Volume 7, No. 1 www.foac-pac.org January 7, 2006

Firearms Owners Against Crime

"The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; that they may exercise it by themselves in all cases to which they think themselves competent, or they may act by representatives, freely and equally chosen; that it is their right and duty to be at all times armed; that they are entitled to freedom of person, freedom of religion, freedom of property, and freedom of the press." -- Thomas Jefferson (letter to John Cartwright, 1824) Reference: The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Lipscomb and Bergh, eds., 16:45.

E-Newsletter & FOAC Meeting Notice For January 14, 2007

Meeting Agenda-

Special Guest Speakers:

None

7.0 Treasurers Report

7.1 Presentation of the past month’s Report

8.0 Old Business

8.1 8.1 None

9.0 NEW BUSINESS

9.1 Harrisburg Summary of Actions to Date (including leadership elections)

9.2 Meetings to formulate Pro-Gun Agenda

9.3 Educational efforts for new legislators

9.4 2007 Election Summary and discussion

9.5 Legislative Issues to Date

9.6 Bloomberg Interstate Gun Dealer Harassment (NYC Mayor & Gun Owner Response)

9.7 Concealed Carry Reciprocity Agreement (Virginia)

9.8 Gun Show (Harmarville) January 20^th & 21^st

For more information on FOAC efforts to ‘Protect YOUR Rights’, THE MOST CURRENT VOTER’S GUIDES, donating to or becoming a member of FOAC please click on this link: http://www.foac-pac.org/

December 7, 2006

Attorney General Corbett announces criminal charges against six in Lawrence County "straw purchase" gun and drug investigation

HARRISBURG - Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced that the Attorney General's Organized Crime Section and Pennsylvania State Police have filed criminal charges in Lawrence County against six people accused of conspiring to illegally obtain handguns for suspected drug dealers.

Corbett explained that the investigation focused on so-called "straw purchases" of handguns, where individuals purchase multiple weapons and then sell or transfer them to someone else. "Straw purchases" are often used to conceal the identity of the actual buyer of a weapon and are commonly used by convicted felons and others who are legally prevented from purchasing firearms.

Corbett identified the principal figures in this conspiracy as four former Buffalo, New York residents:

· Edward "June Bug" Wilkie, currently incarcerated in West Virginia.

Chanel "Pomp" Pompey, currently incarcerated in New York.
Donnell "D" Johnson, 22, 5 East Wallace Ave., New Castle.
"Pony" - Male juvenile.

"This 'straw purchase' scheme demonstrates how far drug dealers and convicted felons will go to illegally obtain firearms," Corbett said. "We will work hand-in-hand with local law enforcement across Pennsylvania, and beyond, to shut down these illegal gun rings."

Evidence and testimony about the weapons purchases and other suspected illegal activity was presented to a statewide investigating grand jury, which recommended that criminal charges be filed.

Corbett said that Wilkie, Pompey, Johnson and the juvenile were suspected by authorities in Buffalo of being part of the "Fruit Belt Posse," a gang named for several streets in Buffalo.

The grand jury found that Wilkie, Pompey, Johnson and others were involved in the distribution and sale of crack cocaine in New Castle, Lawrence County. Members of the organization were also allegedly obtaining handguns and rifles in the New Castle area and transporting them to Buffalo.

Corbett said that the organization allegedly used two New Castle residents, Louis Glorioso and JoEllen Piccirillo, as "straw buyers" for weapons. Between September 2004 and February 2005 Glorioso and Piccirillo purchased at least 18 weapons from gun shops in Lawrence and Mercer counties, often accompanied by Pompey and others from the organization.

According to the grand jury, the weapons were exchanged for cash or cocaine shortly after they were obtained.

Corbett said that several of the weapons allegedly obtained through this "straw purchase" scheme have been recovered by police in New Castle and Buffalo during other criminal investigations.

Corbett said the criminal charges were filed before New Castle Magisterial District Judge Melissa Amodie. The case will be prosecuted in Lawrence County by Assistant Executive Deputy Attorney General Michael M. Ahwesh of the Attorney General's Organized Crime Section.

Below is a list of the defendants and the charges filed against them:

Edward Lewis Wilkie, 31, currently incarcerated at the Gilmer Federal Correction Institution, Glenville, WV, is charged with one count each of participating in a corrupt organization, illegal sale or transfer of a firearm, illegal possession of a firearm, criminal conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and dealing in the proceeds of illegal activity (money laundering).

