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31 October, 2007

Florida: Restaurant employees disarm robber: "Employees at a Jacksonville Wok N Roll restaurant not only disarmed a robber Saturday night but also got his sweatshirt. Police responded to the robbery call about 10:40 p.m. at the 8011 Merrill Road restaurant where employees said they had left the front door propped open because of the heat. That's when a gunman walked in and pointed his weapon at two of the employees behind the counter, the Sheriff's Office report said. One of the employees opened the register and handed the cash to the gunman. As the man grabbed the money, the 5-foot-8, 150-pound employee grabbed the handgun and he and his co-worker chased the robber out the store. The victim threw the gun at the assailant's head but missed, according to the Sheriff's Office report. The other employee grabbed the robber's hooded sweatshirt and pulled it off, the report said. But the man ran through the parking lot into the Paddock Club Apartments and jumped a wooden fence into the Sandy Beach Lane neighborhood. He got away with about $480, the report said. The victims gave police the sweatshirt and gun, which turned out to be a BB gun. The robber was described as a black man with a goatee, about 35 years old, 5-foot-8 and 170 pounds. He was wearing a white, hooded sweatshirt, dark shorts and red shoes."



Tennessee: Nearly Nude Man Shoots Carjacking Suspect: "With no time to think, not even enough time to grab clothes, a son took-off after his mother's alleged carjacker and shot him. Police say the carjacking started in Olive Branch in the 9100 block of Hickory Drive around 1:30 Monday afternoon. It ended in Memphis at Riverdale and Stateline Road, that's where the victim's son shot the suspect. Now, he's recovering at the Med. The carjacking suspect is under a watchful eye at the Med. He's officially in Shelby County's custody. He's in critical but stable condition after he was shot twice by a man who didn't think twice about protecting his mother. Lance Gray said his brother acted on instinct when he heard their 71-year-old mother scream. The Shelby County Sheriff's Office said Bobbie Gray was unloading groceries in her Olive Branch driveway when 18-year-old David Andre Bates put a shotgun to her head and demanded the keys to her 2004 Mercury Marquis. "My brother was on the couch, heard the commotion and went and got his gun and chased him down," said Lance. The chase was about three miles down Stateline Road and into Shelby County. Keith Gray was in his 2002 Nissan Maxima with his pistol. In his mother's car, officers say Bates was armed with a shotgun. "That's when the son fired several times at the suspect's vehicle," said Steve Shular, of the Shelby County Sheriff's Department. Bates was hit in the left hip. Officers say he ran, leaving the Mercury Marquis, and eventually fell to the ground. Olive Branch officers say Bates will be charged with aggravated carjacking. As for Keith Gray, Shelby County deputies don't know what, if any, charges he will face. His mother is at home and doing well.



Texas: Homeowner shoots would-be burglar: "A man attempting to break into a home was shot by the homeowner Sunday morning, police said.A resident of the 8800 block of Wyndham Terrace Trail called police at about 9:35 a.m. Sunday to report that he had just fired at a man who was attempting to break into his home. The would-be burglar ran off. The caller did not know if he had hit the man. Officers later found a man in the vicinity who appeared to have a gunshot wound to his hand. The man was taken to the hospital, and faces charges of burglary, police said. The man who was hit, whose name police did not immediately release, was outside the house at the time shots were fired, police said."



30 October, 2007

Virginia teen shot trying to enter wrong house: "A Chesapeake teen received minor injuries in an early morning shooting Sunday. The 16-year-old was taken to Norfolk General Hospital. At 3:13 a.m. Sunday, Chesapeake police responded to a home invasion call in the 1100 block of Old Vintage Road in the Vintage Estates area off Johnstown Road. Police spokesman Charles Thiebaed said police heard two shots when they arrived. Police said the teenager had been drinking and was trying to get into a house he thought was his but was actually a neighbor’s house. The neighbor fired two shots at the teen, hitting him once, according to police. They are investigating the incident.



Florida: Blind Man Shoots Home Intruder In Neck: "According to police, Cevaughn Curtis Jr., 28, broke into Arthur Williams' house in Gainesville at around 3 a.m. Curtis, police said, knocked on the door, asked to be let inside but Williams refused. Curtis then tried to force his way into the home. The 75-year-old retired taxi dispatcher, who's been legally blind for the past 61 years, opened fire on the would-be-thief who kicked down his door, police said. Police said Williams shot Curtis, who tried to flee but collapsed on the front porch, in the left side of the neck. He was taken to a hospital in stable condition. Police said Curtis was charged with burglary of an occupied residence and battery on a person over the age of 65. Officials are praising Williams for protecting himself."



Good Guy now has a gun: A superhero for the times: "When Captain America returns to the pages of his comic book in January, it won't be his star-spangled new duds getting all the attention. Instead it will be what he's wielding in his right hand, the one once reserved for pummeling the jaws of evil. Come next year, he'll be gripping cold, hard steel. That's right, Captain America will be packing heat. With a few mainstream comic book exceptions -- the Punisher, for instance -- it's usually the bad guys who have the guns. ...'We definitely wanted a Captain America that still screamed, 'This is Captain America,' but this isn't the same Cap you've been reading about," says Ed Brubaker, the comic book's writer. 'This isn't Steve Rogers.'"



29 October, 2007

Australia: Intruder dies after throat cut on window

This story has nothing to do with guns but it is too good to pass over:

A GRANDFATHER has told how he desperately tried in vain to save the life of a burglar who was breaking into his home. The burglar bled to death in the man's frontyard after he tripped and slashed his throat while he climbed through a bedroom window. The resident, who didn't want to be named, said the burglar's throat "looked like an axe had hit it" after he came down face first on the jagged glass.

The deadly mishap occurred in the Adelaide suburb of O'Sullivan Beach at 2.10am yesterday after the burglar used a concrete garden statue to smash his way into the main bedroom. Police believe the burglar stumbled on a piece of the statue, which had broken when it struck the window. The couple, sleeping less than one metre away from the window, were showered with glass. "He threw one of our statues through the window," the man said. "It was a hell of a bang when it came through. My wife woke up screaming." The middle-aged man said he told his horrified wife to call police before peering out the window to see who was there.

"I didn't know whether I was going to be fighting for my life or running for my life," the man said. "I didn't know whether it would be one person or more or whether they would try and attack me." The resident was stunned to discover the burglar lying unconscious outside the window "in a pool of blood". "He wasn't trying to talk; he was well past that," he said.

"I took a couple of towels out there and tried to stop the bleeding. "Once I realised he wasn't going to attack me, I wanted to try and help him. "I felt his pulse but he was just cold and clammy. "He wasn't moving and he was barely breathing. "You could hear the air going in and out through his throat; not his nose and mouth. "By then I realised there was nothing I could do." "My guess is he slipped when he tried to get inside. "He was only wearing thongs and he must have slipped and fallen."

Source




KS: Gun trumps bleach, Mace and frying pan: "A 76-year-old Wichita man who was attacked by his roommate shot her in self-defense, police spokesman Gordon Bassham said this morning. Police were called to the 500 block of North Spruce shortly after 11 p.m. Tuesday night after getting the report of a domestic violence disturbance. Sgt. Jeff Davis said the 76-year-old man had asked his 52-year-old girlfriend and roommate to move out. She poured bleach on him, a police report said, sprayed him with a Mace-like product, and set fire to a paper bag, threatening to kill him. As she began hitting him with a frying pan, he pulled out a .38 revolver and shot her twice in the left shoulder. Emergency workers transported both of them to Wesley Medical Center. Doctors treated and released them both, Bassham said this morning. There is a pick up order for the woman's arrest, he said".



Best way to stop school shootings is abolish "gun free zones": "While anti-gun organizations are demanding that Congress quickly pass new legislation in response to the Virginia Tech massacre, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms suggests another approach: Abolish the concept of 'gun free zones.' 'Every tragic school shooting, and attacks such as those at Salt Lake City's Trolley Square, Luby's Cafeteria in Killeen, Texas, and the Tacoma Mall had one common denominator,' said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb. 'They all happened in so-called 'gun-free zones'.'"



28 October, 2007

OH: Woman on trial for shooting alleged abuser: "A Price Hill woman is on trial charged with shooting her boyfriend in what she says was self defense. Janice Young, allegedly shot her boyfriend, Eugene Vassar in front of her Beech Street home in June. Vassar drove himself to a police station and ran inside for help.Young's attorney claims his client had a restraining order against Vassar and only shot him to protect herself."



ND: Man pulls gun on would-be robber: "A gas delivery driver reported to police that he was confronted early Saturday morning by a man holding a knife when he was at a south Fargo convenience store. The man with the knife, described as standing about 6 feet tall and weighing about 200 pounds, told the driver to empty his pockets. The driver reached toward his jacket pocket and said, 'You brought a knife to a gunfight,' according to the report given to police. At that point, the would-be robber fled quickly on foot."



UK: Replica guns seized from collector: "Armed police swooped on the flat of a 54-year-old replica pistol collector in Battersea. They seized 17 replica guns but police admit the man posed no threat to the community. ... 'This action was taken to pro-actively reduce the threat of firearm incidents in the borough ...' Insp Phelps said after the weapons had been handed over. ... It turned out the 54-year-old had been collecting the gun memorabilia over 20 years and had built up an extensive collection. ...The Met said in a statement that 'although there was no concern that the owner of the collection posed a threat himself, the firearms that had been identified by officers as susceptible to conversion were retained as a precautionary measure' and will be destroyed."



27 October, 2007

Stupid gun laws in Georgia almost enabled mass murder!

I have already covered this story in outline but the post excerpted from Freespeech below puts a broader perspective on it

As a Georgia Firearms Licensee, I have often thought to myself how absolutely stupid it is that those of us who have a license to carry a concealed firearm are not allowed by state law to carry in any restaurant that serves alcohol for consumption on the premise. It doesn't matter if I'm not even having an alcoholic drink. I'm still not allowed to carry my weapon in that place of business. I either have to disarm myself, leaving me and my family potentially vulnerable, or I have to go eat somewhere else.

I'm sure that at some point in the past, some ignorant lawmaker decided that we average everyday folks are just too stupid and irresponsible to have our firearms on us when we're anywhere near a keg of beer or a mixed drink, even if we're not the one drinking it. We might get drunk, get rowdy and start shooting up the place, I guess. The only problem with this logic is that it is not GFL carriers that do that kind of thing. We defend ourselves and others when SOMEONE ELSE gets drunk, gets rowdy and starts shooting up the place, as happened in Norcross, GA this past weekend:

Fatal shooting at Norcross bar marks Gwinnett homicide record

Witnesses said Ojeda appeared to have been drinking when he drove up to the restaurant around midnight, Norcross Police Detective Jason Carter said. Ojeda joined a group of four other people "other regulars, but not well acquainted with the man" on the patio and became belligerent when one person asked Ojeda not to be obnoxious. After a brief scuffle, Ojeda left, only to return with a gun about 45 minutes later, Carter said. As people on the patio scattered, one of the men he'd been sitting with ran away but drew his own gun, police said. That man, whose name was not released, fired once and hit Ojeda in the head, police said.

