Keep and Bear Arms - Gun Owners Home Page

There is nothing unclear about Second Amendment
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Mike Freeman could not have been more wrong when he stated the Second Amendment was 'murky' on gun rights. He also stated that, 'Nobody today really knows what Madison and the First Congress intended with this amendment.'"

"When the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights were written, the authors had just finished fighting a horrible war against an oppressive government. They wanted to make sure that would never happen again. They also believed that the individual had the right to protect person and property." ...

Waiting Periods Proven to be Ineffective (OFCC)
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Despite the empty promises of anti-gun advocates that a required waiting period for firearm purchases will stop criminal activity, the criminals continue to prove otherwise."

"Naveed Afzal Haq stands accused of killing one woman and wounding five others at a Jewish center in Seattle, WA on Friday, July 28. One of the first victims to be attacked is five months pregnant and was shot in the arm while trying to protect her abdomen."

"From the CNN.com article describing the event:"

"The day before the shootings, Haq picked up .40-caliber and .45-caliber semiautomatic handguns from two different stores in the Seattle area after honoring the waiting period for purchasing weapons�" ...

Reforming the ATF
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Regarding the July 23 front-page story 'Gun Seller's Case Reveals Hurdles of Enforcement; Md. Shop's Decade of Lapses Brings Scrutiny to House Bill':"

"I was disappointed that The Post tried to leave its readers with a false impression of my legislation, H.R. 5092, which seeks to modernize and reform the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)."

"Nowhere did the article mention that this bill has bipartisan support. It is co-sponsored by more than 100 representatives, including, I am proud to say, Rep. Robert C. 'Bobby' Scott (Va.), the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee's subcommittee on crime, terrorism and homeland security." ...

Is Your Child a Split Second From Disaster?
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Although I wrote about children and gun safety just two years ago, the continuing tragedies involving guns in private homes compel me to repeat my plea that all guns be stored safely in a way that keeps children away from them." ...

"These are just two of several hundred such deaths that will almost certainly occur this year. Guns account for 10 percent of all injury-related deaths among children ages 5 to 14." ...
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Submitter's Note: According to the CDC's WISQARS website, between 1999 and 2003 there were 14,242 "accidental injury" deaths among children between 5 and 14, and 297 (or 2.09%) were caused by firearms. And if you expand that artificial age range to include all children 14 and under, the percentage drops to 1.31%.

Body Armor Fit For A Superhero
Submitted by: RPA-PAC
Website: HTTP://WWW.RPA-PAC.ORG

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"It seems crazy, Robert R. Schiller admits: the notion that you could shield yourself from bullets, shrapnel, and knives by donning the equivalent of a wet suit. But by early next year the president and chief operating officer of Armor Holdings Inc. (AH ) aims to be selling what he describes as 'liquid armor' -- garments constructed from layers of tough fibers and fluid polymers -- to prison guards. By the end of 2007, he hopes, police and maybe soldiers will begin wearing the company's new protective gear as well. For the corrections market in particular, Schiller says, 'it has the potential to be a breakthrough product.'" ...

UT: Cops Finish Questioning Florida Family In Shooting (follow-up)
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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FULL TEXT BELOW:

A Florida family is now finished with police questioning in the alleged shooting of a 26-year-old man a week ago.

Police say a man shot Steven Stubbs after he forced his way into his family's RV last Tuesday, which was parked in a lot near a Wal-Mart store.

Officers say Stubbs was shot in the head with a shotgun.

Cedar City police say they wrapped up their criminal investigation on Friday. Prosecutors are now trying to figure out if the shooting was self-defense and if the man will face charges.

Brady Center: One of America's Worst Gun Dealers Finally Shuttered by Feds; Bills in Congress Would Have Kept Lou's Open
Submitted by: RPA-PAC
Website: HTTP://WWW.RPA-PAC.ORG

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"The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced that notorious gun dealer Lou's Loans of Upper Darby, Pa., today lost its federal license to sell guns. If legislation the gun lobby has been advancing in the U.S. Congress in Washington D.C. had already passed, Lou's would still be open for business."

"The shop has been one of the leading suppliers of crime guns in America: Law enforcement traced 441 crime guns to Lou's from 1996 to 2000 alone, ranking it 44th out of nearly 80,000 gun dealers nationwide in total crime guns traced to their stores."

