VA-ALERT: VCDL Update 11/24/13

Post by **Taggure** » Mon, 25 Nov 2013 13:37:39

VA-ALERT: VCDL Update 11/24/13
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Not yet a VCDL member? Join VCDL at: http://www.vcdl.org/join
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VCDL's meeting schedule: http://www.vcdl.org/meetings
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Abbreviations used in VA-ALERT: http://www.vcdl.org/help/abbr.html
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1. Newport News police chief selection update
2. Amherst update, not out of the woods yet
3. Summary of October's VCDL meeting in Charlottesville
4. Build relationships with your elected representatives
5. Gun control groups claim they helped beat Cuccinelli, but did they?
6. Bloomberg: VA voters stood up to the NRA [VIDEO]
7. NRA beat Bloomberg anti-gun group in 65 of 67 VA delegate races [VIDEO]
8. Attempted robbery at Radford University
9. 12 investigates: More women carrying guns
10. CA lawyer explains VA gun laws...(and gets it wrong)
11. Reid 'would love to bring' gun control back up but lacks votes
12. Halbrook: What made the Nazi Holocaust possible? Gun control
13. Emergency management, school shootings and 2nd amendment rights
14. My life as a convicted gun offender who did nothing wrong
15. Printing metal guns now! (Cool) [VIDEO]
16. Michael Moore: 'Guns don't kill people, Americans kill people'
17. Runner's World mag calls for handgun ban for everyone but police, military
18. Beware of "false flags"
19. [PA] A reminder to criminals: robbery can be hazardous to your health
20. New York exposed: pushing to get SAFE Act repealed
21. [GA] Clerk who fired at armed robber fired from job [VIDEO]
22. [TX] Another reason why it's a bad idea to break into a Texas home
23. Gabby Giffords, Mark Kelly launch veterans group for gun control
24. 'Star Trek' actor labels all gun owners 'dangerous'
25. [WA] Rush hour gunman cut down by Seattle Police

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1. Newport News police chief selection update
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Report from EM Doug Peterson on the selection of a new police chief for Newport news:

I attended the entire session so that I could hear all 5 candidates. Obviously, each had their own vision of how a Police Department should be run.

Kenton Buckner, from Louisville, KY sold his house in 2011 so that if he were a successful candidate for chief somewhere, he’d be ready to accept the call immediately. He also lamented the Sandy Hook tragedy (didn’t we all?) by proclaiming that “We did nothing” to prevent this from happening again. He never said what else might have been done. Didn’t sound like a fan of gun rights.

Michael Ciminelli, from Rochester NY and a lawyer who had been a prosecutor (worked as a cop while attending law school). In his remarks, he mentioned firearms, saying “This is Virginia, so you probably have a lot of guns.” I asked him about armed citizens, and he seemed supportive. I had a chance to talk to him privately for a few minutes, and he said “You probably thought I’m against guns.” Then he proceeded to tell me about how the NY Safe Firearms Act was an ill-conceived knee jerk reaction to Sandy Hook. He was very surprised when I told him about the Junior Program at Lafayette and that our kids win college scholarships for their shooting skills.

Joe Moore, Interim NNPD Police Chief. No problem with lawfully armed citizens carrying in accordance with the rules.

Richard Myers from Sanford FL. Not a fan of armed citizens. He grew up in a gun-owning household, dad had several long guns, but no handguns. His dad insisted that everyone learn how to use the guns in the house so that they wouldn’t get hurt by handling them improperly. Said that if he hadn’t become a cop, he wouldn’t own a handgun, as he dislikes them because they’re only designed to kill people. Doesn’t currently own any long guns.

Lorenzo Sheppard, Deputy Chief, NNPD. Said that his department would “follow the law” regarding Class III permits.

The city recorded the entire proceeding and expects to have it online by Friday, November 22. I was photographed by the Daily Press, and asked for my name and affiliation for the caption.

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2. Amherst update, not out of the woods yet
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Report from Amherst County Board of Supervisor member Claudia Tucker. This is about an attempt to restrict hunt clubs and shooting ranges.

HUNT CLUB ORDINANCE

The public hearing was held and there were a number of people who spoke in opposition to the ordinance; a petition was delivered by the Amherst Republican Party that had over 420 signatures on it that opposed the ordinance. The individuals who bought the original complaint to the Planning Commission and their attorney were also opposed although for different reasons; they did not think the ordinance went far enough. It is safe to say that the majority of the citizens who spoke did so because they felt that Amherst County had enough laws and regulations on the books that would address any concerns that sought to be alleviated by further regulation.

After all citizen comments were heard, I made a motion not to approve the hunt club ordinance; a vote was taken; my motion passed and the ordinance was defeated. I then made another motion that the Board accept the recommendation made by the Planning Commission – that hunt clubs are a permitted use in the agricultural district - and that motion passed by a vote of 3-2. Mr. Kidd and Mr. Campbell were the nay votes. Mr. Kidd requested that we take a break before we resumed our business.

I spoke to a number of the citizens there and they were very pleased that the Board listened to the concerns of a majority of the citizens that further regulation was unnecessary and that the County had enough laws and regulations on the books. One would think that the issue was settled. To the contrary, after most citizens had left and at the END of a very long meeting Mr. Kidd asked the County Attorney if there was a procedural violation which would nullify the vote. The County Attorney agreed that there had been a violation. I objected strongly and stated that the County Attorney was wrong; my basis was that this was a less restrictive action that what was before the Board but more importantly the timeline shows that a public hearing had already occurred on May 21st on the Planning Commission’s recommendation and a motion was made by me to table. There has been a great deal of activity on this since May, but regardless of the procedural question, the point is any Board member and the County Attorney had the obligation to correct the action AT THE TIME IT OCCURRED – as has been done in the past - not to wait and act when most of the public had left.

The bottom line is that unless the legal opinion is reconsidered based upon further review, the entire process starts again with the ordinance being on First Reading at the December 3rd meeting.

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3. Summary of October's VCDL meeting in Charlottesville
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EM Patt Webb emailed me this:

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Here is a summary of the VCDL meeting in C'ville:

We enjoyed another interesting VCDL meeting at Rivanna Rifle and Pistol Club (RRPC). Philip Van Cleave had a scheduling conflict so EM Pat Webb stepped in and revisited the topic of insuring your personal firearms collection. Often people don’t realize that their homeowner’s policy has very low limits on the value of firearms covered. Many find out when they have a loss that their guns were not adequately covered. Riders to add extra value are usually prohibitively expensive. But there is a low-cost solution. A simple internet search for companies that insure collectibles will give you the names of many companies that will insure your guns for a very affordable annual fee. Most do not require “scheduling” which means that you do not have to give the insurance company a list of your guns and serial numbers. Instead you maintain that list yourself and only provide that information if you have a loss or if any one item is over a certain dollar amount in value (this will vary by policy). On average, a $10,000.00 collection can be insured for an annual cost of $75-$80.00. The added benefit is that these policies will also cover your scopes, ammo, reloading supplies and equipment and anything that is associated with your collection!

In addition to the insurance we also talked about the upcoming elections, Lobby Day, the VCDL-PAC and a variety of other interesting topics. We shared quite a few ideas and also shared a turkey dinner! We also mentioned that VCDL is an all volunteer organization and that it is the members who make it so effective. For instance, if you want to have a meeting close to your home, all you you need to do is find a gun-friendly place to hold the meeting (public libraries usually have a free meeting room), work out a time with the VCDL leadership, write a short announcement for the VA-ALERT and you have an instant VCDL meeting! You can also coordinate things like picnics or invite guest speakers whom you think will interest the membership.

If you have never attended a VCDL meeting, please consider joining us for a future meeting. They are always interesting and are open to everyone, no membership required. That being said, VCDL has about 6,000 members. The VA-ALERT has over 26,000 readers. Consider the clout that VCDL would have in the General Assembly if all 26,000 subscribers sent in their $25 membership fee! VCDL is an all-volunteer grass roots organization that is devoted to protecting your gun rights in Virginia.

