Keep and Bear Arms - Gun Owners Home Page

NY: New York man accused of trying to buy explosives
Submitted by: Newslinks Admin

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

"An Afghan national who was granted political asylum five years ago is in U.S. custody after allegedly seeking to purchase enough explosives to 'blow up a mountain.' " ...

"Malike allegedly sought to purchase C-4, plastic explosives designed for military use, according to the criminal complaint unsealed Wednesday."

"A law enforcement source said Malike is suspected of being 'a lone operator' with no connections to any group."

"Malike also allegedly tried to buy five bullet-proof vests, night-vision goggles, a camera to be mounted on the front of his car, 50 Valium pills, and 50 sleeping pills, according to the complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of New York."

'Hail Mary' anti-gun report 'misleading'
Submitted by: Newslinks Admin

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

"Analysts believe the Congressional Research Service report will be used by lawmakers and advocacy groups seeking to extend an 'assault weapons' ban signed by President Clinton that expires next year. The report purports to identify a number of gun-law 'loopholes' that some Congress members believe could be exploited by terrorists."

"However, gun-rights groups � which insist the ban did little to curb gun crime � say determined terrorists seeking firepower won't be stopped by new legislation, even if every problem identified by the CRS report were addressed."

Ridge says unmanned drones could be patrolling borders by end of the year Submitted by: Newslinks Admin	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
"Unmanned aerial drones similar to ones used in the war on Iraq could be patrolling the U.S. border by the end of the year to help stem illegal immigration and increase security, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said Thursday."

A Lesson in Dirty Politics
Submitted by: LFA Editor
Website: http://www.libertyforall.net

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

"The validity of the signatures on Ed Porr's petition was verifiable with one phone call to the Coconino County Elections office. I know because that is how I did it. I was the circulator of the petition, and I knew the signatures were valid because I knew the individuals who signed. But I wanted to prove that literally anyone could have picked up the phone and verified the signers' voting status."

"A little investigation turned up the truth in this dirty game of political hardball. The plaintiff in Yavapai County was a straw man, who when asked, didn't know who was paying his attorney's bill. He only knew that he wasn't paying it. A web search revealed that the attorney's primary client is the GOP. FEC reports will soon prove what we already know: that the attorney's concern was not truth but extortion- getting the Libertarians off the ballot who would dilute the vote for the Republicrats."

FL: Police, Dressed As Homeless, Give Tickets
Submitted by: Newslinks Admin

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

"Homeless advocates are outraged by an operation where undercover police officers dressed as vagrants, observed drivers running red lights or committing other traffic violations, then radioed ahead to other officers who stopped those cars and wrote tickets."

" 'Operation Vagrant,' a sting operation involving the Florida Highway Patrol, Kissimmee police and the Osceola County Sheriff's Office, nabbed 171 drivers � most of whom ran red lights, a violation that carries an $83 fine."

UT: State prepares for firing-squad executions
Submitted by: Blacksnake

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

"Of the 850 inmates put to death in the United States since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated capital punishment in 1976, two have died by firing squad, both in Utah: Gary Gilmore in 1977 became the first person executed in the United States after the court's ruling, and John Albert Taylor was put to death 19 years later."

"Since 1977, Utah has executed four other killers, all by injection."

"Anti-death penalty forces are protesting, arguing that the firing squad amounts to cruel and unusual punishment. And the prison is bracing for large crowds of protesters."

FL: Gun range battle may go to court Submitted by: Newslinks Admin	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
"The noise pollution controversy over Williston's Rhino Outdoor Gun Range could be headed for court, as the Levy County Board of County Commissioners declined to take action against its owner Tuesday night despite being presented with findings of violations of the county's noise ordinance."

Feds Shoot Blanks On Gun Laws
Submitted by: Newslinks Admin

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

"Gun-rights advocates� knees jerk twice when they get within kicking range of gun-control legislation. Reflex Response #1: Guns don�t kill, people do. Reflex Response #2: We don�t need more gun laws; we need to enforce the laws already books."

