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Dave Kopel's Second Amendment NewsletterMarch 5, 2007 The Independence Institute publishes several newsletters on other topics, plus a weekly newsletter containing our most recent op-eds and news of our activities. E-mail subscription to any of these newsletters is free. Delivery of this newsletter comes courtesy of the Second
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I. New by KopelArticlesGuns Don't Kill People, Gun Control Kills People.With Joanne D. Eisen and Paul Gallant Uganda terrorizes its own citizens under the auspices of a UN gun control mandate. Ten on the SecondAmerica's 1st Freedom Ten great books (plus some bonus recommendations) on the right to arms. Is the Best Defense a Good Book?America's 1st Freedom, Refutes the claim of pacifist-aggressives that the New Testament mandates pacifism. BloggingGun-related Data for Criminals who Shoot Police OfficersThe Volokh Conspiracy "Data from a new FBI study of criminals who shoot police officers shows that gun control laws have no effect on them, and that gun shows are almost never a source of the guns." Happy St. Gabriel Possenti Day!The Volokh Conspiracy "Should the Vatican eventually grant the petition, St. Gabriel Possenti would join a long line of Catholic saints who are associated with arms, freedom, the military, or crime-fighting." InternationalArgentinaThe Fight against Guns in ArgentinaTeresa Bo An elderly Argentine woman has taken it upon herself to buy firearms from armed criminals. CanadaGun Group Condemns Release of Federal DataGlen McGregor "An organization representing firearms owners says the release of data from the federal gun registry to the Citizen is a privacy violation and could jeopardize public safety." ChinaRevision of gun law consideredWinny Wang "The gun law plays an important role in maintaining social security and controlling the use of guns, but some authorities haven't managed guns according to the law or implemented the law strictly, said the Internal and Judicial Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress, China's national legislature." IranAustrian Rifles Supplied to Iran have Found their Way to Iraqi InsurgentsAssociated Press (UK) Austrian-made Steyr HS rifles in .50 caliber are turning up in the hands of Iraqi terrorists. The weapons were sold to Iran ostensibly for anti-narcotics use. NamibiaCoD Wants Gun BanThe Namibian (Windhoek, Namibia) The Congress of Democrats, the party in opposition in Namibia, has called for a ban on civilian firearms ownership in the aftermath of several publicized shootings. New ZealandGreg Carvell Disappointed Prosecution Going AheadTania Mackenzie "Gun Shop Employee Greg Carvell is stunned that he is still being prosecuted for shooting a robber." PhilippinesComelec 7 Allows Guns in Private Vehicles as Long as not in Plain Public viewPress Release "Individuals owning firearms may carry their guns inside their personal vehicles as long as the weapons are not in plain view to the public as the election gun ban period is in effect." United KingdomTime to Bite the Bullet on Gun BanKate Hoey, Labour MP A British member of Parliament pleads with the Home Secretary for a dispensation in the latest incarnation of Britain's gun ban to allow Britons to prepare for competitive target shooting. Gunlaw Britain on the side of the criminalsSimon Heffer "It is one of the great paradoxes of modern life that since the clamp-down on gun ownership after the hideous massacre at Dunblane in 1996, there are far more firearms in circulation than ever: and most appear to be in the hands of criminals, held without the knowledge of the police." Guns for Hire at 250 Pounds a NightRobert Mendick "The ease with which firearms are available routinely on a rental basis emerges after a series of shootings in which three young men have died in south London in less than two weeks." Plans to Change Gun Laws Run into OppositionThe Guardian (UK) "The prime minister and the home secretary today won little backing for their plans to toughen up gun laws, with community leaders warning the changes could prove counterproductive." An illustration of weapons confiscated during a recent raid in London shows only pellet guns and targets. Gun Laws that Constrain the Law-abidingSteve Lee "We have, post-Dunblane, what are said to be the toughest gun control laws in the world. They have actually proved strikingly ineffectual." CultureFroman hails free speech, gun rightsPatrick K. Fitzgerald "NRA President Sandra Froman defended First and Second Amendment rights in a well-received speech at Stanford." Euro Parliament to View Gun FilmKatja Hofmann "Directed and produced by Sander Francken, the pic focuses on the causes and effects of both the legal and the illegal trade in small arms and argues the need for an international strategy in the fight against illicit weapons." Art Show Takes Aim at GunsWCAX-TV (VT) "An art show in Central Vermont takes a look at the many roles weapons play in our society." Outdoor Life And Jim Zumbo Part WaysTodd. W. Smith; Editor-in-Chief After writer Jim Zumbo suggested banning AR-15 "terrorist" style rifles for any form of hunting,' he has ceased all affiliation with this particular magazine. Tipping Point -- Suicide On The WebTom Gresham Gresham offers his summary and analysis of what Zumbo said and the use anti-2nd Amendment politicians and groups immediately made of his remarks. Mind You Don�t Get Zumboed: Conservative Candidates Beware of Angering Gun EnthusiastsJohn Derbyshire Here is NRO columnist John Derbyshire's report on Zumbo's remarks and what the aftermath suggests about the politics of modern firearms ownership. Second Amendment Freedoms Aided the Civil Rights MovementKen Blackwell "The empowering freedom of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms is particularly timely during Black History Month, for its role in the victory of civil rights for all is sorely overlooked." Why I Broke One of My 'Cardinal' Rules; I thought guns were evilWalda Cameron A long time opponent of firearms ownership bemoans her hypocrisy in the aftermath of a pest drastically controlled. Running and Gunning in VermontTheTranscript.com (VT) A "Primitive Biathlon" on foot with vintage-style muzzleloaders is now being run in New England. Much more information on the relatively new sport is available online. 