VCDL again extends their gratitude to Rivanna Rifle and Pistol Club for their continued hospitality and support of organizations that work to protect our Constitutional Rights! If you want to find out more about RRPC, visit their web site at www.rrpc.org.

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4. Build relationships with your elected representatives
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Member Anita Hile emailed me this:

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One of the things we have learned when speaking with our Delegates is that while Lobby Day is great, we need to build relationships with them throughout the year. It makes more of an impact if they know who you are - they are more apt to read your email, letter, take your phone call or appointment. Mark and I have a great relationship with Delegate O'Bannon and Delegate Massie. They seem (and I believe Dr. O'Bannon is sincere) to listen to us. We talk with them throughout the year. They come to our TEA Party meetings when asked and we go to the GOP meetings and visit with them. This is so important.

Anyway, thought this might be helpful. While they are elected by us, they need to know us. Building relationships is the way to have our voices heard a little better.

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5. Gun control groups claim they helped beat Cuccinelli, but did they?
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From usnews.com: http://tinyurl.com/l7vj3pq

Gun Control Groups Claim They Helped Beat Cuccinelli, But Did They?
Did guns help Terry McAuliffe win in Virginia?
by Lauren Fox
November 6, 2013

Gun control groups say it's not often a guy who proudly boasts an "F" National Rifle Association rating wins statewide office in Virginia, the backyard of the NRA.

That is why when Terry McAuliffe won the gubernatorial race by more than two percentage points Tuesday, gun control advocates jumped at the opportunity to claim a victory.

On the campaign trail, Virginia Governor-elect Terry McAuliffe explicitly supported closing the so-called gun show loophole. He vowed to expand background checks during a publicly-aired debate at Virginia Tech, the site of a deadly gun massacre. Meanwhile, his opponent Ken Cuccinelli advertised his "A" rating as a badge of honor.

"Its a very significant turning point in the commonwealth of Virginia," says Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., who credits the gun issue for securing his own victory in 2010. He adds "in a very highly contested, highly divided state the Democrat, espousing reasonable gun control, prevailed."

Groups like Mayor Michael Bloomberg's super PAC Independence USA are revelling in their win after dropping $2 million in the race. They aren't the only ones. Americans for Responsible Solutions, the gun safety organization founded by former Rep. Gabby Giffords, D-Ariz., and her husband Mark Kelly, are treating McAuliffe's victory as a point of no return, boasting during a conference call Wednesday that "gun extremism is not a winning message in this country anymore."

"[McAuliffe] was targeted in the NRA, and he won. If you can do that in Virginia, you can do that anywhere," said Stu Loeser, a spokesman for Independence USA.

But Virginia's race wasn't all about guns. While gun control advocates and gun rights groups spent a combined $4 million on the gubernatorial matchup, much of the money was spent just weeks before Election Day and at a time when McAuliffe already had a strong leg up in the polls. The NRA estimates it spent upwards of $1 million on the race. Candidates focused on the economy, health care and women's rights, instead. Conversations about gun control were few and far between and didn't surface until late into the race.

McAuliffe's victory as a NRA-renegade isn't unprecedented in the state. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., for example, won his election despite an "F" NRA rating in 2012.

The National Rifle Association's spokesman Andrew Arulanandam argues that gun control advocates in the race actually damaged McAuliffe's brand, not strengthened it.

"The political reality is that Bloomberg came in a week before the election and spent $2 million on TV ads exclusively in the D.C. media market and in that one week, a double digit lead was whittled down to three points," Arulanandam says.

The NRA is no stranger to election victories. Just two months ago, in September, gun rights groups including the NRA, helped recall two Colorado state lawmakers who had supported stricter gun laws in the state.

"The truth is that Mayor Bloomberg was political poison in Colorado and he is political poison in Virginia," Arulanandam says.

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6. Bloomberg: VA voters stood up to the NRA [VIDEO]
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I think Bloomberg has been drinking too many of those large, sugary drinks.

If the people of Virginia voted for McAuliffe because they want more gun control (universal background checks, one gun a month, etc.), why did they give the pro-gun House Republicans another large majority for the next two years? Why did the anti-gun House candidates crash and burn?

Tongue-tied for a change, Mr. Mayor?

Member Rick Evans emailed me this:

From youtube.com: http://tinyurl.com/l7cs93k

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7. NRA beat Bloomberg anti-gun group in 65 of 67 VA delegate races [VIDEO]
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From washingtonexaminer.com: http://tinyurl.com/lv7nh9o

NRA beat Bloomberg anti-gun group in 65 of 67 Va. delegate races
by Paul Bedard
November 8, 2013

Nearly 10 percent of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s anti-gun group Mayors Against Illegal Guns retired from their job or were sacked in Tuesday’s elections, including the organization’s two leaders: Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino.

Some 95 key members of the group that targets and criticizes lawmakers backed by the National Rifle Association are losing their title of “mayor.” According to an election review of Bloomberg's membership list of about 1,000, three quit the group, 69 retired from their jobs, and 23 were rejected by voters.

On the retirement list: Bloomberg and Menino.

Among the defeated members of Mayors Against Illegal Guns were the mayors of Annapolis, Md.; Omaha, Neb.; Atlantic City, N.J.; Rochester, N.Y.; and Seattle, Wash.

Guns and Bloomberg's group were issues in some of the campaigns where the incumbents were defeated. In Chambersburg, Pa., newly-elected Republican Mayor-elect Darren Brown declared that among his first moves will be unhooking the town from the anti-gun group.

"The very, very first thing I'd like to do is get Chambersburg off the Mayors Against Illegal Guns list," Brown said.

What's more, while Bloomberg's Independence USA PAC can claim a victory in its campaign and advertising against Virginia gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli, a review of all NRA-endorsed candidates in the state show that the mayor had virtually no impact.

For example, of the 67 NRA-endorsed candidates for the Virginia House of Delegates, 65 won their election on Tuesday.

What’s more, after the 2011 legislative elections in Virginia, there were 63 states delegates rated an "A" by the NRA and that number grew to 65 on Tuesday.

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8. Attempted robbery at Radford University
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After an attempted robbery, the Radford University PD reminds us how to be a good little sheep, restricting our liberties even further so as to avoid the wolves. "Always use the buddy system when possible and avoid walking alone" - translation: "always travel in herds whenever possible." How appropriate.

I'd prefer being a sheepdog, going about his life freely and dealing with any predatory wolves with my own razor-sharp fangs.

I'd add this as the first tick mark:

· Carry a gun and get some training in how to use it

Member Mike Amos emailed me this:

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Crime Alert: Attempted Robbery

On November 6, 2013 at approximately 10:26 PM, officers from the Radford University Police Department responded to the area of 500 Greenhill Apartments to take a report of an attempted robbery which occurred at approximately 9:55 PM.

A student reported that a male in athletic shorts, approximately 6’3” tall with a large build attempted to forcibly take her backpack from her and demanded money. The suspect made multiple attempts to take her backpack. The male then grabbed the victim’s throat and pushed her against a car before running away. No weapon was displayed or mentioned during the encounter, and no injuries were sustained by the victim.

The Radford University Police Department is reminding the community of the following safety tips regarding robbery and safety on and around campus:
·Travel well-lighted and busy routes
·Avoid walking or parking in shadowed areas whenever possible
·Stay alert to your surroundings and report suspicious individuals or activity
·Have your keys and swipe cards in your hand and ready when approaching you residence or vehicle
·Always use the buddy system when possible and avoid walking alone
·Carry purses and bags close to the body. Do not loop or wrap straps around you as this could cause injury if someone attempts to take the item from you forcibly.
·Never walk with both hands full. You should keep on hand free at all times.
·Avoid displaying and carrying large sums of money

Remember your safety is our biggest concern and possessions can be replaced. If you are confronted, concentrate on remembering a description of the person and call police.

If you have any information about this crime, please contact the Radford University Police Department at 540-831-5500.

This email is being sent on behalf of the Radford University Police Department.

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9. 12 investigates: More women carrying guns
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I hope this trend continues strongly into the future. These ladies won't be pulled in by the antis' lies.

