Kopel Second Amendment newsletter, May 10, 2006

About once a month, Dave Kopel produces a free e-mail Newsletter containing short summaries and links to important new research and writing involving the Second Amendment and firearms policy. The newsletter also reports on Kopel's latest writing.

The content of this newsletter is produced by the Second Amendment Project at the Independence Institute, a think tank in Golden, Colorado. The newsletter is electronically distributed by the Second Amendment Foundation in Bellevue, Washington. Thus, the Second Amendment Foundation will be given your e-mail address.

Archive of past issues.

May 10, 2006
Dave Kopel's Second Amendment Project is based at the Independence Institute, a free-market think tank in Golden, Colorado.
http://www.independenceinstitute.org

Delivery of this newsletter comes courtesy of the Second Amendment Foundation, in Bellevue, Washington.
http://www.saf.org

Please visit Dave Kopel's website, containing articles on the Second Amendment and other freedom topics.
http://www.davekopel.org

Table of Contents

1. New by Kopel: Descriptive case index from Gun Laws of America, now on-line; Dave Mentioned in LaPierre's Book; Chapter on Michael Moore; 2nd Amendment Symposium on-line; Catholic 2nd Amendment; Resisting Genocide.
2. Kopel Blogging: Jim & Sarah Brady; Geo. Mason; Nebraska and Kansas carry; Iranian Teenager; UN Human Rights; Canada; Castle Doctrine
3. Firearms Business: U.S. worth $2 Billion; Women buying Guns; Museum Fraud
4. International: Australia; China; Iraq; Jamaica; UK; UN
5. BATFE and Law Enforcement Abuse: Gunsmiths; Reform; Mayors' Conference; SWAT Team Shoots Unarmed Bookie; Self-Defenders Prosecuted
6. The States: Deadly Force; Alabama; Alaska; Arizona; California; Connecticut; Florida; Georgia; Kansas; Kentucky; Louisiana; Massachusetts; Michigan; Mississippi; Nebraska; New Hampshire; New York; Oklahoma; Virginia
7. Federal: Corrections and Improvements Act; Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act; Identity Theft
8. Law: New Orleans Lawsuit; NYC Lawsuit; Branch Davidians; New Jersey Probation Officers Disarmed; Colorado Photograph get Boy Convicted
9. Miscellaneous: Fattah supports Mayors' Summit; D.C. Self-Defense; Women Carrying; Psychoses of the Anti-Gun Mind; Gun Shows; Letter Generator; Car Control; U. Wisconsin Gun Club; Chinatown Rifles; Political Point

New by Kopel:

Supreme Court Gun Cases

Dave Kopel, Stephen P. Halbrook, Alan Korwin
May, 2006
http://gunlaws.com/Supreme%20Court%20Summaries.htm
"All 92 Supreme Court gun cases are listed here alphabetically, as answered questions, to help you find specific proceedings, and quickly grasp the gun-related elements of the case. Only the questions related to firearms or self defense are listed even if, as is often the case, the decision itself has a different focal point. Many other questions are indeed typically addressed in the cases and, because of the terseness of the questions below, you should rely on the full actual cases for an understanding of the significance of each one. Think of this index as a navigation tool, a memory jogger, and a good read."

New book by Wayne LaPierre

The Global War on Your Guns : Inside the UN Plan To Destroy the Bill of Rights
Wayne W. LaPierre
April 18, 2006
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1595550410/

qid=1146682550/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/

103-7981800-6097411?s=books&v=glance&n=283155
"Acknowledgements:....It could not have seen the light of day without the expertise of David B. Kopel who, as a preeminent scholar and writer, has been skillfully tracking the international gun ban crusade even longer than I. In sections of this work, you will see David's exhaustive research and insights unfold, since his findings are so powerful as to demand inclusion along with my own first-hand observations. As a researcher, David takes a backseat to no one when it comes to documenting the indictments contained herein with facts crucial to this debate."

Multimedia! Second Amendment Symposium, George Mason University School of Law.