"The revocation of Lou's license came after an investigation by ATF in which ATF found at least 239 violations of federal law ..." ...

Statement of Brady Campaign's Paul Helmke on Settlements Reached by Mayor Bloomberg
Submitted by: RPA-PAC
Website: HTTP://WWW.RPA-PAC.ORG

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"Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, issued the following statement on groundbreaking settlements announced today by the office of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg:"

"'I congratulate Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the City of New York for the historic settlement announced today with two Georgia gun dealers. Were it not for the City's civil lawsuit against gun dealers who were caught red-handed making illegal sales, these two dealers likely would have continued to feed the iron pipeline of illegal guns. We are all safer because Mayor Bloomberg had the courage to pursue justice for his City against gun dealers who aid and abet the traffickers supplying illegal guns.'" ...

NY: Mayor Bloomberg Announces Unprecedented Settlement Granting Appointment of a Special Master to Oversee Two Georgia Gun Dealers Named in New York City Lawsuit
Submitted by: RPA-PAC
Website: HTTP://WWW.RPA-PAC.ORG

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"Less than three months after announcing a groundbreaking lawsuit against 15 gun dealers in five states that sold guns illegally, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg ... today announced that two of those gun dealers have agreed to a landmark settlement � providing for a Special Master selected by the City and appointed by the court to monitor their firearms sales activities. A-1 Jewelry and Pawn, Inc., of Augusta, Georgia and AAA Gun & Pawn Brokers of Hephzibah, Georgia have both agreed to submit to close monitoring of their records and inventory, which may include videotaping of their sales activities and continued undercover surveillance. The Special Master will ensure that each dealer is in full compliance with all laws regulating the sales and purchase of firearms. ..." ...
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KABA Note: So will the "Special Master" be liable for all infractions?

Firearms Industry Comments on NYC Settlement With Gun Dealers
Submitted by: RPA-PAC
Website: HTTP://WWW.RPA-PAC.ORG

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"The National Sports Shooting Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms industry, said today that the proposed settlement ... was redundant to existing federal regulatory oversight and joint educational programs between the firearms industry and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)."

"... 'The firearms industry has for years partnered with ATF, the appropriate and legally authorized federal regulatory agency, to provide dealers with education and training on how to prevent illegal straw purchases ... and on how to comply with the extensive laws and regulations governing the lawful sale of firearms ...' said Lawrence G. Keane, senior vice president and general counsel of the NSSF ..." ...

NY: City pact with gun dealers
Submitted by: RPA-PAC
Website: HTTP://WWW.RPA-PAC.ORG

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"Two Georgia gun dealers sued by Mayor Michael Bloomberg for allegedly selling firearms illegally have agreed to a settlement that puts their sales and inventory under the microscope of a special monitor ..." ...

"The two dealers ... are owned by a father and son. Greg Driggers, of AAA, said that although he felt the dealers were unfairly tricked by the sting operation, he has no problem with a monitor. He said he already assists federal and Georgia authorities, so it makes sense to extend the courtesy to New York."

"According to the settlement, the dealers will be supervised for three years, but the clock will restart if there are any violations. For its part in the agreement, the city dropped its pursuit of monetary damages as well as its attempt to halt sales."

FL: Gun owners favor Crist in election
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Tom Gallagher is staking his hopes of becoming governor on an image as the most conservative choice in the Republican primary. But one of the most passionate conservative blocs in the state - gun owners - is staunchly supporting his opponent, Attorney General Charlie Crist."

"At a gun show in Miami this weekend, Victor Bean - owner of the Southern Classic Gun and Knife Shows - had removed from the show a table offering Gallagher campaign material. Bean, the state's largest gun show operator, cited Gallagher's past support, during his 1994 run for governor, for a ban on assault weapons, a push for registration of bullets and a ban on gun sales to those 21 and younger."

"'He can't be trusted as far as that issue,' Bean said." ...

CO: For Common Sense Views on Keeping Guns Away From Criminals, Children, Brady Campaign Endorses Perlmutter
Submitted by: RPA-PAC
Website: HTTP://WWW.RPA-PAC.ORG

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"The President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence announced today that the organization was endorsing Colorado State Senator Ed Perlmutter in the Democratic primary to serve Colorado's Seventh Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. The organization rarely endorses primary candidates."