Member Clay Rhoades emailed me this:

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From nbc12.com: http://tinyurl.com/kascd2f

12 Investigates: More Women Carrying Guns
November 4, 2013

The number of women carrying guns is reaching record highs nationwide.

Nearly one in four woman in the United States are packing heat, an increase of 77 percent in just a few years.

Why are so many moms carrying firearms? Rachel DePompa talks to Central Virginia women to see what's motivating them to learn to fire a weapon. Tune in for her special report tonight on 12News at 11.

The blast of a gun was the last thing 70-year-old Joan Herndon ever heard. In October of '95, someone walked into her family store in Buckingham County, robbed and shot her.

"I used to hate guns," said Katherine. For years, the sound of that single blast echoed in Katherine's head. She is Joan Herndon's granddaughter.

"They got less than $200. They shot her with a shotgun and walked out," said Katherine.

The unsolved murder victimized the whole family. It wasn't until Katherine met her husband that she decided to face her fear head on.

"We went out and we shot. And I felt so much stronger than I'd ever felt before," said Katherine. "Like I didn't have to be a victim. I didn't have to become a statistic like my grandmother had to."

More women than ever before are now packing heat. According to a Gallup Poll, in 2005, just 13% of women in the U.S. owned a gun. By 2011, 23% of women had a gun. That's a 77% increase in just 7 years.

"I wanted to start carrying for my protection. My kid's protection," said stay-at-home Louisa County mom Erin Albert.

Erin has two young boys. She's shot guns all her life, owned them for years but only recently got a permit to conceal carry.

"Women can't protect themselves as well without that force," said Erin. "Without that gun... I mean, you're on an equal playing ground if you have that gun," said Albert.

These women tell us protection is their top priority.

"If you're at a gas station and somebody tries to hijack your car with your kids in the back and they have a gun, you have to have a plan," say Albert.

"A man's not always going to be there for you. A lot of women are realizing, as sexual assaults increase, as murders and kidnappings increase, that you're not safe anywhere anymore," added Katherine.

Women are now dominating gun classes nationwide - and not just to learn how shoot or to get a permit.

"They're coming in now, they're taking more of our tactical classes, learning how to move and shoot, learning how to protect a child or a loved one, how to shoot from inside their vehicles in a carjacking situation," said James Reynolds. He's the chief firearms instructor for Proactive Shooters. He and other local gun shops even hold classes strictly for women.

"Women are generally coming in, they're with a clean slate. They haven't learned bad habits, so they're easier to teach and they listen to direction better. They follow everything you tell them, every step of the way," said Reynolds.

For the women we spoke with every shot, every lesson, every time they reload, it's about being prepared.

"It's like having a fire extinguisher. I mean, you have one in your house don't you? You don't think you're going to have a fire, but you're ready in case you do. I don't think something's going to happen to me, but if it does, I'm prepared." said Katherine.

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10. CA lawyer explains VA gun laws...(and gets it wrong)
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I don't think this article could have been more wrong, even if the author intentionally tried to do so.

There are so many errors in this article that I'd end up annotating almost every statement to correct all the errors. The only reason I'm even forwarding this garbage is to show how ignorant some people who should know better can be. Ugh.

An accurate source of carry info can be found on VCDL's website at: http://vcdl.org/CarryInfo

EM Ed Levine shared this with me:

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From criminaldefenselawyer.com: http://tinyurl.com/psf6fsf

Open and Concealed Gun Carry Laws in Virginia
by Monica Steiner, Contributing Author

Virginia protects the right to bear arms under Article I, Section 13 of the state constitution, but this does not mean that everyone may carry a gun, or that you may always carry a gun wherever you like. Virginia requires a concealable carry permit to carry a weapon openly or concealed on (or near) you body or vehicle unless you are in your house, at your place of business, or on your own property. (Va. Ann. Code § 18.2-308.)

For more information on permitting laws, see Gun Permit Laws in Virginia.

The following sections explain who may not have a gun, and the circumstances or situations when carrying a gun is illegal.

People Who May Not Carry a Gun in Virginia

The following individuals are prohibited from carrying a weapon in Virginia:
-those younger than 21 years old [PVC: FALSE. The age for lawful open carry begins at 18.]

-non- residents of Virginia, unless the person is a permit holder from a state with reciprocity with Virginia (see Gun Permit Laws in Virginia for more information on reciprocity) [PVC: FALSE. Virginia offers non-resident CHPs.]

-non-U.S. citizens (other than lawful permanent residents)

-someone discharged from state custody, commitment in a mental institution, or whose competency or capacity was restored within the last five years

-anyone subject to a restraining or protective order

-someone who has been convicted of two or more misdemeanors within the last five years [PVC: FALSE. This restriction only applies to getting a CHP, not carrying a gun openly.]

-individuals addicted to, or unlawful users or dealers of marijuana or other controlled substances; or who have been found guilty of illegal possession or distribution of these substances within the last three years

-anyone convicted of public drunkenness, or substantially similar laws in other states within the last three years [PVC: FALSE. This only applies to getting a CHP, not carrying a gun openly.]

-individuals dishonorably discharged from the U.S. armed forces

-fugitives from justice

-anyone whom a court finds would be likely to use a weapon unlawfully or negligently to endanger others [PVC: FALSE. This only applies to getting a CHP, not carrying a gun openly.]

-people who have been convicted of specified crimes (including but not limited to assault, sexual battery, and stalking), or persons with a charge pending against them for one of these crimes, and [PVC: FALSE. This only applies to getting a CHP, not carrying a gun openly.]

-a person who was convicted of being delinquent based on an offense that, if committed by an adult, would have been a felony [PVC: ONLY PARTIALLY TRUE. If such a person has not been convicted of any crimes as an adult, they get their gun rights back automatically at age 29.]

(Va. Ann. Code § 18.2-308(E).)

Situations or Circumstances Where Carrying a Gun is Illegal

The following rules govern when and where you may not carry a gun in Virginia. You may not carry a firearm:

unless you are in your house, place of business, or on your own property, you may not carry a firearm without a concealed carry permit. (Va. Ann. Code § 18.2-308) [PVC: FALSE!!! Open carry is absolutely legal and carrying is allowed in most places.]

-into a place of religious worship (Va. Ann. Code § 18.2-283) [PVC: FALSE. The restriction only applies during a service and does not apply if the person is carrying for self-defense.]

-into a courthouse (Va. Ann. Code § 18.2-283.1)

-into an airport terminal (Va. Ann. Code § 18.2-287.01)

-onto school property (Va. Ann. Code § 18.2-308.1) [PVC: FALSE. CHP holders can have a loaded, concealed handgun on them as long as they remain in their vehicle while on school property.]

-in a jail, prison, or detention facility. (S.C. Code Ann.§ 24-13-440), and

-on school premises (including day care and preschool facilities), in law enforcement offices or facilities, in court facilities, at polling places on election days, in churches or other religious sanctuaries, in hospitals or medical facilities. (S.C. Code Ann.§ 23-31-215). [PVC: FALSE. You can carry in daycare facilities, law enforcement offices and facilities, in polling places on election day (as long as they aren't held somewhere like a courthouse or in a k-12 school), churches, and in hospital and medical facilities (unless they, as private property owners, say no.)

Penalties for Gun Carry Violations

It is a Class 1 misdemeanor to carry a handgun in Virginia without a concealed carry license (unless you are in your own home, on your own property, or at your fixed place of business [PVC: FALSE. See that statement and comments above]). Penalties for a first offense include a fine of up to $2,500, up to 12 months in jail, or both.

A second offense is a Class 6 felony. Penalties include a fine of up to $2,500, at least one year (and up to five years) in prison, or both.

A third or subsequent offense is a Class 5 felony, and incurs a fine of up to $2,500, at least one year (and up to five years) in prison, or both.

Getting Legal Help

The penalties for violating gun carry laws are serious, and often include harsh fines and long prison sentences. If you have any questions about whether you are allowed to carry a gun in Virginia, or if you are facing charges for a gun violation, consult a qualified criminal defense lawyer. [PVC: And hope they are better than the author of this mess.]