Technically, this unnamed patron was breaking Georgia Law by carrying his weapon in this restaurant that serves alcohol. Thank God he was, or there is no telling how many would have been dead when Mr. Ojeda finished his drunken rampage. This GFL holder was able to stop this drunk shooter before the man even got off a single shot. This man is a hero, in my opinion, and should be hailed as such. Unfortunately he's probably worried right now about whether he will be prosecuted for carrying the gun that saved himself and possibly countless others into that restaurant which was against the law.

It's a stupid law and everyone knows that the people that would shoot innocent people without being in danger of their life don't care what the law says. In other words, this is another one of those stupid gun control laws that criminals don't pay attention to. Obviously Mr. Ojeda didn't care that it was against the law for him to bring his weapon back to this bar and shoot a bunch of people he was angry with.

The only people this law influences are law abiding citizens who have gone to the trouble of having their backgrounds checked and giving their fingerprints in order to receive a Georgia Firearms License. These are the good guys! We want GFL carriers to be armed whenever possible. They (we) are the most law-abiding group of citizens you will find in Georgia and our weapons are a danger to nobody but the predators in our society.

I'm happy to read that there is no plan to charge this GFL holder with anything at this time. I hope it stays that way, and I hope the law will be changed so that MORE GFL holders can be armed in MORE places, and able to therefore stop MORE criminals before they kill innocent people.




GA: Man shot dead attempting to rob nonprofit: "An employee of a Stone Mountain nonprofit association that helps war-torn refugees shot and killed a robber who forced his way into the office Tuesday evening around closing time, authorities said. ... two robbers entered through the rear door as two male employees, described as older men, were preparing to leave and lock the front door. Both robbers were armed with handguns, and one of them acted as a lookout, Hodge said. The other demanded the victims' wallets, then put his gun to one employee's head and ordered him to open a safe, Hodge said. When the robber turned his back, the other employee grabbed a gun from his desk and fired several shots at the robber, Hodge said. Hodge said he did not know how many times the robber was struck, or where he was wounded. Both robbers ran, though the wounded robber did not make it far."



NJ: Second-grader suspended for "gun" drawing: "A second-grader's drawing of a stick figure shooting a gun earned him a one-day school suspension. Kyle Walker, 7, was suspended last week for violating Dennis Township Primary School's zero-tolerance policy on guns, the boy's mother, Shirley McDevitt, told The Press of Atlantic City. Kyle gave the picture to another child on the school bus, and that child's parents complained about it to school officials, McDevitt said. Her son told her the drawing was of a water gun, she said. ... School officials declined to comment Friday. A message left at the superintendent's office Saturday was not returned."



26 October, 2007

Senate blocks U.N.: "With the United Nations continuing its efforts to enact draconian, transnational gun control laws in countries around the world, yesterday the U.S. Senate passed the Foreign Operations appropriations bill, which included an amendment by Senator David Vitter (R-LA) that seeks to address the U.N.’s ongoing international gun ban efforts. By an overwhelming 81-10 vote, the Senate passed Sen. Vitter’s amendment to prevent any funding to foreign organizations that infringe upon the Second Amendment rights of lawful American citizens. Any organization that adopts a policy anathema to the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment would no longer be eligible for U.S. financial assistance—including the U.N. The gun ban issue in the U.N. has been percolating for more than a decade, and while NRA has been successful to date in precluding the U.N. from enacting its anti-freedom agenda, the bureaucrats at Turtle Bay remain committed in their zeal to push for additional restrictions on the rights of free gun owners in the United States and around the globe. Global registration and tracking of firearms would inevitably lead to the global disarmament of free citizens everywhere; something that we cannot and will not let happen."



California arsonist shot dead: "US authorities have shot dead a suspected arsonist as wildfires continue to burn across southern California. Residents are holding their breath for a favourable weather change. More than 9000 weary firefighters are still battling 15 fires still burning out of control after four days of blistering heat, low humidity and winds in excess of 100km/h. Arson is being blamed for many of the fires. Authorities, including teams of FBI agents and helicopters using infrared cameras, have been scanning bushland for suspected arsonists, with police arresting one suspect and shooting another dead. Police said the shooting took place last night when when San Bernardino University police spotted a man in a rural area near the campus. University police chased after the man, a 27-year-old from Arizona, but he jumped into a car and fled. Police chased him and he began ramming their car so they fired at him, killing him."



Students don't want to be shot: "College students across the country have been strapping empty holsters around their waists this week to protest laws that prohibit concealed weapons on campus, citing concerns over campus shootings. "People who would otherwise be able to defend themselves are left defenseless when on campus," said Ethan Bratt, a graduate student wearing an empty holster this week on the campus of Seattle Pacific University. Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, a group of college students, parents and citizens who organized after the deadly shootings at Virginia Tech University in April, launched the protest. A national debate over gun laws on campus began in the wake of those shootings, in which a deranged student killed 32 people in a classroom building before committing suicide. It was the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. Campuses are prime targets for people intent on harming others because laws prohibit concealed weapons there, Bratt said."



25 October, 2007

Oklahoma burglar killed by homeowner: "Lawton police have towed away a truck that they say may have been involved in the shooting in the 1700 block of Northwest 70th that has left one person dead. Deputy Chief James Apple says a family came home and found a burglar in their house. Apple says there was some type of confrontation between the family and the burglar, and it led to shots fired. A neighbor says the homeowner was on the phone with the police holding the burglar on the front lawn until authorities arrived. But, the burglar moved and he fired - killing the intruder. Eyewitnesses say they thought the two were just goofing around until they found out the burglar was shot and killed. Now, they say it looked like self defense."



Michigan resident holds burglar at gunpoint: "A Pennfield Township resident was home alone at about 2:40 p.m. today when he heard burglars in another room. The resident caught one and held the juvenile at gunpoint until Calhoun County Sheriff’s deputies arrived and arrested the suspect. A second suspect escaped and police are still searching."



FL: Homeowner shoots intruder: "Mark Hartley returned to his house Wednesday morning to find an unfamiliar red pickup in the driveway. He grabbed a pistol and walked to the back of his doublewide mobile home and saw the door was ajar. In his mind, he said, 'This isn't good,' Hartley told the Hernando Times. In his hand, Hartley gripped a .22-caliber pistol. He gently opened the screen door, but it creaked as it shut behind him. The intruder heard it. 'I said, 'Freeze,' and he came charging out of my bedroom at me,' Hartley said. 'He tried to tackle me at the back door; he came shoulder down.' Hartley managed to fire one shot from about a foot away. But the first bullet was 'snake shot,' or a bullet filled with tiny lead pellets used to kill small varmints. ... As the man fled, Hartley fired another shot -- this time with a real bullet. It's unclear if the slug hit him, but Hartley said he saw the man begin to limp as he ran north along Sunshine Grove Road before crossing a field in this rural neighborhood northwest of Brooksville."



24 October, 2007

Pennsylvania home invader fatally shot: "A man in a East Liberty apartment fatally shot one of two men who broke into the home early this morning, Pittsburgh police said. The two invaders, one of whom had a gun, entered the apartment at 300 North Negley Avenue about 3:15 a.m., Cmdr. Thomas Stangrecki said. A man in the apartment grabbed a shotgun and shot one of the intruders in the side of the head, Stangrecki said. The man died at the scene, Stangrecki said. The other intruder ran away and was still being sought. Police did not identify anyone involved and no charges were filed this morning".



Michigan: Armed robbery attempt at jewelry store: "Police in Grand Rapids need your help to find a man who tried to rob a jewelry store at gun-point in Grand Rapids Monday night. The call came into Grand Rapids Police at 6:28p.m. of a man attempting to rob Trajan Jewelry located at 2407 Eastern Ave SE. Police say the owner fired a warning shot at the would-be robber to scare him off causing the man to leave without incident. The man is described as a black male in his 40's. He was wearing a black shirt with a white hat and was carrying what looked like a cane or a stick. The man had a silver hand gun".



Utopianism behind gun bans: "For whatever might be the marginal benefits of banning guns-and reasonable people may differ on this question-it is hard not to connect the urge to do so with a utopian belief in social engineering by legislation. The point of such engineering is always to create one of Eliot's "systems so perfect that no one will need to be good." Or, we might add, heroic. If merely preventing gun violence were the aim, a much surer course would be to arm all students with handguns since, at the very least, you could be sure that no killer would claim more than one or two victims before being killed himself. But there is something un-utopian about fighting the evil that the utopian stubbornly insists should not exist in the first place. Better to pass a resolution anathematizing it. This worldview clings to its implicit belief in the power of the specter of law and order's rising from the gravy and the mashed potatoes. The passionate advocacy by some of a gun ban as a solution to the problem of school shootings, a solution whose efficacy had just been disproved by this same school shooting, showed a need on their part to believe in the power of politics and law to solve even the most intractable and dangerous problems."



23 October, 2007

Hawaii shooting: "A Waianae man was taken into police custody Saturday night after a shooting left one dead and two others fleeing the scene, police said. Honolulu Police said the shootout happened when three men tried to rob the homeowner at gunpoint at his home at Mai-u'u Road in Waianae in an apparent attempt to collect money from the man's illegal cockfighting business, police said. Police said the armed homeowner killed one of the alleged robbers. Police said witnesses told them three men with weapons drove up Saturday morning and tried to break down Kuraoka's door. "They eventually got the front door opened, and that's when the gun shots were fired," said HPD Lt. Bill Kato. Police said Kuroka had a rifle and a shotgun. "Statements were given that shots were fired at him, so he said he fired back," said Kapolei-Waianae District Lt. Farrel Sojot. When patrol units arrived, they found Jayson Sylva, 28, barely alive lying in front of Kuraoka's house, police said. Authorities said Sylva was taken to Waianae Medical Center where he died. Criminal records show Sylva has 43 prior arrests, 12 of them felonies for everything from kidnapping to assault and had spent time in prison, KITV reported." [The homeowner was not charged]



New Mexico: Pizza delivery man kills assailant: "Police will not bring charges against a pizza delivery man who shot and killed a man trying to rob him Friday. The Roswell Police Department said the delivery man, who has not been named, acted in self-defense. A witness said the delivery man was approached by several people. She said the group attacked him and tried to take his money. That is when the delivery man pulled out a gun and began shooting. One person, described as a male in his 20s, was shot and killed. Two other suspects, whom police are still looking for, fled the scene."



