Martin Luther King and Guns: This is the first piece I have ever written on Martin Luther King Day, but I am convinced that this year more than ever a clear, concise statement is needed about its significance, within the context of gun rights. The very first gun control enacted in this country was initiated by the Ku Klux Klan in order to keep firearms out of the hands of blacks. Even today, the race-baiters, whether they be white, black, yellow, red, or whatever, continue their quest to disarm groups of people for the purpose of keeping them subservient in one form or another. Thus, when Barack Obama and Jesse Jackson demand gun control, it is for oppressive purposes. When Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Diane Feinstein, Barbara Boxer, Joe Biden, and others of their ilk demand gun control, once again it is for oppressive purposes... (Actually, the KKK oroginated after the War between the States and laws limiting access to firearms by slaves and freed slaves go back much farther than that.) http://thelibertysphere.blogspot.com/2009/01/martin-luther-king-day-and-guns.html --- NRA Hails Nebraska's AG CCW Opinion: The NRA joins Nebraska gun owners in hailing state Attorney General Jon Bruning's opinion that concludes the 2006 Concealed Handgun Permit Act forbids cities and towns from preventing the carrying of concealed firearms by permit holders. Attorney General Bruning's opinion, requested by state Senator Mark R. Christensen, will strengthen the state's right-to-carry law by helping to make clear that permit holders can carry firearms "throughout the state." It also makes clear that cities and towns may not pass new ordinances banning the lawful carry of concealed firearms by permit holders... (Note that an earlier article [http://www.kearneyhub.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20241929&BRD=268&PAG=461&dept_id=577571&rfi=6] indicated that some cities plan to ignore this opinion.) http://www.opposingviews.com/articles/news-neb-attorney-general-overturns-gun-ban --- Tulsa World Launches Campaign against Campus Carry: I've heard the arguments against extending Right-to-Carry onto college campuses before, but I've never heard them stated in such a way that belittles college students. In the Tulsa World, columnist Wayne Greene (who makes some pretty ridiculous arguments himself) quotes a "former academic" named Mark Taylor, who says college students "are unprepared for dealing with adult decisions of any kind, and especially with decisions of life and death." ...That argument is so ridiculous I hardly know where to begin, and if I were a college student I'd find it incredibly insulting. Are these the same students who are taking part in ROTC programs at colleges around the country? What about the military veterans who are going to school on the GI Bill? Are they "unprepared for dealing with adult decisions of any kind"? What about non-traditional students who live off-campus but drive in for evening classes? Do they not know how to "fend for themselves"? ... http://www.nranews.com/blogarticle.aspx?blogPostId=486 http://www.tulsaworld.com/opinion/article.aspx?subjectid=261&articleid=20090104_261_G6_WhenIw588689 --- If It Looks like a Gun...: A gas-masked Bremerton [WA] boy dressed in camouflage caused a stir on a construction site in the shipyard Wednesday while he was playing with what looked like real guns, according to Bremerton Police reports. Police were called to the 1700 block of Gregory Way about 3 p.m. when construction workers in the shipyard at Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton reported seeing the boy waving guns toward them. Police, armed with rifles, found the boy inside a "barn-like" structure outside the shipyard. They were able to detain him, reports said... http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/jan/15/bremerton-boy-playing-with-toy-gun-draws-big/?partner=RSS The use of pellet, BB, airsoft and toy guns that look like real firearms in criminal activities appears to be on the rise, some law enforcement officials said. Earlier this month, two officer-involved shooting incidents in the Sacramento region involved the use of such guns... Sgt. Tim Curran, spokesman for the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department, said he does not believe the use of imitation guns in crime is on the rise. The recent incidents - one in Lincoln and one in Rancho Cordova - are coincidences, not indication of a trend, he said. But other police officers say they are seeing more robberies and other crimes being committed by suspects carrying imitation guns... http://www.sacbee.com/ourregion/story/1554581.html --- Nagin Denies Funds for Tactical Gear: The Nagin administration said they're concerned over 14 of invoices submitted by the inspector general that ask the city to purchase guns, ammunition and hand cuffs, purchases the mayor cancelled Friday... In a letter sent to Cerasoli Friday, Nagin writes, "This order includes among other items, laser visible submachine guns, pistols, leg irons, belly chains, high-powered ammunition and tactical attire," adding, "This concerns me greatly