UN out of US: The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms industry, has learned that the United Nations has filed its first firearms trace request. The move by the United Nations, which has long advocated for civilian disarmament, raised concerns from the NSSF. "Firearms trace data is a law enforcement tool to help aid in specific criminal investigations," said NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane. "Our concerns with this trace request stem from UN-efforts to impose arms trade control treaties that would lead to a ban on the civilian possession and ownership of firearms, possibly even in the United States despite Second Amendment protections and the recent Supreme Court decision (Heller v. District of Columbia) reaffirming that Americans have an individual right to keep and bear arms." Tracing a firearm is the process by which law enforcement tracks the chain of custody of a firearm through the licensed distribution system to the original (first) retail purchaser. In this particular case, the manufacturer declined to provide the information to the United Nations and instead advised UN officials to make its request through proper international law enforcement channels. This would ensure that ATF, the appropriate law enforcement entity responsible for handling such requests, would be aware of the world body's actions... Though this trace request appears to have been an isolated incident, members of the firearms industry are troubled by the precedent... (It's actually District of Columbia v. Heller - the District was the unsuccessful appellant of the Circuit Court's pro-RKBA ruling.) http://www.gunreports.com/news/news/United-Nations-firearms-ban-trace-data-treaty-NSSF_1952-1.html?ET=gunreports:e678:183810a:&st=email --- Americans Buy Firearms for Defense: A new National Shooting Sports Foundation poll conducted by Harris Interactive found that more Americans are target shooting now than six months ago, and that "home and personal defense" were the main reasons Americans recently purchased firearms. The poll also showed that 43 percent of respondents, which equates to nearly 98 million people, expressed some level of interest in participating in the shooting sports or hunting... The online survey was conducted March 16-18 by Harris Interactive, which performs periodic surveys for NSSF on shooting and hunting participation. The questions were asked of general population adults 18 and over... In response to a question about why Americans made their most recent firearm purchase, 40 percent of respondents said "home protection" followed by 36 percent citing "personal protection." Target shooting (30 percent) and hunting (28 percent) came next... http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103254132684&s=108949&e=001UuNEiWfTQ9deBRI-nLbuiinhtYElA1tWPyugjQR-lEEf8NzhxOr_rblr1ejHi7SSZ3lUho-Y7SB9ZxLVpsMskJYVte-7yn0zQe98CSHAGI4= --- Oklahoma Open-Carry Bill Clears Senate Committee: A Senate panel on Wednesday passed a measure that would allow those who have handgun licenses to openly carry their weapons. House Bill 3354 was brought up under "other business" on the Senate Rules Committee agenda after originally being assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee. It passed by a vote of 10-2 and heads to the Senate floor. The measure would also allow judges on the Oklahoma Supreme Court, Court of Civil Appeals and Court of Criminal Appeals and Workers Compensation Court to carry weapons into the Capitol and into buildings in the Capitol complex that have courtrooms or judicial offices. Rep. Rex Duncan, R-Sand Springs, and Sen. Anthony Sykes, R-Moore, are the authors of the measure... http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=12&articleid=20100331_12_0_OLHMIY627141 --- Nebraska Registration Ban Heads to Final Reading: The Legislature advanced a handgun bill Monday to final reading to ensure Omaha, or any Nebraska city or village, could not force concealed carry permit holders to also register their guns locally. A number of senators said they thought they had put the issue to rest by passing legislation (LB430) last year that no city could regulate ownership, possession or transporting of concealed handguns. Sen. Mark Christensen of Imperial, who offered the amendment to the bill (LB817), received an opinion Friday from Attorney General Jon Bruning that said any city, including Omaha, requiring registration of a handgun by concealed carry permit holders runs afoul of the state law. "For the city of Omaha to say that its ordinance that provides for the registration of any handgun, concealable or otherwise, is not subject to LB430 flies in the face of the express current language of statute," said Omaha Sen. Brenda Council. As much as she is philosophically opposed to carrying concealed weapons, she said, Omaha should not need to have additional warning to follow the law... LB817 would allow firearms dealers in Nebraska to accept a valid state concealed handgun permit in lieu of a firearm purchase certificate for the purchase of a handgun. (Nebraska has a unicameral legislature.) http://journalstar.