Keep and Bear Arms - Gun Owners Home Page

Mike Vanderboegh: Resistance
Submitted by: Chris Horton
Website: http://chris-horton.blogspot.com/

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

... "I suppose this is always the way it is with those who start the wars. They simply can't or won't see what the unintended consequences of their actions are going to be, even when others are completely unsurprised and even predict it publicly. Which brings me, as many of you familiar with my work have probably already guessed where I was heading, to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives." ...

"... If they learned anything from Waco or Ruby Ridge ... they have long ago forgot it. Today, they are totally unaware of how such outrages as the Olofson case are viewed by people -- armed people I might add -- who internalized those lessons and who will never forget them. They are truly jack booted thugs without a clue." ...

No Compromise Against Gun Control: Interview of Aaron Zelman by John F. McManus
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

"Aaron Zelman is executive director of Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership, a pro-Second Amendment group based in Milwaukee."

"THE NEW AMERICAN: What is your organization's main goal?"

"Aaron Zelman: Our main goal is to destroy gun control. We are an organization that believes we have the moral authority to point out to the rest of the world the evils that have come from gun control and how humanity has suffered because of gun-control schemes." ...

Guns and green spaces
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

"Do guns belong in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park?"

"Conservation and environmental groups say no; the National Rifle Association and other gun-rights advocates say yes. And both sides are currently fighting over a proposed change in regulations that would allow citizens to carry concealed weapons into national parks."

"Reagan-era rules drafted in 1983 prohibit loaded guns in national parks. The regulations had gone untouched until last December, when Secretary of the Interior Dick Kempthorne received a letter ... asking him to reopen them. The reason, the NRA says, is that the regulations currently on the books don't reflect the drastic changes in conceal and carry laws that have developed over the years." ...

OR: Brookings man draws gun in self-defense
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

... "On 05-12-08 at about 7:25 p.m., Officers were dispatched to McDonald's restaurant, 815 Chetco Avenue in Brookings, Oregon for a report of a fight between multiple subjects. While in-route to the call, officers were notified one of the individuals involved in the fight was waving a gun."

"Police officers arrived on the scene less than one minute later and found Kerry Von Pohle (9/18/1948) pointing a revolver towards Kevin Eber (10/7/1989) and Jacob Shelton (9/5/1988). Officers drew their firearms and commanded Von Pohle to put his weapon down. Von Pohle complied with these commands. An investigation revealed Von Pohle had drawn his gun in self-defense." ...

GA: Teen killed by homeowner had previous burglary arrest
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

"The teenage boy who was shot to death last week while trying to break into a northwest Atlanta home has been identified as Merterries Burton ..."

"Merterries, 15, was a student at Forrest Hills Academy, an alternative school for middle and high school students with discipline problems ..."

"Friday afternoon, Merterries and two other boys were trying to kick in the back door of a home on Hawkins Street when the resident, 26-year-old Jeff Fraser, grabbed a gun and fired at least eight shots at the intruders ..."

"The others fled when Merterries was shot and remained at large Wednesday."

"Homicide investigator J. Thorpe Jr. said Wednesday the shooting appeared to be in self-defense, but he is still investigating." ...

NC: Firearms policy to get more tweaks
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

"It will take another month of talks with lawyers and insurance experts before Wake County school staff can revise the district's ban on firearms and deadly weapons to allow school marksmanship teams to compete in approved shooting tournaments, including a state-sponsored hunter education competition."

"As a result of the call for more consultation, the school board's policy committee Tuesday postponed discussion of a revised policy until June."

"In mid-March, the marksmanship team from East Wake High School was barred from competing in the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Hunter Education Tournament one day before a regional competition. ..." ...

Camille Paglia: She [Hillary] won't go easy
Submitted by: Anonymous

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

... "... I for one have renewed questions about the 1993 suicide of Deputy White House Counsel Vince Foster, Hillary's former law partner and longtime friend, whose files were purged by Hillary's staff before they could be examined for evidence. One must always be skeptical about Web rumors, but my interest was piqued last year by claims that Foster was shattered by the role he had played three months earlier in the outrageous order for federal agents to attack David Koresh's ranch at Waco, Texas, producing a conflagration that led to 76 deaths, including 21 children. Why has the Waco fiasco been forgotten? It triggered the worst case of domestic terrorism in U.S. history, the 1995 revenge bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City." ...

