GUNS IN THE NEWS--August 19, 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:
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[MrBenchley]

1. Police Say Utah Ex-Aide Brandished Gun

registration required
"SALT LAKE CITY - A former chief of staff to a Utah governor who recently worked to reduce the unemployment rate in Iraq was arrested after allegedly brandishing a gun at another Interstate 15 driver.
Bob Gross, 54, of Centerville, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on suspicion of using a weapon in a fight or threat Saturday night, jail records show. He was released the following day.
Gross has held several high-level government posts, including a brief spell as then-Gov. Mike Leavitt's chief of staff in 1997.
Gross returned in June from Iraq, where he helped advise L. Paul Bremer, former U.S. civilian administrator of Iraq, on how to reduce the country's unemployment rate."

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/nation/9437143.htm

[iverglas]

14. isn't anybody going to say it?

Gross returned in June from Iraq, where he helped advise L. Paul Bremer, former U.S. civilian administrator of Iraq, on how to reduce the country's unemployment rate."

And here I thought the US military and its masters had hit on the perfect solution to that little problem ...

[MrBenchley]

15. Don't start me talking

With apologies to Elvis Costello...

But there's no danger
It's a professional career
Though it could be arranged
With just a word in Mr. Churchill's ear

If you're out of luck or out of work
We could send you to Johannesburg

Oliver's army is here to stay
Oliver's army are on their way
And I would rather be anywhere else
But here today

[iverglas]

16. yes but

I meant:


When someone makes a move
Of which we don't approve
Who is it that always intervenes
U.N. and O.A.S.
They have their place, I guess
But first -- send the Marines

We'll send them all we've got
John Wayne and Randolph Scott
Remember those exciting fighting scenes
To the shores of Tripoli
But not to Mississippoli
What do we do, we send the Marines

Members of the corps
All hate the thought of war
They'd rather kill them off by peaceful means
Stop calling it aggression
We hate that expression
We only want the world to know
That we support the status quo
They love us everywhere we go
So when in doubt, send the Marines

[MrBenchley]

17. Ah, Tom Lehrer....

and very apropos....

[MrBenchley]

2. Police: Teenage Girl Shot In Chest; Body Found On Street (MD)

"BALTIMORE -- Police began searching for clues Wednesday night after a girl's body was found shot to death on a neighborhood road.
Baltimore City police received a call around 3 a.m. Wednesday about the girl's body, found in the 3100 block of Gough Street in Baltimore's Highlandtown neighborhood, WBAL-TV 11 News reporter Lowell Melser reported.
Police identified the girl as Lauren N. Zinsavage, 15, of Baltimore. She died at a local hospital."

http://www.thewbalchannel.com/news/3664493/detail.html

[MrBenchley]

3. Trauma Centers Report Uptick In Gunshot Wounds (NE)

"OMAHA, Neb. -- Two Omaha trauma centers report a spike in gunshot injuries this August.
Creighton University Medical Center and Nebraska Medical Center both report a sharp increase in people with gunshot wounds. So far this month, the total number is 11 compared with last August when the total was three.
Local law enforcement is promising a crackdown on gun violence in the Omaha metro. Public safety officials on Wednesday made a plea for peace and a call for community support. U.S. Attorney Mike Heavican and Omaha Police Chief Thomas Warren delivered the message amid a rash of violence in Omaha in recent weeks. "

http://www.theomahachannel.com/news/3665662/detail.html

[MrBenchley]

4. Brothers' dispute ends with gunshot, arrests (MI)

Another noble celebration of the Second Amendment....

