The Next Step?: A new gun law being considered in Congress, if aligned with Department of Homeland Security memos labeling everyday Americans as potential "threats," could potentially deny firearms to pro-lifers, gun-rights advocates, tax protesters, animal rights activists, and a host of others - any already on the expansive DHS watch list for potential "extremism." Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., has sponsored H.R. 2159, the Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2009, which permits the attorney general to deny transfer of a firearm to any "known or suspected dangerous terrorist." The bill requires only that the potential firearm transferee is "appropriately suspected" of preparing for a terrorist act and that the attorney general "has a reasonable belief" that the gun might be used in connection with terrorism. Gun rights advocates, however, object to the bill's language, arguing that it enables the federal government to suspend a person's Second Amendment rights without any trial or legal proof and only upon suspicion of being "dangerous." ... http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=97491 --- From GOA: Earlier this week, GOA alerted email activists that certain prominent Republicans were pushing former Department of Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge to run against pro-gunner Pat Toomey in a Pennsylvania primary. GOA members flooded the Republican National Committee (RNC) office with phone calls and emails, highlighting a few of Tom Ridge's anti-gun actions... GOA also sent a letter to every RNC official nationwide, assuring them that gun owners and sportsmen would not accept an anti-gun candidate like Tom Ridge. Well, good news! Tom Ridge "decided," with the help of activism like yours, to stay out of the 2010 Pennsylvania Senate race. He withdrew his name yesterday. That means Pat Toomey, who has been endorsed by Gun Owners of America Political Victory Fund, could face Republican-turned-Democrat Arlen Specter next November... http://gunowners.org/a050809.htm --- Teach Children Firearm Safety: A Utah teenager died after apparently shooting himself with a revolver loaded with blanks... This is a common theme perpetuated by "Authorized Journalists." By using phrases such as "it discharged" or "the gun went off" or "the gun discharged in his hand," human operator responsibility is ignored. Negligence is then presented as an "accident." It may be comforting to some to blame the gun, but denying reality keeps solutions from being explored. Barring the discovery of a defect, the boy must have had his finger on the trigger. He must have pulled it... That means giving your children development-appropriate gun training. Notice I did not say "age." It varies, and it's up to the parent to be in tune enough with their child to know when they're ready to give things a try... (Not only do blank cartridges produce a significant amount of hot gas at the muzzle, they also launch the wad that holds the powder in place.) http://www.examiner.com/x-1417-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m5d8-Love-your-children-Teach-them-how-to-safely-handle-guns --- VPC Has It Wrong, Again: Today a press release by the Violence Policy Center, based in Washington, D.C. trumpeted the news that states with more guns and lax gun laws have higher per capita suicide rates than states with few guns and tight gun laws. They follow this information with the punch line that if we could just get rid of all those guns, we could save all those lives lost to suicide. It is truly desirable to save despondent people from suicide because life is precious. We need to understand what drives folks to consider suicide and try to help them before they reach that decision. Suicide is a state-of-mind. It isn't dependent on the tool of choice... http://www.examiner.com/x-2944-Denver-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m5d8-The-Violence-Policy-Center-has-it-wrong --- The Beat Goes On: The fear of a Democratic Party agenda in Washington has triggered a shortage of ammunition, a gun group said. "Many of the lawmakers in power right now have a long history of supporting legislation that violates the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans," said Ted Novin, the director of public affairs at the National Shooting Sports Foundation, The Detroit News reported Friday. "Gun owners recognize this and are reacting accordingly," Novin said, referring to a run on ammunition that has caused shortages in 9 mm and .22 caliber rounds, the News said. Several Michigan stores are rationing sales, the newspaper said. U.S. manufacturers produce about 8 billion rounds of ammunition a year, the foundation said. Winchester Ammunition, on a company Web site, says, "our