Bob [Barr]: I�m in it to win it
Submitted by: Anonymous

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

"Before you walk into the National Press Club's John Peter Zengler Room, you pass a framed comic strip in which one panel features a cop saying, 'I dunno ... some guys do the dumbest things.'"

"That was from a cartoon called 'Potsy' ... but as one sat through former Georgia congressman Bob Barr's press conference Monday in which he announced his candidacy for president of the United States as a Libertarian, it was hard not to think that, well, some things never change: Some guys just do the dumbest things."

"It�s been more than 450 days since Sen. Barack Obama announced his candidacy, and 383 since Sen. John McCain threw his hat in the ring, but Bob Barr is hoping that the best things come to those who wait." ...

The NRA On Sen. John McCain, Then And Now
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

"Sen. John McCain is scheduled to speak before the NRA convention in Louisville this Friday, May 16, 2008, and I suspect he might have to perform a high-wire act to impress most of the folks in attendance."

"The NRA has pilloried and even ridiculed Sen. McCain over the years in its magazine articles and graphic caricatures of him."

"For example, there's an article from the NRA magazine America's First Freedom from July 2001, called, 'What's Happened To John McCain?' In it the NRA says:"

"The gun control debate in Washington has hit center stage because Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., has now become one of the premier flag carriers for the enemies of the Second Amendment. ... " ...

NRA chief shares thoughts ahead of Louisville meeting
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

"America's largest gun-rights lobby expects up to 70,000 people to gather for its annual convention that opens this week in Louisville, an event that will include an address by Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee."

"The Courier-Journal sat down yesterday with Wayne LaPierre, the National Rifle Association's executive vice president, to discuss the presidential election, gun laws and other issues." ...

NJ: Pol hopes McCain will blaze his comeback trail
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

"Until a few months ago, Dick Zimmer had no intention of running for political office again. After six years in the House of Representatives, followed by two stinging defeats at the hands of Democrats, he was enjoying life as a lawyer and lobbyist at the Washington, DC, office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher." ...

"He supports gun control legislation, but promptly adds a caveat. 'I believe the Second Amendment has substance and should be respected the way the rest of the Bill of Rights is, but, like the rest of the Bill of Rights, it is not absolute. We can impose reasonable restrictions based on public safety.'" ...

Up to Americans now to comment on guns in national parks proposal
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

... "America's government is firmly founded on the fundamental principle that states have the prerogative to develop their own policies and standards in many areas, and that the federal government should respect that right whenever possible. ... the Department of the Interior and other agencies traditionally have managed these lands in cooperation with state governments, respecting state law when possible on issues such as hunting, fishing and wildlife management."

"Our current federal regulations governing firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges properly limit poaching, target practice and other illegal uses. I strongly endorse these important objectives. ..." ...

Bill Would Renew Federal Assault Weapons Ban
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

"With gun control looming as a potential critical issue in the 2008 election cycle, pressure is building on Congress to pass legislation reenacting the federal assault weapons ban. The original federal ban on assault weapons expired on Sept. 13, 2004 ..."

"One bill to revive the assault weapons ban has already been introduced by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D, New York, 4th). McCarthy's Assault Weapons Ban and Law Enforcement Protection Act of 2007, (H.R. 1022), would reenact the ban for ten years."

"Along with reinstating federal criminal penalties involving possession or transfer of assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition feeding devices, H.R. 1022 would expand the definition of 'semiautomatic assault weapon' ..." [emphasis added] ...

VA: Gun sign fires up Boones Mill meeting
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

"A recently posted sign requesting that guns not be brought into Boones Mill town hall sparked controversy at a town council meeting Tuesday night -- and drew the attention of the Virginia Citizens Defense League." ...

"During the council meeting ... Van Cleave drew a connection between criminal awareness and gun-free zones. He cited shootings at Virginia Tech last year and at the city hall in Kirkwood, Mo., in February ..."

