Keep and Bear Arms - Gun Owners Home Page

What�s the Point of Demonstrating?
Submitted by: Larry

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Lesson number one is that the cops do not believe in your First Amendment rights, or any other rights of yours, for that matter. If they find it convenient for their own purposes, which often seem to include nothing more than throwing their weight around, they will yell at you, shove you, threaten you with night sticks, dogs, and horses, whack you with their clubs, and lob tear gas into your ranks. It�s all in a day�s work for those who have sworn �to serve and protect.� Best you remember, however, that the phrase is short for �serve and protect the state,� not for �serve you and protect your rights to life, liberty, and property.� Protecting your right to demonstrate peacefully against state policies is not part of the cops� job description.

IL: IL State Police Self-Defense Advice for Women: Vomit
Submitted by: David Codrea
Website: http://www.examiner.com/x-1417-Gun-Rights-Examiner

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"Hey, here's an idea! Tell your rapist you have an STD! And hope his response isn't 'That's OK, baby, so do I.' Then there's this SUPER defense tip-- Vomit! Do something disgusting involving bodily fluids! And in their words: 'Use your imagination and you can think of others.' For instance, I suppose you could BLEED! But here's their most important tip: 'Use of a firearm to protect yourself or property is not recommended.'"

VA: Virginia OKs gun carry on trains
Submitted by: Mike Stollenwerk
Website: http://http://www.OpenCarry.org

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With all the howling this week over at the New York Times Editorial Board about Senate passage of the Wicker Amendment, its refreshing to learn that the Board of Directors of the Virginia Rail Express voted yesterday to let train riders carry loaded guns. While the Wicker Amendment passed by the Senate this week requires AMTRAK to let train riders check their unloaded guns in cases onto trains as is done by the airlines, the VRE Board passed a resolution just two days later (September 18, 2009) to let riders carry loaded guns.

. . .

However, as is the case in vehicle or foot travel, nobody commits a crime under federal law (unless you count DC law) for merely traveling the country while carrying your loaded gun on AMTRAK.

UK: Police firearms teacher who shot civilian with Magnum in classroom had 'failed instructor course'
Submitted by: Henry Statkowski

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A police firearms instructor accidentally gunned down a civilian worker during a classroom demonstration after failing a training course, a court heard.

PC David Micklethwaite, 52, blasted telephone operator Keith Tilbury at point blank range after mistakenly loading a live round into a 'Dirty Harry' style .44 Magnum revolver.

The victim was taken to hospital where doctors performed life-saving surgery on his bowel and kidney.

Mr Tilbury, 51, did not regain consciousness for 12 days, and has never returned to work.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1214491/Police-firearms-teacher-shot-civilian-Magnum-classroom-failed-instructor-course.html#ixzz0Rhpw3qZ7

Submitter's note: Brits with guns. "I think I'm using blanks."

2009 Bear Spray Campaign Endangers Hunters, Grizzlies
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Results? Grizzlies injure too many hunters. Hunters kill too many grizzlies. Less than 50% of all big-game hunters carry bear spray. It�s rare for a hunter to use bear spray.

With fall hunting seasons getting underway, the IGBC has just begun it�s 2009 bear spray campaign. If the IGBC wants better results, it needs to make eight major changes.

Ed.: The article goes on to discuss when bear spray is a better tactic and when (and how) a firearm is the best tactic.

FL: Naked 91-Year-Old Man Holds Intruder at Gunpoint
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Naked, grizzled and grumpy after having been rudely awakened, Robert E. Thompson reached for his loaded .38 caliber revolver and shuffled his way out back where his dog was growling ferociously.

The World War II veteran encountered a drunken man who couldn�t speak English; a 26-year-old Jose Pasqual who was trying to fend off Thompson�s Rottweiler/Doberman pinscher mix, according to the Palm Beach Post.

Thompson pointed his gun at the intruder, who had just scaled a fence into his yard.

Pasqual took a step towards the naked man. Thompson fired a warning shot. That was all he needed.

U.S. Mayors Dropping Out of Mike Bloomberg's Anti-Gun Group
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Grassroots politics is alive and well in the United States, as gun owners have been making their voices heard to their mayors. In the past few weeks, gun owners have been contacting their mayors who joined New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg�s anti-gun group, Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG).

The result: MAIG has lost over 50 members because gun owners took action to tell their mayors the truth about this organization. Many of the mayors who have resigned from MAIG have indicated they were unaware of the full extent of their anti-gun agenda. They now know they were mislead by MAIG�s claims that it was only concerned with �illegal� guns.

MD: College student kills robber with samurai sword
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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A 21-year-old Baltimore college student killed a suspected burglar in a garage behind his house just outside John Hopkins University in Baltimore this week, according to the Associated Press.

The student confronted the intruder after hearing noises in the garage at about 1:20 in the morning, just hours after he had electronics stolen from the home, shown below in an AP photo.

