The Beat Goes On: Gun shop owners, firearm manufacturers and distributors are on target these days. Some consumers - fearing that some firearms like AR-15 rifles will soon become illegal to buy - are flocking to stores. And that concern is giving gun businesses a shot in the arm. Bryan Tucker, chief executive officer and owner of wholesale gun distributor Davidson's Inc., said sales began climbing around mid-October to early November 2008. Demand for the firearms with 10-round magazine capacity and greater, along with handguns and rifles was so dramatic that Tucker added 20 employees late this past year... (It will be crucial for all these new gun owners to remember these concerns when it comes time to vote in 2010.) http://prescottdailycourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=64468 --- New Jersey Governor Wants More Infringements: Gov. Corzine called yesterday for tougher gun laws at the state and national levels, citing the recent discovery of 259 firearms at a man's Gloucester County home as a reason to bring back a federal ban on assault weapons. Corzine also called on the state Senate to give final legislative approval to a plan to limit New Jersey handgun buyers to one purchase every 30 days - putting public pressure on lawmakers to pass a bill that appears stalled. "There is no reason why anyone needs more than one gun a month," Corzine said. "It is time for the Senate to take this bill up and pass it." ...He said a federal assault-weapons ban was needed to complement New Jersey's restrictions. A national ban "in theory" would have blocked Brian Hinkel from amassing such a large arsenal at his Franklin Township home, Corzine said... (Hinkel happens to be a former police officer.) http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20090206_Corzine_calls_for_tougher_gun_laws.html http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/02/corzine_signs_harsher_gun_law.html --- California Has the Most Infringements: California has the nationīs strongest gun laws that help combat the illegal gun market, prevent the sale of guns without background checks and reduce risks to children, according to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. In the organizationīs 2008 state scorecards released today for all 50 states, California earned 79 points out of a total of 100. California has in place key laws to prevent gun trafficking such as mandatory background checks on all firearm purchases, a "one-handgun-a-month" law to stop large volume purchases that feed the illegal market, and other important laws to regulate gun dealers. In 2007, California continued to strengthen its laws by enacting legislation to help law enforcement identify crime guns using new "Microstamping" technology. This new law, which takes effect January 1, 2010, will give law enforcement a powerful investigative tool to solve more gun crimes and apprehend more armed criminals and gang members by identifying the crime gun - without the gun... (I guess that explains why California cities have such low rates of violent crime involving firearms.) http://www.losangeleschronicle.com/articles/view/90179 --- Ban Gangs, Not Guns: Recently, USA Today reported that a gang threat assessment compiled by federal officials estimates that criminal gangs in the United States have swelled to an estimated 1 million members responsible for up to 80% of crimes in communities across the nation. Meanwhile, the Brady Campaign Against Gun Violence has released its 2008 State Scorecards, which grade states on how they are regulating law-abiding citizens' Second Amendment rights, rather than criminals'... http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/node/6476 --- Million Owner Gun March: ...The mission of the Million Gun Owner March is to galvanize the courage and resolve of American gun owners; to petition our elected officials against establishing anti-gun legislation; and to remind America that the Second Amendment is necessary to maintain our right to self defense... (Some will recall a prohibitionist movement, Million Mom March.) http://www.milliongunownermarch.com/ --- Michigan Gun Owners Pack County Board Meeting: Despite the fact that a gun control resolution was pulled from the agenda before the Calhoun County Board of Commissioners' meeting, it was standing room only in the 200-capacity board chambers on Thursday night, with more than 60 additional people flooding the hallway. A thunderous Pledge of Allegiance preceded a series of speeches on upholding the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which received applause and some standing ovations. While Chairman Mike Rae, D-Pennfield Township, told the crowd before the public comment period that the item was mistakenly placed on the agenda, veterans, sportsmen, hunters and other residents spoke out against the item, pleading