California: Suspect in store robbery shot by clerk: "An attempt to rob a convenience store went awry Friday night when the store clerk pulled out his own gun and shot one of the suspects in the chest in an exchange of gunfire, police said. The suspect, a man in his 20s, remained in critical condition Saturday. The clerk was standing in front of JR Market on National Avenue at 38th Street at 10 p.m. when he was approached by two men armed with a handgun, San Diego police said. When they pointed the gun at him, the clerk pulled out his own handgun and they exchanged fire. The suspects escaped in a gray mini-van. About 20 minutes later, a woman called to report that a man had been shot. Officers who responded found a man lying in a van on 30th Street suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest."



22 October, 2007

Alabama Couple Catch Burglar, Make Him Clean Up at Gunpoint: "A burglar in Montgomery chose the wrong family to mess with, literally. Adrian and Tiffany McKinnon returned to their Centennial Hill home Tuesday after a week away to find that thieves had emptied almost everything the family of five owned, Tiffany McKinnon said through tears. "Tears just rolled down my face as I walked in and saw everything gone and piles of trash all over my home," she said. Adrian McKinnon sent his wife to see her sister while he inspected the piles left behind. As he walked back into the sunroom, a man walked through the back door straight into him, Tiffany McKinnon told the Montgomery Advertiser in a story Thursday. "My husband Adrian caught the thief red-handed in our home," she said. "And what is even crazier, the man even had my husband's hat sitting right on his head." Adrian McKinnon held the suspect, 33-year-old Tajuan Bullock, at gunpoint and told him to sit on the floor until he decided what to do. "We made this man clean up all the mess he made, piles of stuff, he had thrown out of my drawers and cabi-nets onto the floor," Tiffany McKinnon said. When police arrived, Bullock complained about being forced to clean the home at gunpoint. "This man had the nerve to raise sand about us making him clean up the mess he made in my house," she said. "The police officer laughed at him when he complained and said anybody else would have shot him dead."



Louisiana: Two Injured, One Charged in Early Morning Shooting: "A third shooting occurred just after midnight in the 2900 block of Penick Street in Queensborough, after police got a call from a cab driver that two men had been shot. The Yellow Checker cab driver told police a man, Luther McDuffy, 34, had been driven with two women to a vacant house on Penick, where the three passengers walked up to the house to talk to several people standing outside. “That’s when the cab driver said he heard gunfire and saw muzzle flashes,” police spokesman Randy Patrick said. The crowd quickly dispersed, with two men, McDuffy and Randy Bennett, 33, shot several times each and lying in the yard. Both were taken to LSU Hospital by fire medics. McDuffy told investigators that he exchanged gunfire with Bennett after the other man tried to rob him. Bennett told police he was walking down the street when other people started shooting and he was wounded. Police recovered cash and at least two different calibers of shell casings at the scene. Bennett, who police faces one count of attempted first-degree murder, was in at LSU Hospital after surgery, with no condition available, while McDuffy was in fair condition there."



New Mexico: Charges dismissed for man accused of killing brother: "The Bloomfield man accused of killing his brother in July had all charges dismissed after a preliminary hearing Friday. Armon Martinez, 24, had been charged with first-degree murder for shooting his older brother Roman three times on July 24, 2007, after repeatedly receiving violent threats from him. By dropping the charges, Magistrate Judge William Vincent expressed that he interpreted the shooting as one of self-defense. The case for self-defense was best made in the testimony of Armon's brother, Jerome, who told the court Armon was backing up, telling his brother to "get back" as Roman approached while yelling threats. "If a man can break you in half with his bare hands, most of us would feel it's perfectly acceptable to arm yourself and defend yourself against such a man," Defense Attorney Gary Mitchell said, referring to Roman's powerful build and demeanor.... Roman, who several family members testified was incredibly violent when he was drunk, had threatened Armon throughout the day while Armon was serving as Roman's designated driver, as well as in the preceding days. Arnold Martinez, the men's father, told the court he was "petrified" of Roman, and had even attempted to file a restraining order against Roman the day he was killed."



21 October, 2007

North Carolina oldster won't be charged in killing: "A Conover man who shot and killed another man during an argument earlier this month won't be charged by the District Attorney's Office, authorities said. Officials decided not to charge John Kenneth Hedrick, 73, in the Oct. 6 shooting death of 36-year-old Raymond Weathers because it appeared that Hedrick fired in self-defense, authorities said. "There was not enough evidence to prosecute this as a crime," said Capt. Roy Brown of the Catawba County Sheriff's Office. The men had starting arguing, likely over a female they both knew, in front Weather's Newton home, Brown said, and Weathers began hitting and kicking Hedrick. Brown said the men were fighting on the ground, with Weathers sitting over Hedrick, and Hedrick was able to reach into his van and grab a gun off the floorboard. Weathers was shot at least two times -- in the neck and shoulder -- with a revolver, and Hedrick had "visible injuries" to his upper body and head when the men were found in Weather's yard, Brown said."



Illinois: No charges for man who shot drunk U. of C. student: "A man who shot a threatening University of Chicago student in the chest Wednesday night acted in self defense and will not be charged, authorities said today. The student, who was reported to be in critical condition, threatened to hit a fellow apartment-building dweller with a vodka bottle and kicked in the door of the man's Hyde Park apartment, police said. The incident began about 7:30 p.m. as the student and shooter were riding together in an elevator of their apartment building in the 5400 block of South Cornell Avenue, Chicago Police Officer Laura Kubiak said. The 24-year-old student, who was drunk and carrying a vodka bottle, followed the man out of the elevator and down the hall, threatening to "hit him in the head with the bottle," Kubiak said. As the man entered his apartment, the student kicked the door and pushed it open, continuing to yell threats, she said. The apartment's resident retrieved a handgun and shot the student once in the chest as he entered the apartment, Kubiak said.



Pennsylvania robber shot: "A robbery suspect was shot and killed while trying to rob a Philadelphia business Thursday morning, police said. Police said a man in his 20s entered Geppert Recycling in the 4500 block of Wayne Avenue at about 9:30 a.m. David Geppert, the owner of Geppert recycling, said the suspect called his business in the early morning hours saying he had scrap metal to sell. When the suspect arrived, he pulled out a gun and demanded money from employees. Two employees removed weapons of their own and shot the suspect. "He never had any metal to come and sell. That was just his way to get up here. He pulled a gun on my employees and my employees returned fire, and shot and killed him," said Geppert. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. Police are investigating the incident as self defense."



20 October, 2007

When only a gun will do: "Two years ago, an M16 automatic rifle could fetch $5,400 or more in the Palestinian West Bank. Now buyers at Hebron's clandestine gun market are asked to pay more than double. Four months after Islamist Hamas routed secular Fatah in the Gaza Strip, fears that clashes between the Palestinian rivals could erupt in the West Bank and uncertainty ahead of a U.S.-led peace conference are fuelling a scramble for guns. Dealers at the gun market in Hebron, the West Bank's most populous city, say weapons sales have jumped by up to 70 percent since Hamas took control of Gaza, while buoyant demand and supply bottlenecks due to tighter security have inflated prices. In the northern West Bank city of Jenin, every bullet for an AK-47 rifle costs 35 Israeli shekels, or more than $8. In Hamas-controlled Gaza, an AK-47 bullet goes for 4-6 Israeli shekels, $1-1.50. Militants from both Hamas and Fatah, and the powerful family clans who are often called in to deal with West Bank crime or land disputes, are driving the market, according to gun dealers and senior Palestinian security sources. But ordinary West Bankers, too, are taking no risks. "I don't feel safe anymore," said 28-year-old Abo Abdo, who sold his car this month to buy a rifle to protect his wife and two children. "Everyone is buying guns."



Indiana: Robber's victims turn tables, shoot as he flees: "A would-be robber got more than he bargained Wednesday night, when his victims fought back and shot at him as he fled from a bank parking lot. The victims were dropping off a night deposit at First Midwest across from the Highland Grove shopping center around 8:30 p.m. when they were approached by a slender man in a dark hooded sweatshirt, Detective Mark Santino said. The man demanded the money, then scuffled with the two men before turning to run, Santino said. As the man ran off, one of the victims pulled out a handgun and fired several shots. The robber fired back, but neither appear to have been wounded. Police from Highland and Schererville searched near the scene for more than an hour, but did not find the suspect. Santino said investigators have leads on several suspects."



Georgia: Customer at Restaurant Fatally Shot Man in Self Defense: "Norcross police say they're unlikely to file charges in a fatal shooting at a local bar early Thursday. The killing — the third homicide within the city limits this year — marks the record for Gwinnett County. Police identified the dead man as Juan Ojeda, 54, a Spanish national living near Norcross who officers said was a regular at Barnacles Restaurant on Jimmy Carter Boulevard. Another patron killed Ojeda in self defense, said Norcross Police Detective Jason Carter. Witnesses said Ojeda appeared to have been drinking when he drove up to the restaurant around midnight, Carter said. Ojeda joined a group of four other people -- other regulars, but not well acquainted with the man -- on the patio and became belligerent when one person asked Ojeda not to be obnoxious. Carter said Ojeda grabbed one man's neck. "Imagine a 54-year-old man putting a 26-year-old guy in a headlock," Carter said. Witnesses said that a moment later Ojeda feigned an apology, then lunged at another man and bit him in the neck, Carter said. Managers and patrons ran Ojeda off, but he returned a few minutes later around 1 a.m., gun in hand, witnesses told Carter. As people on the patio scattered, one of the men he'd been sitting with ran away but drew his own gun, police said. The patron fired once, hitting Ojeda in the head as he stood in the parking lot, police said. Police did not release the name of the patron who killed Ojeda"



19 October, 2007

TX: Man kills 2 burglars in 3 weeks: "A Ledbetter-area business owner fatally shot a suspected burglar Sunday morning -- the second time in three weeks that he killed an intruder, Dallas police said. James Walton, owner of Able Walton Machine & Welding in the 2000 block of Chalk Hill Road in West Dallas, was alerted to the intruder when his motion sensor system activated about 9 a.m. Sunday, police said. Mr. Walton, who also lives at his business, went downstairs with a shotgun and fired at a man who had broken in. The intruder was later identified by police as Jimmy Gannon of Ferris. Police said Mr. Walton also noticed another man outside Sunday. Mr. Walton shot and wounded that man. He escaped, but a witness eventually led police to him. The man, whom police did not immediately identify, was questioned by officers Sunday afternoon. Mr. Gannon, 37, was taken to Methodist Dallas Medical Center, where he died. Police said Mr. Walton is allowed to protect his property."