"Paul Henick of Richmond was one of three other VCDL members who spoke, and he said the sign expressed a negative bias."

"'You have judged me and determined I'm likely to cause discord because I choose to carry a firearm,' Henick said. 'I must strenuously object to your prejudice against me.'" ...

VA: Is it really a problem?
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

"The wheels of government grind slowly, if they're going to move at all."

That's certainly true of the Virginia General Assembly, which is either ... a guardian of Second Amendment rights or indifferent to gun control arguments. Even the emotional pleas of Virginia Tech families last winter didn't convince the Legislature to give any serious thought to closing the gun show loophole." ...

"What is the gun show loophole? Federally licensed firearms dealers are required to do background checks on gun buyers, even if they�re selling at a gun show. But private citizens may buy and sell guns among themselves without background checks, even if they meet at a gun show where the licensed dealers are required to perform the checks." ...

NY: Gun buy-back program draws fire and ire
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

"An Albany County program to buy back handguns is in the works -- but not without controversy and hurt feelings."

"Lawmaker Chris Higgins of Albany introduced a resolution Monday night to the County Legislature requesting Sheriff Jim Campbell and District Attorney David Soares to set up the buy-back and grant amnesty to those turning in illegal weapons." ...

"Campbell conceded these programs rarely pan out. 'We're hopeful that the program will be successful in that we will receive handguns from the streets,' he said. 'However, I would be surprised if that turns out to be the case.'" [emphasis added] ...

NY: Crisis team plan counters gun violence
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

"When a young person is shot in Rochester, it's not just a doctor's job to heal the wounds."

"A crisis intervention team mobilizes counselors, clergy and social workers to talk to the victim if possible and to families in an effort to prevent acts of revenge. Now Albany's Gun Violence Task Force wants to start a similar program."

"The 13-member task force, formed late last year, issued its interim report Thursday, outlining steps it has taken so far in its effort to decrease violence in the city."

"'The issue we're talking about is not only a public-safety issue,' said the Rev. John U. Miller, chairman of the task force. 'It is a public health issue.'" ...

IL: 2nd Amendment resolution heads to full McLean board
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

"The McLean County Board has been asked to vote on a resolution favoring protection of gun ownership rights under the Second Amendment."

"The board�s executive committee voted 7-1 Tuesday to forward such a resolution to the full board without recommendation for or against it. The County Board next meets at 9 a.m. May 20 at the Government Center in downtown Bloomington."

"The Pro Second Amendment (Pro2A) Resolution was brought to county officials by supporters who said they have collected signatures from 2,850 McLean County residents in support of gun rights."

"Eighty-one county boards in Illinois have OK'd the resolution, said one of the effort's organizers ..." ...

GA: Gov. Perdue Signs HB 89
Submitted by: Mark McCullough
Website: http://www.georgiacarry.org/

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

"At approximately 3 p.m. on May 14, 2008, Gov. Sonny Perdue signed HB 89 into law. The bill, sponsored and advocated by GCO, is the most important pro-gun legislation in the history of Georgia. When the bill takes effect on July 1, 2008, it no longer will be a separate crime, for people with firearms licenses to carry a firearm into a restaurant that serves alcohol, on public transportation, or in state parks. The bill also relaxes car carry restrictions for people eligible for firearms licenses and tightens the time frames for issuance of firearms licenses by probate judges." ...

Rousseau And Grinnell. [N.Y. Times, July 22, 1866]
Submitted by: GunShowOnTheNet.com
Website: http://GunShowOnTheNet.com/

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

"...Mr. Raymond's Remarks in the House of Representatives, July 17, 1866, on the Assault of Hon. L.H. Rousseauupon Hon. J.B Grinnell.

"From the Congressional Globe..."

"...Q.--Do you ever carry arms upon your person?

"A.--Yes, Sir.

"Q.--Were you armed on this occasion?

"A.--I had a small Deringer pistol in my pocket.

"Q.--How long had you had that?

"A.--I had carried it ever since I left the army. I do not suppose it has been out of my pocket in twelve months..."

"...A.-- . . . The condition of society has been such in our town that it would not be safe to be unarmed. It is rather the exception than the rule for gentlemen not to carry arms, especially one who has been in the Federal Army..."