"'Ed Perlmutter supports common sense laws to fight the trafficking of guns to criminals, to keep criminals from outgunning the police, and to help keep our children safe from firearms,' said Paul Helmke, Brady's president. 'We want the voters in Colorado's Seventh District to know that we believe Ed Perlmutter is the best candidate to restore sanity on the gun issue in Washington.'" ...

OH: Surviving Bob Taft (BFA)
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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... "When a party enjoys unchallenged electoral success, the leaders start to believe in their own infallibility in dealing with party members and public policy. Such is the case with current lame duck Ohio governor Bob Taft and the Ohio GOP leadership in general." ...

"During his term in office, more than one political deal was scuttled at the last minute because Taft simply changed his mind after all sides came to an agreement. Most notable were the negotiations surrounding Ohio�s concealed carry law. When years of debate finally led to a deal acceptable to all sides, Taft waited until the last minute and threw in one final demand - he wanted to allow the media access to the name, age and county of residence for all license holders." ...

MS: Guns on the streets
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Laurel Police Department Detective Michael Reaves is a supporter of the Second Amendment, which gives Americans the right to bear arms. But if it comes to the point he is looking down the barrel of an assault rifle, then his support naturally wavers." ...

"'These are killing machines,' said [Mayor] Mack as he held an AR-15 assault rifle confiscated from a recent search warrant ... 'These guns aren't used for deer hunting or target practice. They are used to kill other people. They are made for war.'" ...

"Most of the rifles displayed Monday were chambered for the very lethal 7.62 mm round. ... The round is known as a 'cop killer' because it can penetrate most any type of body armor used in the world today." ...

DE: Police Dog Dies When Air-Conditioned Parked Car Stalls
Submitted by: jac

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FULL TEXT BELOW:

Authorities are calling the death of an Ocean View police dog an accident.

The dog's handler left his dog in a police cruiser outside the station with the engine running and air conditioner on. But the car stalled. When the handler returned, the dog was dead.

Ocean View police Sgt. Heath Hall said the dog -- Karo -- was a hard worker who helped make many arrests.

He said Karo's sudden death was a shock.
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Submitters Note: Laws and common sense don't apply to LEOs. Anyone else would have been arrested.

IL: RVC student pushes for right-to-carry guns
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Ask Shaun Kranish how many guns he owns and he is unlikely to give you an answer."

"The 21-year-old Rockford man views that as a personal question."

"It�s probably a safe bet Kranish owns more than the one that was confiscated by police in May. He was carrying it in a holster strapped to his right thigh as he shopped with his girlfriend at the mall."

"Founding a Web-based organization called ICarry.org, a lawsuit he filed against Rock Valley College, and getting arrested twice in 10 months has catapulted Kranish into a somewhat prominent spotlight among Second Amendment activists in Illinois."

"Although guarded and private in many ways, Kranish is developing a habit of calling attention to himself and his cause." ...
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Submitter's Note: See here for Shaun's comments on the piece.

IL: Illinois' law clear: It's illegal to carry concealed weapon
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Shaun Kranish is making the wrong argument in his effort to get Illinois lawmakers to allow people to legally carry loaded, concealed weapons." ...

"He faces a felony charge for pushing the Illinois statute by carrying an unloaded semiautomatic pistol in a hip holster at CherryVale Mall. ..." ..

"It was, perhaps, naive for a gun owner like Kranish to get himself charged with a felony in a state that bars convicted felons from getting Firearm Owners Identification Cards, which is a requirement for legally owning weapons."

"He would have been smarter to lobby lawmakers and try to make his point through the political process rather than to thumb his nose at Illinois law and at the federal courts, which already have decided the Second Amendment issue." ...

GA: USAMU officer wins national championship
Submitted by: RPA-PAC
Website: HTTP://WWW.RPA-PAC.ORG

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"Maj. Michael E. Anti of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit won his third National Smallbore Rifle NRA Three-Position Championship with a score of 2311 points and 96 Xs at Camp Perry, Ohio. Setting a new Camp Perry smallbore record and besting his own previously held record of 2303-91X, set in 1994, Anti prevailed against nearly 400 of the best shooters from across the United States over two days of competition. Anti, who won a Silver Medal Olympic Medal in 2004, also won in the Service Champion category." ...

