Keep and Bear Arms - Gun Owners Home Page

And then there were three!
Submitted by: Mike Stollenwerk
Website: http://www.examiner.com/gun-rights-in-washington-dc/mike-stollenwerk

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Since 2009, Tennessee, Arizona, New Mexico, Ohio, Virginia, and Wisconsin have repealed bans on gun carry in alcohol serving restaurants. And now Illinois and North Carolina are joining the other 45 states which allow gun carry in restaurants serving alcohol. This means that only 3 states will still continue to ban law abiding gun owners from carrying handguns in restaurants licensed to serve alcohol: North Dakota, Louisiana, and South Carolina.

But help may be on the way for hungry gun carriers in South Carolina. Senate Bill 308, which would legalize gun carry in restaurants serving alcohol, . . .

Interviewing Concealed Carry Guns for your Summer CCW Internship
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Not long ago I received a call from a friend who told me he was busted recently for carrying his revolver in a chain restaurant. He wasn�t arrested, just �made� when one of the food handlers noticed his large framed revolver peaking out from under the jacket of his coat in the shoulder holster. To me, having to be told to leave the place of business simply because someone spotted the gun means you might as well leave the restaurant for good�there was no point in going out in the first place if you can�t enjoy where you want to go without the feeling that you can�t protect yourself while you�re there, but it brings up a subject that we seem to talk about every year�concealed carry for the summer months.

If guns are so bad, why are so many legally carrying them?
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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While the mainstream press continues beating the drum against Stand Your Ground laws � a cornerstone tenet of modern self-defense � the data suggests more people believe in personal safety responsibility, as the Denver Post reported today that concealed carry permits are increasing dramatically in the state that just adopted tough new gun laws.

This column noted that concealed pistol license numbers here in Washington continue to rise, with more than 437,000 CPLs now in circulation as of July 19.

IN: Shooting death of Three Oaks Township man ruled self-defense Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: http://www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
No criminal charges will be filed against a house renter who shot and killed a Three Oaks Township man on July 8 after the man broke in wielding a hatchet. LaPorte County Prosecutor Bob Szilagyi said Stephen Penny was clearly acting in self-defense during the confrontation north of Hudson Lake in northern LaPorte County. Szilagyi�s office said it will take no further action.

FL: Gov. Rick Scott strong on 'stand your ground,' backed by public opinion in Florida
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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In Florida, where there's a near-even divide between Republican and Democratic ballots cast, independent voters usually decide elections.

And independents tend to support Stand Your Ground by double-digits, according to the poll from Viewpoint Florida, three surveys in 2012 and 2013 from Quinnipiac University and a Mason-Dixon poll conducted last year for The Miami Herald, Bradenton Herald and other news partners.

Republican support for the law is strongest; Democrats have opposed the law or favor changing it the most.

FL: Senate president says a special session is not likely
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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While protestors continued to occupy the first floor of the Capitol today, Senate President Don Gaetz said he does not see any reason to call a special session to address some of the issues raised by the activists following the outcome of the George Zimmerman trial.

�I stand with Gov. Scott and I stand with Speaker Weatherford,� Gaetz said, referring to the two other state leaders who have rejected a call for a special session.

FL: Scrap Florida's Stand Your Ground law or face possible tourism boycott in aftermath of Trayvon's death, say critics
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Backlash from the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the killing of Trayvon Martin echoed across Florida on Monday with a call from the leader of a black lawyers' organization to repeal the state's Stand Your Ground law or face a possible economic boycott.

"We are asking the Legislature to turn the pain that parents are feeling into a simple plan � so that our youth will come home every night," said John Page, president of the National Bar Association, an organization that represents African-American lawyers and judges.

GA: County moving to scrap gun ban in parks
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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While some, including Commission Chairman Tom Worthan, aren�t thrilled with the idea of allowing guns in Douglas County parks, County Attorney Ken Bernard said last week the government has no choice.

Bernard is recommending changes to an ordinance making it unlawful for any person to possess or carry a firearm in a county park.

A public hearing is scheduled for Aug. 20 on Bernard�s proposed changes to the ordinance, which would remove the language banning firearms at parks while adding language that guns can only be discharged for self defense.

CO: Space cadet: Cmdr. Mark Kelly warns of Colo. �gun lobby� taking �electoral revenge�
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Kelly�s message:

For decades, the gun lobby has threatened electoral revenge on public officials who advocate for meaningful solutions to reduce gun violence. But we can stop that trend � right here, right now � in Colorado. Contribute to Americans for Responsible Solutions today to help us stop the recall of the two Colorado State Senators who helped pass background checks and a high capacity magazine ban.

OH: Man shot in reported break-in intoxicated
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Mr. Hassen, 24, of Toledo, was found in a backyard in the 4500 block of Douglas Road, just after 1 a.m. April 13. He was shot once in the chest.