team is literally working around the clock to make quality ammunition available for purchase." Some said the supposed fears were a ploy within the industry to whip up sales, the News said... (Right, the industry ginned up these fears to create a demand before it figured out how to meet it.) http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2009/05/08/Ammo-running-short-on-political-fears/UPI-57741241800811/ In conjunction with the record pace of firearms sales, issuance of concealed handgun licenses in Ohio is also increasing. For example, the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office is reporting that "the county is well on its way to surpassing the number issued in 2004 - the first year the county issued permits." This increase is attributed to a number of factors... We've already talked about the increase in gun ownership, but this trend shows that not only are concerned citizens purchasing firearms for self defense, but they are carrying them as well. The Ohio attorney general reports that nearly 150,000 CHLs have been issued since the law's inception over five years ago, which means more than 1 out of every 100 Ohioans has a license. A side note that has always amused me is that Canada's military has 65,890 active personnel. So, Ohio CHL holders outnumber them more than two to one! ... http://www.examiner.com/x-2206-Cleveland-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m5d8-High-rate-of-Concealed-Handgun-License-issuance-in-Ohio-continues --- NRA Lobbied against Illinois CCW Bill: ...HB2257 started off with good promise, the sponsor reported he felt sure he could garner the 60 votes needed to pass it out of the House. So it came as a huge shock and disappointment to learn from legislators that the NRA was actually lobbying against it. When contacted by lllinoisCarry the NRA-ILA lobbyist confirmed the NRA-ILA was indeed lobbying against the bill and vowed to kill it. The reason given for the opposition was that the bill did not include statewide preemption, that it would create a patchwork of ordinances all across the state which could be detrimental to license holders, and it would ultimately be vetoed by Gov. Quinn and still need 71 votes for a veto override. Therefore we should continue to wait and work toward a change in the political makeup of the IL legislature... (A New York Sate carry permit issued outside the City of New York is valid anywhere in the state except the five boroughs of NYC. A similar situation used to exist in Pennsylvania, until CCW reform there. Would residents of the more rural counties in those states have been better served if they could not have carried legally outside the largest cities in their states?) http://www.illinoiscarry.com/ --- Colorado Judge Upholds Campus-Carry Ban: A lawsuit challenging the concealed weapons ban at the University of Colorado campuses has been thrown out by a judge. A district judge threw out the lawsuit filed last year by Students for Concealed Carry on Campus. El Paso County District Judge G. David Miller's action means the university's three campuses can continue to ban concealed weapons. Miller wrote that while "any right-thinking person" could see that a campus shooting spree could be mitigated by a well-placed concealed weapon, the students' argument was flawed. The students claimed that the state Board of Regents was an agent of government subject to state law allowing concealed weapons in certain circumstances. Miller ruled that regents are a statewide authority with their own legislative powers. He also found nothing in the state constitution that would prohibit the regents from enacting a campus gun ban... (In Colorado, this ban is not by statute - some colleges do not ban licensed cary.) http://cbs4denver.com/local/Judge.Tosses.Challenge.2.1002291.html --- Arizona Parking-Lot-Storage Bill Advances: The state House voted Thursday to elevate the right of people to carry guns in their vehicles over the right of property owners to keep those weapons out of their parking lot. On a voice vote, lawmakers gave preliminary approval to legislation which says individuals can have loaded weapons in their vehicles even if an employer, a private business, a day care center or an apartment complex don't want them there. The only exceptions would be for the owners or renters of single-family detached homes or for businesses willing to fence their properties, search every vehicle coming in and providing a place for gun owners to check their weapons... Existing law already allows businesses to declare their buildings to be gun-free zones. Kavanagh said that shouldn't extend to parking lots. He said some people feel the need for protection while driving to and from work, church, shopping or other sites. Without