GUNS IN THE NEWS-June 25, 2004

[MrBenchley]

As CO Liberal sez:
Please try to adhere to the following voluntary guidelines, in order that we can have an orderly discussion of gun-related news topics:
1 - Feel free to add any CURRENT stories to this thread by replying to this message. In order to be considered current, stories should have been originally posted on the Internet within the previous 24 hours, or provide follow-up to a story that was previously posted on the J/PS board. On Mondays (since many people do not log in to DU over the weekend), stories can be posted from Saturday, Sunday, or Monday.
2 - Both pro-gun and anti-gun stories, editorials, and press releases are welcome in this thread, as long as they're current. Please do not post links to items from a few years back that support your position.
3 - Bear in mind that any links to extremely right-wing sites (such as Newsmax, CNS, or the Washington Times) or intentionally pro-gun or pro-control sites (such as the NRA or the Brady Campaign) are not considered reliable sources by many DU-ers. If at all possible, try to find a link for your story from a more mainstream source, such as a general-circulation newspaper or magazine site. If you choose to use a slanted site, be prepared for any negative feedback you may receive.
4 - Do not change story titles. In other words, if the Oskosh Gazette's web site runs a story titled "Two Killed in Holdup", the title of your message should read "Two Killed in Holdup". Don't change it to "Gun Owner Kills Two People", or anything else that changes the meaning of the story.
5 - If it's not clear from the title where the story occurred, add the city, state, or country in parentheses after the title.
6 - The person adding a news story to the "GITN" thread is allowed (and encouraged) to comment on that story, indicating their position on the topic being discussed. These comments can appear either at the beginning or end of the post; if possible, place comments in a different typeface so readers can separate the comments from the story. Others who wish to comment on a posted story can do so by replying to that story; this allows other readers to follow the comments by scrolling through the subthread.
7 - Please direct your comments to the story, rather than attacking the person posting the story or any person responding to the story. In accordance with DU rules, any message that appears to be a personal attack against another DU-er or a violation of any other DU rule will be reported to the moderators.
8 - If you object to these guidelines, do everyone else a favor and go to another thread.

[billybob537]

1. CAPTION

he must be rich. He has a human pointer.

[MrBenchley]

3. "No, that way, George! Over there!"

[MrBenchley]

2. Oregon gun dealer is sentenced to two years in prison

"An Oregon man was sentenced to two years in prison Wednesday for selling more than 1,000 new and used guns at 50 gun shows in three states without a license.
Viktor Mascak, 65, who lives east of Pendleton, was convicted by a jury late last year of federal firearms violations in Oregon and Washington. The guns sales occurred from 1996 to 2001.
Federal authorities said Mascak sold cheap handguns, 15 of which were recovered by Oregon, Washington and Canadian police investigating crimes that included domestic disputes and a bank robbery. One of the guns traced to Mascak was found on a juvenile at a middle school.
"It is important to note that none of these handguns were put on the market with the benefit of a background check, and none of them can be traced to the actual purchasers," Assistant U.S. Attorney Fredric Weinhouse wrote in a sentencing memo to the court.
Weinhouse said Mascak's behavior "represents a significant harm to society." "

http://www.oregonlive.com/metro/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/108816498413780.xml

[PopeyeII]

4. See Benchley, the gun laws work when they're enforced.

There should be a law mandating government enforce existing laws.

What good are laws if they are not enforced?

[MrBenchley]

6. Blame the GOP and the corrupt gun lobby...

They're the one hamstringing BATF enforcement...

[MrBenchley]

5. Gun advocate convicted after sending notes to judges (CO)

"BRIGHTON, Colo. (AP) A gun activist accused of threatening two judges has been convicted of attempting to influence public officials.
Rick Stanley, 49, was arrested in September 2002 for illegally carrying a loaded gun onto public property in Thornton.
Thornton Municipal Judge Charles J. Rose convicted Stanley and sentenced him to 90 days in jail, and 17th Judicial District Judge Donald W. Marshall Jr. upheld the conviction.
Last year Stanley, a Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate in 2002, was accused of sending notes to the judges demanding that they reverse his conviction or face a trial for treason and arrest by the Mutual Defense Pact Militia, which he organizes."

ttp://news4colorado.com/colorado/CO--GunActivist-dn/resources_news_html

[PopeyeII]

7. Is that the complete link?

Dead ends on this end.

