Santa Maria Shooting Hospitalizes One
A shooting Saturday night sent a 19-year-old to the hospital and police searching for a gunman.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Gun laws are getting looser across much of US
By ERIK SCHELZIG, Associated Press Writer Erik Schelzig, Associated Press Writer
Fri Dec 11, 4:06 pm ET
By ERIK SCHELZIG, Associated Press Writer Erik Schelzig, Associated Press Writer
Fri Dec 11, 4:06 pm ET
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – It's been the year of the gun in Tennessee. In a flurry of legislative action, handgun owners won the right to take their weapons onto sports fields and playgrounds and, at least briefly, into bars.
A change in leadership at the state Capitol helped open the doors to the gun-related bills and put Tennessee at the forefront of a largely unnoticed trend: In much of the country, it is getting easier to carry guns.
A nationwide review by The Associated Press found that over the last two years, 24 states, mostly in the South and West, have passed 47 new laws loosening gun restrictions.
Among other things, legislatures have allowed firearms to be carried in cars, made it illegal to ask job candidates whether they own a gun, and expanded agreements that make permits to carry handguns in one state valid in another.
The trend is attributed in large part to a push by the National Rifle Association. The NRA, which for years has blocked attempts in Washington to tighten firearms laws, has ramped up its efforts at the state level to chip away at gun restrictions.
"This is all a coordinated approach to respect that human, God-given right of self defense by law-abiding Americans," says Chris W. Cox, the NRA's chief lobbyist. "We'll rest when all 50 states allow and respect the right of law-abiding people to defend themselves from criminal attack."
Among the recent gun-friendly laws:
• Arizona, Florida, Louisiana and Utah have made it illegal for businesses to bar their employees from storing guns in cars parked on company lots.
• Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, South Carolina and Virginia have made some or all handgun permit information confidential.
• Montana, Arizona and Kansas have allowed handgun permits to be issued to people who have had their felony convictions expunged or their full civil rights restored.
• Tennessee and Montana have passed laws that exempt weapons made and owned in-state from federal restrictions. Tennessee is the home to Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, the maker of a .50-caliber shoulder-fired rifle that the company says can shoot bullets up to five miles and is banned in California.
The AP compiled the data on new laws from groups ranging from the Legal Community Against Violence, which advocates gun control, to the NRA.
Public attitudes toward gun control have shifted strongly over the past 50 years, according to Gallup polling. In 1959, 60 percent of respondents said they favored a ban on handguns except for "police and other authorized persons." Gallup's most recent annual crime survey in October found 71 percent opposed such a ban.
The NRA boasts that almost all states grant handgun permits to people with clean criminal and psychological records. In 1987, only 10 states did. Only Wisconsin, Illinois and the District of Columbia now prohibit the practice entirely.
"The NRA has a stranglehold on a lot of state legislatures," said Kristin Rand, legislative director the Violence Policy Center, a gun control group in Washington. "They basically have convinced lawmakers they can cost them their seats, even though there's no real evidence to back that up."
Tennessee's new laws came after the Republican takeover of the General Assembly this year, but most other states that loosened restrictions didn't experience major partisan shifts. Most of the states where the new laws were enacted have large rural populations, where support for gun rights tends to cross party lines.
While some states have tightened gun laws during the same period, the list of new restrictive laws is much shorter. In 2009 alone, more than three times as many laws were passed to make it easier on gun owners.
New Jersey's 2009 law limiting people to one handgun purchase per month is the most notable of the more restrictive laws. Other examples this year include Maryland's ban on concealed weapons on public transit and Maine's vote to give public universities and colleges the power to regulate firearms on campus.
The most contentious of Tennessee's new gun laws was one allowing handguns in bars and restaurants that serve alcohol. It took effect in July after lawmakers overrode a veto by the governor. Last month, a Nashville judge struck down the law as unconstitutionally vague, but supporters have vowed to pass it again.
A similar Arizona law that took effect in September allows people with concealed-weapons permits to bring their guns into bars and restaurants that haven't posted signs banning them.
While Tennessee's law was in place, many bars chose not to let customers bring guns in. Likewise, more than 70 communities have opted out of allowing guns in parks.
"People go in there and start drinking and then they want to start a fight. What are they going to do if they got a gun in their hand?" said Larry Speck, 69, who works at an auto repair shop in Memphis. "I've got a gun permit and I'm not carrying mine in there even if they have a law."
Chattanooga retiree Ken Hasse, 71, said he worries about the possible consequences of allowing people to carry their guns in places like parks. "It's going to tempt somebody to use one," he said.
Supporters of expanding handgun rights argue that people with state-issued permits are far less likely to commit crimes, and that more lawfully armed people cause a reduction in crime. Opponents fear that more guns could lead to more crime.
Academics are divided on the effects of liberalized handgun laws, and determining the impact is complicated by the move in several states to close handgun permit records.