North Dakota: Jurors acquit man charged in shooting: "A Ward County jury says "not guilty" in the case of a Minot man who paralyzed another man in a shooting. The jury deliberated for about three hours on Wednesday in the case of 65 year-old Robert Hurt of Minot. Hurt shot 37 year-old Michael Moran after an early morning argument outside of Hurt`s northwest Minot home on December 16th, 2006. Three bullets hit Moran, and he ended up paralyzed from the waist down. Hurt`s attorney argued that it was self defense, that his client feared for his life and he was trying to protect his two sons, who were home at the time. State`s Attorney and Prosecutor John Van Grinsven says Hurt had plenty of time to call police before shooting Moran but the jury thought otherwise. Hurt was facing an aggravated assault charge, a Class B felony."



CA: Schwarzenegger signs victim disarmament bill: "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the Crime Gun Identification Act over the weekend, and that means gun sellers by 2010 -- if there are any left in the state by that time -- will have to use 'microstamping' technology on every semiautomatic pistol they sell. ... critics say the bill is back-door gun control. The National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association of the firearms industry, accused Gov. Schwarzenegger of betraying law-abiding gun owners, retailers and hunters by signing the bill."



18 October, 2007

Talkative parrot leads to death of burglar: "A parrot chirping "hello" woke up his Texas owner who found and then shot dead a burglar in his garage. "I guess you could call him a stool pigeon,'' owner Dennis Baker said on the Dallas Morning News. It was the fifth time the house, which is also used as a locksmith shop, was broken into this month. So when Mr Baker woke to the sounds of Salvador, his Mexican red-headed parrot, saying "hello, hello'' he knew something was wrong. Mr Baker grabbed his gun and shot the burglar in his garage about 1.30am. The man died at hospital, police said. "I have tools in my garage, my house and my van,'' Mr Baker said. They were coming here like they owned the place. I hate what happened, but somebody has to do what's necessary.'' The bird also chirped "hello'' when police arrived, Mr Baker said. Texas has recently eased restrictions on people confronting intruders in their homes, businesses or cars. They are no longer obliged to retreat before responding with deadly force."



Michigan Teen Arrested for Attempted Robbery: "A suspect is behind bars after an attempted robbery in Jackson. It happened Friday at the Quick Mart party store on Greenwood Avenue. Police say a male suspect entered the store, showed a handgun and in response, the clerk grabbed his own handgun and chased the suspect out of the store. Then on Saturday, police say they received a tip that led them to arrest a 14-year-old Georgia boy for that crime. He is currently being held at the Jackson County Youth Home pending formal charges."



North Carolina teen shot, in critical condition: "A 15-year-old boy was shot Monday night after pointing a shotgun at a man's house, according to authorities. Investigators say the teenager was in a vehicle with four others. The driver parked the car next door to a residence. Four people, including the teen, got out of the car. The juvenile had a shotgun in his hand, said Sgt. Howard Reaves of the Lumberton Police Department. Jeremy Locklear, 26, told lawmen he was sitting in his car in his driveway when he heard his dogs barking. He got out of his car to see what was going on when he saw the group near a building next to his residence. They came toward the house, and the teen pointed the shotgun in Locklear's direction, Reaves said. Locklear had a shotgun in his vehicle. He shot at the teenager, Reaves said. The teenager was struck on the right side with buck shots, he said. The other men with the teen ran from the scene, he said. One person who remained in the car during the shooting was questioned by lawmen. No charges had been filed as of Tuesday.



17 October, 2007

Alabama: Elderly Woman Shoots Homeless Man In Her Laundry Room: "Mobile police said an 81-year-old woman shot a homeless man this morning after finding him washing his clothes in her laundry room. Police spokesman Officer Eric Gallichant told the Press-Register that Ethel Sanders told people she heard noises in her laundry room. When she went to investigate, she found a man standing in his underwear near the washing machine. Gallichant said Sanders was carrying a handgun and shot the man when he came at her. He said Sanders fell to the ground and dropped the gun after firing. Gallichant said the man grabbed the gun, pointed it at Sanders and took his clothes from the washing machine. The man fled and Sanders called police just before 8 a.m. Officers caught the man at the nearby Plateau Community Center. James Penn, who is 25, was taken to University of South Alabama Medical Center. Gallichant said he is expected to survive. Upon release from the hospital, Gallichant said, Penn will be charged with first-degree burglary."



Kansas woman saved by good marksmanship: "Allen County Attorney Jerry Hathaway will decide whether to file charges from an incident that involved discharge of a firearm in a domestic setting a mile southwest of Iola Saturday evening. Sheriff Tom Williams said Don Hammer, when confronted by his wife, Geraldine, holding a handgun and aiming it at him, fired a single shot that struck her hand and sent the weapon flying to the floor. The confrontation came after the couple apparently had argued, William said. Williams said Geraldine Hammer, 68, riding a motorized scooter, retrieved a .25 caliber handgun from a cabinet just prior to the shooting. Don Hammer was armed with a .357 caliber handgun. “When she confronted him with the weapon, he shot it out of her hand,” the sheriff said. “He then called 911. Geraldine Hammer suffered a minor wound to a finger. She was taken into protective custody and was released to family after a screening by mental health authorities. Don Hammer also was taken into custody after Lee Roberts, a 911 dispatcher, convinced him to come from the house and give himself to officers, several of whom were waiting outside. Hammer later was released. “We looked at the scene and everything matched statements made by both of the Hammers” that it was self defense on his part, Williams said." [Could be an Alzheimer's case]



Missouri: Shots exchanged during KC home invasion: "An intruder who forced his way into a Kansas City home early this morning was chased off when a resident fired a shot through his closed bedroom door. Kansas City police were called to the house in the 4100 block of South Benton St. about 1:50 a.m. and found signs that the front door had been pried open. A 69-year-old man told officers that he was awakened by the sound of the door being forced open. The man said that as he heard the intruder approach his bedroom he fired a shot from a .40-caliber handgun. The suspect fired a return shot and fled. Another man was sleeping in the house, but neither resident saw the intruder, according to police reports. The residents were not injured and there were no signs that a bullet hit the intruder."



16 October, 2007

ATF crooks in Seattle

They hate anybody else having guns. Post below lifted from Red's Trading post. See the original for links

The ATF Seattle Field Division, which has relentlessly pursued us, was caught exaggerating about their gang sweep and the 77 arrests made. Although the reporter caught them in their exaggeration, they still have not removed it from their web site.

This is the same office that exaggerated that we Harassed and Intimidated them, despite a really messed up time line. The Judge already noted how they exaggerated our violations by Double Counting them. This is also the same office that:

Exaggerated about Rocket Launchers in Alaska

Exaggerated about a Short Barreled rifle in the Kwan case

Exaggerated about illegal weapons with Survival Enterprises

Exaggerated in revoking the license of a Blind Dealer

Exaggerated in a dealer making serious weapons

Exaggerated in the Ruby Ridge case

Here is the decline of dealers in states within the ATF Seattle jurisdiction from 1994-2005:

Alaska has lost 73% of its dealers

Hawaii has lost 88% of its dealers

Idaho has lost 70% of its dealers

Oregon has lost 70% of its dealers

Washington has lost 84% of its dealers




New York Store Owner Shoots Burglar: "A Schenectady shop owner tells FOX23 News that he confronted and shot a man who he says broke into his store early Sunday morning. Police say the alleged burglar tried to leave the scene of the crime and came face-to-face with the store's owner who was armed with a shotgun. Investigators tell us that 21-year-old John Sayers of Schenectady is recovering at Albany Medical Center on Sunday night. Police say Sayers broke into Funn Electronics on Albany Street in Schenectady some time before 6:00 a.m. on Sunday. The shop owner and his son live above the store. They tell FOX23 News that they heard glass breaking and went to investigate. They say that's when they found Sayers inside the building, armed with a wrench. When the alleged burglar tried to leave, the store owner shot him. Schenectady Police arrived and arrested Sayers who now faces burglary and criminal mischief charges."



Mississippi: Would-Be Robber Shot, Hospitalized: "A would-be robber was hospitalized early Sunday morning after his alleged victim shot him multiple times, Jackson police said. Jerriod Peters knocked on the door of a home on McKee Street at about 5:30 a.m., officers said. But when the homeowner answered, he apparently took the handgun from Peters and shot him. Peters is listed in critical condition at University Medical Center. The homeowner hasn't been charged in the shooting."



15 October, 2007

Guns and kids

Accidental gun deaths involving children get national coverage. News programs stage experiments with 5 and 6-year-olds in a room filled with toys and a gun. Shocking pictures show the children picking up the gun and playing with it like a toy. For years, the Clinton administration would show public service ads with the voices or pictures of young children between the ages of 3 and 7 implying an epidemic of accidental gun deaths involving children. With all this attention, the fear is understandable, but it is still irresponsible. Convincing patients not to own guns or to at least lock them up will cost more lives than it will save. It also gives a misleading impression of what poses the greatest dangers to children.

Accidental gun deaths among children are fortunately much rarer than most people believe. Consider the following numbers. In 2003, for the United States, the Centers for Disease Control reports that 28 children under age 10 died from accidental shots. With some 90 million gun owners and about 40 million children under 10, it is hard to find any item as commonly owned in American homes, as potentially as lethal, that has as low of an accidental death rate.

These deaths also have little to do with "naturally curious" children shooting other children. From 1995 to 2001 only about nine of these accidental gun deaths each year involve a child under 10 shooting another child or themselves. Overwhelmingly, the shooters are adult males with long histories of alcoholism, arrests for violent crimes, automobile crashes, and suspended or revoked driver's licenses.

Even if gun locks can stop the few children who abuse a gun from doing so, gun locks cannot stop adults from firing their own gun. It makes a lot more sense for doctors to ask if "daddy" has a violent criminal record or a history of substance abuse, rather than ask if they own a gun.

Fear about guns also seems greatest among those who know the least about them. For example, those unfamiliar with guns don't realize that most young children simply couldn't fire your typical semi-automatic pistol. Even the few who posses the strength to pull back the slide on the gun are unlikely to know that they must do that to put the bullet in the chamber or that they need to switch off the safety.

With so many greater dangers facing children everyday from common household items, it is not obvious why guns have been singled out. Here are some of the other ways that children under 10 died in 2004. Over 1,400 children were killed by cars, almost 260 of those deaths were young pedestrians. Bicycle and space heater accidents take many times more children's lives than guns. Over 90 drowned in bathtubs. The most recent yearly data available indicates that over 30 children under age 5 drowned in five-gallon plastic water buckets.

Yet, the real problem with this gun phobia is that without guns, victims are much more vulnerable to criminal attack. Guns are used defensively some 2 million times each year. Even though the police are extremely important in reducing crime, they simply can't be there all the time and virtually always arrive after the crime has been committed. Having a gun is by far the safest course of action when one is confronted by a criminal.

