23 State AG's Oppose New "AWB": On June 11, 23 state attorney generals signed and sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder advising him that they are opposed to renewal of the 1994 Clinton administration's ban on semiautomatic firearms, erroneously dubbed "assault weapons" by proponents of the ban. A list of those attorneys general is included below, and surprisingly, it does not include Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna. This is a remarkable letter, made public by the National Rifle Association. It follows three months after 65 House Democrats sent a similar letter to Holder, admonishing him for remarks made earlier this year suggesting that the Obama administration would like to see the ban renewed. That March 17 letter took issue with Holder, and others, who at the time were using the drug cartel wars in Mexico as an excuse to push for renewal of the ban, which expired in September 2004 after having accomplished pretty much nothing... (As I recall, the Clinton ban on cosmetically impaired firearms did accelerate their sale and boosted the prices of full-capacity magazines.) http://www.examiner.com/x-4525-Seattle-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m6d15-Twentythree-AGs-tell-Holder-no-dice-on-semiauto-ban-renewal --- National Parks Prepare for Armed Citizens: Mammoth Cave National Park has long banned guns from its underground treasures, saying that keeps the public and employees safe. "Once you get inside a cave tour, there are not a lot of exits - you can be two miles from an exit, and half a mile from a phone," said supervisory park ranger Brad McDougal. But legislation passed by Congress in April, and signed by President Barack Obama, is intended to open national park, as well as federal wildlife refuges, to people carrying loaded guns, making "it clear that the Second Amendment rights of an individual should not be infringed." It remains unclear, however, how far the new law will extend gun rights in national parks and federal wildlife refuges. At Mammoth Cave National Park, for example, it's not certain whether the new law means guns will be allowed inside the park's cave - known for its gypsum lined passages, narrow canyons, large rooms, and dripstone formations - or in the park's visitor center and staff offices, or whether they'll only be allowed in campgrounds, or on roads, trails and in the backcountry of the 82-square-mile natural and historical preserve 75 miles south of Louisville. That's because federal attorneys are still sorting through legal issues, including how the new law can work with an existing general ban on guns in federal facilities... http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090615/NEWS01/906160304/Parks+brace+for+possible+end+of+gun+ban --- Gang Bangers Ignore Park Gun Bans: A Columbus city park was the scene of what is being reported as a shootout last night, leaving two injured, one of them critical with a gunshot wound to the head. Details are sketchy, but from what is available it would seem that it was either drug or gang related. Anti-gun officials who would like to be able to ban handguns in their parks will undoubtedly point to this incident as an example of why they should be allowed to do so. Of course, they're already allowed to ban street drugs, crack down on gangs, and to frown upon turf wars, yet I suspect that at least one of those came to play in this incident. Banning guns in parks, whether a local city park or a National Park, will not to anything to stop a gang banger, a drug dealer, a rapist, or a mugger from continuing to carry the tools of their trade. All such bans accomplish is to make sure that any innocents they encounter will be unable to fight back with equal force... http://www.examiner.com/x-2206-Cleveland-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m6d15-Gang-bangers-dont-care-if-guns-are-banned-in-parks --- Truth vs. "Gun Control": The City of Peoria, Illinois wants to be a test city for allowing law abiding city to be licensed to carry concealed handguns for self-defense. An online poll showed 51% of respondents supported the proposal, while only 13% oppose it. Without seeing the poll, I'd assume the balance are undecided. Naturally, gun control pundits oppose the plan and give dire warnings that "research proves concealed weapons could add to crime." However, the opposite is true. A great deal of research has been done into the issue of lawfully armed citizens and their effect on crime rates. The vast majority show that at worst, it has no net result on crime rates while many demonstrate that violent crimes decrease and those crimes are shifted to crimes against property (burglaries instead of robberies, for example). Of course, there are a few studies supporting the gun control agenda, although those are ones that happen to have been commissioned by gun control