Session: The English Religious Roots of the Second Amendment Right to Resist Tyranny.
Windows Media high-resolution
Windows Media low-resolution
Quicktime hi-resolution
Quicktime low-resolution
Session: The Right to Arms to Resist Genocide
Windows Media high-resolution
Windows Media low-resolution
Quicktime hi-resolution
Quicktime low-resolution
September 24, 2005
mms://media.streamtoyou.com/nra/symp/

2005/hi/2hi256K_Stream.wmv
mms://media.streamtoyou.com/nra/

symp/2005/lo/2lo56K_Dial_Up_Stream.wmv
http://www.nraila.org/media/Video/2005symp

/hi/2hi256K_Stream.mov
http://www.nraila.org/media/Video/

2005symp/lo/2lo56K_Dial_Up_Stream.mov
mms://media.streamtoyou.com/nra/symp

/2005/hi/6hi256K_Stream.wmv
mms://media.streamtoyou.com/nra/

symp/2005/lo/6lo56K_Dial_Up_Stream.wmv
http://www.nraila.org/media/Video/2005symp

/hi/6hi256K_Stream.mov
http://www.nraila.org/media/Video/

2005symp/lo/6lo56K_Dial_Up_Stream.mov

The Catholic Second Amendment

Hamline Law Review
2006
http://www.davekopel.com/Religion/Catholic-Second-Amendment.pdf
PDF files require Adobe Acrobat Reader or similiar software.
Final version of this article, now on-line.

Is Resisting Genocide a Human Right?

Notre Dame Law Review
2006
Final version now on-line, page numbers are not final

Kopel Blogging

Hurray for Jim and Sarah Brady

The Volokh Conspiracy
April 1, 2006
http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2006_03_26-2006_04_01.shtml#1143878421
In a Friday interview with the Washington Post, Jim and Sarah Brady state: "In the first place, lets make it clear we don't want restrictions on law abiding citizens beyond making sure that all gun purchasers undergo a complete and comprehensive background check." (Although they do still support local bans on all firearms if "a locality has voted it in themselves", and state or national bans on firearms which they claim are weapons of war.)

All George Mason, All the Time

The Volokh Conspiracy
April 1, 2006
http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2006_03_26-2006_04_01.shtml#1143878421
As the George Mason Patriots prepare for the Final Four, and loyal V.C. readers everywhere hope for the ultimate National Championship match-up of George Mason vs. UCLA, Dave thought that the time would be proper to note some of George Mason's contributions to the right to keep and bear arms.

Nebraska 40th state to enact Shall Issue Licenses

The Volokh Conspiracy
March 30, 2006
http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2006_03_26-2006_04_01.shtml#1143873304
The Nebraska legislature defeated a filibuster, and passed a Shall Issue law for licensing the carrying of concealed handguns by adults who pass a background check and a safety class. Nebraska's governor has said he will sign the bill into law.

Iranian Teenager to be Executed for Self-defense Against a Rapist

The Volokh Conspiracy
March 30, 2006
http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2006_03_26-2006_04_01.shtml#1143702317
On 3 January, 18-year-old Nazanin was sentenced to death for murder by a criminal court, after she reportedly admitted stabbing to death one of three men who attempted to rape her and her 16-year-old niece

Licensed Handgun Carry Wins in Kansas

Overlawyered.com
March 24, 2006
http://www.overlawyered.com/2006/03/

licensed_handgun_carry_wins_in.html
"Over-riding the Governor's veto, the Kansas legislature has enacted a "Shall Issue" law for issuing licenses to carry a concealed handgun for lawful protection. Before, Kansas was one of only four states without any provision for issuing concealed handgun licenses. One of the remaining three states, Nebraska, appears poised to enact a similar law, which the Governor has said he will sign. Kansas is now among the 39 states which have a fair procedure to allow citizens to carry handguns for protection."

Human Rights = Allah

Overlawyered.com
March 24, 2006
http://www.overlawyered.com/2006/03/human_rights_allah.html
"The Brussels Journal points out the close resemblance between the Arabic word for "Allah" and the logo of the UN Human Rights Commission, which may have been imposed by " a high-ranking Muslim UN official."

Should Health Care Workers be Able to Refuse Treatment to Gun Owners?

