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Mike Vanderboegh: Precipice
Submitted by: Mike Vanderboegh

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"'We run carelessly to the precipice, after we have put something before us to prevent us seeing it.' -- Blaise Pascal"

"So the storms approach, each promising to be rougher than the last. How much pounding can our national societal ship take before the hull is breached and we founder and break apart? As I observed on Peter's website, 'The critical thing will be this: How does our fragmented national polity, divided as it has been by liberal interest group politics and largely divorced for generations from both its moral basis and the land -- the twin foundations of civilization, belief and self-sufficiency -- react to hardship? Poorly, I suspect. The armed citizenry is about to come back into its own.'" ...

Dr. Lott: Gun Debate Is Hardly Over
Submitted by: clell

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"The Supreme Court may have confirmed that Americans have the right to own guns for protection, but the gun debate is hardly over."

"The District of Columbia ... is still planning on banning most handguns."

"And the court decision has spurred the media into overdrive to paint guns as dangerous to their owners."

"No one who has taken even a quick glance at the crime data can seriously argue that the D.C. gun ban lowered murder or violent crime rates."

"The concerns being raised are not the threat from criminals, but that guns pose a risk to their owners."

"In particular, buying a gun and having it in your home is said to increase the likelihood of suicide." ...

Framers meant to limit ability to regulate arms
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Considerable attention has been paid to an argument made by Justice John Paul Stevens in his dissent to the Supreme Court's landmark ruling on the Second Amendment, as though Stevens had identified precisely why the majority was all wet."

"'The Court,' wrote a seemingly astonished Stevens, 'would have us believe that over 200 years ago, the Framers made a choice to limit the tools available to elected officials wishing to regulate civilian uses of weapons!"

"Well yeah! That is exactly what the Framers intended when they penned the Second Amendment, affirming the individual citizen's right to keep and bear arms. ..." ...

Open Carrying
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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... "Last week, I was shopping for a birthday gift ... a young gentleman sporting a very nice looking Glock in his hip holster approached me and asked where I'd found the pancake holster for my CZ. He was looking for one like it and hadn't found one anywhere." ...

"What makes this encounter even mentionable was the fact that we two, very openly armed men were standing in the middle of a large chain department store discussing carry options and holsters while the rest of the shoppers and employees bustled about us unconcernedly ..."

"Man it's nice to live in a free state."

"But it is also important to remember those hardy souls who went before us to ensure that we have the right to bear arms ..." ...

UN: Report: Preventable diversion of small arms fuels crime, insurgency
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"The diversion of small arms and light weapons is a major source of firearms for criminals and insurgents around the world, according to a new survey issued Monday."

"In its 2008 edition of an annual report, the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey said that diverted arms shipments - in which arms are redirected to unauthorized end users - can rang from small packages of components for civilian firearms to hundred-ton shipments of military-grade light weapons."

"The redirection can occur at any moment in the transfer chain and may involve the participation of corrupt government officials, the reports said." ...
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Submitter's Note: So they want to ban civilian ownership to prevent corrupt government officials from diverting military small arms?

More gun ownership linked to more suicide
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"In response to David M.H. Barnes' challenge in his July 9 letter to 'provide some verifiable data' to support claims that the homicide rate will increase due to the Supreme Court's recent ruling on the Second Amendment, I would like to quote from the article 'The Urge to End It All' in the July 6 New York Times Magazine."

"Granted, this article is about suicide, not homicide, but its argument that increased gun ownership leads to increased violent death is compelling. ..."

"The article states that there is 'a mountain of research going back 40 years that shows that the incidence of firearm suicide runs in close parallel with the prevalence of firearms in a community. ...'" ...
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Submitter's Note: No matter how many times you repeat a lie, it is still a lie.

Activist judges or honest jurists?
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"We have been hearing more and more, chiefly from those on the far-right, about so-called 'activist judges.'"

"I read recently where one writer even called the minority four on the Supreme Court gun-rights decision activists. The very use of the term implies an individual knows exactly what the Founding Fathers meant when they wrote a particular provision into the Constitution."

"Tain't so."

"When the words 'all men are created equal' were written, it was assumed everyone knew it meant 'landed white men,' not minorities or women."

"Were the judges who ruled otherwise ... activist? ..."

"Let me tell you what the term 'Activist Judge' means. It means the conservative using the term does not like the ruling. ..." ...

Ruling on guns delights reader
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in a historic decision to support an individual�s right to keep and bear arms, striking down Washington, D.C.�s ban against possessing handguns at home � one of the most stringent gun control laws in the country � as unconstitutional."

