Arms and the Law

An article in the Christian Science Monitor asks "Oklahoma City beheading: Will jihad-style attack boost 'bring gun to work' laws?"

I can remember when CSM made the Washington Post look like Guns and Ammo; if the other side is losing CSM (phrased otherwise, if it's become open to arguments on the issue) they are indeed in deep trouble. The article says that the defender used a handgun (earlier reports stated it was some manner of rifle). It says the sheriff's department confirms he was not acting in any capacity as their deputy at the time. The only even vaguely antigun point is the very last sentence (which I suspect was stuck in by an editor who was gritting his teeth) to the effect that since the defender had special training (which may or may not be true, depending on the office) maybe this doesn't prove that allowing guns at work is always good.

Moore, Oklahoma. Business fires violent nut case, he rams vehicle into headquarters, charges inside with knife, decapitates one woman, begins stabbing another...

It's a promotion project for a new book on guns featured in movies.

'Nuff said. At least they did bring criminal charges against the shooter; only his poor marksmanship kept this from becoming a homicide charge.

Binderup v. Holder, Eastern Dist. of PA, No. 13-cv-06750. (I won't attach it because it's an 86 page pdf).

She's going to be admitted to pretrial diversion, which in practice means going to a bit of effort in exchange for having charges dismissed. Kudos to attorney Ev Nappen!

Here's the Attorney General's memo, dated today, finding that (absent aggravating factors) a prosecutor can offer diversion to avoid imprisonment under the NJ statute imposing a 3.5 year mandatory minimum sentence.

After striking Washington DC's complete ban on firearms carrying, district judge Frederick Scullin granted the city a stay until Oct. 22 to give it time to pass new regulations. DC then requested an indefinite stay until it had appealed the ruling, and the judge has denied the request. This keeps the pressure on for DC to actually do something, rather than figuring that it might have to do something a year or two down the road. DC has filed a motion to reconsider, which will be argued October 17 (and is rarely granted) and the time to file a notice of appeal won't start until after that ruling.

Meanwhile, the Washington Post is editorializing that the City should appeal even if it passes new regulations.

Story here. Brady tries to claim credit for Cabela's involvement in anti-straw man training, when in fact the program was created long ago by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, and Cabela's enrolled in it before Brady opened their latest anti-FFL campaign.

Of course, it will only be a fundraising "scandal" if the media cares about it, so this will never achieve scandal status...

Story here. He was a heck of a nice guy, and died in harness, as Shakespeare said. I am told he was doing his job at the September NRA Board meeting when he suddenly collapsed, I assume a massive coronary or stroke. They gave him CPR but he didn't make it. Gad, he was only 55, and slender. My brother in law nearly died of a massive coronary at age 52, coming off a tennis court, but fast CPR (and a cardiologist and a defib unit nearby) pulled him through.

A good summary at Reason.com. I've heard of similar things happening in California. Regulatory "inspections" are traditionally given only loose Fourth Amendment protections by the courts, because they usually are no big deal. But some locals send the "inspectors" in with real law enforcement, supposedly to protect them. The team with them then uses the opportunity as a chance for a warrantless search (at least as to anything in "plain view.")

NY Times editorial, "Myths About Gun Regulation," January 31, 2013:

Story here. Brady will sue on behalf of the parents of a child killed in the Aurora CO shooting, against the dealer who sold the ammunition and some unnamed others.

Protestors picket national police championships, as if learning to shoot accurately had much to do with questions about whether a shooting was justified. Of course, it's being consistent to some degree. Most just assume that firearm skills = being an accessory to crime applies only to the general citizenry.

From one of their spokeswomen: "Green said women and girls should be aware that lax gun laws lead to gun violence which can beget domestic violence."

Some 19th century wag wrote something like: "If a man engages in casual murders, next he will descend to excessive drink and pilfering, and thence sink to profane oaths and sabbath-breaking, and so become utterly lost."

From Glenn Reynolds, "The Second Amendment as Ordinary Constitutional Law," arguing that the 2A has become a normal part of Con law, legal doomsday did not come, and courts might as well accept that. Then, from David Wolitz, comes "Second Amendment Realism," suggesting that that just means the courts will screw it up like they have all the rest of the field. He phrases it a little more tactfully.

First story here. An armed gang tries to rob tavern workers after closing time, one victim opens fire and kills one of the robbers, with police later arresting the remainder. The robbery gang was responsible for dozens of armed robberies over the past three days. The shootee also had a string of arrests for robbery, auto theft, fleeing and whatnot, and had been injured in a gang shooting a few weeks ago.

And last month, a Milwaukee nurse, a victim of an attempted carjacking, shot one carjacker. The day before, the shootee had shot a person during an attempted carjacking; when his accomplice was rounded up, police arrested ten more suspects believed to be involved in dozens of robberies and carjackings.

Hat tip to Tamara Keel.

Brady Campaign, in a desperate quest for continued relevance, announces it will protest "bad apple" licensed dealers. "Bad apples" are to be measured by the raw number of BATF traces tracing guns back to them.

SAF is holding it at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Chicago O'Hare Airport, on September 26, 27 and 28, 2014. Drat, I won't be able to make it, but for any who can, the event is very useful, and free (so are the extensive materials distributed with it. You can make hotel reservations by calling 888-421-1442 -- mention you are attending the conference, and the rate will be $112/night.

At least if this article is correct.

Ohio: two perps try to abduct a woman walking her dog. She draws her gun, and they reconsider.

Florida: armed robber enters jewelry store, pulls gun on 89 year old WWII vet. The vet grabs perp's gun, draws his own .38, and puts six rounds into perp. (The perp survived: the vet needs a bigger gun and/or hotter loads. He may have been using the old 158 grain round noses).