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11. Reid 'would love to bring' gun control back up but lacks votes
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Member Walter Jackson emailed me this:

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From breitbart.com: http://tinyurl.com/kfhy2wd

REID 'WOULD LOVE TO BRING' GUN CONTROL BACK UP BUT LACKS VOTES
by AWR HAWKINS
November 6, 2013

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) said Tuesday he "would love to bring [gun control] back up," but he does not have the votes to pass any new laws.

Reid made these remarks the day after 20-year-old Richard Shoop stole a rifle and fired six shots into the ceiling at Westfield Garden State Plaza Mall in New Jersey.

According to The Washington Times, Reid said, "'Shooting of the week' is what we have now. The problem is, in the last week we've had more than one." Reid was referencing the November 1st murder of a TSA agent at LAX as the first of the two shootings.

Had Reid pushed for stricter gun laws before Senators like Joe Manchin (D-WV), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and Chris Murphy (D-CT) politicized the heinous crime at Sandy Hook Elementary, he might have succeeded in garnering votes. However, the Democrat overreach shook law-abiding gun owners from their slumber and drove them to groups like the NRA and Gun Owners of America. Now, even Manchin is back-peddling.

Reid said that while he does not currently have the votes to push more gun control, he "will keep working the issue."

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12. Halbrook: What made the Nazi Holocaust possible? Gun control
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Stephen Wenger emailed me this:

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From washingtontimes.com: http://tinyurl.com/l4wxfm6

HALBROOK: What made the Nazi Holocaust possible? Gun control
by Stephen P. Halbrook
November 7, 2013

This week marks the 75th anniversary of Kristallnacht, or the Night of the Broken Glass, the Nazi pogrom against Germany’s Jews on Nov. 9-10, 1938. Historians have documented most everything about it except what made it so easy to attack the defenseless Jews without fear of resistance. Their guns were registered and thus easily confiscated.

To illustrate, turn the clock back further and focus on just one victim, a renowned German athlete. Alfred Flatow won first place in gymnastics at the 1896 Olympics. In 1932, he dutifully registered three handguns, as required by a decree of the liberal Weimar Republic. The decree also provided that in times of unrest, the guns could be confiscated. The government gullibly neglected to consider that only law-abiding citizens would register, while political extremists and criminals would not. However, it did warn that the gun-registration records must be carefully stored so they would not fall into the hands of extremists.

The ultimate extremist group, led by Adolf Hitler, seized power just a year later, in 1933. The Nazis immediately used the firearms-registration records to identify, disarm and attack “enemies of the state,” a euphemism for Social Democrats and other political opponents of all types. Police conducted search-and-seizure operations for guns and “subversive” literature in Jewish communities and working-class neighborhoods.

Jews were increasingly deprived of more and more rights of citizenship in the coming years. The Gestapo cautioned the police that it would endanger public safety to issue gun permits to Jews. Hitler faked a show of tolerance for the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, but Flatow refused to attend the reunion there of former champions. He was Jewish and would not endorse the farce.

By fall of 1938, the Nazis were ratcheting up measures to expropriate the assets of Jews. To ensure that they had no means of resistance, the Jews were ordered to surrender their firearms.

Flatow walked into a Berlin police station to comply with the command and was arrested on the spot, as were other Jews standing in line. The arrest report confirmed that his pistols were duly registered, which was obviously how the police knew he had them. While no law prohibited a Jew from owning guns, the report recited the Nazi mantra: “Jews in possession of weapons are a danger to the German people.” Despite his compliance, Flatow was turned over to the Gestapo.

This scenario took place all over Germany — firearms were confiscated from all Jews registered as gun owners. As this was occurring, a wholly irrelevant event provided just the excuse needed to launch a violent attack on the Jewish community: A Polish teenager who was Jewish shot a German diplomat in Paris. The stage was set to instigate Kristallnacht, a carefully orchestrated Nazi onslaught against the entire Jewish community in Germany that horrified the world and even the German public.

Under the pretense of searching for weapons, Jewish homes were vandalized, businesses ransacked and synagogues burned. Jews were terrorized, beaten and killed. Orders were sent to shoot anyone who resisted.

SS head Heinrich Himmler decreed that possession of a gun by a Jew was punishable by 20 years in a concentration camp. An estimated 20,000 Jewish men were thrown into such camps for this reason or just for being Jewish. The Jewish community was then held at ransom to pay for the damage done by the Nazis.

These horrific events were widely reported in the American media, such as The New York Times. After Hitler launched World War II, the United States made preparations in case it was dragged into the conflict. Just before the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, Congress passed a law noting the Gestapo methods and declaring that the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms may not be infringed by such measures as registration of firearms.

Kristallnacht has been called “the day the Holocaust began.” Flatow’s footsteps can be followed to see why. He would be required to wear the Star of David. In 1942, he was deported to the Theresienstadt concentration camp, where he starved to death.

One wonders what thoughts may have occurred to Flatow in his last days. Perhaps memories of the Olympics and of a better Germany flashed before his eyes. Did he have second thoughts about whether he should have registered his guns in 1932? Or whether he should have obediently surrendered his firearms at a Berlin police station in 1938 as ordered by Nazi decree, only to be taken into Gestapo custody? Did he fantasize about shooting Nazis? We will never know, but it is difficult to imagine that he had no regrets over his act of compliance.

Today, gun control, registration and prohibition are depicted as benign and progressive. Government should register gun owners and ban any guns it wishes, Americans are told, because government is inherently good and trustworthy. The experiences of Hitler’s Germany and, for that matter, Stalin’s Russia and Pol Pot’s Cambodia, are beneath the realm of possibility in exceptional America. Let’s hope so.

Still, be careful what you wish for.

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13. Emergency management, school shootings and 2nd amendment rights
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We need to allow teachers and all other lawful gun owners to carry in schools.

From gundebate.com: http://tinyurl.com/m8u7wo9

Emergency Management, School Shootings and Second Amendment Rights
by Cathleen Vought
October 31, 2013

My husband, Eric, was invited to present as part of a panel on active shooter scenarios at the International Association of Emergency Managers’ annual convention, which happened to be in Reno this year. In 1992, on Simon’s Rock College of the Bard campus in Massachusetts, Eric’s former roommate, Wayne Lo, went on a shooting spree. Eric’s had to live with the guilt of hindsight, wondering if he’d missed some warning sign that this guy he trusted was going to blow his top. He and other students had to fight the school administration from going completely overboard about a student bringing a brightly-colored plastic squirt gun on campus and being suspended for it following the incident. He has spent many years studying school shootings, and has seen school policies go from “all guns are evil” to “maybe lockdowns alone aren’t working and we need to try something new”.

The media and “professionals” have told us that there are security guards on campuses and in schools, and this keeps the students safe. The first person Wayne (and most school shooters, actually) took out was the security guard. These same professionals also tell us that banning guns at schools makes them safer. Do they really think that the person coming to kill people cares if they’re breaking the rules by carrying a gun on campus? They tell us that police response times and training in these situations have gotten better. Great, can I carry an officer in my pocket? Even with the phenomenal response time of three minutes by the Sparks, Nevada police department to the school shooting last week just south of where we’re staying, the incident was already done and the shooter had killed himself.

Of course, this was after a math teacher at the school, a highly-decorated Marine Corps veteran, tried to talk the 12-year-old boy down, giving other students a chance to escape, but losing his life in the process. If we can trust a Marine with a firearm to keep the peace in a foreign country, why wouldn’t we expect them to be able to handle one in a classroom, typically a much less violent area? If we entrust our children’s minds, souls and bodies to a teacher for eight hours of the day, why wouldn’t we give them the tools to defend them?

Back to the conference. Watching the presentation on active shooter situations by the other two panelists, I was struck by the changes that were being considered by some of the most forward-thinking and highest authorities in emergency management. An emergency manager at a Texas college made a statement that stuck with me, along the lines of if students were not allowed to carry firearms on campus to defend themselves, it was the responsibility of the school that they were as well protected as if they were. The reason this struck such a chord in me was that not only did she realize the problem, she also realized that there was no simple solution.

