GUNS IN THE NEWS--November 17, 2003

[MrBenchley]

As CO Liberal sez:
Please try to adhere to the following 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 for the Monday thread, stories should have been originally posted to the 'Net on Saturday, Sunday, or Monday. (This allows for the fact than many people are off-line over the weekend, allowing the Monday thread to be a weekend summary.) On all other days of the week, stories should have been originally within the previous 24 hours, or provide follow-up to a story that was previously posted on the J/PS board.
2 - Both pro-gun and anti-gun stories are welcome in this thread, as well as gun-related editorials, as long as they're current. Please do not post links to stories or articles 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's or Handgun Control, Inc.) are not cosidered reliable sources by many DU-ers. If at all possible, try to find a link from a more mainstream source, such as a general-circulation newspaper or magazine site.
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 accorance with DU rules, any messages that appear to be personal attacks against another DU-er will be reported to the moderators.

"The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic State itself. That, in its essence, is

[MrBenchley]

1. Richmond boy is family's third shooting death (CA)

Another family made safer by guns....

"A teenage boy died and another was in custody Sunday after an early morning shooting, officials said.
Avenne Ray, 15, of North Richmond, was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after the 2:05 a.m. shooting at the corner of Market Avenue and Giaramita Street, according to Contra Costa Sheriff's Office and Coroner's Bureau officials. Avenne suffered at least two gunshot wounds, officials said.
Avenne was the third member of his family to be fatally shot in unincorporated North Richmond in just over 10 years. His older brother, Roger Wayne Ray Sr., 32, was shot in February 1993 at the corner of Battery Street and Sanford Avenue.
In March 1999, Avenne's nephew, Roger Wayne Ray Jr., 19, known to his friends and family as "Boo," was killed in a drive-by shooting on the corner of Third Street and Grove Avenue. According to police reports, the victim had been standing with a group of men when someone fired at them from a pickup with an AK-47 rifle."

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/news/7281846.htm

[DoNotRefill]

2. Hmmm....this kid was shot over a stolen car....

and the other two family members were shot while standing on streetcorners. Anybody care to wager what their occupation was?

I'm sure the Bradys will chalk this one up to "family violence".

"Avenne and the suspect, who is 14, apparently were arguing over a stolen car that was in their possession, said sheriff's Lt. Rick Ortega."

""He was a good kid; that's why I'm shocked," the resident said."

Since when did "good kids" start stealing cars?

[CO Liberal]

3. A Good Kid Died Recently Ringing a Doorbell in Florida

Don't forget that.

[DoNotRefill]

11. How do you define a "good kid"?

Generally, "good kids" don't run around terrorizing their neighbors in the middle of the night. They don't run around vandalizing or stealing cars, either.

I'm sure that if you looked hard enough, you could find a neighbor of Jeff Dahmer, Ted Bundy, or Tim McVeigh who would swear that they were "good kids" too.

[MrBenchley]

4. Right in tune with Savage Weiner and the racist NRA

All of these minority kids who get shot are disposable "gangbangers."

Michael Savage on kids killed by guns: "They’re not kids, they’re ghetto slime... they’re the same kids that are in Sierra Leone toting AK47s."
Savage routinely refers to non-white countries as "turd world nations" and charges that "The U.S. is being taken over by the freaks, the cripples, the perverts and the mental defectives." "With the Latino population that has emerged, since they breed like rabbits, in many cases the whites will become a minority in their own nation. The white people don't breed as often for whatever reason. I guess many homosexuals are involved. That is also part of the grand plan, to push homosexuality to cut down on the white race."

[DoNotRefill]

9. there are certain actions that...

greatly increase your chances of being shot. The biggest one is criminality. If you deal drugs, there's little doubt that it decreases your life-expectancy, regardless of skin color.

BTW, do you have some kind of link that states that this kid was a minority? Or is it just your typical blind assumption? Also, do you have some kind of link identifying the race of the shooter? If they were both white, does it change your opinion?

Fifteen year old kids, regardless of their skin color, shouldn't be out dealing drugs, stealing cars, or terrorizing their neighbors. If they do decide to do this, they will have to accept the repercussions of their actions.

[jhfenton]

15. MrB chimes in right in with the racism red herring.

Can't you go a single thread without throwing out the racism red herring? No one here has made any racist comments, so get over it.

And, as DoNotRefill indicated, criminal behaviors invariably expose you to an increased risk of violence, whether from law abiding citizens defending themselves or, more likely, from your fellow criminals. I would certainly put stealing automobiles in the dangerous occupation category.

[MrBenchley]

18. Gee, fenton

I'm not the one trying to imply that this kid was disposable because he went out joy riding...

