Texas Castle-Doctrine Bill Gains Support: Local state representatives have added their support to the a piece of pending legislation known as the "castle doctrine." Senate bill 378 and its counterpart House bill 284 would broaden the self-defense rights of individuals when protecting their home, vehicle or business from criminals. http://stories.baytownsun.com/story.lasso?ewcd=a98aa72fdd46fa63 --- Indiana Gun-Show Bill Given Poor Chance: State Rep. David Orentlicher, D-Indianapolis, has introduced House Bill 1090, which would require background checks for all gun show purchases to screen out convicted felons while also limiting buyers to one handgun every 30 days. The reception from fellow legislators has been frosty at best. Even though Democrats control the House, Orentlicher's bill likely won't get a hearing. http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070218/LOCAL190110/702180421/-1/ZONES04 --- Does Giuliani Really Believe That "Gun Control" Is A Local Matter?: Joseph Farah points out that as mayor of New York City, Rudy said, "We need a federal law that bans all assault weapons, and if in fact you do need a handgun you should be subjected to at least the same restrictions - and really stronger ones - that exist for driving an automobile." http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=54323 --- Meanwhile, Upstate...: The number of gun-related crimes in the state outside New York City soared almost 22 percent from 2004 to 2005, according to a new report...Still, the state needs to do more to crack down on illicit gun sales, said Assembly Codes Committee Chairman Joseph Lentol, D-Brooklyn. "It's also a federal issue,'' he said. "We need to be able to do more to prevent guns from coming into our state.'' http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007702170355 --- Meanwhile, In Massachusetts...: Mitt Romney, who has touted his support of gun owners since launching his presidential campaign, yesterday acknowledged he did not become a member of the National Rifle Association until last August, campaign officials said. A former advocate of gun control, Romney during his 1994 run for the US Senate backed measures the gun-rights group opposed, such as a five-day waiting period on gun sales and a ban on certain assault weapons. http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/02/19/romney_joined_nra_in_august/ --- Kimber Withdraws Tax-Break Application: Gun maker Kimber Manufacturing has withdrawn its application to be included in a tax-break program, as it eyes an expansion that worried neighbors in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, Yonkers NY officials said. The Yonkers Empire Zone board had approved Kimber's application to be included in the financial incentive zone Dec. 19. But the City Council delayed a vote on the action last month because of neighbors' concerns. http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070218/NEWS02/702180351/1026/NEWS10 --- Brady Bunch Misses The Point? According to Federal laws, it was illegal for a licensed gun dealer to sell Sulejman Talovic, 18, the shooter in the Salt Lake City Mall tragedy earlier this week, a handgun or handgun ammunition...All one of these teens has to do is purchase the gun from an unlicensed seller, who can easily be found at a gun show or through a classified ad in a newspaper or by word of mouth. (What about being handed the revolver by a "spiritual advisor" who could care less about federal or state laws?) http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/02-16-2007/0004529341&EDATE= --- NSSF Opposes California Micro-Stamping Bill: The National Sports Shooting Foundation (NSSF), the firearm industry's trade association, commenting on Assembly Member Mike Feuer's (D-West Hollywood) introduction yesterday of legislation to mandate "firearms micro-stamping," said similar legislation failed last year and vowed to oppose any legislation to mandate such a flawed and unreliable technology that can so easily be defeated. http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=ind_focus.story&STORY=/www/story/02-16-2007/0004529389&EDATE=FRI+Feb+16+2007,+01:07+PM --- Criminologist vs. Prohibitionists: "...But, unfortunately, in the wake of the recent murderous rampage at Trolley Square, the folks at Gun Violence Prevention Center of Utah are embarking on an anti-gun rampage that could soon be the envy of every Muslim who likes to kill innocent people at a shopping mall..." (Note - commentary continues on second page.) http://www.townhall.com/columnists/MikeSAdams/2007/02/19/fourth_grader_settles_gun_control_debate_details_at_1100 --- Oops, Wrong House: A 20-year-old Wisconsin man died of a gunshot wound after he and his cousin tried to break into an apartment in Indianapolis IN. The cousin was arrested on a preliminary charge of murder, police said, because the shooting happened while the pair was allegedly committing a forcible felony. http://www.theindychannel.com/news/11046955/detail.html --- But What About The Technique?: A 75-year-old, one-armed Alabama woman grabbed her flashlight and revolver when she heard someone trying to break into her bait shop, next door to her home. Police are searching for a wounded burglary suspect. (I once had a student with only one hand and never got around to thinking of how I could teach him to operate a flashlight and handgun simultaneously. Kudos!) http://www.wtvynews4.com/home/headlines/3732506.html --- LEOSA Amendment Introduced: A bill has been introduced to attempt to overcome the difficulties that retired law-enforcement officers are experiencing in some states qualifying for concealed carry under the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act. http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:S.376: --- Blair Calls For Tougher Gun Law For British Youths: Prime Minister Tony Blair announced Sunday that he wanted to lower to 17 the age at which a mandatory five-year sentence could be imposed for illegally possessing a gun. The announcement followed the shooting deaths of three teenagers. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/18/AR2007021801028.html -- Stephen P. Wenger Firearm safety - It's a matter for education, not legislation. http://www.spw-duf.info .