GUNS IN THE NEWS--January 30, 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 - Comment on a story by replying to that story.
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 messages that appear to be personal attacks against another DU-er or violations 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.

[MrBenchley]

1. Police: Damaged Car Leads To Critical Shooting (MI)

"The man reportedly confronted the culprits -- a 15-year-old and 20-year-old -- at Caldwell Street on Detroit's east side around 11:30 a.m. He apparently believed the two were responsible for causing damage to his car in an incident that happened about an hour earlier, according to Local 4 reports.
Shots were fired and the man was struck in the head by a bullet, according to police. "

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ibsys/20040129/lo_wdiv/1980977

[MrBenchley]

2. Man Shot Outside Strip Club (TX)

"A 19-year-old man was shot outside a Northwest Side strip club early Thursday.
Police said Alfonso Rodriguez had an argument with two men outside Sugar's at 2731 NW Loop 410 at 1:30 a.m.
After the men were asked to leave the club, Rodriguez told police he was shot by someone in a car that was leaving the club. "

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ibsys/20040129/lo_ksat/1981177

[MrBenchley]

3. Third man arrested in fatal shooting of woman, 18 (TX)

"Luis Carlos Gongora, 21, was arrested about 8 a.m. at his home in the 1500 block of Stephenson Street by members of the U.S. Marshals task force.
He was being held in the Mansfield Jail with bail set at $1 million.
Gongora, Richard Maldonado and Isaul Reyna are accused of fatally shooting Cristina Cigala in the 3600 block of Hemphill Street on Dec. 27 as the woman, her boyfriend and his cousin drove home from a club in a pickup.
Cigala, the mother of a 2-year-old girl, was rushed to her south side home in the 1300 block of West Bewick Street, where she died in front of her young brother before help could arrive."

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/local/7834072.htm

[MrBenchley]

4. Federal jury considers death penalty (FL)

The corrupt gun industry in action...

"A 35-year-old Miami gunrunner could become the first person in Florida sent to the federal death chamber after a jury convicted him Thursday on charges that he hired a hit man to murder an informant against his gunrunning father.
The shooting occurred 20 days after Texidor was arrested on a weapons charge and decided to help agents from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms build a case against Luis Gonzalez Sr.
The older Gonzalez was eventually convicted and sentenced to three years in prison for filing the serial numbers off of illegally purchased handguns that he was shipping to Honduras.
In an unusual twist, the undercover ATF agent who arrested the older Gonzalez in 2002 had arrested the younger Gonzalez in 1997 on charges of illegally possessing a machine gun and silencer."

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/7835096.htm

[MrBenchley]

5. Man Accused Of Killing Teens Pleads Not Guilty (KY)

"Police arrested Fugett early Wednesday morning, and the suspect later confessed to killing Eric Ray, 19, and Robert Robbins, 18, investigators said. The victims were found behind the Clarion Hotel downtown Sunday night. The young men, both Trinity High School graduates, each were shot several times, Gardner reported.
According to police, Fugett said the shooting happened during what he called a "transaction." A police spokesman said it's possible drugs might have been involved.
Family members of the victims said Ray and Robbins were lifelong friends, and met Fugett while working at a local retirement home. Information they provided helped police find Fugett, Gardner reported."

http://www.thelouisvillechannel.com/news/2802861/detail.html

[MrBenchley]

6. Driver, 20, kills himself after routine traffic stop (KS)

"Wichita police were trying to determine Thursday why a 20-year-old man shot himself to death after being pulled over on a routine traffic stop in northeast Wichita.
Police spokeswoman Janet Johnson said an officer pulled the man over at about 12:30 a.m. in the 4600 block of East 13th Street.
When officers approached the car, she said, the man remained inside with the window rolled up.
As an officer was trying to get the man out of the car, Johnson said, he pulled out a handgun and shot himself in the head."

http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/news/local/7832038.htm

[MrBenchley]

7. KCK Home Damaged In Random Shooting

Residents inside the house told police that they heard shots fired up and down the street. No one was hurt.
Police are investigating.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ibsys/20040130/lo_kmbc/1982287

[MrBenchley]

8. Search On For Home Invasion Robbers (CA)

"Police said six Asian men armed with rifles and handguns kicked down the door of a Modesto home at about 1:30 a.m. Thursday and robbed the family who lives there.
"They pointed (the guns) at all (the) people. They pointed at my head," said homeowner Ron Kel.
No injuries were reported, but the gunmen escaped with jewelry and cash in a stolen car, according to authorities. The car was dumped and found by police. "

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=289&ncid=289&e=2&u=/ibsys/20040130/lo_kcra/1981291

[el_gato]

9. 'Gun rackers' oppose energy bill

WASHINGTON -- Move over, soccer moms. A new political constituency of swing voters has landed on the national political radar, hoping to get the attention of a Republican administration they say is in danger of losing their loyalty. Call them the gun rack pack.

A handful of outdoor enthusiasts descended on the National Press Club on Wednesday to decry the threat accelerated gas and oil development on public lands poses to the hunting and fishing culture of the rural West. In the sea of dark suits that is Beltway couture, the seven Westerners stood apart in their Roper boots, Wrangler jeans, quilted down vests, dark felt cowboy hats and Western shirts with a circular bulge of a can of smokeless tobacco in the chest pocket, secured with a pearlescent snap button. "It's time I stood up and was counted," said Wyoming outfitter Courtney Skinner of Pinedale, whose family runs one of the largest elk hunting guide businesses in Wyoming. "We have to protect the things that keep our heritage going."