Chanel Pompey, 22, currently incarcerated at the Gouverneur Correctional Facility, Gouverneur, NY, is charged with one count each of participating in a corrupt organization, illegal sale or transfer of a firearm, illegal possession of a firearm, criminal conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and dealing in the proceeds of illegal activity (money laundering).

Donnell Johnson, 22, 5 East Wallace, Ave., New Castle, is charged with one count each of participating in a corrupt organization, illegal sale or transfer of a firearm, illegal possession of a firearm, criminal conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and dealing in the proceeds of illegal activity (money laundering).

Louis J. Glorioso, 51, 2408 Old Butler Road, New Castle, is charged with one count of illegal sale or transfer of a firearm.

JoEllen Piccirillo, 50, New Castle, is charged with one count of illegal sale or transfer of a firearm.

CCW Reciprocity Update – PA has entered into License to Carry Firearms Reciprocity agreements with South Dakota, Tennessee and Virginia within the last two months.

That means the states listed below and Pennsylvania will now honor each other's concealed weapons permits. Pennsylvania now has reciprocity agreements with 13 states (you can download and read the agreements by clicking on the links below). They are:

Also, Idaho, Indiana, Montana, Oklahoma and Utah do allow any out of state resident with a valid concealed weapons permit from their home state to carry a weapon while in those respective states. Therefore, Pennsylvania residents with a valid concealed weapon permit may carry a firearm while in Idaho, Indiana, Montana, Oklahoma and Utah. These states also require a person to have the actual permit and a photo ID on their person while carrying the weapon.

Brady Campaign's New President Helmke Takes On-Line Pounding

When Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, published remarks on the HuffingtonPost.com website, he drew a quick, and largely negative, reaction from readers.

In his piece, entitled "Guns and Governing," Helmke listed his career in politics, including his stint as mayor of Fort Wayne, IN, and his unsuccessful bid for the United States Senate. He then confessed that he is "at a loss why some pundits and elected officials consider common sense measures to reduce gun violence as `wedge issues' too controversial to be considered by the new Congress."

That was about all it took for readers to fire back, explaining in many words that what he might consider "common sense" is, in their opinion, complete nonsense.

After insisting that his organization is "not talking about banning or confiscating guns that people buy and own for hunting, collecting, or personal protection," he once again soft-pedaled his proposals as "moderate steps that would make our homes and neighborhoods safer."

Anti-Gun Agenda

Among those, steps: "restrictions on certain types of military-style weapons and ammunition" and Brady background checks, limits on bulk sales and strong enforcement of gun laws.

He wants to give the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives more muscle, and require background checks on sales at gun shows.

All of this brought reader responses, not only to the Huffington website, but also to the KeepAndBearArms.com forum, one of the most active gun rights sites in the country.

"If you don't like guns, Mr. Helmke," wrote one respondent, "don't own one. Your problem is solved."

Another wrote back to Huffington stating, Here are some common sense laws I'd like to see pass: Senator Allen’s proposal to allow people with concealed carry permits to carry in National Parks."

Another writer said gun violence and other violent crime has decreased more than 30% since the mid-1990x, at the same time firearms ownership has climbed in this country, and the number of states with shall-issue concealed carry has risen to 40. Some reactions were pretty pointed, like the one that stated, "Virulently anti-gun people are full of it. They want confiscation they just can't say it out loud. When you know what the end state is going to be all this jabbering about moderation rings completely hollow. It is our duty as gunowners to not cooperate in any form or fashion."

Another expressed quite an independent, rather Libertarian bent: "If owning ‘military style’ weapons is my hobby, who is Sarah Brady to tell me I'm not responsible enough to own one. I've never even gotten a ticket. I don't need hysterical Lefties managing my life."

Atlanta Case

One poster on the Huffington site alluded to the recent shooting of an elderly homeowner in Atlanta, GA, by police during a no-knock raid that is now the subject of a federal investigation.

"The gun violence I'm most interested in preventing," he stated, "is innocent citizens being shot in their own homes by SWAT teams serving no-knock warrants, usually in furtherance of the war on drugs."

Over on the KABA forum, the responses became even sharper. One correspondent, reacting to Helmke's acknowledgement that he had been "involved with politics all my life" wrote, "That's the problem right there. Most of these clowns have no idea what it's like to make a living and support a family without depending on a government check. How can you possibly expect them to understand such concepts as self-reliance and the right to make one's own decisions?"