The cases where young children use guns to save their family's lives rarely makes the news. Recent examples where children's lives were clearly lost because guns were locked and inaccessible are ignored.

Recent research that I did examining juvenile accidental gun deaths for all U.S. states from 1977 to 1998, found that sixteen states mandating that guns be locked up had no impact. What did happen, however, was that criminals were emboldened to attack people in their homes and crimes were more successful; 300 more murders and 4,000 more rapes occurred each year in these states. Burglaries also rose dramatically. The evidence also indicates that states with the biggest increases in gun ownership have had the biggest drops in violent crime.

Asking patients about guns not only strains doctor patient relationships, it exaggerates the dangers and risks lives. Yet, in the end, possibly some good can come out of all this gun phobia. If your doctors ask you whether you own a gun, rather than sarcastically asking them if they own a space heater, why not offer to go out to a shooting range together and teach them about guns?

Source




Tennessee family shoot father: "Police say either Allen Lovell's son or wife pulled the trigger. They also say the family has a history of domestic disturbances at their Scepter Cove house. Bartlett police say Lovell's wife, Bobbie called them at 11:57 a.m. Friday to report that she and her son Cody were being held hostage by her husband. Police say dispatchers called back a few minutes later and were told Allen Lovell had been shot in the chest. Lovell was pronounced dead at the scene. Bobbie and Cody Lovell were taken to the Bartlett Police Department. They were questioned for several hours. As of 8:20 p.m. Friday night, police say they do not know who fired the shot that killed Allen Lovell. They say prosecutors will determine if any charges will be filed on Monday, October 15th. Eyewitness News Everywhere has learned this incident is far from the first time police have been called to the Lovell home. On April 28th, 2006, police charged Allen Lovell with domestic assault for beating up his son. The police report says Cody Lovell told police he "reached under the bed and pulled a silver colt . . . revolver. Cody then stated he pulled the trigger in self defense." No was hurt during that incident."



Alabama man kills pit bull that attacked mother, dog: "A Fairfield man shot and killed a dog that was attacking his mother and her pet dog Tuesday morning. Joann Farley said she had let her small mixed-breed dog "out to go to the bathroom" in front of her house on 50th Street about 6:40 a.m. when a pit bull, which lived at a neighbor's house, jumped the dog, she said. Her son, Raymond Farley, was able to pry the pit bull's jaws open to get the small dog released, she said. "I ran out in nothing but my gown. I picked up my little dog and it (the pit bull) bit me on the arm, trying to get my dog again," she said. "When he bit me I dropped my dog and he got it again." Finally, Raymond Farley shot the attacking dog twice with a .38-caliber pistol, killing it. Joann Farley went to Trinity Medical Center for treatment of her arm, where she received 12 stitches, she said. Terra Cotromano of The Emergency Animal Rescue Service said she was called to come help with the injured dog. "When I got there the little dog was lying there on the ground. It couldn't get up. He (Raymond Farley) was trying to deal with his mother. I took the dog to the vet. It really doesn't look very good for it," she said. Joann Farley, who has several small dogs, said the pit bull has attacked them before. Fairfield Police Chief Mardis said he expects to charge the pit bull's owner, who lives in Birmingham, with violating the city's leash law. It wasn't clear why the dog was at the address in Fairfield."



14 October, 2007

Teacher wins first round in bid to carry loaded gun

HIGH school English teacher Shirley Katz went to court in Oregon yesterday to fight for the right to carry a loaded gun to class. As America reeled from a series of shootings and school massacre plots, Ms Katz won the first round of her legal bout for the right to carry her 9mm Glock pistol on to school grounds.

After a day-long hearing, a judge said he would not dismiss her lawsuit against the school district. Jackson County Circuit Judge G. Philip Arnold said he would issue a written opinion on Ms Katz's claim that Medford School District policy prohibiting teachers from carrying weapons on school grounds violated state law.

Ms Katz, who has a concealed weapons permit, wants to carry her Glock to class at South Medford High School because she fears an attack by a Columbine-style intruder or her former husband. Ms Katz would not say if she had ever taken her gun to school, but she practised with it regularly and had thought about what she would do if she had to confront a gunman. She would be sure students were locked in nearby offices out of the line of fire, and she would be ready with her pistol.

"Our safety plan now is that if somebody threatening comes in, you try to avoid eye contact, and do whatever they say, and that is not acceptable any more," she said ahead of the court hearing. Shootings at Virginia Tech University and the one-room Amish school in Pennsylvania "reinforced my belief we have to take action, we can't just acquiesce as we have been taught to do", she said.

In court, Ms Katz's lawyer, James Leuenberger, argued state law allowed holders of concealed weapons permits to carry guns into public buildings, including schools, and the legislature did not intend to give cities, counties or school districts power to regulate guns. "The idea that having a gun-free zone makes a safe zone is a fallacious theory," he said. [How many school shootings will it take before that is recognized?]

Source




Colorado: Dog Owner Won't Be Charged For Shooting Mountain Lion: "A Wisconsin man who shot and killed a mountain lion that was attacking his dog will not be charged, the Division of Wildlife announced Thursday. Officials determined that Jeremy Kocar was acting in self-defense when he shot the mountain lion just outside his temporary home, near Gross Reservoir, earlier this week. Kocar could have been charged with an illegal take, and could have faced a fine of $1,400. State law allows people to shoot a mountain lion if their personal safety or livestock are threatened -- but officials said they didn't know if that would extend to dogs. Kocar and his wife, Angela, said that they heard a growl in the middle of the night and went outside to check out what happened and came face to face with the mountain lion. "It was standing right there under the tree branch with my dog in its mouth," said Angela Kocar. Jeremy tried to scare the mountain lion away but it didn't budge so he ran inside, grabbed his rifle and that's when the mountain lion approached him, he said."



Illinois county defends shotguns : "The Coles County Board on Tuesday gave its backing to a movement to oppose gun control laws. The board voted 12-0 to adopt an advisory resolution pledging it will “oppose the enactment of any legislation that would infringe upon the rights of the people to keep and bear arms. There was no board discussion on the matter other than member Marc Weber’s introduction of and motion to adopt the resolution. Weber is chairman of the board’s health and safety committee, which recommended the resolution to the board. He said the statewide effort behind the resolution, which has been adopted in more than 45 counties, came about because of proposed legislation to eliminate shotguns. They do have a downside, but in this case we are preserving them for hunting,” Weber said."



13 October, 2007

Wisconsin: Victim and attacker Come Face-To-Face In E.R.: "A Milwaukee pizza delivery driver managed to fight off two would-be robbers, but was surprised when he ran into one of his alleged attackers at the hospital. Police said a gunman tried to hold up the Pizza Hut driver while he was out on a delivery near 23rd Street and Verona Court just after 7 o'clock Wednesday night. While the driver was fighting with the suspect, a second man attacked him. That's when police said the pizza man grabbed the gun and began pistol whipping the first attacker. The pizza driver went to St. Francis Hospital to get treatment and saw the first suspect sitting in the emergency room. The victim called police, and the suspect was arrested. Officers are still looking for the second suspect.



Texas homeowner catches suspects in the act: "A quick-thinking homeowner who happens to be an early riser may be responsible for getting some crooks off the street. The man awoke early this morning at his home in th Cinco Ranch subdivision. As he went to feed the cats, he noticed the side door to the garage was open. Sheriff's deputies say Brian Bostic, 18, was inside a vehicle belonging to the homeowner's wife and Richard Holley, 20, was standing in front of the garage keeping lookout. Before the suspects noticed him, the homeowner retrieved a 12 gauge shot gun. He then demanded they lie on the ground and detained the suspects until deputies arrived on scene. Both suspects were taken into custody without incident. They are currently being held in the Fort Bend County Jail for burglary. Investigators located the suspects' vehicle, which contained stolen property from other homes in the area. Detectives believe these suspects may be responsible for a string of at least five burglaries. It appears that the suspects gained entry into unlocked vehicles located in the driveway as well as unlocked garages".



Washington: Man swinging bottle shot by driver at Highway 2 rest area: "The Chelan County sheriff's office says a man seeking a ride was critically wounded while harassing a driver who stopped at a Highway 2 rest area. The sheriff's office says 45-year-old Jay Kneer of Renton was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle Wednesday night with a head wound. Investigators say 66-year-old Dennis Shaw of Lynnwood and his wife had stopped at the Nason Creek rest area 14 miles west of Leavenworth where Kneer asked him for a ride. When Shaw refused, Kneer became angry, followed Shaw to his car and struck his vehicle window with a glass bottle. Shaw told investigators the attack continued when he pointed a handgun at Kneer. Shaw says he fired in an attempt to scare Kneer and hit him in the head. The Shaws were not injured."



12 October, 2007

Pennsylvania: 76-Year-Old Woman Takes Gun From Girl, Thwarts Robbery: "A 76-year-old storeowner in Washington County said she was having a bad day when a young woman tried to rob her on Monday. Police said Virginia Hart was behind the counter of the Lone Pine Market in Marianna when a young girl came in and demanded money. "She said she wanted my money," said Hart. "I said, 'You can't have it.' She said, 'I'm serious. Put it in this bag.' And I said, 'I'm not going to.'" Police said when Hart refused, the woman pulled a gun and again demanded money. "I whacked her in the head twice," Hart said. "She was still arguing with me, and that's when she finally got the gun out." Once again, police said, Hart refused and then grabbed the gun, picked up a stool and chased the woman out the door. The girl is described as blond, in her 20s and was wearing a blue sweatshirt."



Montana athlete recovering from mauling by bear: "A Carroll College student is recovering from a severed hamstring and other injuries suffered when he was mauled by a grizzly bear while bow hunting over the weekend. Roman Morris, who is a freshman wide receiver on Carroll’s football team, said he was crouched on a hillside north of Gardiner at dawn Saturday when a female grizzly bear walking by turned and attacked him. ‘‘It charged down the hill and just drilled me,’’ said Morris, 21, of Whitewater. Over the next 30 to 45 seconds, Morris fought with the bear as it bit and clawed, severed his left hamstring, punctured his shoulder, chomped at his head and tossed him around. ‘‘I thought the whole time, This is so messed up. I’m going to die, I’m going to die,’’’ said Morris, a pre-med major. The bear ran off after a friend fired a pistol. Morris underwent surgery at a Livingston hospital and was recuperating Monday at his brother’s house in Helena.... The attack came just hours before two Pennsylvania hunters shot a grizzly bear in self- defense after bear spray didn’t deter the charging bear."