The other panel member, from a university in southern California, mentioned the problems they’re having with lockdowns on college campuses. The culture of the area tends towards the idea that the students, as legal adults, have a right to leave a building, even during a shooting, and therefore it is not acceptable to lock them in. I have a problem with this mentality, though – if there were a toxic spill or a bad snowstorm, the authorities will shut down the road until the danger has passed, and whether you’re an adult or not does not even come into play. I would think the more deadly chance of being killed during a shooting would certainly fall in this same type of authority, and that locking an adult in to protect them from harm is at least as acceptable as in those situations.

During Eric’s part of the presentation, you could see a lot of attendees really considering the points he made about what did not work at Simon’s Rock and would not work in other shootings. He had a number of people approach him to discuss further the implications of what he had been through and had suggested for an action plan. This was especially apparent when we went to a banquet that evening. Eric was approached by a gentleman who, after the presentation, had called the security officer at his institution and told him, point blank, that they needed to seriously discuss and change the plans they had been making because, “we’ve been going about it all wrong.”

It’s kind of like the starfish on the beach story, with the little boy seeing thousands of stranded starfish and starts throwing them back into the ocean. A man tells him that he can’t possibly make a difference because of the magnitude of numbers before him. The little boy looks at the one in his hand, throws it into the ocean, and says, “I made a difference to that one.” We will still see some resistance to having teachers armed in schools, but with several dozen attendees at the talk, we may have changed the minds of a few. And hopefully made a difference to the children and students under their care.

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14. My life as a convicted gun offender who did nothing wrong
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The police state of New Jersey is a disgrace. Their policy is to ignore the murderers in society and punish the hell out of law-abiding gun owners who haven't even broken the law. And Governor Christy is no gem, either, in his mishandling of this.

Member Walter Jackson emailed me this:

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From vice.com: http://tinyurl.com/n3x2t56

MY LIFE AS A CONVICTED GUN OFFENDER WHO DID NOTHING WRONG
By Brian D. Aitken

At 6 AM, the sky outside my apartment is still purple-black. It’s too early. I stagger out of bed and stand under a scalding jet of water in the shower, trying to remember where I’ve been, where I am, and where I need to be. Oklahoma. Austin. Houston. In less than eight hours I have to climb a stage and tell a roomful of strangers my story. As far as stories go, it’s pretty interesting, I guess. It’s got thrills, heartbreak, what technically counts as crime, and even a little bit of vindication. But telling it wears me out. Living through it was more than enough.

Three years ago this month, thanks mostly to poorly written laws and a vindictive judge, I turned 27 while incarcerated in Mid-State Correctional Facility in Fort Dix, New Jersey.

I got sentenced to seven years in prison for legally owning guns. I had purchased them in Colorado and brought them with me to New Jersey, home to some of the harshest gun laws in the country, where I moved to be closer to my young son. I complied with all of the regulations, but one day the police searched my car and charged me with unlawful possession of a weapon—even though my handguns were locked, unloaded, and in my trunk. The court said it was on me to prove that I wasn’t breaking any laws, which obviously was very difficult. When Reason magazine covered my case, it wrote, “Even the jurors who convicted him seem to have been looking for a reason to acquit him. But the judge gave them little choice.”

On the road south out of Austin, my phone buzzes with a new email. It’s from the Manchester Business School, where until recently I was trying to get an MBA. It’s one of the world’s more prestigious business schools, and I was on a partial scholarship for “exceptional entrepreneurship,” but the last time I flew out there for a workshop I had my passport seized by a customs agent. My problem, he explained, wasn’t with the UK government, but with the US. Thanks to my status as a convicted felon, I was no longer free to travel to other countries.

It’s also impossible for me to pass a background check. That means no apartments for me. A friend of a friend got me into a guest house in Austin—really just a studio apartment on the backside of the owner's garage, with no stove or microwave. But it’s nice. I’ve been working and writing so much I don’t have time to cook anyway.

What have I been working on? Lots of stuff related to my case, for one. Speeches at gatherings like the one I’m headed to right now, the Gun Rights Policy Conference. I tell people about my experiences both in court and in prison, about how, after I spent four months behind bars, governor Chris Christie signed an executive order releasing me and commuted my sentence to time served. But I also tell people about how he signed S2804 into law two months ago.

S2804 was a bill that amended the Graves Act, the law I was convicted of breaking. It changes the mandatory minimum sentence for offenders from 36 months to 42 months—an extra six months in prison for gun owners who haven’t been convicted of any crime other than owning a gun, which isn’t even technically illegal. (You need a piece of paper in order to buy a gun and another piece of paper to carry one around on your person, but it's technically legal to own one.) Without a concealed carry permit, which is extraordinarily difficult to get, many innocent gun owners wind up being labeled as criminals. Even retired cops have a hard time meeting the “justifiable need” standard the state requires for anyone looking to get a concealed carry license. In 2011, a pet store owner who was kidnapped and feared being attacked again by the same men was denied a permit to carry a handgun.

This bill also changed possession of a handgun to a first-degree felony under certain conditions. If I owned guns in New Jersey right now I’d risk getting sentenced to ten to 20 prison, which is a hell of a lot of time to get for a “crime” that doesn’t involve hurting or threatening anyone.

As the flat, dry Texas landscape slides by, my mind drifts from my circumstances and the speech I haven’t written to the son I haven’t seen in four years.

In New Jersey, where I think he still lives, it’s almost 11 AM. Maybe he’s on his way to T-Ball. Maybe he’s sleeping in. Does he even play T-Ball? He turned five a few months ago so he might. I have to google “what age do kids start playing T-Ball?”

I wonder if anyone has taught him how to ski yet. I know a lot of kids start skiing when they’re four, so it’s possible. I wonder what books his mom or some stranger might read to him at night. I wonder if that other man, if there is one, isn’t a stranger to him.

I realize I’m the stranger.

I pull into the the Houston Marriott at the International Airport and a valet takes my car. There’s no self parking, and I cringe. I hate spending money. I’m not getting paid to speak at this conference and I drove out here on my own dime, but the message is important. It needs to be heard. People need to know that what happened to me could happen to them, even if I haven’t found the words to say it yet.

I go to check in and I feel out of place. It’s a room full of policy experts and lawyers like Alan Gura, who argued Heller v. DC, the landmark gun rights case, and Dave Kopel, who represented 55 of Colorado’s 62 sheriffs in the recent recall election. I can’t match their expertise—I was just a kid, seven months out of college, when I was arrested.

I begin typing on my iPhone. Seven minutes later I’ve finished writing my speech and I’m looking for a business center in the hotel so I can print it out. Then I'm in front of my audience.

Since I’m practically the only person in the room who’s not a lawyer, I realize there’s nothing I can tell them about my case they don’t already know from a legal standpoint. The only real value I can add is to tell them what it feels like to get caught in a patchwork of draconian gun laws. I decide to focus on the consequences I’ve faced as a convicted felon who has broken no laws.

I start with how a family court judge decided I wasn’t a fit parent and couldn’t see my son because of all of the (nonviolent and victimless) charges against me. I go on to explain how my record included so many weapons offenses, all for that one incident, that my fellow inmates thought I must have been a big-time arms trafficker. I can’t tell you how many times I was asked to “hook up” somebody “on the outside.” The Bloods who wanted my business didn’t like it when I told them they could go to my supplier, Bass Pro Shops, and get whatever they wanted so long as they could pass all the FBI and CBI background checks I did.

The moderator stands up and I realize my 15 minutes are almost over. Quickly, I run through a mental checklist: Did I mention how the judge refused to let the jury to consider the laws in my case? Did I remember to tell them how the jury asked three times what the exemptions to the law were that would have let me walk? Did I mention how I am not allowed to vote, or own firearms, or that my passport was revoked?

I feel like I barely scratched the surface. I’m not an expert, I’m not an activist. I wonder what the hell I’m doing up here. I wonder where I’d be right now if my life had taken a different turn.

