NRA Considering Involvement In GOP Primaries: The National Rifle Association, which did not endorse President Bush in 2000 and 2004 until just a month before the general election, is considering stepping into the presidential campaign fray early next year during the primary season, the group's chief lobbyist says..."Historically, we have not gotten involved in primaries. We traditionally wait until after the conventions," said Chris Cox, head lobbyist for the NRA. "That being said, given the candidates and the process and the front-loading of the primaries, it is a possibility that we could get involved in one of these presidential primaries." http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070925/NATION/109250055/1001 --- Giuliani Splits With Successor Over Tiahrt Amendment: Opening a new rift with his successor at City Hall, Mayor Giuliani has endorsed a gun law that Mayor Bloomberg has spent the better part of a year trying to get repealed. In his appearance Friday before the National Rifle Association, the former mayor highlighted the Tiahrt amendment in describing the shift in his view on gun rights, saying the law was "sensible" and that law enforcement was "comfortable" with it. http://www.nysun.com/article/63233 --- Appellate Court Hears Arguments Over NYC Gun Suit: Corporation Counsel Michael Cardozo insisted Friday that New York City should be able to go to trial in its efforts to force gun manufacturers and distributors to put a lid on the illegal sale of firearms. In arguments before the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Cardozo said a law passed by Congress to limit suits against manufacturers and distributors whose guns end up in the hands of criminals was unconstitutional and, in any event, does not apply to the suit brought by the city in 2000. But Michael Rice of Jones Day, representing the makers and distributors of guns, said the city's public nuisance lawsuit was exactly the type of action Congress meant to block when it passed the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act just weeks before Eastern District of New York Judge Jack B. Weinstein was to start trial in the case. http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1190365388583 --- Hawaii Resident Sues Over Carry-Permit Denial: On Aug. 24, 2007, I filed a civil lawsuit in the United States Federal District Court for the District of Hawaii, CV 07-00450HG/KSC. The purpose of the lawsuit is to seek damages, under 42 U.S.C. 1983, 1985, and 1986, for denying and prohibiting the free exercise of my Second Amendment Right. On three previous ocassions, I have applied for either a concealed or unconcealed permit to carry a firearm and was denied. Since no attorney in the State of Hawaii is willing to take this case, I filed Pro Se. http://www.hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx?2327500b-7aa5-4453-95a8-0bf47fbcf8d5 --- California Fish & Game Commissioner Blames NRA For Ouster: The wildlife commissioner forced to resign this month by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Monday that he believes he was fired because he supports banning lead bullets in some areas of the state to protect the rare California condor from lead poisoning or death...Hanna, an avid hunter, chided the National Rifle Association and others who oppose a ban, saying they are ignoring scientific evidence that lead poisoning from bullets is killing and sickening one of the most endangered birds in North America. He believes the NRA pushed for his removal. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-condor25sep25,1,6443244.story?coll=la-headlines-california --- Oops, Wrong Store: A store clerk on the West Side fought back against an alleged robber, shooting him in the head. Chicago police say Monday evening the suspect is in stable condition. As CBS 2's Mike Flannery reports, the hardware store is just one block from another store that police say was robbed at gunpoint last week...Friends of the hardware store clerk said they did not know whether the handgun he fired in self-defense was legally registered. They said they hope he is not charged with any crime. http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local_story_267192407.html --- Rule One Reminder: A Australian army training platoon was on exercises at the School of Infantry at Singleton in March last year when three to five live rounds were fired from a machine gun. A trainee infantryman had loaded the weapon with a belt of 200 rounds straight from its packaging. No one was injured but the gun's blank firing barrel was damaged, according to a defence report prepared for Defence Minister Brendan Nelson that was obtained by News Limited under Freedom of Information laws. (Rule One: All firearms are always loaded.) http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0%2C21985%2C22477815-5005961%2C00.html --- Multiple Rule Reminder: For those who care to register, the linked article, from Alaska (which I can no longer access) reports on a thief who stole a Glock pistol from a not-yet identified vehicle, then shot himself in the thigh while handling it (no doubt in a seated position). The article points out that it is not illegal to store a loaded firearm in a parked vehicle in Alaska. (The five basic safety rules are posted at http://www.spw-duf.info/safety.html.) http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/crime/story/9322233p-9237368c.html -- Stephen P. Wenger Firearm safety - It's a matter for education, not legislation. http://www.spw-duf.info .