Yearly Archives: 2013

Win for Chicago gun owners: City Council rewrites gun laws

"The National Rifle Association is claiming victory today after the Chicago City Council tentatively approved a rewrite of the city’s onerous gun laws that were passed in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in the McDonald v. Chicago case (2010), which effectively overturned Chi-Town’s ban on handguns. While the full City Council will officially vote on the changes on Wednesday, it’s believed that they’ll stick because of the state’s recently passed concealed carry law, a 'shall-issue' statue that allows law-abiding citizens to carry concealed firearms in public provided they pass a background check, pay a $150 fee and take a 16-hour firearms training course." Continue reading →

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New Jersey Suddenly Begins Enforcing Air Rifle Ban

"In New Jersey, it is illegal to own an air rifle if it in any way reduces noise. That would make it a weapon with a silencer. Such weapons are illegal in New Jersey. The police did not bother with this in the past, but now they do. The idea that criminals are going to threaten victims with air rifles equipped with silencers is bizarre. But in the world of bureaucracy, North’s law of bureaucracy reigns supreme: 'In any bureaucracy, some bureaucrat will eventually enforce the letter of the law to the point of absurdity.' I don’t know how gun owners are supposed to comply. Must they sell their guns to New Yorkers? How are they to transport their guns across the state’s border?" Continue reading →

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Two Huge Victories in Colorado for the Second Amendment

"Even though there had never been a successful recall in Colorado history, and even though advocates of gun rights were targeting Senators in two districts that voted overwhelmingly for Obama, and even though the statists had a huge money advantage, what mattered most was that voters did not want their gun rights eroded by politicians. Polling data shows the American people would engage in massive civil disobedience if politicians tried to ban guns. But it’s also comforting that voters also are willing to overcome heavy odds to knock off politicians who push for any type of gun control." Continue reading →

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Two Colorado lawmakers lose recall elections over support for gun laws

"Senate President John Morse of Colorado Springs and Sen. Angela Giron of Pueblo lost their jobs as lawmakers in an election seen as a national measure of popular support for gun legislation. They were replaced by two gun-rights Republicans. Angered by new limits on ammunition magazines and expanded background checks, gun rights activists filed enough voter signatures for the recall elections - the first for state legislators since Colorado adopted the procedure in 1912. The recalls prevailed despite some $3 million in contributions for the incumbents. The recalls were the latest chapter in the national debate over guns - and, for some, a warning to lawmakers in swing states." Continue reading →

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Jordan lawmaker fires Kalashnikov assault rifle at colleague

"A Jordanian MP was arrested after firing a Kalashnikov assault rifle in parliament at a colleague on Tuesday, without causing injuries, judicial and parliamentary sources said. The source said the shooting came after an argument broke out in parliament on Sunday between Damissi and another member, Yahia al-Saud. Video footage emerged showing Damissi removing his shoes and Saud his belt during the dispute, which flared due to differences over parliamentary procedure, before they were separated. In July 2012, a live television debate on domestic issues between two deputies also degenerated into fisticuffs before one of them pulled out a gun and was overpowered." Continue reading →

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NAA Mini Revolvers: Five rounds of ‘Get off me!’

"Guns come in all shapes and sizes from behemoth Dirty Harry hog legs down to pipsqueak pinfires. On the small end of things is the North American Arms Mini Revolver, but don’t let its size fool you into thinking it’s unloved. These minis are plenty popular, plenty powerful and plenty useful. Fifth pocket carry or even shirt pocket carry is possible with the Lilliputian lead-slinger. No matter how much you try, you just cannot fit an LCP or Bobcat comfortably into the change pocket of a pair of blue jeans. This factor leaves a steady market for these guns as ‘get off me’ pieces for when something larger just won’t work." Continue reading →

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Newtown approves gun ordinance restricting recreational shooting

"'No resident may shoot for more than four hours after police are notified and shooting is limited to one person at a time,' the ordinance states as reported by NewsTimes.com. 'Target backstops are required and must be 10 feet above the target,' the ordinance continues. Lastly, there is no shooting allowed within a half-mile of a school. The ordinance only affects recreational shooting. Hunters, military professionals and law enforcement are exempt. Also, gun salutes for memorial events and tributes are not affected by the ordinance." Continue reading →

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Police captain, chief, firefighter all sexually assault same teenage girl

"Old Forge Mayor Michele Avvisato confirmed police Capt. Jamie Krenitsky submitted a letter of resignation Friday morning. She declined to comment further, citing pending litigation against the borough. Police charged Mr. Krenitsky and Old Forge Police Chief Larry Semenza with sexually assaulting the same teenage girl around the same period of time. In 2004, the girl, then a 15-year-old junior firefighter, began a sexual relationship with Chief Semenza, also then a Fire Department captain. The relationship lasted until 2007. Former borough firefighter Walter Chiavacci, also accused of sexually assaulting the girl, pleaded guilty to indecent assault in December." Continue reading →

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Tallahassee police ‘stand by’ arrest practices that broke woman’s face

"Attorney Fred Conrad told the Tallahassee Democrat that he planned to sue the Tallahassee Police Department on behalf of 44-year-old Christina West after he reviewed dashcam video of officers breaking the orbital bone in her face and causing other injuries. West is placed in a patrol car, but she is later asked to get out of the car. A struggle occurs while the woman is asking her about her husband and a car seat for her child, and the two officers slam her head into the cruiser. And then the two men force her to the ground with their full weight, causing her to scream in agony as her face is smashed on the pavement. West has already had two surgeries as a result of her injuries." Continue reading →

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Florida man attacked, arrested for ‘walking on wrong side of the road’

"A Florida man is suing the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office over a violent arrest in December 2012 that the officer was not able to defend in court. First Coast News reported on Monday that Bobby Wingate was cited by an officer for 'walking down the wrong side of the road' during the stop, then punched in the face. When the officer pulled out his Tazer, Wingate called 911 to protect himself. Wingate was arrested, charged with resisting arrest without violence and walking down the wrong side of the road and brought to trial. But in court, the officer testified he was not sure what side of the road Wingate was on, prompting the judge to dismiss the case." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFlorida man attacked, arrested for ‘walking on wrong side of the road’