Brady Bunch Braces for Heller Ruling: ..."We've lost the battle on what the Second Amendment means," campaign president Paul Helmke told ABC News. "Seventy-five percent of the public thinks it's an individual right. Why are we arguing a theory anymore? We are concerned about what we can do practically." ..."Universal background checks don't affect the right of self-defense in the home. Banning a super dangerous class of weapons, like assault weapons, also would not adversely affect the right of self-defense in the home," said Henigan. "Curbing large volume sales doesn't affect self-defense in the home." http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=5055064&page=1 Related Commentary: http://armedandsafe.blogspot.com/2008/06/does-truth-hurt-paul.html http://thereadyline.blogspot.com/2008/06/brady-campaign-predicts-loss-on-heller.html --- Brady Bunch Blames Georgia But...: Georgia gun stores supplied more guns that were later recovered at crimes in other places than any other state in the nation, according to a Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence review of 2007 federal data. As a source for guns, Georgia outranked much more populous states such as Florida, which was second, and Texas, which was third. According to the Brady Center, federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives data showed 2,631 crime guns recovered in other states were traced to Georgia stores...But ATF and gun proponents found flaws in the Brady Center's calculations. ATF supervisor Todd Reichert in Washington noted that the agency's data included some gun sales that were originally made as much as 10 years ago, which is much longer than the two-year "time to crime" ATF considers an indicator of a possible illegal gun sale... http://www.ajc.com/traffic/content/metro/stories/2008/06/11/guns_in_crime.html --- Idaho Congressman Slaps BATFE: An Idaho congressman pushes legislation to change what he says some constituents see as the wrong focus for a powerful federal agency. Congressman Bill Sali on Thursday introduced legislation addressing constituents concerns with the practices of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). "The Second Amendment is clear: 'the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.' Sali says "Unfortunately, the ATF chose to use the troubling phrase 'Always Think Forfeiture'." Sali says this slogan creates the perception that the agency will not give our Constitutional rights the priority they deserve. He says the ATF has had a program in which agents are given engraved Leatherman tool kits reminding them to focus on the seizure of private property. H.R. 6253, The Always Think Freedom Act of 2008, will prevent the ATF from purchasing, using or distributing any hand tool or tool kits on which any reminder about "forfeiture" appears. "Many Idahoans have told me they do not appreciate what they see as an anti-gun, anti-private property message from a federal agency. The ATF should always think freedom rather than forfeiture," said Sali. http://www.670kboi.com/Article.asp?id=745678&spid=18042 --- Castle-Doctrine Law Puts Ohio Criminals on Notice: Criminals could be in the crosshairs under a new law signed Wednesday by Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, reports News 11's Tim Miller. Under the current law, you have to prove your life was at risk if you kill someone who tried to force their way into your home. When the new law goes into effect in September, you'll be free to fire away. Gun owners across Ohio are fired up about the new law, called the "Castle Doctrine." You'll no longer have to prove someone breaking in is out to do you bodily harm. It will be assumed that anyone who kills or injures an intruder will have acted in self-defense... http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=8468674 --- Louisiana Sidetracks Parking-Lot-Storage Bill: Just short of final passage in the Legislature, a measure that would allow people to keep guns in their vehicles while on the private property of others was put on hold Thursday...The bill will be heard again on the House floor early next week. SB51 would allow gun owners to store firearms in their locked cars. Unless found to be grossly negligent, private property owners, which includes businesses, would not be liable in any legal action that may come out of following the legislation. They could, however, face a $1,000 penalty if they prohibit people from keeping guns in their cars, according to the measure... http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/19879014.html --- North Carolina Bill Would Mandate Mental-Health Reports to NICS: A plan, prompted by the Virginia Tech shootings in 2007, to keep "dangerous" mentally ill people from purchasing guns was approved by a Senate committee Thursday, over the objections of lawmakers who said the measure may infringe on individuals' right to bear arms...North Carolina court clerks would be required to report to the FBI all individuals who are involuntarily committed for mental health treatment, deemed not guilty of a crime by reason of insanity or found mentally incompetent for trial. Those people's names and personal information would be entered into the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, a federal database known as NICS and maintained by the FBI... http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/3036295/ --- Pennsylvania Cops Sued Over Open-Carry Incident (More Details): Several people involved in an incident that sparked a gun rights debate last month filed a suit in federal court Wednesday looking not only for money, but for the court to force borough police to complete additional training. The suit stems from a May 9 incident in which police asked for identification from a group of customers openly carrying firearms at Old Country Buffet. At least one person, Richard Banks, of Fairview Township, Luzerne County, refused to provide a driver's license and was detained. Roger McCarren, of White Mills, Wayne County, had his gun taken because the state police gun sales database indicated it was purchased by his wife, Darcie... http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19770867&BRD=2185&PAG=461&dept_id=415898&rfi=6 --- More Guns Go to Church in Colorado: Matthew Murray's assault on New Life Church in Colorado Springs and the Youth With a Mission campus in Arvada in December has made worshipers more likely to carry guns, speakers at a church security workshop said. But without a security plan, guns and people can be a dangerous mix, speakers told a dozen representatives of metro-area churches at the Heritage Christian Center in East Denver on Thursday...The El Paso County Sheriff's Office saw a surge in concealed-weapons permits after the New Life shooting, and the National Association of Church and School Security was born at the church to help others prepare... http://www.denverpost.com/ci_9569686 --- Oops, Wrong House: Four men left behind a shoe and a getaway car after a home invasion in Mesa overnight. According to Mesa police Sgt. Scott Martin, the homeowner in the 2400 block of East Diamond Street heard the intruders about 3 a.m. and grabbed his own gun for protection. The homeowner fired his weapon and the intruders fled, possibly one of them firing shots at the house as he left...It is unknown if any of the intruders was shot. Their car is parked in front of the home and a shoe is on the ground beside it as well shell casings. http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/118377 --- Smith & Wesson Sales Up. Profit Down: ... Net product sales of $293.9 million for fiscal 2008 increased 25.2% over net product sales of $234.8 million for fiscal 2007. Firearms sales for fiscal 2008 grew 23.9% over firearms sales for the previous fiscal year, reflecting the inclusion of a full year of revenue from Thompson/Center Arms('Thompson/Center'), which was acquired in January 2007. Sales, excluding revenue from the Thompson/Center acquisition, grew at a rate of 3.1% for fiscal 2008. Net income for fiscal 2008 of $9.1 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, was $3.8 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, lower than for the previous fiscal year... http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewarticle+articleid_2283403~zoneid_Home~title_Smith-~-Wesson-Holding.html -- Stephen P. Wenger, KE7QBY Firearm safety - It's a matter for education, not legislation. http://www.spw-duf.info .