Daily Archives: May 14, 2009

Miranda Rights?

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You have the right to remain silent and refuse to answer questions. Not that it will do you any good. Do you understand?

Anything you do say, or we say you say if we have more witnesses than you, will be used against you in a court of law, if we think we can get away with it. Do you understand?

You have the right to consult an attorney before speaking to the police and to have an attorney present during questioning now or in the future. You will not have a chance to challenge our lack of standards or scientific method in our lab results and your expert witness will not be allowed to witness anything if we can help it. Do you understand?…

From Worldnet Daily in regards to the case of David Olafson, a Wiscosin man sent to prison for 30 months after a semi automatic gun he loaned to a buyer malfunctions and released several bursts of bullets. Read the full article here

via Pass the Ammo

Texas: Armed citizen takes out tires as shoplifters flee

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Azle, Texas

From the Azle News Online of May 9, 2009
Armed citizen takes out tires as shoplifters flee

A citizen with a “concealed-carry” handgun license shot out a tire on a car full of fleeing shoplifters, then followed them in his own vehicle Wednesday morning, helping Azle police apprehend four people who were subsequently charged with robbery.

Police officers from at least three agencies caught up with everyone in a neighborhood behind Allsup’s convenience store off Highway 199 west of Azle.

Four accused shoplifters had been spotted by employees of Albertsons grocery store and were attempting a getaway with less than $50 worth of miscellaneous items when they were spotted by a citizen in the parking lot. The citizen was carrying a properly licensed concealed weapon, Azle police chief Steve Myers said Wednesday afternoon.

The fleeing driver seemed to be headed straight for the citizen, who fired at the vehicle, striking a front tire.

Another citizen called 911 and reported “an undercover officer shooting at someone who tried to run him down,” Myers said.

That “undercover officer”, it was later discovered, was the armed citizen, Myers said. Both the caller and the “shooter” remained unidentified by police in the interest of their safety.

However, the man with the handgun got in a pickup and followed the suspect vehicle, which could no longer be driven by the time it arrived in the neighborhood, Myers said.

“I guess they thought they could turn off the highway and get lost out in the county,” he said.

However, that area is made up of just a few interconnected streets, with no other way out besides the highway, he said.

Arrested were Michael Reiser, 38, of San Angelo; Kyle Scott, 21 of Fort Worth; Jennifer Jeffrey, 35, of San Angelo; and Tami Mickey, 32, of Fort Worth.

Three of the four were apprehended at the vehicle by Azle police in the 400 block of Oakwood Street. Reiser, the driver, was caught by Azle officer Chris Negrete and a DPS trooper about 30 minutes later in the 1600 block of Willowwood Drive.

Both are off of Pearson Lane, north of the highway.

The four reportedly discarded the shoplifted items as they drove from the scene.

They will be charged with robbery, a felony, instead of shoplifting, a misdemeanor, because the car was used as a deadly weapon in their escape, Myers said.

Albertson’s is in Tarrant County, so charges will be filed with the Tarrant County District Attorney’s office even though the suspects were caught in Parker County. Azle police, Parker County Sheriff’s deputies and at least two Department of Public Safety troopers helped in the chase, Myers said.

The chief has mixed feelings about the help officers received from an armed citizen.

“Our concern in a situation like that is the number of people in the immediate vicinity of an individual who don’t have a way to know who or what he is,” Myers said.

“A uniformed officer is easily identifiable. But the public doesn’t know who (a citizen with a handgun) is, or how to help.”

On the other hand, this particular citizen did choose the most restrained use of his weapon, firing only at the tires of the vehicle and ultimately helping catch a car full of suspects.

Michigan: Detroit woman fires shots through window at would-be intruders

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Detroit, Michigan

From the Detroit Free Press of May 13, 2009
Detroit woman fires shots through window at would-be intruders

A homeowner on the Detroit's east side thwarted three robbers by firing out of her bedroom as the men made their way up the steps inside her home, according to police.

A neighbor at 5 a.m. today noticed the three men breaking in the kitchen window of the home in the 900 block of Algonquin, according to Detroit Police.

He called the cell phone of the man who lives there, who was on his way home from work. The homeowner then called his wife, woke her and told her to get their gun.

Hearing footsteps on the stairs, she fired a number of shots, missing the thieves. The husband arrived home just as the men were climbing back out of the window, and they escaped.

Massachusetts: No charges in neighbor’s death

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Wilbraham, Massachusetts

From The Republican of May 9, 2009
No charges in neighbor's death

A Boston Road condominium owner who shot and killed a neighbor Thursday night at present faces no charges because the shooting appears to be in self defense, Police Chief Allen M. Stratton said Friday.

Stratton said the Woodcrest Condominium resident, whose name was not released, told police he shot twice at a man who came into his apartment without permission, refused to leave and then became aggressive. The shooting took place just before 8:30 p.m.

The intruder turned out to be the owner of a neighboring condominium unit. He was identified as David P. Gatti, 29, of unit C25, police said.

Gatti, a star football and lacrosse player more than a decade ago at Minnechaug Regional High School, sold insurance with his parent's agency in Springfield.

He was shot twice and pronounced dead at Baystate Medical Center, police said.

Friends of Gatti said Friday the account of the shooting simply does not jibe with the gentle, non-violent man they've known for years.

"He didn't have an aggressive bone in his body," said Samuel O'Neil of Springfield.