"The court sided with the Bill of Rights. The District of Columbia�s handgun ban simply made life in the District more dangerous by preventing law-abiding citizens from defending themselves against criminals."

"This landmark decision marks the first time that the Supreme Court has examined the scope of our Second Amendment rights. Count me as one of the many Americans delighted by this ruling. ..." ...

The Brady Center and Heller
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence's Dennis Henigan has written a very interesting response to Robert Levy's Cato Unbound essay on the future of gun rights after D.C. v. Heller. Essentially, Henigan argues that the Court's conservatives have mangled the Constitution in order to reach a preferred outcome that will have little real world impact:" ...

"While it certainly makes rhetorical sense for Henigan to downplay the victory (and link it to criminals and their shady attorneys), it's not at all clear that the lower courts will see (or will continue to see) things his way. As David Kopel noted in reason after Heller came down, 'Rome was not built in a day, and neither is constitutional doctrine.'" ...

PA: ACLU backfire
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"'Civil liberties' mean just that to the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada."

"By stating it respects the individual's right to bear arms, subject to constitutionally permissible regulations, and that it will defend this right as it defends other constitutional rights, the state ACLU chapter deserves high praise indeed."

"It apparently is the first state affiliate to oppose the national ACLU's position on the Second Amendment, according to The Associated Press."

"The Nevada ACLU board of directors was rightly guided by the Supreme Court's landmark June ruling, District of Columbia v. Heller. ..." ...

Lawsuit Bait: New D.C. Handgun Legislation
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"We may be able to measure the life of the District of Columbia's newly proposed handgun law with a stopwatch. Unveiled today by Mayor Adrian Fenty and D.C. Council members, this measure is lawsuit bait that makes a mockery of the Supreme Court's [decision] by imposing maximum inconvenience on law-abiding D.C. residents who want to own firearms." ...

"So what does the District do? It thumbs its nose at the high court and then brags about it to appease liberal pro-gun control voters. According to a statement provided by the mayor�s office, 'the handgun ban remains in effect, except for use in self-defense within the home.'" ...

Ignoring the court
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"It's been barely three weeks since the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Second Amendment, tossing the District of Columbia's strict ban on handgun ownership as an unconstitutional infringement on the individual right to bear arms."

"As you'd expect, D.C. officials have been busy little bureaucrats since then, trying to figure out a way to get around the high court's decision."

"On Monday, the D.C. council announced emergency legislation designed to update the gun ban. As expected, it's a joke."

"Instead of simply acknowledging that individuals have a right to own handguns in the district, the legislation would still require that all firearms be kept in the home unloaded and disassembled or equipped with trigger locks." ...

WY: Man shoots dog, no charges filed
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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FULL TEXT BELOW:

The Park County Sheriff's Office says no charges will be filed against a man who admitted shooting a dog and dumping the remains.

Sheriff's officials say the man told them he shot the dog after it was acting aggressively on his property. They say the man was concerned about his daughter's safety.

The man didn't know who owned the dog, so he dumped the carcass in a pit. He later found out who the owner was and made an anonymous call to tell her where to find the carcass.

It was one of at least five dead dogs that have turned up in Park County recently. One dog was apparently stoned to death. Another was found severed in half.

GA: Armed man scares away robber
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"A Bainbridge man refused to be robbed when he was accosted around 5 a.m. Saturday morning."

"The complainant, a resident of Spruce Street, told BPS that he was sitting on his front porch smoking a cigar and drinking a cup of coffee. According to the resident, a man wearing a mask and carrying a large knife approached and demanded that he hand over his wallet."

"The citizen said he told the masked robber that he had to go inside the house to get the wallet."

"The homeowner returned, not with his wallet in hand, but instead wielding a pistol, which sent the robber off running." ...

SC: Marietta resident shoots suspected rabid fox
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Phillip Bowers said he believes a fox that lunged at him this morning outside his Marietta home was rabid, though he says he managed to shoot the fox in midair just before it reached him."

"This morning, Bowers said he went outside and heard a fox clawing at the lattice that stretches across the bottom of the porch ...

"The fox emerged from underneath the porch and appeared to be 'staggering' and his eyes were 'blurry,' Bowers said. 'He was just skin and bones," he said, "and he had sores all over him.'"

"Bowers said the fox growled at him and jumped toward him. Bowers, who had grabbed his 40-gauge shotgun when he heard the noise, said he shot the fox in midair about six feet from him." ...

