GUNS IN THE NEWS--October 15, 2003

[MrBenchley]

As CO Liberal sez:
1 - Feel free to add any CURRENT stories to this thread by replying to this message.
2 - Both pro-gun and anti-gun stories are welcome in this thread, as well as gun-related editorials.
3 - 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.
4 - In order to be considered current, stories should have been originally posted to the 'Net within the past 24 hours, or provide follow-up to a story that was previously posted on the J/PS board.
5 - Comment on a story by replying to that story.

[MrBenchley]

1. Man Confesses To Shooting Teens, Woman

Another family that had to have guns for "safety"....

"Local - WKMG MyCFNow.com
Man Confesses To Shooting Teens, Woman
1 hour, 47 minutes ago

Add Local - WKMG MyCFNow.com to My Yahoo!


In an exclusive interview from jail with Local 6 News, a 55-year-old man confessed to shooting his mistress and her children Tuesday after she allegedly came at him with a knife.
Wilson Cherenfant was arrested after he allegedly shot and killed two teens and injured their mother and another son. "

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ibsys/20031015/lo_wkmg/1830268

[MrBenchley]

2. Spartanburg Neighbors Say Fear Lingers

"Neighbors of a Spartanburg community that has been beset by a rash of recent home break-ins gathered Monday night at a church to talk about their fears and the steps that local law enforcement has taken to ease them.
Spartanburg Public Safety investigators said last week that they believe they have arrested three men responsible for the rash of burglaries, but the uneasiness continues among the residents, WYFF News 4's Erin Hartness reported.
"I'm frightened. Not by the burglar right now, but by the number of people that don't know anyhing about a gun that say they've got one." Public Safety Capt. Billy Norris told News 4...."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=401&ncid=401&e=5&u=/ibsys/20031014/lo_wyff/1826509

[CO Liberal]

3. Judge bows out on guns in schools (Utah)

The ongoing saga - Wayne

* * * * * * * * * *

Judge bows out on guns in schools

By Kirsten Stewart
The Salt Lake Tribune

Citing irreparable damage to the public's trust caused by challenges to his impartiality by Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff and a state senator, 3rd District Judge Robert Hilder has washed his hands of a court dispute over the legality of the University of Utah's campus gun ban.

In a recusal order filed Friday, Hilder, who in August upheld the U.'s firearms ban, denied injecting "in any way or in any degree any personal bias or preference." Under state Rules of Judicial Administration, parties or counsel who believe a judge is biased are supposed to file a sworn statement with the court. No such complaint has been filed against Hilder.

But seeing no other way to restore the public's confidence, Hilder "reluctantly" has stepped aside and asked that the case be reassigned.

"In rare instances, a meritless perception of bias is as damaging to the public's confidence in the judicial process as the presence of actual bias. This is particularly true in matters that have a high public profile," Hilder wrote. "The public statements simply cannot be countered in any way that would reasonably restore the public's confidence in this particular tribunal."

<more>

http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Oct/10152003/utah/102045.asp

[MrBenchley]

5. Yes, if you're not nuts about guns

you're biased (sane)...

"At issue for Hilder is Shurtleff's statement that Hilder and U.S. District Judge Dale Kimball, who earlier refused to rule in the university's lawsuit until a state court looked at issues of law, have "tipped their hats on how they feel about guns." "

[CO Liberal]

4. Prosecutors work to combat gun violence (Minnesota)

Whatever it takes. - Wayne

* * * * * * * * * *

Prosecutors work to combat gun violence

Pam Louwagie, Star Tribune

Published October 15, 2003 GUNS15

Weeks after two students were fatally shot in a central Minnesota high school and a five-year-old boy died from a bullet in Duluth, top prosecutors in 10 mostly outstate Minnesota counties stepped up efforts Tuesday to combat gun violence.

They vowed to work with federal prosecutors to take gun crimes to whichever court has a stiffer penalty -- state or federal.

U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger said recent gun law changes and shootings presented a "clear call" for law enforcement authorities to recommit themselves to enforcing gun laws.

"We are publicly demonstrating our commitment . . . to work together to reduce gun violence and to protect the people -- particularly the children -- of Minnesota from death and injury at the hands of guns," he said at a news conference. Prosecutors from five metro-area counties have had partnerships with the U.S. attorney's office since 2000. Most gun cases will still be prosecuted by county attorneys, officials said.

<more>

http://www.startribune.com/stories/484/4154803.html

[MrBenchley]

8. Koresh forbid the GOP legislators

do anything to help...