as your office was authorized not as a police force or a para-military operation, but as an administrative investigative unit." ...Cerasoli said his order is in line with the criminal investigative team at the IRS, and points out his criminal unit will be working with other armed units like the FBI, district attorney, even the NOPD... (Virtually every federal agency has an inspector general, whose officers are armed. Think of a SWAT team from the Department of Agriculture or the EPA.) http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/wwl011609mlcerasoli.d26c22a.html --- Oops, Wrong House, North Carolina Version: A Tokay Drive resident fatally shot a man who broke into his house Saturday night, police said Sunday... The resident entered his house and found the intruder inside, the release said. The resident pulled out a pistol he was carrying and began struggling with the intruder, the release said. The gun fired during the struggle, and the intruder ran out of the house, the release said. It was not known how many shots were fired, a police spokesman said Sunday. A short time later, a man with a gunshot wound was brought to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. The man, believed to be the intruder, apparently called friends for help instead of dialing 911, the police spokesman said... (This incident demonstrates the need to have some training in weapon retention. Years ago I learned that a friend was referring people to my CWP course with the advice to "ignore all that kung-fu gunfighting Steve teaches and concentrate on the legal stuff." Real assailants don't remain immobile like cardboard targets.) http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=316181 --- Oops, Wrong House, Virginia Version: A homeowner shot and seriously injured a man who was trying to break into his [sic] Triangle home, Prince William County police said... When an alarm sounded at a home in the 3300 block of Dondis Creek Drive after 10 a.m., the 47-year-old woman inside the home discovered three men trying to break in, grabbed a handgun and confronted the group, according to police. The three men fled, but one turned and began to approach the woman, who fired the handgun, police said... http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/01/18/montana.manhunt/ --- Oops, Wrong Mini-Mart: ...Still, there is nothing like an overwhelming show of force, just to make sure your victims know who's in charge, and violent criminals always seem to understand this. To that end, one approaches a 62-year-old female clerk and sticks a gun to her head, a machine pistol according to the news accounts... But let's return to the 99 Cents Plus store and see what harvest easy youth access to guns has reaped. There is a struggle. The woman's 12-year-old grandson grabs a hidden handgun and fires at one of the attackers, killing him and causing his accomplice to flee. He has repelled two monsters, this brave youth, most certainly saving his grandmother, and probably himself, as murderers tend not to look upon witnesses with favor. He has stopped a violent crime from happening and assured that at least one sociopathic reptile will never again find human victims... http://www.examiner.com/x-1417-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m1d18-Easy-access --- Oops, Wrong Jeweler: No charges will be filed against the Omaha shop owner who shot and killed two people in his business Tuesday night because he fired in self-defense, said Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine... Kleine said police told him McKesson got into an argument with Willie Wakefield, 29, and Marcel Davis, 16. At one point, Wakefield allegedly fired two shots in the direction of McKennon. Kleine said McKesson returned fire, killing Davis and Wakefield and wounding Brandon Boyce, 22, who was outside waiting for Davis and Wakefield. The investigation into the case is continuing. (It's unclear why the investigation is continuing if the county attorney has already decided not to file charges.) http://www.ketv.com/newsarchive/18498475/detail.html --- Louisville Shooter Interviewed: There are many lessons to be learned in watching this video clip, including not flashing money (or other "bait" such as jewelry), keeping your firearm on your person and being careful with the word "sorry," which can be twisted out of context by unscrupulous attorneys. http://www.wlky.com/video/16509601/index.html --- Shooting at Montana Hospital: Authorities have identified the homicide victim in Saturday's (1/17) triple shooting in Glasgow as Melissa Greenhagen, a part-time emergency medical technician. Glasgow Police Chief Lyndon Erickson and Valley County Sheriff Glen Meier also say the shooting suspect was killed by an officer. The suspect has still not been identified... The two people injured were a female hospital nurse and her husband who came to assist the woman. The two injured were in stable condition... http://www.kfbb.com/news/local/37782464.html http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/01/18/montana.manhunt/ What the Press Didn't Tell You: Confirmed: There was a shooting incident in