And another summed it up thusly: "This guy is a classic loser, and here's why. He's promoting himself as a government worker. A mayor and a loser at a shot at the Senate. He's now working for a tax free political group. This man has no, zero, natta (sic), nothing to brag about having done in the private sector. He's your normal elitist who believes in government because with people like him in government they can run your life because they believe you are too stupid to call your own shots (pun intended)." The New GUN WEEK, December 20, 2006

Iowa Congressman's stats Indicate illegals Kill 12 Citizens Each Day

An Iowa congressman has released statistics that claim a dozen American citizens are murdered every day by illegal aliens, and another 13 are killed in traffic accidents by illegals who are driving drunk.

According to a story published on WorldNetDaily, Rep. Steve King (R-IA) has released statistics that, if they are correct, mean that almost 4,400 American citizens are murdered annually by illegals, and another 4,745 are killed each year by drunk illegal alien drivers. However, the report acknowledged that no one in or out of government actually keeps track of accidents caused by illegal aliens.

The report comes more than a year after Gun Week revealed that states do not keep track of how many illegal aliens are now in their prisons. That revelation caused the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms to launch a campaign in 2005 that called on the White House and Congress to pursue "Border Control, Not Gun Control."

Coincidentally, at the time Gun Week was investigating this situation, the Government Accountability Office reported on a 2003 study that indicated more than 55,000 illegal aliens are now serving time in federal and state prisons and local jail facilities, and that some of these people had been arrested as many as eight times.

Crimes committed by illegal aliens were also discussed by a panel at this year's Gun Rights Policy Conference held in Charlotte, NC.

According to WorldNetDaily, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Study "found 20% of fatal accidents involve at least one driver who lacks a valid license." The report then noted that a California study revealed that people who have never held a valid drivers license are about five times more likely to be involved in a fatal traffic accident.

Another report, from the Violent Crimes Institute ofAtlanta suggests there may be as many as 240,000 alien sex offenders in this country illegally, and they averaged four victims apiece. The New GUN WEEK, December 20, 2006

News Briefs:

NY Official Warns Students about Gun Crime Consequences

High school students in Mount Vernon, NY, were given something of a "scared straight" lecture Nov. 29 by a district attorney who told them that packing a gun or even keeping one for a friend could land them in prison for more than three years.

The program was described by the Associated Press as the launch of a campaign by District Attorney Janet DiFiore to educate local residents in Westchester County about a new state gun law that requires judges to impose at least a 3¹/2-year sentence on someone convicted of possessing an illegal, loaded handgun, the report said.

While appearing at Mount Vernon High School, DiFiore and other officials were sometimes showered with laughter from the largely black student audience.

Chauncey Parker, state director of criminal justice, told the students that in the past they did not face much of a risk for a gun violation, but that all changed Nov. 1.

Mayor Ernest Davis reportedly told the students that the new law was aimed at keeping them safe. The New GUN WEEK, December 20, 2006

Dallas County Probe Finds `Tommy Gun' Was No Secret

A top Dallas County, TX, sheriff's commander who was demoted for keeping an unregistered Thompson submachine in his office locker for about five years w4sn't the only high-ranking officer who knew about the firearm, according to an internal affairs investigation, reported by The Dallas Morning News.

Larry Locke was demoted from assistant chief deputy to captain in July by Sheriff Lupe Valdez for not properly securing the 1940s-era "Tommy gun" in the department's property room as required by policy.

However, former Sheriff Jim Bowles’ top deputy, Larry Forsyth, and Bowles' legal adviser, Leslie Sweet, both knew of the existence of the gun, according to an internal investigation.

Locke now says that he was only following instructions and that he is being made to take the blame unfairly.

"I'm not a thief. I did what I was told to do," he said. "People did know about that gun. They acted as if they didn't."

Forsyth told two internal investigators that he advised Locke to "secure the gun and keep it quiet" because the sheriff had a "fascination with machineguns," according to internal affairs documents.

Forsyth, who retired as executive chief deputy after Bowles left office, said in a written statement to investigators that he was concerned Bowles would take the gun but that he didn't know Locke kept it in his locker.

Sweet, who is now Sheriff Valdez's legal adviser, said in a memo to Valdez that he agreed that Locke should hold onto the machinegun "under separate secure lockup."

