Prohibitionists Prepare "National Day Of Protest": Gun control activists have declared Tuesday, Aug. 28, a "national day of protest to focus attention on the scourge of illegal gun trafficking." The Brady Campaign, along with its Million Mom March chapters, said it will join the Rev. Jesse Jackson's Operation PUSH Coalition at demonstrations in cities across America. Jackson's group chose Aug. 28 because it marks the 44th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s historic march on Washington. (Remember to go buy a gun or a box of ammo as a counter-protest on the 28th.) http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=/Nation/archive/200708/NAT20070823b.html --- The New York Times Attacks Virginia Firearm Laws: Richmond officials deny their gun control laws are porous, particularly now that the state announced it was closing the loophole that allowed the Virginia Tech marauder to legally buy guns despite his documented history of mental disturbance. But for every loophole closed in the wake of the nation's latest gun mayhem - from Columbine to the D.C. sniper, ad infinitum - others beg attention in the crazy quilt of state and federal regulations cynically manipulated by the gun lobby. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/22/opinion/22wed2.html Related Article: http://ny.metro.us/metro/local/article/Bloombergs_gun_battle/9746.html --- BATFE Arrests Three For DC Gun Sales: Federal authorities have arrested three men caught selling guns in the District, and at least one of the weapons recovered has been tied to the robbery of a gun shop in Manassas earlier this month...Investigators said another gun found during the traffic stop was traced to another robbery last month at a gun store in Rappahannock County, Va. Forty firearms were stolen in that robbery, and it's not clear how many weapons have been recovered. http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20070823/METRO/108230058/1004 --- New Texas Laws Take Effect September 1: Defending your home and family, by whatever means necessary, was a right many people thought they had. You don't until Senate Bill 378 goes into effect. It's called the "Castle Doctrine." Starting September 1, you no longer need to try to retreat, or find a way out, before using deadly force in self-defense. http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=6970100 --- Missouri Drops Pistol-Purchase Law: Residents of Missouri soon will no longer need a sheriff's permit to buy a concealable gun, although a permit still will be required to carry one. Missouri lawmakers changed the gun law earlier this year with little of the controversy that often goes with gun legislation. The change will be effective Tuesday...The gun-permit law for purchases dates to 1921, Jamison said. The sheriff has up to seven days to review a permit application and conduct a criminal background check. http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/243405.html --- Kennesaw Lifts Park-Carry Ban: The City Council on Monday reluctantly lifted a ban on firearms in public parks, but officials said they plan to lobby the state Legislature for more local control on firearms restrictions. To comply with a conflicting state law, the council unanimously approved repealing a section of Kennesaw's parks ordinance that altogether banned firearms in city parks. (This is the city that reduced its crime rates 25 years ago by mandating firearm ownership for every household.) http://www.mdjonline.com/articles/2007/08/21/268/10270458.txt http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/cobb/stories/2007/08/21/guntown_0821.html --- Georgia Sheriff's Handgun Courses Draw Huge Response: The response to the handgun familiarization class being offered to women by the Laurens County Sheriff's Department and the Dublin Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office has been overwhelming. "We're already on our sixth class," said Laurens Deputy Sid Harrison who is planning the classes. He said each class will have 40 participants and plans are to have the first class Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon with the following classes to be offered the second and third Saturday of each month until everyone who wants to take the class has had an opportunity to do so. http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?show=localnews&pnpID=909&NewsID=831563&CategoryID=13280&on=0 --- Georgia Police Recruit Fired For Losing Handgun: An Albany Police recruit has been fired after losing her police issued handgun, and lying to her superiors about it. Shunell Borders was fired because of the lost gun incident. City Manager Alfred Lott made the decision to dismiss the recruit, who was on probation as a police officer trainee. (Rule Five: Maintain control of your firearm.) http://www.walb.com/Global/story.asp?S=6968763&nav=5kZQ --- Rule Three Reminder: A British firearms officer accidentally shot a bullet into the passenger seat of a police car while trying to unload a weapon. The round - from the officer's Glock 9mm semi-automatic pistol - pierced the front seat of a BMW armed response vehicle. It happened shortly after 9am on June 5 this year in the secure car park at the rear of Heavitree Road police station in Exeter. (Rule Three: Keep your finger out of the trigger guard, up on the frame, until your sights are on the target and you're prepared to fire.) http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144694&command=displayContent&sourceNode=144660&contentPK=18169156&folderPk=83364&pNodeId=144659 --- Oops, Wrong House: According to police, a morning shooting in Columbus GA was a case of self defense. Around 9:30 Wednesday morning police say a man armed with a gun entered a home on Patch drive. Authorities say the homeowner pulled his own gun to defend himself...Hatcher says the attacker was shot in the arm and was taken to the hospital. After the shooting the culprit ran one block away to Eddy Street where he was taken into custody. http://www.wrbl.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WRBL%2FMGArticle%2FRBL_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173352472517&path=%21news --- Risky Business: A homeowner put the brakes on a burglary suspect when he shot the tires of the getaway car. Hal Durrett said he felt he did the right thing last Friday when he saw a suspicious man outside his Toledo, Wash., home...Deputies located the van with flattened tires in a field about a quarter of a mile away from Durrett's house and arrested the man. (Shooting at tires risk ricochets and, as noted above, the vehicle made it a quarter of a mile before becoming disabled.) http://www.kptv.com/news/13949208/detail.html --- Student Suspended For Sketch That Resembled Gun: Chandler AZ school officials have suspended a 13-year-old boy for sketching a picture that resembled a gun, saying it posed a threat to classmates. But parents of the Payne Junior High School student said the drawing was a harmless doodle of a fake laser, and school officials overreacted. http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/local/60828.php -- Stephen P. Wenger Firearm safety - It's a matter for education, not legislation. http://www.spw-duf.info .