[MrBenchley]

8. Put an "h" in front of it...

It must be the only web address in the world that begins with http:

[MrBenchley]

9. Community must stand against those who turn to guns (MI)

"The accessibility of guns -- legal and illegal -- and the comfort level people have gotten with pulling triggers simply must be turned around.
Stronger gun laws can help -- and Congress should extend the assault weapons ban before it expires in September. Cracking down harder on illegal gun sales can make a difference, too.
But for real change to come the message has to get through that weapons don't settle disputes, they just increase the pain and heartache."

http://www.freep.com/voices/editorials/egun25_20040625.htm

[PopeyeII]

10. Was it disclosed what type of gun was used?

Was it confirnmed what the actual magazine capacity was?

Someone could have used three-7 round magazines? Three speed loaders in a revolver makes for 18 rounds.

I hate when the press manipulates the data and creates an agenda? Incomplete truths and the creation of an illusion.

[MrBenchley]

13. What the hell does it matter?

"I hate when the press manipulates the data and creates an agenda? "
Gee, I hate when the trigger-happy amongst us pretend that guns aren't a public menace....or that each case must be considered individually...or that an assault weapon not being used in one particular case means that we must wait for yet another shoot-um-up with an assault weapon before we can ban assault weapons.

"Incomplete truths and the creation of an illusion."
Like pretending that the VPC wants assault weapons on the market. Or that there's no difference between assautl weapons and legal guns.

[PopeyeII]

16. Two words.

Monkey poop.

[MrBenchley]

17. Yeah, that's what most RKBA posts amount to...

[PopeyeII]

19. I was keeping it simple for your sake.

nt

[MrBenchley]

20. Yeah, but it's still RKBA monkey poop....

[RoeBear]

29. Mmmmm....

...monkey poop.

[PopeyeII]

11. Was it disclosed what type of gun was used?

Was it confirnmed what the actual magazine capacity was?

Someone could have used three-7 round magazines? Three speed loaders in a revolver makes for 18 rounds.

I hate when the press manipulates the data and creates an agenda? Incomplete truths and the creation of an illusion.

[MrBenchley]

12. Gunshot wounds killed man, 31

"HACIENDA HEIGHTS -- Autopsies on two men shot to death earlier this week revealed the younger man died of multiple gunshot wounds to the head.
Richard Lee Betts Jr., 31, and his 48-year-old uncle, William Charles Betts, were found dead in their home Monday evening by a friend visiting the house on White Cloud Drive.
The cause of death for William Betts had not been released, county coroner spokesman David Campbell said Thursday. It was first reported the two men were brothers, but on Wednesday detectives referred to the victims as uncle and nephew."

http://www.sgvtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,205~12220~2233918,00.html

[PopeyeII]

15. Please post more when you get the rest of the story.

We'd all love to see closure and the final truth.

(We want to see the motive.)

[MrBenchley]

14. Man Shot Several Times In Drive-By Shooting (TX)

"A man, shot multiple times in a southeast Houston drive-by shooting Thursday night, continued to recover in a hospital Friday morning, News2Houston reported.
Police said the shooting happened on Ward and Cullen around 11:30 p.m. Thursday.
Investigators told News2Houston a car drove up beside the man and someone inside the vehicle opened fire, hitting the man three times. "

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/kmgh/20040625/lo_kprc/2263396

[MrBenchley]

18. Woman, 50, Shot, Killed in Apartment (MO)

"KANSAS CITY, MO. -- Someone shot and killed a 50-year-old woman in her Kansas City apartment Thursday night.
Police responded to a call for an ambulance in the 3400 block of East Ninth and found the woman already dead from a gunshot wound."

http://www.kctv5.com/Global/story.asp?S=1969174&nav=1PubOCdC

[MrBenchley]

21. Hempfield Man Shot In Head, Teen Son Arrested (PA)

"A teenage man is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison, accused of trying to kill his father.
Thomas Harper, 47, of Hempfield, was taken to Mercy Jeannette Hospital with an unknown head injury late Wednesday night. Doctors eventually learned that he had been shot.
State police arrested Harper's 19-year-old son, Keith, and charged him with attempted homicide and aggravated assault. "

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/wews/20040625/lo_wtae/2263686

Another family made safer by guns...