Colorado Intruder Shot After Door Kicked In: "Police are investigating an early-morning shooting involving a man armed with a pool cue and a renter trying to get some sleep. According to police, the renter was sleeping at about 2:30 a.m. when the female owner of the house showed up with a friend and didn't have her keys. She woke the renter to be let in. Police said the renter asked the woman's friend to leave around 4 a.m. because they were being loud and he was trying to sleep. The man left, but returned a few minutes later, and police said he was carrying a pool cue. The renter told police the man with the pool cue kicked in the door and threatened him with the pool cue. That's when the renter shot the man. He was rushed to a local hospital for surgery after suffering a gunshot wound to the stomach, police said.



11 October, 2007

The latest from Red's trading post

In the form of a letter to NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg. See the original for links. Red's has been under sustained legal attack from ATF

Mikey, Mikey, Mikey; I'm no therapist but it seems like you are an ATF wannabe by bankrupting businesses, setting up sting operations and wasting millions in tax money to prove your point.

Reading about Jay Wallace with Adventure Outdoors, who is fighting back, is an inspiration that someone isn't just rolling over. You will remember the Virginia Citizens Defense League who had helped dealers fight back. Bloombergs response to those who fight back? "These are sick people" Mikey, Mikey, Mikey; again I am no therapist but fighting for your rights is not sick, destroying someones life and business for your own political gain...now that is sick.

When our fight first went public, a store that Bloomberg was suing contacted me and told me of how they were going under. They had spent over $100,000 so far and there was no end in sight. That sounds coldly familiar.

I have contacted our Attorney General stating that I am opposed to anti-gun zealots marching into our state; attacking honest businesses to further their own political agenda. I hope that you do the same and I hope that you will also support Adventure Outdoors who is not only fighting for their business but is fighting for your rights as well.

Source




SC: 2 wounded men held in attempted robbery: "Greenville police said late Tuesday night two wounded men were being held after an operator of the Concrete Jungle store on Laurens Road said he fired shots at two men who tried to rob the store late in the afternoon. Police spokesman Randy Evett said two men who were suffering from wounds were found at a local hospital. They were being evaluated late in the night and interviewed by investigators, he said. "I don't think they have been charged yet," he said. The store operator told investigators that he fired multiple times when two men walked in and tried to rob the store at 1810 Laurens Road at about 4 p.m., Cpl. Jason Rampey said. Police haven't said how many shots were fired. "He shot more than once," Rampey said. The name of the store operator hasn't been released. Evett said authorities believe the men were armed with a single, semi-automatic weapon. Police notified all area hospitals that one or two men might be seeking treatment for a gunshot wound, Rampey said."



Pennsylvania Man Kicked Out Of Home, Returns With Gun, Is Shot Dead: "A young man was wounded by gunfire while he shot and killed an intruder at a home in Pittsburgh's Homewood area Tuesday morning, according to homicide detectives. Police officers patrolling the neighborhood said they heard gunshots near the home in the 1500 block of North Murtland Street around 2:40 a.m. They found one man on nearby Lincoln Avenue with a chest wound and a gun in his possession, police said. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian hospital in critical condition but later died. Police identified that man as Ronnell Pittman, 34. No address for Pittman was given. Pittman had entered the home without being invited and was told to leave, then came back with a gun and started shooting at James Hill, 19, police said. Hill fired a gun and shot Pittman, who was able to run away but eventually died from his injuries, police said. Police did not say why Pittman entered the home in the first place. They said he may have gone there by mistake. Hill, of the Lincoln-Lemington neighborhood, was treated at UPMC Presbyterian for a gunshot wound to the foot. His uncle said Hill fired the gun to protect his family. Hill is being held at the Allegheny County Jail on an alleged firearms violation but is not facing any charges for Pittman's death, police said."



10 October, 2007

Washington: Police investigate family shooting: "Seattle police detectives are investigating whether a Seattle man was acting in self-defense when he shot and killed his adult son this past weekend. The shooting happened about 5:30 p.m. Saturday at a home in the 4600 block of South Cooper Street. Spokeswoman Renee Witt said it appeared to be a domestic violence situation, and that the father, 84, had previously complained to other children that the 51-year-old son living with him had been beating him. "It was pretty sad," Witt said. There were few details available as to what led to Saturday's shooting, but afterward the father apparently called police himself. He walked outside when officers arrived. Witt said officers recovered a weapon, which they took as evidence. The son was found dead in the home. His wheelchair-bound mother, 76, also was in the house and not hurt in the incident. Police took the father in for questioning, but released him shortly afterward."



Mississippi: Man who shot at burglars arrested for gun possession: "A Jackson man who shot at two teenagers trying to break into his home has been arrested by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Fredrico Hamblin was not charged for defending his property, but instead was charged as a felon being in possession of a gun, Jackson Police Department spokesman Sgt. Jeffery Scott said. Jackson police did not aid in the arrest Friday. The details of Hamblin’s previous felony conviction was not known. During Friday’s execution of the arrest warrant, Scott said a large sum of money and narcotics were seized at the home at 1715 Riverwood Drive. Oji Khanyyan, 17, and Christopher Ross, 18, were arrested for attempted house burglary for trying to break into Hamblin’s home two weeks ago. Neither were injured."



Texas: Dry Cleaner Fatally Shoots Robber: "Police say a would-be thief was fatally shot after trying to rob a Dallas dry cleaner at gunpoint Monday morning. The owner of 'Joe's Cleaners', Joe Baggett, spent the afternoon talking with police about the death of the 42-year-old alleged robber. Baggett told CBS 11 News the man had been in his business earlier in the morning and that he had smelled liquor on his breath. Baggett says when the man came back with a gun he offered to give him money but he wouldn't take it. According to the owner, instead of taking cash the man kept pushing him back while putting a gun to his head. Detectives say Baggett was being forced into the back room when he and the armed man got into a struggle over the thief's gun. Seeing the commotion, the store owner's wife retrieved the couple's firearm and eventually handed it to her husband - who fired several shots. "The guy feared for his life, you know as any one of us would with a gun pointed to his head. His wife went to his aid by grabbing their gun," said Sgt. Gene Reyes, Dallas Police Department. After being stuck in the head the gunman collapsed and died in the parking lot just a few feet away from a daycare center."



9 October, 2007

Utah: Man shot in face during jewelry store robbery: "Salt Lake City police are investigating a robbery that left a man with three gunshot wounds, including one to the face. The unidentified victim was transported at about 2:30 p.m. Saturday to LDS Hospital in serious condition with two gunshot wounds to the side and one to the face, said Lt. Rich Brede. Police throughout the Salt Lake Valley were on the lookout for a gray passenger car that fled the shooting at The Mouthpiece Company, located at 40 E. 1300 South. The suspected shooter is described as a black man, about 6 feet 2 inches tall, with red and white shoes. Police were dispatched to a robbery that escalated into a shooting at the business. Authorities believe the suspect entered the store and got into an altercation with the victim. Both men eventually pulled guns and "several" gunshots were fired, Brede said. "There are four holes in the wall within the store," Brede said. Police believe the suspect also may have been wounded in the exchange. Investigators recovered a handgun and several spent bullet casings, Brede said. The business's motto, etched in lettering on a window, advises customers to "Give them something to talk about." The store specializes in watches, chains, pendants, bracelets, rings and custom grills - jewelry worn over one's teeth."



Florida police seek leads in shoot out: "In exclusive video obtained by FOX 13, you see a man in dark clothing and a hat, walk up to the counter, wave a gun, and demand cash from store clerk Nasief Oudeh. In the video, Nasief is helping a customer when suddenly he's starring into the barrel of a gun. "By the time I turned my back to the customer I saw a suspect come in with a .38 gun waving it at me and said open the cash register. So I said 'okay calm down let me give you the cash,' " said Nasief. The gunman cleans out one register and then demands cash from the second one. As the armed suspect bolts out the door, Nasief's cousin fires one shot. Nasief also fires shots as he runs out of the store, but the armed robber gets away. Tampa police investigators are now looking at surveillance video and trying to figure out how many shots were fired, and by whom. "Certainly it had the possibility of being a lot worse, and we're certainly hoping to be able to find this person and get them off the street before somebody does get hurt, " said Corporal Jared Douds with the Tampa Police Department."



Florida: Pit-bulls kill owner: "Tina Marie Canterbury, 42, went to tend to the dogs in the back yard of her Cosmos Road home about 8:30 a.m. when the 2-year-old redbone pit-bull terriers started to attack, according to Clay County Sheriff's Office reports. Both of the animals were the woman's pets, authorities said. One of Canterbury's sons went outside and tried to save her and the dogs attacked him, biting him on the throat. He was not seriously injured, authorities said. One of the son's friends shot one of the dogs and the other ran away. Canterbury suffered massive bites to the upper part of her body and died before help could arrive, according to a Sheriff's Office report. When deputies arrived, the dog that had been shot was still alive and lunged at the responding deputy. He shot and killed the animal, authorities said. The second dog was found a short time later and fatally shot. There had been no previous reports of problems with the animals, authorities said."



8 October, 2007

New York: Deli clerk thwarts robbery: "A deli clerk is credited with averting a robbery in the City of Newburgh. City Police said on Friday morning, October 5 at about 6:15 a.m., a man walked into the Star Grocery at 111 William Street, walked behind the counter and pointed a shotgun at the clerk. The clerk grabbed the weapon, struggled with the would-be robber and pulled the shotgun away from him. The suspect fled with another employee chasing after him. The robber got away and the employees called the police. Police said that despite the heroism of the employees, they do not recommend that store clerks wrestle shotguns away from anyone committing a robbery. “This could have very easily been another homicide had the gun been loaded and gone off,” said Lt. Charles Broe, Sr."



Texas: 2 robbers die when guard fights back: "Two teens are dead following a botched robbery of a 20-year-old security guard who fought back early Thursday in southwest Dallas, police said. The dead are Detavias Davis, 17, and Sergio Vann, 19, according to the Dallas County medical examiner's office. The guard, Dedrick Howard, was using a laptop computer in his vehicle when he was approached by three young men, said Sgt. Ray Beaudreault, a homicide detective. They ordered him out of the vehicle, and one of the robbers, later identified as Vann, had a handgun, Beaudreault said. But Howard grabbed an semiautomatic SKS carbine and opened fire, killing Vann, Beaudreault said. Davis, Beaudreault added, tried to flee in white car, but Howard was worried the teen might also have a gun. "So, fearing for his life, (Howard) fired again and struck the driver,'' Beaudreault said. "(Davis) drove off, but because of his injuries, he wrecked." Davis was taken to the hospital from the crash scene on nearby U.S. 67, also called the Marvin D. Love Freeway, but he died later, Beaudreault said. The third robber, age 17, ran from the parking lot to the wrecked car and he tried to retrieve some personal property from the white car, but police arrested him, Beaudrealt said. Howard was not arrested, and the case will be referred to a grand jury to determine if he acted within the law, Beaudreault said. But, the detective added, Howard "was licensed and authorized to carry that weapon."