A Violence Policy Center project has mined news reports to find that more than 100 people have been killed by holders of handgun-carry permits since 2007, including nine law enforcement officers. The project originally intended to list all gun crimes by permit holders, but there were too many to keep track of, Rand said.
"They shoot each other over parking spaces, at football games and at family events," Rand said. "The idea that you're making any place safer by injecting more guns is just completely contradicted by the facts."
The flood of legislative victories in Tennessee after many years of frustration now has some gun backers aiming for a whole new level of freedom: No permits at all.
The permit laws "are an extra burden on people to exercise essentially a constitutional right," said John Harris, executive director of the Tennessee Firearms Association.
___
Associated Press writers Lucas L. Johnson II in Memphis and Bill Poovey in Chattanooga contributed to this report.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Gun Permits
Comments sought on gun club permit
U.S. Forest Service officials are seeking public input on a proposal to reissue a special permit to the Winchester Canyon Gun Club for its shooting range along West Camino Cielo.
A popular target range used by the club’s 700 members as well as the public, the range has been permitted since 1969. It is frequently used for rifle, pistol and black powder target shooting, along with trap, skeet and sporting clay shooting, forest officials said.
Authorities are seeking comments and concerns to be considered as part of environmental impact analysis related to the proposed permit renewal. Comments must be received prior to Jan. 18, 2010, and can be sent to Jeff Bensen, 6755 Hollister Ave., Ste. 150, Goleta, CA 93117, by telephone at 961-5744, by fax at 561-5729, or by email to comments-pacificsouthwest-los-padres-Santa-barbara@fs.fed.us.
An open house to discuss the project is planned for December 9 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Los Padres National Forest headquarters, 6755 Hollister Ave.
Police: Man first person charged under gun law
Sunday, December 06, 2009
December 6, 2009 (CHICAGO) -- Chicago police say an 18-year-old gang member is the first person charged under a state gun law that Governor Quinn signed Thursday.
Kirk Craan was cited for unlawful use of a weapon, possessing a firearm with a defaced serial number, and possessing ammunition without having a valid state firearms owner ID card.
He is charged under the Valadez law, which requires a sentence of 3 to 10 years in prison for a gang member convicted of illegally possessing a loaded gun.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
FORT HOOD TRAGEDY
"The Coalition Against Gun Violence deeply mourns the
loss of the men and women in the Fort Hood, Texas tragedy. We send our
sympathy to the families, the wounded and the Fort Hood community."
2 dead, 2 wounded in Ore. office park shootinG
By WILLIAM McCALL | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
TUALATIN, Ore. (AP) -- A woman was killed and two of her co-workers were injured when the woman's estranged husband opened fire Tuesday at a drug-testing laboratory in suburban Portland before turning the gun on himself, police said. The woman who was killed was identified as Teresa Marie Beiser, 36, of Gladstone. Her husband, Robert James Beiser, 39, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said. Teresa Beiser worked at the Legacy MetroLab in an office park across from a strip mall in Tualatin (pronounced too-ALL-a-tin), about 13 miles south of Portland. The names of her injured co-workers were not released, but authorities said they were a 20-year-old woman and 63-year-old man. The 63-year-old man was flown to Oregon Health & Science University hospital in Portland, where he was being treated for multiple gunshot wounds, Tualatin Police Chief Kent Barker said. The 20-year-old woman was taken by ambulance to Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland, where she was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. It was not clear whether she had been shot. The gunman fired shots outside the lab and then fired more inside, Barker said. He was found dead inside the building. "There were people running all over the place when the officers first responded," Barker said. "It was pretty chaotic at first." He said he didn't expect any further details would be available Tuesday. Witnesses said a woman in a bloodied lab coat ran into a nearby Subway sandwich shop after the shooting. Alina Kurtavenao, who works at the Subway, said the woman had blood on a leg and on her forehead. "She wasn't crying, she wasn't scared," Kurtavenao said, adding the woman appeared to be in shock. Other businesses in the area included a framing store, a bank and a locksmith. The office mall was evacuated when police arrived. Legacy MetroLab conducts drug and alcohol testing for employers and others, company spokeswoman Kathleen Gorman said. "There were probably six people working there," said Travis Bonser, a teller at a Chase Bank across the street. "It's just a regular lab." The middle-class community of Tualatin has about 26,000 residents and is the site of the practice facility for the Portland Trail Blazers. © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy. |
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Student Arrested After Bringing Gun To School
Student Arrested After Bringing Gun To School
A junior at Paso Robles High School was arrested Wednesday morning after allegedly bringing an unloaded gun to school. Police and school officials say the boy had the gun hiding in his locker and were notified by students who saw the gun.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Man accidentally kills his fiancee
Source: LATimes
Florida (10-09-09)
A man who thought there was an intruder in his house fatally shot his
fiancee the day before they were to be married.
