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Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.4.1/312 - Release Date: 4/14/2006 Finally - New Orleans To Return Seized Firearms: After seven months, many of which were spent denying that they had even been seized, the New Orleans Police Department, on Monday, will start returning firearms seized from their law-abiding owners in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2006/4/14/233330.shtml?s=us --- Kansas Continues Debate Over CCW Confidentiality: Since the recently passed statute that creates licensed CCW in Kansas is mute on the issue, the debate continues over whether resulting regulations will leave permit records open to public access. http://www.49abcnews.com/news/2006/apr/12/decision_remains_make_conceal_carry_permit_records/ --- University Of Wisconsin Gun Club: A UW-Madison student group that aims to teach students responsible gun use has also done advocacy work for Wisconsin's concealed-carry amendment. http://www.dailycardinal.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=713&Itemid=40 --- Illinois Student Activist Sues College: A gun rights activist who founded ICARRY.org, Shaun A. Kranish, 20, said he was arrested for disorderly conduct in October after he approached college officials to discuss its weapons policies which prohibits guns on campus. http://www.rrstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060414/NEWS0107/104140041 --- Jury Selection Begins In Arizona Trail-Shooting Case: The trial begins soon for the retired teacher who fatally shot a man who charged him on a hiking trail. http://www.azdailysun.com/articles/2006/04/14/news/local/20060414_local_news_2.txt -- Oops, Wrong Move: Two Texas men surprised their victim in the parking area of an apartment complex and robbed him of money and his vehicle. As they were leaving, one of them opened fire on him, prompting him to draw his own handgun and fatally shoot one of the robbers. (It's unclear from this report why, after holding the victim with a gun to his head, the robber waited until they were leaving to start shooting.) http://www.click2houston.com/news/8693429/detail.html http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=local&id=4083814 --- USMC Bans Synthetic Clothing In High-Risk Areas: Citing the risk of burns from melting synthetic undergarments worn under body armor, the Marine Corps has banned their use by troops in high-risk areas in Iraq. http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,93820,00.html --- Wal-Mart Drops Gun Sales In One-Third Of Stores: Citing differences in rural and urban market demand, Wal-Mart has announced that it will be discontinuing the sale of firearms in over 1,000 stores. The firearms will be replaced with other sporting goods. The announcement has been hailed by prohibitionists. http://www.washtimes.com/business/20060414-103612-6020r.htm --- Self-Defense Down Under: An Australian man who was tried for murder and manslaughter after he fatally shot an armed robber nearly nine years ago says, "If it happened again now, I'd just take the chance that he'd shoot me." http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,18816155%255E2682,00.html --- From AzCDL: This is an update on SB 1145, HB 2076 and HB 2074. SB 1145 (self-defense; home protection): http://www.azleg.gov/DocumentsForBill.asp?Bill_Number=SB1145 The pressure you put on your Representatives paid off on 4/13/06 in the House Committee of the Whole (COW). The Arizona Association of Prosecuting Attorneys has been lobbying to strip the Senate amendment that restores YOUR right to be "innocent until proven guilty" in self-defense situations. However, AzCDL, working with NRA, ASRPA and other committed activists, supported by YOUR calls and letters, succeeded in convincing legislators to retain the language that has already passed the Senate by a 28-0 vote. After heated debate on the floor of the House, SB 1145 passed the COW by a voice vote of 28-18 (informal count). From here, SB 1145 will be scheduled for Third Read by the House before going back to the Senate for a concurrence vote. No additional amendments can be added to the bill now, but we can't let up. Take the time to call or email your Representatives and urge them to vote for SB 1145 in Third Read. You can find your Representative by going here: http://tinyurl.com/bmfwn HB 2076 (weapons; misconduct; storage; map pocket): http://www.azleg.gov/DocumentsForBill.asp?Bill_Number=HB2076 HB 2076 passed out of the Senate Rules committee and is headed for the Senate Committee of the Whole (COW) where we expect to see it amended to address concerns of public establishments who must comply with the proposed law. Please contact your Senator and ask him or her to support the bill. HB 2074 (concealed weapons; training requirement; renewal): http://www.azleg.gov/DocumentsForBill.asp?Bill_Number=HB2074 HB 2074 eliminates the renewal training requirement for CCW permits. It was amended in the Senate to provide nearly universal recognition of out-of-state CCW permits. The bill as amended has passed the Senate and House and was transmitted to the Governor on 