"Genesee Township Police Chief Wayne Bates said the dispute began about 6:50 p.m. when one man, 18, went to the Mt. Morris restaurant where his older brother, 21, works to confront him about his relationship with a woman.
After some words, he left and returned to their home on South Street, near Brockway Avenue.
The older brother told police he later saw the 18-year-old take a rifle out of the trunk of his car. Police said the older brother smashed windows in the 18-year-old's car, demanding that he come outside for a confrontation.
The 18-year-old came to the door with the rifle and fired one shot, missing the older brother. Other family members then grabbed the gun. "

http://www.mlive.com/news/fljournal/index.ssf?/base/news-23/1092842840209460.xml

[MrBenchley]

5. We're Not The NRA

by Morna Murray
Gun manufacturers are eagerly ratcheting up their military assault weapons production lines as they count down the final days of the 10-year-old Federal Assault Weapons Ban. Congress is scheduled to be in session for a mere four days before the ban expires on September 13. Soon after, these deadly killing machines will be back
in business on the streets of America, just as our children are returning to school.
The 1994 Assault Weapons Ban came about in response to horrific mass killings: 21 killed and 19 wounded at a McDonalds in San Ysidro, Calif. (1984); six killed and 14 wounded in Palm Bay, Fla. (1987); five children killed and 29 children and one teacher wounded in Stockton, Calif. (1989); eight killed and 12 wounded in Louisville, Ky. (1989); two killed and three wounded in Langley, Va. (1993); four killed and 16 wounded in Waco, Texas (1993); and eight killed and six wounded in San Francisco, Calif. (1993).
Since 1994, the year the ban went into effect, child and teen deaths from firearms have dropped 50 percent. Overall, gun deaths have dropped nearly 25 percent. Child and teen death rates from firearms had increased every year from 1979 through 1994 and have decreased each and every year since 1994. Crime gun traces involving assault weapons have dropped 79 percent since 1994.
We have a gun lobby with unprecedented power, a gun industry that is virtually unregulated, and we are losing eight children a day to gun violence. Every three hours, a child in this country is killed by a firearm. Our children are not safe on their playgrounds, in their schools, in their communities. What will it take for all of us to wake up? What will it take for us to protect children instead of rich special interest groups?"

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/were_not_the_nra.php

Murray is co-director of Education & Youth Development at the Children's Defense Fund

[MrBenchley]

6. Man Shot, Another Arrested In Manchester Shooting (NH)

"Police said Mark Manapsal, 31, was charged with assault in the shooting of Felix Urena, 20. Both men are from Manchester.
Investigators released no other details of Wednesday evening's shooting, other than to say the two men know each other."

http://www.thewmurchannel.com/news/3665835/detail.html

[Pert_UK]

7. Shotgun Robber, 12, Avoids Jail (UK)

"A 12-year-old boy, one of the youngest armed robbers in the UK, has been spared detention because of his age.

The schoolboy burst into a store in West Bromwich with a 12-bore sawn-off shotgun demanding cash and cigarettes, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

But staff at Your Cheap Shop kept the youngster talking until police arrived.

The boy, now 13, admitted possession of a firearm with intent and attempted robbery and was sentenced to a three-year supervision order on Thursday. "

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/3579696.stm

If only the shopkeeper had been allowed to own a gun - then maybe this evil child would have been killed instead of sentenced to a curfew and rehabilitation!

:eyes:

[MrBenchley]

8. 1 BSO deputy killed, 1 wounded in Lauderdale kiddie porn raid

"FORT LAUDERDALE – One Broward Sheriff's Office deputy was killed and another wounded while working with a kiddie porn task force trying to serve a search warrant Thursday morning. A suspect is in custody, police and Fire Rescue officials said.
The shot officers were rushed to nearby North Broward Medical Center under a police escort. A section of Northeast 62nd Street and rush-hour Interstate 95 were shut down to traffic for the ambulances.
Leljedal said the Law Enforcement Against Child Harm task force was involved in a kiddie porn investigation and went to the home around 8:20 a.m. to serve the search warrant. He said it was not yet clear what happened, but he said someone in the house opened up on the law officers with a high-powered weapon.
At this point, Leljedal said he doesn't think deputies returned fire. He said other task force officers quickly caught the suspected gunman and arrested him. "

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-819twoofficersshot,0,2692133.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

[MrBenchley]