Overlawyered.com
March 21, 2006
http://www.overlawyered.com/2006/03/

should_health_care_workers_be.html
"That's the polling question of the day in Canada, on morning television. The story involves an elderly woman in Nova Scotia who suffers from multiple sclerosis and cannot walk. She was receiving health assistance from employees of Northwood Home Care. One morning, the Northwood sent an employee who had never been to the home before. In the home, the worker saw an unloaded hunting rifle, with the safety on, and a trigger lock."

Stand Your Ground

Overlawyered.com
March 21, 2006
http://www.overlawyered.com/2006/03/stand_your_ground.html

"Back in 1987, Florida set off a national trend by enacting a law which allows adults with a clean record, who pass a safety class, to obtain a permit to carry a concealed handgun for lawful defense. Although some states already allowed concealed carry, Florida's 1987 law led to the concept spreading nationally, so that today 38 states have handgun carry laws similar to Florida's. Now, a new Florida trend is spreading: "Stand your ground" laws."

One-stop Shopping for Gun Thieves

Overlawyered.com
March 29, 2006
http://www.overlawyered.com/2006/03/

onestop_shopping_for_gun_thiev.html
In today's National Post, Canadian columnist Lorne Gunter reports an interview with John Hicks, the former Webmaster for the Canadian Firearms Centre (CFC). The CFC is the national gun control center, which is supposed to maintain the registry of all rifles and shotguns which was created by the former Liberal government in 1995 legislation. According to Gunter, Hicks "contends that anyone with a home computer, an Internet connection and a little patience can hack into the national firearms database and find out who owns guns..."

Firearms Business

The US Firearms Industry Includes about 200 Companies with Combined Annual Revenue of $2 Billion

Business Wire
April 26, 2006
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20060426005458&newsLang=en
http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c36203
Research and Markets

http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c36203 has announced the addition of "Gun Manufacturing - Industry Profile" to their offering. The US firearms industry includes about 200 companies with combined annual revenue of $2 billion.

Former President of Frazier Museum, Wife indicted on Fraud charges

Business First of Louisville
January 26, 2006
"The former president of the Frazier Historical Arms Museum and his wife have been indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiring to defraud local philanthropist and businessman Owsley Brown Frazier and the museum, according to a news release. The indictment says that between September 1997 and September 2002, Michael K. Salisbury and his wife, Karen Cruse Salisbury, of Owens Crossroads, Ala., worked together to misrepresent the price and value of a number of antique firearms sold to Frazier and the museum..."

Women Getting Trigger Happy: More Women Are Buying and Using Guns

ABC News
March 20, 2006
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Moms/story?id=1743105&page=1
"More women, from soccer moms to professionals like the ones at the Blue Ridge Arsenal gun range in Chantilly, Va., are packing heat for sport, self-empowerment and protection."

International

Australia

PM urges renewed assault on handgun

Dennis Shanahan
The Australian
April 27, 2006
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18944562-2,00.html
"John Howard has issued a national call for further action on gun use as he prepares to address the tenth anniversary commemorative service for the 35 people killed in the Port Arthur massacre."

China

The Chinese Lecture on Human Rights

Robert T. McLean
The American Spectator
March 21, 2006
http://americanprowler.com/dsp_article.asp?art_id=9543
The Chinese have released a report on human rights in the United States faulting the U.S. government for allowing its people to own firearms.

Iraq

Gun glut in Iraq

Jeffrey Gettleman
The New York Times
APRIL 4, 2006
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/04/03/news/guns.php
This article offers the New York Times bemoaning the easy availability of firearms to the Iraqi populace.

Jamaica

Rifle Association shoots down Kidd-Deans' call to arm society:

Former top cop says bring on the guns

Dwight Bellanfante
Sunday Observer Reporter
Sunday, March 26, 2006
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20060325t200000-0500_101345_obs_rifle_association_shoots_

down_kidd_deans__call_to_arm_society_.asp
"The controversial call by Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) senator, Prudence Kidd-Deans for the arming of the society in the face of the prevailing high murder rate, has not found favour with the Jamaica Rifle Association (JRA), popularly known as the gun club."

