Monthly Archives: June 2008

Buy a Gun Now – since when you need one, it will be too late

Posted on June 30, 2008 by LearnAboutGuns.com

Purchasing a gun now is a prudent choice, given the fact that when you actually need the gun, it will be too late to buy it. I am not speaking of the world ending or other unlikely events (no, I don’t believe society will collapse any time soon) but rather about events that can [...]

French Marines Unintentionally Shoot Children During Demonstration

Posted on June 30, 2008 by LearnAboutGuns.com

As the Telegraph reports, seventeen people have been injured, including a child left in a critical condition, after French soldiers fired live bullets instead of blanks during an open day display.  No explanation was immediately forthcoming for why the wrong ammunition was loaded into weapons.  This completely preventable tragedy [...]

An Open Letter to the Victims of “Gun Violence”

Posted on June 30, 2008 by LearnAboutGuns.com

To those whose lives have been hurt by a criminal’s use of a gun, First, let me extend my deepest condolences to you. Losing a loved one is never easy, and a sudden loss due to violence makes it even worse. Nor is it easy to deal with the trauma associated with being shot. [...]

How A Handgun Saved Glen Soustek’s Life

Posted on June 29, 2008 by LearnAboutGuns.com

The Tribune ran an article about Glen Soustek, a Roselle, IL man whose life was saved by his handgun.  This excellent article is an especially good read, given the recent lawsuits filed against Chicago, Oak Park, and other Illinois cities that violate the individual right to gun ownership for self defense. Glen Soustek had just opened [...]

Jessie Jackson Slams Heller Gun Rights Ruling – and Endanger Civil Rights

Posted on June 28, 2008 by LearnAboutGuns.com

As the Sun Times reports, Jessie Jackson called the Supreme Court’s ruling that gun ownership is an individual right “a ‘reckless interpretation of the Second Amendment’ — and one that Chicago doesn’t have to accept.” Jessie Jackson’s statement, aside from being untrue, endangers the very civil rights that he has supported.  As an African American, a [...]

Portrait of a Gun Toting Criminal – who won’t obey gun control laws

Posted on June 27, 2008 by LearnAboutGuns.com

It seems that many gun control advocates have mistaken ideas about the criminals who use guns. Allow me to set the record straight: The criminals who use guns to commit crimes are not NRA members such as this author, who went to a lawful gun store, passed background checks, and took delivery of the after [...]

Chicago’s Handgun Ban Challenged In Court

Posted on June 26, 2008 by LearnAboutGuns.com

Within hours of the Supreme Court declaring that handgun ownership is a basic right, the city of Chicago was sued over their handgun ban. I’ve previously discussed why such handgun bans won’t work, and how criminals will just ignore the gun control laws. I’ve also discussed how rights such as gun ownership, free [...]

Oak Park, IL Fears Impending Handgun Ban Lawsuit

Posted on June 26, 2008 by LearnAboutGuns.com

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision that handgun ownership is a right, the Oak Park, Illinois handgun ban will soon be challenged in court by the NRA. Rather than acknowledging that that the handgun ban doesn’t stop crime, only leaves law abiding citizens vulnerable, Oak Park Village President David Pope reportedly argued [...]

District of Columbia v. Heller – Supreme Court Declares Gun Ownership an Individual Right!

Posted on June 26, 2008 by LearnAboutGuns.com

The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has declared the Second Amendment protects the right of an individual to keep and bear arms, striking down the (failed) District of Columbia handgun ban. This article discusses what exactly the court held, and what that means for American gun owners: The Second Amendment to the United [...]

Pistols vs Revolvers: Selecting the Right Handgun

Posted on June 25, 2008 by LearnAboutGuns.com

Pistols and revolvers each have their own advantages and disadvantages. This article discusses the pros and cons of each type of handgun: Pistols Generally speaking, a semiautomatic pistol is a handgun where the magazine slides into the grip of the gun, and some of the energy from firing the gun is used to eject the spent [...]

Criminal Fatally Shoots 5 Coworkers at Factory

Posted on June 25, 2008 by LearnAboutGuns.com

The shooter, Wesley Neal Higdon, had been reprimanded for talking on his cell phone and not wearing safety glasses.  He left work for about half an hour, then returned to kill 5 people and then kill himself.  During the shootings, he apparently had time to reload his handgun.  Again, we have a tragic shooting where [...]

Toronto City Council Passes Bans on Gun Education, Shooting Ranges, and Gun Manufacturing

Posted on June 25, 2008 by LearnAboutGuns.com

“There will be no more gun clubs on City of Toronto property and there will be no new gun clubs in the City of Toronto ever,” said Toronto Mayor David Miler. I previously discussed this ill-advised city ordinance here, and the same reasoning that applied then applies now: This is being done under the guise of [...]