9. Man Shot, Killed By Deputy After Chase (SC)

"Lt. Ron Gahagan said deputies spotted John Joseph Harris III, who was wanted on weapons charges and drug charges, at about 3 p.m. and began pursuing him. Gahagan said Harris jumped out of his van on Palmetto Street and ran behind a home on Poplar Street near Pine Street.
Gahagan said when a deputy caught up with Harris, he pointed a gun at them.
"The man had a gun in his hand. He pointed it at one of the officers, and the officer ordered him to put the gun down. The man failed to comply, and the officer shot the individual," he said."

http://www.thecarolinachannel.com/spartanburgnewsroom/3664227/detail.html

[MrBenchley]

10. Drive-By Shooting Wounds Three Ark. Girls

"LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- A drive-by shooting wounded three girls who were playing outside with a group of friends, police said.
The girls, ages 9, 10 and 16, were in stable condition Wednesday, police spokesman Sgt. Terry Hastings said.
About five children were playing Tuesday evening when someone started shooting from a blue pickup truck carrying two men, police said. No arrests had been made Wednesday.
The youngest victim, Taylor Piggee, was struck in the neck but was able to tell officers what happened, police said. Marquachun White, 10, was struck in the top of the head; Dominique Piggee, 16, was wounded in the chest and stomach, police said. "

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-brf-girls-shot,0,918019.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines

[MrBenchley]

11. Man Kills Ex, Another Man, Turns Gun On Self (CA)

"LOS ANGELES -- A man who saw his ex-wife with another man shot and killed them before turning the gun on himself in South Los Angeles, police said Thursday.
The murder-suicide occurred about 7:30 Wednesday night at 603 W. 74th St., a Los Angeles police officer said."

http://www.nbc4.tv/news/3665678/detail.html

[MrBenchley]

12. Republican Party Splits on Gun Ban

"Moderate Republicans are confident that enough Republicans would join Democrats to vote to the ban. But Republican leaders in Congress have refused to bring the issue to vote. "It is a divisive issue within the Republican Party between the moderates and conservatives," said Rob Recklaus, spokesman for Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.), who has championed the issue. "It has to do a lot with the National Rifle Association (NRA) leadership, which has the ear of the conservative wing of the Republican Party."
Gun-control groups have made it a point to emphasize Bush's stated support for renewing the ban. "On the major issues of the day, Kerry and Bush are virtually identical in at least what they say about the gun issue," said Matt Bennett, an adviser with Americans for Gun Safety. "Bush has said he supports extending the assault-weapons ban, he said he supports closing the gun-show loophole, he said he supports cracking down on gun crime. These are the things Kerry talks about when it comes to guns."
The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence expects a backlash against Bush if he allows the ban to expire. "It will be President Bush's fault, and we'll let people know that," said Chad Ramsey, a regional director for the Brady Campaign. "He is responsible. It will have expired on his watch. If that's the case, there will be a backlash. People will be angry he let this happen, and people will probably show up at the voting booth with that in mind." "

http://www.jointogether.org/gv/news/summaries/reader/0,2061,574211,00.html

[MrBenchley]

13. Father, son plead innocent to stockpiling weapons and explosives (GA)

"Broderick John Dass, 48, and Brandon Dass, 19, entered pleas before U.S. Magistrate Judge G. R. Smith a week after they were charged in an 18-count federal indictment.
Federal agents found a cache of weapons - including machine guns, unregistered semi-automatic rifles and five grenades - inside the Dass' home July 22.
They searched the house hours after a nearby Dumpster exploded while being emptied into a garbage truck. The truck was heavily damaged, but no one was injured.
On Aug. 9, police returned to the Dass' home in response to a reported burglary. They found an AT-4 anti-tank missile under the house - causing them to evacuate a two-block area for the second time."

http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/9441961.htm

Wonder how much Zip and Pip have cost the taxpayers so far?

[MrBenchley]

18. Police arrest 2, seize meth, weapons (OR)

What sort of swell people need assault weapons?

