Opposition To NICS Improvement Act Grows: An anchor has been attached to a proposal in the U.S. Senate that will slow down progress on the plan that could be used to permanently remove a person's right to own a gun in the United States, according to an organization opposing the measure...However, the proposed update would allow that "adjudication" to be determined not only by a court but by any competent authority, which could include a Veterans Administration psychologist, any panel of psychologists or a wide range of other possible "competent authorities." (Is there any historical basis to believe that, given the passage of this bill, it would not be amended, with further restrictions on who can purchase firearms, under a Democratic administration?) http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58009 Related Commentary: http://libertyzone.blogspot.com/2007/10/opposition-mounts-to-hr2640.html --- NRA Defends NICS Improvement Act: Some opponents of the "NICS Improvement Amendments Act" (H.R. 2640) have spent the last several months painting a picture of the bill that would rightly terrify gun owners - if it was true. The opponents' motive seems to be a totally unrealistic hope of undercutting or repealing the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) by ensuring that its records are inaccurate and incomplete. But make no mistake - an inaccurate and incomplete system only serves to delay and burden lawful gun buyers, while failing to screen those who are prohibited from possessing firearms under existing law. http://www.nraila.org/Issues/FactSheets/Read.aspx?id=221&issue=018 Related Commentary: http://blogs.timesunion.com/guntalk/?p=47 --- Wyoming Lawsuit Gains National Attention: ...The state has been waging a legal fight to uphold a 2004 state law that allows people convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence to regain their right to own firearms by having their records expunged. Although all states have the authority to restore gun rights, the federal government objected to the Wyoming law. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said it would not recognize the state's law, arguing convictions were not being truly expunged because they can be used to enhance sentences in subsequent cases. http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2007/10/05/news/wyoming/doc47068110b54a2431720700.txt --- DC's Gun Problems: ... Suicide seems to be their best reason for keeping guns out of peoples hands in DC. Is there some reason these policy makers think that everybody who lives in DC will commit suicide if guns are allowed back in? I know the place is full of politicians, lobbyists, and other people of questionable character, but there are lots of ways to commit suicide without the need for a gun... http://blogassault.townhall.com/g/cfaa1c2e-d9c4-4fdf-92b3-026f3931aeeb --- NYPD Claims Headway Against Illegally Possessed Guns: After an illegally obtained gun nearly killed a detective and injured another in a Bronx shootout this week, Mayor Bloomberg lamented that there are "too many guns" on city streets. Police are the first to agree with that assessment, but yesterday officials told The New York Sun that the local illegal gun market has suffered a significant blow this year. (Of course, it doesn't take much for a firearm to be possessed illegally in NYC since it is so difficult to obtain a permit.) http://www.nysun.com/article/64017 --- Minneapolis Bans Carry Of Replica Firearms: The Minneapolis City Council this morning voted 13-0 to restrict the carrying of nonlethal guns. The vote follows more limited action by St. Paul earlier this year; both cities appear to be in the forefront of U.S. cities taking such votes. Police officials say they're encountering more cases in which replica firearms are used in crimes or pose split-second decisions for officers. http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1466667.html --- Ah, Those Metal Detectors: Security guards refused to allow a woman into a federal courthouse until she removed a bra that triggered a metal detector. Lori Plato said she and her husband, Owen Plato, were stunned when U.S. Marshals Service employees asked her to remove her bra after the underwire supports set off the alarm. "I asked if I could go into the bathroom because they didn't have a privacy screen and no women security officers were available," Plato said Wednesday. "They said, 'No.' http://www.foxnews.com/story/0%2C2933%2C299541%2C00.html --- Rule Five Reminder: A string of gun thefts from North Olean (NY) homes has prompted Olean Police to warn homeowners to lock up their guns and their doors and windows. Capt. Jeff Rowley, commander of the Olean Police Criminal Investigation Unit, said seven long guns, six shotguns and one rifle have been stolen from North Olean homes in the last month. He's convinced the crimes are being committed by the same criminal. (Rule Five: Maintain control of your firearm.) http://www.oleantimesherald.com/articles/2007/10/04/news/doc47051e9baddd2324121832.txt --- NRA-ILA Alerts: Alerts for the various states are posted on the NRA-ILA website. http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/State/ -- Stephen P. Wenger Firearm safety - It's a matter for education, not legislation. http://www.spw-duf.info .