The Beat Goes On: While we stumble along economically with bailouts, buyouts, and poor sales in almost all sectors, two products in America are seeing dramatic increases in sales: guns and ammo. People who never owned a gun before are buying; people are buying multiples of military style weapons and ammo is being bought by the case instead of by the box. Many explain this away as folks simply worried that Obama will move to ban certain firearms, especially those referred to by the ignorant as "assault weapons," I believe the motivation to buy firearms and ammunition goes much deeper. More and more Americans are becoming increasingly aware of the storm that is brewing on the horizon, a storm driven by the possibility of a complete economic collapse... http://www.lewrockwell.com/gaddy/gaddy39.html Vic Scuderi is loaded with weaponry. His booth is stocked full of customers who are looking to wipe out his arsenal of firearms. It's business he won't shoot down. "I've probably seen a 25 percent increase in sales from last year," said Scuderi. While the economy may be wounded, gun dealers say sales are exploding at the annual Arms Fair at the City Center in Saratoga Springs. "This is my best show ever. I've sold more ammunition and more magazines than I've ever sold, so in that regard it's been a very good show for me," said gun dealer Richard Pelzer... http://capitalnews9.com/content/headlines/131016/gun-industry-sees-spike-in-sales/Default.aspx --- More on DC's Gun Law: Tucked away in one of the District of Columbia's new gun regulations is the following provision: "Except as provided in subsections (c), (d), or (e) of this section, beginning January 1, 2009, a pistol that is not on the California Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale, also known as the California Roster of Handguns Determined Not to be Unsafe, pursuant to California Penal Code Section 12131 as of January 1, 2009, may not be manufactured, sold, given, loaned, exposed for sale, transferred, or imported into the District of Columbia." This means for a resident in Washington, D.C., to buy a handgun, it has to be approved by the California Department of Justice. And D.C. council members like to whine about taxation without representation? What about the loss of a right based on the whim of an unelected state bureaucrat almost 3,000 miles away? ... http://www.nranews.com/blogarticle.aspx?blogPostId=482 --- Justified Homicides Rise in San Antonio, Nation: While the total number of killings in San Antonio barely budged in 2008 - up only slightly from the 134 recorded the prior year - detectives noted an upswing in cases in which the shooter was found to be within his rights, from instances of apparent self-defense to protecting one's home and family. According to Police Department statistics, justified homicides in 2008 rose significantly, from seven in 2007 to 17 mirroring a nationwide trend. Of the 17, city and other area police officers were involved in seven. "Nationally, it appears that justifiable homicides have increased," criminologist James Alan Fox said. "The reasons could be many. We seem to be sending a message that it's acceptable to (use deadly force) even if there is a chance of fleeing." ... http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/Justified_homicides_more_than_doubled.html --- Texas Open Carry Bill Will Engender Controversy: ...A sure-fire attention-getter this session will be an anticipated bill to let Texans openly pack pistols on their hips, in their belts or elsewhere in public view as they go about their business. Although many other states apparently already allow the practice, the "cowboy" image of holstered Texans strolling down Main Street or through the mall, arms dangling at their sides and wary eyes on the lookout for trouble, is an easy script for late-night satire... More than 288,000 Texas adults have been licensed under a 1995 law that allows them to carry handguns after completing a firearms safety course. But they have to keep the weapons concealed, and there are restrictions on where they can take them. Another major gun bill expected to be debated by lawmakers this year would loosen the restrictions to allow people with handgun licenses to carry their pistols on college campuses... http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/state/Open-carry_bill_likely_to_be_controversial.html --- Iowa CCW Still at Sheriffs' Discretion: John Riesing glanced over his application. In a space provided, he needed to explain why he was requesting a permit to carry a weapon. He knew the answer instantly. On the blue sheet of paper, he wrote: for personal protection. For two months, the 42-year-old Dubuquer waited for a reply. Then, he was told he didn't meet the guidelines for a permit to carry a concealed weapon. "I was taken aback a little bit. I've never been in trouble," Riesing said. "It's just for personal protection, and I'd hate to have to use it ... but I would if I was in a situation where I needed to." ... (While we are fond of saying that only two states, Illinois and Wisconsin, fail to provide their residents a means to carry a firearm legally concealed, several states leave permit issuance to the discretion of authorities who will not issue them.) http://www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=225807 --- Iowa Sheriff Sued for Permit Denial: In the civil suit between Sibley native Paul Dorr and son against Osceola County, Sheriff Doug Weber, his successors and the Sheriff's Department regarding denial of concealed weapons permits, the Dorrs have filed a brief and some letters in opposition to the defendants' motion to dismiss the case. The plaintiffs, the Dorrs, refute the defendants' assertion that an Iowa sheriff's department is not a suable entity, claiming there are facts which suggest the department possessed and exercised the authority to grant or deny the permits. Since the defendants denied Osceola County is responsible for designating Weber as the issuing officer and denied the county is responsible for the implementation of state statutes such as the issuance of the permits, the brief states, "...there is at least the possibility that they have denied the authority because the authority resides in the Sheriff's Department." ... http://www.dglobe.com/articles/index.cfm?id=17515§ion=News --- Self-Defense Tips from New Jersey: When he talks about personal safety, Chris Hertig likes to say that "A little bit of paranoia is healthy." For at least 15 years, Hertig has taught a self-defense class at York College, where he is also a criminal justice professor. He also has instructed law enforcement officers in self-defense tactics, he said. The paranoia Hertig refers to starts with being aware of one's surroundings, being smart and alert, and knowing how to fight back or get away safely in a potentially violent situation, he said... (Despite the absence of firearms from this discussion, it contains several good pointers.) http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2009/01/04/3887746.htm --- SureFire Sues Over Suppressor Ad: SureFire, LLC manufactures gun silencers (suppressors) and other related products for use with firearms. SureFire filed a Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. 1125(a), false advertising claim at the Central District of California (Santa Ana Division) against Advanced Armament Corp. ("AAC"). The lawsuit arises out of a comparative advertisement by AAC which features cutaway views of two side-by-side silencers. The advertisements have allegedly been published in magazines such as Combat Hanguns, Guns & Weapons for Law Enforcement, and Tactical Weapons... http://www.iptrademarkattorney.com/2008/12/advertisement-false-advertising-surefire-advanced-armament-silencer-suppressor.html --- In Defense of Hunting: I live in the oh-so-sassy city of Miami, Florida, and when I tell people down here that I am a hunter they give me that look a woman gives when she plops down on the toilet when the seat's up. Y'know what I'm talking about, don't 'cha? They screech, "You hunt? Oh my Gawd!" (Usually followed by putting one hand over their mouth and one hand on their hip, followed by putting both hands on their hips and then to their final resting place in the disapproving arm cross. At least that's what the guys do)... http://townhall.com/columnists/DougGiles/2009/01/04/an_apologia_for_not_being_apologetic_about_hunting?page=full -- Stephen P. Wenger, KE7QBY Firearm safety - It's a matter for education, not legislation. http://www.spw-duf.info .