"The 'enforce the laws' camp got a boost last week from a study by the Americans for Gun Safety Foundation that documents the embarrassing extent to which federal gun laws are not, in fact, enforced." ...

MN: Jurors pull deadly gun's trigger
Submitted by: Newslinks Admin

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

"One by one, the 11 women and three men of the jury in the Brett Lessard trial stepped forward Wednesday afternoon, grasped the .40-caliber Glock pistol and pulled the trigger." ...

"The gun was unloaded, of course, and the jurors were firing into a safety device. But the theatrics by prosecutors in the Itasca County courtroom were intended to prove a point: This particular gun required a hefty pull on the trigger to get it to fire, not an accidental bump."

OH: Police: Teacher Shoots Student With Taser Gun Submitted by: Newslinks Admin	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
"A teacher who was handling a taser gun reportedly shot a student Thursday afternoon." ... "The taser gun reportedly was left behind an unattended in a classroom when a teacher picked it up and pointed and fired the device at the student."

IL: Orland board rejects gun sales close to school Submitted by: Newslinks Admin	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
"A majority of Orland Park's trustees Monday sided with Mayor Dan McLaughlin in approving an ordinance that prohibits the sale of firearms within a quarter-mile distance from a school." "The 5-2 vote in favor of the ordinance means Galyan's Trading Co. will not be allowed to sell firearms at its Orland Park Place shopping center location."

Gun law lies in the major news media
Submitted by: Newslinks Admin

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

"As a hunter and gun owner, it always amazes me how much outright lying makes it into the pages of major publications. All of us realize that commentaries and editorials are opinion pieces, and that we can differ on whether gun control is legitimate or not, about whether hunting is acceptable or not. But I'm not sure its OK for people to spout outright lies to try to make their case for or against an issue."

OR: Oregon says unlawful labeling of an MP3 is "terrorism"
Submitted by: Newslinks Admin

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

FULL TEXT BELOW:

OREGON'S SENATE Bill 742, section 19, chapter 666 (here) defines the "unlawful labeling of a sound recording" as terrorism and would make it punishable by a minimum life sentence of 25 years in prison without parole.

After 25 years (if they're fortunate) the state might allow them to find "employment at a forest or work camp" or other similar "post prison supervision".

Other acts described as terrorism include (but are not limited to):

* Blocking traffic
* School walkouts
* Computer crime
* Accepting a bribe
* Theft and Burglary
* Unauthorized use of a vehicle
* Unlawful labeling of a videotape
* Unlawful recording of a live performance
* Negotiating a bad check
* Dogfighting
* Delivery of an imitation controlled substance
* Producing fake IDs
* Using another's driver's license
* Drunk driving
* Selling cigarettes to a minor

And the state only has to come up with two "witnesses". Now might be the time for citizens of Oregon to call their Senators.

VA: Firearms law headed to public hearing
Submitted by: Newslinks Admin

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

"A draft ordinance that would outlaw firing guns in the city except under certain circumstances is headed for public hearing."

"Norton City Council got its first look at the proposal Tuesday after requesting the change following a fatal dog shooting incident near a school bus stop in April."

"The ordinance does not replace a long list of existing laws on the books with regard to firearms but overlays all of them, city attorney Bill Bradshaw said after the meeting."

FL: Bill would penalize handgun owners for failing to report thefts
Submitted by: Newslinks Admin

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

"Handgun owners could be fined up to $250 for failing to tell police when their firearms are stolen, under a bill approved Thursday by the state Assembly."

"Supporters said the measure by Assemblyman Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, would help law enforcement agencies track and prosecute gun thefts and the illegal transferring of firearms."

"But Assemblyman Ray Haynes, R-Murrieta, contended the bill was anti-gun owner."

MN: Ramsey County bans guns in court
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft
Website: http://www.idcwebdev.com

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

Ramsey County essentially banned firearms from its courthouse and several of its public buildings on Thursday.