According to police reports, the condo resident was home sometime after 8 p.m. when he heard someone trying to enter the front door. He went to the door, opened it and saw Gatti, who stepped inside uninvited.

The resident told police he did not recognize him, and when asked to leave, Gatti refused and became "threatening in nature," police said.

Police Chief Stratton said Gatti did not have a weapon and never laid his hands on the condo owner. The owner described him as yelling and gesturing in such a way that he felt threatened.

The resident told police he retreated into the condo and armed himself, and when Gatti reportedly followed him, he opened fire, police said.

Stratton said the initial investigation so far indicates the "control, possession and use of the firearm was defensive in nature and consistent with Massachusetts General Laws."

Hampden County District Attorney William M. Bennett said his office will review the circumstances but it appears the shooting is justified within state law.

(More)

Florida: Police: St. Pete homeowner with shotgun confronts burglar

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St. Petersberg, Florida

From Tampa Bay Online of May 11, 2009
Police: St. Pete homeowner with shotgun confronts burglar

A homeowner confronted a burglar this morning, smashing the intruder across the face with the butt end of a shotgun, St. Petersburg police said.

The burglar, identified by police as Justin Masse, 22, at first fled, then turned around and started toward homeowner Michael Lowry, a U.S. Navy veteran, police said. That's when Lowry fired a shell in the ground, and Masse ran off, police said.

A newspaper delivery person spotted Masse unconscious two blocks away in a front yard, police said. Masse received stitches and was eventually transported to the Pinellas County Jail on a charge of residential burglary, police said.

The attempted break-in occurred about 4 a.m. at Lowry's home, in the 5000 block of Second Avenue South, police said. Lowry spotted Masse in his detached garage and confronted Masse with the 12-gauge shotgun.

During a fight that followed, Masse was struck in the face with the butt of the weapon, apparently considered continuing the struggle and then ran off before falling unconscious, police said.

Texas: Local man reacts to an almost home invasion

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Lubbock, Texas

From KCBD of May 13, 2009
Local man reacts to an almost home invasion

A local man wants your help finding two men who tried to break into his house, and he caught the almost home invasion on his web cam.

Many people would be frightened if they were at home and someone tried to break in, but Andy Hartman says he stayed calm because he had a weapon, and he knew the rules on when and how to use it. "I heard somebody knock on the door, and rang the doorbell. I thought it was just a salesman so I kind of ignored it," Hartman said.

Every day when he gets home from work Hartman puts his wallet, keys, phone and gun on the kitchen counter. He carries his gun with him where ever he goes, and last Wednesday, he almost had to use it in the comfort of his own home.

Hartman's home web cam taped someone kicking his back door repeatedly. In the video, you can see the shutters shake each time the person kicks. Hartman grabbed his phone, his gun and called 911. "I'm in my bedroom with a gun. They're breaking in my house," he said in the 911 call.

While waiting for police, Hartman stayed in a back room and listened as the intruder kicked his door more than 20 times. "The officers will want you to put the gun up once they're there, but it's okay obviously for you to have it while they're still breaking in," the 911 operator told him.

Hartman says he was able to stay calm because he knew exactly what to do. He took a concealed handgun class in January. "You know when you can and cannot use the gun, and when it's time to use it you know how to use it," he said.

The woman who led the class Andy took, Gay Lynn Stone, says, "The rules of deadly force for the state of Texas, it just simply says if your life is threatened or the life of another person is threatened then y ou have the right to protect you or that person."

Stone says because Texas' handgun laws are written loosely, he probably could legally shoot the intruder even before they entered the house, but she thinks Hartman made the right decision in waiting for the police. "He did exactly what he was supposed to do, and he treated it as if the use of deadly force would be the last resort," she said.

Police arrived in less than three minutes, but the suspects got away. Probably better for him than if he had made his way into the house. When asked if he would have shot the intruder Hartman said, "Absolutely. No question in my mind."

The police still have not caught the suspects, but Hartman believes two Hispanic males in their early 20s driving a gray Dodge Neon were involved.

Florida: Deputies: Armed homeowner stops burglary

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Ocala, Florida

From the Star-Banner of April 30, 2009
Deputies: Armed homeowner stops burglary

Sheriff’s deputies say a 25-year-old Summerfield man accused of burglarizing a home didn’t get very far, as the homeowner retrieved his .45-caliber handgun and held the man at gunpoint until they arrived.

Calvin Crews told deputies on Wednesday he was at his residence in the 10000 block of Southeast 108th Terrace Road when he heard someone calling his name. Crews said he looked outside and saw 25-year-old James Lazarus Wayne Day running toward a truck, according to a Marion County Sheriff’s Office report.

Crews said he got his gun and returned to the window. He said Day drove the truck up to the front porch, ran inside the home, went to a bedroom and removed a five-gallon jug that was filled with about $600 in change.

Crews then held the man at gunpoint and called deputies, according to the report. When they arrived, Crews came out of the home with his gun and told authorities what had happened.

Entering the home, deputies found Day kneeling on the floor next to the five-gallon jug of change. Day told them he went to Crews’ home to ask for a job. He said he had just stuck his head in the door when Crews pulled a gun on him.

Officials said Day used to work for Crews.

Day was then arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail where he was charged with residential burglary and grand theft.

