When Cops Don't Shoot Back: The Mumbai massacres were shocking and gruesome enough, but the eyewitness story told by photographer Sebastian D'Souza should serve as a wakeup call to Americans who still enjoy one of the few societies in the world that hasn't been disarmed... "There were armed policemen hiding all around the station but none of them did anything," he explained. "At one point, I ran up to them and told them to use their weapons. I said, 'Shoot them, they're sitting ducks!' But they just didn't shoot back." His disturbing story continued: "I told some policemen the gunmen had moved toward the rear of the station, but they refused to follow them. What is the point of having policemen with guns if they refuse to use them? I only wish I had a gun rather than a camera." I would like every American to meditate deeply on those words... http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=82439 --- Infringements Only Hurt the Defenseless: ... People are getting concerned after hearing President-elect Barack Obama's statements about gun rights at the Democratic primary debate in Pennsylvania last April. Obama said, "As a general principle, I believe that the Constitution confers an individual right to bear arms. But just because you have an individual right does not mean that the state or local government can't constrain the exercise of that right, in the same way that we have a right to private property but local governments can establish zoning ordinances that determine how you can use it. I think we can provide common-sense approaches to the issue of illegal guns that are ending up on the streets. We can make sure that criminals don't have guns in their hands." However, bans, restrictions and gun taxes will not make our society safer. Taking firearms out of responsible, licensed hands actually puts our society in danger and will give criminals the upper hand... http://media.www.dailycampus.com/media/storage/paper340/news/2008/12/01/Commentary/Strict.Gun.Control.Laws.Only.Hurt.The.Defenseless-3563853.shtml --- The Beat Goes On: A rush of icy air swooshes through Gunslinger's show room every couple of minutes as customers file in and out. "It's insane," owner Todd Sutherland said on a recent Monday. "Business has more than doubled, if not tripled," Sutherland said. Other Tri-Cities gun and ammunition shop owners are echoing similar refrains, but the sales surge is only half the story. Sullivan County, Tenn., and Washington County, Va., both report that within the past two years, the number of handgun carry permits issued has doubled, if not tripled... http://www.starexponent.com/cse/news/local/article/gun_sales_booming_across_the_nation/25527/ --- And in Pennsylvania...: While many retailers have been worried about sales during the current economic slump, some gun shop owners in Pennsylvania haven't been able to keep their racks and shelves stocked with semiautomatic rifles and pistols. Many shop owners believe the primary reason for the increased sales comes from a fear that President-elect Barack Obama will set up strict gun laws, or implement huge tax increases on guns and ammunition. At All In One Sport shop on East Main Street in Bradford, Pa., owner Frank Gilmore said he hasn't been able to keep some guns in stock since Mr. Obama won the election. "Any gun that is semiautomatic or military has gone up tremendously in sales," Mr. Gilmore said. "And we can't restock because our suppliers are out." ... http://www.oleantimesherald.com/articles/2008/12/01/news/doc493202fa0d22a680368820.txt --- Pennsylvania Soccer Mom to Continue Open Carry: The Lebanon woman who stirred controversy by openly carrying a handgun to her child's soccer game filed a lawsuit in federal court today claiming that her rights were violated and seeking more than $1 million in damages. Meleanie Hain's concealed weapons permit was revoked Sept. 20 by Lebanon County Sheriff Michael DeLeo, who maintained she showed poor judgment wearing her gun to her daughter's soccer game Sept. 11. The permit was reinstated Oct. 14 by Lebanon County Judge Robert Eby. Judge Eby asked her to conceal the gun when she goes to soccer games. but Hain said she planned to continue to display the gun, asserting her right under the Second Amendment... (By contrast, Arizona judges have erroneously ruled that the constitutional right to bear arms only applies to carrying them openly.) http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2008/11/civil_rights_lawsuit_filed_by.html --- Texans Lobby for Open Carry: A group of gun advocates is lobbying state lawmakers for an open-carry law ahead of the start of the 2009 session of the Texas Legislature. The advocates, who say the state's concealed carry law is too restrictive, want lawmakers to allow Texans to carry handguns in plain view. Supporters of "open-carry laws" have placed ads on billboards in Houston and San Antonio and on taxis in Austin. The Texas campaign is expected to intensify Tuesday with radio spots in Fort Worth, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin that say, "We don't hide our colors, do we?" and encourages Texans to sign an online petition asking lawmakers to make Texas a place where people can openly wear their guns. More than 28,000 people have signed it so far... http://www.kbtx.com/home/headlines/35283494.html --- Campus Carry Bill in Texas: They're small, hidden, pack a powerful punch, and permit holders can carry them most places in Texas. However, when it comes to handguns, a college campus isn't one of those places. "That's in my opinion, a big problem," said Matthew Rogers. Rogers started Texas A&M's chapter of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus. "All we're asking is that you allow us to make that choice. If I can legally carry somewhere else, allow me to make the decision whether or not I want to carry here on campus," said Rogers. At least one person in the Texas Legislature agrees. State Senator Jeff Wentworth of San Antonio, an Aggie himself, has promised to propose a bill that would allow those with a permit to pack heat on campus... http://www.kbtx.com/home/headlines/35294194.html --- NFL Players Resist Call for Disarmament: Mike Ditka's made an unusual - and probably unconstitutional - suggestion on "NFL Countdown" yesterday that the NFL should bar all players from owning guns, following Plaxico Burress' arrest following an incident involving a handgun went largely unnoticed by the mainstream media, but did not escape the attention of certain gun enthusiasts who suit up every Sunday. Ditka's proposal drew almost immediate ire from some of the NFL's most colorful characters, including one Adam "Pacman" Jones... http://www.serioussportsnewsnetwork.com/2008/12/pacman-to-ditka-from-my-cold-dead-hands.html --- Florida Gun Shop Profiled: When Jon and Terri Strayer first envisioned owning a gun shop, it wasn't because they wanted another business to operate. They already have a successful, well-established lawn equipment business in Live Oak that keeps them plenty busy. But Jon and Terri both have a sincere interest in personal protection and the tools available for that purpose. That interest has led them through many firearms and self-defense training classes, as well as regular participation in self defense oriented competitive shooting... (For those who were not aware of it, Massad Ayoob now lives in Florida.) http://www.suwanneedemocrat.com/business/local_story_336073617.html -- Stephen P. Wenger, KE7QBY Firearm safety - It's a matter for education, not legislation. http://www.spw-duf.info .