shootings fuel call for assault weapons ban in Illinois
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"As a second mother prepared to bury a daughter hit by a stray bullet in the Englewood neighborhood, the mayor and governor repeated demands that assault weapons should be banned in the state."

"But, for some, the outpouring of concern, marches, vigils and promises led to a question: What interest will remain once media coverage subsides?"

"'It is difficult to explain, explicable to understand, how two young children going about their lives ... in their homes, safe presumably, and then both be victims of gun violence,' said Governor Rod Blagojevich, speaking ... before a march through the streets where Starkesia Reed, 14, and Siretha White, 10, died within a few blocks from each other." ...
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Submitter's Note: Dancing on the blood of the innocent.

VA: Self Defense Bill Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
FULL TEXT BELOW: Right now the law allows a person to yield a weapon in self defense if someone breaks into their home. Lawmakers are looking at a new bill that would expand the law to cover areas like out buildings on your property and even your vehicle. The bill also touches on using self defense to defend a relative or guest staying at someone's home.

MS: 'Castle Doctrine' bill fine-tuned before final passage
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Recently The Clarion-Ledger published a guest column ('Gun 'defense' law will hurt prosecutions,' March 17) written by Allen Couch, an assistant district attorney in north Mississippi, which eloquently and accurately set forth the concerns of many prosecutors regarding the original versions of [the 'Castle Doctrine bills] which were pending before our Legislature at the time the column was written."

"Couch's column was authored several weeks before it was published, ironically, on the same day as an article reporting that the bill had been passed by the Legislature and sent to the governor. To let that day's publication be the last word on the subject would inflict a severe injustice upon both Couch and the Mississippi Legislature." ...

AL: Judge: '02 shooting justified
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"A judgment dismissing all claims made by widow June Hulett also gave the first public account of exactly what happened on June 30, 2002, during a raid on an alleged bootlegger's house."

"It was on that day that law enforcement officers, armed with a search warrant and guns, stormed the home of James Hulett ... Hulett, 53, was shot dead in the raid, and his wife was charged with ... a misdemeanor."

"Thursday's order by U.S. District Judge Lynwood Smith was an overdue vindication of law enforcement officers' actions on that day, according to George Royer, a Huntsville lawyer who represented several of the defendants."

"'We thought all along that they used reasonable force,' Royer said." ...

NY: Former rookie cop convicted in '04 Ozone Park shooting
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"A rookie police officer from Jamaica was convicted Friday of shooting and seriously injuring his girlfriend's sister in Ozone Park nearly two years ago, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said."

"Jeffrey Rivera, a 26-year-old former rookie officer who worked at the 70th Precinct in Brooklyn, faces up to seven years in prison after his conviction of assault and evidence tampering, the DA said."

"Rivera showed off his department-issued 9 mm Smith & Wesson semiautomatic pistol to friends in the kitchen of an apartment ... "

"The DA said the gun discharged while it was pointed in the direction of his girlfriend's sister, 18-year-old Justina Diaz. Diaz was seriously injured after the bullet hit her in the chest." ...

Pakistan: New status symbol for politicians: Punjab speaker to get G3 assault rifle
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Punjab Assembly Speaker Muhammad Afzal Sahi has been given an extraordinary authorisation to buy a sophisticated assault rifle ... that has hitherto been in the exclusive use of Pakistani soldiers."

"The G3 assault rifle, with its long range and high accuracy, is rapidly gaining popularity among politicians and appears to be on its way to becoming a status symbol among Pakistani politicians like the Russian-made Kalashnikov was at one time."

"Mr Sahi, who is from Faisalabad, has also been granted permission to buy 200 7.62x51mm rounds for the rifle. He has cited alleged death threats from his rivals and worsening law and order in the Punjab as reasons for wanting to buy the sophisticated weapon." ...

Venezuela: Venezuelan weekend warriors train for US invasion
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Catching his breath after weaving through burning tires, crossing trenches and crawling under barbed wire, Diego Rivero says he is ready to repel any U.S. military invasion of Venezuela."

"Rivero, a chauffeur, joined students, teachers and housewives last weekend to begin training in the Territorial Guard, a civilian reserve created by President Hugo Chavez to resist the assault he believes Washington is planning."

"'The gringos don�t have the guts, but if they do invade then we have to be ready,' said Rivero, mud-spattered and breathless under the sweltering sun, after making it through the bayonet assault course at Fort Guaicaipuro near Caracas." ...
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Submitter's Note: At least some countries have a concept of the civilian militia.

South Africa: Robbers no joke for cop
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"A policeman whose house in Rowallan Park was robbed on Saturday night, initially believed somebody was playing an April Fool joke on him."

"Sergeant Kokkie de Kock, 33, from the Port Elizabeth flying squad, soon realised that the four armed robbers weren't joking when they put guns to his and his brothers' heads." ...