Trap

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2 rounds, 15 & 19. Not sure what happened with that first one. At the end of last year, I switched from one eye to both eyes, and my shooting hasn’t been as good as it was. I tried gooing back, though, and that feels even stranger now.I think using both eyes will help me long term, but still needs a little work.

Quote of the Day – Forward Edition

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I have always found it somewhat troubling as a scientist and critical thinker, due to the implication that “progress” is always of the good kind. “Progress,” in my mind, has always simply been a transition from one state of being to another that was forced, influenced, or otherwise coerced by some mechanism, and that transition can lead to good or bad consequences, or at the very least consequences unintended by the architects of said mechanism. The vector is the unspoken (and most important) variable. – Mike Gallo

Columbia, Missouri Burglar Shot

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Columbia, Missouri

From the April 30, 2009 Missourian:

COLUMBIA — A woman whose house was being burglarized is believed to have shot one of the three men caught in her home early Thursday.

The woman arrived at her home in northeast Columbia and found that her back door had been kicked open, according to a release from the Columbia Police Department. Inside, she found three men robbing her house.

She left the house, and the men followed her. She told police that one of the men had a handgun and pointed it at her. She fired one round at the men, the release stated.

Investigators collected evidence that led them to believe that one suspect was shot. Though local hospitals were notified, there were no suspects at the time of the news release.

Los Angeles Car Burglar Shot In Face

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Los Angeles, California

From the May 3, 2009 Los Angeles Times:

A man suspected of burglarizing cars in the Mar Vista area was shot in the face by a resident early this morning, police said.

The man was breaking into vehicles when he was confronted by a resident at about 1:40 a.m., said Los Angeles Police Sgt. Dennis Beacham.

"He was subsequently shot and sustained a gunshot wound to the facial area," Beacham said. "It’s my understanding he’s in stable condition."

Police did not release the name or age of the victim, and would not say whether the resident who shot him was arrested.

Updated: 5:33 p.m. Two young men accompanying the suspected burglar fled before police arrived, Los Angeles Police Officer Rosario Herrera said. The shooting occurred in the 3800 block of Beethoven Street, and the gunshot victim was taken to a local hospital where he was in stable condition, Herrera said. “The shooter wasn’t arrested, it was in self-defense,” Herrera said.

OH HENRY

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In 1860, Benjamin Tyler Henry received a patent for the first practical, lever-action repeating rifle. America was engulfed in the armed conflict of the Civil War, and the first Henry rifles were in the hands of Union soldiers by mid 1862. Noted for it's rapid rate of fire and revolutionary design, it became popular with both military and civilian purchases. It's success in Civil War fire power

Can’t leave Emma out

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Just like doggy-cookies: Mags gets one, Emma has to get one...

This is Emma's rocker. She lets me use it if I want to watch a movie. Otherwise, it's hers.

Shorthairs are funny about things that move under them. Unlike most other dogs I've known they do not seem to fear stuff that pitches about under their feet. In addition to appropriating this same rocker, the Shorthair before Emma wouldn't let me go anywhere with a wheelbarrow unless she got to ride in it. The bumpier and jumpier the ride, the better she liked it. Surf's up!

Emma will climb into the rocker, and with it gyrating under her like a small boat in a storm, turn around the obligatory thrice and then plop herself down for a snooze. I swear it makes the Boston nauseous just watching her. Me, too.

But she does love her rocker.

Crime Causes Poverty: Meditations on Fatherhood

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Dear Readers:

“Bad guys” -- guys who want to rob, rape, maim, or kill you -- all start out as bad boys.

It’s beyond the scope of this blog to analyze poverty and crime in the U.S. It's been done brilliantly and earliest in modern times by the late Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan in his "Moynihan Report" (1965) and Edward Banfield's The Unheavenly City Revisited : A Revision of the Unheavenly City

Professor Roger Clites, who teaches at Tusculum College in Tennessee, observes – logically – that crime causes poverty, and not the other way around. His great analytical piece flips the old lie, “poverty causes crime” onto its head in his 1997 essay called Cause and Effect: Crime and Poverty. Read it and learn.

I’ve written at DC Handgun Info about avoiding poverty, keeping off drugs, and the violence committed by boyfriends and ex-husbands (see sample essays from my series here), and now it’s time to address “father loss” or how important a father can be…

The Fatherhood Initiative is trying to boost awareness in our society for the vital role played by fathers. I found an interesting article, which I excerpt from, below.

 
 

Dads in the ‘Hood by Kay S. Hymowitz (CITY JOURNAL online, Autumn 2004)

In 2001, BET.com encouraged visitors to post Father's Day greetings. Organizers assumed that they would see a Hallmark fest of "I love you" or "I miss you." Instead they got a "venting session": "I hate you," "To all my deadbeat dads out there, I just want to say, thanks for nothing," and "That bastard forgot that I even existed," contributors railed.

Father loss is a recurrent theme in contemporary black music, chronicled by some of the baddest brothers: "What's buried under there?/Was a kid torn apart once his pop disappeared?/I went to school, got good grades, could behave when I wanted/But I had demons deep inside," raps Jay-Z, who was raised in Brooklyn's notorious Marcy Projects and usually sings of "hos and bitches." "Now all the teachers couldn't reach me/And my mom couldn't beat me/Hard enough to match the pain of my pops not seeing me." Not everyone reacts to father loss with thuggish rage, of course—as witness Luther Vandross's sentimental Grammy Award-winning "Dance with My Father": "Then up the stairs he would carry me/And I knew for sure I was loved. . . . How I'd love, love, love/To dance with my father again."