United Kingdom

'Let burglars off with caution', police told

The Daily Mail
April 3, 2006
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=381799&in_page_id=1770
"Burglars will be allowed to escape without punishment under new instructions sent to all police forces. Police have been told they can let them off the threat of a court appearance and instead allow them to go with a caution."

The United Nations

Small Arms and Light Weapons: Making the UN Programme of Action work

Press Release by Rebecca Peters
Disarmament Diplomacy 83
Spring, 2006
http://www.acronym.org.uk/dd/dd82/82rp.htm
Here is a press release by the Acronym Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy arguing in support of U.N. efforts to restrict access to small arms to individual governments.

Small Arms Talks Hamstrung

Chris Affolter
Arms Control Today - Arms Control Association (US)
March, 2006
http://www.armscontrol.org/act/2006_03/MARCH-smallarms.asp
"As the United Nations prepares to host a review conference on curbing trade in small arms and light weapons, disputes over the extent of such measures and whether they should be legally binding are hampering progress."

BATFE and Law Enforcement Abuse

BATFE War on Custom Gunsmiths

"Jerry the Geek"
Cogito Ergo Geek Weblog
April 06, 2006
http://jerrythegeek.blogspot.com/2006/04/

batf-wars-against-gunsmiths.html
The BATFE is scrutinizing the records of custom gunsmiths with the goal of charging them for illegal manufacture of a firearm. Prosecutions have resulted from an error in paperwork.

Hearings Put Spotlight on Need for BATFE Reform

House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security
March 28, 2006
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?r109:3:./temp/~r109R7BltG::
"...the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security, continued to focus on enforcement abuses at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE), and also aired opinions about a new bill to correct several issues in federal firearms law. At the second hearing, the subcommittee focused on H.R. 5005, Rep. Lamar Smith's (R-TX) bill to make various technical changes and corrections in federal firearms law."

Support the BATFE Modernization and Reform Act of 2006

Press Release
The National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action
April 07, 2006
http://www.nraila.org/CurrentLegislation/Read.aspx?ID=2121
"... H.R. 5092 totally revises the system of administrative penalties for licensed dealers, manufacturers and importers of firearms. Today, for most violations, BATFE can only give an FFL holder a warning, or totally revoke the license. This bill would allow fines or license suspensions for less serious violations, while allowing license revocation for the kind of serious violations that would block an investigation or put guns in the hands of criminals."

NYC Mayor's Criticism of Gun Legislation Challenged

Jeff Johnson
Cybercast News Service
March 31, 2006
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=\Nation\archive\200603\NAT20060331a.html
A New York city attorney disputes Mayor Bloomberg's criticism of pending House of Representatives resolution H.R. 5005, which forbids the use of certain data collected by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for any purpose other than criminal prosecutions and ATF administrative proceedings.

Overkill: The Latest Trend in Policing

Radley Balko
The Cato Institute
February 8, 2006
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=5439
"On Jan. 24, a SWAT team in Fairfax shot and killed Salvatore J. Culosi Jr., an optometrist who was under investigation for gambling. According to a Jan. 26 front-page story in The Post, Culosi had emerged from his home to meet an undercover officer when a police tactical unit swarmed around him. An officer's gun discharged, killing the suspect." Culosi was unarmed.

Weapon Rap for Self-defense Pair

Philip Messing
The New York Post
April 16, 2006
http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/64585.htm
"Two brothers who were shot defending their Brooklyn shop from a pair of stick-up men were busted for returning fire with an illegal handgun, police sources said."

States

More States Sanction Deadly Force

Kavan Peterson
Kansas City InfoZine
April 27, 2006
http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/14609/
Six states -- Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi and South Dakota --- already have followed Florida's lead in enacting the controversial "stand your ground" laws, and Arizona and Idaho have adopted slightly less strict versions of the law.

Alabama

Governor signs law expanding deadly force to protect home

Phillip Rawls
Associociated Press (AL)
April 4, 2006
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/local/14261730.htm
"Gov. Bob Riley signed legislation Tuesday that puts Alabama among a growing number of states giving new legal protection to people who kill intruders in their homes, businesses and vehicles."