Mr. Forsyth and Mr. Sweet both said they were concerned at the time about Sheriff Bowles taking the machine gun because he had recently kept a different Thompson in his office that reportedly belonged to legendary Sheriff Bill Decker.

Bowles, who lost his bid for re-election when he was defeated in the 2004 primary, referred questions about the matter to his attorney, John Barr, The Morning News reported. The New GUN WEEK, December 20, 2006

OH Store Clerk Outguns Thug

An unidentified store clerk in Dayton, OH, turned the tables on a would-be robber Nov. 27 by shooting the thug.

According to The Dayton Daily News, the bandit entered the Express Mart about 9 a.m. armed with a handgun and aimed it at the clerk. Probably to the everlasting surprise of the thug, the clerk drew his own handgun and fired, about the same time the robber capped off a round. Unfortunately for the bad guy, his aim was lousy and the clerk's wasn't.

Hit in the shoulder, the thug beat feet but showed up shortly afterward at the home of an acquaintance, and from there called an ambulance. Well, his bad luck because the cops also responded to the gunshot wound call, and when they saw their guy matched the description of the robber they were looking for, out came the handcuffs.

After being treated for the gunshot wound at a hospital, the thug finished his evening at the Montgomery County Jail. The New GUN WEEK, December 20, 2006

Philanthropist Booked over Gun

A convicted felon-turned-philanthropist who has offered reward money in several high-profile cases was arrested on a gun charge, Philadelphia authorities said on Nov. 30, according to Associated Press. Federal agents found a loaded handgun the previous day in Joe Mammana's nightstand, according to an arrest warrant.

FBI and IRS agents were searching Mammana's suburban Philadelphia home for evidence of mail and wire fraud, authorities said. Mammana, who owns a Pennsylvania egg farm, offered $250,000 last year in the disappearance of Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway in Aruba.

But he has his own lengthy rap sheet that includes aggravated assault, larceny and narcotics violations, felony convictions that make it illegal for him to have a gun. He was in federal custody pending a hearing scheduled for Dec. 1.

Last week, the head of wcrime stoppers group in central Ohio who had sued Mammana/said he was beaten by a baseball batwielding attacker who toll him to drop the suit. The New GUN WEEK, December 20, 2006

Central Ohio Crime Stoppers sued Mammana on Nov. 15 seeking $131,000 the group said he had pledged as a reward. Mammana said the group forged his name on a contract and denied involvement in the bat attack on Kevin Miles.

Mammana has co-sponsored a gun buy-up program in Philadelphia in which people were offered shopping vouchers if they gave up their guns. Records showed that the gun on Mammana's nightstand was purchased by his father in 1979. The New GUN WEEK, December 20, 2006

Phoenix Airport to Test X-Ray

Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix will test a new federal screening system that takes X-rays of passenger's bodies to detect concealed explosives and other weapons, according to Associated Press.

The technology, called backscatter, has been around for several years but has not been widely used in the US as an anti-terrorism tool because of privacy concerns.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said it has found a way to refine the machine's images so that the normally graphic pictures can be blurred in certain areas while still being effective in detecting bombs and other threats.

The agency was expected to provide more information about the technology in late December but said one machine will be up and running at Sky Harbor's Terminal 4 by Christmas.

The security agency's website indicates that the technology will be used initially as a secondary screening measure, meaning that only those passengers who first fail the standard screening process will be directed to the X-ray area.

Even then, passengers will have the option of choosing the backscatter or a traditional pat-down search.

A handful of other US airports will have the X-rays machines in place by early 2007 as part of a nationwide pilot program, TSA officials said.

The technology already is being used in prisons and by drug enforcement agents, and has been tested at London's Heathrow Airport. The New GUN WEEK, December 20, 2006