I see the audience begin to stand and their applause chokes me up. A murmured “thank you” manages to escape my lips before I bolt off the stage.

I wish I wasn’t able to tell my story; I wish I didn’t have a story to tell. I just want to be in New York with my dogs and my fiancée. I just want to be annoyed that my son is jumping up and down on my bed and keeping me from sleeping in. I just want my life back.

I want to be normal.

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15. Printing metal guns now! (Cool) [VIDEO]
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James Serino emailed me this:

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From recoilweb.com: http://tinyurl.com/lgreyvm

JUST PRINTED: SOLID CONCEPTS 3D-PRINTER METAL 1911
by David Reeder

Solid Concepts of Austin, TX has apparently manufactured what they describe as the “world’s first 3D Printed Metal Gun.” Admirers of John Moses Browning will be happy to see they chose to build a 1911 frame semi-automatic pistol, chambered in .45 ACP.

As explained in the video, the parts are made of various kinds of stainless steel and the goal was to dispel myths that a 3D printed gun wasn’t strong enough for real world applications.

“Solid Concepts has been a service provider since 1991, doing mostly aerospace work, medical work and production runs,” say Solid Concepts Alyssa Parkinson. “Part of us building this gun was to prove that it could be done–that it’s ready to handle these kinds of pressures, the heat, etc.”

The weapon, built from open-source 1911 pistol design specs, hasn’t been named yet – they haven’t gotten that far. They are considering a limited edition run of these 3D printed pistols for sale, however they have not made any firm decisions and do not yet have any estimate what the cost would be assuming such an eventuality occurs. Solid Concepts seems understandably hesitant to make any pronouncements about their long-term plans. After all they just announced it. It’s still early.

“Our expertise is manufacture,” Alyssa laughs, deflecting politely, “we’d need to look at some things, talk to someone who knows more about pricing one of a kind guns before setting a price.”

The pistol’s 30+ gun components were manufactured with a laser sintering process. The grip is an SLS (Selective Laser Sintered) carbon-fiber filled nylon hand grip. So far it has had over 50 rounds through it without incident. Magazines used were commercially purchased (I don’t know what brand).

“We’re proving this is possible, the technology is at a place now where we can manufacture a gun with 3D Metal Printing,” says Solid Concepts Vice President of Additive Manufacturing, Kent Firestone. “And we’re doing this legally. In fact, as far as we know, we’re the only 3D Printing Service Provider with a Federal Firearms License (FFL). Now, if a qualifying customer needs a unique gun part in five days, we can deliver.”

I’ll be following up with Eric Mutchler, Solid Concepts’ point man on the project (he’s the one who tested the gun). I’m also hoping to arrange for RECOIL to T&E this or a future Solid Concepts 3D printed 1911 (or at least visit their facility in Austin). More on that to follow later.

For more information, read their press release. You can also check them out on Facebook, where there’s an ongoing conversation about the weapon.

If you have questions you want me to ask in my follow-up please let me know in the comments below.

It will certainly be interesting to see how the anti-gun, anti- Second Amendment crowd reacts to this. I’m betting on apoplexy, but we’ll see.

That’s it for this morning. Go forth and conquer.

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16. Michael Moore: 'Guns don't kill people, Americans kill people'
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Member Ric Bergstrom emailed me this:

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From foxnews.com: http://tinyurl.com/lemebtl

Michael Moore: 'Guns don’t kill people, Americans kill people'
by FoxNews.com
November 06, 2013

Filmmaker Michael Moore had a lot to say about guns to a paparazzo who caught up with him at LAX, the scene of a shooting last week that left a TSA worker dead.

“I think the NRA, they’ve got it half right when they say ‘guns don’t kill people, people kill people,’” he told the TMZ cameraman. “I change it to ‘guns don’t kill people, Americans kill people.’ Because we’re really the only ones that do it on this level, on this scale. Why?”

The cameraman asked Moore about his thoughts on the LAX shooting.

“Nothing changes. It’s the country we live in... Legally purchased gun, bullets. What are you going to do?” Moore said.

He then talked about how other countries don’t seem to suffer from similar numbers of attacks.

“There’s a reason why this doesn’t happen in Canada, and Ireland and France and elsewhere. They have their occasional craziness but it’s not on a weekly or monthly basis, no. So why us? Because they’re not better than us, so why us? What is it about us? That’s the question to ask,” he said.

The "Roger and Me" director continued asking questions as the cameraman attempted to formulate answers.

“They have mentally ill people in those countries. Canada, hunting is a bigger sport than hockey. There’s a lot of guns in Canada, why don’t they kill each other?”

A rep for the NRA didn't respond immediately to FOX411's request for comment.

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17. Runner's World mag calls for handgun ban for everyone but police, military
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Another magazine to avoid.

Member Bill Albritton emailed me this:

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From breitbart.com: http://tinyurl.com/lqk78wz

RUNNER'S WORLD MAG CALLS FOR HANDGUN BAN FOR EVERYONE BUT POLICE, MILITARY
by AWR Hawkins
November 9, 2013

The November 5th issue of Runner's World carries a column by athlete Nick Symmonds calling for a handgun ban for everyone except police and military personnel.

The column also calls for a ban on "assault rifles," while kindly proposing that regular citizens should be allowed to keep a shotgun with which to hunt birds and a "[rifle]...for big game animals."

In a manner similar to Gabby Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly, Symmonds starts his column by exclaiming, "I love my Second Amendment right." Shortly thereafter he limits the Second Amendment to a protection of hunting weaponry, although hunting has never been central to the Second Amendment.

As Associate Justice Samuel Alito wrote in the majority opinion for McDonald v. Chicago (2010), "Individual self-defense is 'the central component' of the 2nd Amendment right." Moreover, he said the preferred weapon for self-defense is a handgun.

An October 25th Gallup poll shows that 74 percent of Americans opposed the idea of banning handgun possession for all but "police and other authorized persons."

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18. Beware of "false flags"
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EM John Wilburn emailed me this:

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It’s important to keep their lack of transparency out in the open:

From usconcealedcarry.com: http://tinyurl.com/nxzm2el

Beware of “False Flags”
by John Caile
November 6, 2013

Anti-gun zealots have recently been creating more and more fake “gun rights” groups, often duping unsuspecting gun owners into contributing to them. What’s most diabolical is that the money collected is then used to attack gun owner’s rights, not protect them.

Probably the best example of a “False Flag” gun rights group is the infamous “Americans for Gun Safety,” started in 2001 and bankrolled by Monster.com mogul Andrew McKelvey. After digging into the group’s origins and supporters, writer James L. Pate noted:

“With an initial start-up budget of more than $12 million of his own fortune, McKelvey created AGS as a new national coalition of local and state anti-gun groups. AGS was designed to move debate from Capitol Hill into state legislatures and to bring various state anti-gun activists under one umbrella.” [Emphasis ours.]

McKelvey (who served on the board of Sarah Brady’s Handgun Control, Inc.) even created “franchise” organizations, with each chapter guaranteed $60,000 a year to staff and equip an office and train volunteers. They also determined that they needed to use less confrontational language, with the goal of deceiving the average (especially non-gun-owning) American:

“’The term “gun control” should be dropped and replaced with “gun safety,” or “responsible gun use,” or “accountability in gun use,”’ said the report, prepared in June 2000 by the public relations firm of Penn, Schoen & Berland, longtime consultants to the election campaigns of Bill Clinton and Al Gore.”

With virtually no actual members, but staffed by a veritable “who’s who” of the gun control movement, AGS saturated movie theaters in 44 states with 30-second trailers featuring (choke) Senator John McCain, discussing gun rights and “personal responsibility.” Naturally, news anchors eagerly quoted AGS, giving the impression they were a legitimate gun rights organization.

Eventually, after being exposed by Second Amendment activists, AGS was folded into a Left-wing think tank (“Third Way”) in an effort to disguise their true intentions even further. “Handgun Control, Inc.” changed their name to “The Brady Campaign” for the same reasons.

