Campaign Aims To Change Federal Gun Laws

By: WILL JONES

Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones on Monday joined relatives of gun-violence victims, including ones killed or injured in the mass shootings at Virginia Tech, in endorsing a campaign to close gaps in federal gun laws.

The Fix Gun Checks campaign was launched in February after the shootings in Tucson, Ariz., in which a gunman killed six people and wounded 13 others, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz.

The campaign, sponsored by the bipartisan coalition Mayors Against Illegal Guns, is calling for an updated national database of people who are legally prohibited from buying guns, as well as for background checks on every purchase.

Campaign spokesman Omar Samaha, whose sister, Reema, was among those killed in gunman Seung-Hui Cho's massacre at Virginia Tech in April 2007, said the measures would be a good first step. He said Cho was able to pass two background checks when he bought guns used in the rampage despite having been ordered by a judge to get mental-health treatment 16 months earlier.

"We are trying to make it at least more difficult (to buy guns), and we're not trying to create a public forum where felons, criminals and those adjudicated mentally ill are purchasing guns," Samaha said.

To reinforce its message, the campaign is traveling across the country with a billboard truck that includes a LED counter that's updated every 42 minutes to reflect the number of "Americans Murdered with Guns Since Tucson."

The tally, which is based on the national average of 34 people murdered in gun violence per day, showed 3,878 as the truck was parked along 10th Street by Richmond City Hall. Also endorsing the campaign were Del. Delores L. McQuinn, D-Richmond, and state Sens. Henry L. Marsh III, D-Richmond and A. Donald McEachin, D-Henrico.

About 20 supporters of the Virginia Citizens Defense League attended the news conference to express opposition to tightening gun laws.

The changes requested by Mayors Against Illegal Guns would do little to reduce crime and would infringe on the rights of responsible gun owners while also allowing the government to create a de facto gun registry, said Philip Van Cleave, president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League. "Criminals have two guaranteed ways to get guns. They can steal the guns. ... They can simply do a straw purchase. ... There's no way to stop that."

The gun-rights advocacy group challenges the coalition's mainstream appeal. Van Cleave said Mayors Against Illegal Guns represents less than 7 percent of the more than 8,000 mayors of cities with populations of at least 30,000. He said about 75 percent of the membership comes from six states — New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida and California.

But Lori Haas, whose daughter, Emily, was hurt in the shootings at Virginia Tech, said she doesn't understand the resistance. "If they're law-abiding citizens, then why don't they want to stop those criminals who give gun owners a bad name?"

Source; http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/local-news/2011/may/03/tdmet03-campaign-aims-to-change-federal-gun-laws-ar-1012246/

Two Arrests Made In Killing of Maryland State Trooper

Prince George's County police said Monday they have charged two men in the slaying of an off-duty Maryland state trooper outside a restaurant last week.

Deputy Chief Kevin Davis said Cyril Cornelius Williams, 27, and Anthony Anderson Milton II, 28, both of Seat Pleasant, have been charged with first-degree murder in the killing of 24-year-old Trooper Wesley Brown.

"We believe we have arrested the shooter," Davis said at a news conference with Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley and other officials. "We believe we've arrested all principal suspects."

Brown was shot early Friday while working as a security guard at an Applebee's restaurant. Brown, who wore a jacket that identified him as an officer, was talking on a phone in the parking lot at the time, state police said.

Officials did not identify which man pulled the trigger, but said they recovered a semiautomatic handgun that was used in the shooting. Davis said Williams was the original person of interest whom Brown had escorted out of the restaurant over a dispute involving an unpaid bill.

Davis said the motive of the killing was because Williams was upset. He said the men did not know Brown before the incident.

Both men have extensive criminal records. Williams was being held in Baltimore and was initially taken into custody on a parole and probation violation. Milton was being held at the county jail.

Milton's bond review is scheduled for Tuesday in Prince George's County. A court hearing has not yet been set for Williams.

Covered in blood, Brown made it back inside the restaurant and passed out, police said. Officials said that Brown was wearing a vest, but it did not stop the bullet from entering Brown's upper body and hitting his heart. He died at a hospital.

Police said tips from the public helped identify and locate the suspects. But they said they still need help in the investigation. A reward of up to $75,000 on information still being offered.

"We still need folks to come forward with information," Davis said.

State Police Superintendent Col. Terrence Sheridan said Brown was "showing great potential." He said officials told Brown's grieving family of the arrests.

"This is a bittersweet moment for us all," Sheridan said. "This was a bad day for the Maryland State Police."

O'Malley said: "There's no way to make sense of madness and cruelty."

Brown's cousin said Brown had eight older sisters and an older brother. He was recently engaged to be married.

State police said funeral services for Brown will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Jericho City of Praise in Landover followed by burial at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery in Suitland.

www.baltimoresun.com

One Man Wanted In New Jersey Gun Ring Turns Himself In

Follow up on a story from June 2~~~~

One of the Eastern Shore men who have been charged in a gun ring that stretched from the Eastern Shore to New Jersey has turned himself in, according to the Northampton County Sheriffs office. Bobby Lee Henderson, 24 (center) of Townsend, has turned himself in to authorities in Tennessee after being charged in connection with the gun ring. Henderson allegedly sold guns that Trayle Beasley, of Trenton, NJ and formerly of the Eastern Shore, transported or attempted to transport to New Jersey. Beasley is currently being held at the Mercer County, N.J., Jail with bail set at $250,000 cash and was charged with being the kingpin of the gun ring.