this law, Kavanagh said, those people would be forced to leave their guns at home or park on the street... (It's amazing how the right to self-defense turns the left into defenders of property rights) http://www.azdailysun.com/articles/2009/05/08/news/state/20090508_arizo_195963.txt A debate Thursday in the state House over whether to allow people to keep guns in their cars - even if private property owners have banned them in their parking lots - turned into nothing short of an open mic night at the Capitol... http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/hourlyupdate/292223.php --- Arkansas Park-Carry Ban Challenged: Arkansas Carry has contacted Sebastian County Judge David Hudson, asking him and the Sebastian County Quorum Court to repeal a county rule that bans firearms at Ben Geren Park, according to information provided by Arkansas Carry Vice Chairman Steve Jones... Officials with Arkansas Carry, which labels itself a "staunch ally of gun owners and the Second Amendment," believe Arkansas law prevents local governments from enacting gun control legislation. "Currently, a state regulatory scheme exists for the possession of firearms. The State of Arkansas does not require and, in fact, has specifically prohibited cities, counties and municipalities from exercising their police powers in regards to firearms regulations," Jones noted in his letter to Hudson and Quorum Court members... http://www.thecitywire.com/index.php?q=node/4065 --- Tennessee House Passes Restaurant-Carry Bill: The House voted Thursday to allow Tennessee handgun carry permit holders to bring their weapons into any establishment that serves alcohol. The chamber voted 66-23 to approve the bill sponsored by Republican Rep. Curry Todd of Collierville, a retired police officer. The measure abandons earlier efforts to impose an 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew for carrying handguns where alcohol is served and to keep a total ban on establishments that enforce age-restricted entry... The Senate would have to agree with the House version before it can head for Gov. Phil Bredesen's consideration, but it appears likely to pass since the agreement largely reflects the measure originally approved on a 26-7 vote last month. The Democratic governor has not said whether he would sign it into law. The bill would take effect June 1. The measure would leave unchanged an existing ban on consuming alcohol while carrying a handgun, and restaurant owners would still be able to ban weapons from being carried in their establishments. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/05/08/national/main5001150.shtml?tag=topHome;topStories --- Tennessee Could Follow Montana's Lead: Tennessee lawmakers may soon send the federal government a loud message - hands off our guns. A new law is under consideration that would say if firearms are manufactured and sold inside the state of Tennessee, federal gun law would not apply. Visit any gun store right now, and you'll hear the same story. Gun buyers are stocking up on weapons, and ammunition is in short supply. "It is a very significant fear for a lot of Tennesseans," says John Harris, Executive Director of the Tennessee Firearms Association. Harris says gun owners are worried. They believe the Federal government may soon restrict certain weapons. "But it's our way to make a statement to say this is Tennessee. These our are guns," says Rep. Henry Fincher, (D) Cookeville. Now, lawmakers have proposed a new bill called the Tennessee Firearms Freedom Act... The rifles made by Barrett Firearms are impressive. Theyre also made right here in Middle Tennessee, which means this proposed law applies to their weapons... http://www.wztv.com/newsroom/top_stories/wztv_vid_5694.shtml -- Ohio Mayor Admits Police Can't Protect Residents: When word of significant cuts to the Toledo police force first came out, one senior police officer issued the following recommendation to city residents: "Buy guns. Invest in precious metals: lead, gun power and brass." And now, Mayor Carty Finkbeiner is admitting the reason why this is such good advice: "Violent crimes, shootings, are not ever prevented by the presence of a police officer, no matter how many thousands of police officers you have." ... http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/node/6668 --- Oops, Wrong Pedestrian, Alaska Version: A report of a man pointing a gun at some teenagers on bikes at the Sears mall spurred an extensive police response and prompted school district officials to lock the doors at Fairview Elementary School Thursday afternoon. But it turned out the young adults had in fact been harassing the man and that he pulled a weapon from his vehicle for protection, police Lt. Dave Parker said. The two parties split