GUNS IN THE NEWS--March 30, 2004

[MrBenchley]

As CO Liberal sez:
Please try to adhere to the following voluntary guidelines, in order that we can have an orderly discussion of gun-related news topics:
1 - Feel free to add any CURRENT stories to this thread by replying to this message. In order to be considered current, stories should have been originally posted on the Internet within the previous 24 hours, or provide follow-up to a story that was previously posted on the J/PS board. On Mondays (since many people do not log in to DU over the weekend), stories can be posted from Saturday, Sunday, or Monday.
2 - Both pro-gun and anti-gun stories, editorials, and press releases are welcome in this thread, as long as they're current. Please do not post links to items from a few years back that support your position.
3 - Bear in mind that any links to extremely right-wing sites (such as Newsmax, CNS, or the Washington Times) or intentionally pro-gun or pro-control sites (such as the NRA or the Brady Campaign) are not considered reliable sources by many DU-ers. If at all possible, try to find a link for your story from a more mainstream source, such as a general-circulation newspaper or magazine site. If you choose to use a slanted site, be prepared for any negative feedback you may receive.
4 - Do not change story titles. In other words, if the Oskosh Gazette's web site runs a story titled "Two Killed in Holdup", the title of your message should read "Two Killed in Holdup". Don't change it to "Gun Owner Kills Two People", or anything else that changes the meaning of the story.
5 - If it's not clear from the title where the story occurred, add the city, state, or country in parentheses after the title.
6 - The person adding a news story to the "GITN" thread is allowed (and encouraged) to comment on that story, indicating their position on the topic being discussed. These comments can appear either at the beginning or end of the post; if possible, place comments in a different typeface so readers can separate the comments from the story. Others who wish to comment on a posted story can do so by replying to that story; this allows other readers to follow the comments by scrolling through the subthread.
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8 - If you object to these guidelines, do everyone else a favor and go to another thread.

[MrBenchley]

1. Police: Men Fatally Shot While Working On Car (MI)

"A driver pulled up to a home on Detroit's west side early this morning and shot and killed two men, according to Detroit police.
Police said the car pulled up in front of the house on Collingwood Street around 12:30 a.m. and fired shots at two men who were working on a car. "

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ibsys/20040330/lo_wdiv/2072794

[MrBenchley]

2. Sticking to his guns (CA)

Yeah, here's the sort of voter Democrats should be pandering to....NOT!

"The 51-year-old plastic-cowboy-hat-wearing gadfly has been fighting the county for nearly a year because he says police illegally searched his home and seized an assault rifle.
However, the case against Von Faulstich is continuing with the charge of possessing an assault weapon because the law says people are not allowed to own such weapons, Bill Lee, deputy district attorney said.
The charge centers around a JNR Engineering M68 assault rifle Von Faulstich purchased in the early 1970s through the John Birch Society before the ban on assault rifles was made in June 1989."

http://www.sbsun.com/Stories/0,1413,208~12588~2050051,00.html

[Prozac]

52. Sounds to me like the search was illegal and the charges should be tossed.

If the police conduct an illegal search then anything they find/sieze is almost always considered inadmissable in court.

[MrBenchley]

3. Algoma man arrested for allegedly firing shotgun while intoxicated (WI)

Yeah, gun owners make the whole neighborhood safer....

"An Algoma man was arrested around 7 a.m. Sunday after allegedly firing a shotgun in the city early that morning while intoxicated.
Darrell Jorgensen, 41, was released from custody Monday on a $1,000 bond with the conditions he maintain absolute sobriety and not possess a firearm, said Kewaunee County District Attorney Andrew Naze, who also noted Jorgensen is scheduled back in court April 8 for an initial appearance.
Naze said he is the process of formally filing charges against Jorgensen related to his alleged endangering safety with a weapon and being armed while intoxicated.
All off-duty Algoma police officers and the Kewaunee County Emergency Response Unit, which consists of members from the sheriff's department and the Algoma and Kewaunee police departments, also responded to further isolate the shooting suspect, Brusky said, while the neighbors were evacuated. "

http://www.greenbaynewschron.com/page.html?article=125035

I often wonder how many millions of taxpayer dollars get wasted because of these assholes? SWAT teams turned out, schools shut down, streets cordoned off, neighboring homes evacuated, etc....