When the student threatened to call police, the intruder lunged at him. In self-defense, the student struck him with a samurai sword, severing his hand and cutting his upper body. He died at the scene.

The man who was killed was identified as Donald D. Rice, 49, a habitual offender who had just been released from jail.

WV: Local ATF Agent Arrested Again
Submitted by: West Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc.
Website: http://www.wvcdl.org/

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Officers from at least four police departments surrounded federal agent James Sirbaugh in Bridgeport Thursday after his presence in Belmont County forced the lockdown of the entire St. Clairsville-Richland City School District.

Just weeks removed from a standoff with police at his Ohio County home, Sirbaugh was arrested Thursday on Ohio 7 for violating the bond conditions that resulted from his Aug. 21 arrest, according to Ohio County Prosecutor Scott Smith.

Sirbaugh - a special agent who was placed on leave by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives following the apparent domestic dispute at his house on Stonegate Drive - has been on house arrest in Virginia, where he has been living with family. He met with his attorney, Kevin Neiswonger, at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Wheeling area; he was then supposed to travel back to Virginia.

NY: Hundreds attend city's anti-gun violence forum
Submitted by: Anonymous

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Roughly 200 people - mainly teens - attended the opening ceremony of the gun violence prevention conference, which was a collaboration between the mayor's office and two local groups that mentor teens: DIVAS of Sister 2 Sister and Brother 2 Brother.

They created Project SWAG - Society at War Against Guns - to encourage young people to be leaders and to stay off the streets.

According to organizer Ralph Coates, more than 1,000 young people showed up throughout the day.

Retired Poughkeepsie school district administrator Linda Melton Mann said it pains her to see her former students' names in the paper as victims of violence.

When the revolution comes, I�m gonna be right there
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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These men and women belonged to the Black Panther Party, and they were exercising their right to openly bear arms. They brandished rifles, pistols and bandoliers [sic] of ammo strapped across their chests.

... Gov. Reagan then passed a law banning open carrying of arms in most public places in California. From that one incident, several Black Panthers in the Bay area were harassed, maligned and jailed throughout the rest of their lives.

Fast forward to 2009: We actually have groups of White folks showing up to presidential events and town-hall meetings armed to the teeth. They openly carry assault weapons and wear pistols on their hips. This has never happened under any previous presidential administration.

TN: Firearms are great equalizer, deterrent
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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The subject and existence of guns seems to get lots of folks upset.

One must recognize that the long-recognized right of self defense is the reason for being able to carry such weapons. In short, a pistol is an excellent tool to keep would-be criminals entertained until the police can be summoned.

And having some people with concealed guns makes the would-be perp consider the odds against him or her. It�s sort of like that famous �Dirty Harry� line: �Do you feel lucky today, punk?�

...

Put me down in favor of banning guns, other weapons, creeps, and would-be criminals from our parks and all other places people gather. Let�s just be nice to each other.

United States Arms Rights Enthusiasts Are Cutting Edge of American Freedom Movement
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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"American firearm owners form the cutting edge of the modern freedom movement in the United States," gun rights expert John M. Snyder said here today.

A former National Rifle Association editor, Snyder is Public Affairs Director of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, Treasurer of the Second Amendment Foundation, and Manager of Telum Associates, LL.C. Shotgun News last year named him the senior rights activist in Washington.

Snyder said the Senate's recent 68-30 vote allowing Amtrak passengers to transport handguns in their checked luggage may indicate that, "politicians are beginning to get the message. The American people are fed up with efforts at government control coming from Washington."

Senate Tells Amtrak �No Guns, No Money� � Political Shenanigans in play!
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Even though the amendment passed easily � with a few surprising (and suspicious) votes in favor � this is not a done deal. Since the Senate version of the underlying appropriations bill is now different from the version passed in the House, there must be a Reconciliation Conference to bring the two versions into line. For a conference, both houses select a number of representatives who are supposed to go sit down together and hash out their differences, settling on a final bill they believe will be acceptable in both houses. That version of the bill is then sent to the floors of the House and the Senate where it receives an up or down vote. No amendments are accepted for a reconciled bill.

Pastor Stephen Broden announces Independent American Movement for Constitutional Restoration Submitted by: Jeff Head Website: http://www.jeffhead.com	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
Press Release announcing, The Indpendent American Movement for Constitutional Restoration. Pastor Stephen Broden, Author (and Navy SEAL vet) Matthew Bracken, Neil E. Wright, Jeff Head and others on Advisory Board.

NY: Illegal guns taken off the streets of Troy
Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org

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Troy police are pleased with the results of the city's second gun buyback event in recent weeks. Police say more than 80 weapons were turned in at the Missing Link Ministry Church on Saturday, including handguns and shortened shotguns. The deal is, turn in an illegal handgun and get a $150 gift card to Crossgates Mall in exchange. Gun buyback programs are proving to be successful in area cities. In Albany, more than two hundred guns have been taken off of the streets as a result of the program.