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/article_7fee9a90-3b7c-11df-86ae-001cc4c03286.html --- Missouri, Kansas, May Expand CCW: ...Missouri, like most states, allows people to carry concealed weapons if they pass a training course and register with a law enforcement agency. This week, lawmakers took steps to extend that privilege into the corridors of the Capitol. On the same day of the lawmakers' firearms class, the House gave first-round approval to a bill that would expressly allow legislators, their aides and employees to carry concealed weapons in the statehouse... The measure was included in a broader firearms bill that would drop the age limit for a concealed-carry permit from 23 to 21, and expand the "Castle Doctrine" to allow people who rent their homes to use deadly force against intruders... Kansas was one of the last holdouts in the nation on concealed weapons, authorizing licenses in 2006 only after lawmakers overrode a veto by then-Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. Now some lawmakers are trying to relax the rules, arguing that worries about concealed weapons have been proven false. Rep. Forrest Knox, an Altoona Republican, this year pushed through the House a bill that would allow permit holders to take their concealed firearms into any public building, including university campuses and government buildings. The only exception would be buildings with "adequate" security, including metal detectors and armed guards. Because the Kansas statehouse has only a small security detachment and a single metal detector at one of two public entrances, its security would not qualify as "adequate," according to bill supporters... (Sebelius now serves as Big Brother's Secretary of Health and Human Services. She vetoed CCW legislation in Kansas more than once.) http://www.kansascity.com/2010/03/31/1849619/missouri-and-kansas-move-to-relax.html --- Change to Connecticut Appeal Process Opposed: ...Currently, Connecticut residents who wish to own a handgun must apply to the state's Special License and Firearms Unit (SLFU) for a permit. If an application is denied or a previously granted permit is revoked, they are able to appeal the decision to the Board of Firearms Permit Examiners (BFPE). The SLFU, which is also responsible for oversight and regulation of firearm sale transactions and the issuance of licenses to bail bondsmen and private security companies, is part of the state Department of Public Safety. The BFPE is an independent board consisting of seven civilian members appointed by the governor... Part of Governor's Bill No. 28, drafted in February during the current session of the General Assembly and sponsored by State Rep. Lawrence Miller (R-Stratford), proposes moving the BFPE under the umbrella of the Department of Public Safety - the same entity that controls the State Police. If the change is made, all aspects of firearms monitoring and permits - initial applications and appeals - would be handled by the same overarching entity. Ms. Lauretano, a longtime Salisbury resident and former state trooper who is running in the 64th District against incumbent Democratic State Rep. Roberta Willis (D-Salisbury), views the move as a "power grab" by the State Police... (If memory serves, a member of the BFPE recently won a lawsuit against DPS, involving a denial of his permit renewal.) http://www.countytimes.com/articles/2010/03/31/news/doc4bab650eddbcb185791992.txt --- Charges Pressed in Washington Open-Carry Arrest: ...The city attorney's office is now pursuing charges in a case that's getting national attention from gun rights group. The law is straightforward saying open carrying is illegal in Washington if it "...manifests an intent to intimidate another or that warrants alarm for the safety of other persons." Some of the facts may be witness accounts of Kirby keeping his hand on his weapon while in its holster. As one witness put it - "like Wyatt Earp, ready to draw." Reports also indicate Kirby and his wife had to be escorted out of a Vancouver mall the day before when employees and managers complained about weapons strapped to their waists. Vancouver city prosecutor Kevin McClure said this simply isn't a case of Kirby carrying a gun into public. "The basis of the charge is not the fact that there was a weapon being carried," he said."The issue is the manner in which it was displayed that warranted an alarm for the safety of others." Kirby should likely go to trial in the matter in May. http://www.katu.com/news/local/89654912.html --- Oops, Wrong House, Hawaii Version: Two suspected robbers were seriously wounded Tuesday by a woman police said may have been defending herself and her wounded boyfriend. The shooting happened on Kilea Place in Wahiawa Heights at about 10:20 p.m. Tuesday. Police said two men armed with guns and zip-ties approached the home, which was rented by the couple and their two young children. One of the suspects' guns went off during a struggle with the male resident. The resident was slightly wounded. Police said the woman brought out a handgun and fired after she said one of the suspects pointed his gun at her. Police said there was an exchange of gunfire... Police said robbery suspects Shane Reginald Flores, 38, and Floyd Orsborn, 23, were both hit more than once. Orsborn was listed in critical condition Wednesday night... Prosecutor Peter Carlisle says Hawaii law allows a person to use deadly force to defend themselves or others, if they fear they are in serious danger. "You cannot use a gun to defend property. It has to be in response to deadly force," Carlisle said. He was not commenting directly on the Wahiawa case. This was the second time the couple faced robbers in their home. Last year, police reported two victims were tied up and robbed in the house by four armed suspects. Neighbors said after that incident the couple reassured them that it was a purely random incident, and nothing like that would ever happen again. (Despite