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The whole article by Kay S. Hymowitz may be accessed here.

Michael Bane, blogger and author of Trail Safe, has an interesting podcast called Down Range Radio, which ties into his Web site, Downrange.tv. He has his own personal blog, too. On his April 28, 2009, he interviewed a psychologist who discussed violent criminal actors, and how they seem really twisted up in distorted views of pride and use violence to gain compliance. Download that podcast from iTunes; you may find yourself subscribing to Down Range Radio, as I do. Just to warn you, Mr. Bane occasionally rakes President Obama over the coals for his stated desire to reinstate an “assault weapon ban” (really a ban against semi-auto guns that look like military guns).

 
 

If you dig this blog, you can hit the tip jar (as R.S. McCain, The Other McCain, likes to say)

 (Caution: Bad language at that link)

Techinal note: I have just started using Sitemeter (that little green rectangle, below). It reveals a lot about my readers. I had NO IDEA that I have readers from all over the U.S., from San Diego, CA, to Arkansas and Virginia… My visitor counts are pathetic, however. Please tell your friends who shoot – or want to shoot – that there is a good blog they should check out: mine!

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Bonus Sweepstakes Link: HGTV (cable TV) “Green Home” Giveaway. If you win, you will win a house worth $750,000 in Port St. Lucie, FL, and a GMC Hybrid pickup truck. (Reality Check: Everyone who has won a past HGTV giveaway has sold the house because of the prohibitive taxes. Just thought I’d fill you in on the downside of winning a giant sweepstakes prize like this one.)


Bonus Cheesecake: Jennifer Garner in glorious black and white 



 

Til next time, be careful out there.

Phoenix Anticipation

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I am currently in the Chicago airport where I am an hour into a three hour layover before continuing on my journey to the NRA Annual Meeting. This will be a short trip as I have to get back on Saturday to attend my daughters' dance recital so I will be trying to pack an entire weekend of activities into one day.

As an estimated 50,000 people (I think it will be considerably more) converge on the City of Phoenix, there is both good news and an air of uncertainty awaiting the arrivals. As Jim Shepherd reported in yesterday's Shooting Wire, there has been some positive things come out of Washington in the past week. After an initial signal that the Obama Administration was poised to move to reinstate the Clinton Gun Ban, courtesy of the AG Eric Holder, all talk of the administration on the subject has been silenced.

Also last week, the FY2010 Obama Budget retained the Tiahrt Amendments with only minor changes to insure law enforcement gets information it needs from the data. The important point is that the language prohibiting use of the date for frivolous law suits remain. The collective screeching of the anti-rights crowd berating Obama for "breaking his promise" is proof that any talk that their was a caving to the administration by the pro-rights community is an attempt to drive a wedge through the gun community.

On Monday, the pro-rights community won another legal victory in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Court. This is the second consecutive ruling from the court that is making me wonder if it is trying to reform its reputation as the most overturned circuit in the country. The case in questions was Ileto v. Glock, RSR and the ruling says that the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Firearms Act "requires the dismissal" of the long-running. This was another of those cases seeking damages from a manufacturer for crimes committed by a felon with a firearm.

Finally, last week the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Reform and Firearms Modernization Act In was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.). This bill is similar to one that was passed by the House in the 109th Congress in 2006 and brings some much needed reform to the agency.

While all of this is good news, the anti-rights crowd aided by the "drive-by" media is still pushing gun control in the face of a strong public head wind. Poll after poll in recent weeks has shown weakening public support for stricter regulation of firearms but that has not stopped the likes of Representative Carolyn McCarthy and others who have vowed to reintroduce a bill banning so-called "assault weapons."

And that is where the uncertainty I mentioned comes in. Gun owners cannot for a minute begin to become complacent by the inaction of the Obama Administration to push an agenda that most everyone knows it favors. I am in full agreement with National Review Online's Jim Geraghty when he said last week on Cam and Company there is no way that Obama goes into the 2010 elections without at least throwing some kind of bone to the anti-rights crowd. And since he does not want it to be fresh in the memory of the (gun) voters, it is likely to happen sometime after this fall rather than in the fall of 2010.

So, there is a lot to celebrate as we arrive in Phoenix, but there is much of which we should also beware.

Important Stayin’ Safe Reminders From Hunter Safety System

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Important “Stayin’ Safe Reminders” From Hunter Safety System

Hunter Safeyu Systems

Hunter Safeyu Systems

Danville, Alabama - -(AmmoLand.com)- Hunter Safety System would like to remind you to be sure to remove all of your straps and ropes from trees and stands immediately following your hunting season.

Be sure to inspect all of your straps, ropes and climbing gear for wear and damage due to prolonged exposure to the elements, as many of the elements commonly associated with the outdoor environment tend to degrade the strength properties of nylon, rope, polypropylene, etc. and could lead to premature failure. Replace any gear that shows signs of wear or deterioration.

Furthermore, your HSS vest should be examined for excessive wear and damage to all components including buckles, stitching, strapping material and hardware.

Failure to do all the above could cause serious injury or death!

Be sure to check the Hunter Safety System website each month for important, life-saving safety tips. Log on to www.huntersafetysystem.com.