[Wcross]

27. Gee- both childrens parents thought they were disposable

"Avenne and the suspect, who is 14, apparently were arguing over a stolen car that was in their possession, said sheriff's Lt. Rick Ortega."

Yeah, simple "joy riding" huh? Stolen car, illegal firearm and children roaming the streets at 2:00am. Just your average 15 year old out having fun? BWAAAAA

[CO Liberal]

5. Brother Charged In Fatally Shooting Sister (Cincinnatti, OH)

Yet another family kept saf by guns .... NOT!! - Wayne

* * * * * * * * * *

Brother Charged In Fatally Shooting Sister

A Northside family is in absolute turmoil after police say a brother shot and killed his younger sister.

Sean Wright, 18-years old, is charged with murdering his 17-year old sister, Nicole Wright.

Although Wright is being held on a murder charge, his family told 9News on Sunday that the shooting was an accident.

Police say Nicole Wright, 17-years old, of Morrow, Ohio, was visiting her older brother at his Northside home Saturday night when the shooting took place.

<snip>

She said her son was showing his sister what he thought was an unloaded gun when it went off accidently.

<more>

http://www.wcpo.com/news/2003/local/11/16/northside_folo.html

[jhfenton]

14. If only they had followed the four rules of gun safety.

If we still taught children the basics of firearms safety, even these rare, but tragic "accidental"/negligent shootings could be avoided. Guns don't simply "go off accidently."

The fundamental NRA rules for safe gun handling

Oh, and it's Cincinnati, with one "T." We like it when people spell it correctly.

[CO Liberal]

17. Or If They Had No Gun In the house At All.....

...everyone in their family would stil be alive.

[Wcross]

28. Ok CO

So he would have had to stab his sister then- big deal. They had a gun in the home, someone died. Your statement is proof you will not be happy until all guns are out of private hands.
"Or If They Had No Gun In the house At All...."

How do you propose to make that dream a reality?

[CO Liberal]

30. How Often Does a Knife Go Off Accidentally?

I'm sorry, Wcross, but although there are millions of responsible gun owners out there, there are also the macho assholes that use guns to fill some perceived void in their lives.

[Wcross]

31. This gun didn't "just go off"

The brother is guilty of extreme negligence. A gun doesn't "just go off'any more so than a car "just runs into a tree".

[MrBenchley]

6. Young Mother Killed In Drive-By Shooting (TX)

"A woman was killed Sunday morning as she watched television in her home. Police say she was the victim of a drive-by shooting on Delgado street on the west side.
30 year old Traci Ortiz was on her couch with her husband when San Antonio police say her home was sprayed with bullets around 1:30am. Traci was hit once in the chest and died instantly.
Investigators say three young men fired about a dozen shots from a high-powered rifle, killing the young mother of two.
"It's sad they had to kill a lady, and that her kids don't have a Mom now," said neighbor Amanda Hernandez. Hernandez said the shots sounded like firecrackers. "

http://www.woai.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=F17289C2-0111-488B-8772-CB94D4163179

[CO Liberal]

7. Gun battle in downtown Burbank

What's that crap aabout an armed society being a polite society? - Wayne

* * * * * * * * * *

Gun battle in downtown Burbank

Cop and gunman killed, second officer wounded

A gunfight erupted in downtown Burbank during what began as a routine traffic stop, killing a gunman and a police officer and wounding a second officer.

A second gunman was being sought Sunday in this Los Angeles suburb.

The shootout happened about 6:30 p.m. Saturday when the officers pulled over a sports utility vehicle, said police Sgt. William Berry. He did not say what the nature of the stop was.

The men in the SUV "apparently ... came out of the vehicle firing," Berry said. "The officers were hit several times but still managed to kill one of the suspects."

<more>

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/11/16/national1155EST0468.DTL

[MrBenchley]

8. And remember

It's the contention of the corrrupt gun industry, a bunch of idiotic Republicans and some others that what this situation really needed was legalized assault weapons so the cops could have been outgunned....

[Wcross]

29. Bull scat MrBenchley

this situation really needed was legalized assault weapons so the cops could have been outgunned....

Did we read the same link? No mention of what type of weapons were used. Oh yeah, California has already banned most of the so called "assualt" weapons. Are you saying gun laws don't work or are you saying that gun laws don't apply to criminals?