"'They knew I was a policeman and wanted to know where the safe was. I acted tough, thinking it was a toy gun. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry when I realised it was a real robbery,' he said."

"The robbers took, among other things, De Kock's service pistol, pepper spray, teargas and a bulletproof vest before leaving in his bakkie." ...

India: Jawan kills 3 near J&K CM's house
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"A CRPF jawan on Monday night opened fire killing three of his colleagues near the official residence of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. Azad and his wife were in the compound when the firing took place."

"Anand Kumar of D-4 Company had applied for leave for his sister's wedding from April 12 onwards, which had been sanctioned."

"Kumar had applied to advance his leave by a few days, which was refused."

"On Monday evening at 2000 hours IST, he reported at the CM's house for duty, where he had an argument with the head constable."

"He fired over a dozen rounds from his service rifle killing an inspector and two constables on the spot." ...

WV: Rifle: Three Shooters Recognized
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Two members of the West Virginia University rifle team received recognition by the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association."

"Sophomore Natasha Dinsmore and junior Robin Glebes were named All-Academic by the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association. To qualify for the award, shooters must attain either a cumulative or fall 2005 semester grade point average of at least 3.2." ...

"Junior Brian Launer was also named Most Valuable Shooter for the 2005-06 season as voted by his teammates. Launer averaged a smallbore score of 577.6 and a 1153.5 two-gun aggregate score during the season, both of which are new school season records for the 60-shot course of fire that has been used for the past three years."

SC: A hunter loses ground
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Last year, for the first time since he was a boy, Ron Harvey didn't go hunting."

"He walks in the woods behind his in house and explains why. For one, bullets and homes don't mix well, and new houses have popped up behind his property. He stops. Here's another reason. 'Do you hear that?'"

"Boom, boom-boom. Boom."

"It's coming from those homes: The bass beat of a big speaker. It makes the Berkeley County woods feel smaller."

"He walks to the deer stand he built 18 feet up in a pine tree. Hunting was a chance to separate yourself from the distractions of civilization, he says, looking up. He loved watching the sun set from that perch."

"His cell phone rings. A doctor friend wants to play golf." ...

NY: 4-H to host archery, firearms safety courses
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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"Firearms safety training classes for young people will be held this spring through the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County 4-H program."

"Courses in archery, shotgun, rifle and muzzleloading rifle for ages 12 to 19 will be held at various Oswego County sportsmen clubs once a week beginning in late April and ending June 3."

"An organizer said the program accommodates teenagers of all skill levels." ...

MO: The nature of things -- Spring event focuses on wilderness
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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... "Connor and Voney were among hundreds who took part yesterday in A Day with Wildlife at American Legion Post No. 202 on Route WW. It was sponsored by the conservation department, the Downtown Optimists and residents." ...

"Storms threatened on the horizon as Mayor Darwin Hindman and his family walked out to the baseball fields at American Legion Park. His 9-year-old grandson, Jack, wanted to take a crack at the skeet shooting. Jack said he had never shot a gun except for an Airsoft pistol BB gun."

"He took his three shots, missed the clay pigeons and left with a bright red spot on his arm where the shotgun kicked back and hit him. 'It was cool,' he said." ...

MI: Air rifle enthusiast on target at competitions
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Vacations often go off with a 'bang' for the Richards family of Ovid."

"Devon Richards, a junior at Ovid-Elsie High School, is a national caliber air rifle competitor. He also shoots small-bore (.22-caliber) rifles competitively. When it comes time for vacations, the family often spends them traveling to his competitions."

"This past year, for instance, Richards, 17, competed in an air rifle competition in Pocatello, Idaho. His parents, Robert and Amber, have gone with him to the Ohio small-bore championships, and in February, he took part in the Canada Grand Prix shoot, where his two-man team finished fourth. There also are various shooting competitions across Michigan in Bay City, Kalamazoo, Jackson and Harrison." ...

NY: Mother, children feel at home on range
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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"Elaine Winter likes to call herself a 'shooter mom,' which is a variation of a soccer or a hockey mom."

"Winter, with input and encouragement from close friend John Borngraber, began looking at the many shooting options open at East Aurora Fish and Game Club."

"The club has trap and skeet ranges behind the clubhouse, a 100-yard rifle range down hill below the club pond, and the gear needed to participate."

"Participation ranks high with Winter, a natural target shooter who is interested not only in improving her skills but also in involving her children, Samantha and David Salazar." ...

OH: Sun 'n Gun in Southern Ohio! (OFCC)
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and the bullets were flying at the Second Annual OFCC/TDI Fun 'n Gun fundraiser!"

"Sixty OFCC members joined OFCC staff at the Tactical Defense Institute, located in West Union, Ohio, for our annual PAC fundraiser Sunday, April 2, 2006. John Benner, founder of TDI, donated use of his facility and time for this fun event. Several of John's instructors teamed up with Randy Boucher and his team of IDPA shooters and volunteered their time to help make the day a huge success."