Invoking judicial authority to maintain order and safety in courthouse complexes, Judge Mott said that anyone entering those buildings must remove their guns -- even if they have a permit. [emphasis added]

Many local governments around the state have expressed alarm over the possibility that the new law could mean more people carrying guns in government buildings.
---

What are they afraid of? Does "anyone" include government employees such as police officers and judges?

MN: Sheriff trying to end run "shall-issue" law
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft
Website: http://www.idcwebdev.com

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

Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher announced that anyone applying for a conceal-and-carry permit must set up an appointment with his office. Fifty-two appointments will be available each business day, he said.
---
Ramsey county has a population of 511,035. With 1% of them applying and the sheriff actually doing 52 a day, that is 20 WEEKS of appointments! "Shall-issue" means "when we get around to it!"

DC: Questions Remain in School Shooting
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft
Website: http://www.idcwebdev.com

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

The 16-year-old student shot last month inside a Northwest Washington high school said in court yesterday that a gun was pulled on him, not by him.

The shooting was the first in a D.C. school in recent years, and a central mystery has been how the gun was smuggled into the building.

Although Cardozo has metal detectors at its main entrance, and security cameras in various places, officials have said that numerous doors cannot be locked for fire safety reasons.

FL: Gun range "noise pollution" battle may go to court
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft
Website: http://www.idcwebdev.com

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

The noise pollution controversy over Williston's Rhino Outdoor Gun Range could be headed for court, as the Levy County Board of County Commissioners declined to take action against its owner Tuesday night despite being presented with findings of violations of the county's noise ordinance.

The board acted on the advice of County Attorney Beauchamp, who admitted violations were evident but opined that the range was covered by the special exemption granted by the board in 2001.

Critics: Medicare Report Is Smoking Gun for Fat Police
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft
Website: http://www.idcwebdev.com

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

A study tying obese patients to skyrocketing Medicare and Medicaid costs is the �smoking gun� lawyers and bureaucrats need to drive fast food into submission, critics of the report say.

�You now have a report that says the taxpayer is being hurt because of obesity. Ah, now the federal government will have to step in to protect people from their habits,� said Tom DeWeese, president of the American Policy Center (search), a civil libertarian watchdog group based in Virginia.

Singapore: Cop's gun goes off twice during scuffle with wife
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft
Website: http://www.idcwebdev.com

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

A police officer was arrested after two shots were fired from his service revolver at his home early on Wednesday morning.

It was about 2am and 45-year-old station inspector Rosli Abdul Ghani and his wife had been quarrelling, the police said in a statement yesterday.

When the couple's 17-year-old son and his 63-year-old father-in-law, who lives with the family, tried to intervene in the scuffle, the gun went off twice.

---

But only cops should have guns. (Clue: guns don't "go off". They are fired by the pull of a trigger.)

Borneo: Gun owners to update records
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft
Website: http://www.idcwebdev.com

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

Gun owners have been urged to update their records to enable police to monitor movement of firearms. Police Commissioner Jaafar said owners were slow in updating.

Jaafar said with the updated record, police would be able to prevent shotguns from falling into the wrong hands. HOW?!

The State, had frozen applications for new shotguns licence since 1986 with the task taken over by police from the Resident's Office.

South Africa: Calls for government to create gun-free schools
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft
Website: http://www.idcwebdev.com

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

Gunfree South Africa says this week's fatal shooting incident at a Pretoria school is a reminder of the huge dangers firearms pose for the youth. The action group says it has been calling on government for years to declare schools gun-free zones.

On Wednesday, a 17-year-old pupil allegedly shot dead a 14-year-old boy at the [school]. It is reported that the boy used a gun which belonged to his father, a policeman.

---

And a "gun-free" zone would have stopped this how? The Washington D.C. school shooting just happened at a "gun free" school. Visit KeepAndBearArms.com's Schools & Guns archives.