[MrBenchley]

10. One dead, three critically injured during shooting outside apartment (TN)

"One man died and three suffered life-threatening injuries when they were shot outside a Donelson apartment complex Saturday night.
The shooting took place in the Ivy Wood apartment complex at 1019 Patricia Drive about 11 p.m., according to Metro police."

http://www.tennessean.com/local/archives/03/11/42608906.shtml?Element_ID=42608906

[MrBenchley]

12. Man pleads guilty to shooting at son (SD)

"RAPID CITY, S.D. - A Manderson man accused of shooting at his son during an incident in Pine Ridge has pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
Roy Dean Martinez Sr., 43, had initially faced charges of assault with intent to commit murder and assault with a dangerous weapon."

http://www.aberdeennews.com/mld/aberdeennews/news/7278204.htm

[MrBenchley]

13. 2 found shot dead in SUV, cars flee (FL)

"Tucks Road, a peaceful dead-end street west of Boynton Beach, was pitch-dark early Saturday morning when resident Chris Combs said he heard gunshots ring out.
One, maybe two, cars then sped off, other neighbors said. At the end of the street, a green Ford Explorer sat with its brake lights on.
Minutes later Palm Beach County sheriff's deputies discovered Adrian John Waldron, 20, of Greenacres, in the driver's seat of his green Ford Explorer, his foot still on the brake. Next to Waldron, sat Louis Joseph Tedesco, 18, of Palm Springs. Both men died of gunshot wounds. Officials are calling it a double homicide."

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/yahoo/sfl-cpdead16nov16,0,7367680.story?coll=sfla-newsaol-headlines

[MrBenchley]

16. Third trial begins in woman's shooting (VA)

"HAMPTON -- For the third time in seven years, a former Peninsula minister will face trial today on charges that he killed his wife when the two were newlyweds.
Frederick Smallwood Sr., 60, was last convicted of killing his wife, Debra Smith Mortimer Smallwood in 2000. But the Virginia Court of Appeals overturned the conviction in 2001 for a second time.
Debra Smallwood's body was found in an upstairs bedroom of the couple's Threechopt Road townhouse Aug. 31, 1995, with a single gunshot wound to the head.
Prosecutors argued that Smallwood shot his wife less than three months after marrying her to get $340,000 in life insurance and retirement benefits. Debra Smallwood was a popular Kecoughtan High School science teacher."

http://www.dailypress.com/news/yahoo/dp-10621sy0nov17.story

[MrBenchley]

19. Rural Hall man being held in jail has been charged in a 4th shooting (NC)

"A Rural Hall man arrested Nov. 7 while carrying a gun linked to a double homicide and at least two other shootings was charged in a fourth shooting yesterday.
The gun used to shoot Jones is the same type that Green was carrying when he was arrested last week - a .45-caliber semiautomatic pistol. The gun has been identified as the weapon used in a double homicide and two shootings of houses in which no one was hurt, according to court papers.
Green is a suspect in a double homicide, court papers say, although officials have declined to say which one. Both of this year's double homicides that remain unsolved in Forsyth County occurred on Harper Road."

http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ%2FMGArticle%2FWSJ_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031772121190

[MrBenchley]

20. Muhammad convicted in sniper trial

"VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- A jury convicted John Allen Muhammad of capital murder today, concluding he used a rifle, a beat-up car and a teenager who idolized him to kill randomly and terrorize the Washington area during last year's sniper spree.
Jurors will now decide whether the Army veteran should be sentenced to death or life in prison. The panel deliberated for about 61/2 hours.
Muhammad was convicted of two counts of capital murder. One accused him of taking part in multiple murders, the other -- the result of a post-Sept. 11 terrorism law -- alleged the killings were designed to terrorize the population. Muhammad is the first person tried under the law."

http://www.indystar.com/articles/8/093699-7498-102.html

But the GOP's fight to keep the corrupt industry that armed this lunatic from facing liability for their irresponsible actions in any courtroom goes on.

[MrBenchley]

21. Robbery Suspect Dies From Police Gunfire (TX)

"A police pursuit following an attempted robbery in Brazoria County ended in gunfire Sunday night.
Store employees told officials a white man waved a shotgun at them and demanded cash. One of the clerks gave the man an undetermined amount of cash. The man then left the store in a white extended cab Ford pickup truck.
The robber stopped his vehicle in the 5000 block of East Highway 332, ending the chase. Witnesses told News2Houston that officers returned the man's gunfire and that he was shot three times.
When News2Houston arrived on the scene, Highway 332 was closed and traffic was diverted as emergency officials responded to the scene. "

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=320&ncid=320&e=3&u=/ibsys/20031117/lo_kprc/1880678


Instead of this one...

