5/27/2005

Minnesota restores Right-to-carry law

I thought that this story was an April Fools joke: "Doctors' kitchen knives ban call"

Proposed ban on 50 caliber guns in NJ

5/26/2005

Texas going to let judges, attorneys to carry guns in court?

The Senate has passed a bill that would allow district and county attorneys and federal judges to carry concealed handguns inside the courthouse.

State Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, who sponsored the House bill authored by State Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, said he was pleased all 31 senators voted for the bill Tuesday.

"I think it's a good piece of legislation, especially after the shooting at our courthouse," Eltife said.

In February, a man angry about being sued for unpaid child support opened fire with an AK-47 assault rifle outside a Tyler courthouse. David Hernandez Arroyo Sr. killed his ex-wife and a bystander. Arroyo's son and three officers were wounded. Arroyo was killed by police after fleeing the scene.


For the rest of the story on the Tyler attack and links at the bottom of the page to other discussions see here.

5/25/2005

Unlike New York, Illinois House narrowly defeats so-called Assault Weapons Ban and .50 caliber ban

New York Assembly Passes Expanded Assault Weapons Ban

A wider range of semi-automatic rifles and pistols would become legally off-limits to gun buyers under legislation that passed the Democratic-controlled state Assembly yesterday.

Assemblyman John Lavelle (D-North Shore) sponsored the bill, arguing that "military-style guns" -- the kind used in several killings, including the executions of two undercover cops in Tompkinsville two years ago -- should not be sold legally. . . .

To become law, Lavelle's bill must pass the Republican-controlled state Senate and be approved by Gov. George Pataki. Based on history, it's not an impossible road.

Lavelle said his co-sponsor is Sen. Frank Padavan, a well-established Republican from Queens who, as a member of the majority party, could get a bill through the Senate.

Asked about the prospects for Lavelle's bill, state Sen. Diane Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn) said she would need to review it. A spokesman for Sen. John Marchi (R-Staten Island) said the same, but added that Marchi "feels nobody needs a combat weapon to go deer-hunting."


Do these guys even know what an a so-called "assault weapon" is?

5/24/2005

Retired officers slowly allowed to carry concealed weapons

Clerks shoots suspected robber

A Peabody and Applause for Dan Rather?

Ending Gun registry or closing so-called gun show loophole: Illinois' choice

Reducing gun free zones in Ohio

5/23/2005

"Misleading filibuster myths"

Donald Lambro goes through several of the myths about judicial filibusters. It is a nice summary of the debate from the Republican point of view.

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison on keeping a gun at home to protect yourself

She may be able to hang a giant Lone Star flag outside her office, but Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison said today there's one part of her Texas culture she couldn't bring to the nation's capital — her handgun.

Hutchison said she didn't know when she arrived from Austin in 1993 that the District of Columbia prohibits keeping a fully assembled handgun in the home. The district's ban has been in place since 1975.

Hutchison, a Republican who is considering a 2006 run for Texas governor, introduced legislation today to lift the ban. If the bill passes she said she would keep a gun in her D.C. home. . . .

"I have always had a handgun in the drawer next to my bed, and I would certainly again have one if it were legal in D.C.," Hutchison said.

Her office said her handgun is a Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum revolver.

Hutchison said after she learned of the D.C. gun ban, she dismantled her gun, bought a travel case for it and took it back to Texas. She said she's complying with the law even though she thinks it's unconstitutional.

"I think every woman in the District of Columbia should have the ability to protect herself in her home," she said.

Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership

Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership's website always makes for an interesting read.

5/22/2005

Guns, Gays, Utah

From David Nelson:

SALT LAKE CITY -- With an expected attendance of almost 30,000 people, the state's annual gay- and lesbian-pride events planned for June 8 through 12 will continue to be one of the largest outdoor events organized in the capitol city. But, the leader of a group whose members own and use legally concealed firearms, and attend the events said that an events rule which would ban "weapons of any kind" is too broad, unenforceable and shouldn't discourage the members from attending the events with their firearms if they choose to do so.

Stonewall Shooting Sports of Utah founder and owner David Nelson said that the rule, which was published in May is a departure from the 2003 and 2004 pride events when their organizers agreed that people with legally concealed firearms could not be denied admission to the events and adopted no such rules. Nelson said that his requests to the organizers to revise the new rule remain unanswered.

"Previous organizers understood that people with Utah Concealed Firearm Permits have met every federal and state legal requirement to choose carrying legally concealed firearms, and welcomed us," Nelson said. "There were no complaints at the 2003 and 2004 events. The previous organizers didn't confuse the difference of legal and illegal firearms."