with the board to commit to keeping it off future agendas, or to vote against it in the future... Board secretary Mary Lou Barrett said during the recess that the item came in alongside another communication from the NAACP, a proclamation declaring Feb. 12 "NAACP Centennial Day." "They were supporting it, and were asking for our support, too," Barrett explained. "Usually that type of communication would go on the consent agenda. It was mistakenly placed on the agenda as an action item." ... http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20090206/NEWS01/902060318 --- Phony Gun Groups Proliferate: ...Perhaps you heard the nationwide radio spots for Obama done by the deceptively named "American Hunters and Shooters Association," or saw the YouTube video by "Sportsmen for Obama," both of which have been called front groups for the Democratic Party... Among the latest feints, the "Union Sportsman's Alliance" (or as they call themselves, "USA"; ain't that cute?) is now actively courting "sportsmen" on the Versus Network. Launched on January 13, 2007 at the internationally renowned SHOT Show as a $1.2 million project of the "Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Project" (TRCP), USA says: "The USA is a TRCP program designed to address the hunting and fishing interests of its 20 affiliated union partners and their members that hunt, fish and recreate in the outdoors." ... http://www.examiner.com/x-2698-Charlotte-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m2d6-Phony-gun-rights-orgs-Fool-me-twice --- Virginia Bill Would Ban Firearm Destruction: Localities that hold gun buybacks would be prohibited from destroying the weapons under a bill that a House of Delegates committee approved on Friday. The bill submitted by Delegate Mark Cole, Fredericksburg Republican, which cleared the House Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee on an 18-4 vote, would require localities to sell the collected firearms to licensed gun dealers. It also would require the localities to pass an ordinance in order to hold a buyback program... Mr. Cole's bill does not prohibit those who want to turn over their gun to have it destroyed from doing so as long as they do not get anything in return. If the bill passes in the full House, it could have a more difficult time in the Democrat-controlled Senate... http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/feb/07/bill-would-ban-weapons-destruction/ --- The Bulletproof Case for CCW: The courts have deliberated over the Second Amendment for some time and it has been confirmed that individual gun ownership rights are indeed provided for in the amendment. Americans' right to own firearms is no longer in question. Today, the bigger issue is what to make of concealed carry laws. In the U.S., only Illinois, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C., don't allow any type of concealed carry. Every other state has joined the majority faction after seeing the benefits that can come from allowing citizens to lawfully carry firearms. Concealed carry laws prove their worth all the time, such as when citizens defend themselves from criminals. Just January, in Houston, two citizens used their legally concealed weapons to defend their office against a would-be attacker. Similar situations occur all the time that serve to further justify concealed carry laws... (While Illinois and Wisconsin remain the only two states that have no statutory provision for lawful concealed carry, it is important to remember that it is virtually impossible for a private citizen to obtain a permit in some of the nine states that only have discretionary issue; Hawaii and New Jersey come to mind.) http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2009/02/06/Opinion/Concealed.Carry.Is.Bulletproof-3616899.shtml --- CCW Battle Becomes Major Issue in California County: Eight months into office, Sheriff Sandra Hutchens is locked in a bitter power struggle with the same Board of Supervisors that appointed her. And the two sides could soon end up in court. What started as a debate over Hutchens' plan to reduce concealed weapons permits has morphed into a multi-faceted fight with supervisors, who accuse her department of spying, bullying and misusing public property... Hutchens inherited a generous gun-permit policy from ex-Sheriff Mike Carona, who was elected in 1998 on a platform that included allowing as many people as possible to carry weapons. Carona's administration issued 1,100 gun permits, among the most in the state. Hutchens is using tougher guidelines, which has incurred the wrath of supervisors as well as permitholders... http://www.ocregister.com/articles/hutchens-supervisors-sheriff-2301977-board-county --- Illinois Should Legalize CCW: If you're in a minority of 48 to 2 on an issue, you may be seeing truths that other people