He was shot by a resident of the home, Bryan Loyer, who told police he woke to the sound of someone kicking in a side door. Mr. Loyer grabbed his gun, told police he announced several times he had the gun, then fired.

Police have said it appears Mr. Loyer was acting in self-defense. No charges have been filed.

GA: Off-duty security guard shoots armed robber at Waffle House
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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A customer at a Union City Waffle House who turned the tables on an armed robber is now being called a hero. Authorities say the suspect pointed his gun at an off-duty Atlanta police officer, who was having a late meal with his best friend-- an armed, off-duty security guard.

Officers were called to the Waffle House located in the 4300 block of Jonesboro Road just before 2 a.m. Monday. Officers were told that a black man wearing a black bandana and a hood over his head walked into the restaurant with a gun in hand and demanded money. At least 13 people were inside the restaurant at the time.

FL: The cost of the 'Stand your ground' protests in Tallahassee
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the "Stand your ground" protesters gathered in the State Capital in Tallahassee have cost taxpayers more than $180,000, and effected law enforcement's ability to issue Amber Alerts.

The protest group is affiliated with DreamDefenders.org

Here's the cost breakdown:

*Overall total: $182, 363.05

Overall Overtime total: $68,777.94

Total for July 27: $16,016.62

*Includes overtime and regular pay

Plessinger furnished some of the incident reports that that the protest has generated:

FL: The Problem With the Marissa Alexander�George Zimmerman Comparison
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Critics of the Trayvon Martin verdict argue that the Florida criminal-justice system is discriminatory � and that a black defendant would not have been acquitted for doing what George Zimmerman did. Now, they are rallying to a case that they say proves their point. Marissa Alexander fired a single shot at her abusive husband � and missed. Alexander invoked the �stand your ground� doctrine. Verdict: guilty, and a 20-year prison sentence.

TX: Stricter gun laws will not cure violence Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: http://www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
Many liberal individuals have a mindset that more guns equal more gun violence, but this is not the case. Gun abusers are not specific to gun buyers or recreational users and hunters. Even with stricter gun laws in place, a criminal set on using and abusing a gun will not abide by the laws in place and disregard any regulation in his way.

IL: Double jeopardy for Zimmerman? Not so much.
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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We all know that the federal government can and does sue state-acquitted defendants for the same crime all over again in federal court. They just call it something else, usually a violation of civil rights. Steve Chapman argues that this is a waste of time, and enumerated a number of cases where the defendants, or most of them, were found not guilty the second time in the federal trials (�Double jeopardy for Zimmerman?� July 18).

So what is common-sense gun control?
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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With that stated, the first problem encountered is the term "assault rifles." Exactly what is an assault rifle? And the clear answer is that this term can mean anything that lawmakers want it to mean. It is literally a propaganda pawn used by individuals to convince less knowledgeable people that what has been declared as an assault weapon is inherently more dangerous than other weapons, and thus should be restricted, registered or even banned from private ownership.

CO: More Coloradans than ever are packing heat Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: http://www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
More Coloradans than ever are carrying concealed weapons, according to data from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, which processed 31,518 background checks for concealed carry permits in the first six months of the year. That�s more than in all of 2011 and just 1,300 fewer than in all of 2012, according to the Denver Post.

�This is for Trayvon Martin:� Black Men Assault White Man in Washington, DC
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Three black men approached a white man over the weekend in Washington, D.C., one of them saying that �this if for Trayvon Martin,� and then they kicked the man while taking his iPhone and wallet.

The victim suffered minor injuries and refused medical treatment, according to CNN. Washington Metropolitan Police are investigating what happened, treating it as a possible hate crime. The alleged robbery happened in Adams Morgan.

TX: When to shoot in self-defense not always easy to discern Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: http://www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
In less than a second, could you tell the difference between a handgun and a cell phone in the hand of an angry, aggressive person coming towards you? Perhaps more importantly, do you wait to find out before firing? At what point do you determine that your or someone else�s life is at risk? And do you shoot to wound, or to kill?

WI: Janesville PD says man shot dogs in self-defense Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: http://www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
Police in Janesville say a man was acting in self-defense when he shot two of his neighbor's dogs, killing one of them. A press release on Sunday from the Janesville Police Department says the dogs were shot in man's one-car garage. The Janesville Gazette reports that officers responded to the shooting on Saturday night.

SD: Woman accidentally shoots foot at gun range Submitted by: Mark A. Taff Website: http://www.marktaff.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
The Minnehaha County Sheriff�s office says a 32-year-old woman shot herself in the ankle with a nine millimeter handgun yesterday afternoon at the Garretson Sportsman�s Club. Captain Paul Niedringhaus says the woman was performing a move she learned in a self-defense course. Niedringhaus say the move involves falling and firing from your back.