Alaska

"Stand Your Ground" bill passes Alaska Senate

Anne Sutton
Associated Press (AK)
March 27, 2006
http://www.adn.com/news/government/legislature/story/7573117p-7484417c.html

"Alaska took a step toward making it easier for residents to use deadly force against people threatening to hurt them with a proposed change in the self-defense law that passed the state Senate on Monday.

Arizona

Napolitano signs bill bolstering self-defense rights

Associated Press (AZ)
April 24, 2006
http://www.kpho.com/Global/story.asp?S=4812559&nav=23Ku

"Gov. Janet Napolitano on Monday signed a bill to strengthen Arizonans' rights to claim self-defense and to use force against intruders."

Veto override attempt narrowly fails

Associated Press (AZ)
April 26, 2006
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0427override-attempt0427.html
"The Republican-led Arizona Senate narrowly voted against overriding Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano's veto of a bill that would have prohibited the imposition of firearms restrictions during a declared state of emergency."

California

California bill seeks to require guns to tag ammunition

Rebecca Rosen Lum
San Luis Obispo Tribune (CA)
April 28, 2006
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/

sanluisobispo/news/nation/14451081.htm
"California could become the first state in the nation to require semi-automatic handguns include microscopic equipment for pressing an identifying mark into every bullet fired."

Connecticut

House rejects stolen gun penalties

Tobin A. Coleman
Stamford Advocate (CT)
April 29, 2006
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/

scn-sa-nor.guns2apr29,0,2614702.story?coll=stam-news-local-headlines
"The state House of Representatives last night defeated an amendment that would have required gun owners to report lost or stolen weapons within 72 hours or face criminal charges."

Florida

NRA bags 110-6 'shooter voter' win in House

Steve Bousquet
St. Petersburg Times (FL)
April 17, 2006
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/04/20/

State/NRA_bags_110_6__shoot.shtml
"The House voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to require businesses that issue fishing, hunting and trapping licenses to offer voter registration cards as well. The 110-6 vote was a victory for NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer, who said her goal was to expand opportunities for people to become voters."

Georgia

Perdue gets 'Stand your Ground' bill

Nancy Badertscher
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
March 25, 2006
http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:n0nBntpB67AJ:

www.ajc.com/today/content/epaper/

editions/today/news_4442beb2317481f81080.html

+%2B%22Perdue+gets+%27Stand+your+Ground%27+bill%22&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1
Georgians would be free to shoot muggers, carjackers and other attackers without fear of being prosecuted or sued under a National Rifle Association-backed bill that won final legislative approval Friday.

Kansas

Kansas to allow hidden weapons

David Klepper and Laura Bauer
The Kansas City Star
March 24, 2006
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/

kansascitystar/news/politics/14172892.htm
"The Kansas House voted Thursday to override Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' veto of a concealed weapons bill, following a similar vote in the Senate on Wednesday. The action makes law a plan to allow citizens who pass a background check and training course to carry concealed weapons."

Kentucky

Deadly force Bill Gains Final Passage, Clogging is Made Official State Dance

The Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)
April 11, 2006
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060411/NEWS0101/604110366
"Kentucky law would explicitly allow people to use deadly force against an attacker in their homes or cars under a bill given final legislative passage yesterday. Also among the bills passed was one designating an official state dance."

Louisiana

Expanded 'deadly force' bill sails through House committee:

Justification wider in shooting intruder

Robert Travis Scott
Times-Picayune (New Orleans, LA)
April 20, 2006
http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/capital/index.ssf?/base/news-3/1145515333278430.xml
"A bill to expand the legal justification for using deadly force against intruders in homes, businesses and cars passed a House committee Wednesday with no one speaking in opposition."

House votes to ban confiscation of guns

Mark Ballard
The Baton Rouge Advocate (LA)
April 25, 2006
http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/2687716.html
"House Bill 760 would forbid law enforcement from confiscating firearms from law-abiding citizens during times of civil disorder. Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, said he was appalled that police took guns from people during the riotous days following Hurricane Katrina."

