Self-Defense Is A Right, Regardless Of Place: ...Restaurants and other establishments that serve alcohol are not immune to life-threatening violence, as recently evidenced by a shooting in Knoxville that claimed the life of a restaurant manager. Law-abiding citizens deserve the opportunity to defend themselves and their families at all times, wherever they may be confronted by violence. Other states recognize this right. Thirty-four states allow millions of law-abiding citizens with a handgun permit to carry handguns where alcohol is served, provided they do not consume alcohol. Neighboring states with such laws are Alabama, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi and Virginia. Remarkably, no state has realized a problem as a result of such laws. In fact, there is not a single reported incident of a lawfully permitted citizen committing an act of violence with a firearm in these establishments... http://www.rctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080120/OPINION01/801200360/1007/MTCN0305 --- Virginia College Students Lobby For Campus Carry: College students across Virginia are heading to Richmond this weekend to lobbying for two bills allowing concealed weapons on campus. "There was a lotta talk after Tech that a lot of different issues would have to be dealt with, and this is one we felt needed to be addressed," explained George Mason University student Andrew Dysart. Dysart heads the group Students for Concealed Carry on Campus. They are against an administrative ban at GMU and other state schools that forbids anyone to carry a gun on campus, even though Virginia law allows citizens to have guns with a permit. (Actually, the permit is only required for concealed carry.) http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0108/489520.html On The Other Side Of The Fence...: In the aftermath of the terrible tragedy at Virginia Tech, concerned Virginia citizens are demanding action to close loopholes in state law allowing people prohibited from purchasing firearms to avoid background checks. This Monday, January 21 at 1:45 PM concerned citizens will stage a demonstration on the lawn of the State Capitol to urge that more action be taken to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people. http://www.pr-usa.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=58765&Itemid=9 --- Georgians Debate Enhancements Of RKBA: Less than one year after the Virginia Tech massacre scuttled gun legislation backed by the National Rifle Association, Georgia lawmakers are aiming to relax firearm restrictions in the state...House Republicans have introduced an even broader bill that would allow permit holders to bring weapons into churches, political rallies or sporting events...Georgia's law limiting weapons at public gatherings traces back to the aftermath of the 1868 massacre in Camilla, Ga. when white townsmen killed more than a dozen armed black men protesting the expulsion of 32 newly elected black state legislators... http://www.myatltv.com/news/article_news.aspx?storyid=109879 --- Texans Still Debate Vehicle-Carry Law: ... The law allows Texans to carry guns in their cars, even without a concealed handgun license. As long you meet the law's other requirements - such as not being a gang member, refraining from criminal acts and keeping the gun out of sight - you can pack heat in your glove box... Nicknamed the "Carjacking Law" by some, it is designed in part to give law-abiding drivers the right to carry a gun for protection... Under the new law, someone committing any crime other than a minor traffic violation can be charged for having a gun in the car... http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/012008dnmetcarryingguns.6a7417.html --- Liberal Questions California Waiting Period For Second Gun: When you go to acquire a handgun in California you have to "wait" for 10 days while a background check is conducted to insure that you are not a "prohibited person" - a convicted felon or mental defective...But if you own a gun already, the "cooling off" rationale no longer makes sense. You can use your old gun in a fit of something while "waiting" for he new one. Nor does it make sense to conduct a second or third background check every time you acquire a new firearm. Background checks cost money. Currently you undergo such a check the first time you acquire a gun - and again every year or so as the Justice Department "rechecks" under a 2001 law pushed by former AG Bill Lockyer to make sure you have not moved into a "prohibited person" category since the original check... (Actually, the ten-day waiting period in California applies to long guns as well.) http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2008/01/redundant_waiti.html --- Oregon Gun Owner Recalls McCain: Over at NW Republican, Coyote (a.k.a. Ted Piccolo) is griping about Arizona Sen. John McCain's victory and questioning whether he could ever support him. Among the usual conservative complaints about the senator, he mentions one I had totally forgotten: McCain's support for a 2000 ballot measure in Oregon that required background checks for firearms bought at gun shows. The measure was opposed by the National Rifle Association and sponsored by Sen. Ginny Burdick, D-Portland, the legislator that gun-right types in Oregon most love to hate. http://blog.oregonlive.com/mapesonpolitics/2008/01/mccains_stand_on_oregon_gun_bi.html --- Oops, Wrong House: A Beaver County (PA) man shot an apparent burglar in the head after finding him prowling in his bedroom. Police say 23-year-old Keith McCue shot Gary Brooks as he fled down the steps of the house. Police say 26-year-old Brooks and an accomplice, 41-year-old Kelvin Raines, broke into the McCue house by kicking in the front door. They took a rifle from the living room and headed upstairs. McCue was alerted by his dogs' barking. He shot Brooks with a handgun he keeps by his bed. Police say McCue's actions were just. (Note the possible risk from the unsecured rifle.) http://www.timesleader.com/news/ap?articleID=348136 http://www.wpxi.com/news/15096668/detail.html --- Castle-Doctrine Cases Reviewed: Lethal force against intruders was widely used in America long before the rise of castle laws, and police today report cases across the country whether or not such laws are in place. Here are recent cases from Dallas and across the country: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-fightvignettes_20met.ART.State.Edition1.377858e.html Related Article: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-fightingback_20met.ART.State.Edition2.3777102.html --- Here's A Rare One: A 47-year-old man was shot by a homeowner Friday after he allegedly broke in to the home to get to his ex-girlfriend...The suspect, Andrew Giebler, 47, was later arrested on suspicion of violating a domestic restraining order, burglary and stalking, according to a news release by the Kern County Sheriff's Department...The homeowner shot Giebler in self-defense, the news release said. The suspect was hit in the shoulder. Giebler took the gun from the homeowner and ran away from the home. (In more than ten years of following news reports, this is only the fourth one I recall where an armed citizen was disarmed by a criminal. Account is third item on page.) http://www.bakersfield.com/102/story/339222.html --- Army Sticking With Beretta M9: Beretta has just announced that it has been awarded a multi-year contract by the U.S. Army to deliver M9 pistols to servicemen and women as part of the U.S. Government commitment to ensure the operational safety and readiness of U.S. Armed Services worldwide. The contract is for 25,403 M9 pistols with deliveries starting in June 2008 and continuing until February 2010. The U.S. Army also reserves the right to purchase additional M9 pistols as needed to meet their needs. All of these M9 pistols will continue to be manufactured at the Beretta U.S.A. facility located in Accokeek, Maryland. http://sev.prnewswire.com/aerospace-defense/20080117/LATH14317012008-1.html --- There's A Reason God Put Those People On An Island: A Cornish village drama group has had to register a toy gun with the police to comply with health and safety rules. Carnon Downs drama group in Cornwall have also had to keep their plastic cutlasses and wooden swords locked up for the pantomime, Robinson Crusoe. Producers of the show called the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) rules "farcical." A spokesman for the HSE said the rules were designed to make risks "sensibly managed." http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/7196104.stm -- Stephen P. Wenger, KE7QBY Firearm safety - It's a matter for education, not legislation. http://www.spw-duf.info .