Bill Would Clean Up Ohio CCW Law: A bill about to be introduced would address some key defects in Ohio's CCW law, including removing the ban on concealed carry in vehicles and blocking media access to lists of CHL holders. The comments of the lobbyist for the Ohio Newspaper Association might have some credibility in a discretionary-issue state, such as California or New York, but it's hard to see how they apply in a shall-issue state. http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2699 http://www.oweb.com/state/story/0915202005_staOH--ConcealedWeapo.asp --- Cook County "AWB" Dies In Committee: A proposal for an expansion of a local ban on cosmetically impaired firearms has died due to an unexpectedly poor reception from fellow supervisors. (Chicago is located in Cook County IL.) http://www.illinoisleader.com/news/newsview.asp?c=28381 --- Brady Bunch et al. vs. Second Amendment Sisters: The Brady Bunch publicizes its dinner, hosted by the French Embassy, to honor Art Buchwald, who takes a swipe at protest organized by SAS. http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=53331 --- Oops, Wrong Citizen: A Georgia man, presumably licensed for concealed carry, intervened in a carjacking incident and fatally shot the carjacker when the latter attempted to shoot him. The initial victim died as the result of a collision. http://www.11alive.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=69104 --- When Britain Outlaws Guns...: A former "armed response officer" (British for a police officer armed with a firearm) reveals how easy it is for criminals in Britain to purchase smuggled firearms and how much their use has escalated since the latest wave of bans. http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2005420600,00.html --- Police Recruit Shot By Instructor: While details are sketchy, a trainee at the North Central Georgia Law Enforcement Academy was shot fatally by an instructor in what is described as a "classroom exercise." http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/14/recruit.shot.ap/index.html http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/local/12651924.htm http://www.mdjonline.com/268/10195295.txt From John Farnam: (I had not considered this of wide enough interest to share last Sunday but I feel that I must share it now. The correct name of the product is "Simunition.") 9 Sept 05 Simmunitions Guns and "Classroom" Guns: Both Glock and SIG make dedicated Simmunitions pistols and non-firing "classroom" guns, and I think any other gun manufacturer who plans on competing seriously for institutional sales needs to have these two items in its inventory. Simmunitions pistols need to have blue frames, so their identity can be instantly established, even when they are holstered. That prevents functional pistols from being inadvertently carried into a Simmunitions exercise, and it also prevents a Simmunitions pistol from being inadvertently carried on duty. Simmunitions conversion "kits" are far less satisfactory, as using them invariably invites Simmunitions guns and functional guns to become mixed in with each other. It is my opinion that Simmunitions pistols need to be dedicated to that purpose and be permanently unconvertible to functionality. "Classroom" pistols, or "Red Guns," are non-firing, but otherwise fully functional, simulators that can be safely used in a classroom setting. They are handy for teaching gun-handling skills, including field stripping and user-level maintenance, without having to consume a range in the process. Again, the frame must be a distinctive color (red is the industry standard), and the pistol must be permanently unconvertible to full functionality. Manufacturers consider producing and marketing these two items to be an expensive nuisance, but they have no choice. Any gun manufacturer that does not offer them cannot be considered a serious competitor. If we are to train officers properly, we need them! /John --- From Alan Korwin: Prison Time For Gun Confiscators? Prison Time For Gun Confiscators? Prison Time For Gun Confiscators? by Alan Korwin, Author Gun Laws of America Sometimes called "a novel legal theory" -- and a simple and fair response to gun confiscations in Louisiana: Indict officials who violate the Constitution and trample fundamental rights. Use basic civil-rights laws against these alleged gun-rights offenders -- Federal law 18 USC § 241. "Conspiracy against rights" The Gist: If two or more people conspire to injure, oppress, threaten or intimidate any person in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured under the Constitution or laws of the United States, they shall be fined, or imprisoned up to ten years, or both. The same penalty applies if two or more people go, in disguise, on the highway, or on the premises of a person, with similar intent to prevent or hinder such rights or privileges. If death results from such acts, or if such acts include kidnapping, attempted kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault, attempted aggravated sexual assault, or an attempt to kill, they may be fined, imprisoned for any term of years up to life, or put to death. (See also 18-242, 18-1001 and 42-1983.) ------------------ Verbatim text of statute: 18 USC § 241. "Conspiracy against rights" If two or more persons conspire to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him by the Constitution or laws of the United States, or because of his having so exercised the same; or If two or more persons go in disguise on the highway, or on the premises of another, with intent to prevent or hinder his free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege so secured-- They shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and if death results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, they shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both, or may be sentenced to death. [Notes: June 25, 1948 (171 words); Title 18. Crimes and Criminal Procedure; Part I: Crimes; Chapter 13: Civil Rights.] ------------------ Action You Can Take: Action You Can Take: 1. Hello, I'm a local resident and I have a question for my Senator (or Congressman). pause, listen 2. It concerns civil rights. Have you heard about the gun confiscations in Louisiana? 3. Let me email you some background that will make this easier, is that OK? Then I could call back. (Email any or all of this message as you see fit.) How do you spell your name? 4. I learned that there is a federal law, "18 USC 241" that provides a ten-year prison sentence for anyone who interferes with, and I'm quoting, "the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him by the Constitution or laws of the United States." Where do you think the Senator would stand on indicting the apparently illegal gun confiscators? pause. So would the Senator support disarming the public during emergencies? WARNING: They will likely balk, tell you it doesn't apply, say you're wrong or make many other excuses. Do not accept that. I'll help you if some excuse seems impassable; they're not, I've heard a ton, they all fall once you look closely. Insist on enforcement of the plain clear language of the law. The authorities are not above the law, and they must be brought to justice. Just fair play. Alan. -- Stephen P. Wenger Firearm safety - It's a matter for education, not legislation. http://www.spw-duf.info .