NY: Pataki signs A-11864/S-2742A (blog) Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Website: http://www.nysrpa.org	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
FULL TEXT BELOW: Pataki signed A-11864/S-2742A, provides an exemption for possession and use of a handgun at a range by persons 14-20. The law goes into effect immediately. It�s the first new pro-gun law in over a decade.

OH: Ohio State Fair Not Prohibiting Concealed Carry (OFCC)
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"In recent weeks we've covered the confusion between different County Fairs that are either posting, not posting, or don't know what they should be doing to comply with the law. These discussions lead us to wonder what the Ohio State Fair might attempt this year. The Ohio Expo Center manages the Ohio State Fair, and like Agricultural Societies, they and their duties are defined in Ohio Revised Code. The property is State of Ohio owned."

"Jeff Smith, a very motivated activist and Ohioans For Concealed Carry member went straight to the horse's mouth and asked. While the response he received was worded a little funny ... it gets the point across that the fair will not be posted 'No Guns'. ..." ...

NY: New bills allow junior target shooters to be trained
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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FULL TEXT BELOW:

In a huge victory for New York shooters, Governor Pataki today signed into law State Assembly and Senate companion bills which for the first time allow New Yorkers as young as 14, and up to the age of 20, to learn to shoot handguns. This means that New York will now be able to begin training future Olympians and national champions far sooner than before, and will be able to field junior pistol teams at the USA Shooting National Championships and NRA National Championships each summer. To ensure safety, these "junior shooters" may "possess and use" pistols only at accredited shooting ranges, and under the supervision of a military officer, a military- or NRA-certified small arms instructor, or an adult certified in responsible hunting practices by the New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation.

AZ: New trial sought for Harold Fish Submitted by: Shovelhead	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
"The jury did not make a hasty decision when it convicted Harold Fish of second-degree murder despite accusations from the defense, said jury foreman Michael Nelson." ... "After Fish's conviction, the defense filed a motion seeking a new trial, citing Fish deserved a new trial, in part, because one of the jurors appeared to make a hasty decision of 'guilty' in order to open a new business." ...

OH: AP Article Attempts to Minimize the Gun-Owner Vote (OFCC)
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"This Associated Press story will likely appear in Sunday papers across the State of Ohio: 'God, guns, gays' a stretch for average voters'"

"Julie Carr Smyth, a Statehouse reporter in Columbus with the Cleveland Plain Dealer, attempts to make the case that the hot button items in the title of her story are less important than the candidates appear to be making them. She even quoted Ohio's leading anti-gun extremist in the article:"

"Toby Hoover, executive director of the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence, says all the posturing on wedge issues leaves many topics of greater importance to voters unaddressed." ...

Canada: Ignore fed's letters on gun law, urges NTI
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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"Nunavut's land claim organization is telling Inuit to disregard a letter sent out by the Canada Firearms Centre earlier this year calling on them to turn over unregistered firearms to the RCMP."

"The centre sent the note before the new Conservative government announced a one-year amnesty for owners of unregistered firearms in May." ...

"But officials with NTI say their court case against Ottawa over the gun law makes both letters irrelevant."

"NTI won an injunction against applying the law to Inuit in 2003, while the courts determine if the law can be applied to the territory's land claim beneficiaries, who have their own hunting rights under that agreement." ...

Malaysia: It's Time For The Police To Show Us Some Results
Submitted by: Bruce W. Krafft

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... "We are no longer able to go to sleep safely at night without locked doors. The police continuously say they are short on manpower, it seems that the people can no longer rely on the police to keep the peace. Many citizens have hired security forces to patrol their residential areas ..." ...

"... When the law enforcement situation in a society is ineffective, the first thing citizens will think of is to install a security system. However, when incidents such as armed break-ins, automobile hijackings, killings and rapes continue to happen, it seems hopeless to even dream of living in peace and safety. If we cannot depend on the protection of the police, are we then supposed to carry weapons for self defence?" ...