GUNS IN THE NEWS - April 28, 2004

[CO Liberal]

Please try to adhere to the following voluntary guidelines, in order that we can have an orderly discussion of gun-related news topics:

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[CO Liberal]

1. Police discover meth lab, guns (OR)

Hmmm, guns and meth. Do you think they may have also been involved in the "science" of reloading? - Wayne

* * * * *

Police discover meth lab, guns

Tigard police arrest two men after spotting guns inside a vehicle the men were trying to fix

Wednesday, April 28, 2004

TIGARD -- During a routine patrol early Tuesday, Tigard police spotted two men working on an older sport utility vehicle parked at the Quail Court Townhouses and stopped to have a closer look.

Police arrested the men on suspicion of possessing guns and drugs, then seized a suspected drug lab.

Jim Wolf, Tigard police spokesman, said police stopped at 8255 S.W. Durham Road around 1 a.m. to determine whether the two men were authorized to work on a vehicle in a parking lot. They spotted guns inside the vehicle and called for backup.

Jack Earl Angus, 39, of Troutdale and Christopher George Steinbichler, 26, who has no permanent address, were arrested Tuesday.

<more>

http://www.oregonlive.com/metrosouthwest/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/metro_southwest_news/1083153678240510.xml

[Something Blue]

8. No more than

I'd think they were involved in the heartbreak of psoriasis. Got a point?

[CO Liberal]

2. Marijuana, guns seized in Sanford (ME)

I guess this goes along with the pro-gunners who are always calling for the lealization of pot. - Wayne

* * * * *

Marijuana, guns seized in Sanford

Staff report

Copyright © 2004 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

SANFORD — Authorities said Tuesday they seized more than 70 pounds of marijuana and 10 guns from a home on Jagger Mill Road.

The seizures occurred after police went to the house Monday to serve court papers to the parents of a juvenile, said Maj. Gordon Littlefield of the Sanford Police Department.

The officers made observations that led them to seek a search warrant, Littlefield said. Later in the evening, police and agents from the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency seized the marijuana, along with four semi-automatic handguns, three rifles, two assault rifles and a shotgun, he said.

<more>

http://www.pressherald.com/news/local/040428drugs.shtml

[enfield collector]

9. they'd better hope those assualt rifles are on the NFA,

or their going to jail for a long time. Being "select fire" they are machine guns. or is this just an example of a journo confusing "scary looking semi" with machine gun?

[slackmaster]

13. Consider this a preview of what gun prohibition would bring

I guess this goes along with the pro-gunners who are always calling for the lealization of pot.

Are you talkin' to ME?

Widespread contempt for unjust laws, organized crime, a public health menace from impure and uncontrolled production of (fill in your favorite vice here).

One night recently The History Channel ran an excellent trio of documentaries about the USA's failed experiment with alcohol prohibition. I found the one titled Moonshiners, Bootleggers, and Rum Runners especially entertaining and informative. I was struck by the similarity of the language and theatrical methods used by Carrie Nation and the anti-booze zealots with those employed by some of our anti-gun preachers:

- Distillers were referred to as "the corrupt liquor industry". :eyes:

(If you thought the pre-Prohibition legal liquor industry was corrupt, how did you like the black market enterprise that replaced it?)

- Empassioned orators spoke of "poisoning another generation", kind of like http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=118&topic_id=54340&mesg_id=54495&page=

- Kegs and bottles were smashed with great flair; beer and whiskey poured in the streets like the river of blood that should be hitting downtown Toledo any minute now,

- "You don't need liquor..." arguments,

- Appeals to morality,

And on and on and on.

[CO Liberal]

3. Drinking, guns don't mix for police (WI)

Maybe the cops should just stick to donuts. - Wayne

* * * * *

Drinking, guns don't mix for police

Combination violates department rules

Off-duty Milwaukee police officers can carry guns any time, anywhere in the city, but not if they have been drinking alcohol, a spokesman said Tuesday.

Officer Brandon S. Erdmann, 23, was carrying his personal handgun when he was arrested Saturday morning after allegedly pointing the weapon at a bouncer outside Brew City Barbeque, a popular N. Water St. bar and restaurant, according to the arrest report.

"Erdmann displayed his .40-caliber, off-duty handgun, a semi-auto Glock, and pointed it at a security officer who had previously asked him to leave the premises," the report says.

The bouncer, Jeff Jackson, 32, said he saw Erdmann drinking beer in the club prior to the alleged gun incident at 2 a.m. Saturday, according to the report.

<more>

http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/apr04/225449.asp

[CO Liberal]

4. Guns in Homes Risk More Child Shooting Tragedies (MD)

I know that many pro-gunners despise JoinTogether.org. But I'd like to see anyone dispute any of the information in this press release. - Wayne

* * * * *

CeaseFire Maryland: Guns in Homes Risk More Child Shooting Tragedies

4/27/2004

Press Release
CeaseFire Maryland
3000 Chestnut Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21211
www.ceasefiremd.org

Four-year-old Randallstown child dies from gunshot wound to head

Baltimore, MD - CeaseFire Maryland called on parents to remove guns from their homes following the tragic shooting of a 4-year-old Randallstown boy yesterday evening. The child, Miles Patrick Smith, Jr., was pronounced dead at Johns Hopkins Hospital's pediatric intensive care unit. The circumstances of the shooting are unclear but one thing is perfectly clear - there was a loaded handgun in the house within easy reach of young Miles.

