GUNS IN THE NEWS--July 13, 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. EXCEPTION: 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 - Please try whenever possible to provide links to web sites that do not require you to subscribe to the site to read the story. If a subscription site is the only source you can find for a story, please note that fact in your message so people can decide whether they want to follow the link to read the entire story.
5 - 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.
6 - If it's not clear from the title where the story occurred, add the city, state, or country in parentheses after the title.
7 - 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.
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9 - If you object to these guidelines (or the basic concept of the "Guns In The News" thread), do everyone else a favor and go to another thread.

[MrBenchley]

1. Reload the Assault Gun Ban

registration required

"The 1994 ban bars the manufacture and importation of 19 specific semiautomatic gun models and others with similar features. These aren't hunting weapons, unless you consider a classroom full of 7-year-olds or swing-shift workers at a factory to be prey.
The NRA loudly insists that the law is flawed because it bars some guns while allowing nearly identical weapons that have been cosmetically tweaked. That's absolutely correct. But when Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who sponsored the 1994 ban, proposed a more inclusive ban, like California's, which defines assault guns by their generic characteristics, the NRA crushed it. It also killed her effort to close a loophole in the current law that allows importation of high-capacity bullet clips. If the federal law does expire, California's assault gun ban would stay in effect. But there would be no bar against Californians buying these weapons of mass destruction in Nevada or elsewhere.
Bush justifies the war in Iraq by insisting that it has made this nation safer. But the president and his congressional allies risk making American cities and towns far more dangerous by their shameful failure to renew the assault gun ban. They have just 61 days left."

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-guns13jul13,1,3748545.story?coll=la-news-comment-editorials

[FatSlob]

10. Thank you for pointing out it was registration required.

I appreciate it.

[MrBenchley]

2. Same gun used in shooting spree (CT)

"NEW HAVEN -- Over the course of 11 minutes Monday morning, three people were shot in different parts of the Hill, and two others were wounded in Newhallville Sunday, all with the same gun.
Now, police are investigating whether one or more people are driving around the city shooting people at random.
"The same gun was used in each of the four incidents," Mayor John DeStefano Jr. confirmed at an afternoon press conference to discuss the shootings. "The second thing that is different is the shootings cannot be associated with any behavior on the part of the victims that, to the police’s experience, typically provokes this type of response."
Translation: The five people appear to be innocent victims."

http://www.middletownpress.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=12317958&BRD=1645&PAG=461&dept_id=10856&rfi=6

[MrBenchley]

3. Teen allegedly kills friend with mother's gun (TX)

"SEGUIN — When she wasn’t caring for her 14 cats and four dogs, Tianna Braham loved to dance.
Like many kids her age, the 13-year-old was enjoying her summer vacation — until Sunday, when a friend allegedly shot and killed her at a San Antonio apartment complex where she lived with her mother. The suspect, also 13, is being held on murder charges at the Bexar County Juvenile Detention Center.
San Antonio Police say the teen, daughter of Jack Braham of Seguin, died after being shot in the forehead with a gun belonging to the suspect’s mother. The boy said he took the weapon from a closet but didn’t know it was loaded.
Another teen who witnessed the shooting told police the boy placed a bullet in the gun before aiming it at his friends and pulling the trigger."

http://web.seguingazette.com/report.lasso?wcd=7115

Quick! What extremist right wing lobbying group that has racist nutcase Ted Nugent on its board publishes a gun magazine for kids?

[MrBenchley]

4. Wife's suicide means prison for gun owner (UT)

"Robert William Montgomery acknowledges he could have been a better husband to his mentally troubled wife. He learned that lesson the hard way.
    Last year, Nicole Cottam-Montgomery committed suicide with one of the guns her husband illegally owned at their Washington County home. And on Monday, a federal judge ordered Robert Montgomery to spend almost five years behind bars for being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
    U.S. District Judge Ted Stewart imposed the maximum 57 months on the Washington man, saying, "But for the fact that Mr. Montgomery chose to violate the law, his wife likely would be alive today."
Montgomery, 25, whose criminal history includes two felonies and 16 misdemeanor convictions, said he had the weapons only for sporting purposes. But Stewart said the guns, including a 9 mm handgun, are not used by hunters. "

http://166.70.44.66/2004/Jul/07132004/utah/183019.asp

[CO Liberal]

5. Lockheed Let Racism Brew, EEOC Says (MS)

Once again, guns and racists go hand in hand. - Wayne

* * * * *

Lockheed Let Racism Brew, EEOC Says

12 Black Workers Shot at Miss. Plant in '03

By Amy Joyce
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, July 13, 2004; Page E01

Lockheed Martin Corp., the Bethesda-based defense contracting giant, permitted a racially hostile work environment for black employees "to grow in intensity" at its Meridian, Miss., plant until an employee shot 14 workers -- 12 of them black -- there last summer, an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigation has found.