Pistol Caliber Carbine Rifles for Home Defense: Pros and Cons

Posted on June 24, 2008 by LearnAboutGuns.com

The pros and cons of pistol caliber carbines, which are rifles that have a relatively short barrel and are chambered for pistol cartridges, are discussed below: Pistol caliber carbines, such as the Beretta CX4 Storm (pictured above) or the incredibly low priced Hi-Point Carbine can be a good option for home defense, although I personally prefer [...]

South Bend, Indiana Gun Ban Rejected by Common Council

Posted on June 24, 2008 by LearnAboutGuns.com

As the NRA reports, the South Bend, Indiana measure that would have banned guns (and therefore self defense) on city property has been voted down. Unlike Seattle, WA, which recently chose to allow only criminals to have guns, South Bend, IN has intelligently decided not to deprive the law abiding citizens of the right to carry [...]

Opposing Gun Rights Harms Our Other Basic Rights: Part 3 of 3

Posted on June 24, 2008 by LearnAboutGuns.com

Unfortunately, some of the most ardent supporters of rights such as abortion, free speech, and other civil rights are also some of the same people who try to take away the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. To those people I would say that trying to take away gun rights will result in [...]

Gun Ownership is a Right, Not a Privilege

Posted on June 23, 2008 by LearnAboutGuns.com

Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin issued a statement that argued cities should be able to ban guns, and that denying cities that ability would result in increased crime. This statement, aside from being inaccurate, fails to take into account that gun ownership is a right, and the rights of law abiding citizens cannot be denied [...]

Opposing Gun Rights Harms Our Other Basic Rights: Part 2 of 3

Posted on June 22, 2008 by LearnAboutGuns.com

Unfortunately, some of the most ardent supporters of rights such as abortion, free speech, and other civil rights are also some of the same people who try to take away the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. To those people I would say that trying to take away gun rights will result in [...]

Chicago Pro-Gun Rally on Friday July 11th 2008

Posted on June 22, 2008 by LearnAboutGuns.com

The ISRA and IllinoisCarry are cosponsoring a Second Amendment freedom rally at the Thompson Center on Friday, July 11th 2008. The rally is taking place from 11:00am to 1:00pm.  The address of the Thompson center is: 100 W Randolph St Chicago, IL 60601 More information, including a flyer, can be seen here. Tags: 2nd Amendment, Cook County, Gun Rights, ISRA, [...]

Pizza Delivery Driver Defends Self with Gun

Posted on June 22, 2008 by LearnAboutGuns.com

A pizza delivery driver was reportedly attacked by 3 robbers during a delivery.  He was able to draw and fire his gun in self defense. Greenville Police say the incident happened at 1105 A Masters Lane when the Chanellos Pizza driver was attacked. The delivery driver drew his gun and began to fire. One [...]

Opposing Gun Rights Harms Our Other Basic Rights: Part 1 of 3

Posted on June 22, 2008 by LearnAboutGuns.com

Unfortunately, some of the most ardent supporters of rights such as abortion, free speech, and other civil rights are also some of the same people who try to take away the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. To those people I would say that trying to take away gun rights will result [...]

Montesano, WA Mayor Ron Schillinger Stands Up for Gun Rights

Posted on June 21, 2008 by LearnAboutGuns.com

Mayor Ron Schillinger says he vetoed a gun ban in city parks after receiving numerous protest messages, many of them from National Rifle Association members across the nation.  Thankfully that proposed gun ban, which would have only served to disarm law abiding citizens, will not become law.  If you would like to thank Mayor Schillinger [...]

The New Gun Control Tactic: Call Every Gun an “Assault Weapon”

Posted on June 20, 2008 by LearnAboutGuns.com

With more and more Americans supporting the view that gun ownership is an individual right protected by the Second Amendment, gun control groups such as the Brady Campaign are losing ground.  This is giving rise to a new tactic, where gun control advocates declare virtually every gun to be an “assault weapon” and then ask [...]

6th Annual ISRA Range Open House – All Law Abiding Citizens Invited

Posted on June 20, 2008 by LearnAboutGuns.com

Everyone is welcome at the 6th Annual ISRA Range Open House! Just west of Kankakee, IL on Saturday, June 21st 2008 - 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM FREE PARKING! FREE ADMISSION! RAIN or SHINE! All law-abiding citizens are invited, even those who do not own a firearm nor have ever fired one before. Factory representatives [...]

Gun Ownership is NOT Advocacy of Violence

Posted on June 19, 2008 by LearnAboutGuns.com

I have noticed that some people, mainly who don’t own guns, equate gun ownership with violence. Nothing could be further from the truth: I, like many other gun owners, own guns for a variety of reasons. Absent from that list of reasons is advocacy or love of violence. Instead, I am a [...]