'Unspeak' and the Gun ProhibitionistsWilliam R. Tonso Tonso takes the premise of the book, _Unspeak_, by Steven Poole, and shows how Poole's described principles of ideological language distortion have long operated in the debate over civilian firearms ownership. Sulejmen the MysteriousChristopher Orlet Orlet offers his views about the recent attack at a Salt Lake City shopping mall by a Bosnian Muslim immigrant. His dismissive views on concealed carry brought a strong reader response. TerrorismU.S. Wants Pilots Armed On Overseas FlightsThomas Frank "For the first time, the U.S. government is asking foreign countries to allow pilots to carry guns in the cockpit when they fly overseas." Handguns and Air MarshalsEthan Rider This older article offers a very good overview of the role that armed pilots, fortified cockpits, and air marshals could play in the defense of an airliner against a terrorist attack. PoliticsAfter a Sting, a Gun Dealer gets StungMelissa Dribben The Brady Campaign listed a Pennsylvania gun dealer as participating in illegal firearms transactions upon its website. The dealer in question had been cooperating with a BATFE 'sting' operation. Bradys Bad Mouthing Good Gun Shops'Sebastian' Here is an analysis of the incident by a local resident and a customer of the gun shop falsely and publically accused of criminal wrong-doing by the Brady Campaign. Firearms Industry Warns: Giuliani No Friend to Gun OwnersPress Release The National Shooting Sports Foundation runs over Rudolph Giuliani career as Mayor of New York and expresses serious doubts about his claimed support of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Giuliani: Gun Control Helped Lower CrimeAssociated Press "Rudy Giuliani addressed a potentially troublesome issue with conservative voters, saying his policies as mayor to get handguns off the street helped reduce crime in New York." House Bill 1022 - Assault Weapons Ban and Law Enforcement Protection Act of 2007U.S. House of Representatives Here is a description and analysis of pending legislation in the House to resurrect and expand the Clinton-era ban on selected varieties of firearms and accessories. National Standard for Nonresidents to Carry Concealed FirearmsSenator John Thune (Republican, South Dakota) Senator Thune and his co-sponsors are attempting to set the standards for a National permit for concealed carry. Sen. Max Baucus Tapped to Lead Hunting, Fishing CaucusPress Release "Montana Senator Max Baucus has been picked to lead the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, a group of lawmakers who work to boost access for hunting and fishing across the country." Baucus is a Democrat. States and Non-statesArkansasSelf-defense Measure Loses BoutLaura Kellams A 'Stand Your Ground' bill in the Arkansas House Judiciary Committee died Wednesday after testimony from prosecutors that it would make convictions more difficult. ArizonaArizona Lawmakers Vote to Make Self-defense Change RetroactivePaul Davenport "Trying to help a hiker who was sentenced to prison for a fatal shooting, the Arizona Legislature completed action Monday on a bill to explicitly make a 2006 self-defense law apply retroactively to his case and an unknown number of others." Colorado'Make My Day' Expansion KilledMike Saccone "Democratic lawmakers shot down a controversial expansion to Colorado's "Make My Day" law during a Monday afternoon committee hearing, calling the measure a "street death penalty." District of ColumbiaBarry Aims for Gun-ban HiatusGary Emerling "D.C. Council member Marion Barry yesterday introduced legislation that would suspend the District's 30-year ban on handguns, providing gun owners a 90-day period to register weapons they would then be allowed to legally own." Existing restrictions would resume after that period, and the records of the guns registered would be retained by D.C. City government. FloridaGov. Crist Calls for Meeting on Loopholes in Concealed Weapons LawMegan O'Matz and John Maines "Gov. Charlie Crist said Thursday he was concerned about lawbreakers who are licensed to carry guns in Florida and was planning to meet with the commissioner in charge of issuing the licenses to discuss the problem." GeorgiaHouse OKs Guns in CarsJeremy Redmon The Georgia House jumped back into the long-running debate over gun rights Monday, approving legislation that would allow motorists to conceal loaded firearms in their cars without a permit. MassachusettsGun Range Review Focuses on Lack of PermitsMilton J. Valencia "While police are challenging the legality of a local gun range's policies, an informal survey shows at least one other gun range in the state allows people without any gun permit to rent and shoot a firearm, further clouding the issue of whether the practice is illegal." MissouriHouse Expands Right to Use Deadly ForceChris Blank "House members endorsed a bill barring civil lawsuits against people who injure or kill people attempting to enter their home or car." MontanaProposal that Lets Gun Owners Brandish Weapons Clears HouseMatt Gouras "Residents would be allowed to brandish a firearm if they felt threatened, and would not be required to retreat from a would-be