About:
Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Danville, Alabama, Hunter Safety System is a leading designer and manufacturer of innovative deer hunting gear and hunting equipment for the serious hunter. For additional information you can write to The Hunter Safety System, 8237 Danville Road, Danville, AL 35619, call toll free 877-296-3528 or visit the company website at www.huntersafetysystem.com.

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Ohio Students Excel at National Archery Championships

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Ohio Students Excel at National Archery Championships
Maysville High School student wins individual title.

National Archery in the Schools Program

National Archery in the Schools Program

COLUMBUS, OH - -(AmmoLand.com)- Nineteen Ohio teams of 430 student archers competed at the 2009 National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) National Championship, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife. The competition was held in Louisville, Kentucky on May 8 and 9; it drew more than 4,500 students from 35 states and Canadian provinces.

Meigs Intermediate School in southeastern Ohio finished second in the elementary school division. Last year, the school’s archers won first place in that division. Also finishing in the top 20 for the elementary school competitors was Maysville Elementary of Zanesville in fifth place, and Logan Hocking Elementary of Logan in twelfth place. A total of 56 teams competed in this division.

Four Ohio teams finished in the top 20 for the middle school division: Maysville Middle School, fourth; Meigs Middle School, 13th; Philo Junior High, 16th; and Logan Hocking Middle School, 17th. Sixty-five teams competed for the middle school title.

Among the 84 teams competing to take the high school national title, two Ohio teams finished in the top 20: Maysville High School finished fourth and Meigs High School took ninth place.

Adrian “AJ” Sprankle of Maysville High School in Zanesville became the second Ohioan to take an individual title at the national competition. Sprankle finished first in the High School Male Division with a score of 296 of a possible 300. Jacob Riffle of Meigs High School in Pomeroy finished third, scoring 296, and Eugene Patterson, also of Meigs High School finished fourth, scoring 295. The top three archers initially were tied at 296. Adrian was declared the winner as he shot more “10s” than those with whom he tied. Second and third place were determined by a tie breaking shoot-off. Adrian and Jacob also shot their way to a share of college scholarship money, earning $2,500 and $2,000 respectively for their marksmanship.

Kelsey Taylor of Morgan High School in McConnelsville would certainly have taken first prize for persistence. Suffering a broken leg and ankle since qualifying by winning the Ohio high school female title, Kelsey was determined to compete at Nationals. She made it to Louisville and finished fifth in the High School Female Division.

The National Archery in the Schools Program brings target archery to the school gym. The curriculum covers archery, safety, equipment, technique, concentration skills, and self-improvement. Kentucky originated NASP in 2002. Ohio has participated in the program since 2004. For more information on the program, visit ohionasp.com.

For a complete list of results for the 2009 National Archery in the Schools Program National Championships visit archeryintheschools.org.

About:
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR web site at www.ohiodnr.com.

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Remainder of Big Game Hunting Permits Available June 8 2009

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Remainder of Big Game Hunting Permits Available June 8 2009

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. – -(AmmoLand.com)- Sportsmen soon may purchase remaining 2009 big game hunting permits, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

Residents and nonresidents may purchase “buy” unit deer permits and qualified residents may purchase any remaining landowner elk or antelope permits starting at 1 p.m. Central Time on June 8.

There is no need for hunters to rush to purchase permits, however, since none of the deer “buy” units sold out before July 8 last year. The three most popular deer “buy” units, the Elkhorn, Blue Northwest and Blue Southeast, sold out on July 8, Aug. 8 and Aug. 8, respectively.

Permits may be purchased at OutdoorNebraska.org.

Drawings for antelope, elk and the two “draw” deer unit permits (Republican and DeSoto December Muzzleloader) have taken place and applicants are in the process of being notified of their success via e-mail. Successful applicants may print their permit at OutdoorNebraska.org. The only remaining permits from the draw process are a few landowner elk and landowner antelope permits.

Hunters are reminded to check out the 2009 Nebraska Big Game Guide prior to purchasing permits. The guide, available wherever permits are sold and at OutdoorNebraska.org, gives hunters all the information they will need to purchase permits, including season dates, unit maps, permits available, 2008 permit sell-out dates, and application forms.

About:
The mission of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is stewardship of the state’s fish, wildlife, park, and outdoor recreation resources in the best long-term interests of the people and those resources.

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WV Rifle Range on Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area to Close Temporarily

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WV Rifle Range on Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area to Close Temporarily

West Virginia DNR

West Virginia DNR

West Virginia - -(AmmoLand.com)- The public rifle range at the Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Berkeley County will be closed temporarily beginning on Friday, May 15, 2009. The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources has been made aware of a problem that involves bullets intermittently hitting a home approximately ¼-mile down range. The homeowner has noted that the house is not his primary residence, but expressed patient concern for public safety. Several bullets have been recovered from the homeowner’s property in recent years.

Bullets passing over the top of the range bunkers are usually the result of people shooting illegally placed targets on top of the bunkers instead of in front of them, or from rapid firing of semiautomatic rifles often resulting in rifle muzzles rising over a safe line of sight toward the bunkers. Legally posted range regulations clearly state that both of these activities are not to be practiced at the range.

Rich Rogers, District Wildlife Biologist for the Eastern Panhandle, has stated that the range will be closed until it can be realigned or moved to a different location.

“We realize that this is a great inconvenience to many shooters, but we simply must deal with this issue of public safety. I have spoken with an NRA representative and numerous other callers during the past week expressing concern over the range closing. All of them understand the serious nature of this situation and recognize the need for our agency to take this responsible action,” Rogers said.

