AG Nominee Has Bad Record on RKBA: ...He advocated federal licensing of handgun owners, a three-day waiting period on handgun sales, rationing handgun sales to no more than one per month, banning possession of handguns and so-called "assault weapons" by anyone under age 21, a gun show restriction bill that would have given the federal government the power to shut down all gun shows, and national gun registration... Earlier this year, Holder - who would become the first African-American attorney general - co-signed an amicus brief in support of the District of Columbia's ban on all handguns and on the use of any firearm for self-defense in the home... http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/holder_gun_control/2008/11/21/153808.html http://volokh.com/posts/1227228105.shtml --- BOHICA, "Sensible" Gun Laws: ..."These findings suggest that sensible gun legislation provides a unique opportunity for the new Administration to build a bridge to moderate voters in both parties. It is no longer plausible for opponents of gun legislation to assert that gun laws will somehow lead to a total gun ban. In fact, these results show that voters support a variety of basic safeguards for the public safety when it comes to keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous people. This support is strong in every region of the country, among voters who own guns and those who do not, across partisan and ideological lines - and even in the 'New Blue' states (states that George W. Bush won 2004 but that voted for Barack Obama in 2008). These 'New Blue' states are a cross-section of America, including Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, and Virginia." (BOHICA: Bend Over, Here It Comes, Again.) http://www.prweb.com/releases/Brady_Campaign/Obama_gun_control/prweb1650194.htm --- NSSF Seeks to Educate Press on "Assault Weapons": ...Firearms retailers report that many firearm customers are interested in buying semi-automatic rifles that have a military look to them. There is much confusion among the public and the media about how these rifles function and about their legitimate uses for target shooting and hunting. Often incorrectly referred to as semi-automatic "assault weapons," they are the type of firearms that President-elect Obama has indicated he would seek to ban by making permanent the expired 1994 so-called "assault weapons" ban... http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Media-Resource-So-called-Assault/story.aspx?guid={FE6082DF-EEAF-4064-9A14-9413FB1B10B8 --- Seattle Mayor Disregards State Law: A draft proposal issued Friday by Mayor Greg Nickels outlining his scheme to ignore state statute and state legislative authority over firearms regulation amounts to a slap in the face against more than 250,000 Washington state residents, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms said in response. "We're going to review this draft proposal line-by-line," said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb, "but even a cursory glance at the document released Friday by Mayor Nickels shows that he has chosen to arrogantly ignore the State Attorney General's opinion. State statute clearly limits municipal authority, and the Nickels plan suggests he is attempting to be a little too clever in trying an end-run around the law..." http://www.ccrkba.org/pub/rkba/press-releases/mayor.nickels.plan.htm Related Article: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/388968_mayor22.html --- Oops, Wrong House: The sleeping resident was woken around 1030pm last night after hearing a strange noise in the downstairs of his home in the 1900 block of Montrose Street in South Philadelphia. After finding an open window on the first floor of his two story row home, the resident started to search the rest of the property from top to bottom, and was startled to find a male hunched up in the corner of a spare bedroom. The resident pulled his gun and a violent struggle ensued between the robber and resident. During the struggle the robber was shot. The burglar, a male in his 30's, was taken to the hospital where he later died. The homeowner was not injured and will probably not face charges. (Had the intruder been armed with a firearm, things may not have gone as well - searching your own home can be very risky. http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Homeowner-Shoots-and-Kills-Burglar.html --- South Dakota Charges Dropped Due to LEOSA: A judge has ordered that concealed weapons charges be dismissed against four off-duty Washington police officers who were charged in connection with a shooting during the Sturgis rally. Circuit Judge Warren Johnson ruled Friday that Scott Lazalde, Dennis McCoy, James Rector and Ron Smith are exempt from prosecution under South Dakota state law because of the federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act. However, Johnson ruled that a concealed weapons charge against Erik Pingel, 35, of Aurora, Colo., can proceed. Lazalde, 38, of Bellingham, Wash., and Rector, 44, Ferndale, Wash., are law enforcement officers with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Service. McCoy, 58, of Seattle, Wash., is a Seattle police sergeant and Smith, 43, is a Seattle police detective. Pingel is a firefighter with the U.S. Department of Defense... http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2008/11/17/news/top/doc492204ea686aa194895385.txt http://mensnewsdaily.com/2008/11/21/court-rules-cops-can-carry-guns-nationwide/ BATFE Letter: http://www.fop.net/publications/archives/letters/2008_0911.pdf --- Handgun Training in an Era of Costly Ammo: One of the most common questions I receive from readers or students is, "What should I practice?" It's a legitimate question, especially with skyrocketing ammunition prices. Recently, I was at the local Wal-Mart buying some Winchester White Box 9mm ammo (the cheapest I can find) and paid $19.23 for 100 rounds. I noticed that .40 S&W of the same brand was $28.12 and .45 ACP was just under $30! ... (Dave's Drills are not necessarily the best choice for everyone but the article is based on a worthwhile concept - integrating dry-fire and live-fire training.) http://www.policeone.com/police-products/firearms/articles/1757987-P1-Exclusive-The-truth-about-handgun-knockdown-power/ --- Thoughts on "Knockdown Power": There is undoubtedly no other myth more perpetuated and closely held (even now) by many law enforcement professionals than what I have previously referred to as the "Demonstrative Bullet Fallacy," or in plainer terms, the idea that any handgun of any caliber has "knockdown power," in that the sheer size and force of the bullet can knock a person down. Closely related is the myth that bullet size - rather than shot placement - can determine or ensure a "one shot stop." Both are inaccurate, unscientific, and dangerous, and have no place in the training of law enforcement professionals... http://www.policeone.com/police-products/firearms/articles/1757987-P1-Exclusive-The-truth-about-handgun-knockdown-power/ --- The Little Gun That Could: ...But, the dirty little secret is - drum roll, please - when these same officers leave home for the quick trip to pick up a gallon of milk at the corner stop-n-rob, they likely as not drop a .38 snub nosed revolver in their pocket for the errand. Still more high-tech cops carry a lightweight snubbie in an ankle holster (or in a jacket pocket) as a back-up gun. And, they almost seem ashamed to admit they own a wheel gun. The favorite snubnose revolver we see today is probably chambered for the old .38 Special cartridge, has a barrel about two inches long and probably holds five rounds. Some of the newer ones chamber the .357 Magnum round, but anyone who has fired them with magnum ammo generally end up loading the milder .38 loads... http://www.policeone.com/use-of-force/articles/1702768-The-Snubnose-The-little-gun-that-could/ --- 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 .