miss. Or you may be refusing to admit reality. In the case of Illinois' refusal to allow citizens to get permits to carry concealed handguns, it's the latter. It's the only state but Wisconsin that doesn't allow it. But there is a glimmer of hope of change: The Illinois Sheriffs' Association has endorsed a law to afford Illinoisans this type of protection. There is not much risk in allowing such permits to law-abiding people. When Florida pioneered the idea in the 1980s, critics warned of a surge in gun battles among those granted this privilege. But it never came to pass, there or elsewhere... http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/steve_chapman/2009/02/will-illinois-allow-concealcarry.html --- Misdirection in Texas: Texas lawmakers are trying to make it easier for students and faculty to carry guns on college campuses, according to the Houston Chronicle. The first proposal would allow licensed gun holders to carry their weapons on campuses like the University of Texas at Austin. A second proposal would allow them to openly carry their firearms. These two proposals are predicted to be the most controversial gun-related proposals of the Texas legislator's [sic] current session... (These are separate bills. The latter has no specific connection to the efforts to legalize campus carry.) http://www.collegenews.com/index.php?/article/texas_lawmakes_want_to_make_it_easier_for_students_to_carry_guns_on_campus_7869845/ --- Meanwhile, in Maryland...: Two local legislators are among the sponsors of a proposed state law that would ban guns, knives and other deadly weapons from college campuses. The Weapon-Free Higher Education Zones bill would expand on existing state laws that ban such weapons from the grounds of K-12 public schools. Sen. Jim Rosapepe (D-Anne Arundel and Prince George's) is one of nearly 30 co-sponsors for the proposed state Senate bill, and Del. Joseline Peņa-Melnyk (D-Anne Arundel and Prince George's) is one of four co-sponsors of a House version of that bill. Both legislators live in College Park. University Police spokesman Paul Dillon said the proposed law would likely improve on-campus safety, but College Republicans president Chris Banerjee said the restrictions would prevent students from protecting themselves against armed criminals... (Maryland is a discretionary-issue state, where it is unlikely that many college students would qualify for a carry permit.) http://media.www.diamondbackonline.com/media/storage/paper873/news/2009/02/06/News/Legislators.Propose.Law.To.Ban.Guns.On.The.Campus-3616921.shtml --- Kansas Judges Oppose Courtroom Carry: A panel of Kansas judges expressed opposition today to a proposed law that would allow prosecuting attorneys to carry concealed weapons in courtrooms. If testimony to the House Judiciary Committee is any guide, the judicial branch takes a dim view of a Senate-passed bill exempting state and federal prosecutors from a prohibition on possession of concealed handguns in courthouses. "The thought of prosecutors having a concealed gun in our courthouse is not comforting, regardless of training," said Stephen Tatum, chief judge in Johnson County. "Our courtrooms are places for court proceedings without intimidation by either side. A prosecutor with a concealed weapon and open suit coat would soon be known to ... jurors, litigants, attorneys. A fair trial?" ... http://cjonline.com/stories/020509/bre_weapon.shtml --- Jamaica Clergy Support Expanded CCW: A number of religious leaders in Jamaica have said that they had no problem with Christians carrying legal firearms as long as they were "mature and responsible enough" to do so. The churchmen spoke with the Jamaica Observer in response to calls from gun rights lobbyists and members of the public for the government to relax legislation to allow all law abiding citizens easier access to owning firearms. Bishop Herro Blair, pastor of the Faith Cathedral deliverance Centre in Kingston and the country's political Ombudsman, said that having a firearm for self-protection was no different from having a knife or a pit bull to protect one's home, as all were equally lethal. He said there was nowhere in the Bible that said carrying an illegal firearm was wrong. Firebrand pastor Al Miller also supported Christians carrying guns, saying they, as well as other citizens, should be allowed to bear arms... http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/news-14073--9-9--.html --- Oops, Wrong House: A fatal shooting Wednesday night in North Richmond was a case of self defense, police said yesterday. Darrell Jerome Ross, 38, shot and killed Edward Mitchell Perry Jr., 29, after Perry came into Ross' home with a gun, looking for someone with whom he had had a disagreement, police said. Also during the ordeal, Perry shot an 18-year-old man in the hand, police said. The shooting