WI: Activists protest Sheriff Clarke's gun searches
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft
Website: http://www.idcwebdev.com

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

A coalition of community groups demanded that Milwaukee County Sheriff Clarke provide more accountability to his controversial gun crimes task force or disband it.

Clarke's consent to search program has been under way for nearly seven weeks now. However, community activists say they doubt that deputies explain that vehicle searches are completely voluntary.

[T]he groups charged that Clarke's program is a harassment campaign aimed at violating the Fourth Amendment rights of citizens.

QUESTION...

If a citizen isn't smart enough to decline a vehicle search, whose fault is that?

Tune in for RKBA/SSN discussion -- Saturday on American Radio Submitted by: [email protected]	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
Dave Champion will discuss RKBA and the significance of Taxpayer Identification Numbers/Social Security Numbers (when used for tax purposes) as they relate to tax liability, or the lack thereof. Saturday, May 24, 2003 5 p.m. PDT http://www.americanradioshow.us/ Internet Listen-Live links at above URL

MA: Man facing weapons charges in cap gun waving incident
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft
Website: http://www.idcwebdev.com

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

A man faces a weapons charge after two juveniles reported he waived a "gun" at them.

Kevin Darcy was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon -- a toy cap gun.

"No one was injured in the incident, and the gun displayed was confirmed to be a cap gun," according to Police Sgt. Johnson.

Although police determined the gun was a toy, they still charged Darcy because witnesses thought the gun was real.

---
So their ignorance makes it a felony? If you point a banana and they think it's a gun, will the charges be just the same?

MN: Pistol-Packin' Liberals Submitted by: Robert Lewis	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
"But whoever it was that said liberals aren�t 'straight shooters' (thought you'd like that double entendre) ought to apologize to a gaggle of tree-hugging, crystal-gazing, incense-sniffing, 'Kumbaya'-singing, 'PC' lefties from the People's Republic of Minnesota!" "Ah heck, while you�re at it, throw in a big old group hug for them (just make sure it�s adequately diverse and multicultural)."

Hitler�s Control Submitted by: paul raynolds	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
"Simply put, if not for gun control, Hitler would not have been able to murder 21 million people. Nor would Mugabe be able to carry out his current terror program."

Bias Against Guns
Submitted by: paul raynolds

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

"Does the gun-control debate have any connection with the reality of guns in our society? Author John Lott suggests that the answer is 'no'."

"On Monday, May 19th, at the American Enterprise Institute where he is a resident scholar, Mr. Lott addressed an interested gathering on the subject of his latest book, The Bias against Guns: Why Almost Everything You've Heard about Gun Control is Wrong."

"The reason why is because almost everything we've heard about guns and gun-control is provided by the mass media. The startling, documented fact that 'Americans use guns to stop crime at least 4.5 times more frequently than to commit crime' is definitely NOT something that can be learned from watching TV or reading the newspapers. Lott stops well short of accusing the media of being manipulated by a gun-control conspiracy, but claims to be puzzled that their criteria for news-worthiness don't embrace the sort of statistics that excite him and other econometricians."

Nazi Firearms Law and the Disarming of German Jews
Submitted by: paul raynolds

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

NOTE:

You will need Adobe Acrobat to read this file.

-------
"This article addresses German firearms laws and Nazi policies and practices to disarm German citizens, particularly political opponents and Jews. It begins with
an account of post-World War I chaos, which led to the enactment in 1928 by the liberal Weimar republic of Germany�s first comprehensive gun control law. Next, the Nazi seizure of power in 1933 was consolidated by massive searches and seizures of firearms from political opponents, who were invariably described as 'communists.' After five years of repression and eradication of dissidents, Hitler signed a new gun
control law in 1938, which benefited Nazi party members and entities, but denied firearm ownership to enemies of the state. Later that year, in Kristallnacht (the Night of the Broken Glass), in one fell swoop, the Nazi regime disarmed Germany�s Jews.
Without any ability to defend themselves, the Jewish population could easily be sent to concentration camps for the Final Solution. After World War II began, Nazi authorities continued to register and mistrust civilian firearm owners, and German resistance to the Nazi regime was unsuccessful."

