GUNS IN THE NEWS---January 22, 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. Convenience Store Clerk Shot (TX)

"A southeast Houston convenience store clerk was shot several times Wednesday afternoon, police told News2Houston.
Detectives said the shooting happened around 2:30 p.m. at Citgo in the 6800 block of Navigation.
A witness said she saw the wounded man, an employee of the store, come out, drop a phone and collapse. "

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ibsys/20040121/lo_kprc/1968380

[MrBenchley]

2. Shooting Victims Found Inside Abandoned Car (TX)

Video
"Fort Bend County investigators are trying to determine the cause of a double shooting that killed one man and left a woman in critical condition.
A farmer found the shooting victims inside a Cadillac parked in his field Wednesday around 7 a.m. on Randon-Dyer Road at Robinowitz Road near Rosenberg.
"Both victims appeared to have suffered a gunshot wound. We have not located an identity on either one of the victims at this time," Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office Lt. Jim Pokluda said.
Investigators said the female victim appears to be a teenager, and the male victim appears to be in his 40s. "

http://www.click2houston.com/news/2781861/detail.html

[MrBenchley]

3. Miami Toddler Who Shot Himself With Father's Gun Is Brain-Dead

"MIAMI -- A toddler who shot himself in the head with his father's gun is brain-dead, doctors said.
"This child's injury passed through a big vein that drains blood from the brain and is essential for life," Ragheb said. "The heart is still beating, but the brain doesn't work anymore."
Investigators had not decided Tuesday whether the charge the father, 26-year-old Travis Jenkins Sr., who had a weapons permit. "

http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/C34245/

[CO Liberal]

5. The Father Sounds A Little Brain-Dead, Too - IMHO

Investigators had not decided Tuesday whether the charge the father, 26-year-old Travis Jenkins Sr., who had a weapons permit.

As far as I'm concerned, anyone who chooses to have guns around small children carries an extra responsibility to keep those guns secure. There's no excuse for a story like this.

[slackmaster]

6. Definitely a Darwin award candidate

As far as I'm concerned, anyone who chooses to have guns around small children carries an extra responsibility to keep those guns secure.

I'd wager a case of your beverage of choice you couldn't find one pro-gun contributor here who would disagree with that statement, CO.

[MrBenchley]

7. Tragic update

"A 3-year-old boy who shot himself with his father's gun died today at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Police say the boy's father, Travis Jenkins Sr., 26, had a permit for the gun, but he could still face charges since he may not have properly secured it. "

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ibsys/20040122/lo_wplg/1969351

[CO Liberal]

8. This Story Bears Watching

Keep us posted on future developments, MrBenchley.

[slackmaster]

9. In California the CAP law is rarely enforced in cases like this

(CAP = Child Access Prevention)

The DA's usually take pity on people who have lost their own children due to their own stupidity.

[MrBenchley]

10. Will do.

[MrBenchley]

11. More details...

"The 3-year-old boy found the gun on the floor of his father's car, police said Tuesday, correcting earlier versions that it was in the center console. Travis was not strapped in a child safety seat."

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/7756293.htm

[RoeBear]

20. As I stated earlier...

...I support this person being prosecuted. Not just to punish him for his stupidity but to educate others.

I would also like to see the person responsible for this punished.
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/news/011304_NW_fatalschoolbusax.html

Or this:
http://www.thehawaiichannel.com/news/2731602/detail.html
(watch the video)

Or this monster:
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1994&dept_id=341384&newsid=10840138&PAG=461&rfi=9

[MrBenchley]

4. Man Allegedly Shoots, Kills Wife Outside Library (OH)

"A 63-year-old man is expected to be arraigned today on charges of murdering his wife, NewsChannel5 reported.
George Kallas allegedly murdered his wife, Barb, outside the Lorain Public Library.
Police said Barb, who was a library employee, was on her way into the building when her husband shot her at least twice. "

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ibsys/20040121/lo_wews/1966891

[MrBenchley]

12. Widow-suspect tie suggested (FL)

"Denise Caligiuri Calvo placed two calls to and received two calls from the cellphone of the man accused of shooting her husband in the head three weeks before the driveway slaying in Coconut Grove, according to court documents released Tuesday.
An investigative report from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is the first official suggestion of a possible direct link between Calvo and Anthony Craig Lee.
But Calvo's attorney, Joseph Rosenbaum, disputed that Tuesday night. He said the widow did not know and had never seen Lee before he allegedly shot José Calvo on Sept. 18 during a botched robbery attempt as the couple and their toddler son sat in their Mercedes outside their Crawford Avenue home.
Lee is being held on first-degree murder charges. He has pleaded not guilty. Investigators captured Lee in South Carolina nearly two months after the Calvo shooting."