took place at 10:15 p.m. in the 3100 block of Griffin Avenue. The residence is near the intersection with West Ladies Mile Road, north of Brookland Park Boulevard. Ross was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, but police said they do not anticipate additional charges... http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/SHOT06_20090205-221208/199519/ --- Oops, Wrong Storage Unit: Investigators said an alleged intruder at a Kaufman County [TX] business was in stable condition Friday morning after the owner shot him. According to Assistant Chief Deputy Troy Graham, the owner reported hearing someone inside his storage facility in the 1000 block of Everett Drive around 2:30 a.m. Robert Sanders grabbed his loaded rifle, walked to the front and confronted the suspected burglar. He opened fire and struck the suspect, several times. Deputies found the wounded man lying just outside the door. Sanders leases a storage unit at the location, and lives in the back of that unit. At this time, no arrests have been made. Police say there are no plans to charge Sanders. Stolen items from another nearby property were found in the victim's truck. (Excuse me - the man who was shot was not the victim.) http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/tv/stories/wfaa090206_wz_kaufmanshoot.24dbe15d.html --- Rule Five Reminder: A father accidentally shot his 3-year-old son Friday afternoon at a home near 24th Street and Broadway Road. The child was walking to the mailbox when his father's .22-caliber handgun fell out of his pocket and fired, Phoenix police said. The gun fired one round, which hit the child on the arm. The child was transported to the hospital, and the father is being interviewed by Phoenix police. Phoenix police have not yet determined whether they will be pressing charges. No further information was immediately available. (While Rule Five, maintain control of your firearm, was originally formulated to avoid civil liability for improper storage, it has safety and tactical implications for how firearms are carried as well. It would be interesting to know what sort of .22-caliber handgun was not drop-proof. Most derringers are not; I'm not sure about the mini-revolvers currentlyt on the market.) http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/2009/02/06/20090206son-shot0206-ON.html --- The Sky Is Falling: A Beaver Dam Middle School teacher is on administrative leave after school officials discovered a photo of her with a gun on Facebook. In the photo, Betsy Ramsdale was training a rifle at the camera. In an e-mail to WKOW-TV in Madison, Ramsdale said she removed the photo immediately and that she is not "interested in any controversy." Schools superintendent Donald Childs says a concerned staff member brought the photo to the district's attention. Childs says the use of the photo "appears to be poor judgment" and is unaware of any sinister intent... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29036887/ http://www.examiner.com/x-1417-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m2d6-The-new-blacklist http://www.examiner.com/x-1417-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m2d6-The-new-blacklistpart-two --- California Considers Statewide Lead-bullet Ban: The California Fish and Game Commission is considering a statewide ban on the use of lead ammunition for hunting. Two years ago, a bill was signed into law that imposed a ban on the use of lead ammunition for hunting in areas occupied by the California condor. Through its hunting regulations, the Commission extended the ban to include .22 rimfire ammunition and expanded the boundaries where the ban applies. With this track record, the Commission is likely to be receptive to carrying the ban to the borders of the state. From the beginning, proponents of the current ban have wanted to ban lead ammunition statewide. The California condor was simply being used by the anti-hunters and anti-gunners to carry out this agenda. They have already achieved a partial ban. The next step is to take it statewide. If they are successful, they will push to ban the use of lead ammunition for everyone, not just hunters... (While not optimal for all applications, unjacketed lead bullets have the advantage that they can be cast at home, with a relatively small amount of equipment. In frontier days, it was not uncommon to cast them at the campfire.) http://www.gunnewsdaily.com/rw804.html --- Tangentially Related: As the Obama administration attempts to push through Congress a nearly $1 trillion deficit spending plan that is weighted heavily toward advancing typically Democratic-supported social welfare programs, a rebellion against the growing dominance of federal control is beginning to spread at the state level. So far, eight states have introduced resolutions declaring state sovereignty