EDIT

That special interest groups would lob criticism at the GOP's environmental policies is nothing new in Washington. But what makes this particular constituency stand out is that hunters and fishers usually align politically with the Republican party in the West. For instance, Ryan Busse grew up on a ranch, is vice president of sales for a firearm manufacturer in Montana, has hunted and fished since childhood and is a lifelong Republican. But, because of the Bush administration's plan to give the energy industry broad latitude over public lands extraction, he says "millions" of diehard conservatives like himself in the West are molding a new conservative wing of the party that embraces GOP ideals but puts stronger emphasis on protecting wild lands.

"In Montana, and certainly Wyoming and Colorado, hunting and fishing isn't only something we do, it is who we are," Busse said. "Somebody who wants to destroy that, or some of these policies that want to destroy that, even as much as we want to support that person or that party on everything else, who we are is pretty intricate to us and hunting and fishing, it doesn't get any more sacred."

EDIT

http://www.sltrib.com/2004/Jan/01292004/utah/133673.asp

[MrBenchley]

10. Man Found Shot To Death In Car In N.W. Jacksonville

"A man was found shot to death in a car at 7800 New Kings Road Friday morning.
Witnesses who heard three gunshots called police, who found the man already dead in the car parked in a parking lot at the intersection of Moncrief and New Kings roads. "

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ibsys/20040130/lo_wjxt/1982576

[CO Liberal]

11. Woman Critical Following Restaurant Shooting (CO)

Another senseless shooting, about five miles from where I'm now sitting. - Wayne

* * * * *

Woman Critical Following Restaurant Shooting

Apparent Robbery Attempt Under Investigation

POSTED: 10:47 AM MST January 30, 2004
UPDATED: 12:26 PM MST January 30, 2004

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. --oman was in critical condition Friday after an apparent robbery at a downtown Colorado Springs restaurant.

Police were called to the Il Vincino Pizza and Brewery, at 11 South Tejon Street, in the heart of the city's business district, around 9:20 a.m. on a report of a shooting.

They found a woman shot inside the office of the restaurant. She was rushed to Penrose Hospital in critical condition and taken into surgery.

The woman worked at the restaurant and other employees said they say a masked man run out the back door after the shooting.

<more>

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/2806280/detail.html

[CO Liberal]

12. School cancels shooting lessons (Netherlands)

This is for all those pro-gunners who believe that gun safety and target shooting should be taught in out schools. - Wayne

* * * * *

School cancels shooting lessons

30 January 2004

AMSTERDAM — A school in Almelo has stopped a shooting course after a student complained to a newspaper in the wake of the shooting of a teacher at another school in The Hague earlier this month.

The Twente Plus College said on Friday that the lessons in the Olympic marksmanship sport would be cancelled with immediate effect, news agency Novum said.

The decision came after a student, who was not taking the course, sent an email to newspaper De Telegraaf complaining that the lessons continued after the murder of Hans van Wieren, deputy headmaster of the Terra College in The Hague on 13 January.

A Terra College student Murat D., aged 17, later surrendered to police and has reportedly admitted shooting Van Wieren. And on Friday, it was reported that two other boys and a girl had been arrested by police investigating the killing.

<more>

http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=19&story_id=4184

[CO Liberal]

13. Shooting victim shows injuries (IA)

Wonder if anyone will try to consider this a "defensive gun use". - Wayne

* * * * *

Shooting victim shows injuries

By JEFF REINITZ, Courier Staff Writer

WATERLOO --- Jimmie Walker saw flame erupt from the pistol, and he heard the shot ring out.

But at first he didn't feel the bullet tear into his body.

"I didn't think I was hit," Walker, 22, of Waterloo, told the jury. "I was numb. I was hearing shots."

Walker recounted the shooting, which left him without his right arm, as the state continued its case against accused shooter Anthony "Elmo" Cole.

Cole, 30, of Waterloo, is charged with two counts each of attempted murder, assault, willful injury and reckless use of a firearm and a single count of felon in possession of a firearm.

<more>

http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2004/01/30/news/metro/b6fa2323689bcd2386256e2b004f258c.txt

[MrBenchley]

14. I'd be willing to bet

just about every criminal apprehended in a shooting at least tries to pretend it was "self-defense."

[MrBenchley]

15. New Orleans Police Investigate Fatal Shooting

"Police said a 27-year-old man was shot and killed around midnight Friday on the 700 block of Independence Street.
When police responded to a call of gunfire in the area, officers arrived to find the victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
The man, who was not identified, died at the scene. "

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ibsys/20040130/lo_wdsu/1982663

[CO Liberal]

16. Is This Yet Another "Defensive Gun Use"???

The pro-gunners want us to believe they're so very common.......

[MrBenchley]

17. Police: Teen Shot In Face During Argument

"Police are searching for a man who allegedly shot a 17-year-old girl in the face during an argument Friday morning.
The teen was arguing with the man and his girlfriend outside a home on Baldwin Street on Detroit's east side when the man pulled out a gun, according to police.
Police say he shot the girl in the face, then ran from the scene. "

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ibsys/20040130/lo_wdiv/1983072