Supremes Refuse To Expand Meaning Of "Use" In Gun Case: The Supreme Court unanimously refused on Monday to broaden the impact of a law that adds extra prison time to the sentences of drug traffickers who use a gun in carrying out their crimes...The issue in the case was whether receiving a gun in exchange for drugs constitutes "use" of the gun under federal law. The federal government "may say that a person 'uses' a firearm simply by receiving it in a barter transaction, but no one else would," wrote Justice David Souter. "Given ordinary meaning and the conventions of English, we hold that a person does not 'use' a firearm" under federal law "when he receives it in trade for drugs." http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/10/AR2007121000575.html --- Former DC Police Chief Shifts Stance On Handgun Ban: Former D.C. Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey has shifted his position on Washington's 31-year ban on handgun ownership as the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments on the issue. Mr. Ramsey, who turned the job over to Chief Cathy L. Lanier 11 months ago, said yesterday on WTOP Radio's "Ask the Chief" program, that there needs to be reasonable control over guns, but that handgun registration can provide that control. The former chief, who is set to take over Philadelphia's police department next month, said the nation is not going to ban handguns and he is taking a realistic approach to the issue. He said any weapons ban should cover assault weapons and more dangerous guns. http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20071211/METRO/112110050/1004 --- California Tracks Gun-Owning Felons: Aided by a new database that matches criminal histories with gun owners, state and local law enforcement agents have begun rounding up California's most violent gun-toting felons. The state Department of Justice and the LAPD have identified 110 fugitives, ex-convicts and other offenders who legally purchased guns, then later were convicted of violent crimes. Some 890 others have been identified across the state. "Having armed, convicted felons is a risk to public safety," said Wilfredo Cid, the chief of the Bureau of Fireams at the California Attorney General's Office. "Those people do not have a right to carry a weapon." (California recognizes the right of very few people to carry a weapon, even if they have squeaky clean records.) http://www.presstelegram.com/ci_7678704 --- Pennsylvania Governor Persists In Quest Form More Infringements: Gov. Ed Rendell joined dozens of state legislators, mayors from Eastern Pennsylvania, police officers and gun control groups today in trying to step up the pressure on the General Assembly to enact "sensible" laws to protect the police and public from growing handgun violence. The governor acknowledged those on his side are going up against a strong and well-organized opponent in the National Rifle Association, which has opposed passage of three gun bills that Mr. Rendell calls "common sense," but which he can't get out of the House Judiciary Committee. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07344/840595-100.stm http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/103-12102007-1453900.html --- Church Security Officer Who Stopped Gunman Speaks: The female security guard who shot and stopped a gunman at a Colorado Springs church yesterday is crediting God for helping her to resolve the threat by killing the assailant...Boyd said Assam probably saved 100 lives, and police confirmed the attacker's backpack contained clips that could have held more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition for the assault weapon he carried. (This incident demonstrates what one trained person with a handgun can accomplish.) http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59138 Related Article: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-12-09-missionariesshot_N.htm Related Commentary: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59142 --- Ohio Bans Church Carry: In Colorado, an armed citizen who volunteers to provide security at her church is being hailed as a "hero" after stopping a man who went on a killing spree Sunday...In Ohio, on the other hand, if a church member with a concealed handgun license brings their firearm to church as a means of protection against such an attack, the law calls for her to be arrested and charged with a felony of the fourth degree, and a conviction would earn her up to $5000 in fines and 18 months in prison. http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/article4086.html --- Witness Account Of Omaha Mall Shootings: ...Honestly, and as God as my witness, when I saw him shooting and as watched for a few seconds trying to figure out what he was going to do and what I should do, the thought that when through my mind was, "If I had a gun, I have a perfect shot." Yes, a perfect shot. I had a full side profile, I was close, and no one was visible behind him except a wall. I had a clear shot during the second round of fire. I told this to every cop I came in contact with. The interviewer agreed. When I realized that I had no gun, fear instantly struck me, along with anger, and severe panic... http://joemerchant24.blogspot.com/2007/12/firsthand-account-of-von-maur-shooting.html --- Oops, Wrong House: A man in Orange County (FL) grabbed a shotgun and shot and killed one of three home invaders inside his apartment late Sunday, according to police. Investigators said three men burst into a home at the Pine Harbor apartments located near state Road 408 and Rouse Road just after 11:30 p.m. Monday. During the incident, the homeowner fired a shotgun at the men, causing the three men to flee, police said...Authorities said it did not appear the victim would face criminal charges for the shooting, Local 6 reported. http://www.local6.com/news/14810259/detail.html --- Death Threat In Controversial Texas Shooting: An anonymous death threat was made against the Harris County District Attorney's Office and police said it was connected to a case of a homeowner accused of killing two burglary suspects at his neighbor's house, KPRC Local 2 reported Monday. Officials said the caller threatened to kill Joe Horn, the homeowner, if the district attorney does not charge him with a crime...An autopsy revealed that the men were shot in the back. Investigators said a plainclothes officer witnessed the shootings and saw the two men crossing Horn's yard. One ran away while the other angled toward Horn and then ran away, the officer said. http://www.click2houston.com/news/14813727/detail.html --- No Charges For Liquor-Store Owner Who Shot Robber: The El Paso County district attorney says the owner of a Colorado Springs liquor store will not be prosecuted for shooting and killing a suspect during an attempted robbery. Police say Charles Kellogg shot 21-year-old Gibran Gayton on Nov. 27 after Gayton pulled out a semiautomatic weapon and demanded money at Jet-Way Liquors...District Attorney John Newsome says Kellogg exercised a legal right of self-defense and will not be prosecuted. http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2007/dec/03/no-charges-springs-liquor-store-owner-who-killed-r/ --- Strange Place For A Stabbing: Police are investigating what led to a fatal fight between two employees at a West Lubbock gun store Thursday. Wayne Knox, 66, died Thursday after a co-worker stabbed him during a fight at the store...Police arrested Knox's co-worker Ricky Lee Parrish, 48, on a murder charge...Knox and Parrish were not the only two people in the store at the time of the stabbing, Gomez said. http://lubbockonline.com/stories/081807/loc_081807045.shtml --- Grandmother Released After Disney World Arrest: Channel 9 was the only station there as a 63-year-old grandmother was released from the Orange County jail Monday morning. Mary Ann Richardson of Pennsylvania was arrested for trying to take a loaded handgun into a Disney theme park...Richardson was headed inside Magic Kingdom with her daughter and three young grandchildren Sunday when security screeners found a loaded .32-caliber handgun at the bottom of her bag, along with a pocket knife and a pair of scissors...Richardson doesn't have a permit to carry the gun, but said she carries it for protection back home and she never had plans to hurt or scare anyone at the park. http://www.wftv.com/news/14808302/detail.html -- Stephen P. Wenger, KE7QBY Firearm safety - It's a matter for education, not legislation. http://www.spw-duf.info .