Massachusetts

City councilor aims for gun offender registry

Suzanne Smalley
The Boston Globe
March 22, 2006
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/03/22/

city_councilor_aims_for_gun_offender_registry/
"City Councilor Robert Consalvo yesterday held a hearing to discuss a possible gun offender registry similar to the state sex offender registry."

Michigan

House Approves Self-defense Bills

Associated Press (MI)
April 25, 2006
http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?S=4817112&nav=0RbQ
"The state House has passed bills that supporters say would strengthen and clarify self-defense rights in Michigan."

Self-defense shooters get House boost

Chris Christoff
The Detroit Free Press
April 20, 2006
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060420/NEWS06/604200485/-1/BUSINESS07
"A politically charged debate over gun rights brewed Wednesday as a state House committee passed a package of bills that would make citizens who injure or kill attackers in their homes, yards or even on public streets immune from criminal charges and lawsuits."

Mississippi

Governor signs bill expanding Miss. no retreat law

Associated Press (MS)
March 28, 2006
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060328/NEWS/60328010
"Gov. Haley Barbour has signed into law a bill that expands a person's right to claim self-defense against intruders to an individual's car, business and the vicinity of the business."

Nebraska

Concealed Weapons Bill Signed into Law

Nancy Hicks
Lincoln Journal Star (NE)
April 20, 2006
http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2006/04/06/

legislature/doc443430f2b1c59059566978.txt
"Former state senator Gene Tyson of Norfolk came to the Capitol on Wednesday to help celebrate passage of a new law that will allow Nebraskans to carry a concealed weapon."

New Hampshire

House Reverses Course, Supports Expanded use of Deadly Force

Anne Saunders
Associated Press (NH)
April 26, 2006
http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/special/4_26special5.htm
"In a surprise turnaround, the House supported legislation it defeated last month that would give people more leeway to use guns to defend themselves in public places."

New York

Bill would outlaw BB guns for kids

Newsday (New York, NY)
April 6, 2006
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-lirif0412,0,3775931.story?coll=ny-linews-headlines
"Three Nassau County legislators yesterday fired what they consider an opening salvo at the practice of minors buying hard-firing BB, pellet, and paint-ball guns."

Oklahoma

Bill gives more protection to gun owners

Associated Press (OK)
April 25, 2006
http://www.kotv.com/main/home/

stories.asp?whichpage=1&id=103094
"A bill to expand legal protections to people who shoot or use other deadly force when threatened or attacked easily passed the state Senate on Tuesday."

Authority To Confiscate Guns During Emergencies Considered

KOCO (Oklahoma City, OK)
April 26, 2006
http://www.channeloklahoma.com/news/9023840/detail.html
"State Rep. Mike Shelton said House Bill 2696 has placed the power of the law into the wrong hands. 'During states of emergency, I think police need total control. They don't need to worry who has guns and who doesn't. If the governor calls for Oklahomans to relinquish their guns, the public needs to do so,' Shelton said."

Virginia

Governor's vetoes include concealed-gun legislation

Christina Nuckols
The Virginian-Pilot
April 12, 2006
http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=102911&ran=41376
"Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said Tuesday he has vetoed a bill that would allow drivers to keep loaded guns in their cars and boats without a criminal background check or firearms training."

Federal

Firearms Corrections and Improvements Act (Introduced in House)

Representaive Lamar Smith of Texas
Library of Congress: Thomas
March 16, 2006
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c109:1:./temp/~c109Iby1yr::
http://nra-ila.org/CurrentLegislation/Read.aspx?ITNDrop=2088-L
"The bill would roll back unnecessary restrictions, correct errors, and codify longstanding congressional policies in the arena of firearms laws," according to the NRA-ILA.