Ohio: Deputies Search For Couple In Attempted Home Invasion: "Deputies in Clark County said a homeowner is recovering after he was injured in a home invasion. The incident happened Wednesday night at a home on West National Road in Donnelsville. Deputies said the homeowner was injured by broken glass after he used a shotgun to shoot at someone who was breaking into his home. According to investigators, the suspect tried breaking into the home around 9 p.m. and broke glass while trying to do so. They said the suspect fled the scene when the homeowner opened fire."



7 October, 2007

A liberal's lament: The NRA might be right after all

By Jonathan Turley

This term, the Supreme Court may finally take up the Voldemort Amendment, the part of the Bill of Rights that shall not be named by liberals. For more than 200 years, progressives and polite people have avoided acknowledging that following the rights of free speech, free exercise of religion and free assembly, there is "the right of the people to keep and bear arms." Of course, the very idea of finding a new individual right after more than two centuries is like discovering an eighth continent in constitutional law, but it is hardly the cause of celebration among civil liberties groups.

Like many academics, I was happy to blissfully ignore the Second Amendment. It did not fit neatly into my socially liberal agenda. Yet, two related cases could now force liberals into a crisis of conscience. The Supreme Court is expected to accept review of District of Columbia v. Heller and Parker v. District of Columbia, involving constitutional challenges to the gun-control laws in Washington.

The D.C. law effectively bars the ownership of handguns for most citizens and places restrictions on other firearms. The District's decision to file these appeals after losing in the D.C. appellate court was driven more by political than legal priorities. By taking the appeal, D.C. politicians have put gun-control laws across the country at risk with a court more likely to uphold the rulings than to reverse them. It has also put the rest of us in the uncomfortable position of giving the right to gun ownership the same fair reading as more favored rights of free press or free speech.

The Framers' intent

Principle is a terrible thing, because it demands not what is convenient but what is right. It is hard to read the Second Amendment and not honestly conclude that the Framers intended gun ownership to be an individual right. It is true that the amendment begins with a reference to militias: "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed." Accordingly, it is argued, this amendment protects the right of the militia to bear arms, not the individual.

Yet, if true, the Second Amendment would be effectively declared a defunct provision. The National Guard is not a true militia in the sense of the Second Amendment and, since the District and others believe governments can ban guns entirely, the Second Amendment would be read out of existence.

Another individual right

More important, the mere reference to a purpose of the Second Amendment does not alter the fact that an individual right is created. The right of the people to keep and bear arms is stated in the same way as the right to free speech or free press. The statement of a purpose was intended to reaffirm the power of the states and the people against the central government. At the time, many feared the federal government and its national army. Gun ownership was viewed as a deterrent against abuse by the government, which would be less likely to mess with a well-armed populace.

Considering the Framers and their own traditions of hunting and self-defense, it is clear that they would have viewed such ownership as an individual right - consistent with the plain meaning of the amendment.

None of this is easy for someone raised to believe that the Second Amendment was the dividing line between the enlightenment and the dark ages of American culture. Yet, it is time to honestly reconsider this amendment and admit that ... here's the really hard part ... the NRA may have been right. This does not mean that Charlton Heston is the new Rosa Parks or that no restrictions can be placed on gun ownership. But it does appear that gun ownership was made a protected right by the Framers and, while we might not celebrate it, it is time that we recognize it.

Source




Florida robber shot by neighbor: "Investigators say a man from Gainesville was shot to death, while robbing his neighbor's home. The accused shooter says it was an act of self defense. Alachua County deputies say 33-year-old John Wilds shot 42-year-old Robert Aden in the chest while they were at Wilds home. Wilds and a witness told deputies that Aden tried to forcefully enter Wilds home, and even broke off the front door's handle. Wilds then grabbed his 22 caliber handgun, told Aden to leave, and fired a warning shot in the air. Aden then came at Wilds with his fists clenched and shouting obscenities. Fearing for his life, Wilds shot Aden in the chest. Wilds isn't facing charges at this time, but deputies say they will talk with the State Attorney's Office about possible charges when the investigation is complete." [Good shot with a .22]



Colorado man shoots mother bear and cub: "A man shot and killed a mother black bear and then one of her cubs as each one separately tried to break into his Marble-area cabin over the course of last weekend, according to state wildlife officials. "The sow was tearing apart the floor of the (elevated) cabin and coming in from underneath" while the man, an employee of OutWest Guides, was home early Saturday morning, according to Colorado Division of Wildlife spokesman Randy Hampton. Hampton said no obvious food or garbage attractants were around the cabin to entice the bear. The DOW managed to catch two of the dead sow's three cubs and take them to a wildlife rehabilitation center in Silt, Hampton said, but the biggest cub remained at large and returned to the man's cabin late Sunday night, where it allegedly tried to break in. "The individual was afraid and shot the cub," Hampton said. The cub weighed about 50 or 60 pounds and was strong enough to break into the house despite its small size, Hampton said. "Think of it this way: Imagine if you had a 60-pound dog coming in the window growling." It's illegal to shoot black bears out of season or without a hunting license, but a state statute allows people to shoot bears in self defense".



6 October, 2007

TX: Elderly man shoots, kills burglar: "An elderly man in La Vernia caught two burglars in the act, but they were no match for his trigger finger and his shotgun. One of the men is dead, and the other is behind bars. 'He's an old timer up there in the county and an old hunter,' Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt Jr. said. And 83-year-old Raymond Bunte wasn't afraid to defend someone else's home. ... Bunte heard suspicious noises next door on a rural road in La Vernia at about 2 p.m. Friday. He stumbled across a kicked in door and two thieves helping themselves to Dolores Hendershot's valuables. He blocked their exit and ordered the men out and on the ground. But 23-year-old Dustin Houston didn't get very far when he tried to flee."



Oregon: Three shot in home invasion, marijuana found: "Clackamas County deputies say an attempted home invasion occurred in Clackamas early Thursday, leading to the shootings of two suspects and the roommate of a man living there. A woman who was also in the home was not hurt. Police also found a "modest" marijuana growing operation on the property. Authorities got a 911 call at about 3 a.m. from a person who lives at the house, telling them he shot two men who came into the basement section of the home, where his roommate was residing. The man also says his roommate got caught in the crossfire and was also shot. The man in the home reportedly fired several rounds from a shotgun. The persons in the home at the time of the incident and the persons suspected of entering the home by force were identified by police Thursday afternoon in a press release. All have prior arrest records. John Edward Harris, born in October, 1982, has a prior arrest in 2004 for assaulting a Portland Police officer. Harris is identified as the "shooter" during the home invasion event. He was not injured. Anthony Patrick Cooper, 25, is a corrections client and has prior arrests for delivery of a controlled substance; delivery and possession of a controlled substance; robbery; burglary; menacing and dangerous weapons in Multnomah County. Cooper is identified as the roommate who was being assaulted violently by the intruding suspects and was shot by his roommate (Harris) during the altercation. Cooper was shot at close range in the hand and is in stable condition.... Authorities say they think the marijuana grow at the residence may be the reason the suspects broke into the home, which is located in a secluded area at the end of a long private driveway."



Connecticut Homeowner Chases Men Out Of House: "Wolcott police said officers arrived at 4:41 a.m. at the site of a home invasion on Chestnut Drive. Police said a woman was home alone with her sister when the two men entered the house. Police said the homeowner was armed with a gun and chased the men out of the house. The two men remain at large Thursday morning. Police described one man as 5 feet 11 inches tall with a medium build. He was last seen wearing dark-colored clothes. Police described the second man as having a large build and said he was last seen wearing blue jeans and shorts."



5 October, 2007

California homeowner shoots at man during attempted break-in: "An alleged burglar left a critical piece of evidence behind when he attempted to break in to a south Sacramento home early Wednesday morning: his car. James Villapando, 34, of Sacramento, parked his Toyota sedan in the driveway of a home on Florin Road, just west of south Watt Avenue, before allegedly attempting to enter the home through a window around 3:35 a.m., Sacramento County Sheriff's Sgt. Tim Curran said. The homeowner heard the man trying to get in, armed himself with a gun and fired several shots, Curran said. Villapando was not injured and ran away from the home, leaving the car in the driveway, Curran said. Deputies found Villapando hiding out in the area about two hours later. Villapando, who was an at-large parolee, was arrested on suspicion of burglary and is being booked into Sacramento County Jail.



California Gang Member, 22, Shot During Attempted Robbery: "A 22-year-old man was killed when he tried to rob a man who was armed and shot him in Boyle Heights Sunday, police said. The shooting occurred just before 3 a.m. on Lorena Street near 6th Street, said Officer Mike Lopez of the Los Angeles Police Department's media relations section. Fernando Sedano, described as a member of the "White Fence" gang, and a fellow gang member were driving down Lorena Street with Sedano's girlfriend and another passenger in the back seat. Police said Sedano stopped the car and, with the other gang member, apparently tried to rob a man walking down the street, police said. The intended robbery victim pulled out a gun, and as the two struggled for the weapon, shot Sedano in the chest. Sedano was taken to White Memorial Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead."



California marijuana shootout leaves one dead: "A homeowner apparently engaged in a gun battle with two masked men who tried to break into his marijuana garden, killing one of the alleged assailants and ending up seriously wounded himself. Nevada County sheriff's deputies say the Saturday night shootout started when two masked men armed with assault rifles broke into Dusty Beck's home in North San Juan, just north of Nevada City. Beck fatally shot one of the assailants with a shotgun, the sheriff's department said. Investigators did not immediately name the 31-year-old Yuba County man who died at the scene. Beck, 43, was shot once in the leg and twice in the abdomen. A hospital spokeswoman said he was recovering after surgery at Sutter Roseville Medical Center, where he was taken by helicopter. The second robber fled, said Nevada County Sheriff's Det. Ray Kress. Kress and sheriff's Lt. Bill Evans said the robbers apparently wanted the nine marijuana plants they found on Beck's property. Beck has previously reported similar theft attempts, Evans said. Lt. Joe Salivar said Beck is unlikely to face homicide charges because he was apparently defending himself during a home invasion. Narcotics officers were assisting with the investigation, but will leave it to the district attorney to decide whether Beck should face drug charges, Salivar said Monday."



4 October, 2007

Next Time, Scream 'LIBRESCU!'