UK: Swoop after gun pointed at children
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft
Website: http://www.idcwebdev.com

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

"Armed police swooped on a pub in West Lothian to arrest a man after a 999 caller spotted him pointing a gun at a group of children."

"A worried member of the public called police to say the man had pointed a pistol at the children as they played in the street near Livingston town centre." ...

"Around a dozen officers surrounded the Paraffin Lamp pub at Almondvale Shopping Centre after being tipped off that the man was inside."

"After a tense stand-off, a 38-year-old walked out of the pub and was immediately arrested. Officers later recovered an 8mm replica handgun."

CA: Court: Bank Robber Had Gun, Wasn't 'Armed'
Submitted by: Bob Lidral

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

"A federal appeals court has tossed out the armed bank robbery conviction of a Los Angeles man after finding that -- while he admitted being armed and robbing the bank -- he did not mean to show his gun to a teller while demanding money."

"Deshon Rene Odom carried a loaded revolver in the waistband of his pants while he and an accomplice robbed a Los Angeles-area bank in 1996, but he did not brandish the weapon or even mention it to employees."

"A manager noticed the gun only when Odom raised his jacket to stuff away a pillowcase full of stolen cash."

UK: Ex-magistrate fights off burglars with stick
Submitted by: Blacksnake

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

"A fearless former magistrate set about a gang of brutal burglars with her walking stick but was unable to stop them from stealing two cars."

"Her elderly husband, who has a heart condition, tried to stop the thugs by hanging on to the car as it attempted to speed off."

-------
Yes, leave innocent citizens defenseless against criminals, and you will see more sad visual imagery of the enslaved using whatever means are available to them to protect themselves and their property.

MN: State of vigilantes [Letter]
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft
Website: http://www.idcwebdev.com

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

Last letter on the page

FULL TEXT BELOW:

There is much about the enacted conceal and carry gun law that puzzles me. After the bill was passed, the Senate author said in effect that now people would take responsibility for their personal protection.

Silly me, I thought it was one of the fundamental roles of government to provide police protection to the community. I thought that was part of the "social contract" � I pay taxes and the government (state or local) provides police and fire protection, a court system for resolving disputes in a peaceful manner, roads and education, and food, shelter and health care for the most vulnerable in our community. I guess I was wrong.

With local police departments facing budget cuts and layoffs, it has now become my responsibility to provide for my own personal protection. I thought we were a country of laws; instead, we are becoming a state of vigilantes. This is not the Minnesota I know and love.

BARBARA JOHNSON

-------
Silly Miz. Johnson obviously doesn't realize that the U.S. Supreme Court and lower courts have held that the police are not obligated to protect individuals from crime. If she doesn't want to take responsibility for her own defense, she's welcome to lay there submissively until her rapist is finished.

NY: "Don't lie for the other guy" program
Submitted by: paul raynolds

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

FULL TEXT BELOW:

If you lie for the other guy, you will pay.

That's what Mayor Jennings announced earlier today, along with supporters of the campaign to help control the sale of handguns in Albany.

Mayor Jennings spoke about the importance of making sure guns aren't getting into the wrong hands. He said that too many guns are being sold and getting into the hands of teenagers and unauthorized users.

Jennings said if you buy a gun for someone else, you could face 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Cassettes were distributed to retailers with hopes that it will send a message and keep guns off the streets.

TX: Houston Chronicle will no longer accept classified ads for handguns from individuals
Submitted by: paul raynolds

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

"The Houston Chronicle, Texas' largest daily newspaper and the ninth largest newspaper in the country with a circulation of 550,000, will no longer accept classified ads for handguns, except from licensed firearms dealers. And the newspaper will not accept classified ads for assault weapons from anyone - licensed or not. The Chronicle will continue to accept classified ads for long guns: rifles and shotguns. The new policy went into effect on May 1, 2003."