[MrBenchley]

22. Man Hurt In Central Area Shooting (WA)

"SEATTLE -- Seattle police are looking for an armed man wanted for an early morning shooting in the Central Area.
It happened near 23rd and Cherry Street just after midnight.
One person was shot in the shoulder. He's being treated at a local hospital."

http://www.kirotv.com/news/3460060/detail.html

[MrBenchley]

23. Police charge 4 in connection with shooting (PA)

"Four people face charges in connection with a drive-by shooting early Thursday at a South Franklin Township mobile home park.
Charged with carrying a firearm without a license, conspiracy to commit reckless endangerment and conspiracy to commit criminal mischief are Ronald Glenn Johnson, 20, no current address; Angel Blue Schneider, 18, of 3985 Park Ave., Prosperity; and Kristi Harmon, 19, also of 3985 Park. A fourth person, Frederick Markovitz III, 20, who is homeless, also faces similar charges. He was placed in Washington County Jail on a probation violation.
State police received a call about 2:05 a.m. to the Tarbuck Lane home of Mary Lou Ammons. She told police that her vehicle had been damaged by shots fired from a red Ford Mustang. The car, which had four occupants, fled south on Route 18, said Trooper David Watts, who is investigating the incident. "

http://www.observer-reporter.com/284430730754533.bsp

[MrBenchley]

24. Shooting Victim Dropped Off At Orange County Fire Station (FL)

"Investigators are trying to find out how a shooting victim wound up in front of an Orange County fire station Friday morning.
Deputies say the man was shot three times at the Tangelo Park subdivision located around the corner from the fire station.
Investigators say whoever dropped him off left him and a car behind and then took off on foot."

http://www.wftv.com/news/3459832/detail.html

[MrBenchley]

25. Man With Shotgun Allegedly Holds Police At Bay For Hours (OH)

"A local man was arrested early Friday after allegedly assaulting a woman and barricading himself in his home for several hours.
Walter Tucker, 48, is charged with domestic violence, inducing panic and two counts each of abduction and aggravated menacing, WLWT Eyewitness News 5 reported.
Neighbors called police after Tucker allegedly hit Gladys Gaskins in the head at about 9 p.m. and took her two children hostage at a home on Price Avenue in Price Hill, police said.
The children, ages 7 and 1, were released about an hour after the standoff began, but Tucker continued to use a shotgun to keep police officers away, WLWT reported. "

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ibsys/20040625/lo_wlwt/2263502

[NorthernSpy]

26. Police: Teen shoots, kills father after abduction (NV)

(Particularly shocking case! This Walter N. Ball seems to have been a grade-A sicko. Nevertheless, the fact that his kids succeeded in defending themselves with a gun gives the story a much better ending than we might otherwise have expected. -- Mary)


SILVER SPRINGS, Nevada (AP) -- Authorities are investigating whether a man sexually abused his three daughters after he shot his estranged wife in the face and kidnapped the teenagers at gunpoint.

One of the teens fatally shot Walter N. Ball Wednesday night as he slept in his car, about 30 miles east of Carson City, police said. He apparently had been drinking heavily.

Ball's daughters, ages 13, 16 and 19, led officers to the body, Lyon County Sheriff's Capt. Jeff Page said. He declined to reveal which of them fired the fatal shot.

"These girls were scared to death. They believed they were going to die," he said, adding that no charges were pending against them.


http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/West/06/24/family.kidnapped.ap/index.html

[MrBenchley]

27. Richmond man sentenced for road rage threat with gun

" 
A Richmond man who followed a Fort Bend County woman in her car and threatened her with a shotgun in front of her house Oct. 18, 2003 received a 2-year sentence and a $2,000 fine this week in a jury trial in the 400th District Court.
Prosecutor Anu Shah said Stephen Lee Wegner, 61, was driving in a truck behind a car with two passengers on FM 1464, when the car made a sudden stop near O'Brien Road due to traffic ahead. Wegner's indictment lists the passenger as the victim. Her sister drove the vehicle.
"The defendant started driving in a manner that started concerning the victim," she said.
The two cars continued down the road and the victim called her parents on her cell phone. The car pulled into the driveway of their residence and the two occupants exited their, vehicles and Wegner also stepped out of his vehicle.
A verbal altercation ensued, said Shah, and Wegner turned around and took a shotgun out of his vehicle and pointed it at the driver and then the passenger. The Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office showed up "within a few minutes," said Shah."

http://www.herald-coaster.com/articles/2004/06/25/news/news06.txt

[MrBenchley]

28. Trooper fatally shoots motorist on I-70 (MO)

"KINGDOM CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Florida officials believe a man who was shot to death by a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper killed his ex-girlfriend and her current boyfriend at her home in Florida.
Michael C. Melberg, 63, of Solana Beach, Calif., was shot Thursday evening on Interstate 70 after he refused orders to drop his handgun, the patrol said.
He was being sought for questioning in the shooting deaths Wednesday of his ex-girlfriend and her current boyfriend at her home near Tampa, Fla."

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/News/Missouri+State+News/B0D3D8A4C87E25CF86256EBE005EA534?OpenDocument&Headline=Trooper+fatally+shoots+motorist+on+I-70