Be especially vigilant at the state/local level, where smaller but sometimes more dangerous anti-gun organizations have begun appearing, often funded by big-money anti-gun powerhouses like Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Some disingenuously claim credit for the hard work of legitimate local gun rights groups. Others cleverly get the endorsement of normally very pro-gun legislators, to provide a kind of legitimacy by association.

Just such an incident occurred in Minnesota last month. Veteran blogger Mitch Berg of “ShotintheDark.info” received a letter from a reliably pro-gun State Representative, strongly urging his constituents to “take action and support ‘Minnesota Gun Rights’ efforts as generously as you can, TODAY!”

Only one problem: No one in the local pro-gun community has ever heard of “Minnesota Gun Rights.” Yet they attempt to take credit for the work of the “Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance” (GOCRA) a legitimate grass roots organization that passed Minnesota’s landmark “shall-issue” carry law in 2003.

Other states have similar stories. “Iowa Gun Owners” is a recent example of a previously unknown group appearing out of nowhere, run by folks with suspiciously anti-gun backgrounds. So stay alert. These “Trojan Horse” outfits sound pro-gun, but often betray their agenda with phrases like “common sense” gun laws, “sensible” restrictions, or “closing loopholes.”

When you get an email from some organization you don’t recognize, do some digging. Check them out with the NRA, and/or with local organizations you know and trust.

Beware of “false flags”… they’re everywhere. And they’re multiplying.

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19. [PA] A reminder to criminals: robbery can be hazardous to your health
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Also serves as a reminder to know local self-defense laws.

Member David Custer emailed this to me:

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This first article has more information in general, but doesn't mention the arrest of the shooter at all.

From readingeagle.com: http://tinyurl.com/lwtfqlk

Two dead after shooting in Reading
by Dan Kelly
November 4, 2013

Two masked men who allegedly robbed a Reading convenience store at gunpoint were shot dead on the sidewalk by an armed man who stumbled upon the scene Monday, police said.

Police said the two suspects, who have not yet been identified, entered Krick's Korner at Ninth and Exeter streets about 2 p.m., pointed guns at the store owner and demanded cash.

It was unclear if the men got any cash but police said they fled the store with lottery tickets and cigarettes and ran into a man who was leaving an apartment located in the same building as the store.

"He came outside and heard the clerk and knew something was wrong," said Reading police Sgt. John M. Solecki.

The man noticed that the suspects were armed and wearing masks, so he decided to wait outside the store, police said. When the suspects exited the store the man pulled out his own weapon and shot the two men.

One suspect, wearing black sweat pants, a red sweat suit-type jacket and a tan mask, fell dead in a crosswalk just outside the front door of the store. The second suspect, dressed in all black and still wearing a mask, ran about 20 feet south on Moss Street before collapsing in the street.

Carmella Chipperfield, who lives nearby, said robberies are common at the store and she sympathizes with the store's owner.

"That poor man," she said, referring to the owner. "He's very nice and he gets robbed a lot. He's just trying to make a living and this happens."

Chipperfield said her son was visiting her and ran outside when he heard what he thought were shots, then heard sirens.

"He told me someone was walking into the store and he shot those two men who were robbing the place," Chipperfield said.

Carl Gottshall of Mount Penn said he was making a delivery on Kutztown Road about a half-block from the corner when he and his co-workers heard several shots ring out.

"We ran down and saw the guys laying in the street," Gottshall said. "Then all the cops and ambulances started arriving."

The first officers on the scene called the coroner's office after paramedics determined the two men were dead.

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Member Dan Custer emailed me this:

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This second article has less information but states twice that the apparent good guy was arrested.

From usnews.nbcnews.com: http://tinyurl.com/l3p2v6c

Customer allegedly kills two men trying to rob Pennsylvania convenience store
By Daniel Arkin, Staff Writer, NBC News
November 4, 2013

A pair of masked men who were robbing a Pennsylvania convenience store Monday were shot and killed by a customer, authorities said.

The unidentified patron was arrested after allegedly gunning down two men who had held up Krick's Korner in Reading, Penn., just after 2 p.m. Monday, Police Sgt. John Solecki told the Associated Press.

The customer is believed to have fired his weapon after entering the store and spotting the masked men. After he shot the alleged thieves, one ran but fell roughly 20 feet from the store, while the second fell in a nearby crosswalk, according to the Reading Eagle.

The robbers allegedly had stolen cigarettes, lottery tickets and some cash from the store on Ninth and Exeter Street, the Reading Eagle reported.

The alleged gunman was arrested, investigators said, adding that a police investigation was underway.

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20. New York exposed: pushing to get SAFE Act repealed
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Oh, Mayor Bloomberg? Explain this, please.

Even New York is moving away from gun control.

David Custer emailed me this:

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From whec.com: http://tinyurl.com/l6od87l

New York State Exposed: Pushing to get SAFE Act repealed
by Amanda Ciavarri
November 7, 2013

All day we have been showing you the real impact that the New York SAFE Act has on our area. The law was passed back in January.

Governor Cuomo says it gives New York the toughest gun laws in the country. He says it's about safety, others say it is unconstitutional.

I spoke to New York Revolution, an organization dedicated to protecting your rights. They are not opposed to stopping gun violence, but they say the SAFE Act isn't the way to do it.

New York Revolution and gun owners across the state say the SAFE Act is making law abiding citizens into criminals.

Fred Calcagno deals with the SAFE Act everyday as a gun seller and owner.

“It is a big fraud, that's what it is. So many people call it the unsafe act because the only people who are safer are the criminals who are out to break into your house,” said Calcagno.

And that isn't sitting well with groups like New York Revolution.

Gia Arnold is the groups Orleans County leader.

“We believe the SAFE Act is very unconstitutional and all it does is punishes law abiding, tax paying citizens. Property people have already purchased, paid taxes on, legally purchased with a background check is now illegal,” said Arnold.

The group is now pushing to get the safe act repealed, and they aren't alone. 52 counties in New York are opposing the SAFE Act, and 10 are not.

Governor Cuomo’s main reason for the SAFE Act has been safety. But, is it working?

A study from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention that looked at gun violence says gun restrictions don't necessarily prevent violence. The study suggests better policing and targeting certain areas, works.

We wanted to hear from the governor himself. Does he think the SAFE Act is working?

Back in September I began e-mailing back and forth with his office, requesting an interview, but was denied.

The day after the election, News10NBC found out Governor Cuomo would be in Binghamton, so we made the drive. And We asked him the question.

Amanda Ciavarri: How is the safe act improving safety in upstate New York?

Governor Cuomo: Well reasonable gun control, and keeping the guns out of the hands of criminals and mentally ill people is the first step, and that's what the SAFE Act is all about. Second amendment rights, yes, but not for criminals and not people who are mentally ill.

We wanted numbers, concrete evidence to show you one way or another, if the SAFE Act is working.

But, those concrete numbers are hard to come by.

The Rochester Police Department did release new crime stats last month, which show shootings, are up from this time last year. Local Assemblyman, Bill Nojay says the SAFE Act was a "knee jerk" reaction by Governor Cuomo after tragedies around the country and right in our backyard.

“If we wanted to do something to prevent West Webster, the answer is not tougher gun laws, it is tougher laws with manslaughter and murders so they stay behind bars,” said Nojay.

Right now there are about 4 or 5 lawsuits working their way through the legal system trying to get the SAFE Act deemed unconstitutional, and it could take years before a decision is made.

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21. [GA] Clerk who fired at armed robber fired from job [VIDEO]
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Circle K does the wrong thing. They seem to prefer dead, unarmed employees over living ones who can defend themselves.

EM John Wilburn emailed me this:

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From myfoxatlanta.com: http://tinyurl.com/kzq46k6

Clerk who fired at armed robber fired from job
by MYFOXATLANTA STAFF
November 7, 2013

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ga. - An assistant manager of a convenience store says he was terminated after he fired shots at an armed robber.

Johnny Jarriel Jr. has a state permit to carry a concealed weapon. He said that he often carried his pistol in his three years of working at the Circle K on West Stewart's Mill Road in Douglasville.