groups... http://www.examiner.com/x-2206-Cleveland-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m6d16-Truth-hurts-gun-control-agenda --- RKBA Groups Plan State-by-State Revolt: Gary Marbut isn't aiming to eliminate federal gun laws. He just wants to make them much less relevant. Marbut, president of the Montana Shooting Sports Association, is one of the leaders of a new grassroots movement that's seeking to invoke the principle of states' rights - including states' own authority to regulate firearms - to thwart what he and his allies view as an increasingly overreaching federal government... This modern-day federalist revolt began with a Montana state law recently signed by Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer. It says that firearms, ammunition, and accessories manufactured entirely inside Montana are not subject to federal regulation, including background checks for buyers and record-keeping requirements for sellers. They would remain subject to state regulation... Montana is hardly alone: the Tennessee legislature has approved a nearly-identical bill, and others are pending in Texas, Alaska, Minnesota, and South Carolina. About 10 other states, including Florida and Arizona, are reportedly considering similar measures, and a Colorado state legislator has publicly pledged to follow suit... http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/06/16/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5090952.shtml --- Tennessee Expands RKBA: Cities and counties across Tennessee are preparing this week to deal with the fallout from a raft of pro-gun bills recently signed into law in the state, where Republicans are flexing their new-found strength in the legislature. Among the new laws is one that would allow people who have gun permits to carry guns in all public parks in the state. Another would exempt from federal regulation guns and ammunition made in Tennessee and kept within its borders. The measure with the most immediate impact may be the guns-in-parks law. Cities and towns have the chance to opt out of it by Sept. 1 and are beginning debate now about whether to do so. The City of Nashville is scheduled to start hearings on Tuesday... Gun-rights advocates say expanded rights are needed so that law-abiding citizens can protect themselves in more situations. The new Tennessee laws also include measures that will allow permit holders to carry guns in bars and restaurants, if they are not drinking alcohol, and to carry a loaded rifle or shotgun in their vehicles if the ammunition is in the magazine but not in the chamber, although it can be in the chamber for purposes of self-defense... http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/16/us/16tennessee.html?_r=1&ref=us It's about to be legal to carry guns into Tennessee's local and state parks. To some people, it's all about expanding second amendment rights, but others say the idea is downright dumb. The idea has a lot of people talking, and has local leaders are looking into their options... After state lawmakers fought to allow guns in restaurants where alcohol is served, expanding second amendment rights into state and local parks was next...Starting September 1st, more than 200,000 gun-permit carry holders will be allowed to bring their guns into the park system. For some, it's a safety issue, citing a deadly bear attack two years ago in Polk County... http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=10531452 --- Not Exactly: A tie vote by the Arizona Senate unexpectedly rejected a bill to allow people with concealed-carry permits to take handguns into restaurants that serve alcohol. The Senate's 14-14 vote occurred Monday, as one presumed backer was absent and the main sponsor then changed his vote to "no" in order to request reconsideration on another day. State law now generally bans possession of firearms in bars and restaurants selling alcohol. (The bill's author changed his vote as a parliamentary maneuver - see details below, from AzCDL. The bill will be considered again.) http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2009/06/16/20090616politics-brief0616.html --- Here's a Switch: Faced with the potential loss of 300 deputies due to budget cuts, the Sacramento County sheriff may consider issuing more concealed weapons permits. Sacramento County Sheriff John McGinness said at a public budget workshop in May that if the cuts happen, people would wait "long, long periods of time for the most basic public safety services, specifically uniformed officers in the field." Spokesman Sgt. Tim Curran called the move a worst-case scenario, depending on how the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors allocates money in its budget... Currently, only about 260 people in Sacramento County carry concealed weapons and their required permits. (As noted, Sacramento County issues very few CWP's. It seems as though the "threat" to issue more is merely a ploy in budget negotiations with the board of