GA: Tesler prosecution rests: FBI agent says police officer feared being labeled a 'rat'
Submitted by: Anonymous

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

"Arthur Bruce Tesler said he didn't object to lies to get a search warrant and helped cover up the crime after an innocent woman was killed, because he feared retribution from Atlanta police if he became a 'rat,' an FBI agent said Tuesday."

"'He said in 2003 he had tried to report an officer who was involved in excessive force,' FBI Agent Joe Robuck told the Fulton County jury Tuesday. 'All that resulted in his co-workers thinking of him as a rat and Mr. Tesler being transferred to a less desirable position in the Atlanta Police Department.'"

"The prosecution rested at noon in Tesler's trial in Superior Court. where he faces charges ... for his role in the narcotics raid that resulted in the death of 92-year-old Kathryn Johnston on Nov. 21, 2006." ...

PA: Gun owners protest police action
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

"A Friday evening police incident spilled over into a Borough Council meeting Tuesday, with gun-rights advocates alleging harassment by two police officers."

"The regular monthly meeting erupted into a full-blown debate on the Second Amendment, with more than 20 Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association members � many of whom were openly armed � arguing their right to carry a weapon in public."

"Police have yet to release a report of the incident in which a group of customers at Old Country Buffet were questioned about openly carrying handguns in public. At least one of those customers, Rich Banks, of Luzerne County, was detained for refusing to cooperate with police in regard to his concealed .38-caliber handgun ..." ...

TN: 911 operator comments spark outrage
Submitted by: Anonymous

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

"When you call 911, you hope you're talking to someone who cares about what happens to you, but WTVF in Nashville, Tennessee uncovered a shocking 911 emergency."

"A Nashville woman, who called 911 during a violent domestic situation back in February, says the emergency system failed." ...

"Jones called the emergency center several times for almost three hours, as her ex-boyfriend made threats on her life." ...

"... one dispatcher made a shocking comment that was captured on tape." ...

"The following is a transcript of a portion of the 911 call:" ...

"911: 'OK, ma'am, I updated the call. We'll get somebody there as soon as possible.'"

"Sheila hangs up."

"911: 'I really just don't give a s**t what happens to you.'" ...

WI: Automatic gun transfer nets prison sentence
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

"A Wisconsin man whose federal conviction for illegally transferring a machine gun drew national attention on CNN and the Internet was sentenced Tuesday to 30 months in prison." ...

"Olofson, whose case has been reported several times on Lou Dobbs' show on CNN, faced up to 10 years in prison, Federal sentencing guidelines called for 27 to 33 months."

"U.S. District Judge Charles Clevert said Olofson knew or should have known the gun in question fired automatically." ...

"Olofson's attorney ... argued that Olofson's rifle malfunctioned because of the way it was manufactured. Fahl said the case is being watched nationally because some believe it allows for criminal charges whenever a weapon accidentally fires more than once." ...

PA: Valid, deadly purpose (fourth letter)
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

"Editor: In your May 9 editorial, 'Just the cost of doing business,' you state that the SKS assault weapon is designed for killing people, therefore, there is no valid use for it."

"What a huge glaring error! Of course, there is a valid use for it: to kill people, which it can do very well."

"History will tell you that one reason the mainland United States was not invaded by the Japanese in World War II was because of the large amount of firepower in the hands of our citizens ..."

"If only the millions who were gassed in Europe had been armed as they were forced from their homes and loaded onto cattle cars. To die fighting for your home is much better than to die like a sheep, at the will of a dictator." ...

PA: Did guns or a flawed justice system kill Sgt. Liczbinski?
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

There are no comments on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments

"THE MURDER of Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski has provoked the typically futile debate about where to place the blame."

"It's the guns, many of us say, arguing for sensible restrictions."

"It's not the guns, others argue, but the failure of the criminal-justice system to keep violent thugs behind bars."

"In the week since Liczbinski's murder, the either/or argument has become as predictable and nonproductive as the abortion debate. Typical are the responses to my column last week in which I lamented the availability of the assault weapon used to kill Liczbinski." ...