enabling may-issue legislation, Hawaii does not grant carry permits. Both handguns and long guns can be purchased lawfully by means of a permit system.) http://www.kitv.com/news/23020567/detail.html http://www.examiner.com/x-18149-SelfDefense-Examiner~y2010m3d31-Jewelry-store-robber-shot-by-armed-employee --- Oops, Wrong Jewelry Store: A man armed with a handgun attempting to rob a San Angelo [TX] jewelry store was shot and killed by a store employee on Wednesday, police said. Gunshots were reported at Cano's Diamonds, 2705 Sherwood Way, about 1 p.m., said Lt. David Howard, a San Angelo Police Department public affairs spokesman. "Police responded to the scene and found the individual deceased inside the store," Howard said. "It appears it was an armed robbery gone wrong." Police said the man, who was not identified, died in the store. No other people were injured or harmed, and the employee and the owner were the only people in the store other than the robber. The employee was "a little shaken, and understandably so," Howard said... http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2010/mar/31/man-killed-in-robbery-gone-wrong/ --- Rule Three Reminder: A shooting review board likely will be convened next week to examine an apparent accidental discharge of a Kennewick [WA] police officer's gun. No one was injured when Officer Jason Harrington's gun went off as he and two other officers responded to a disturbance call at an apartment complex at 722 N. Arthur St., Sgt. Ken Lattin said Tuesday. Harrington was holding his gun near his chest, but pointed at the ground as officers are trained to do in a high risk call, when he apparently stumbled, causing his gun to discharge into the ground, Lattin said... (Rule Three: Keep your finger out of the trigger guard, up on the frame, until your sights are on the target and you're prepared to fire. Note that the officer appears to have been using some application of the safety-circle concept, which kept the bullet impact in a relatively safe direction.) http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/03/31/959240/shooting-review-likely-after-cops.html --- Stolen Historic Revolver Returned to Chicago Museum: A gun used in a defining moment of American history and stolen from the Chicago History Museum in 1948 is now back in Chicago, thanks to the generosity of a history buff from Pittsburgh. At a 1991 Pennsylvania gun show, Robert Hassinger, 83, purchased the 1851 Colt "Navy" revolver used by Owen Brown, son of famed slavery abolitionist John Brown... The revolver was part of a group of artifacts donated to the Chicago History Museum in 1917 by Frank Logan, a memorabilia collector who bought the weapon from Owen Brown's sister... Someone swiped the gun from a museum display in 1948, she said. The museum still owns the gun's holster and kept records of Logan's donation and the gun's serial number, she said. A decade after Hassinger bought the gun, he read about its history in Man at Arms magazine. The article included the gun's serial number. Hassinger knew instantly he couldn't keep the gun... He believed the gun should be displayed, and he also didn't want to saddle his family with any sticky legacy issues related to the revolver. But he didn't know whom to contact or how to surrender the firearm. Ultimately, an acquaintance at Pittsburgh's Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum connected Hassinger and Chicago museum officials. Hassinger handed over the revolver Tuesday in Pittsburgh. Mahoney and another museum staff member drove it back to Chicago... (It would have been much more appropriate to have transferred the gun on the day the McDonald ruling is handed down.) http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/2135155,cst-nws-gun01.article --- Tangentially Related: Suppose I approached you with a request. I want you to carry a small gadget that will automatically transmit your location to the police, allowing them to track your every movement 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Chances are you would politely decline. Too late. You already accepted. That gadget, you see, is called a cell phone. For years, the cops may have been using it to keep close tabs on you without your knowledge, even if you have done nothing wrong. They don't have to get a search warrant - which would limit them to situations where they can show some reason to think you're breaking the law. All they have to do is tell a judge that the information is relevant to a criminal investigation and send a request to your service provider... (As I understand it, you not only have to turn off the phone, you have to remove the battery if you don't want to be tracked.) http://reason.com/archives/2010/04/01/big-brother-on-your-trail ...Officers often say they have a unique perspective on the world, one civilians understandably often miss or are simply unaware of. Many police supervisors and managers - those with experience - try to teach officers how to see things to keep them safe. These efforts are evident in so-called Finest Messages, which are short internal communiqués that are broadcast to the force every day via teletype messages to precinct houses and other commands... (Maybe this article can help hone mental awareness.) http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/01/seeing-the-world-through-an-officers-eyes/ The Stone family, and the fiercely militant Christian group that revolved around them at a ramshackle homestead outside of town here, were best known by their neighbors for their active use