supervisors.) http://www.kcra.com/news/19758319/detail.html --- South Carolina Man Cleared in AA Shooting: The man who shot and killed an armed robber in April at a Five Points club for Alcoholics Anonymous members acted in justifiable self-defense, 5th Circuit Solicitor Barney Giese has ruled. "It's as clear a case as I've seen," Giese said Wednesday. He has been the circuit's top prosecutor for 14 years. The decision means no charges will be filed... On April 11, Corley shot and killed Kayson Helms, 18, of Edison, N.J., not only to protect himself, but also to protect others on whom Helms had pulled a .25-caliber pistol, Giese said. Helms entered the club, called the ACOA Club, with his gun drawn. When Corley rose from sitting on a couch, drew his gun from a back pocket and fired, Helms had already taken a cell phone at gunpoint from one AA member, so it was an actual, not attempted armed robbery, Giese said... http://www.gazette.com/articles/corley-56251-giese-police.html --- Open Carry Still Banned in Texas: A scene at the Wal-Mart on Briarcrest had many people worried for their safety Saturday. The Bryan Police Department told us they received a call from suspended Somerville officer, Orville McKinzie, around 1:30 p.m. saying that someone had threatened one of his family members at Wal-Mart. McKinzie arrived at the Wal-Mart and ensured that his family member was secure. He then went in search of the man who made the threats. When searching throughout the store, McKinzie displayed his firearm to shoppers, resulting in a number of calls to the Bryan Police Department. Bryan Police arrived shortly after the calls were made and arrested the 48-year-old. He was charged with disorderly conduct for displaying a firearm in a public place in a manner which calculated an alarm... (While questions remain as to why McKinzie was on suspension and how he "displayed his firearm to shoppers," It's important to note that Texas does not allow private citizens to carry openly.) http://www.kbtx.com/home/headlines/48007177.html --- There's a Reason God Put Those People on an Island: The first "anti-stab" knife is to go on sale in Britain, designed to work as normal in the kitchen but to be ineffective as a weapon. The knife has a rounded edge instead of a point and will snag on clothing and skin to make it more difficult to stab someone. It was invented by industrial designer John Cornock, who was inspired by a documentary in which doctors advocated banning traditional knives. Mr Cornock, 42, from Swindon, said that the knife will cut vegetables, but will make it almost impossible to stab someone to death and will reduce the risk of accidental injuries... (How long before some drunk decides to test it and proves that, with enough force, it can be used to stab vital areas?) http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article6501720.ece --- From AzCDL: The Senate continues with its accelerated schedule and voted on SB 1113 (Restaurant Carry) and SB 1243 (Defensive Display) in today's (June 15, 2009) Third Read after passing them out of the Senate Committee of the Whole (COW) just last Friday (June 12, 2009). Unfortunately, SB 1113, which limited the carrying of concealed weapons in certain restaurants serving alcohol to CCW permit holders, providing signs are not posted forbidding firearms and the person possessing the firearm does not consume alcohol, failed by a tie vote of 14-14 with two Senators not voting. One of the Senators not voting was Republican Senator John Nelson, a supporter of SB 1113, who was unable to be at this session due to a family emergency. Unfortunately, a number of Senators who indicated to AzCDL that they supported SB 1113 voted against it on the Senate Floor. However, there is still hope for SB 1113. Senator Harper, the sponsor of SB 1113, seeing how the vote was going, switched his vote to "Nay" to create the tie vote. This will enable Senator Harper to ask for a reconsideration vote so that SB 1113 can be voted on again in an upcoming Third Read, probably tomorrow, June 16, 2009. You can see how each Senator voted here: http://tinyurl.com/SB1113Senate3rd . SB 1243, the AzCDL-requested bill that clarifies when a defensive display is justified, sailed through today's Senate Third Read by a vote of 21-7 with 2 not voting. Vote details are here: http://tinyurl.com/SB1243Senate3rd . From here, SB 1243 will be transmitted to the House where the process starts all over again. Stay tuned! When critical legislation moves, we will notify you via these Alerts. These alerts are a project of the Arizona Citizens Defense League (AzCDL), an all volunteer, non-profit, non-partisan grassroots organization. AzCDL - Protecting Your Freedom http://www.azcdl.org/html/join_us_.html Copyright © 2009 Arizona Citizens Defense League, Inc., all rights reserved. -- Stephen P. Wenger, KE7QBY Firearm safety - It's a matter for education, not legislation. http://www.spw-duf.info .