assailant before shooting in self defense under a measure working its way through the Legislature." Gun Rights Bill Passes HouseMatt Gouras "The House bucked the law enforcement community and endorsed a proposal to let residents brandish firearms if they feel threatened." North CarolinaAmmo Permit Measure WeighedMatt Dees "Gun owners looking to reload would have to show a permit every time they buy ammunition, if a bill backed by Durham officials gains state approval." New YorkFeds Warn NYC Over Gun-Sales Stings, Won't File ChargesMichael Saul "In a stern rebuke to the city's high-profile crusade against illegal guns, the feds warned the Bloomberg administration that it could face "potential legal liabilities" if it continues to conduct sting operations that fall within the jurisdiction of federal agents." North DakotaNorth Dakota House OKs deadly force billJonathan Rivoli "The North Dakota House narrowly approved a measure Monday to allow homeowners greater latitude in using deadly force on intruders." South DakotaBill to Reduce Hunting Age to 10 FailsJoe Kafka "The South Dakota House has refused to pass a bill that would have let all 10-year-olds hunt." UtahLegislature Passes Diluted Bill on Concealed Guns at CampusesErin Stewart "Starting with ambitions of banning guns in university sports arenas and classrooms, university leaders in Utah settled this week on a much-diluted version of a law to control concealed weapons on campus." Gun Bans May not be Allowed in Parking LotsNicole Warburton and Lisa Riley Roche "Owners of private parking lots would no longer be able to stop gun owners from storing their weapons in a parked car under a bill that received tentative approval in the Senate - one of two bills getting majority support from state senators Thursday." VirginiaFairfax's Push for Gun Limits Dies in HouseBill Turque "A bill promoted by Fairfax County to ban the carrying of guns into certain areas of police stations and other law enforcement buildings died in a state House subcommittee yesterday." West VirginiaNRA's 'Castle Doctrine' Bill PassesTom Searls "West Virginia senators unanimously passed a bill giving people criminal immunity for killing someone in self-defense Friday before leaving Charleston for the weekend." LawFederal Court Voids Firing Because Employee was ArmedDavid Hardy "UPS had announced that law enforcement would be conducting a "routine" search of all persons and property for contraband. Er -- anyone heard of the 4th Amendment? He said that he had such a firearm, and he was fired." Employee Gun Possession (Outside Employer Property) Presumptively Protected Against Employer Retaliation?Eugene Volokh Here's Gene Volokh's opinion on the UPS case and the Federal Court ruling that ordered the employee's reinstatement based on Ohio statute. SAF Victory in New Orleans, Judge Grants Contempt MotionPress Release "A United States District Judge in New Orleans has granted a motion to hold Mayor C. Ray Nagin and Police Superintendent Warren Riley in contempt for failure to provide initial disclosures and answers to discovery in a lawsuit filed by the Second Amendment Foundation." Illinois State Rifle Association Takes Action against Cook County Gun BanPress Release "The ISRA announced today that it is seeking injunctive relief against a gun ban recently enacted by the Cook County Board." ResearchNazism, the Second Amendment, and the NRA: A Reply to Professor HarcourtStephen P. Halbrook Halbrook here refutes the recent argument that Nazi Germany had liberal policies toward firearm owners and that the National Rifle Association promotes a myth of Nazi repression of firearms owners as part of a cultural war. Like any totalitarian system, Nazism repressed firearms owners, particularly political opponents, Jews, and anyone not adhering to National Socialism. This is a legitimate area of study in comparative law and Holocaust studies. The NRA, far from being a myth maker, played a role in the defeat of Nazism. Armed and DangerousCommission of Investigation "The New Jersey State Commission of Investigation (SCI) has issued a 30 page report alleging that it is too easy for criminals to obtain ammunition in New Jersey and proposing a series of new gun control laws which would require ammunition purchasers to have a New Jersey Firearms ID Card, prohibit ammunition sales without proof of ownership of a firearm matching the caliber to be purchased, and change New Jersey's Firearms ID Card to digitized photographic format, among other things." SCI Takes Aim at Gangs, Firearms Ammo; Calls for Tough New LawsPress Release Here is the SCI's press release announcing the report and the call for new restrictions. Science and Facts Escape Attorney General's Anti-Lead Ammunition ReportPress Release The Vermont State Attorney General has issued a report bemoaning the presence of lead in the environment from its use in firearms ammunition. SAAMI refutes the claims of that report and argues for the environmental safety of lead in ammunition. The Facts of Britain's Gun CultureRichard Ford This article summarizes "Gun crime: the Market in and Use of Illegal firearms", a Home Office study published in December 2006. Report On Conceal and Carry: High Costs, No BenefitPress Release "A report issued today by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension shows that the conceal and carry law of 2003/2005 has not delivered any benefit to public safety." This newsletter is compiled with help from Dr. Rob S. Rice. For more on this tenacious, if well-motivated individual, see http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/rrice/rrice_hd.html. Dr. Rice is the original author of 'The Godzilla Care Sheet,' for which see: http://slacky.de/files/texte/humor/GodzillaControl.txt Al Qaeda delenda est! |