"A Chronicle spokesman said, 'It's the right thing to do.' "

The Chronicle changed its policy after receiving a request from Texans for Gun Safety." ...

IA: Democrats Reaching Out to Rural Voters
Submitted by: paul raynolds

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

"Exit polls in the 1996 election showed President Clinton getting about 44 percent of the rural vote, a share that dropped to 37 percent for Al Gore in 2000. Democratic strategists argue that Gore's support for issues such as gun control hurt him in rural areas and possibly cost him key states such as Tennessee and West Virginia."

"That trend continued last year, when centrist Democratic Gov. Roy Barnes of Georgia carried just 43 percent of the rural vote, down from the 60 percent he garnered in winning a first term."

MD: Police briefs
Submitted by: paul raynolds

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

... "Two workers, women aged 19 and 21 were cleaning up to go home when a man entered through a back door and confronted them with a handgun."

"The man demanded and was given cash and cigarettes. He forced the victims into a bathroom, then escorted one victim at a time from the bathroom into the rear area of the store, where he raped them."

-------
More disarmed Maryland citizens at the mercy of armed Maryland thugs. When will they learn?

Canada: We'll never be Yanks, author says
Submitted by: paul raynolds

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

"Canadians might like to watch The Simpsons on television, consume U.S. products and sunbathe in Florida. But those same people are likely to abhor the crass, conspicuous consumption common in the States, Adams contends."

"Moreover, he says, Canadians are more open to different cultures and are puzzled by the U.S. desire to keep a handgun under every pillow of the house."

-------
That's what distinguishes us from any other country in the world. We affirm and assert our right to keep and bear arms, while others are embarrassed by it.

UK: Jewelry robber caught on camera Submitted by: paul raynolds	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
"The robber, who was disguised as a postman, threatened workers at Boodle and Dunthorne on King Street with a handgun, before loading a sack with valuable jewellery and watches."

Defense: Open Military Terrorism Trials Submitted by: Newslinks Admin	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
"Military trials of terrorism suspects should be public to ensure that the world sees the proceedings as fair, said the Air Force officer appointed as chief defense lawyer for the tribunals." "Col. Will Gunn said Thursday that he would push for any such trials to be as open as possible."

Put it this way: if you were an Iraqi, would you turn in your weapon?
Submitted by: Gary Pennock

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

Original title: Anatomy of an Iraqi State

"Now, you don't have to be John Lott to know the result. The groups that the US is targeting in particular have the least reason to give up their weapons and every reason to keep them. The US can be sure that anyone who does turn in weapons is not a threat to the US or to anyone else. The criminals, meanwhile, will feel safer in the knowledge that people on the street and in cars are unarmed."

"In short, US efforts to enforce gun control can only result in increased crime and ever more problems with armed gangs using ever more desperate tactics. In the end, this whole project will come to naught. The US has been unable to enforce gun control in Washington, DC. It sure as heck can't do it in Iraq, and to the extent it is successful, it only means more crime and violence."

MS: Judge orders reforms on Mississippi's death row
Submitted by: Newslinks Admin

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

"A federal judge ruled that life on Mississippi's death row is so harsh and filthy that inmates are being driven insane, and ordered reforms that advocates praised as a precedent-setting breakthrough in prisoners' rights."

"U.S. Magistrate Jerry Davis found Wednesday that the way inmates are treated at the Parchman prison constitutes cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment."

IL: Another Whack em And Stack em? - Witnesses Disagree with Police Version
Submitted by: Anonymous

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

"The eyewitness said there appeared to be no reason why the second officer would fire directly at the driver."

" 'The cop panicked -- he shot him,' the eyewitness said."

"Moments later, the witness said he heard the police officer who had shot the motorist tell newly arriving officers that the suspect had tried to run him over."

" 'When I heard that come out of his mouth, that disturbed me,' the eyewitness said. 'He did not try to run over either of the cops.' "

-------
Seems like the police version of what happened to get this man shot is a bit different from the civilian witness's who were there.

