The Beat Winds Down?: In the past few years, as the U.S. economy faltered, demand for firearms skyrocketed: People worried that high unemployment would lead to an increase in crime. Then, when President Obama was elected, gun rights supporters feared that the new administration would clamp down on their right to bear arms, which lead to another gun sales spike. But both of those fears have eased, and demand for guns and ammunition is weakening. The FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System was used for 1.30 million background checks in March 2010, down from 1.34 million a year earlier, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation. In 2008, there was an 18% increase, and in the month after Obama's election, background checks skyrocketed by 42%. Obama was even named "Gun Salesman of the Year" by one pundit... Meanwhile, the firearms and munitions industry must adjust, but though its growth will no longer be explosive, it is hardly on the decline. "We really don't know what the new normal will be, but will be higher than it was in 2008," says Bill Brassard, an NSSF spokesman, in an interview. (I hope that gunners have learned the lesson not to get caught short on ammunition and reloading components.) http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/company-news/gun-sales-go-soft-as-economy-improves-fears-subside/19437972/ --- Speaking Of...: Jason Klinner went to the Quincy [IL] Plan Commission Tuesday night with a request to sell firearms or firearm accessories from his home. Commission members voted to reverse a staff recommendation to deny the request, but added a stipulation that Klinner could not have any ammunition on the property. "That's not acceptable. I have my own firearms on the property," said Klinner, who had already said that no ammunition would be sold from his home. Commission member David Barnard told Klinner that "guns are a bad thing to a lot of people" and the no-ammunition provision was one possible way to get his special permit. It passed on a voice vote with two dissenters. Only eight commissioners were present... Klinner said the Department of Planning and Development had told him that only one special permit has been issued for private firearms dealers working out of their homes. Klinner then presented a list of nine Quincy residents who have similar in-home operations as reported on the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms Web site... http://www.whig.com/story/news/plan-commission-041410 http://www.examiner.com/x-43006-Quincy-Libertarian-Examiner~y2010m4d14-Antigun-Quincy-officials-tell-man-he-can-sell-firearms-if-he-removes-all-ammo-from-his-property --- Second Amendment March: If one believed all of the vitriol that has been, and is being generated against the upcoming Second Amendment March in Washington, D.C. next Monday, April 19, one might expect a parade of gun-toting Klansmen marching down Pennsylvania Avenue. It appears to be an unfortunate aspect of life in America that one cannot simply engage in a rational conversation on a hot political topic. Civility has been replaced by the politics of destruction, and nowhere is this more evident than in the mounting criticism of the upcoming rally... From campaigning to keep legally-armed citizens out of Starbucks coffee shops, to portraying gun rights activists as a potentially dangerous mob, there appears to be a concerted, though not necessarily coordinated, effort to marginalize firearms owners as a bunch of extremist loons. Seeing that level of obsessive demonization from the Left leaves one to demand an explanation... http://www.examiner.com/x-4525-Seattle-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2010m4d14-Vitriol-approaching-fever-pitch-as-2A-march-looms Ohioans For Concealed Carry Executive Director Dan White and Vice-President Bryan Torok report that the Ohio Second Amendment March was a huge success. A substantial number of people between 250 and 500 gathered on Capitol Square at the Ohio Statehouse, many of them openly carrying handguns and long guns. The speakers were well received by the crowd and the significant law enforcement presence was clearly evident from the Columbus PD, the Ohio Highway Patrol, and the Columbus PD Mounted Unit on horseback. We could have told them there was no need for crowd control - this was a group of law abiding gun owners, not code pink or some other antagonistic gathering. We came to hear the Ohio Attorney General, Nikki Goeser, Skip Coryell from SAM, and other invited guests speak while showing our elected officials we are here and we vote... http://www.ammoland.com/2010/04/14/350-with-guns-make-ohio-second-amendment-march-a-huge-success/ --- Gun Locks Versus Training: In a four-part series last week, we explored physicians advising patients who own guns to lock them up and keep them separate from ammunition. My main objection, aside from most doctors being unqualified to dispense gun safety advice, is that it renders guns useless should you need them. Does that mean I'm against locking up all guns? Of course not. I've never recommended "one size fits all" for gun storage. I'm merely observing that if you find yourself in a situation where you need a gun immediately, chances are the reason for that need isn't going to wait for you to go and get it. And then load it... What I am against is people thinking that's enough, that a mere device is an acceptable substitute for training and knowledge of their particular circumstances, needs and level of preparedness. There's the quote attributed to Gene Brown that "Foolproof systems don't take into account the ingenuity of fools," and we find unintended consequences in life bearing that out... http://www.examiner.com/x-1417-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2010m4d14-Police-gun-lock-program-no-substitute-for-knowledge --- Rule Five Reminder: ... Last week, Minnesota came within a horrifying hair's breadth of yet another fatal school shooting. On April 5, a 14-year-old boy with a history