The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources plans to initiate realignment and/or relocation of the range this summer.

“We hope to have the public shooting range at Sleepy Creek WMA reopened by this fall,” noted Rogers. “This is a priority for our agency, given the number of shooters in the region.”

West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
State Capitol Complex, Building 3
1900 Kanawha Boulevard
Charleston, WV 25305-0060

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Sportsmen Programs Get Funding in President 2010 Budget

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Key Sportsmen Programs Get Funding Boost in President Obama’s 2010 Budget
Good news on funding for programs like Open Fields and state wildlife grants is tempered by cuts to programs like the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program and the Wetlands Reserve Program.

Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership

Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership

WASHINGTON – -(AmmoLand.com)- The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and its partners lauded key provisions in President Obama’s 2010 budget, but also raised concern about some of the cuts and restrictions the President has placed on strategic programs aimed to conserve fish, wildlife and the habitat on which they depend.

“While the sportsmen and conservation community is still examining and digesting the President’s budget, we’re happy to see that climate change and the Open Fields programs for example are issues that the Obama administration is putting its resources behind,” said George Cooper, TRCP president and CEO. “But we’re disappointed that the President’s budget also includes cuts and restrictions on other programs aimed at conserving habitat on private lands and encouraging property owners to open their lands to hunters and anglers. As the budget goes forward, we look forward to working with the administration and our allies in the House and Senate to ensure that sportsmen programs across the board receive necessary funding.”

The highlights of the President’s budget include increases in the allocations for wildlife grants to help states implement climate change adaptation programs, comprehensive funding for the implementation of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and support for the new Open Fields program. The lowlights include cuts to Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program and Wetlands Reserve Program.

“Many of the issues that we work on at the TRCP have been affected by the President’s budget,” said Tom Franklin, TRCP senior vice president. “And whether the change is positive or negative, we’re looking forward to working with our partners, the administration and congress to make sure that hunters and anglers will continue to benefit from these important conservation programs.”

Here are some of the details from President Obama’s budget that affect sportsmen:

Department of Agriculture (USDA) Programs:

Wetlands and Habitat Conservation on Private Lands:
The suite of conservation programs within the USDA represents the largest federal investment on private land, yet still only accounts for roughly 8 percent of the department’s budget. A positive increase of more than $11 million to Technical Assistance within Conservation Operations will provide landowners with proven methods to carry out best management practices on their land.

However key habitat conservation programs saw their budgets decrease under the new proposal. Most notably, the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) and the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) saw major reductions from last year’s levels—levels that are not consistent with the sportsmen and conservation community’s recommendations for achieving maximum benefit to fish and wildlife habitat. WRP—the only USDA program solely dedicated to wetlands conservation and responsible for nearly 2 million acres of wetlands since its inception—was cut by $27 million, from $418 million to $391 million. The very popular WHIP program, which focuses on improving key wildlife habitats, has been underfunded from the program’s inception, as applications have outnumbered the funding by a 2-to-1 ratio. Unfortunately this program has been cut by 50 percent in the budget.

Access:
TRCP was pleased to see that the new hunter access program, Open Fields, is funded at $50 million in the president’s request. Passed in the 2008 Farm Bill, this represents an unprecedented added resource to states to promote public access to hunting and fishing opportunities and thereby stimulate local economies.

U.S. Forest Service (USFS):
The USDA budget also included a $60 million increase in available funds for capital improvements, including national forest road maintenance, upgrading, and decommissioning, within the budget for the USFS. Over 380,000 miles of mapped roads currently exist in the USFS. Maintaining these existing roads should be a priority in addition to a focus on conserving the 58.5 million acres of national forest roadless areas in order to provide continued quality access to important hunting and fishing destinations.

Department of the Interior (DOI) Programs

Climate Change:
This initiative has some of the largest increases of any other individual issue in the entire budget. The President included a $133 million department-wide increase in the Interior’s budget to combat climate change—including a $15 million increase for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) received the largest increase of any department agency, including a $40 million enhancement to fund State Wildlife Grants. This increase provides the FWS a total of $115 million to help states incorporate climate change adaptation strategies into State Wildlife Action Plans and tribal wildlife plans.

The TRCP lauds the administration for establishing an interagency approach to combat climate change, and establishing a process to monitor resources and recreational uses as agencies move forward with these strategies.

Energy Development:
The proposed budget for the DOI’s energy development did not address many fish or wildlife concerns. Two visible changes in the budget from the 2009 fiscal year’s budget is an initiative to develop more renewable energy sources and an increase in the fee from $4,000 to $6,500 for the application for permit to drill (APD)—making the fee more in line with cost-recovery policies of other industries and is closer to representing what it actually costs the BLM to process an APD. The budget proposes to sustain the level of funding for its oil and gas program at the same capacity to process the same number of permits as they did during the. Although there is an increase in funding for fish and wildlife programs, it is not commensurate with the increases the energy programs are receiving. TRCP believes that more attention is needed to maintain sustainable fish and wildlife populations on public lands and with ever increasing focus on energy programs that will take time and resources away from the biologists tasked with that job. The recommendations contained in the TRCP’s FACTS for Fish and Wildlife principles and CAST principles outline the importance of addressing the approach to energy development on public lands and waters to better manage fish and wildlife during energy development on public lands and the Outer Continental Shelf.