The July 8, 2003, shootings by Lockheed worker Doug Williams left six of the victims dead, four of whom were black. Williams killed himself at the scene.

The determination was made in a private letter dated July 6 from the EEOC's Jackson, Miss., office. It was made available by a lawyer for the victims' families, who have filed a civil suit against the company. Lockheed said in a statement that it was not responsible for the shootings, which it called "a senseless tragedy."

The letter, written by EEOC area office Director Benjamin Bradley, said that starting in December 2001, Williams created a racially hostile work environment through "hostile, threatening and demeaning comments" and threats to kill black co-workers. Lockheed's reaction to the threats was inadequate, the letter said, and the racially charged atmosphere grew in intensity until the shootings.

<more>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45118-2004Jul12.html

[MrBenchley]

9. The two groups overlap in rhetoric

and in their fondness for "taking matters into their own hands."

And of course, the gun owners groups encourage such folks...

[RoeBear]

13. Well at least the plant banned guns...

...that sure stopped the situation from happening, didn't it? Companies treat their employees like shit and don't expect one of them to blow up from time to time.
------------------------------------------------------------------
"Williams created a racially hostile work environment through "hostile, threatening and demeaning comments" and threats to kill black co-workers."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Should I have had a right to defend myself from this nut case? How could I do it without a gun?

[CO Liberal]

14. My Company Bans Guns On The Premises

And I feel very safe here at work.

[RoeBear]

17. Do you go through a...

...metal detector when you go to work?

[CO Liberal]

18. No

But I work with adults who obey the rules.

[RoeBear]

19. Actually you assume...

...that they follow the rules.

[CO Liberal]

20. Just Having a Gun In The Building.....

...is grounds for dismissal. And since this is a defense contractor where everyone has a clearance, no one would be willing to jeopardize their security clearance (and ruin their future job prospects) in this lousy economy.

[RoeBear]

21. If I worked at that Lockheed plant...

...where management allowed that racist free reign I would have certainly considered carry a gun to work to protect myself. Rule or no rule.
It's obvious management would have never thrown themselves in front of me to protect my life.

[CO Liberal]

22. Don't Forget That Until The Moment He Opened Fire....

...Doug Williams was yet another "law-abiding gun owner" that we didn't have to worry about.

[RoeBear]

28. And I would have been...

...his unarmed victim.

[CO Liberal]

6. Akron man charged in deadly shooting

More fun with guns in The Buckeye State. - Wayne

* * * * *

Akron man charged in deadly shooting

Police say 23-year-old got in fight with victim

Beacon Journal staff report

A 23-year-old Akron man has been charged in a fatal weekend shooting in a parking lot near the Wooster-Hawkins Plaza in West Akron.

Justin Ray Williams faces aggravated murder and carrying a concealed weapon charges. Akron police said they will take Williams into custody once he is released from the hospital, where he is recovering from a broken leg.

Williams was struck by a vehicle in the aftermath of the shooting, which occurred about 2:30 a.m. Sunday in the 1500 block of Plaza Boulevard.

He was listed in good condition at Akron General Medical Center on Monday. Police are investigating his injury but haven't charged anyone.

<more>

http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/9139872.htm

[CO Liberal]

7. Argument at party ends in shooting (MA)

A party just isn't a party without the smell of gunpowder.... - Wayne

* * * * *

Argument at party ends in shooting

By Katie Nelson, Globe Correspondent | July 13, 2004

An argument between two women at a birthday party in Dorchester escalated into a shooting that left a South End man dead, officials said yesterday.

The death Sunday morning of 20-year-old Cedric Phillips is one of four weekend homicides that Boston police are investigating.

Two men have been charged with murder in Phillips's death, said David Procopio, spokesman for the Suffolk District Attorney's Office, noting that police do not believe the slayings are related.

"The Boston police continue to work expertly and diligently on all of these cases," Procopio said. "We believe we are making progress."