after the incident at about 1:45 p.m., but witnesses followed the man with the gun north on the Seward Highway to 13th Avenue and Gambell Street, where police with guns drawn stopped the man and a passenger... (If you carry a gun, carry a cell phone. Whoever calls 911 first is the complainant; if it is not you, you become the suspect.) http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/crime/story/787434.html --- Oops, Wrong Pedestrian, Texas Version: A citizen with a "concealed-carry" handgun license shot out a tire on a car full of fleeing shoplifters, then followed them in his own vehicle Wednesday morning, helping Azle police apprehend four people who were subsequently charged with robbery... Four accused shoplifters had been spotted by employees of Albertsons grocery store and were attempting a getaway with less than $50 worth of miscellaneous items when they were spotted by a citizen in the parking lot. The citizen was carrying a properly licensed concealed weapon, Azle police chief Steve Myers said Wednesday afternoon. The fleeing driver seemed to be headed straight for the citizen, who fired at the vehicle, striking a front tire... (Tuna or mackerel - what's that smell? Unless you're very close to it, shooting at a tire on a moving vehicle is a very tricky proposition. The bullet could ricochet off the rim or the pavement if it deviates a few inches from the point of aim and, even if it strikes the tire, will not produce the rapid deflation typically pictured in the movies.) http://www.azle-news.com/news/get-news.asp?id=9779&catid=1&cpg=get-news.asp --- Things Are Not Always What They Seem: Like "Alice in Wonderland," the Department of Justice detention of Ashton Lundeby becomes more convoluted with each passing day. Is it a Patriot Act detention of a teenager, or not? Is Lundeby guilty as sin, or was he set up? Is he a misguided teenager making prank calls or the next Unibomber? It is becoming increasingly clear that Ashton made prank phone calls via the Internet, some funny (in a bent sort of way), and some quite racist. What is not clear is whether he perpetrated bomb threats at all - specifically the five threats delivered the night of March 5 which precipitated his arrest. And although "Jason Bennett" claims to have called police after Ashton made a threats to Perdue University on February 5, the timeline suggests Ashton has a tight alibi (his mother, Annette Lundeby, says the entire family arrived home from church later than the call began)... (I had hesitated to share the initial column on this report but shared the second, which I shared because it appeared to be of tangential interest. I believe I'll hold off this story for now until the issues become more clear.) http://www.examiner.com/x-2698-Charlotte-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m5d8-The-perps-speak-as-Ashton-Lundeby-detention-gets-curioser-and-curiouser --- NRA-ILA Alerts: List members are encouraged to check the alerts for the week, posted on the NRA-ILA website. http://www.nraila.org/GrassrootsAlerts/read.aspx --- From AzCDL: HB 2177, which allows a person with a valid concealed weapons permit to possess, transport or carry a weapon within a game refuge, passed out of the House Committee of the Whole (COW) on May 6, 2009. From here, it will be calendared for the House Third Read (final vote before being transmitted to the Senate). HB 2439, which passed out of the House COW back on March 26, 2009, passed out of the House Third Read and was transmitted to the Senate on May 6, 2009. Thanks to your emails, HB 2439 passed with a favorable 40 to 20 vote. HB 2439 is the AzCDL-requested CCW training reform bill. HB 2474 was debated and voted on in the House COW on May 7, 2009. We are expecting to see it calendared for the House Third Read next week. HB 2474 prevents any private or public employer, property owner, etc. from banning any person from keeping a firearm in a locked vehicle in a parking area on the property, with specific, limited exceptions. In the Senate, non-budget bills have still not been assigned to committees while they continue working on the 2010 budget. Stuck in this legislative limbo are several AzCDL-requested bills, including SB 1270 (Constitutional Carry), SB 1243 (Defensive Display), and HB 2439 (CCW Training Reform). Next weekend is the NRA's 138th Annual Meeting at the Phoenix Convention Center. All AzCDL directors and officers will be there, along with many of your State legislators. We hope to see you there! Be sure to proudly wear your AzCDL t-shirt! You can find more information here: http://www.nraam.com/ . 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/ -- Stephen P. Wenger, KE7QBY Firearm safety - It's a matter for education, not legislation. http://www.spw-duf.info .