Chicago Teen is Shot for the 3rd Time This Year

Posted on June 19, 2008 by LearnAboutGuns.com

Despite Chicago’s longstanding handgun ban, Dominice Hallom has been shot 3 separate times this year.  Upon being shot for what is the third time, Dominice Hallom is reported to have remarked “Oh my God. I’m shot again . . . I’m tired of this.” In June, Dominice Hallom was shot in the buttocks.  in [...]

More Armed Robberies in Oak Park, IL – Despite the Handgun Ban

Posted on June 19, 2008 by LearnAboutGuns.com

There were another 2 armed robberies in the village of Oak Park, Illinois this week, despite the handgun ban. It appears that no one told the Oak Park government that criminals ignore laws (including handgun bans). As the Wednesday Journal reports : An Oak Park woman and a friend of hers were entering the enclosed front [...]

Gun Control and the Urge to “Do Something” in the Wake of a Tragic Shooting

Posted on June 18, 2008 by LearnAboutGuns.com

Often times in the wake of a particularly horrific shooting, politicians and even ordinary citizens feel compelled to “do something.” Gun control advocates seize on this urge to act, since it is human nature to want to take action in the wake of a tragedy. This tends to lead to wasted effort or [...]

Would-be Home Invader Unintentionally Shoots Himself to Death

Posted on June 18, 2008 by LearnAboutGuns.com

Cameron Sands, a 19 year old would-be home invader from Fort Worth managed to fatally shoot himself during an attempted home invasion. Grand Prairie, TX police say that Cameron Sands kicked in the door of the home he was invading, and then inadvertently shot himself in the stomach while trying to pull the gun out of [...]

NRA to Sue Cities Over Handgun Bans – People from Chicago, Evanston, Morton Grove, Oak Park, and Wilmette Needed!

Posted on June 18, 2008 by LearnAboutGuns.com

The NRA is planning to bring Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms lawsuits against cities in Cook County, Illinois, that have handgun bans. These are Chicago, Evanston, Morton Grove, Oak Park, and Wilmette. If you live in one of these cities and might be willing to serve as a potential plaintiff in [...]

Jesse Jackson’s Misguided Gun Protests

Posted on June 18, 2008 by LearnAboutGuns.com

The Reverend Jesse Jackson has been protesting against gun rights for a long time. As far as I can tell, these protests are merely pointless publicity stunts: 1. Jesse Jackson’s gun protests target innocent gun manufacturers Jackson recently held a protest in front of D.S. Arms, the Lake Barrington manufacture of high quality (and expensive) guns, [...]

Three Injured In Five BB Gun Drive-By Shootings

Posted on June 17, 2008 by LearnAboutGuns.com

As Fox reports, Kansas City, MO police are searching for teenagers suspected of shooting 3 people during 5 separate BB gun drive by shootings. I certainly hope that those responsible are held personally responsible for their crimes, rather than having the blame placed an inanimate object.  Guns, whether they are BB guns or real guns, are [...]

Citizen with Concealed Carry Stops Bank Robber

Posted on June 17, 2008 by LearnAboutGuns.com

A Canton, MI concealed carry permit holder lawfully used his gun to stop a bank robber: The robber entered the Comerica bank at 45420 Michigan Ave, in Canton, MI, and handed the teller a note saying that he had a bomb.  A second teller told another bank customer, who had a concealed carry permit, what was [...]

Comments Now Allowed on All Articles: feel free to leave your feedback

Posted on June 17, 2008 by LearnAboutGuns.com

Previously, comments on this site’s articles were disabled due to my concerns over spam. However, I’ve now instituted new spam prevention measures, and enabled comments. Please feel free to leave comments on any articles And if you have any gun related topics you would like me to address, just email me. [...]

The Solution to Crime is Not a Handgun Ban, but a Hand Ban

Posted on June 16, 2008 by LearnAboutGuns.com

Many gun control advocates argue that we need handgun bans in order to prevent crime. Empirical evidence collected from cities that have handgun bans (such as Chicago and D.C.) flatly disprove that idea. It appears that a hand ban, rather than a handgun ban, might better prevent crime. Allow me to explain: Criminals [...]

British Bicycle Rider Gunned Down – Despite Strict Gun Control Laws

Posted on June 16, 2008 by LearnAboutGuns.com

In another event which showcases the utter failure of strict gun control, a bicycle rider in the UK was shot and killed. In Liverpool, a cyclist was shot and killed by a gunman who chased him through the streets, police said. Note that this happened in the UK, which has some of the strictest gun [...]