"A Northside family is in absolute turmoil after police say a brother shot and killed his younger sister.
Sean Wright, 18-years old, is charged with murdering his 17-year old sister, Nicole Wright.
Their mother, Kelly Wright, told 9News in a phone interview that the shooting was a terrible accident.
She said her son was showing his sister what he thought was an unloaded gun when it went off accidently. "

http://www.wcpo.com/news/2003/local/11/16/northside_folo.html

[CO Liberal]

22. Uh, I Posted This One Already

See my post #5 above.......

[MrBenchley]

23. Sorry....

I'll edit it to make it a different story....thanks to the corrupt gun industry and the idiots of the GOP, there's no shortage of gun owners doing stupid, illegal and dangerous things...

[MrBenchley]

24. Man Allegedly Shoots Self After Pointing Gun At Police (PA)

"Police were called to the 2600 block of Boas Street in Penbrook, Dauphin County, for a domestic dispute late Saturday afternoon.
When they arrived, police said a man, who neighbors identified as William Leikens, allegedly pointed a gun at police before shooting himself in the head.
Leikens is expected to survive. "

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ibsys/20031117/lo_wgal/1880852

[MrBenchley]

25. Teen Killed In Wilton; Boyfriend Arrested (CA)

"What was first thought to be a suicide by a 14-year-old Wilton girl has turned into murder investigation, and the teen's boyfriend is in custody.
The girl's body was found Wednesday at a home on Green Road in the rural town of Wilton after a 16-year-old boy called 911 and told dispatchers his girlfriend shot herself in a suicide attempt.
Sheriff's deputies said that when they arrived at the home, they found the 14-year-old victim still alive. A few hours later, the girl died at an area hospital.
The 16-year-old suspect was arrested Thursday and charged with murder. "

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=289&ncid=289&e=9&u=/ibsys/20031114/lo_kcra/1876960

[MrBenchley]

26. Stop Six killer slated for execution (TX)

"The man who fatally shot the 10-year-old girl he had impregnated and killed her two elderly great-aunts during a bloody Stop Six rampage in 1991 will be put to death in February unless the courts, the governor or parole officials intervene.

Edward Lewis LaGrone, who had a history of murder and drug dealing, was convicted in a case in which he burst into an east Fort Worth home occupied by the extended family of Shakeisha Lloyd before dawn May 30, 1991, the day after Shakeisha completed the fourth grade.

According to police records and news accounts, LaGrone and as many as three companions were greeted around 5 a.m. at the front door by Dempsey Lloyd, Shakeisha's 48-year-old uncle. Lloyd was hit in the arm by a shotgun blast and begged the intruders not to kill him.

The men then opened fire on Zenobia Anderson, 83, and Caola Lloyd, 76, who was blind and bedridden with cancer. Both died of wounds to the neck and head."

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/local/7282105.htm

[beevul]

32. Off-duty NYPD officer breaks up burglary

MASSAPEQUA PARK, N.Y. (AP) _ An off-duty New York City police officer early Monday confronted two masked men, one armed with a handgun, burglarizing a two-family house where she lived.

Nassau County police said the 29-year-old female officer, who was not identified, was walking to the rear of the house when she encountered the suspects as they were fleeing the second floor apartment, above the one where she lived.

They tried to push her to the back of the house, but she pulled her service revolver and shot one of the suspects in the stomach, said police.


http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-ny--houserobbery1117nov17,0,4834974.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire

[beevul]

33. Burglar scared off by armed homeowner

A Wichita man who was awakened in his home by a burglar early today scared off the intruder with a warning shot fired from a handgun.

Wichita police spokeswoman Janet Johnson said a 40-year-old man was awakened in his home in the 8300 block of Bridlewood about 2:25 a.m.

Johnson said the man got his gun and called 911 before firing a shot that scared off the burglar.


http://www.kansas.com/mld/eagle/7284369.htm

[beevul]

34. Police: Man Wounded Would-Be Robber In Self-Defense

Police say a car-wash customer shot and injured an armed male who apparently intended to rob him at the south-side business Sunday night.

The customer, Dave Humphries (pictured, right), said he exchanged gunfire with the male at a car wash on the 4200 block of South Meridian Street. Humphries said the male had approached him with a rifle as Humphries attempted to wash his own vehicle.

"He looked at me and said, 'I'm going to shoot you,' " Humphries told RTV6's Jack Rinehart. "I dropped the (car-wash) wand and I said, 'Let me get my wallet.' And I reached inside my jacket pocket and retrieved a revolver I had.

"It kind of helped us out a little bit -- we have somebody off the street that could have done harm to somebody else," Labanauskas said. "But the victim was still extremely lucky."

The 17-year-old's mother, Kelly Army, told Rinehart she didn't blame Humphries for firing. "I would have done the same thing. I would have shot back, too," Army said.


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ibsys/20031117/lo_wrtv/1880369