Wetlands:
Good news for wetlands conservation appears within the DOI budget proposal where funding for the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) sees an increase of $10 million.

Youth Participation and Education:
In order to encourage more young Americans to get outdoors, the president included a total $38 million directed at programs to increase youth involvement in hunting, fishing and conservation. The largest sum of money, $28 million, will go to states to help them fund programs to educate young hunters, anglers and wildlife managers. An additional $8 million will create a 21st century Youth Conservation Corps to encourage a new generation to pursue public service careers within natural resource management.

Other Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Issues:
The budget did put an emphasis on treasured lands managed by the National Park Service and the BLM’s National Landscape Conservation System, where a significant amount of important fish and wildlife resources are found. The budget also allows the United States Geological Survey to take a greater role in the use of science in management actions and provided an increase in funding for the Land & Water Conservation Fund.

Department of Commerce Programs

Marine Fisheries:
Within the Department of Commerce budget, the administration proposed a $56.5 million increase for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to support the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) implementation process. Signed into law in 2007, MSA governs marine fisheries management. The law included many positive changes for recreational saltwater anglers and included all of the SALT Principles recommended by the TRCP’s Angling 4 Oceans coalition.

The total budget request for fisheries came to a total of $911.8 million for this fiscal year, which is $32.8 million more than what was enacted in the 2009 fiscal year budget.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Programs

Water and Wetlands Conservation:
The proposed budget for the EPA stands at approximately $10.5 billion for FY 2010. This represents nearly a $3 billion increase over the last fiscal year’s enacted budget for the agency. Notably, some 48 percent of this proposal is directed towards Clean and Safe Water goals within EPA including state revolving funds, a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and a Chesapeake Bay program.

One issue that remains very critical to helping restore federal protections for these areas is passing the Clean Water Restoration Act currently under consideration in the Senate and likely to be marked-up in the near future by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. We have been encouraged by supportive statements by EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and others for finding a legislative solution to the problem and we urge the administration to continue supporting the bill as it makes its way through the legislative process.

About:
Inspired by the legacy of Theodore Roosevelt, the TRCP is a coalition of organizations and grassroots partners working together to preserve the traditions of hunting and fishing.

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It is a Sad State…

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...of affairs when legislation is required to get certain cities to enforce United States immigration laws. One such piece of legislation that would attempt to do away with the "Sanctuary City" for illegal immigrants concept here in Texas has made it through committee and, as I understand it, is one vote short of reaching the Senate floor.

SB 358, a bill relating to the enforcement of state and federal laws governing immigration by certain governmental entities, passed the Senate Transportation & Homeland Security committee with a vote of 5 to 4.

Enforcing our immigration laws, detaining and deporting illegal immigrants, does reduce violent and other crime. Illegal immigration is a major problem and doing away with "Sanctuary Cities" will go a long way towards removing the welcome mat for illegal immigrants.

Call your state Senator today and ask that they help get SB 358 to the Senate floor.

NJ’s Oxford Central School Posts 8th Best Score at NASP Championship

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NJ’s Oxford Central School Posts 8th Best Score at National NASP Championship

National Archery in the Schools Program

National Archery in the Schools Program

Louisville, Kentucky - -(AmmoLand.com)- The National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) is a joint venture between school districts, schools and state Fish and Wildlife agencies. Several archery equipment manufacturers and organizations are also partners. In New Jersey, NASP is coordinated by the NJ DEP’s Division of Fish and Wildlife.

The program’s focus is to provide International style target archery training in physical education classes for grades 4-12. NASP promotes student education, physical education and provides instruction for students as a gateway to participation in the lifelong sport of archery.

Oxford Central School physical Education teacher, Rob Causton, was trained as a level one archery instructor in 2006 as part of a pilot program for the NASP in New Jersey. Later that school year he introduced this new physical education program to his middle school students and found that it was an immediate success. Since that time, Rob and Oxford Central have held the NJ State Archery NASP Champion title each of the last three years. Along with the state title is the opportunity to attend the national championship in Kentucky. This year approximately 5,000 kids competed at the event making it the largest indoor archery competition in the world! Oxford preformed like a well-oiled machine and posted a team score that only 8 other schools were able to beat.

No previous archery experience is required for a physical education teacher to become a certified NASP archery coach. The training is provided free of charge and equipment kits can either be purchased or participating schools can take advantage of a new loaner program that provides all the required equipment for the two-week period the course is being conducted.

School administrators and physical education teachers interested in obtaining more information or training can contact the state NASP coordinator, Paul Ritter at 908-637-4125 or e-mail Paul.Ritter@dep.state.nj.us . Information on the national program and participating states can be found at www.nasparchery.com .

more info: National NASP Championship

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Elk Foundation CEO Signs 5-Year Contract Extension

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Elk Foundation CEO Signs 5-Year Contract Extension

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.— -(AmmoLand.com)- Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation President and CEO David Allen will remain at the organization’s helm at least through August 2014, following a new five-year contract extension from the RMEF board of directors.

Allen has held the position since late 2007.

“This was an easy decision,” said Joe Treadway, Asheville, N.C., chairman of the board for the Elk Foundation. “David has our organization headed in the right direction with strong endorsements from key volunteers, supporters and staff. He has rededicated us to our core mission of ensuring the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat. We’re pleased to have him on a new contract to keep the momentum going.”

Allen thanked the board for its confidence and passed credit to RMEF volunteers and staff.

