Anti-Gun Judge Approves Bloomberg Lawsuit: A federal judge on Wednesday kept alive a lawsuit accusing Georgia gun dealers of illegally selling firearms that end up being used in crimes in New York City. In a 99-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Jack Weinstein in Brooklyn said he found ample evidence the gun dealers "have been responsible for the funneling into New York of large quantities of handguns used by local criminals to terrorize significant portions of the city's population." (Weinstein has a lengthy history of supporting litigation against the firearm industry.) http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/cobb/stories/2007/08/15/gun_0816_web.html --- Misinformation From New Jersey: Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, who has been among the leaders in a nationwide effort to release federal gun trace data to local officials, applauded today an agreement between the state and federal governments that allows Trenton to access that data...It is unclear how this affects the federal Tiahrt Amendment, a provision in federal law that prohibits the ATF from sharing certain kinds of gun trace data with local governments and police departments. (The Tiahrt amendment does not prohibit sharing data to investigate specific crimes; it prohibits sharing bulk data that some cities seek to use to sue the firearm industry.) http://www.nj.com/hudsoncountynow/index.ssf/2007/08/healy_applauds_gun_data_sharin.html --- Number Of FFL's Plummets Since 1994: Tougher laws and stricter enforcement cost nearly 200,000 U.S. gun dealers their licenses since the mid-1990s, a new study shows. Led by remarkably sharp declines in states including California, Florida and Washington, the number of federally licensed firearms dealers fell 79 percent nationwide since 1994. In that year, Congress adopted new gun-control measures that still spark fiery debate. (In January 1994, Ron Noble, Undersecretary of the Treasury for Enforcement, was the keynote speaker at the closing banquet of the now-defunct American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers. He used most of his time to tout the new Clinton Administration drive to reduce the number of FFL's. Virtually all of the cops in the room sat there with arms crossed, rather than applaud, at the conclusion of his speech.) http://www.topix.net/content/kri/2007/08/firearms-number-of-gun-sellers-plummets-since-1994 --- Pennsylvania Town Council Stalls On Gun-Ban Ordinance: Firearms advocates returned to Peters Township Council for a second meeting in a row on Aug. 13. After a public outcry July 23, council placed a stay on an ordinance that had not yet taken effect which would have prohibited possession of firearms in township parks and buildings. Council is expected to decide whether to repeal or enforce the ordinance at a future date. On Aug. 13, Judy Brown, Pennsylvania coordinator of the Second Amendment Sisters and an Upper St. Clair resident, asked council what they were planning to do with the ordinance that is currently in limbo. http://www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/08_15_PT_gun_advocates2007_08_15T01_46_34 --- A Look At CCW In California: A liberal political consultant ostensibly provides some historical insights into California's arbitrary system of CWP issuance. (There is ample room to question some of his assertions, such as shifting all blame to the Republicans and his inaccurate characterization of San Diego County policy. No mention is made of The Los Angeles Times campaign to drive San Diego County's Sheriff Duffy from office for issuing CWP's at a much higher rate than the contemporaneous sheriffs in Los Angeles and Orange Counties.) http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2007/08/arbitrary_natur.html --- Clerk Cleared In Fatal Shooting Of Robber: A gas station clerk acted in self-defense when he fatally shot a robber and will not be charged, Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. said today...Zappala said Crawford had already pulled a gun at two other businesses that night before he confronted Wetzel. http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_522318.html --- Which Rules Were Violated - Some Answers: ...According to those familiar with the incident, Gustafson was showing his Police Department-issued semiautomatic pistol after removing the clip that stores the rounds. He explained that there are ways an officer can disable a weapon in close proximity to keep it from being fired. It apparently was part of a demonstration of the department's "weapons retention" procedures. However, there was still a bullet in the chamber. Gustafson pointed the weapon at his neck and pulled the trigger, shooting himself, according to authorities. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/08/15/BA9ERIE64.DTL --- Yeah, Right: Apparently Yahoo News has pulled a photo of an Iraqi woman showing "two bullets which she says hit her house following an early coalition forces raid in the predominantly Shiite Baghdad suburb of Sadr City." The problem is that the woman is holding intact, unfired cartridges. (Perhaps if more journalists knew something about firearms, they would not be so easily duped.) http://www.blackfive.net/main/2007/08/hhhmmmsomething.html --- NRA Offers Troops Free Membership: Active-duty military personnel are eligible for a free one-year membership in the National Rifle Association. A one-year membership typically costs $35. This offer will run indefinitely, said Zach Price, workplace giving coordinator for the NRA Office of Advancement. It is also open to Guard and Reserve members who have been called to active duty. http://endthewaronguns.blogspot.com/2007/08/nra-offers-troops-free-one-year_15.html -- Stephen P. Wenger Firearm safety - It's a matter for education, not legislation. http://www.spw-duf.info .