[CO Liberal]

4. Lower gun-buying age ripped (IL)

The re-emergence of common sense and intelligence in Illinois. Just think - if they had a law like this in Colorado back in 1999, Harris and Kliebold would have had no problem at all getting all the guns they used at Columbine. - Wayne

* * * * *

Lower gun-buying age ripped

Democrats question governor's stance

By Ray Long and Molly Parker, Tribune staff reporters. Tribune staff reporter Christi Parsons contributed to this report
Published March 30, 2004

SPRINGFIELD -- Chicago area Democrats blasted Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Monday for backing legislation to reduce the minimum age to obtain a gun owner's permit without parental consent, saying his reasoning is flawed and his position will help gang members.

The governor has said he will sign a bill that would reduce the age from 21 to 18 because a person old enough to go to war should be entitled to get a gun in civilian life without going through his or her parents.

"Does he mean they should get scud missiles too?" said House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago). Currie said she was "quite surprised" by the governor's position.

Sen. Jeff Schoenberg (D-Evanston) said he was disappointed with the governor's decision to let 18-year-olds get a firearm owner's identification card and would try to change his mind.

<more>

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/nearnorthwest/chi-0403300204mar30,1,2106349.story?coll=chi-newslocalnearnorthwest-hed

[FeebMaster]

14. Wow.

Almost a McFeeb's Law violation. From a state representative no less. It's a shame Barbara Flynn Currie is a moron. Are 21 year olds in Illinois allowed to just go out and buy scud missiles? Why else would 18 year olds suddenly be allowed to since they're just lowering the age restriction from 21 to 18?

[slackmaster]

15. National Railgun Association Slogan Cascade!

n/t

[slackmaster]

16. When particle beams are outlawed,

Only outlaws will have particle beams.

[slackmaster]

18. I'll give up my X-ray laser

When they pry it from my cold, dead hands.

[CO Liberal]

5. Democrats question GOP gun legislation (TN)

And thanks to the idiots in Tennessee who do what the gun lobby tells them to do, gunpowder and alcohol may soon mix. - Wayne

* * * * *

Democrats question GOP gun legislation

By Skip Cauthorn, [e-mail]
March 30, 2004

A state House panel this morning may once again hear a controversial bill that would allow registered gun owners to carry a weapon in establishments that serve alcohol.

The bill, which has become an annual effort in the legislature, says that if a permitted gun owner isn’t drinking they may carry their weapon in such establishments.

The bill has traditionally been sponsored by state Rep. Ben West (D-Hermitage). However, West, who’s pushed the bill for several years, has relinquished his sponsorship of the bill to state Rep. Tre’ Hargett (R-Bartlett), the House minority leader.

“It’s a question of 150,000 registered gun owners,” said West. “None have been involved in any felonies using guns. … The reason is it allows people to have their guns with them. As it stands now, I pull into O’Charley’s and I’m breaking the law.”

<more>

http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm?section_id=9&screen=news&news_id=31886

[FatSlob]

22. Thanks for showing that gunnies are no threat!

Note well, the section about one hundred fifty thousand registered gun owners, of whom ZERO have been convicted of felonies using guns.

Thanks for proving that law-abiding gun owners with licenses are NO THREAT.

[CO Liberal]

27. Read the Whole Article

ANYONE can be a threat with a gun once they've started drinking.

[CO Liberal]

6. Man is accused of firing gun near Parkrose High (OR)

Yet another one of those law-abiding gun owners that none of us have to worry about.... - Wayne

* * * * *

Man is accused of firing gun near Parkrose High

03/30/04

A 19-year-old Northeast Portland man faces numerous charges after he was arrested Monday morning near Parkrose High School and accused of shooting a pistol several times.

<more>

http://www.oregonlive.com/metroeast/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/metro_east_news/1080651823216280.xml

[MrBenchley]

7. Boy critically injured when brother plays with handgun (OR)

"An 11-year-old Springfield boy is spending the remainder of his spring break recovering from a gunshot wound to the torso.
Springfield Police responded to a gunshot wound at an apartment at 887 Oakdale shortly before 3 p.m. Wednesday. Officers found the boy suffered a single gunshot wound to his torso after his older brother discharged a Ruger 9mm handgun.
"The dad had taken precautions and hid the gun in a cabinet and the 14-year-old (son) stumbled across it three days ago," Sgt. Rick Putnam said. "Him and the 11 year old were in the bedroom and the 14 year old was working the slide and loading and unloading it and ultimately it discharged.""

http://www.springfieldnews.com/articles/2004/03/29/local/news03.txt

Quick...what right wing lobbying group that has racist imbecile Ted Nugent on its board publishes a gun magazine for kids?

[TX-RAT]

8. The dad had taken precautions and hid the gun in a cabinet

Sounds like child endangerment to me.