of emotional problems and violent tendencies walked through Hastings Middle School brandishing a .22-caliber handgun. Like McLaughlin and Weise, he'd had little trouble getting his hands on a firearm. According to authorities, the weapon belonged to his foster family. Only "by the grace of God, no one was hurt," said Tim Connell, the school police officer who tackled the youth. After this near-miss, the Minnesota Legislature is considering a bill, championed by Rep. Sandra Peterson, DFL-New Hope, that would strengthen penalties for bringing a gun to school. While the bill is well-intentioned, the reality is that increasing the fine and prison sentence won't likely deter a troubled kid. The real solution is rooted in common sense: keeping guns out of kids' hands in the first place. (Rule Five: Maintain control of your firearm. This is a challenging issue for parents and guardians. It is equally tragic if the law denies youngsters access to a firearm they may need for self-defense inside the home [a specific exemption from the federal prohibition of handguns by juveniles, under 18 USC § 922(x)(3)(D)]. Adolescents are vulnerable to emotional shifts that may not be readily apparent.) http://www.startribune.com/opinion/editorials/90792869.html?elr=KArks7PYDiaK7DUqEiaDUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU --- Website Debates Lawful CCW: ProCon.org, a nonpartisan 501(c)3 nonprofit public charity dedicated to promoting critical thinking, created the new website http://concealedguns.procon.org to explore the core question "Should adults have the right to carry a concealed handgun?" Carrying a concealed handgun in public is permitted by non-law enforcement officials in 48 states as of Mar. 12, 2010. Two states (Wisconsin and Illinois), and Washington, DC do not allow concealed carry except by active and retired law enforcement officers, although Wisconsin permits openly carrying firearms in public. In 1986, 35 states had provisions for concealed carry and eight of these states had "shall-issue" laws. On May 12, 1987, Florida, a "may-issue" state, passed a "shall-issue" law that stripped law enforcement of discretion in issuing permits. Following a campaign by the National Rifle Association (NRA), 28 states followed Florida's lead and adopted "shall-issue" laws between 1987 and 2009. As of Mar. 18, 2010, 35 states have passed "shall-issue" laws... (While the 1987 reform of Florida's permit system is generally credited with initiating the bulk of the nationwide shift to shall-issue permits, prior to that five other states were already shall-issue by statute, one [Alabama] by practice and one [Vermont] has never required a permit.) http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/should-adults-have-the-right-to-carry-a-concealed-handgun-new-website-researches-pros-and-cons-in-concealed-carry-debate-90860679.html http://concealedguns.procon.org/ --- Disposition of Firearms after Felony Conviction: Felons can't lawfully possess guns - does it mean they can't even arrange for their sale, and that the court may just order them destroyed? That seems to have been the government's view in United States v. Brown (D.N.H. Apr. 9, 2010), and at least one court has apparently taken this view, but the court in this case disagreed (some paragraph breaks added): "...Senior Judge Longstaff's pragmatic solution to this problem is the appropriate one: the court, exercising equitable powers, may order the transfer of title to firearms lawfully owned by a person later convicted of a felony (which are not subject to forfeiture or confiscation as contraband) for the felon-owner's benefit. See United States v. Approximately 627 Firearms, 589 F.Supp.2d 1129, 1140 (S.D.Iowa 2008) (quoting Cooper, 904 F.2d at 306 ("We see no reason that a court ... could not order a sale for the account of a claimant who ... legally could not possess firearms, were forfeiture to be denied for any reason.")); United States v. Seifuddin, 820 F.2d 1074 (9th Cir.1987) (convicted felons retain a non-possessory interest in seized firearms). That approach precludes convicted felons from constructively possessing firearms (to the extent that term can be teased to include transferring mere legal title); it precludes a convicted felon from unilaterally dictating or directing disposition, as some courts have found objectionable; it avoids serious constitutional issues arising under the Takings Clause; and it fully protects the felon-owner's legitimate property interests in a manner consistent with applicable criminal law." http://volokh.com/2010/04/14/the-second-amendment-and-the-takings-clause/ --- Pennsylvania County May Amend Ordinance: Westmoreland County commissioners are considering an ordinance that would legalize guns in county parks. Officials said Wednesday the proposal would update a 1974 code that generally outlawed firearms at the parks but allowed guns in specific areas for hunting. Solicitor R. Mark Gesalman said that ordinance, amended in 1995, conflicts with a state law that permits guns in public places. "In Pennsylvania, you cannot restrict somebody's right to carry a firearm, except in restricted areas like courthouses," Gesalman said. The proposal strips existing language from the code that specifically bans guns from the parks. The revised ordinance would allow guns in all areas of county parks, but permits the discharge of firearms only in designated hunting areas... http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/westmoreland/s_676547.html --- Open-Carry Backlash in California: Could tactics used by the "open carry" movement backfire? Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña, D-San Diego, and allies of legislation she introduced Wednesday to ban the public display of unloaded weapons believe so. State law permitting Californians to display their empty-chamber firearms has been on the books since about 1968, drawing little attention... "It wasn't a problem we had to deal with. As it's become more prevalent over the last two years, we've had to deal with it," said Emeryville Police Chief Ken James, whose statewide law enforcement organization supports the measure. "If we hadn't had a lot of these open-carry events, police chiefs probably wouldn't be involved in it," he added. Saldaña cited an open-carry event in Pacific Beach last year as alerting her to the need for a ban on displaying guns, even unloaded, in public. There, with thousands of people at the beach on a Saturday, about 60 members of the movement walked along the boardwalk... (Note that the open carry of loaded firearms [in public places] in California was banned in response to a demonstration at the capitol by armed Black Panthers, a bill signed by then-governor Ronald Reagan.) http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/apr/15/state-bill-would-end-open-carry-gun-rights/ --- Arizona Gunners Defend Constitutional Carry: When a Tucson firearms instructor called a new gun bill "stupid" on TV, it set off predictable objections from some gun-rights advocates. When the owner of the store where the instructor works also criticized Arizona's new concealed-carry bill - which only needs the governor's signature to become law - that raised the heat in the debate... Now the gun owner who first objected, Tucsonan David Bliss, is organizing a protest at the gun store and shooting range, Marksman Pistol Institute, 5051 E. 29th St... The exchange got hotter when Bliss responded: "It boils down to this. You either respect the constitution or you don't. You either promote individual liberty or you promote slavery. There is no grey area. Freedom is an absolute." In her response, O'Connell accused Bliss of misquoting her and said "It is my responsibility to protect my patrons. This [the new law] means now I have to watch even closer the nutcakes who wave guns in the air and act like total testosterone-filled jackasses." That's when Bliss decided to launch his protest, this Saturday morning. As of today, the protest had 19 confirmed attendees. (The term "constitutional carry" actually refers to the state constitution, which states, "The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself or the state shall not be impaired..." What we've got here is basically a business and its employee seeking to use a state law to continue to provide a market for their instructional service. Arizonans who opt to carry firearms in exposed holsters, without permits, have not shown a tendency to "wave guns in the air and act like total testosterone-filled jackasses." http://azstarnet.com/news/blogs/senor-reporter/article_8d57d648-47fb-11df-b7db-001cc4c03286.html --- In the Aftermath of a Shooting: Carl Mintz, the 27-year-old Farmington Hills man accused of shooting a fellow driver who approached his car during an altercation, on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to charges of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder and felony firearm. Farmington Hills police say both men were traveling north on Orchard Lake Road on Monday afternoon when Mintz irked the 20-year-old driver behind him by tapping his brakes repeatedly. The victim approached Mintz's car, the two exchanged words and Mintz shot him in the arm... Fox 2 spoke with his brother Monday, who said Mintz has "been very angry lately," citing the fact that both their parents have died in the past decade. The television station now reports Mintz is a regular YouTube commentator who has uploaded a number of hate-filled videos, typically targeting Islam... (Without attempting to divine the merits of the case, note how YouTube postings enter, as a minimum, into the press coverage, as can forum postings, etc.) http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2010/04/farmington_hills_road_rage_sus.html --- When Guns Are Outlawed: A former police firearms instructor arrested after he "inadvertently" kept two bullets has been fined £450. At an earlier hearing Sergeant Steven Campbell, 40, from Hamilton, admitted having the ammunition without the necessary paperwork. The serving officer was given an additional fine of £300 for assaulting a women at a farm in Lanarkshire... "She made, amongst others, an allegation that the accused kept ammunition at the house, albeit two bullets." Mr Ogg said two cartridges were later seized which Campbell would have "perfectly lawfully" had access to at work. He was a firearms instructor at the force training centre at Jackton, South Lanarkshire... Campbell's QC Paul McBride previously told the court that the police officer had "inadvertently" took the bullets home with him. Mr McBride said: "He was absent minded having attended some police training events. "He had taken them, had planned to return them to the police, but forgot to do so." The lawyer said Campbell acted Campbell acted out of "sheer frustration" when he assaulted the woman... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8617307.stm --- Tangentially Related: The White House very quickly got out in front of a story. There is no truth to the rumors that President Obama might name Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to the Supreme Court. The president has the highest respect for his onetime rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, we are assured. But why did the administration go out of its way to shoot down this particular trial balloon? They didn't jump up to say no, they would not be naming outgoing Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D) or current Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano (D). Or even HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Why did they jump up so fast to jump down on the name of Hillary? Well, the summer might already see a battle over this nomination. With Stevens leaving after nearly thirty-five years on the Court, his replacement is sure to raise a storm of controversy. Do they really want more? ... http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/04/what_no_hillary.html -- 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 .