of guns and their increasingly heated talk about fighting back violently against the government. But their biggest and most surprising adversary was practically next door: the local branch of the Michigan Militia. From a distance, the two might seem like peas in a pod: both wear fatigues or camouflage, train in the woods with heavy weaponry and believe in threats to liberty from Washington. But here on the ground the distinctions were crucial. The Michigan Militia, which in past years had links to extremist groups with neo-Nazi flavorings, has moderated over the years, according to members and experts who track the organizations. Meanwhile, the Hutaree (pronounced Hu-TAR-ay), as the Stone group was called, was going the other direction, with increasing talk of violence. The crucial moment of that tension came Saturday night when one of the Stone family members - desperate and on the run from the law - called the local militia commander, Matt Savino, and begged for help in getting guns or shelter. Mr. Savino offered neither, not only refusing to help but in fact calling the State Police, who passed the call to the F.B.I... http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/01/us/01michigan.html?ref=us An undercover federal agent attended training exercises with the Hutaree militia for at least eight months before nine members of the militant Christian group were arrested last weekend and charged with plotting an uprising against the government, prosecutors said Wednesday. The militia's leader, David B. Stone Sr., asked the agent to provide explosives that could be used to attack police officers and instructed him to make armor-piercing bombs using pieces of road signs as shrapnel, an assistant United States attorney, Ronald Waterstreet, said at a hearing Wednesday... http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/01/us/01militia.html?ref=us ...In the 1990s, the FBI was at the center of the militia scare, with its snipers and strongmen turned against peaceful separatist Randy Weaver and his family, and later at the Waco, Texas, standoff with Branch Davidians, at the end of which FBI agents gassed, shot and killed dozens of David Koresh's followers at their home at Mt. Carmel. They used incendiary devices, which might have brought on the fire, and then lied about it. It was in this period that the modern left became enamored of the federal police state and especially the FBI. Almost none of them stood up for the Branch Davidians. They came to think of FBI agents as a professional, national and enlightened force populated by such figures as the Jodie Foster character in Silence of the Lambs, an agency that enforced civil rights, protected the country from "rightwing extremists," and overturned the injustices of local, prejudiced law enforcement... http://www.independent.org/blog/?p=5565 ...Celente stresses the importance of people thinking for themselves in survival mode. He discusses what he's doing, and what one can do, to prepare for the worst during these difficult times: * When arriving in a new city, go on a tour first to get an idea of the layout. * Belong to a network/community of like-minded people and stay in touch; Plan with a group. * Keep enough cash on hand and out of banks; Don't count on an ATM. * Have gold in possession. * Buy clean, local food (organic when possible). * Use a water filtration system with reverse osmosis for clean drinking water. * Keep at least 3 weeks of dried foods and water in storage. * Exercise Second Amendment rights and have protection on hand. * Think for yourself, lead yourself, and heal yourself. * Become more aware of what's going on; Look for new opportunities and new ways of thinking... http://www.lewrockwell.com/celente/celente27.1.html --- The murder of a respected rancher in southern Arizona Sunday has state lawmakers calling on the federal government to step in and help secure the border with Mexico... Gov. Jan Brewer again called for action from the federal government to increase public safety along Arizona's border through the addition of National Guard soldiers and airmen following Krentz's murder, but made her initial request for additional help to U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates on March 11, 2009. This was followed by a joint letter from four border governors to congressional leaders on April 22, 2009... "At this point, it remains unclear who is responsible for the tragic murder of Robert Krentz," she said in a news release. "What is clear is that Americans are increasingly at risk from the growing bloodshed and lawlessness along the border. If Mr. Krentz's death was related to Mexican drug cartel and smuggling activities, it would be a drastic escalation of their violence and would require an immediate and direct response..." A memorial fund for Robert Krentz has been set up at Wells Fargo, the release said. Donations to the fund can be made at any Wells Fargo Bank with account number 5560960899. (Rob's widow Susan and his sister-in-law Carrie have been members of my mailing list for years. I encourage all list members who can help this wonderful family in their time of need to make a contribution to the above mentioned account.) (http://www.wmicentral.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20419600&BRD=2264&PAG=461&dept_id=505965&rfi=6) -- Stephen P. Wenger, KE7QBY Firearm safety - It's a matter for education, not legislation. The tactics and skills to use a firearm in self-defense don't come naturally with the right to keep and bear arms. http://www.spw-duf.info .