TN: Store Clerk Shoots Teen During Robbery in Memphis
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Police say a Memphis store clerk shot a 17 year-old boy during a robbery." ...

"Police say the teen and three other men were shoplifting at the store when the clerk confronted them. The four suspects, ages 17, 19, 20, and 28, attacked the clerk during the confrontation, according to investigators. Police say that is when the clerk shot the 17 year-old in the leg."

"Police say the teen was taken to the hospital in non-critical condition. The store clerk was treated for minor injuries to his face, neck, and arms said police."

"Detectives say all four suspects are in custody, but no charges have been filed at this time."

MN: Dad who shielded daughter in attack at Valleyfair recovering, wife says
Submitted by: clell

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"A woman whose husband was severely beaten trying to protect his daughter from being molested as the family left Valleyfair said Tuesday they remain traumatized and are still healing from bruises and injuries."

"Eight young men are accused of taking turns stomping on and kicking the head of the 41-year-old man, who was knocked unconscious as his wife and three daughters tried to help him. Prosecutors say more serious charges could be brought against the men if the man's injuries are permanent." ...
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KABA Note: Valleyfair is a posted Victim Disarmament Zone.

UK: 'Have-a-go heroes' get legal right to defend themselves
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Home owners and 'have-a go-heroes' have for the first time been given the legal right to defend themselves against burglars and muggers free from fear of prosecution."

"They will be able to use force against criminals who break into their homes or attack them in the street without worrying that 'heat of the moment' misjudgements could see them brought before the courts."

"Under new laws police and prosecutors will have to assess a person's actions based on the person�s situation 'as they saw it at the time' even if in hindsight it could be seen as unreasonable." ...

Drug smugglers bribing U.S. agents on Mexico border
Submitted by: Anonymous

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"U.S. Border Patrol agent Reynaldo Zuniga was arrested last month lugging a bag of cocaine up from the Rio Grande, one of a growing number of law enforcement officers accused of taking bribes from drug gangs."

"Former colleagues say Zuniga used to wait until agents in the south Texas town of Harlingen were distracted with paperwork, then slip down to the river and help smuggle in drugs from Mexico."

"The increasing use of bribes by Mexican drug cartels to corrupt U.S. agents comes as Washington is sending $400 million to help Mexico's army-led war on the trafficking gangs, whose brutal murders have surged to unprecedented levels." ...

MI: Tear Down the Stop Signs!
Submitted by: Anonymous

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"Day after day in Warren, Mich., people wait in a long line to pay traffic fines. Many are there because police say they didn't come to a full stop at a stop sign. Often the policeman saying that is Officer David Kanapsky."

"On last week's '20/20,' you heard a motorist in court insist that she did come to a complete stop. The judge replied, as judges there often do: 'I find Officer Kanapsky's testimony to be credible. He is an unbiased witness.'"

"But the officer is not really unbiased. The more tickets he writes, the more overtime he gets. Last year, Kanapsky spent so much time in court he increased his pay by $21,000." [emphasis added] ...

"Last year, the town made half a million dollars from such fines. ..." ...

IN: Rookie's Cruiser Wrecked 29 Minutes Into First Shift
Submitted by: Anonymous

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Police officer Tim Pochron�s first day on the job went poorly: Less than a half-hour into it, his squad car was wrecked in a crash.
Pochron was inside his house at 12:29 a.m. Monday when someone hit his new squad car parked outside, as well as a tree, police said.
�Pochron was 29 minutes into the first day of his new job when his parked squad car was struck,� Lt. Steve Houck said.
The driver tested positive for drugs, was arrested and taken to a hospital, police said.
Pochron, 26, was sworn in last week. He was supposed to work the morning shift Monday. Instead, he spent the morning filling out paperwork at the police station.

WV: Dunbar officer charged with domestic battery
Submitted by: West Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc.
Website: http://www.wvcdl.org/

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"A Dunbar police officer has been charged with domestic battery."

"George Ike Rader, 50 of Grandview Drive, Dunbar, got into an argument Sunday with his wife over showing favoritism to their children, according to a criminal complaint filed in Kanawha County Magistrate Court."

"During the argument he allegedly slapped her about 20 times and pressed his finger into her upper chest, West Virginia State Trooper E.B. McClung wrote in the complaint."

"In an interview with McClung, Rader acknowledged arguing with his wife but that he pushed her with his finger only to get her out of his face, according to the complaint."

"Rader also said he did not slap the woman at any point during the incident, according to the complaint." ...