NSSF Bullet Points

www.nssf.org

Nov. 20-27 / Dec. 4, 2006 - /- Vol. 7 Nos. 47, 48 & 49

Anti-Hunting Groups Sue California--PLAINTIFFS WANT BAN ON LEAD AMMO . . . Claiming the use of lead ammunition by hunters in California violates the "Endangered Species Act," anti-hunting and anti-gun groups have filed suit against the California Fish and Game Commission and the state Department of Fish and Game for failing to enact a ban, the Los Angeles Times reports. The lawsuit, filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, Natural Resources Defense Council and others, alleges lead ammo is harming the state's endangered condors. Though surveys show that hunters, the foremost leaders in conservation, are willing to adopt voluntary measures that would interrupt potential exposure pathways between spent ammunition and condors, anti-hunting advocates are unwilling to recognize these measures. Like others intent on ending hunting, these groups also are attempting to scare wildlife managers with unfounded claims of health threats to hunters. NSSF opposes a lead ban for a number of reasons -- especially the fact that science is inconclusive on how condors interact with hunting ammunition -- and supports further scientific research.
HUNTANDSHOOT.ORG ADDS LOCAL NEWS . . . HuntandShoot.org now features regular updates on hunting and shooting opportunities in all 50 states. Five renowned freelance writers have begun compiling news on hunting and shooting access and opportunities in each state. Included are regular updates on state hunting seasons, reports on public hunting access, opportunities at shooting ranges and a growing list of other topics and news. Developed by NSSF, HuntandShoot.org is a one-stop resource for finding places to hunt and shoot, planning outdoor adventures or simply learning how to get started in hunting or shooting. Also featured is NSSF's Hunt and Shoot Sweepstakes. Site visitors can enter to win a free Polaris ATV, a bird hunt for two at Flint Oak Ranch in Kansas or NASCAR tickets.
NICS EXPLAINS OUTAGES . . . On Nov. 26 and 27, the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) went down unexpectedly. NICS explained to NSSF the unscheduled outages were due to never-before-encountered technical difficulties affecting the system's memory areas and buffers. As a result, NICS experienced four system outages where background checks could not be processed. Some media reports falsely claimed dealers were transferring firearms during the outages. Nov. 26's outage lasted 45 minutes. There were three outages Nov. 27 of 34 minutes, 1 hour 24 minutes and 35 minutes. "NICS sincerely apologizes to firearms dealers for these unexpected outages. While these occurrences are very rare, we recognize the inconvenience they cause firearms dealers and law-abiding gun owners. NICS will continue to coordinate close oversight of the system with our IT staff to ensure any anomalies are promptly addressed," said Bobby Hamil, section chief of FBI-NICS. Even with these outages, NICS processed 17,983 firearms transactions on Nov. 26 and 29,867 on Nov. 27. For comparison purposes, on the Sunday and Monday after Thanksgiving last year NICS processed 14,574 firearms transactions on Sunday, Nov. 27, and 28,200 on Monday, Nov. 28.
ATF AGREES TO REVIEW CALIFORNIA REVOCATIONS . . . At NSSF's request, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has begun reviewing a number of federal firearms license revocations in California to ensure that they are warranted under the unique facts and circumstances of each case. The review comes after an apparent spike in revocations was brought to NSSF's attention. Top-level ATF officials are looking into the issue to ensure that the process and procedures were fair and that ATF guidelines and policy were followed. NSSF encourages licensees in other states to bring similar occurrences to its attention. NSSF reminds all licensees to take advantage of the educational seminars at the upcoming SHOT Show. "As one court recently said in upholding the revocation of a dealer's license, dealers need to 'sweat the details,'" said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF senior vice president and general counsel.
FIRST SHOTS GUIDE AVAILABLE FOR RANGES . . . Over the past year, NSSF's First Shots program has sparked the interest of shooting ranges across the country, attracting new shooters and enthusiastic new customers. To accommodate the growing number of ranges interested in the program, NSSF has published a "First Shots Reference Guide." The free 27-page publication supplies ranges with everything they need to know on how to independently conduct a First Shots event at their range. The guide is now available in print and online in PDF format at http://www.firstshots.org/RangeOwners.cfm. To request a copy, contact Cyndi Dalena at 203-426-1320.
10 TIPS FOR WORKING WITH MEDIA . . . With SHOT Show fast approaching, the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) and its members offer suggestions for manufacturers, organizations and other show exhibitors eager to increase media coverage. Read POMA's "10 Tips for Effectively Working with the Media."
GUN EDUCATION IN SIXTH-GRADE CURRICULUM . . . Sixth-graders in a Juneau middle school completed an outdoor education course that included instruction in safe handling of guns and firing rounds from .22-caliber rifles. Tom Milliron, the principal, figures school children are going to encounter guns one way or another, whether venturing armed into nearby wilderness or visiting the home of a friend, reports the NCTimes.com. Better they learn how to handle a firearm safely than to hurt themselves through ignorance, Milliron says.
OHIO LAWMAKERS PASS REVISED CONCEALED-CARRY BILL . . . The Ohio legislature on Wednesday passed a bill that would allow for uniform handgun laws across the state, reports The Associated Press. The bill passed the state House with a 74-14 vote, while the Senate passed the bill 19-10. Gov. Bob Taft has said he will veto the bill.