under the Ninth and Tenth Amendment to the Constitution, including Arizona, Hawaii, Montana, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, Oklahoma and Washington. Analysts expect that in addition, another 20 states may see similar measures introduced this year, including Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Nevada, Maine and Pennsylvania... http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=88218 ... After Obama's miraculous 2008 presidential campaign, it was clear that at some point the magical mystery tour would have to end. The nation would rub its eyes and begin to emerge from its reverie. The hallucinatory Obama would give way to the mere mortal. The great ethical transformations promised would be seen as a fairy tale that all presidents tell - and that this president told better than anyone. I thought the awakening would take six months. It took 2 1/2 weeks. http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=318816540183648 --- Tangentially Related: Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg plans to be back at work for the court's next public session, less than three weeks after surgery for pancreatic cancer. Ginsburg intends to be in court when the justices hear arguments on Feb. 23, Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg said Friday... Her illness raises the possibility that one of the ideologically divided court's leading liberals might have to curtail her work or even step down before she had planned. Pancreatic cancer is often deadly. Ginsburg underwent surgery for colon cancer in 1999, followed by chemotherapy and radiation, without missing a day on the bench... (Pundits speculate that Ginsburg's latest illness may provide Big Brother's first chance to make a Supreme Court appointment.) http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2009/02/07/20090207ScotusGinsburg0207.html --- From AzCDL: The legislative session got underway on January 12th. The deadline for filing Senate bills was Monday, February 2nd. The House deadline is this coming Monday, February 9th. The budget is the center of focus at the Capitol, significantly slowing down the movement of all non-budget related bills. The Senate has yet to assign any non-budget bills to committees. In the House, some bills are moving, but none of AzCDL's requested bills have yet been assigned to a committee. We were not successful in getting a Campus Carry bill filed in the Senate before the deadline. AzCDL-requested legislation was drafted and sponsorship obtained, but the bill was not filed. However there is still a possibility we can get a bill filed in the House before the deadline. Meanwhile HB 2386, an anti-rights bill, was filed that would add "post secondary educational institution" (i.e., colleges and universities) to the statutory definition of "school" and create a new Class 6 Felony for carrying a deadly weapon there. We strongly oppose HB 2386 and will vigorously work to defeat it this session. While we're waiting for the Legislature and Governor to successfully address the budget, we encourage all of you receiving our Alerts to amplify your "voice" by signing on to the Legislature's Request to Speak (RTS) system. Being an RTS user does NOT mean you must attend hearings and speak to committees (but if you're so inclined and available, it would have a tremendous impact!). RTS is required to be used for those wishing to testify at a hearing, but can also be used by those who want to express their opinion on a bill with more "oomph" than an email or letter. Committee chairpersons have access to opinions expressed via RTS. They will know in advance who is for or against a particular bill. RTS opinions are often read by the committee chairperson at a hearing, and may also appear in summaries of bills as they progress through the Legislature. Imagine the impact if the thousands of you receiving AzCDL Alerts were using RTS to express YOUR position on a bill! RTS users can state their position on legislation to the committee chairperson either via a kiosk at the Capitol or online. As a registered user, you can log into RTS from the comfort of home: http://alistrack.azleg.state.az.us/rts/Login.asp However, the only way to become an RTS user is to sign-up using one of the many RTS kiosks at the Capitol. We can help you become an RTS user! If you are interested in becoming an RTS user, send a message to president@AzCDL.org, and we'll help you set up an RTS account. Keep an eye on AzCDL's Legislative page for updates on legislation we are watching: http://www.azcdl.org/html/2009_bills.html . When critical legislation comes before committees, we'll 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. Join today! AzCDL - Protecting Your Freedom http://www.azcdl.org/html/join_us_.html Copyright Đ 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 .