[CO Liberal]

6. DeKalb official begins probation on gun charge

Rules should apply to everybody - Wayne

DeKalb official begins probation on gun charge

By HENRY FARBER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

DeKalb County Commissioner Lou Walker paid a $300 fine and began 12 months' probation Tuesday after admitting he carried a handgun into Hartsfield International Airport.

An X-ray machine detected a Davis .380-caliber semi-automatic in Walker's carry-on bag Aug. 8. He told police he had forgotten the gun was there.

Walker, a former Chicago police vice detective, said a few days later that newspapers and TV stations had sensationalized the case.

However, his attorney, Chuck Driebe, said Tuesday that publicizing the story was appropriate as a deterrent "so people won't act dumb in the future."

<more>

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/dekalb/1003/15conflict.html;COXnetJSessionID=1NKp2O3CeMKMnlq13nAz2edyYf8nwJ14y5SQfeiZDuO1X2Jl8fDP!-1799484501?urac=n&urvf=10662243614470.8986847746378394

[MrBenchley]

7. Police Seek Third Man In Alleged Carjacking

"A man allegedly involved in a carjacking Monday night was still on the loose Tuesday.
Police said a 28-year-old man was pulling into his driveway in the 1500 block of Riviera in Gentilly when three young men, armed with guns, approached him and demanded his Ford Expedition.
Police said the Expedition later crashed into a building at the corner of French and Canal. Two of the suspects, a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old immediately were caught and arrested by police. "

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=378&ncid=378&e=1&u=/ibsys/20031014/lo_wdsu/1830728

Ironically, the page with this story has an ad that says "• Get A Great Deal On Your Next Car"! Just go to a gun show, get a gun (no background check required at gun shows in Louisiana), and you could be behind the wheel quickly!

[MrBenchley]

9. Suspects Sought in Shooting at Dry Cleaners

" Prince George's County police are searching for at least two suspects wanted in Tuesday morning's deadly shooting at a dry cleaners in Fort Washington.
Children at nearby Fort Washington Forest Elementary School were kept inside the building while a police aviation unit searched a wooded area close by. "

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/031015/126/5knpa.html

[MrBenchley]

10. Small Community Reels After Husband Shoots Family, Self

"The small town of Crystal City was still reeling Wednesday morning after a man shot his wife and two children before killing himself.
Police said Ricardo Balderas, 35, shot his two sons and his estranged wife while the two quarreled.
Balderas and the couple's 8-year-old son are dead. His wife, Sylvia Balderas, 27, was in serious but stable condition while her 3-year-old son remained in critical condition. Both were being treated at Wilford Hall, officials said. "

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ibsys/20031015/lo_ksat/1831726&e=1&ncid=

[MrBenchley]

11. Police Search For 14-Year-Old Accused Of Shooting Man

"Police are searching for a 14-year-old boy accused in an east side shooting.
Officials said the teen fled after allegedly shooting a 24-year-old man several times around 8 p.m. Tuesday in the vicinity of the 1900 block of Virginia. "

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ibsys/20031015/lo_ksat/1831709

Guess this teen isn't a "subcitizen" like the unarmed guy he shot clearly is...

http://www.aubreyturner.org/archives/000143.html

[MrBenchley]

12. Officer's son tells how dad was shot

"LAWRENCBURG, Ind. -- In a quiet monotone that masked his emotions, Ryan Starnes told a Dearborn County jury Tuesday how a routine traffic stop turned into a furious gunbattle that ended with his father mortally wounded.
He said that after the shooting stopped, he ran to his father, Morgan County Sheriff's Sgt. Dan Starnes.
"I thought he was OK. Then I saw he had two bullet holes in his chest," Starnes said.
The son's description of the shootout highlighted the second day of testimony in the capital murder trial of Tommy R. Pruitt, 41."


http://www.indystar.com/print/articles/7/083439-6097-009.html

[MrBenchley]

13. Deputy says he fired after man aimed gun

"A 21-year-old mentally disturbed man was fatally shot by a police marksman only after he pointed his gun directly at the officer, Marion County Sheriff's Department officials said Tuesday.
Maj. John T. Jones, one of the ranking officers present that night, said Gordon was shot shortly after he came to the balcony door of his apartment holding a pistol and began to sweep the courtyard with his gun, as if looking for a target.
The marksman, Deputy Cory Nash, told officers that he fired when he saw the barrel pointing at him.
Jones said Gordon would still be alive if he had not pointed his gun. "If he had just come with the pistol to the door, there was no way we would have shot him, no way," Jones said."

http://www.indystar.com/print/articles/8/083473-4188-009.html

How does a mentally disturbed man get his hands on a gun? Well,, thanks to the corrupt gun industry and the GOP, he could have walked into any gun show in Indiana and bought one without any background check.