BLOOMBERG WON'T WALK THE TALK . . . New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg has refused to call for the resignation of Jackson, Miss., mayor Frank Melton from public office or to oust him from the Mayors Against Illegal Guns coalition following Melton's conviction on three separate weapons charges. NSSF director of public affairs Ted Novin called Bloomberg's lack of action "hypocritical" in light of his professed concern over the use of illegal guns. Last week, NSSF challenged Bloomberg to call for Melton's resignation and to join the firearms industry in cooperative efforts to curb the criminal acquisition of illegal guns. A spokesperson for the mayor demonstrated an unfortunate lack of knowledge about the ongoing debate between NSSF and Bloomberg when she said NSSF "should be working with us to help keep illegal guns out of the hands of criminals." Repeated attempts to engage the mayor and educate him about industry programs such as Don't Lie for the Guy have been rebuffed.
ATF REFORM BILL IN THE PRESS . . . Having passed in the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year by a 277-131 vote, the ATF Modernization and Reform Act (HR 5092) is back in the press with talk of the U.S. Senate taking up the legislation in the current lame-duck session. In a recent article, bill sponsor Howard Coble (R-N.C.) and others discussed the bill, which would allow ATF new powers to issue fines and suspend licenses (as opposed to being able to only revoke licenses). The legislation would also allow ATF to distinguish between "purposeful/serious" violations and "benign/administrative" violations. It would also create an appeal process that places an appeal before an administrative judge rather than ATF, allowing for a neutral hearing. NSSF and other organizations concerned with firearms rights are supportive of this bill, as it will help protect the rights of FFLs.
SURVEY: RANGES SEE THIRD-QUARTER INCREASES . . . According to NSSF's latest quarterly Range Consumption Report, 46 percent of ranges offering handgun target shooting experienced an increase in the number of customers/visitors between July and September compared to the same period last year. Some other findings: 53 percent of ranges with sporting clays and/or 5-stand reported an increase in rounds sold, ranges offering trap/skeet threw an average of 68,050 targets and 6.5 percent of ranges reported an increase in the number of local, state, and/or federal regulations imposed on their facility. Each quarter, NSSF produces a Range Consumption Report based on surveys of participating ranges. A full copy of the report is available only to ranges that participate in the survey. To participate, ranges can send an e-mail to fbriganti@nssf.org with a name, range name, phone number and e-mail address.
GUN MAKERS FILE MOTION . . . Following the decision of Lake County, Ind., Superior Court Judge Robert A. Pete, declaring the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) unconstitutional, firearm manufacturers under suit have filed a motion to certify the court's ruling. This is a procedural move that must be done in order to appeal the judge's decision. The city of Gary, Ind., filed a frivolous lawsuit against 16 firearm manufacturers, including Smith & Wesson, Colt, Browning, Sturm, Ruger & Co. and Beretta, in 1999 seeking to blame them for gun crimes committed in the city. The manufacturers filed for dismissal of the suit under the PLCAA.
NEWSWEEK LOOKS AT HUNTING IN AMERICA . . . Looking back on his own childhood experiences afield, Newsweek writer Steve Tuttle reports on the state of hunting in the U.S. and initiatives helping to introduce a new generation to the outdoor tradition. Read Tuttle's article, "The Elusive Hunter."
HISTORY OF THE AK-47 . . . It was 60 years ago that Russia's Mikhail Kalashnikov invented the AK-47. In Sunday's The Washington Post, author Larry Kahaner provided a history of the rifle.