“We have the best volunteers in the world and a staff of incredibly talented and dedicated professionals. Working together, we’re in a class by ourselves when it comes to conservation. I’m looking for great things from us over the next few years,” said Allen.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2009, the Elk Foundation has helped protect or enhance over 5.5 million acres of elk country and restore elk herds to long-vacant parts of their historic range.

Allen brought a wealth of marketing and business experience to his position as RMEF president and CEO. He spent 33 years in marketing, media and events surrounding Professional Bull Riders, NASCAR, Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association and Wrangler Jeans. He served on boards for RMEF and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, and is a lifelong hunter and conservationist.

Born and raised in Deadwood, S.D., Allen studied journalism at the University of Wyoming and now makes his home with his wife and two sons in Billings, Mont.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.5 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

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We’re the Only Ones Hoping for a Second Chance Enough

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A federal prosecutor acknowledged yesterday that she withheld evidence that could have helped clear a defendant in a gun case but said it was an inadvertent mistake and implored the chief judge of the US District Court in Massachusetts not to impose sanctions that could derail her career. [More]
What, you mean like one of those "willful violations" you lot tried to "derail the careers" of a certain gun shop in Idaho over? Was anyone concerned about "derailing" David Olofson or Wayne Fincher's "careers"?

I just need to shut up now before I write something I'll regret.

NRA Adds FN 5.7×28mm Caliber Firearms To Tactical Police Competition Standards

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NRA Adds FN 5.7×28mm Caliber Firearms To Tactical Police Competition Standards

5.7x28mm FN Ammunition

5.7x28mm FN Ammunition

FNH USA

FNH USA

McLean, Va.- -(AmmoLand.com)- Recently, the NRA Law Enforcement Activities Division modified its Tactical Police Competition standards to include 5.7 caliber firearms.

Now, law enforcement agencies using the FN Five-seveN, PS 90, or P90 can compete in this kind of NRA sponsored event with those weapons.

“This addition to the standards allows for more diversity in the competition,” said Barbara Sadowy Bailey, director of marketing for FNH USA.

About:
FNH USA is the sales and marketing arm of FN Herstal, S.A., Belgium. Its corporate mission is to expand its global leadership position in defense, law enforcement and commercial markets by delivering superior products and the finest in training and logistical support. Visit www.fnhusa.com to view the entire line of FNH USA products and services. FNH USA, P.O. Box 697, McLean, VA, 22101, U.S.A.

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Another 1,225,980+ Guns Bought by Law-Abiding Americans

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Another 1,225,980+ Guns Bought by Law-abiding Americans in April 2009
Americans Are Cling To Their Guns At A Record Pace.

NICS Gun Purchase Back Ground Checks April 2009

NICS Gun Purchase Back Ground Checks April 2009

National Shooting Sports Foundation

National Shooting Sports Foundation

NEWTOWN, Conn. – The upward trend in firearms sales continued in April, marking the sixth consecutive month of significant increases.

Data released by the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) reported 1,225,980 checks in April 2009. This figure is a 30.3 percent increase from the 940,961 reported in April 2008.

FBI background checks are required under federal law for all individuals purchasing either new or used firearms from federally licensed retailers. The checks serve as a gauge of actual sales but do not reflect the actual number of firearms sold, since, following a background check, a customer may decide not to purchase a firearm or may purchase more than one firearm.

The April increase follows a 29.2 percent gain in March and rises of 23 percent in February, 28 percent in January, 24 percent in December and 42 percent in November when a record 1,529,635 background checks were performed.

The increase in NICS checks coincides with a rise in excise taxes reported by firearms manufacturers, another indicator of firearm sales.

About:
NSSF, founded in 1961, is the trade association for the firearms, ammunition and recreational shooting sports industry. It promotes the safe ownership and responsible use of products its members make and sell. For more information, visit www.nssf.org.

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Chicks and guns

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Meghan McCain on popping some caps:

In the days after my dad lost the election, my brothers and I went to shoot rounds at the local shooting range. Partly because?as anyone who knows how to use a rifle and can do so safely understands?doing so is hugely stress-relieving, and partly because, we half-joked, it might mark the beginning of the end of our Second Amendment rights under the Obama administration. Now I admit we probably thought as much because our emotions were running so high following the election, but the fact remains: The right to bear arms, and specifically the idea of it being taken away from me, is one of my biggest concerns.

A couple things. One, the candidates were asked at one of the debates if they owned guns. Your dad did not answer in the affirmative. Two, looks like she’s getting put upon in comments.

Are Gun Sales Finally Leveling Off?

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Murdoc’s no statistician, but he’s thinking the answer is “no.”

From the NSSF:

Up over 30% over last April

Up over 30% over last April

I would suspect that private sales of long guns (which usually don’t require NICS checks) could also be up as buyers unable to find what they want in shops are buying from gun owners who need cash in these tough times.


Happy, happy Mags!

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My little Boston is a happy little thing. She always takes an up-beat view of what's happening around her. If I sit down on the front porch, she brings me a ball or a toy in the full conviction that there is nothing I would rather do than play a nice long game of toss-and-fetch with her. If there is someone else on the place she smothers them with her attention, certain that no one could want to not be her friend and playmate.

She has a few little foibles, and some strange fears of particular inanimate objects, but for the most part she is an expansively happy soul who will not be deflected from an optimistic and loving philosophy of life.