http://nra-ila.org/CurrentLegislation/Read.aspx?ITNDrop=2088-L

Congressman Jindal Introduces the

"Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act of 2006

Press Release
The National Rifle Associaton Institute for Legislative Action
March 28, 2006
http://www.nraila.org/News/Read/Releases.aspx?ID=7412
U.S. Congressman Bobby Jindal (R-La.) introduced H.R. 5013, the "Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act of 2006." This NRA-supported bill would amend federal emergency statute laws to prohibit local authorities from confiscating lawfully owned firearms during times of disaster. Representative Jindal stated: "The Second Amendment is a cornerstone of our country's freedom and independence. Particularly during emergencies like those surrounding Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, when incidences of looting, violence and lawlessness were broadcast around the country, we must ensure that law-abiding gun owners are not deprived of their Constitutionally protected right to bear arms. I am proud to offer this legislation to protect law-abiding citizens' Constitutional right to bear arms and to defend their lives, families and property against lawless criminals." ILA's Executive Director Chris W. Cox said, "Hurricane Katrina taught us that lawful citizens need the Second Amendment most during disaster and crisis. New Orleans residents legally armed themselves to protect their lives and property from civil disorder." Thirty three states have "emergency powers" laws that give the government permission to suspend or limit gun sales, and to prohibit or restrict citizens from transporting or carrying firearms--something NRA-ILA is working to change. In some states, authorities can seize guns outright from citizens who have committed no crime--and who would then be defenseless against disorder. Cox added, "This bill to amend the federal disaster laws is vital for the future of America. Legislative bodies can, and should, act to protect the self-defense rights of citizens at the times when those rights are most important. "We would like to thank Representative Jindal for introducing this bill, and we look forward to the time when the government will never have the power to confiscate firearms from law-abiding citizens," he concluded.

Identity theft threatens U.S. firearm owners as

American gun law expert urges congressional action

John Snyder
Press Release from Telum Associates, LLC
April 13, 2006
http://www.expertclick.com/NewsReleaseWire/

default.cfm?Action=ReleaseDetail&ID=12282
"The criminal with a mile-long rap sheet who steals Joe Citizen's ID uses the good name to purchase a firearm and subsequently misuse it in the commission of a bank robbery, rape or murder."

Law

NOPD, NRA call truce over gun seizures

Trymaine Lee
The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)
April 22, 2006
http://www.nola.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/news-14/1145687056275360.xml
"The legal skirmish between the New Orleans Police Department, the city and the National Rifle Association over the return of firearms confiscated after Hurricane Katrina has come to a cease-fire, with the NOPD agreeing to return some of the 700 weapons gathered during the storm and the NRA withdrawing its lawsuit against the city."

New Orleans Police to Return Seized Guns

Mary Foster
Associated Press (LA)
April 19, 2006
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/14380187.htm
"Under pressure from the National Rifle Association, police this week began returning guns confiscated after Hurricane Katrina"

NYC's gun lawsuit evades congressional attempt to kill it

David B. Caruso
Associated Press (NY)
April 27, 2006
http://www.silive.com/newsflash/metro/index.ssf?/base/news-17/1146185657183870.xml&storylist=simetro
"A federal judge in Brooklyn ruled Thursday that the city may have access to gun tracing information gathered by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, even though a recently passed measure expressly forbids such data from being used in civil suits."

6 BRANCH DAVIDIANS TO LEAVE CUSTODY

Associated Press
April 20, 2006
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2006/4/19/222753.shtml
"Thirteen years after the Branch Davidians' armed standoff with federal agents ended in an inferno that killed nearly 80 people, six sect members who were sent to prison are about to be released from custody."

Court: Probation officers may not carry guns

Tom Baldwin
Asbury Park Press
April 20th, 2006
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=

/20060420/NEWS03/604200378/1007
"The state Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled unconstitutional a state law enabling probation officers to carry guns, saying the officers work for the impartial judiciary and are not law enforcement officers." The case is A-129/130-04 Williams v. State of N.J. (Mercer County and Statewide)(argued 1/4/06)

Boy who posed with guns convicted

Sue Lindsay
The Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local

/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_4595681,00.html
"An Evergreen high school student who posted Internet photos of himself posing with guns was convicted Tuesday on a charge of possession of a handgun by a juvenile." The boy appears not to be a responsible gun possessor, but it also seems that he did not violate the relevant Colorado law.

Miscellaneous

Mayoral Gun Violence Summit Gets Support from Congressman Fattah

Press Release from the office of Rep. Chaka Fattah
U.S. Newswire
April 25, 2006
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=64587
U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-Pa.) commends New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino for their initiative to bring an end to gun violence around the country..."

