Concealed-Carry Permits Save Lives: Allowing law-abiding people to arm themselves offers more than piece of mind for those individuals - it pays off for everybody through lower crime rates. Statistics from the FBI's Uniformed Crime Report of 2007 show that states with right-to-carry laws have a 30% lower homicide rate, 46% lower robbery, and 12% lower aggravated assault rate and a 22% lower overall violent crime rate than do states without such laws. That is why more and more states have passed right-to-carry laws over the past decade... That is why I, along with Representative Rich Boucher (D-Va.) introduced H.R. 197, the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act. Our legislation proposes a federal law that would entitle any person with a valid state-issued concealed carry permit to carry in any other state, as follows: In a state that issues carry permits, its laws would apply. In states that don't issue carry permits, the Federal law providing a "bright-line" standard would permit carrying in places other than police stations; courthouses; public polling places; meetings of state, county, or municipal governing bodies; schools; passenger areas of airports; etc. The bright-light standard in itself is not a license - the individual would still have to possess a valid state permit issued by their state of residence. It doesn't make sense to me for Americans to forfeit their safety because they happen to be on vacation or on a business trip. This legislation would greatly enhance the safety of this nation's ever-increasing mobile society... (If there is a right to carry, why does it require a permit?) http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=30405 --- Meanwhile, in Jamaica...: With the steady rise of the number of murders in the country, the Government is again being pressured to allow more private citizens to bear arms. The National Gun Rights Association (NGRA) says it is the right time for the administration to cut some of the red tape that prevents law abiding Jamaicans from carrying legal guns. There have been talks that if more Jamaicans are allowed to carry guns there will be more shootings. But according to Shawn Johnson NGRA Chairman, the opposite will occur. "That argument is still being put forward sometimes, but in the countries that where firearms are issued liberally, we don't see any situation where people go out in the streets and act widely," he said... http://www.radiojamaica.com/content/view/15142/26/ --- Holder Clutches at Gun Rights: We'll return to our unfolding Barack Obama series in due course, but for now, an update on the Eric Holder confirmation story is in order. That this civil liberties nightmare is intended as our next attorney general ought to scare all of us--enough to motivate our personal and sustained involvement in opposing him.As a quick aside, I went to Thesaurus.com looking for a suitable synonym to use in my title for this article, and I think you'll find some of the matches ironic. They remind me of an old version of WordPerfect that suggested "Schumer" was a mistake and offered "schemer" as the correct spelling... http://www.examiner.com/x-1417-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m1d25-Holder-clutches-at-gun-rights Coburn Likely to Vote "No" on Holder: Sen. Tom Coburn said Thursday that he is likely to oppose President Barack Obama's choice for attorney general because of his stand on Second Amendment rights. Coburn, R-Muskogee, said Eric Holder didn't believe the Second Amendment granted the right to individuals to own guns. Holder signed a brief in the case decided by the Supreme Court last summer arguing that the right under the Second Amendment was a collective one, meant for state militias. Coburn sits on the Judiciary Committee, which is scheduled to vote next week on Holder's nomination. Senate leaders had hoped to clear Holder this week, but Republicans delayed the committee vote. Coburn questioned Holder about gun rights at a hearing last week. Holder told Coburn that, after the Supreme Court ruled in June that the Second Amendment guaranteed an individual right to own guns, options for restrictions had "narrowed." Coburn said he was concerned that Holder didn't respond definitively to the question of whether he would defend state laws allowing people to carry concealed weapons... http://www.newsok.com/u.s.-sen.