[MrBenchley]

12. Wonder what "precautions"

There's no mention of either a trigger lock or a lock on the cabinet.

[Prozac]

51. Pretty crappy parenting, if you ask me.

He should have had the guns locked away and kept the key on him, or had some sort of combination lock that the kids didn't know the combo to. Also, why didn't he teach that kid years ago about gun safety and playing with guns?

[RoeBear]

10. I find it incredibly funny that you think...

...it's wrong to have a magazine devoted to kids that like target shooting and hunting.

http://www.bctsa.bc.ca/

Target shooting and hunting have always been a wholesome activity for kids to be involved in.

[MrBenchley]

26. But you also thought American Daily was a real news source

and not a pile of far right wing horseshit.

[CO Liberal]

28. Just Ask Harris & Kliebold

They did a little "target shooting and hunting" in Columbine High School back in 1999.....

[RoeBear]

31. That is a DISGUSTING analogy COLiberal...

...and you should be ASHAMED to have said it!!!

[CO Liberal]

32. No - I'm PROUD To Have Said It

:P

I wonder if either of them subscribed to the NRA's wonderful youth magazine......

[TX-RAT]

33. We reap what we sow

[MrBenchley]

34. Why is that, roe?

Because it cuts to the heart of why the NRA's scummy magazine is such a disgraceful idea?

[MattPinNC]

9. Fatal heist was 'like a bad dream' (TN)

rut roh, a POSITIVE gun story ..an Armed Citizen ...

http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/local_news/article/0,1426,MCA_437_2765527,00.html

Fatal heist was 'like a bad dream'
By Chris Conley
March 29, 2004

Ahmed Ismail said Sunday he was still trying to shake off a bad dream that began when a man walked into his tobacco store and put a gun in his face.

Within seconds of being confronted about 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Ismail fired his own pistol from behind the counter of Cigarettes for Cheap at 1260 Getwell, killing the would-be robber.

Keeping it real..
VVV

[MrBenchley]

11. "Bad dream"...sounds REAL positive, all right.

[MattPinNC]

17. Heaven FORBID ...

..one defends themselves ...
All guns = All bad = All the time , eh MrB ?

[MrBenchley]

19. Jeeze, it's YOUR story that says "bad dream," so don't cry to me

Guess that's more of that RKBA "logic" or whatever the hell it is.. "Bad dream" = "positive."

[MattPinNC]

23. The 'bad dream' was of the one assailed ..

.. not the assailant ... I guess you can't get out of your one dimensional thinking... guns bad, eh?

the link requires some site registration, so here's the 'rest of the story' ....

Police identified the man as Alpochino Antonio Jackson, 20, who was rushed to the Regional Medical Center at Memphis. He was pronounced dead just before 10 p.m. Saturday.

The gunman, a bandanna across his face, flung open the door, gun in hand, and started screaming at Ismail for the store receipts.

"It was all like a bad dream. I can't believe it," Ismail said. "I knew he was coming to kill me . . . I had to do something," Ismail said.

After Ismail shot him, the man left his pistol and shoes behind, and collapsed in the parking lot, Ahmed said.

"I'm not proud of what happened," Ahmed said. "But I had no other choice. . . I knew he was going to shoot me."

Ismail said that though he did not know Jackson, he knows his relatives from the neighborhood.

"I'm a father, and I feel bad about his family," the 51-year-old native of Yemen said.

He said he has been in business for about three years and had never been robbed before.

Ismail said he believes another man, in his late teens, had come into the store earlier as a lookout for the gunman.

The man asked him about the prices of various cigars and pipe tobacco, then left.

Police said Sunday they were looking for a second man to question, but did not know yet if Jackson had an accomplice.

Jackson's gun and Ismail's gun were recovered by police, homicide Lt. Joe Scott said Sunday.

The investigation into what happened continues, Scott said, but nothing has emerged to cast doubt on Ismail's account.

Police reports list at least one other witness in the store.

The results of the investigation will be turned over to the District Attorney General's Office, which will decide whether criminal charges are filed against Ismail.

Real Gun Control is using Both Hands.
VVV

[MrBenchley]

24. "It was all like a bad dream"

Don't cry to me because your story doesn't seem like the "positive" experience you were trying to claim it to be.