John Tabutt, 62, told investigators he got his gun when he thought he heard
an intruder early in the morning, then fired at a figure in his hallway. It
was Tabutt's live-in fiancee, Mancy Dinsmore, 62. Tabutt told authorities
he thought she was next to him in bed. No charges have been filed.Monday, October 12, 2009
CALIFORNIA BRADY CAMPAIGN CHAPTERS BRADY CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE
For Immediate Release
Monday, October 12, 2009
CALIFORNIA’S GOVERNOR SIGNS LEGISLATION
TO HELP TRACK AMMUNITION SALES
Sacramento, CA – Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into
Monday, October 12, 2009
CALIFORNIA’S GOVERNOR SIGNS LEGISLATION
TO HELP TRACK AMMUNITION SALES
Sacramento, CA – Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into
law legislation that will help law enforcement officials track down
and apprehend armed criminals and other prohibited persons.
AB 962 by Assembly Member Kevin DeLeon (D-Los Angeles)
had the support of law enforcement officials from across the state
and was modeled after successful city ordinances, including the
cities of Sacramento and Los Angeles. AB 962 was the
Brady Campaign’s top priority bill in this year’s legislature.
The law requires maintenance of purchaser records by handgun
The law requires maintenance of purchaser records by handgun
ammunition vendors. Local law enforcement can use these
records to find illegal guns.
“The purchase records will provide our police officers with
“The purchase records will provide our police officers with
yet another tool to track down and apprehend armed and
dangerous criminals,” said Paul Helmke, President of the
Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.
The new law also requires the safe storage of handgun
The new law also requires the safe storage of handgun
ammunition in stores and that all handgun ammunition
sales be completed in face-to-face transactions. Sacramento
and Los Angeles have had great success over the last few years
with similar city ordinances. “Law enforcement officials in both
cities have had great success in tracking down violent criminals
who purchased ammunition in Sacramento and Los Angeles,”
said Ellen Boneparth, President of the California Brady Campaign
Chapters. “Our California Brady Chapters were instrumental in
urging cities to pass the local ordinances and getting strong
support statewide for AB 962.”
A 2006 study by the Rand Corporation on Los Angeles’ city
A 2006 study by the Rand Corporation on Los Angeles’ city
ordinance showed 10,050 rounds of ammunition were purchased
by prohibited persons in a period of just two months. The study
concluded “…monitoring ammunition transactions may help
reduce the supply of ammunition to criminals and the frequency
of injuries from felonious gun assaults. Such a record can also
provide information for generating leads on illegal firearm possession.”
The results of the Sacramento ammunition ordinance were also striking.
The results of the Sacramento ammunition ordinance were also striking.
From January 16, 2008 to August 31, 2009, 229 prohibited people
purchased ammunition of which 173 had previous felony convictions,
including gang members. From the matching of ammunition purchase
records to the California prohibited persons file, the Sacramento DA
was able to charge 181 of the purchasers with felonies. In addition,
160 illegal firearms were seized from the prohibited persons, as well
as cash, drugs, and explosive devices.
As the nation's largest, non-partisan, grassroots organization leading
As the nation's largest, non-partisan, grassroots organization leading
the fight to prevent gun violence, the Brady Campaign, with its
dedicated network of Million Mom March Chapters, works to
enact and enforce sensible gun laws, regulations and public
policies. The Brady Campaign is devoted to creating an America
free from gun violence, where all Americans are safe at home,
at school, at work, and in our communities.
For continuing insight and comment on the gun issue, read
For continuing insight and comment on the gun issue, read
Paul Helmke's blog atwww.bradycampaign.org/blog/.
Visit the Brady Campaign websites at www.bradycampaign.org or
Friday, October 9, 2009
Sting operation finds illegal gun sales in 3 states, report says
Sting operation finds illegal gun sales in 3 states, report says
An investigation commissioned by the city of New York found private gun vendors selling weapons to buyers who admitted not being able to pass background checks, breaking federal law, a report released Wednesday says. full story
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Several shootings overnight in Los Angeles leave one dead, police say
Crime | Government | Wildfires | Educat
ion | Roman Polanski | Traffic | Westside
« Previous Post | L.A. NOW Home | Next Post »
Several shootings overnight
in Los Angeles leave one dead,
police say
October 4, 2009 | 12:09 pm
« Previous Post | L.A. NOW Home | Next Post »
Several shootings overnight
in Los Angeles leave one dead,
police say
October 4, 2009 | 12:09 pm
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Justices Will Weigh Challenges to Gun Laws
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court announced on Wednesday that it would decide whether state and local gun control laws may be challenged under the Second Amendment.
The court also agreed to hear nine other cases from among those that had piled up over its summer break, including one concerning the constitutionality of an antiterrorism law that is a favorite tool of federal prosecutors. READ MORE HERE
Supreme Court to Decide Whether Second Amendment
| |||||
|
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)