Ninth Circuit's Odom Ruling More Proof that Court Needs Cleaning
Submitted by:
Website: http://www.ccrkba.org

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

"In yet another insult to justice and common sense, the ultra-liberal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has reversed the armed robbery conviction of California bank robber Deshon Rene Odom because he 'never intentionally displayed the gun.' "

"The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA) today called the May 21 ruling 'more proof that this court needs a cleaning.' "

" 'This is just the latest outrage from a federal appeals court that makes a habit out of handing down irresponsible decisions,' said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb. 'This is the same court that insists law-abiding Americans have no right to own guns, but now says an armed bank robber shouldn't get the maximum punishment because he never intended that anyone see his illegally-carried handgun.' "

"The ruling was written by Judge Richard R. Clifton of Hawaii. It noted incredibly, 'Can a bank robber with a concealed gun who never mentions or insinuates having one, but who displays it inadvertently, be convicted of armed bank robbery? We believe the answer is no�' Odom pulled the robbery with an accomplice and both were arrested outside the bank. They were both carrying loaded revolvers."

Ashcroft to appear before House panel on Patriot Act
Submitted by: Newslinks Admin

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

"Although it has not been announced, Justice Department officials and congressional sources said Ashcroft is tentatively set to appear June 5, before the House Judiciary Committee."

"That committee Tuesday made public a recent 60-page Justice Department response to the lawmakers' concerns about the government's aggressive approach to searching for sleeper cells, suspicious fund-raising groups and others with suspected ties to terrorist organizations."

"The report contains the first Justice Department acknowledgment that 'fewer than 50' individuals have been detained in secrecy as material witnesses in connection with ongoing terrorism investigations. Unofficial newspaper estimates and interest group compilations had generally ranged from about two dozen to as many as 44."

Senate backs Bush on 'mini-nukes' Submitted by: Newslinks Admin	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
"The Senate voted Wednesday to require President Bush to obtain congressional approval before developing new classes of smaller nuclear weapons, but allowed the repeal of the decade-long ban on studying and developing them."

VA: Execution set for possibly retarded man Submitted by: Newslinks Admin	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
"Virginia is continuing with plans to electrocute a man despite recent state evaluations suggesting he is mentally impaired and a Supreme Court ruling barring execution of the mentally retarded." "Carrie Cantrell, spokeswoman for Attorney General Jerry Kilgore, said previous testing by the inmate's own experts found he was not retarded."

NY: Woman collapses after N.Y. judge asks if she's a terrorist
Submitted by: Newslinks Admin

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

"An Arab-American woman who was in court to fight a parking ticket fainted when the judge asked her if she was a terrorist."

"Anissa Khoder, 46, has filed a complaint with the state Commission on Judicial Conduct over the May 15 incident before Tarrytown Village Justice William Crosbie."

"Crosbie, 79, confirmed this week that he made the remark but said he was 'probably kidding with her.' He denied her claim that he also accused her of financially supporting terrorists."

"There is no transcript of the courtroom session in Tarrytown, 12 miles north of New York on the Hudson River."

Memorial Day Letter from Aaron Zelman Submitted by: Newslinks Admin	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
"But Memorial Day is also a day to soberly reflect on whether the military sacrifices have been worthwhile ... and to think about what has happened to America. The heroes of World War II came back to America ... but was it the same America that they fought to protect?"

UK: Crime figures rocket
Submitted by: Newslinks Admin

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

NOTE:

The URL for this story was too lengthy for our Newslinks system. Click here to access this story.

-------
"Gun crime in Cleveland has soared in the past five years, according to figures released today."

"The number of firearms offences in the region rocketed from 144 in 1997 to 267 last year."

"The Home Office statistics show Cleveland makes up a quarter of all gun crime in the North-east."

"Ashok Kumar, Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP, has now called for more cash to be injected into Cleveland Police to help them to clamp down on firearms offences and organised crime."