LAWYER WITH ANTI-GUN TIES TO MONITOR FIREARMS DEALERS . . . Federal Judge Jack B. Weinstein has appointed a lawyer handpicked by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to monitor several small out-of-state "mom and pop" gun stores that had been sued by Bloomberg earlier this year. The lawyer, Andrew Weissman, is a partner with the Chicago-based law firm of Jenner and Block. The firm represents the Violence Policy Center (VPC), a Washington, D.C.-based gun-control group known for its extremist positions, including advocating a ban on civilian ownership of handguns. Read NSSF's press release regarding the appointment.
ANTI-GUN MAYOR CONVICTED ON GUN CHARGES . . . Frank Melton, mayor of Jackson, Miss., and member of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's "Mayors Against Illegal Guns" coalition, was convicted last week on two misdemeanor charges for carrying a weapon into a church and a park. In a third charge, reduced from what had previously been a felony count, the mayor pleaded no contest to carrying a gun on a university campus. Melton excused his criminal acts by stating, "I'm not another citizen. I am the mayor of Jackson." NSSF senior vice president and general counsel Lawrence G. Keane called upon Bloomberg to kick Melton out of his coalition. "Sadly, he's just another politician who believes he's above the law. If he had a shred of dignity he would resign." Melton will be allowed to stay in office.
NSSF PRESS RELEASES VIA E-MAIL . . . Members of the media and anyone else interested in keeping up on NSSF news can now easily subscribe to receive press releases via e-mail. A quick sign-up page is available at www.nssf.org.
MOTOWN MEDIA REPORTS ON YOUTH HUNTING . . . The Detroit News and WNEM TV 5 recently filed reports on the popularity of the "Families Afield" legislation that has resulted in a lowering of minimum ages for qualified small-game (age 10) and big-game (12) hunting in Michigan. Families Afield, the program spearheaded by NSSF, the National Wild Turkey Federation and U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance, with support from the National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses, has successfully helped eliminate unnecessary age barriers preventing parents from hunting with their children in 11 states. The TV report cites information prepared by NSSF that demonstrates hunting is safer than football, ice hockey and basketball, and both articles stress the value parents and children place on the time afield they spend together.
CONCEALED CARRY LAW GIVES BUSINESSES A BOOST . . . Firearms retailers in Kansas are seeing increased business due to the state's five-month-old concealed-carry law, reports The Wichita Eagle. Businesses have also been able to boost business by offering concealed-carry classes.

News Story Links:

06/12/08 Veto On Ohio Carry Bill Overridden

For almost eight years, Gov. Bob Taft never had one of his vetoes overridden by a legislative chamber--until Dec. 7. A few hours after Taft vetoed legislation amending the state's concealed-carry law, the House voted 71-21 to override. Fourteen Democrats joined 57 Republicans to exceed the 60 votes needed in the lower chamber. http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/16192791.htm

06/12/08 Right To Bear Arms Applies To Militias Only, D.C. Tells Court

Attorneys defending Washington, D.C.'s handgun ban argued Dec. 7 that the Second Amendment's right to bear arms applies only to militias, not individuals.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/metro/20061207-110519-9728r.htm

06/12/08 Dems' `08 Race Is Hillary's To Lose

"The battle for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination will come down to two candidates: Hillary vs. the Un-Hillary," write Dick Morris and Eileen McGann. http://www.nypost.com/seven/12082006/postopinion/opedcolumnists/dems_08_race_is_hills_to_lose_opedcolumnists_dick_morris__eileen_mcgann.htm

06/12/08 For Now, An Unofficial Rivalry

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy recently hosted the nine Democratic members of his health and education committee at an intimate dinner in his home in Washington's Kalorama neighborhood. The surroundings were stylish, the food home-cooked and tasty. And then there was the entertainment. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/07/AR2006120701755_pf.html

06/12/08 Bloomberg's Foot

One of the questions about Mayor Michael Bloomberg's campaign against guns is whether he is going to end up, in respect of his presidential aspirations for 2008, shooting himself in the foot. The mayor, backed by his corporation counsel and police commissioner, held another one of his high-caliber press presentations to announce yet a new round of lawsuits against firearms dealers. http://www.nysun.com/article/44844

06/12/07 More Judges Packing Pistol In Court Rooms

Despite more security, states are passing laws allowing jurists to arm themselves. http://www.law.com/jsp/law/LawArticleFriendly.jsp?id=1165413317603

06/12/07 Dec. 7, Then And Now

Sixty-five years ago today, on a sleepy Sunday morning, Imperial Japan struck the U.S. Pacific Fleet anchored in Pearl Harbor, sending much of it to the bottom. America was suddenly thrust into World War II. While history never precisely repeats, President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair`s successor should pay attention to three parallels between Pearl Harbor and the dangers we now face decades later. http://www.washtimes.com/op-ed/20061206-095729-4679r.htm