[MrBenchley]

25. Two men shot, one fatally, in bus stop robbery (MD)

"Two men believed to be undocumented immigrants were shot early yesterday, one of them fatally, in an apparent robbery as they waited for a bus in West Baltimore, city police said.
The victims' names were withheld pending notification of relatives outside the United States, said Agent Troy Harris, a Police Department spokesman.
About 2:40 a.m., the men were waiting for a bus in the 1700 block of W. Saratoga St. when two gunmen stepped from a nearby alley and demanded their money and valuables, Harris said.
One of the victims was robbed of his watch before the gunmen - for no apparent reason - opened fire, and the men were each shot in the face at close range, Harris said. "

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/yahoo/bal-md.slaying30mar30,0,2948053.story?coll=bal-newsaol-headlines

[MrBenchley]

13. Teenager Suspected in Triple Slaying Dies (MO)

"KISSEE MILLS, Mo. - A 17-year-old suspected of killing a woman and two children, then setting their mobile home on fire died Monday, leaving investigators struggling to determine a motive for the murders.
Joshua Allen Crawford had been in critical condition after crashing into gas pumps and apparently shooting himself in the head shortly after the slayings Saturday. A pistol was recovered from the vehicle, Taney County Sheriff Jim Russell said.
The pumps were equipped with automatic shut-off valves, preventing any gas from spilling, authorities said. "

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040330/ap_on_re_us/triple_slaying_2

[MrBenchley]

20. Wounded trooper comes home (OR)

"An Oregon State Police trooper who was shot in the line of duty Friday has been released from the hospital.
Trooper Nick Neville was wounded in an exchange of gunfire with a man who was wanted for bank robberies committed this month in Nevada. Neville shot and killed 47-year-old Jeremiah Paul Scanlon after Scanlon fired at the trooper Friday night at Valley of the Rogue State Park near Interstate 5.
"Number one, we’re just grateful that he’s alive," Neville’s mother, Maria Neville of Medford, said Monday."

http://www.mailtribune.com/archive/2004/0330/local/stories/02local.htm

Well if some scummy people like Tom DeLay realize their dream of assault weapons back on the market, maybe that "problem" will be "solved" the next time a cop gets shot.

[Prozac]

39. I glad the cop is ok but why the ranting against assualt weapons....

According to the article in your post the guy shot the cop with a .38 caliber revolver.

[FeebMaster]

40. Bah.

That's just gun porn details.

[Prozac]

41. Um, ok...sorry.

[FeebMaster]

43. Or maybe we can look at it this way.

The cop was assaulted with the revolver so obviously that makes it an assault weapon.

I'm just messing with you. Hell, I'm the most pro-gun guy on DU.

[Prozac]

45. I've noticed some very polarized opinions here, especially re: guns.

I've been lurking for the past few days and there seems to be almost two warring camps. Pro-gun and anti-gun, and n'er the twain shall meet. I am a gun owner and support the right of others to own guns too, but I'm certainly not going to support allowing convicted felons and the mentally handicapped access to guns. I support the right of Americans to carry guns anywhere they wish as long as the property owner doesn't object.

[FeebMaster]

50. See I'm even more pro-gun than that.

I think you should be able to go into any store and walk out with a gun as soon as you've paid for it. No background check or anything. I think you should be able to pick up the Sears catalog and order yourself a belt fed machine gun if it suits you.

[Prozac]

53. Interesting concept, but not to realistic in today's political atmosphere.

I suppose, though, that convicted felons aren't bothered too much by background checks since it's unlikely they buy them from Joe's Guns anyway. And could you imagine the brain hemmorage that Diane Feinstein would have if someone could actually buy a machine gun from Sears? I imagine it would look something like a scene out of the movie Scanners.

[FeebMaster]

54. Exactly.

It's win win all the way.

[Prozac]

55. LOL! I take it you're not a big Feinstein fan?

[FeebMaster]

56. I'd say no,

but then I'd have to listen to the cries that I'm attacking a fine, upstanding Democrat.

[Prozac]

58. I don't think much of her either, but it's ok 'cause she's not my Senator

Besides, just because you don't like a particular Democrat doesn't mean you're suddenly stumping for Bush. Heck, even the Democrats don't always agree on what's what. Need I mention Zell Miller?

[MrBenchley]

44. And if he'd had an assault weapon?

[Prozac]

47. I can't speak for "what if's", only what actually happened.

Any number of possibilities though. If he'd had an assault weapon it's unlikely he would have been concealing it so the cop would have seen it as he approached the car. It's standard procedure for police to look into the car as they approach it. It is also possible that the cop would be dead, but that was also a possibility with the .38 revolver. Like I said, there are any number of possible "what ifs" but, luckily, the cop is ok and home with his family.