"EAGLE POINT — Two people were arrested early Wednesday when a SWAT team from the Medford Police Department joined other officers at a Highway 62 home and seized more than two pounds of methamphetamine and several loaded assault rifles, police said.
Paul Scott Brewer, 51, of Eagle Point, appeared Wednesday in Jackson County Circuit Court on charges of manufacturing methamphetamine, delivering methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was lodged in the Jackson County Jail. Bail was set at $30,000, a jail spokeswoman said.
"We believe (Brewer) is a major methamphetamine dealer in the valley," Medford police Lt. Mike Moran said.
On Wednesday, police seized 16 firearms from Brewer’s home, Moran said. Several were loaded assault rifles, he said. "

http://www.mailtribune.com/archive/2004/0819/local/stories/08local.htm

Yeah, Bewer seems like the sort of voter we should pander to...in a pig's eye.

[MrBenchley]

19. Cops: Man made up shootings (OH)

"OXFORD TOWNSHIP -- A 23-year-old man was charged with inducing panic after calling a woman and claiming he and his father had been shot at their Mason Road home, according to an Erie County sheriff's report.
No one was found shot at the house, and deputies also charged Isaac D. Mathis with having weapons while under disability because weapons were found in the house, the report said.
Advertisement
An Erie County sheriff's dispatcher received a call from the Sandusky County Sheriff's Office Tuesday about 3 p.m., the report said. The Sandusky County authorities said they had received a telephone call from a female that a man was shot and lying in the yard of his house in the 2900 block of Mason Road in Oxford Township, the report said.
During their search, a deputy found several dried marijuana plants in the basement, the report said. Deputies also took numerous firearms, the report said. "

http://www.morningjournal.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=12729260&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=46371&rfi=6

[MrBenchley]

20. Ballston Lake man kills girlfriend, self (NY)

"BALLSTON LAKE -- A 47-year-old Ballston Lake man shot and killed his high-school sweetheart and one-time live-in girlfriend late Tuesday afternoon before taking his own life with a shot to his head.
Steven Plummer and Melissa Wessell, 45, had been together for 10 years before breaking up about two months ago, state police Capt. Frank Pace said Tuesday night.
The shootings took place outside Plummer's home at 84 Connolly Road, Pace said. Wessell suffered a wound or wounds to her body and possibly one to her head, Pace said.
He said Plummer then shot himself in the head with a different weapon. Pace wouldn't identify the firearms except to say it might have been illegal for Plummer to have them. "

http://www.saratogian.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=12718514&BRD=1169&PAG=461&dept_id=17708&rfi=6

[MrBenchley]

21. Arrests linked to Linda shootings (CA)

"Two of four men with guns arrested Tuesday in East Linda may have been intended targets in Monday's three drive-by shootings, a Yuba County Sheriff's Department official said.
The four men, all from East Linda, were found at 8:40 p.m. with a .357-caliber revolver and a 9mm semiautomatic handgun in a pickup truck parked at a North Beale Road convenience store, Undersheriff Steve Durfor said."

http://www.appeal-democrat.com/articles/2004/08/19/news/local_news/news3.txt

[MrBenchley]

22. Teen says abuse preceded shooting (IN)

"LAPORTE — Prosecutors portrayed a teenager convicted of shooting his older brother as a calculating killer, while defense attorneys described him during a sentencing hearing as a victim who had snapped after years of sexual abuse.
Evan Epley, 19, could face from 20 to 50 years in prison when he is sentenced for voluntary manslaughter on Oct. 8 in LaPorte Circuit Court. Epley was convicted in a bench trial in April for the June 17, 2002, shooting death of his brother, Justin Epley. Epley was 17 when he fatally shot his 22-year-old brother inside the family’s rural home near Rolling Prairie, about 20 miles west of South Bend. Epley then took his brother’s body to a nearby woods, where his father found it nearly two weeks later.
Judge Robert Gilmore listened Wednesday as attorneys argued what type of penalty the teenager deserved. A deputy prosecutor described the killing as an ambush and said that Epley has shown no signs of remorse. His defense attorney said that Epley shot his brother after being raped and that he had been sexually abused for years, but no one believed him."

http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/news/local/9443555.htm