4/12/06. Now is the time to contact the Governor and urge her to sign HB 2074 into law. Below is a sample letter you can use. You can fax a letter to her using this number: 602-542-1381. You can also mail it to her at the following address: The Honorable Janet Napolitano Governor of Arizona 1700 West Washington Phoenix, Arizona 85007 You can contact the Governor via the Internet here: http://azgovernor.gov/Contact.asp Or you can call her office toll free using this number: 1-800-253-0883 At the Governor's website, you will find a fill-in-the-blanks form to register your opinion. For "subject" scroll down and select "Legislation." For "topic" fill in - HB 2074. You can cut-and-paste the message below in the "message/comment" area. Governor Napolitano: The Arizona Citizens Defense League (AzCDL) has informed me that HB 2074 has been sent to you for consideration. I urge you to sign HB 2074 into law. HB 2074 eliminates the training requirement for Concealed Weapons (CCW) permit renewal. Per the NRA, only six of the 44 states that issue permits require refresher training for renewal. The overwhelming majority of states do not require renewal training and they are not experiencing any problems. Arizona will not be the exception when HB 2074 is enacted. Contrary to assumptions, there is no correlation between mandatory training and permit holder conduct. Ten states have no training requirements at all. Two of these, Indiana and Pennsylvania, have about three-quarters of a million active permits and have revocation rates that are comparable to, if not better than, states with training requirements. Because of the current renewal requirements only about 10% of Arizona CCW permits are renewed. Elimination of the renewal training requirement will increase State revenue from the increase in CCW permit renewals, without any reduction in public safety. Again, I ask that you please sign HB 2074 into law. Sincerely, Your Name Street Address City, AZ zip-code (telephone number) These alerts are a project of the Arizona Citizens Defense League (AzCDL), an all volunteer, non-profit, non-partisan grassroots organization. Join today! AzCDL - Protecting Your Freedom http://www.azcdl.org/html/join_us_.html --- From NRA-ILA: Thanks to Your Activism, Freedom and Justice Prevail in Arizona! Your Right to Self-Defense will be Voted on in the House! Senate Bill 1145, the "Castle Doctrine" legislation sponsored by Senator Timothy Bee (D-30), passed the Senate by a unanimous vote of 28-0 with a critically important amendment. However, self-defense opponents in the House of Representatives attacked it relentlessly this week. Your activism stopped them in their tracks! SB 1145 with the NRA-backed amendment has the following two components: * Justifies the use of force if you presume you are in danger of serious bodily harm or death within your home and/or occupied vehicle * Returns the burden of proof in self-defense cases to the state This will allow law-abiding citizens who are forced to actually use their firearms for self-defense will not be wrongfully convicted or financially devastated by costs associated with their legal defense. Arizona is one of only two states in the country that places the burden of proof in self-defense cases on the individual citizen (Ohio is the other). In effect, citizens who are forced by an attacker to act in self-defense are presumed guilty until they prove their innocence in court by a preponderance of the evidence. This is contrary to the basic foundation of the American justice system -- a person is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Self-defense opponents proposed amendments on the House floor attempting to strip this essential provision out of the bill. Their misguided efforts were defeated after a long contentious floor debate. NRA members answered the call to action and all Arizonans will benefit! NRA-backed SB 1145 now heads to the full House for a floor vote. Please contact your two representatives and ask them to support your right to self-defense. If you need help identifying your two State Representatives please visit, tinyurl.com/bmfwn. Members of the Arizona House of Representatives can be reached at (602) 926-4221. Please visit www.NRAILA.org to learn more about Castle Doctrine Legislation in other states. To find further contact information, please use NRA-ILA's "Write Your Representative" feature. Two Pro-Gun Bills sent to Arizona Governor! Friday, April 14, 2006 Two important bills were sent to Governor Janet Napolitano (D) for her signature this week. SB 1425, prohibits the government from restricting firearms possession or sale during states of emergency, and HB 2074, requires Arizona to recognize the concealed handgun permits from all other 46 states in the country that issue them. HB 2074 makes Arizona one of the vast majority of Right-to-Carry states that do not require a renewal training course to be completed when renewing a permit. Please contact the Governor Napolitano at (602) 542-1900 and ask her to sign SB 1425 and HB 2074. -- Stephen P. Wenger Firearm safety - It's a matter for education, not legislation. http://www.spw-duf.info .