Currently, Jonathan Johnson, 28 of Cape Charles and Larry Nottingham, 28 of Eastville are still at large. Johnson is charged with one second-degree count of either transportation or attempted transportation of a firearm into New Jersey for unlawful sale or transfer which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison and a $150,000. Nottingham is charged with fourth-degree unlawful disposition of a firearm, which carries a maximum sentence of 18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Anyone with information of the whereabouts of Johnson or Nottingham is asked to call the Northampton County Sheriffs Office at (757)678-0458.

www.shoredailynews.com

N.J. Court Says Americans Have No Right To Buy Handguns

A New Jersey appeals court has concluded that Americans have no Second Amendment right to buy a handgun.

In a case decided last week, the superior court upheld a state law saying that nobody may possess "any handgun" without obtaining law enforcement approval and permission in advance.

That outcome might seem like something of a surprise, especially after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year in the D.C. v. Heller case that the Second Amendment guarantees "the individual right to possess and carry weapons in case of confrontation."

But New Jersey Appellate Division Judge Stephen Skillman wrote on behalf of a unanimous three-judge panel that Heller "has no impact upon the constitutionality of" the state law.

That's because, Skillman said, the Supreme Court did not strike down the District of Columbia's de facto handgun ban but instead simply ordered the city to issue a permit. In other words, while Americans may have the right in general to possess arms, the exact contours of that right have not been mapped, especially as the Second Amendment applies to state laws. (The court's majority opinion last year said: "We therefore assume that petitioners' issuance of a license will satisfy respondent's prayer for relief and do not address the licensing requirement.")

Read More HERE

2nd OPEN HOLSTER DAY RALLY

MARYLAND SHALL ISSUE

- ANNOUNCES THE -

2nd OPEN HOLSTER DAY RALLY

November 7th, 2009
10 AM to 5 PM
At Baltimore Inner Harbor’s McKeldin Square

Purpose: To have a large, completely peaceful and unarmed gathering of supporters of “Shall Issue” laws in Maryland. We will be wearing empty holsters in protest of the current “Discretionary Issue” system that sees Handgun Carry Permits issued only to those politically connected or dealing in extraordinarily large amounts of physical cash, or the occasional person who can meet the high burden of proof needed to receive one for self defense.

How to Participate: The intent is to have a nice day with the family and friends at the Inner Harbor, shopping, eating and sight seeing while wearing, in plain sight, an empty holster. You will know others participating in the protest by their open holsters. Stop by the Open Holster Day Rally information booth at McKeldin Square, located at the intersection of Light and Pratt Streets, introduce yourself and make new friends.

Basic Safety Rules: All holsters must remain empty at all times. Do not put toy guns, training guns or the like in your holster. We want to emphasize the emptiness of the holsters and our lack of protection. The holster will simply be a fashion accessory, symbolizing our vulnerability to criminals.

Long Term: The plan is to build on each Open Holster Day Rally, gathering more protesters to join us in January, during the Legislative session, to take the protest to the next “Shall Issue" bill hearing. Join us, make friends and help the movement to get Shall Issue Conceal Carry in Maryland.

PLAN TO JOIN US AND BRING YOUR FAMILY!

Check HERE for more info and updates

Man Shoots Fiancee Day Before Wedding

Police in Florida are continuing their investigation of a 62-year-old man who fatally shot his fiancée the day before the wedding after allegedly mistaking her for an intruder.

"We're still trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together," Winter Springs Police Chief Kevin Brunelle told CBS' "The Early Show" Monday.

Watch CBS News Videos Online
John Tabutt, 62, told investigators he got his gun when he thought he heard an intruder, then fired at a figure in the hallway, according to Brunelle. It was Tabutt's live-in fiancee, 62-year-old Nancy Dinsmore, whom family members say he was going to marry Saturday. Tabutt told authorities he thought she was next to him in bed the whole time.

Brunelle said police were not yet viewing Tabutt's claim about believing Dinsmore was next to him in bed as suspicious and added Tabutt has no criminal record on file.

Tabutt called the police emergency dispatcher shortly after 2:30 a.m. Friday, moaning and sobbing, the newspaper reported.

"I thought I had an intruder in the house," he told the emergency dispatcher. "Honest to God, she looks dead."

He then thought he heard her take a breath.

"Hang in there, Honey. Hang in there," he said.

As for Tabutt's demeanor when police arrived, "he was as frantic as he sounds on tape," Brunelle said.

The couple planned to wed in a small ceremony Saturday at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Winter Springs, Dinsmore's son-in-law Scott Sposato, of Vero Beach, told the Orlando Sentinel.

"They loved each other," he said. "It was quite apparent."

Winter Springs is about 15 miles north of Orlando.

VIA

Husband Shot Soccer Mom, Cops Say

LEBANON, Pa. (Oct. 9) - A soccer mom who gained notoriety for openly carrying a loaded pistol to youth sports events was fatally shot by her husband as she video-chatted with a friend, authorities said Friday.

Scott Hain used his own gun to fire several shots into his 30-year-old wife, Meleanie, while her video chat was active and perhaps as she washed dishes in their kitchen, police said. Scott Hain, 33, later killed himself in an upstairs bedroom.

Meleanie Hain's loaded pistol — with a bullet ready in the chamber — was in a backpack hanging from the front door.


Read the full story HERE