<more>

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2004/07/13/argument_at_party_ends_in_shooting/

[MrBenchley]

8. Elmhurst suspect was to give up guns (IL)

registration required

"An Elmhurst man in custody Monday in the fatal shooting of a high school student pledged three times in the last two years to turn over to police any guns he owned, according to court records. Anson Paape, 38, arrested Sunday night, also was not entitled to own guns because his firearm owner's identification card had been revoked, according to court records from a May domestic violence case.
Paape signed a form as part of his bond that he would turn in to Lombard police any guns he owned, and he admitted he did not have an FOID card because it was revoked in June 2003, according to court records.
Lombard police said Monday that Paape never turned in any firearms.
State police would not say why Paape's firearm license was revoked. Under Illinois law, an FOID card of anyone convicted of a domestic violence crime can be revoked.
Authorities rely on people whose licenses have been revoked to turn in their guns. No agency has the authority to search a home for unlawful firearms unless that person is reported for illegally owning a gun, said State Police spokesman Master Sgt. Lincoln Hampton."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/nearnorthwest/chi-0407130221jul13,1,528900.story?coll=chi-newslocalnearnorthwest-hed

Wonder how loud the gun lobby would scream if someone proposed changing that law so the police could search?

[MrBenchley]

11. Tuesday court date in school guns case (VA)

"(Manassas-AP) -- The lunch lady whose son allegedly brought guns into a Gainesville school has a court date tomorrow.
Naomi Lewis is charged with possession of a firearm on school property.
Lewis works at the cafeteria of Bull Run Middle School. Back on June 18th, authorities say her 12-year-old son was caught inside the school with two rifles and a shotgun. Prince William County authorities say Lewis knew the guns were in her car, but never told anyone. Investigators think the boy went back and retrieved them, then carried them into the school."

http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2004/072004/07122004/1089666775

[MrBenchley]

12. Attorney: No guns allowed near rally (MD)

Just a bunch of swell gun owners having fun....

"Sharpsburg Town Attorney Charles Wagaman warned people Monday night not to bring guns within 1,000 feet of the Ku Klux Klan rally in August.
People have asked him if firearms can be carried unconcealed at the Aug. 28 rally, Wagaman said at the monthly meeting of the mayor and Town Council.
The answer is no, Wagaman said. It doesn't matter if the firearm is concealed or not, loaded or not, the answer is the same, he said.
"I have told all my men, 'Leave your guns home,'" said Gordon Young, imperial wizard for the World Knights of the Ku Klux Klan.
As Young spoke up at the meeting, a man in the back of the council room called him a name. "

http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=83462&format=html

[MrBenchley]

15. Three dead in Watertown shooting (NY)

"Police in Watertown confirmed that three people are dead following an early morning shooting in the northern New York city.
Frank Kalk said, "I think it was about five something I heard three loud bang noises, which I thought was maybe backfire. I wasn't sure what it was. I got up and looked out the window, and I didn't see anything happening so I (went back to bed). I could hear a kid crying, so then we got back up and just shortly after that, police cars were all out front." "

http://www.capitalnews9.com/content/headlines/Default.asp?ArID=83811&SecID=33

[MrBenchley]

16. Drive-by shot hits woman (CA)

"LIVERMORE -- A woman suffered a gunshot wound to the leg in a drive-by shooting in Livermore early Saturday morning, police reported.
The woman was transported to Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, where she was treated and released on Sunday, Livermore Police Detective Greg Fuller said.
Investigators said five people, two men and three women, were returning home from the Rock House Pub and Grill in Livermore just before 2 a.m. Saturday when several shots were fired at them from a passing car at the intersection of Pine and North O streets. "

http://www.trivalleyherald.com/Stories/0,1413,86~10671~2269113,00.html

[MrBenchley]

23. Man indicted in shooting deaths of two sisters (OH)

registration required

"AKRON, Ohio - A grand jury indicted a man on two counts of aggravated murder with death penalty specifications Tuesday in the shooting deaths of his estranged girlfriend and her sister.
Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh said Joel Wesley Rhoten, 33, of nearby Cuyahoga Falls, could face the death penalty if convicted in the June 11 deaths of his estranged girlfriend, Katharine Kube, 42, of Stow, and Karen Mallory, 45, of North Royalton.
The Summit County grand jury also indicted Rhoten on two counts of attempted aggravated murder for allegedly shooting at two officers who went to the scene. Neither officer was hurt."