Jarriel said he was in the office at the Circle K on West Stewart's Mill Road on Saturday morning when armed suspect attempted to rob him. He said the man used pepper spray, demanded money and threatened to kill everyone in the store.

"Pointed it directly at my head and said, ‘Give me the money or I'm going to kill you,'" Jarriel said.

Instead of panicking, Jarriel convinced the attempted robber to follow him to the front for the money. When the gunman turned away, Jarriel reached for his pistol.

"He was turning around towards me, but before he got fully…I aimed at him this way and fired three shots," Jarriel said.

The gunman fled, apparently wounded by one of the shots.

Authorities cleared Jarriel of wrongdoing and gave him back his .45, but the assistant manager was given the pink slip from his employer.

Store officials did not comment, but Jarriel said that the separation notice given to him listed his reason for termination as "Possession/Use of a weapon on company property."

The former assistant manager said he has no regrets.

"My life is more important than the job," Jarriel said. "You can get another job, but you can't get another life."

Since his dismissal, Jarriel has received praise from people in the community. Supporters told FOX 5 that they don't understand why Jarriel was fired, especially after a clerk at that store was killed on the job four years ago.

"I believe in protecting yourself and protecting citizens. I've been really lucky in the years I've been in business," said Pat Duke. "This is too close to home."

Jarriel said he mulling his options after receiving several job offers that he's gotten since word has spread of his termination.

"I never set out to be John Wayne or Rambo," he said. "I'm just trying to live the American dream like everybody else."

Jarriel says he plans join supporters and picket the Circle K sometime next week.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office said there have been no arrests in the incident, but their investigation continues.

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22. [TX] Another reason why it's a bad idea to break into a Texas home
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Member Ellen Schmidt emailed me this:

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Evidently he was already well known to the police for other charges, including robbery...

From theblaze.com: http://tinyurl.com/b5fdvvh

ANOTHER REASON WHY IT’S A BAD IDEA TO BREAK INTO A TEXAS HOME: ARMED ELDERLY MAN KILLS HOME INTRUDER
by Jason Howerton
Feb. 20, 2013

Dallas News | myFOXdfw.com

An armed elderly man in Dallas shot and killed a suspected burglar after finding him trying to break into his Dallas home this week. However, he was also forced to defend his actions after the would-be robber’s family showed up at his home.

The homeowner, a repeat burglary victim, found 33-year-old Deyfon Pipkins attempting to climb in the house through the window and fired at least one shot at the criminal, hitting his target.

Dallas police Sgt. Calvin Johnson told KDFW-TV that the homeowner is covered by the so-called “Castle Doctrine,” which provides legal protection to gun owners in Texas and other states who are forced to use deadly force against a home intruder.

“It means they don’t actually have to retreat once someone comes in their home,” Johnson said. “You have the option of using deadly force if you believe your life is in danger.”

Once police identified the suspect as Pipkins, officers notified his family. Some of those family members showed up at the house and expressed their anger at the homeowner for not issuing a “warning.”

“He could have used a warning,” Lakesha Thompson, Pipkins’ sister-in-law, said. “He could have let him know that he did have a gun on his property and he would use it in self-defense.”

The suspect reportedly had a extensive criminal record and had served time in prison. He was previously convicted of theft, possession of a controlled substance and criminal trespassing.

Police have not charged the homeowner with any crime, but Dallas police will now refer the case to the Grand Jury to determine whether he followed the law when he killed the home intruder.

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23. Gabby Giffords, Mark Kelly launch veterans group for gun control
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Gabby and Mark reach a new low in the quest to disarm us.

Member Walter Jackson emailed me this:

From breitbart.com: http://tinyurl.com/khhs9er

GABBY GIFFORDS, MARK KELLY LAUNCH VETERANS GROUP FOR GUN CONTROL
by AWR HAWKINS
November 8, 2013

The gun control PAC of Gabby Giffords and her husband, Mark Kelly, is launching a new initiative, "Veterans for Responsible Solutions."

According to CNN, the new initiative "will support Giffords and Kelly's wider efforts by bringing to bear the experience of military veterans who've sworn to defend the Second Amendment."

Kelly, a veteran himself, said he shares the views of the veterans in the new initiative. He also spoke of all the guns he and his wife keep in their home for self-defense and target shooting.

Along with Kelly, Veterans for Responsible Solutions say they are not seeking "to repeal or limit the Second Amendment." They just want "universal background checks."

Neither Giffords, Kelly, nor Veterans for Responsible Solutions addressed the fact that universal background checks will require gun registration in order to be effective. Nor did they address Breitbart News' reports that universal background checks would not have stopped the heinous crimes of the Sandy Hook Elementary, D.C. Navy Yard, or LAX shootings.

CNN did report that the couple's push for universal background checks has proven "politically unpalatable."

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24. 'Star Trek' actor labels all gun owners 'dangerous'
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This is what happens when a robot is given a soapbox.

Member Bill Albritton emailed me this:

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From breitbart.com: http://tinyurl.com/lzcjah3

'STAR TREK' ACTOR LABELS ALL GUN OWNERS 'DANGEROUS'
by Breitbart News
November 8, 2013

Brent Spiner, best known for playing the inquisitive robot Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation, apparently doesn't think the Second Amendment matters any more.

Nor does Spiner look on gun owners with much respect.

The actor lashed out at those who legally own firearms with a series of tweets that cast aspersion on anyone who dares own a gun. Here's a sampling of his recent twitter messages on the subject of guns:

RT @tonybalogna: He just thinks all gun owners dangerous by default.--I believe anyone with a gun in their hand is dangerous. My opinion.

RT @DevonMScott: I'll second you on no more shootings. As for no more guns... --if you're not going to shoot them, why do you need them?

So...read my Twitter feed. Which one of these "good guys", and there are many, would you feel comfortable with them owning a gun? Or safe?

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25. [WA] Rush hour gunman cut down by Seattle Police
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Good job by police. Too bad the bus driver was unarmed.

Member Dan Caltain emailed me this:

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From yahoo.com: http://tinyurl.com/lpvrrq7

Rush Hour Gunman Cut Down by Seattle Police
By Alana Abramson
August 13, 2013

Seattle police fired into a rush hour bus this morning when a gunman, who had already shot the driver of another bus, twice raised his gun and pointed it at police.

The morning chaos erupted at 8:48 a.m. when the suspect entered the city bus improperly through the rear door and began pacing back and forth before he went up to the driver and shot him twice, police said.

The gunfire sent terrified passengers, some of them yelling, streaming off the bus, Police Chief Joe Pugel told a news conference this evening. Some of the passengers alerted a pair of cops nearby.

The gunman also fled the bus and the passengers pointed out the gunman. As they pursued the suspect, the shooter turned and pointed his weapon at the officers and "there was a possible clicking sound," Pugel said.

The suspect ran to a second bus and got on. As the officers approached, he raised his gun and pointed it at them, the chief said. The officers opened fire. The suspect raised his gun a second time, prompting a second barrage from the officers into the bus, Pugel said.

The officers had to make a "life-and-death" decision whether to shoot the suspect on the second bus carrying about 15 passengers, Seattle Assistant Police Chief Paul McDonagh said, according to the Associated Press.

"I believe they made the right choice," he said.

The suspect was given CPR and taken to the hospital, the AP reported.

The driver, who is 64, was shot in the cheek and the torso and was hospitalized, but his injuries are not life threatening, the police said.

"His wounds are survivable," Pugel said.

Officials did not identify the driver other than to say he has worked as a bus driver for the city since 1999.

Mayor Michael McGinn expressed sympathy for the bus driver and his family, noting that assaults from passengers were not in the job description. "They don't sign up for this," he said.

With the exception of the gunman and the driver, no one else was seriously injured, said the police.

Police have not confirmed the identity of the suspect, and they are still investigating the motive for the shooting.

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VA-ALERT is a project of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc.
(VCDL). VCDL is an all-volunteer, non-partisan grassroots organization
dedicated to defending the human rights of all Virginians. The Right to
Keep and Bear Arms is a fundamental human right.

VCDL web page: http://www.vcdl.org [http://www.vcdl.org/]
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