-tom-coburn-objects-to-cabinet-pick/article/3340100 --- Gillibrand Will Protect the Right to Hunt: Senator-designate Kirsten Gillibrand pledged Sunday to combat gun violence while protecting hunters' rights, saying "there's enormous space for common ground" on issues that she differs from fellow New York Democrats... Gillibrand's voting record has earned her a 100 percent rating with the National Rifle Association, and her pro-gun stance is at odds with the views of many politicians in New York City and other downstate areas. Gillibrand said she was grew up a family of hunters, and that she had "always believed in protecting hunters' rights. ... It's a core value for our region and for our state." But she acknowledged there was "concern in our city communities about gun violence." Shorenstein said Gillibrand likely would be sworn in Tuesday. (Considering that she's a Democrat from New York, I guess the question will become, is half a loaf better than none or will she simply bolster her party's claim that it supports the rights of hunters and sportsmen? Note that while she received a "100%" rating from the NRA, she earned a "C" rating from GOA [http://gunowners.org/111hrat.htm]. She did, however, sign the Congressional amicus brief in Heller.) http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/ny_senate_seat/2009/01/25/175061.html ...At the news conference, Ms. Gillibrand defended her pro-gun legislative stance, saying that she "very much believes in protecting hunter's rights" and that the pastime is part of "heritage and culture" of New York state. But she also said that now that she represented the entire state, urban gun control issues would become part of her advocacy work. "There's a lot of concerns in many of our city communities about gun violence, about keeping our children safe and keeping guns out of the hands of criminals," she said. "Those are concerns I share." ... http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/26/nyregion/26gillibrand.html?ref=us ...What is the most disappointing about Ms. Gillibrand's record is her extreme opposition to reasonable gun control laws. Her opposition to new efforts to trace illegal guns and support for rolling back gun control laws in the District of Columbia go well beyond her declared support for hunters' rights. She earned a top rating and vigorous campaign support from the National Rifle Association. Her jarring views on guns could cost her a bitter Democratic primary fight next year for re-election if gun-control advocates like Representative Carolyn McCarthy of Long Island challenge her on this issue. On Friday, Ms. Gillibrand seemed ready to hear arguments against her views on guns. She vowed to help push Ms. McCarthy's latest bill to speed background checks on those who buy guns at gun shows. She should also agree to Senator Charles Schumer's offer to escort her on a listening tour of New York's urban neighborhoods where guns are not used for hunting the Thanksgiving turkey. Senator Schumer said he was confident that once she saw the problem, her views on this grave issue would "evolve." ... http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/24/opinion/24sat1.html --- The Beat Goes On: The number of people applying for concealed-carry weapons permits in Larimer County rose dramatically in the final months of 2008, starting one month before the nation elected Barack Obama as president. The Larimer County Sheriff's Office received an average of 70 applications a month through the first nine months of 2008, then saw that spike to 107, 137 and 155 in October, November and December, respectively. There have been 98 applications submitted this month. Few of those applications have been denied, officials said. Sheriff's Office permit coordinator Angie Corp said several people who applied said they feared the new president would strengthen anti-gun legislation... http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20090125/NEWS01/901250322/1002/CUSTOMERSERVICE02 Donna McCutcheon doesn't hunt or own a gun, yet still wants the right to bear arms. But as she surveyed hundreds of weapons enthusiasts during the weekend Eastman Gun and Knife Show at the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center, she thought many were displaying overkill. "It seems like everyone's scared," the Adairsville resident said on Saturday. "I know the new (Obama) administration is for gun control, but I think it will be limited in what they can do. As far as a ban goes, I don't see how they could take all the guns away, but it seems like everyone here is scared all the guns are going to be bought up or taken away. I just want the right to have a gun." Concern over a new Democratic president and Democratic Congress limiting gun rights ran deep at the show... http://www.northwestgeorgia.com/local/local_story_024233005.html "I've been through Y2K and I've been through 9/11," says gun shop owner Scott Moss. " I have never seen people so afraid as what we are seeing right now." Business is booming at gun shops across the country, reports CBS news correspondent Jeff Glor. And at his store, Moss says it's because of uncertainty fueled by the economic crisis. "If the banks didn't have any money there'd be