WV: St. Albans Police Department hires officer involved in fatal car crash
Submitted by: West Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc.
Website: http://www.wvcdl.org/

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"A former Charleston police officer who was involved in a fatal accident while on duty has been hired by the St. Albans police department."

"Brandon Tagayun, 27, began orientation with the department today -- nearly three years after he collided with a vehicle while speeding through Kanawha City in his cruiser, killing a Charlton Heights woman."

"St. Albans Mayor Dick Callaway said he swore in Tagayun Tuesday morning. He said several city police officers attended to show support for the young officer." ...

"... about 17 people applied for the single police officer position the city had open. After testing, Tagayun was the best qualified and also brought the best references to the job, Callaway said." ...

NJ: Princeton can keep its cops unarmed, OSHA says
Submitted by: Matt

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"Princeton University's policy of not allowing its officers to carry guns on campus doesn't hurt the officers' ability to do their jobs, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ruled."

"OSHA closed the case on June 24 after ruling that Princeton did not violate OSHA regulations."

"OSHA closed the case on June 24 after ruling on June 20 that Princeton had complied with OSHA regulations."

"The complaint, filed by Public Safety Fraternal Orders of Police's president and patrolman James Lanzi, alleged that the policy of not allowing Public Safety officers to carry guns was an occupational hazard." ...
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KABA Note: Similar hazards to those faced by law-abiding New Jerseyites disarmed by the many draconian laws you and your ilk enforce? The shoe sure pinches when it's on the other foot.

IL: Why crack down on the good guys?
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"William Greene would like to register his guns with the city of Chicago. So would Charles Wilson, Ronald Wallace, Alberto Ortega, J. Anthony Clark, Nashaat Mhanna, Thomas Scileppi and Darrell Powell."

"And for the life of me, I don't really understand why we shouldn't let them."

"Each of the eight men appeared before a city hearing officer Tuesday to argue that the Chicago Police Department erred in rejecting their efforts to register -- or in many cases re-register -- their firearms."

"I was in attendance mostly by accident ... But my mistake turned into an eye-opening experience that I don't want to ignore just because it didn't fit my anti-gun politics." ...

FL: Like Disney Universal Says it�s Exempt From Gun Law
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"First it was Disney. Now the controversy over the state law that allows people to bring guns to work is going Universal."

"Universal Studios says it too is exempt from the new gun law ..."

"Legislators who signed the bill say they did so because employers provide few safeguards against random workplace violence, so workers should be allowed to have weapons nearby for protection."

"Officials refused to comment on camera, but Universal reps issued a statement that said:"

"'Universal Orlando Resort has a public high school on property, and we are required to follow school district policies. The Orange County Public Schools system is exempt from this law -- and we are operating under those guidelines.'" ...

FL: TP Maker Craps All Over Florida Firearms Law
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Here's a load of s**t for you to consider . . ."

"A popular American pulp and paper company has banned employees at its toilet paper plant from storing concealed weapons in their cars while on company property � a move that defies Florida law."

"Using a loophole in Florida law, the giant paper maker Georgia Pacific cited a Homeland Security exemption from a statute authorizing workers with concealed-weapons permits to have guns locked in their cars because it says the plant handles large amounts of explosive fuel, the Miami Herald reported." ...

IL: Gun store stocked, could benefit if courts overturn local gun bans
Submitted by: RPA-PAC
Website: http://www.rpa-pac.org

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"Gun store owner Don Mastrianni says getting rid of guns is not the answer to gun violence."

"'If there was some utopian way to get rid of every gun, there would still be a way for (gang members) to fight and kill,' he said."

"But Mastrianni wasn't jumping for joy when the Supreme Court struck down Washington D.C.'s gun ban last month."

"'It's good for D.C., but I don't see it changing things here until it goes through the courts,' Mastrianni said."

"If local gun bans in Chicago, Oak Park and other surrounding communities are overturned, Mastrianni said he thinks maybe his business will benefit."

"In the meantime, Mastrianni continues selling guns at his store, Illinois Gun Works, Ltd. ..." ...

Veteran German shooter seeks to continue his legend
Submitted by: RPA-PAC
Website: http://www.rpa-pac.org

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"Veteran German shooter Ralph Schumann, who is counted among the present day shooting legends, is looking to extend his feat in the Olympic Games that starts next month."

"At the Munich World Cup this May, the 46-year-old bettered the world record of men�s 25-meter rapid-fire pistol from 788.8 points to 790.0 points. Before that he had held the record with 786.4 and 787.7 points."

"'My main motivation is to always prove, not that I'm the best, but that I've practiced what I've learned to the best of my ability during the competition,' he said." ...