NY: Police say North Syracuse man killed 2 in apparent act of self-defense Submitted by: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Website: http://www.nysrpa.org	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
A North Syracuse resident shot and killed two Syracuse men after they kicked in the front door to his home and entered early Saturday morning in what police are calling an apparent home invasion.

IL: IL State Police Self-Defense Advice for Women (Part Two): Resistance is Futile Submitted by: David Codrea Website: http://www.examiner.com/x-1417-Gun-Rights-Examiner	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
"At one time, the ISP website passed on a rather remarkable bit of information: "'Half of all the women that fire a gun trying to protect themselves shoot someone they do not want to, i.e., friends. neighbors, relatives, etc.'" "It's remarkable because it's utter, unsubstantiated bull, with no foundation in any study, let alone reality."

Obama Wants Your Guns
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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CBS, of all places, released a well written story dealing with the Second Amendment and the upcoming Supreme Court Case that will decide, yet again, whether or not American citizens can legally own firearms. Here is a snippet from that article:

�Nobody has been hurt by the protesters who have legally carried guns to events where the president has been speaking, and I know of no evidence that they were even close enough to see the man."

Nevertheless, Eleanor Holmes Norton, the District of Columbia�s non-voting Democratic rep in the U.S. House of Representatives, wants mandatory �gun-free zones around the president, his cabinet and other top federal officials,� according to a report by the local Fox affiliate.

Gun Economics
Submitted by: Larry

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Last fall, the obamination occurred. This event created a panic-driven run on guns and all related items. Unlike the previous panic-driven runs, this run is not based upon rumor or perceived threat; every real American should intuitively understand that this threat is very much, very real.

If you do not believe this, you are part of the problem � one of those who would sacrifice freedom for the illusion of a little temporary safety and, as Benjamin Franklin noted so acutely, you deserve neither.

When will this shortage end? Before I offer a pessimistic partial answer, consider that in 2007 and 2009 the Cortez Rifle and Pistol Club held Gun Shows. In each of those events, we had a similar number of vendors who, in total, displayed a similar number of rifles. In 2007, two M-99 Savages were exhibited; in 2009, I counted 26 before loosing interest. Why such a difference?

CT: Gun sales shoot up in Conn
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Connecticut residents are arming themselves at quite a clip, with women in particular packing heat in growing numbers.

The state issued 7,741 pistol permits from January through May, a 90 percent increase over the same time period in 2008. Nearly 12,000 new permits have been issued so far this year in a state that recently posted one of the lowest gun ownership rates in the country, according a study of 2006 data by the Violence Policy Center, a national gun control advocacy group based in Washington, D.C.

Connecticut gun retailers and educators who run the safety classes required for pistol permit applicants report a surge in first-time gun purchases, particularly by women, who account for up to half of the students taught...

GA: Broun: Sounding the alarm for freedom
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Freedom is precious. We must be ever vigilant in our protection of it!

History is full of examples of people losing their freedom to authoritarian rule. Sometimes this has occurred even in democratic societies. The American people should be ever cautious to ensure that does not happen here. We must use history as a means of preventing the mistakes of the past. I'm one who believes in limited government as envisioned by our Founding Fathers and embodied in the ideas expressed in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. When I joined the Marine Corps, and again when I became a Member of Congress, I swore to uphold the Constitution against enemies both foreign and domestic. I take that oath very seriously.

Open Carry By State Submitted by: Anonymous	There are no comments on this story Post Comments \| Read Comments
Color coded map of open carry states - don't forget to check out the other carry maps and laws. A great resource for anyone interested in carrying a handgun for self-defense on their person or in an automobile .

PA: Anti-gun group counts some local mayors as its members
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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Amazingly, the great gun state of Pennsylvania has 100 mayors who are members of 'Mayors Against Illegal Guns.' Cities such as Allentown, Bethlehem, Emmaus, Northampton, Freemansburg, Easton, Kutztown and Wind Gap all have mayors who are members.

Despite its very misleading name, this national group of anti-gun mayors has lobbied Congress against national reciprocity of state right-to-carry permits and against much-needed reform of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for regulating gun shows out of existence.

Jim Crow tactics hearken back to very bad days in U.S. history
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

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These hostilities go beyond sour grapes and unpopular policy proposals. When malcontents attend political forums with guns, it�s not just a Second Amendment stunt; it�s a KKK tactic. When my son�s classmates believe that our president is an agent of Armageddon, Aledo becomes Salem, Mass., in 1692. And when rabid tea-baggers hang politicians in effigy, it�s no longer the 21st century. It�s November in Dallas, circa 1963.

Ed.: I love it when these dishonorable writers try to portray people who protest Obama's policies while armed as racists, yet overlook any gun-owner that isn't white. Perhaps the loony left just sees the guns, and ignores the men and women of color carrying them.