Ohio Governor Tells Gun Owners Not to Fear Obama: Gov. Ted Strickland on Friday sought to allay concerns of gun owners in his state who fear Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama would push for greater restrictions on firearms. "There is probably no governor, I would say, in the United States of America, who has a stronger, better record in the support of the Second Amendment than does Governor Ted Strickland and I'm proud of that," Strickland told a rally in Chillicothe as he warmed up the crowd ahead of a speech by Obama. Strickland, whose battleground state is a focus of intensive campaigning by Obama and Republican John McCain, said he spoke directly to Obama about the right to bear arms in the Second Amendment... (Ohio is a unique state, where the state Democratic Party has actually been more supportive of the RKBA than the Republican Party.) http://blogs.reuters.com/trail08/2008/10/10/ohio-governor-tells-gun-owners-not-to-fear-obama/ --- Obama Won't Take Your Guns, Just Your Magazines: ...Gun owners who still believe that Obama may be after some people's guns, but not theirs, might want to read Brady's paper. The group advocates "a stronger, more comprehensive law" than the one imposed in 1994 - one that would ban the manufacture of all semi-automatic firearms "capable of accepting a detachable, high-capacity ammunition magazine." Gun owners better think again, if they think that verbiage doesn't apply to them, just because they don't have "high capacity" magazines for their deer rifles and pistols. It doesn't matter what kind of magazines they have; what matters is whether a larger magazine could be inserted in their gun. Reality check: Any gun that uses a detachable magazine is capable of using one of any size. The District of Columbia has used that basis to define the seven-round-magazine Model 1911 .45 pistol as a "machine gun," along with all other semi-automatics that typically use magazines holding a similar number of rounds... http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Federal/Read.aspx?id=4206 --- The Brady Pitch: In the four years since the federal assault weapons ban expired on September 15, 2004, at least 163 people have been killed and 185 wounded with military-style semiautomatic assault weapons, including at least 38 police officers killed or wounded, according to a report being issued today by the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. Restrictions on assault weapons, which drew support from Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush, have been addressed by both major candidates for President: "Senator Barack Obama has stated as recently as his convention acceptance speech that it is imperative that criminals be denied the use of assault weapons," the report says. "Senator John McCain, who has opposed the NRA on gun shows and other issues, has been firm in his opposition to an assault weapon ban..." http://www.bradycampaign.org/media/release.php?release=1028 --- And I Own an Oceanfront Condo in Tucson: Yesterday, hours after the NRA issued its seven-months-in-the-making endorsement of John McCain, the Obama campaign announced a new radio ad designed to counter the fears of gun owners concerned about Obama's Second Amendment record. Outdoorsman and TV host Tony Dean, who describes himself as a "lifelong Republican" now supporting Obama, assures voters in the ad that Obama will allow them to "keep our guns and our jobs." In a script rife with hunting metaphors (McCain's attacks are "way off target," and he's "trying to camouflage his record"), Dean says that "Barack will protect our Second Amendment rights - our freedom to own guns and defend ourselves. And Barack will protect our jobs too..." http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/10/10/1527150.aspx --- Another Pennsylvania City May Violate Preemption: The city's public safety committee recommended Thursday that city council adopt a gun law requiring owners of lost or stolen handguns to report those guns missing or face a penalty. The proposed ordinance, which council will introduce at its Oct. 22 meeting, requires an owner report a lost or stolen handgun within 24 hours of discovering the gun missing. Failure to comply could result in a $1,000 fine and up to 90 days in prison. Mayor Sal Panto and six other mayors pledged in September to introduce the law in their respective cities as a tool for combating straw gun purchases. The measure is also designed to get the attention of state lawmakers, in hopes they move on similar legislation... (Just as in California, these cities appear to be willing to invest in defending illegal ordinances, in the hopes of getting the state legislature to make them statewide laws.) http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/easton/index.ssf?/base/news-0/122361161593240.xml&coll=3 --- A Look at CCW in North Carolina: Newlyweds David Hall and Krista King of Wilmington are among thousands of people in Southeastern North Carolina arming themselves with handguns for protection and doing it legally. From Dec. 1, 1995, when it became legal to carry a concealed handgun in the state, until July 31 of this year, sheriff's offices in Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender counties received 8,167 permit applications. The state total was 225,762 for the same time period... http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20081010/ARTICLES/810100248?Title=State_law_allows_people_to_arm_themselves_with_handguns --- CPL Numbers Soar in Washington: The number of concealed pistol licenses (CPLs) issued to Washington state residents shot up 44% between 2003 and 2007, according to statistics from the state's Department of Licensing, with the Evergreen State now boasting more than 258,000 citizens who can carry concealed. That does not include a number of people who are involved in the open carry movement who do not require a license to carry their hardware. Washington is one of a handful of states with a very active and gradually growing open carry cadre, and open carry has always been legal in the state, with at least two appeals court rulings upholding the practice... http://www.hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx?27f3ee81-f258-4572-af7c-0c61881a2efc --- CCW for New Jersey?: ...Currently, it is virtually impossible for the average citizen to get a permit for carrying a concealed weapon in New Jersey . Only active (non-retired) police officers can open carry and those that can prove to the Supreme Court in Trenton that he or she has a "justifiable need" can get a permit for concealed carry. The court's interpretation of what constitutes a "justifiable need" makes it almost impossible for any normal law-abiding citizen of New Jersey to obtain the permit for self defense. But I believe there is hope for freedom for those who want it. Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll (R) has sponsored a bill (A1282) that would revise the procedure for obtaining a permit to carry a firearm for the purpose of self defense. This bill would make it possible for qualified persons who do not have a criminal history to carry their firearm for personal defense... http://blog.nj.com/njv_publicblog/2008/10/a_real_solution_to_self_defens.html --- Kennesaw Revisited: In 1981, Morton Grove, Illinois became the first town in the U.S. to pass a flat out ban on the possession of handguns within the town limits by anyone except police and active duty military during the performance of their official duties. In response, the town of Kennesaw, Georgia passed a gun law of their own in March of 1982. The Kennesaw law was almost the exact opposite to the Morton Grove ordinance. Rather than banning handgun possession, Kennesaw required every head-of-household to keep at least one firearm and appropriate ammunition in their home - with exemptions for those who had religious or philosophical objections to maintaining or using weapons. In other words, gun ownership was mandatory except for people who didn't want to own a gun... http://www.ohioccw.org/content/view/4081/53/ --- Oops, Wrong Pizza Man: A pizza deliveryman fought off three robbers at gunpoint and shot one of them in the back Thursday night, police say. The deliveryman, who works for Tomatoes Pizza on Kensington Avenue, walked up to the house in the 400 block of Dartmouth Avenue and was confronted by the three would-be robbers, police said. At least one of the bandits had a gun...No charges have been filed in the overnight shooting and attempted robbery, as detectives continue to investigate. Buffalo police say the deliveryman was not injured. "He has a permit for the gun, and he apparently used it lawfully to defend himself," Buffalo police spokesman Michael J. DeGeorge said at mid-morning... http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/459580.html --- Rule Five Reminder, Part 1: A 4-year-old boy accidentally killed himself with his police-officer mother's gun as she dropped her children off at school, police said Thursday. The gun apparently fell between the two front seats of the car as the mother leaned over to comb her daughter's hair. The 35-year-old mother is a sergeant with the San Juan police department and her statement will be taken in more detail when she is ready, Commissioner Hilton Cordero said. Her autistic son, Jeremy Marcano, got out of his booster seat, picked up the gun and shot himself in the face, Commander Jose Marrero Rivera told The Associated Press. Marrero said he did not know where Brenda Lee Cotto had the gun before it fell. Police did not comment on whether the boy's autism was a factor... (Rule Five: Maintain control of your firearm. It sounds as though the handgun should have been worn in a holster.) http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/09/4-year-old-kills-himself-with-mothers-police-gu-1/ --- Rule Five Reminder, Part 2: Sandy Springs police said someone broke into the trunk of one of their detective's unmarked vehicles and stole a high-powered weapon, a police badge, a police ID and a bulletproof vest. The items were stolen while two detectives were parked in a garage near Perimeter Mall Tuesday night. Officials said the AR-15 weapon has a scope and a light and is the kind Marines and soldiers use. "It's not like a, you know, your grandfather's shotgun or a pistol or something," said Lt. Steve Rose with the Sandy Springs Police Department. Officers said the detective parked in a garage and went to a restaurant for dinner. "I don't know if they knew they were breaking into a police vehicle or not," said Rose... (Other reports suggest that gangs, at least in the South, are intentional targeting police vehicles in order to steal firearms.) http://www.wsbtv.com/news/17664920/detail.html --- Arizona Tribe Closes Shotgun Range: Shotgun shooting enthusiasts have lost their range. Salt River tribal leaders closed the Red Mountain Trap and Skeet club last month, saying they want the 58-acre site along the Beeline Highway for other uses...The decision to close the range leaves thousands of shooters with few options for enjoying their sport. Ben Avery Clay Target Center is 30 miles north, near Lake Pleasant. A secondary option is the Rio Salado Sportsman's Club, north of Mesa. Red Mountain, previously Beeline Trap and Skeet, had operated along a stretch of the Beeline Highway east of Scottsdale since the 1960s... http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2008/10/11/20081011negunclub1011.html Maricopa County Plans New Range: The Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department will be holding two public meetings to discuss the naming of the Buckeye Hills Public Shooting Range, the first of which will be held on September 26 at the Buckeye Public Library in the conference room at 310 N. 6th Street in Buckeye at 1:15 p.m. The Board of Supervisors will consider the naming the shooting range the "Joe Foss Public Shooting Range", a tribute to the former President of NRA and great American hero who rose to fame as a top Marine ace in World War II, a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, and former Governor of South Dakota. Joe Foss retired to Scottsdale where he founded the Foss Institute, which remains active today. There has been some resistance relating to this nomination, which is why it's vital that NRA members attend the meetings and express their support. If you can't make the meeting on the 26th, the second public meeting will be held a the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department located at 234 N. Central Ave., Suite 6400 on October 21st at 8:45 a.m. http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?ID=4184 --- 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 .