California "Progressive" Continues Heller Analysis: ...As I had predicted, the District of Columbia is going through a substantial amount of turmoil in addressing the mechanics of creating a regulated market in firearms and creating fast and efficient handgun registration procedures. Post Heller what you are going to see is a lot of "demand letters" and litigation on what I call "mechanics" issues throughout the country focused more on how licensing and registration is done than on the overall constitutionality of licensing and registration. Because the District has not had to deal with this issue for 32 years, essentially none of the procedures are automated. As such, DCMPD Chief Cathy Lanier acknowledged on WTOP Radio that the District was in a state of flux. What DC is going through is just the tip of the iceberg... http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2008/07/heller_week_two.html --- Challenges Coming to California Gun Laws: ...One thing no one contests is that the June 26 ruling in Heller vs. D.C. was a major victory for gun rights groups. For the first time ever, the Supreme Court ruled that "the right to keep and bear arms" was an individual right, as opposed to the collective right of a "well regulated militia" that had held legal sway for decades. This interpretation opens new legal avenues to challenge gun laws. The very same day as the ruling, the NRA filed suit to overturn gun bans in Chicago and San Francisco. But California is the real prize for many gun rights advocates. The state has some of the most restrictive laws in the country. It's also one of only a few states that doesn't have an individual right to bear arms written into the state constitution, according to Gene Hoffman, chairman of the Cal Guns Foundation... http://www.citywatchla.com/content/view/1406/75/ --- Illinois Gun Owners Rally for CCW: Proponents of gun rights gathered in the Loop Friday to push legislation legalizing concealed weapons in Illinois. Among the speakers at the rally was a Texas state representative whose parents were among 23 people gunned down at Luby's cafeteria in 1991. Recent rallies at the Thompson Center have been demands for gun control laws following fatal shootings of Chicago children. Thursday, the plaza was full again, but the message was from those demanding the right to bear arms...The lawsuit against the city challenging the handgun ban was filed the same day as the Supreme Court's decision. The complaint had named Mayor Daley. A city spokeswoman says the judge has dismissed the mayor from the complaint and has removed certain allegations in the complaint already. The City of Chicago has until next week to respond. http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=6259726 http://thereadyline.blogspot.com/2008/07/chicago-self-defense-advocates-stage.html --- Illinois County Considers CCW Resolution: In four months, Winnebago County voters will be able to decide if they want concealed carry firearm legislation. Winnebago County Board members voted 21-5 Thursday to put an advisory referendum on the Nov. 4 ballot that asks: Shall the General Assembly enact legislation to permit the carrying of concealed firearms? ...Other board members say concealed carry permits could actually decrease crime. o far, 48 states have some form of concealed carry, and Wisconsin is only steps away from having it. If Wisconsin enacts such legislation, Illinois will become an island because it's surrounded by states with this type of law, said Tom Owens, R-1. Fred Wescott, R-9, said he supports the resolution for similar reasons. "I received a letter from someone in Indiana thanking us for not having a conceal carry law because now all of their crime has somewhere to go," Wescott said... http://www.rrstar.com/cherryvalley/x390629069/County-Board-votes-to-put-concealed-carry-on-referendum --- What Part of "Shall Not Be Impaired" Doesn't She Understand?: Let's all pause and be grateful we have a level-headed governor, a woman with the courage to refuse to pander to the powerful gun lobby. The Arizona Legislature this year entertained quite a few alarming - if not positively fearsome - ideas for allowing guns into more places under fewer restrictions. In some cases, lawmakers themselves put down bad bills; in five cases, the governor stepped in with an emphatic veto... (The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself or the state shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain, or employ an armed body of men. Article 2, Section 26, Arizona State Constitution) http://www.azstarnet.com/opinion/247359.php --- Fired Disney Guard Sues to Recover Job: Former Walt Disney World security guard Edwin Sotomayor filed a lawsuit this morning in state Circuit Court in Orlando seeking to challenge Disney's position on employees' guns and to get his job back. Sotomayor, 36, of Kissimmee, was fired Monday from his job as an unarmed, uniformed security officer at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Disney said he refused to cooperate with investigators who wanted to know whether he had brought a gun to work with him last Friday, as he had suggested he would...The dispute arises from a new Florida law that allows people with concealed weapons permits to keep guns locked in their vehicle trunks in employee parking lots. Walt Disney World claims it has an exemption from the law because of a provision that makes exceptions for companies that hold certain federal explosives permits. Disney World holds such a permit for its fireworks shows... http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/local/newsletter/orl-biznews-disney071108,0,1708876.story --- Oops, Wrong House, Arkansas Version: A Prairie Creek resident shot and killed a neighbor who had kicked in his door Tuesday evening and tried to assault him, police said. Johnny Hawthorne shot Mekin Kantaphone with a handgun once in the head in self-defense inside Hawthorne's home, Benton County sheriff's Capt. Mike Sydoriak said. The prosecuting attorney's office will decide whether the shooting was justified, Sydoriak said. Kantaphone, 34, sent threatening text and voice messages to Hawthorne, 25, earlier in the day, he said. "He was threatening to beat him and kill him," Sydoriak said... http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/230891/ --- Oops, Wrong House, Florida Version: Firing a .357-caliber handgun until it was empty, an Ocala woman chased two intruders from her home in the 3800 block of Southeast 68th Street on Wednesday morning. Later Wednesday, Marion County sheriff's detectives had one home invasion suspect in custody and were looking for the second. Aaron Scott Beardsley, 25, was charged with armed home invasion robbery. Deputies were still looking for a heavy-set Hispanic male, about 6-foot-1 or 6-feet-2, who was wearing black shorts at the time, a dark T-shirt and a bandana... http://www.ocala.com/article/20080710/NEWS/216986732/0/VOZLATINA --- NRA-ILA Alerts: Alerts for the week are posted on the NRA-ILA website. http://www.nraila.org/GrassrootsAlerts/read.aspx -- Stephen P. Wenger, KE7QBY Firearm safety - It's a matter for education, not legislation. http://www.spw-duf.info .