[MrBenchley]

21. Swat Team Standoff In Western Travis County (TX)

Police say a standoff started around 7:30 in the morning with a man barricading himself inside the home. Police believe there are weapons inside the home and they believe he is alone. The home is near Steiner Ranch Elementary School. "

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=382&ncid=382&e=1&u=/keye/20040330/lo_keye/swatteamstandoffinwesterntraviscounty

[MrBenchley]

29. Police seeking clues in Rock Hill killing (NC)

"ROCK HILL - Police on Monday were trying to determine who shot a Rock Hill man at a car wash, killing him.
William Ira Barber, who would have been 36 today, was sitting in the parking lot of a self-serve carwash on Camden Avenue about 11 p.m. Sunday when someone shot him once in the left shoulder, police said.
Barber managed to drive his 2003 Mazda Protege about 1/4 mile before losing consciousness and slamming into a building near Camden Avenue and Ebenezer Avenue, according to a police report. A woman who saw the wreck called 911.
Barber was taken to Rock Hill's Piedmont Medical Center, where he died."

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/8308920.htm

[MrBenchley]

30. Condition Of Girl Caught In Crossfire Improves (OH)

"A 7-year-old girl who was shot in the chest Sunday night is improving.
E'Nijah Mincy's condition is described as "fair" Monday night.
A bullet intended for someone else found Mincy instead as she frolicked and played on her inner-city block.
"She was running behind me screaming my name," said T'Shala Alexander, Mincy's cousin. "I looked back, and she had blood on her white shirt." "

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=410&ncid=410&e=5&u=/ibsys/20040330/lo_wlwt/2072409

Yeah, more dimwits with guns on the street is JUST what Ohio needs....

[MrBenchley]

35. Man Arrested In Connection With Wife's Shooting Death (OH)

"A man was arrested Tuesday in connection with the shooting death of his wife, reported NewsChannel5.
Walter K. Dozier, 51, was arrested at about 1:30 p.m. at a relative's Warrensville Heights home. The arrest took place without incident.
Annette Dozier, 49, was found dead in her Maple Heights home Monday morning. Police responded to reports of a person down at the house, located on Thomas Street. They arrived to find the woman dead of an apparent gunshot wound. "

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=387&ncid=387&e=1&u=/ibsys/20040330/lo_wews/2073675

What could go wrong with people lugging popguns around in Ohio?

[MrBenchley]

36. Man gets life in prison for role in Waffle house robbery (FL)

"A man who participated in the Davie Waffle House robbery that left two employees dead will spend the rest of his life in prison, a judge ordered Monday.
Jimmy Mickel, a former cook at the restaurant, was sentenced to five consecutive life terms for kidnapping and robbery convictions arising from the March 2002 heist.
Jurors said they decided not to convict Mickel, 34, of the murders of Christina Delarosa, 17, and Willy Absolu, 29, because they concluded the triggerman, Gerhard "Chip" Hojan, acted alone when he decided to open fire.
Hojan started shooting after he shepherded the two victims along with a third employee -- Barbara Nunn -- into the restaurant's cramped freezer. Nunn, who was shot in the head, survived and identified Mickel and Hojan as the men responsible for robbing the restaurant."

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/yahoo/sfl-cwaffle30mar30,0,4725571.story?coll=sfla-newsaol-headlines

[Prozac]

42. Does a life sentence in Florida really mean life?

Or will this scum be out of jail in 10 years for good behavior?

[MrBenchley]

37. Body is identified in KC gunfight, fire

"The second person killed in a blast, fire and gunfight last month at a south Kansas City house was identified Monday as Janet Clark, police said.
Clark, 48, lived in the house at 9400 Grandview Road with her boyfriend, homeowner Donin Wright, 62. She had not been seen since the Feb. 23 explosion.
Police think Wright lured police officers, firefighters and paramedics to the scene with a fire across the street from his home. He also owned that property at 9409 Grandview.
When the crews arrived, police think Wright opened fire at their vehicles with several guns, including a .50-caliber rifle. Bullets struck an ambulance paramedic and riddled several fire trucks and police cars. The paramedic survived.
After the gunfight, Wright's house caught fire and exploded. Police found 20 partly assembled pipe bombs, 20 weapons and thousands of rounds of ammunition inside the leveled home. Police have been investigating what caused the house to explode, but they said they may never know."

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/8307544.htm

That would be the .50 caliber rifle that RKBA "enthusiasts" keep assuring us are never used in crime and present no public danger...