Leah Barrett, Executive Director, said: "CeaseFire Maryland is saddened and deeply troubled by yet another shooting death of a very young child. When will people realize that it is time for parents to remove guns from their homes to prevent more tragedies such as this? Maryland has a child access prevention law that requires adults to keep guns away from children. It would appear that this law has been violated with tragic consequences."

"The gun lobby has worked hard to convince Americans that they need guns in their homes for protection. As a result, too many parents have guns in their homes because they believe they will be safer. The reality is they're putting their families, their friends and their neighbors at greater risk of gun violence," said Matt Fenton, President of CeaseFire Maryland.

Leah Barrett continued: "The sad fact is no matter how much care parents take to store their guns, it is impossible to store them so that even small children, who are notoriously curious and determined, cannot get their hands on them. So, until firearms manufacturers improve their products to prevent unauthorized use, the only truly safe solution is to keep guns out of homes."

<more>

http://www.jointogether.org/gv/news/alerts/reader/0,2061,570696,00.html

[RoeBear]

11. Get your apples and oranges ready...

...if it had a been a child who suffocated in the trunk of a car, like happens every summer, would we be calling for the end of private car ownership? Of course not! Well then why call for it in this tragic case?

And I'll be glad to dispute this whopper:

"Leah Barrett continued: "The sad fact is no matter how much care parents take to store their guns, it is impossible to store them so that even small children, who are notoriously curious and determined, cannot get their hands on them. So, until firearms manufacturers improve their products to prevent unauthorized use, the only truly safe solution is to keep guns out of homes."

Impossible!?! IMPOSSIBLE?!? Who is it that is teaching small children how to break into gun safes?

[CO Liberal]

5. Former SOILENT GREEN Bassist Killed In Apparent Murder-Suicide

Yet another murder-suicide, made possible by a gun. - Wayne

* * * * *

Former SOILENT GREEN Bassist Killed In Apparent Murder-Suicide - Apr. 27, 2004

Former SOILENT GREEN bassist Scott Williams was killed Monday night (April 26) in an apparent murder-suicide.

Williams and his roommate were fighting just before midnight at a home they shared in the 600 block of Bannerwood Drive in Gretna, Louisiana, according to investigator sources cited by TheNewOrleansChannel.com.

Neighbors heard gunshots and called police. When officers arrived, they found one man with an apparent gunshot wound to the head and the other with an apparent gunshot wound to the chest. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene.

<more>

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=21841

[CO Liberal]

6. Officials confirm double murder-suicide (VA)

Just think - if the authorities had been able to disarm this guy, a few people might be alive today. - Wayne

Officials confirm double murder-suicide

By Brad Zinn/staff
[e-mail]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUARTS DRAFT -- The Augusta County Sheriff's Office said Monday that 18-year-old Chadwick Aaron Woodson killed his ex-girlfriend and her roommate before turning the gun on himself. A week ago, he tried to take his own life during a domestic dispute, court records indicate.

The bodies of Woodson, ex-girlfriend Angela Dawn Lucas, 19, and Jennifer Marie Bassett, 23, were found Sunday morning inside a mobile home at 1588 Stuarts Draft Highway. All had been shot with a small caliber handgun. An 8-month-old boy found in the home was unharmed. Woodson and Lucas were the child's parents, officials said.

A search warrant filed with the Augusta County Circuit Court states that Woodson's father arrived at the mobile home late Sunday morning around 10:30 and found the infant unattended in a crib. He then discovered the body of his son and the two women, the search warrant said, and took the baby out of the home before calling the Augusta County Emergency Operations Center.

Woodson's death ended a tumultuous eight months, beginning with an arrest for felony eluding in September just 12 days after the birth of his son. In November, in an unrelated arrest, Woodson was charged with misdemeanor assault and battery against Lucas and a personal protective order was issued, according to records provided by the Augusta County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. On Dec. 19, he was found guilty but the assault charge was taken under advisement for a two-year period. Woodson was ordered to undergo anger management training.

<more>

http://www.newsleader.com/news/stories/20040427/localnews/304752.html

[CO Liberal]

7. Franklin Man faces murder charge (NJ)

Franklin Man faces murder charge

Robbery suspect shot, killed

By TIM ZATZARINY JR. and GENE VERNACCHIO
Gannett News Service

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FRANKLIN -- Burglars broke into Robert J. Clark Jr.'s home a year ago. So, when he saw two men trying to steal his all-terrain vehicle from his shed Monday night, he grabbed his gun.

When it was all over, Clark, 33, had shot and killed William Hamilton, 39, of Clementon as he and another man broke into the backyard shed at Clark's Grant Avenue home, authorities said.

Prosecutors believed Clark took justice into his own hands and charged him with murder. He faces the possibility of life in prison if convicted.

New Jersey law does not allow the use of deadly force to protect personal property. Deadly force can only be used in self-defense, defense of another person or protection one's home.

<more>

http://www.thedailyjournal.com/news/stories/20040428/localnews/308156.html

[Something Blue]

10. Looks like someone

forgot the "shovel and shut up" part of the lecture...

Edited 'cuz I can't type for shit... :)

[RoeBear]

12. This would be like one of those Texas statistics...

...that someone trotted out the other day.

Quoting from the article:

"A neighbor who tried to calm Clark moments after the shooting said Clark thought he saw the suspects point a gun at him."

Contemporaneous hear-say evidence that the man had a reason to use deadly force. What did it get him? Arrested. Will we ever see the outcome?
I doubt it.