Glasgow, Montana on Saturday afternoon. Besides the shooter, one person was killed and two were injured. Police locked down the community, warned people to lock doors and stay inside, and followed a blood trail which eventually led to the deceased shooter. Unconfirmed but probable: The shooter made his attack at a local hospital and killed a female Emergency Medical Technician. Scott Billingsly was present because his wife works at the hospital. Scott has a Montana concealed weapon permit, was armed, and engaged the shooter in defense of himself and others. Scott was injured in the hand and Scott's wife was also injured. The shooter was seriously injured and was driven off by Scott's armed engagement of the shooter. The seriously wounded shooter sought shelter, leaving the blood trail that law enforcement followed, where they found the shooter dead of a possibly self-inflicted gunshot wound. The people of Glasgow who know these details are highly thankful that an armed citizen was present and able to interdict the killer before he could kill more than the one person murdered, possibly saving the lives of many other hospital employees. Gary Marbut, president Montana Shooting Sports Association http://www.mtssa.org --- Uruguayan Gun-Banner Profiled: Congresswoman Daisy Tourné, one of the main champions of gun control in the Uruguayan Parliament is also currently head of the nation's Ministry of Interior. Since she took office however, progress on the nation's gun control agenda has been postponed by issues related to violence and insecurity, as well as social demands... Daisy Tourné concedes that levels of violence have grown in Uruguay. The head of the Ministry of the Interior however, laments the fact that the media give crimes prolonged exposure - echoing concerns of her peers in similar positions in Latin America - and that this increases societal demands. Comunidad Segura spoke to the Ministry of the Interior on the topic.,, http://www.comunidadesegura.org/?q=en/STORY-Uruguay-Discussing-agenda-for-gun-control --- For Whatever It's Worth...: This video uses water-filled jugs to demonstrate the difference in effect between round-nose and hollowpoint bullets. Be aware that water tends to magnify expansion and may often lead to shedding of jackets, which may not be seen in flesh or the more analogous calibrated ballistic gelatin. Still, it's worth watching. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7LLi6ETTOw --- From John Farnam: 18 Jan 09 2009 SHOT show, last day: Rohrbaugh is now producing the "ROBAR/Rohrbaugh" version of their little 9mm pistol. The entire pistol is NP3'ed! My two-year-old copy of the Rohrbaugh continues to run fine, and I carry it as a back-up gun regularly! Cor-Bon now makes a standard-pressure 80gr DPX round, and that is what the Rohrbaugh folks are now highly recommending for use in their little pistol. Doug Green, at Amega Range, is making a barrel-mounted rail for the Remington 870 and 11-87 shotguns, and for the M1/M14 and Ruger Mini-14. It's called the "Mini-Scout-Mount." This permits one to forward-mount an optic on any of these guns. It is what I've been hoping for, as it requires no gunsmithing. You just plunk it on! I believe all police shotguns should be equipped with a forward-mounted Aimpoint T1/H1, as there is nothing not to like about such a set-up, and this device makes it easy. Good show, Doug! New this year from Taurus is their M709 Series "Slim" 9mm pistol. It is a single-column seven-shooter that is thin, otherwise compact, and very light. It is obviously designed to appeal to the concealed-carry market. All Taurus autoloaders now have a trigger-tab, much like Glock's, and also a two-position, manual safety. Trigger is smooth, and the rese is short. You can carry it with the manual safety "on" or "off," at your option. If I carried one, I'd leave it "off." One area of disappointment: at Ruger's booth there were six LCP 380Auto pistols on display for physical examination by show-goers. Of course, at the SHOT Show, all such guns on display are sterilized, usually by removing the firing pin. The LCPs at Ruger's booth were thus rendered inert, per SHOT Show rules, and I don't know if that was a factor. But, as I examined the same six on display today, all of which had been dry-fired many times over the past four days, the hammers on all six were broken! The LCP hammer consists of a hub and a striker, and it is the striker that was broken off on all of them. It is a MIM (Metal-Injection-Molding) part, and that may be the problem. The constant murmur at the Show this year concerned the incoming Administration. There is some optimism, but BHO's record as an IL politician doesn't inspire much confidence! Not many new guns this year, but the industry is strong, and courageous, innovative manufacturers continue to service the market. I love this Country! /John Photos from SHOT Show: http://lundestudio.com/2009SHOTShow/ http://www.eotacforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=75&t=58633&start=15 -- Stephen P. Wenger, KE7QBY Firearm safety - It's a matter for education, not legislation. http://www.spw-duf.info .