06/12/07 U.N. OKs Arms Trade Treaty Resolution

Over U.S. objections, the U.N. General Assembly approved a resolution that could lead to the first international treaty on controlling the trade in assault rifles, machine guns and other small arms. http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2006Dec07/0,4670,UNWeaponsTradeTreaty,00.html

06/12/06 Politics Didn’t Drive Carry Bill, Aide Says

If there was some political strategy behind passing a carry reform bill that Gov. Bob Taft is likely to veto, Scott Borgemenke isn’t aware of it. http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/12/05/20061205-D4-03.html

06/12/06 Bolton Bolts

The only winners from the resignation of U.S. ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton are the foes of the U.S. Ambassador Bolton did a courageous job communicating and protecting American values in the belly of a beast where those values are at risk each and every day. His commitment to real and effective reform was unshakable. No one was more vociferous in campaigning against his nomination than the defenders of the status quo-Secretary General Kofi Annan, his deputy Mark Malloch-Brown, and their financial backers, George Soros and Ted Turner`s U.N. Foundation. http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MGY0MmU5N2FhMzgyMzU3YmRmMWE1NjA3ZWZhNjRkMjA=

06/12/06 Women Take Time To Target Self-Defense

Roger Hazlewood, a Cortez resident and National Rifle Association certified instructor, offers women a free gun-skill safety course on the third Sunday of each month at the outdoor range across from to the county fairgrounds, weather permitting. During the class, female students work on developing gun speed, accuracy and skills to protect from muggings, carjackings and other threat-related situations. http://www.cortezjournal.com/asp-bin/article_generation.asp?article_type=news&article_path=/news/06/news061205_2.htm

06/12/06 Technical Issues Delay New Licensing System

A Tennessee company developing a new computer system for Pennsylvania fishing and hunting licenses has missed its deadline for completing the project, and officials say it could be several more months before the software is ready. http://www.mcall.com/sports/outdoors/all-licenses1205dec05,0,984410.story?coll=all-sportsoutdoors-hed

06/12/05 Obama Meets With Soros

Senator Barack Obama has treaded onto Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's home turf to meet with prominent Democratic donors and feel out those who might prefer the sound of President Obama to President Clinton (as in Hillary, not Bill). Mr. Obama met with George Soros, the liberal billionaire philanthropist, and then some other donors at Mr. Soros`s offices. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/05/us/politics/05obama.html?ei=5090&en=d45c54c42290ee99&ex=1322974800&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=print

06/12/05 Calling Citizens To Arms

Henry Statkowski is a councilman in Cherry Tree Borough in Indiana County, Pa. He is proposing - and borough council is considering - an ordinance recommending that households in Cherry Tree have at least one firearm with ammunition for self-defense purposes. http://www.tribune-democrat.com/editorials/local_story_338070522.html?keyword=secondarystory

06/12/05 Judge: Man Not Violating Gun Laws

District Judge Diane Repyneck threw out 17 citations Monday against a 62-year-old township man accused of violating local gun laws. http://www.nj.com/news/expresstimes/pa/index.ssf?/base/news-8/116529512664170.xml&coll=2

06/12/05 Protest In Support Of Gun Shop Shooting

Greg Carvell did what any citizen in the same circumstances should legally be able to do when faced with an intruder yelling "Give me the guns or I`ll kill you". He shot him! But Greg will appear in the Auckland District Court facing charges that could see him going to jail. The law and order lobby group Sensible Sentencing Trust is vowing to support Mr. Carvell. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0612/S00037.htm

06/12/05 Dog Tunnels Through Snow To Save 81-Year-Old Owners

A seven year old German Shephard - Timberwolf mixed dog named Shana is quite a canine hero in Alden, Tenn., as the story spreads of her efforts to save her owners during the October surprise storm. http://www.wbir.com/news/archive.aspx?storyid=40172

06/12/04 There's No Such Thing As Sensible Gun Laws

"This caught my eye this morning: Paul Helmkes anti-liberty rant Guns and Governing, on The Huffington Post, Dec. 1, 2006. Helmke is head of The Brady Campaign To Prevent Gun Violence. Here is my response, Dec. 1, 2006," writes John Longenecker. http://newsbyus.com/more.php?id=6220_0_1_0_M

06/12/04 Right-To-Carry In Parks

Legislation proposed by outgoing U.S. Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) that would allow private citizens to carry their legally concealed handguns inside national parks seems sensible and long overdue. http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/opinion/16148406.htm

06/12/04 Freedom To Be Bold