Pleading self-defense

Judith Person
World Magazine
April 1, 2006
http://www.worldmag.com/articles/11675
"I think we should have guns at least in our homes and be allowed to have them loaded," Miss Seegars says--but such comments anger her boss, D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams, a pro-gun-control Democrat like almost every other members of the D.C. city council."

Look who's packin'

Heather Gilmore and Brad Hamilton
New York Post
March 26, 2006
http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/63648.htm
"Ronald Lauder has joined trigger-happy tycoons Donald Trump and Seagrams scion Edgar Bronfman Sr. as the richest men in the city packing heat, according to the NYPD's gun-permit list."

Raging Against Self-Defense: A Psychiatrist Examines the Anti-gun Mentality

Sarah Thompson, M.D.
Free Market News Network
February 24, 2006
http://www.freemarketnews.com/Analysis/105/3917/2006-02-24.asp?wid=105&nid=3917
Dr. Thompson runs over the various mind-sets and neuroses that can lead people to be more afraid of defending themselves than the consequences of failing to do so.

Gun Shows Cited As Source of Firearms Used In Crime

Judy L. Thomas
Kansas City Star
March 26, 2006
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/14187268.htm
"Gun shows are one of our main problems," said Kansas City Mayor Pro Tem Alvin Brooks. "These are the guns that end up on the streets of America."

NRA Grassroots Letter to the Editor Generator

http://www.capwiz.com/nra/dbq/media/
NRA grassroots has set up this page to assist RKBA supporters in contacting local media. It can generate the e-mail address of local papers' and stations' upon being furnished with a ZIP code, and provides a text box to compose messages.

We need to regulate cars as tightly as we regulate guns

David Hardy
Of Arms and the Law
March 25, 2006
http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2006/03/we_need_to_regu.php
The Charlotte Observer has a story regarding Mohammed Taheri-Aza, the guy who drove a car into the crowd of students in order to protest beliefs that Moslems are violent. (Yeah, he sure did a job of proving his point....) He left a note: "I would instead use a handgun to murder the citizens and residents of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, but the process of receiving a permit for a handgun in this city is highly restricted and out of my reach at present, most likely due to my foreign nationality." (Hat tip to Dan Gifford). I suppose a good start for regulating cars as tightly as guns would be to require background checks for drivers' licenses, bar licenses for felons, domestic violence misdemeanants, mental commitments, etc., forbid auto ownership by anyone in those classes, require paperwork to be kept by the dealer, subject to federal inspection, make any violation a felony, etc. Oh, and ban any autos (other than police) capable of exceeding the speed limit, with states free to go beyond this and impose waiting periods, special licensing requirements, proof of need, etc. Then we can crack down on the "private sales" loophole...

UW gun club aims to educate, activate

Shira Nanus
The Daily Cardinal
April 14, 2006
http://www.dailycardinal.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=713&Itemid=40
"A UW-Madison student group that aims to teach students responsible gun use has also done advocacy work for Wisconsin's concealed-carry amendment. Student Alliance for Firearm Education and Responsibility, a student organization since the mid-'90s, allows students to compete in shooting and discuss gun-related issues."

Rebuilding Chinatown After the 1906 Quake

Richard Gonzales
National Public Radio Morning Edition
April 12, 2006
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5337215
"The most horrible moment of all was in the early 1870s in L.A., where some 14 Chinese were lynched by a mob," [California historian Kevin] Starr says. "Fortunately, that never happened in San Francisco because even though there were anti-Chinese riots... the Chinese served notice they would meet anybody who came into their part of the city with rifles."

A Political Observation

Political Analyst Charlie Cook wrote in the March 11 issue of National Journal that the Democrats' "inability to consistently win elections in places where gun shops outnumber Starbucks is a big reason the party controls neither the House nor the Senate."

This newsletter is compiled with help from Dr. Rob S. Rice, who is still has challenges from time to time with the new format, but is rising to meet those challenges admirably. Our thanks to Dr. Rice, who is also a poet, novelist, and factotum of matters electronic to Dave Kopel.

Al Qaeda delenda est!