rioting in the streets," says Moss. "So you're protecting yourself from Americans going crazy, rioting, looting and hurting each other." FBI statistics show that in November, 2008 firearm purchaser background checks increased 42 percent over the previous year. In December they were up 24 percent. Moss says his sales are up something like 300 percent. Moss also believes says fears that President Obama might make it more difficult to get a gun have led people to flock to his Norwalk, Conn. store. One of those is 24-year-old Anthony Silvestro, a first time buyer. Silvestro, who runs an auto body shop, says he's worried Mr. Obama might raise taxes on new gun purchases. He also worries that people will become more violent if the economy gets worse. He's getting a gun for personal protection... http://www.knx1070.com/Bad-Economy-Boosts-Gun-Sales/3721058 --- New Rule Has Little Effect at Olympia National Park: A new federal rule that allows visitors to carry loaded firearms into Olympic National Park has not changed the way the park operates. The Interior Department rule, which was approved by the Bush administration on Dec. 5, took effect Jan. 1... The federal rule allows an individual to carry a loaded weapon into a national park or wildlife refuge if the person has a concealed-weapons permit and if the state allows loaded firearms in its parks. Washington state does, which means that people with the proper permits can legally carry loaded guns into Olympic, Mount Rainier and North Cascades national parks...The new rule gives gun owners permission to carry concealed loaded weapons as long as their concealed-weapons permits are recognized by the state in which the park is located. Washington state recognizes concealed-weapons permits from only eight states, each of which has requirements as stringent as its own. The closest of those is Utah, so many visitors from outside the state will not be able to carry loaded guns into the parks... (This article is full of errors, including the effective date of the new rule. There is no requirement that the state allow firearms in state parks. While Utah may not be contiguous to Washington, a great many gun owners around the nation hold non-resident permits from that state. Any LEO who fails to assume that a subject he approaches may be armed needs a new line of work.) http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090125/news/301259996 --- Illinois State Police Drag Feet on FOID's: ... Over the past several weeks, the ISRA has received several dozen phone calls from irate firearm owners who have been waiting a month or more to have their applications for Firearm Owner Identification (FOID) cards processed by the Illinois State Police. Under Illinois law, persons wishing to purchase or possess firearms and/or ammunition must hold a valid FOID card. To obtain a FOID card, one must complete an official application form and submit the form along with a recent photo and the required fee to the Illinois State Police (ISP) for processing. Once issued, a FOID card is valid for 10 years. Upon expiration, the application process must be repeated. Persons who possess firearms or ammunition without holding a valid FOID card are subject to arrest and felony prosecution. Illinois law also requires that, within 30 days of the application date, the ISP must either issue a FOID card to the applicant or provide the applicant with written notification explaining why their application was turned down... http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/illinois-state-rifle-association-demands/story.aspx?guid={434CF2A2-02ED-4E53-9D09-595409CF79F0}&dist=msr_3 Related Commentary: http://armedandsafe.blogspot.com/2009/01/illinois-state-police-breaking-law.html http://daysofourtrailers.blogspot.com/2009/01/isp-sitting-on-foid-applications.html --- Gun Buy-Backs Don't Work: ...A gun buyback in Suffolk the same weekend also far surpassed expectations, and in both counties law enforcement officials proclaimed overwhelming success. But nationwide, a debate has long raged about whether such events really take guns out of the hands of criminals. Most law enforcement officials say they do - that an offer of $200 per gun - the deal in both Nassau and Suffolk - prompts would-be criminals to turn in guns that they might have used to hurt people... Still, some analysts say the events are more about making people feel good than stopping crimes... Garen Wintemute, who directs the Violence Prevention Research Program at the University of California at Davis, conducted one of several studies around 2000 that showed buybacks don't significantly reduce crime. He found that most buybacks remove only an estimated 1 to 2 percent of the guns in a community, and that those turned in aren't the ones likely to be used in crimes... (It's