[MrBenchley]

38. SAPD Arrests Murder Suspect (TX)

"Police said they arrested Alfred Cuellar while he was allegedly trying to burglarize a car Monday at 6510 Sun Valley.
Cuellar was transported to the Bexar County Jail.
The suspect was wanted for the murder of Carla LaCombe, who was shot to death June 23, 2003, at her Northwest Side apartment. "

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=391&ncid=391&e=4&u=/ibsys/20040330/lo_ksat/2073261

[Prozac]

46. Shootings decline, but guns remain.

The number of reported shootings inside city limits declined for the third year in a row last year, but law enforcement experts say illegal guns are still pervasive in the Capital Region.

"For this current year, there's a marked increase in firearms-trace requests to ATF," said John Morgan, agent-in-charge for the ATF's Albany Division. "In the 14 years I've been here, we've never seen so much firearms-related violence and firearms-trafficking investigations."

In 2003, Albany police responded to 232 reported shooting incidents -- down from 278 in 2002. Most of the incidents are ruled unfounded if arriving police find no evidence of gunplay. In others, police might not make arrests but find empty shell casings or bullet holes in buildings and cars.

http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=233509&category=ALBANY&BCCode=&newsdate=3/30/2004

[Prozac]

48. Lines form early for concealed carry

Patrick and Beverly Shelby were far back in line Monday and had a couple of hours to stand in the early morning sunshine as they waited to apply for permits to carry concealed weapons.

The Shelbys were among about 60 congenial early-risers who lined up outside the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department in Hillsboro by 8 a.m., hoping to be the first to complete the application process.

The Shelbys own a roofing business in Hillsboro, and Patrick Shelby says he has been threatened when working in rough neighborhoods.

That's why he wants to carry a gun.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/News/St.+Louis+City+%2F+County/28AC44447AB19E7086256E670020F5AB?OpenDocument&Headline=Lines+form+early+for+concealed+carry+

[Prozac]

49. Police prepare for rush of concealed-carry applications

BATAVIA - With the date of Ohio's new concealed carry law quickly approaching, hundreds of people in Clermont County are gearing up to apply for permits to legally carry concealed firearms.

"We've given out almost 200 applications today already," Clermont County Sheriff A.J. Rodenberg said Monday, the first day his office made applications available. "People could come by and pick them up."

Authorities in other Southwest Ohio counties also are preparing to accommodate the new law, which goes into effect April 8.

http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/03/30/loc_loc1guns.html

[Prozac]

57. Missouri's highest court won't rehear concealed gun challenge

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri Supreme Court turned down a request by opponents of concealed guns for a new hearing on their challenges to a new state law. The decision on Tuesday finalizes the court’s ruling on Feb. 26.

The Supreme Court upheld the Legislature's right to legalize concealed guns but found fault with the new law’s funding mechanism. Dozens of counties are taking applications for concealed gun permits but many others held off because of the chance of more legal challenges after the court's original decision.

Concealed gun opponents wanted the court to hear arguments on more reasons why they believe the law violates prohibitions in the state constitution against unfunded mandates. County sheriffs have to administer the law by taking applications, asking the Highway Patrol for background checks and issuing permits or rejections.

http://www.ky3.com/newsdetailed.asp?id=6079

[Prozac]

59. Renter Fires Gun During Alleged Home Invasion

HOUSTON -- A woman and her husband were arrested and put behind bars early Tuesday morning after an alleged early morning home invasion failed in northwest Houston.

Investigators said the couple, along with four other men, forced their way into a northwest Houston apartment around 1 a.m. Tuesday and ransacked the apartment.

The renter told officials the intruders demanded money and drugs.

Officials told News2Houston the homeowner grabbed a gun and fired shots, causing the home invaders to run away.

Houston police said no one was hit by the gunfire and no injuries were reported.

Officers caught up with the woman and her husband down the street. They were arrested and put in jail.

The four other men escaped.

http://www.click2houston.com/news/2960015/detail.html

[Prozac]

60. Lesson: Train before you pack a gun

BOARDMAN — "Hold up your trigger finger, look at it and tell yourself: This is my gun's safety."

Firearms instructor Bob Magnuson's words echoed in my head as I stood in front of the bedroom mirror and practiced drawing my .357-caliber Magnum Ruger from its brand-new holster. The natural inclination was to put my right index finger on the trigger (instead of alongside it) as I pulled out the gun.

Practice included keeping my finger away from the trigger as I slid the gun back into the holster on my hip without looking at it.

http://www.vindy.com/local_news/304837552035819.php