"With temperatures exceeding 70 degrees at times ... novice and advanced shooters alike marveled at the incredible weather while soaking up rays and rotating through six stages of scenarios ..." ...

PA: PA Game Commission: Spring Gobbler Seasons Just Around Corner; Turkey Hunting Safety Tips; Wild Turkey Field Reports
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Although there has been plenty of wild turkey calling going on recently in the mountains and woodlots throughout Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Game Commission officials believe the upcoming spring gobbler seasons aren't expected to be as rewarding to hunters as those over the past few years."

"'It stands to reason - and we surely expected - that wild turkey hunter success was going to fall off some because of the below-average reproduction turkeys have endured for the past three springs in Pennsylvania,' explained Mary Jo Casalena, Game Commission wild turkey biologist. ..." ...

MA: Leyden gun range use, hours limited by board
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"The Planning Board has ruled in large part against the Leyden Rifle Club and its biggest user, Wackenhut Security."

"After a hearing, which began in October and ended in December, the board ruled last week that the club had to remove a structure built by and for Wackenhut over the firing line on the 50-year-old range."

"The board voted to allow the club to keep a covered pavilion, subject to conditions set by the local Conservation Commission. Finally, however, the board issued a wide range of restrictions on the club, focused particularly on nonmembers, such as Wackenhut." ...

"The new rules set strict limits on the hours and days of operation in the week, on winter use, and on the caliber of ammunition that may be used..." ...

Ireland: Lone raider walks away with �800,000 after hijacking van
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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NOTE:
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"A LONE raider walked away with more than �800,000 in cash after single-handedly hijacking a security van yesterday morning."

"The armed gunman hijacked the unmarked four-wheel drive security vehicle carrying the large consignment of notes destined for two Bank of Ireland ATMs in Dublin."

"Two Chubb security employees were making the cash drop in the busy Clondalkin village when the masked and armed man confronted the security men in the Nissan Patrol vehicle."

"During the ordeal, one Chubb employee was pistol-whipped by the robber who forced him to drive at gunpoint to a cul de sac in Clondalkin after the initial hold-up." ...

Australia: Man and son escape carjackers
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"A SYDNEY man and his son have escaped from armed carjackers."

"The 50-year-old and his nine-year-old son were approached by two men as they returned to their BMW 7-Series vehicle in a Strathfield car park at 8.50pm (AEST) yesterday."

"One offender, armed with a pistol, forced the father into the rear of the car while the second man tried to restrain the child, police said."

"'The boy was able to break free and returned to his mother's shop nearby and they flagged down a passing police car,' a police said."

"When police arrived the three men had left the carpark in the BMW." ...

UK: Air pistol culprit to prison
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"AN Accrington man who went round to his girlfriend's house and threatened her and her mother with a gun after she put the phone down on him has been jailed."

"Shaun Varley, 32, turned up at the victims' house in a taxi with the unloaded air pistol after losing his temper."

"A brave cabbie talked him out of it and took him home again, Burnley Crown Court heard."

"Varley, of Spring Hill Road, admitted possessing a firearm when prohibited and possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence to Susan and Edwina Bleasdale, last October."

"Varley was sent to prison for 12 months." ...

"The court was told the defendant had 71 previous convictions and had been to prison." ...

Canada: Harper earns police praise on sentencing, brickbats on gun registry
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Stephen Harper is winning plaudits from police for promising to lock up violent criminals and throw away the key - and drawing fire for a pledge to abolish the federal long-gun registry."

"Harper ... reiterated Conservative campaign vows to bring in tougher sentences for gun crimes and drug offences. He also won hearty applause for his promise to tighten the parole system and do away with statutory release ..." ...

"It was another story on the long-gun registry - the controversial Liberal creation that requires all shotgun and rifle owners to register their weapons."

"Harper made only a passing mention of that issue, promising to use the money saved by abolishing the registry to hire more police." ...

Australia: South Australia gun amnesty ends today
Submitted by: Haddock
Website: http://www.servicerifle.com.au/qmrcabout.htm

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FULL TEXT BELOW:

Police say they are pleased with the response to the latest firearm amnesty in South Australia, which ends today.

More than 1,000 weapons have been handed in since the start of January.

Police have collected several high-powered rifles, tranquilliser guns and semi-automatic weapons.

Most will be crushed.

Senior Sergeant Ian Caddy says police were happy with the response from gun-owners.

"It's less than the last amnesty we had, which was of a similar nature, in 2001," he said.

"That's particularly pleasing perhaps because it shows that maybe there's less illegal guns and firearms or that there's no current requirements or purpose of use, that number is diminishing.

"Some of [the weapons] have been in their cupboard for years and they just want to get rid of them."