hard to find anyone more anti-RKBA than Garen Wintemute.) http://www.newsday.com/news/local/crime/ny-liguns256012055jan25,0,6150073.story --- Oops, Wrong Ex-Girlfriend: An Ama [LA] man was shot in the chest Wednesday afternoon by his ex-girlfriend after he allegedly lunged at her, according to the St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office. Dustin M. Robert, 17, was listed in good condition at St. Charles Parish Hospital, and was booked with aggravated burglary and simple assault. Bond had not been set on Friday, Sheriff's Office Spokesman Sgt. Dwayne LaGrange said. The woman was not charged in the incident because Robert allegedly showed up uninvited and attacked the woman after being repeatedly asked to leave. The Sheriff's Office did not release the woman's name. http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/01/ama_man_shot_after_attacking_e.html --- Bringing a Gun to a Knife Fight: In March 1983, S.W.A.T. magazine published an article titled "How Close Is Too Close" by an instructor from the Salt Lake City Police Department named Dennis Tueller. That article discussed the research that Tueller had conducted to answer a question posed by one of his students, in essence, "How close can you let someone armed with a contact-distance weapon get before you can no longer effectively draw and fire your sidearm?" ...Tueller's groundbreaking research became the inspiration for the often-repeated "Tueller Drill," which basically replicates his initial experiments and validates how quickly an attacker can close the distance on you. Unfortunately, to some trainers it also gave rise to the term "21-foot rule." And at that point, the real meaning of Tueller's research began to get lost... (As to the empty-hand technique, here is more than one way to skin a cat but it is unrealistic to expect to solve close-range problems with just a firearm.) http://www.policemag.com/Articles/2008/11/Beyond-the-Tueller-Drill.aspx --- Interview with Alex Rose: ...American military history can be divided into a debate between two sides: You've got the advocates of accuracy, and you've got the pharisees of firepower. In many countries, firepower rules. And by firepower I mean a massed amount of projectiles heading toward the enemy. Basically, brutal assaults, lots of lead flying about - which the machine gun exemplifies. Just a lot of bullets coming out of there, even if you waste 99.9 percent of the bullets because you're shooting all over the place. But the accuracy guys still have a strong presence: U.S. troops, even now, are trained to a much greater extent to place their shots accurately than in other countries... http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military_law/4300862.html --- From Alan Korwin: BLM "Planning" the Future of Target Shooting at Table Mesa! The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is developing a recreation plan for Table Mesa, a site north of Phoenix that receives heavy recreational use from target shooters and off-highway vehicle users. In recent months, NRA has sent emails to our Arizona members about this planning process and the importance of participating in it to ensure that the interests of shooters are addressed in the plan. A number of NRA members have participated in a clean up of Table Mesa and in preliminary meetings about the plan. The next set of meetings will be held on Tuesday, February 3 from 6 - 8 p.m. at the Deer Valley Senior Center, located at 2001 W. Wahalla Lane in Phoenix. Another will be held Tuesday, February 17 from 6 - 8 p.m. at the same location. (Take the 19th Ave. exit south 1 block off Rt. 101.) If you target shoot at Table Mesa or want to ensure that access to federal lands for target shooting is protected, please attend one of these public meetings and stay tuned for upcoming events at BLM's website for Table Mesa: http://www.tablemesarecarea.com. Please look at the map on the web page showing areas proposed for closure and areas proposed for opening and be prepared at the meetings to discuss whether these alternatives work and if there are other alternatives that need to be addressed. [I couldn't find these on a quick look.] -- Alan Korwin Bloomfield Press "We publish the gun laws." 4848 E. Cactus, #505-440 Scottsdale, AZ 85254 602-996-4020 Phone 602-494-0679 Fax 1-800-707-4020 Orders http://www.gunlaws.com alan@gunlaws.com Call, write, fax or click for free full-color catalog (This is our address and info as of Jan. 1, 2007) If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you're reading this in English, thank a veteran. "No one could make a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little." --Edmund Burke -- Stephen P. Wenger, KE7QBY Firearm safety - It's a matter for education, not legislation. http://www.spw-duf.info .