http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/news/state/9144318.htm

[MrBenchley]

24. Duncanville police investigate fatal shooting (TX)

registration required

"Duncanville police Tuesday were investigating the fatal shooting of a man on the 1300 block of Green Hills Court.
Police received a call around 6:30 a.m. that gunshots had been heard in the area and a second call shortly thereafter that a person had been shot.
When police arrived at the scene, they found an unidentified man lying near the street with a gunshot wound to his torso, said officer Keith Bilbrey, community information administrator for the City of Duncanville.
An unidentified 22-year-old man who lived at the home where the shooting took place was taken into custody in connection with the shooting, police said. "

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/071304dnmetshooting.2f439e2ef.html

[MrBenchley]

25. Judge: State Gun Law Unconstitutional (MN)

" A Minnesota District Court Judge has ruled that the state's Conceal and Carry gun law is unconstitutional — because of a technicality in the way the law was passed.
    A lawsuit brought by several churches, and joined by the city of Minneapolis, argued that the law was an "impermissible taking of private property" under the due process clause and violated the freedom of religion under the state and federal constitutions. It further argued that the way the law was passed — as part of a larger, and unrelated, Department of Natural Resources bill — was unconstitutional.
    It was that second argument that John T. Finley ruled on Tuesday.
    Finley cited rules from the state constitution that require all laws to deal with one topic — and for that topic to be made clear in the title of the bill. The gun law was included in a bill entitled "Bill for an Act Relating to Natural Resources." "

http://www.kare11.com/news/news-article.asp?NEWS_ID=66563

[MrBenchley]

26. Man who allegedly impersonated pastor is indicted on gun charge (MN)

registration required
 
"WILLMAR, Minn. -- A federal grand jury in St. Paul indicted on a gun charge a man accused in state court of defrauding a local church of more than $8,000 while posing as an ordained preacher.
Jerry Dennis Andrews, 59, was indicted on June 22 in St. Paul on a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm, said Karen Bailey, a spokeswoman for the U.S. District Attorney's office in Minnesota.
According to the indictment, a search warrant executed by the Willmar Police Department of Andrews' Spicer residence found a .38-caliber revolver and a .22-caliber rifle.
The search warrant was conducted in relation to impersonation and fraud charges against Andrews."

http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/4873922.html

[MrBenchley]

27. Shooting suspect arraigned (MI)

"BESSEMER -- A July 22 preliminary hearing was set Monday in probate court for a 16-year-old Bessemer resident charged in the shooting assault of a 15-year-old early Saturday morning.
Michael J. Noyce was charged with intent to murder after shooting Justin Mussatti of Lead Street, Bessemer, in the face with a handgun at 3:17 a.m. Saturday.
If Noyce is convicted, he could be sentenced to life in prison if he is sentenced as an adult, said Gogebic County Probate Court Judge Joel Massie. "

http://www.ironwooddailyglobe.com/0713noyc.htm

[FeebMaster]

29. Police kill man in bed (Denver)

More senseless cop bashing.

* * * * *

http://www.denverpost.com/cda/article/print/0,1674,36%257E4330%257E2268722,00.html

<snip>

A Denver police officer likely mistook a soda can for a weapon before shooting and killing a 63-year-old man in his bed, Police Chief Gerry Whitman said Monday.

<snip>

The shooting comes weeks after the city and police announced reforms to the department's use-of-force policy in the wake of controversy surrounding police shootings.

<snip>

"I wish I had a dozen like him," Christopher said. "I'm telling you, he was a great officer. We really hated to see him go."

<snip>

Salaz said she watched police officers use a ladder to enter the apartment. They were in the apartment about a minute before she heard a shot, she said.

<snip>

[Romulus]

30. interesting coincidence. . .

Ritter, standing next to Whitman, promised a full investigation to determine whether Officer Ranjan Ford Jr. broke any laws when he fired the fatal shot. No criminal charges have been filed against a Denver police officer for an on-the-job shooting during Ritter's 11-year tenure.

Ford, 33, came to the department in 2001. He has no prior shootings and no discipline problems, police said.

Before his hiring in Denver, Ford had been an officer in Jasper, Texas. Jasper Police Chief Stanley Christopher said Ford was a model officer there.


Recall that Jasper was where James Byrd was lynched . . .