That they were brainwashed into passivity in the face of evil is why so many died at Virginia Tech

Ever since hearing of the tragic deaths at Virginia Tech last April, I have been deeply troubled by the number of people killed by a lone gunman wielding two hand guns in the midst of dozens of people. Why was Seing-Hui Cho able to methodically move from classroom to classroom - four in total - killing 29 people and wounding at least 26 more, with so little effort to stop or to disarm him?

Why was the kill rate so high? Why was there no offensive response by the overwhelming numbers being attacked? Why was 76-year-old Professor Liviu Librescu one of the very few willing to take an offensive posture, and sacrificing his own life, to save students in his class? And most important of all: What can I do for my family and friends to give them a better chance of survival when something like this happens again?

I believe the answers lie in mental preparation for such an event. More precisely, I believe we can substantially reduce the kill rate when a Virginia Tech event such as this one occurs again by choreographing, with professional military/police advice, group response to such an attack. I believe the memory of Professor Librescu and his name, screamed at the top of our lungs, can ignite a life-saving group response.

What if, when Seing-Hui Cho entered Classroom 206 on April 16 - as the first drop of blood fell - the 13 graduate students present, along with Professor Loganathan, at the top of their lungs had screamed "LIBRESCU!" And if instantly each student and the professor - because the situation had been visualized dozens of times before in their minds - had started throwing every loose item in the classroom including computers, cell phones, PDAs, purses, backpacks, shoes, books, and water bottles at Cho. And what if, almost simultaneously, each of them had started running toward Cho and attacking with the clear intent to subdue and immobilize.

And what if every other student and professor within earshot of room 206, upon hearing the screams of "LIBRESCU!" had grabbed everything they could find to bar their own classroom doors. What if they had immediately prepared to tackle and subdue anyone who successfully broke through their barriers.

Visualize this instant - aggressive "LIBRESCU!" group response to Cho's actions - the morning of April 16 instead of the confusion and paralysis that in fact happened as Cho methodically went from classroom to classroom, killing and maiming all in his presence. Now visualize a "LIBRESCU!" response where your children go to school, where you worship, on your train coming from work, in an airplane cabin, in a restaurant. Can we train for such a response? Of course we can. And we must. I propose that leaders of all groups of people - including governments, universities, companies, churches, schools, unions and associations - get to work immediately to prevent, or at least contain, another mass slaughter. Here's how:

* Engage professionals to design the best possible group response to maximize the survival rate. (And why shouldn't the Department of Homeland Security lead the way, with its own expertise and with funding?)

* Develop videos depicting attacks by one or a few gunmen on a group, along with the appropriate response by the group to maximize survival upon hearing the scream "LIBRESCU!" (Once again, why shouldn't DHS help out by at least paying for widespread distribution of such videos?)

* Play these videos for your team every few months.

* As we do with fire drills, practice group response whenever large groups of people gather. And above all, practice the scream "LIBRESCU!"

If this makes sense to you, and especially to those of you who lead groups of people, you can unilaterally respond right now. Share these thoughts with others. Get the dialogue and debate started. You can arm your people, not with guns but with the knowledge and training that will provide the best possible chance for survival. Why not?

One final question to ponder: Did Professor Librescu, a Holocaust survivor, respond as he did because of the thousands of times he had run his exact response to Cho through his mind? Were the last thoughts of this brave man, the butchers at the door will not slay my people again.

Source




Tennessee Home Invasion: Man Fights Back: "Family members say 31 year-old Kevin Hill was approached by a guy with a gun while getting out of his SUV after running some morning errands. That's when two other guys came up and forced Hill inside his home and up into the attic to rob him. Police say Hill struggled with his attackers and managed to take away one of their guns and fire. Police say no one was hit but several shots were fired inside of the home. The robbers ran from the home, jumped in Hill's SUV and sped off. Police later found the SUV after the trio crashed it on Syndey Street in North Memphis. Officers were able to take all three robbers into custody. The Robbery Division is investigating. So far no charges have been filed."



Ohio: Homeowner shot after door kicked in: "Police were searching for three armed men who broke into a house on the city's east side Monday morning. Cynthia Davis said she had just gone into the basement of her home on Picard Road when she heard the back door being kicked in, 10TV News reported. "I guess God sent me to the basement right at that moment, because I would have been sitting there when they kicked the door in," Davis said. "I had just been sitting on the couch there moments before." Davis' husband, Frank Watson, yelled to her to stay downstairs and call 911, 10TV News reported. Watson, 60, picked up his gun and started towards the men. When he saw the burglars, one of the men opened fire, police said. "Nothing was taken," Davis said. "When they saw Frank with a pistol, he scared them off and they started to run." Davis said she could not tell Watson had been shot at first. "He said, 'They shot me,' and that's when I could see his T-shirt was soaked with blood," Davis said. Watson was taken to Grant Medical Center in serious condition."



3 October, 2007

Florida resident shoots man suspected of breaking into his home: "A St. Petersburg man shot a person he suspected of trying to break into his home last night. The home invasion suspect is under arrest at St. Anthony's Hospital in St. Petersburg. A police spokesperson says the resident fired more than 6 shots through his back door, without looking, when he heard a noise. The suspect was hit two times in the chest. Police say someone drove the suspect to the hospital. It happened around 10pm last night at a home at 1710 13th Avenue North."



South Carolina: No charges in home invasion: "Police say they won't file charges against a Darlington County homeowner, who officers say shot and killed a man after that man invaded his home. It happened at a home on London Fog Drive in Darlington County last week. Deputies say several men invaded the house. Officers say gunshots were exchanged between the homeowner and one of the intruders. Deputies say both were wounded and the intruder, Dewayne Washington, died. We're told the homeowner is recovering in the hospital. [Background report here]



North Carolina: Robber Shot, Killed By Victim: "A man is dead after an attempted robbery went wrong. Police in Charlotte said 20-year-old Javauis Brown and another man tried to rob a group that was having a get-together behind some apartments on Conway Avenue in southeast Charlotte. It happened early Sunday just before 1:30 a.m. Officers said someone in the group shot and killed Brown. Hector Rojas Picheco, 16, was also shot, but was treated and released from Carolinas Medical Center."



2 October, 2007

MA: Would-be robber flees after store owner shoots: "Armand Tavares, the owner of the A&J Variety Store at the corner of Kendall and Frederick streets, told police that a black man with a Luger-type pistol entered the store Monday at about 9:30 p.m. The robber, who was wearing a hood pulled tight to cover his face, pointed the gun at Tavares and demanded money, police said. Tavares, who is licensed to carry a gun, pulled out his .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun and fired, hitting the ATM in the store. The startled robber ran out of the store unharmed and without any cash, police said."



Pennsylvania: Intruders shot, one fatally: "Two suspected robbers were shot, one of them fatally, during an apparent home invasion on Grover Street in McKeesport last night, police said. Police were called at 10:10 p.m. to a home in the 2900 block of Grover, where a resident resisted an apparent robbery. One suspect was killed, and the other was hospitalized with at least one gunshot wound, police said. The extent of his injuries was not immediately known.



Idaho: Another "battered wife" killing: "The Bonneville County Sheriff's Office is investigating a deadly shooting at a home in Swan Valley between a wife and her husband. Last night, Debra Schultz says she shot her husband once in the chest, claiming it was in self defense. 48-year-old William Schultz died. Detectives are treating it like a homicide until they get all the facts. Court and crime specialist Suzanne Hobbs spoke with law enforcement and with the woman who pulled the trigger. Debra Schultz says throughout her relationship he was physically violent and she never got out, although just last week she did go to a women's shelter in Driggs for help, and just returned home where she had to fight for her life. Tuesday night, Debra says her husband was high on marijuana and drinking. The fight got so bad he grabbed a gun and said he was going to shoot her. She says it was either shoot him or she would be killed. She even considered jumping out of the second story window, but says William stopped her. She didn't want her battered and bruised face to be shown .... Debra Schultz said, "When he came home last night he told me that he was going to kill me and that was after he beat up my face and he said, "I can't let you go now because if the cops see this I'm going to go to prison." And he already has 5 charges in Reno hanging over his head for domestic violence against me."



1 October, 2007

Arizona Man Who Shot prankster Teen Acquitted: "A Willcox man who shot and wounded a teenage girl after she and her friends banged on his windows in a late-night prank was acquitted of three felonies, but a jury couldn't reach a verdict on a fourth charge. The Cochise County jury found Delbert "Cody" Evans not guilty of aggravated assault using a deadly weapon and endangering Kayla Shores, who was 14 when a bullet fired by Evans hit her in the back in February 2006. She has since recovered. Evans was also cleared of endangering another girl who was with a group of five teens on Evans' porch. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on a charge of aggravated assault causing disfigurement. The verdicts came Friday after a three-day trial and eight hours of deliberations. The teens had gone to Evans' rural home to get back at him for making a scary prank phone call, testimony showed. He had known Shores for years and they were friends. Evans, 32, testified he had been threatened by a man over payment for a wood stove and thought he was shooting in self-defense at an assailant. A 13-person grand jury unanimously refused to indict Evans in 2006, infuriating some in the community, who accused Cochise County Attorney Ed Rheinheimer of bungling the case. A subsequent recall effort failed. Rheinheimer eventually asked for a preliminary hearing, and a judge ordered Evans to stand trial on the four felony counts."



FL: Freed in murder case, man faces new charges: "Ronald Oats Jr. will not face a murder rap, but he is not off the hook yet. Prosecutors dropped a murder charge against the 20-year-old man on Monday morning, but Oats was arrested minutes later in court on gun and drug charges. Assistant State Attorney Brian Iten decided that Oats acted in self-defense when he shot a man during a drug deal turned sour. ... After filing a motion to drop the murder count, Iten quickly had Oats arrested on gun and marijuana charges. Bailiffs arrested him in the courtroom, and a judge ordered Oats to be released on his own recognizance because prosecutors did not have enough evidence to prove he was a flight risk."



WI: Conceal carry law unconstitutional, judge rules: "Charges were dropped Monday morning against a Milwaukee pizza delivery man accused of shooting two would-be robbers, and in a 10-page statement, the judge said Wisconsin's law forbidding the carriage of a concealed weapon, as it pertains to this case, was unconstitutional. Andres Vegas was delivering pizza near 22nd and Locust streets Jan. 4 when a 16-year-old pulled out a gun and demanded money, police said. Vegas was accused of pulling out his own gun and shooting the teen three times. ... The incident in January was the second time in less than six months that Vegas shot someone who tried to rob him on the job. In July of 2006, a 14-year-old boy pulled a gun on Vegas, who retaliated by shooting the boy three times. Then-District Attorney E. Michael McCann said that since Vegas had been robbed in the past, state law said he had a reasonable belief that he needed to protect himself and did not file charges... District Attorney John Chisholm's office said they will not appeal Noonan's decision and lawyers for Vegas said that he is no longer delivering pizzas".