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/7757278.htm

[MrBenchley]

13. Murder defendant says victim shot himself (NC)

"Becky Hillier struggled to hold back tears Wednesday as she described to a Mecklenburg jury how her boyfriend grabbed a gun from her, put it to his head and shot himself.
Hillier, accused of shooting Michael Harrison Walker in the head in July 2001, testified that she was leaving their home after a heated argument when her boyfriend grabbed her handgun.
"He said, `Let's just see if this is loaded,' " Hillier recalled. "He slid the slide and put it to his head and the gun went off. His legs buckled underneath him, and he fell on the coffee table. I said, `Oh my God, Michael.' "

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/7767255.htm

[beevul]

14. Bullets fly during home invasion

Bullets fly during home invasion
Football player offering reward for information
By James L. Rosica
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

"Professional football player Corey Fuller wants to know who shot up his Tallahassee house while trying to rob him. And he's willing to pay $10,000 for the information."

"Fuller, a former Florida State University and Rickards High standout, announced Wednesday a $10,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest, prosecution and conviction of the man who accosted him earlier in the day."

""I'd like to ask this guy one question: What in the world made you want to come up in my house like that and think you can get away with it?" said Fuller, 32, who now plays cornerback for the Baltimore Ravens."

http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/democrat/news/local/7766243.htm

[MrBenchley]

15. Road-rage incident sparks shooting (PA)

"A road rage showdown exploded on Locust Street in Center City yesterday afternoon, as blood and bullets splattered the pavement, leaving two men wounded.
David Smith, 20, a pedestrian caught in the crossfire, was grazed by a flying bullet or a piece of flying debris, police said.
It all began when two drivers cut each other off while driving on North Broad Street shortly before 4:30 p.m., police said. Contrary to initial reports, the motorists were not arguing over a parking space, police said.
They flipped each other the finger, then continued driving erratically toward Center City. Finally, one of the drivers, Tarik Bembery, 23, pulled over on Locust Street near 12th to drop off his girlfriend, a passenger in his Pontiac station wagon."

http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/news/local/7758680.htm

[MrBenchley]

16. Polk man dead after shooting (GA)

"ROCKMART - Polk County police said they still don’t know why a Pleasant Hill Road woman shot and killed her husband early Tuesday with her three young children in the house. Yvette Bernadette Henry, 37, shot her husband, Rodroy K.C. Henry, 41, at their 834 Pleasant Hill Road home just after midnight, police said. Both were originally from Jamaica. Polk County Police Chief Billy Wills said Henry was struck once in the chest with a bullet from a .22-caliber rifle. Yvette Henry remained in the Polk County Jail Tuesday night on charges of murder, three counts of aggravated assault and three counts of cruelty to children."

http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpID=725&NewsID=520675&CategoryID=3436&show=localnews&om=1

[MrBenchley]

17. Two injured in Allentown apartment shooting (PA)

"Two Allentown men were shot in the neck in an apartment near center city Allentown on Tuesday morning, city police said.
Police said 50-year-old Craig Gannett and 23-year-old Quincy Lopez were shot about 8 a.m. inside 1038 Russell St., an alley between Turner and Chew streets.
Afterward, Gannett, who lives at the Russell Street home, staggered down nearby Howard Street, leaving a trail of blood.

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-b3_5shoot-2jan21,0,636952.story?coll=all-aol-yahoo-nws-hed

[MrBenchley]

18. Senate committee advances gun show legislation (VA)

"RICHMOND, Va. -- In a surprising victory for gun control advocates, a Senate committee Wednesday narrowly advanced a bill that would require background checks on people who buy guns from unlicensed dealers at gun shows.
Current law requires federally licensed dealers to conduct background checks on buyers at gun shows. But the law does not apply to unlicensed dealers, such as gun collectors, private sellers and others "dealing on the edge of the law," said Robert Ricker, a former National Rifle Association attorney who now advocates stricter gun control laws.
The Senate Courts of Justice Committee passed Sen. Henry L. Marsh's bill, 8-7, after several Republicans who previously voted against the bill switched their votes. The bill died 11-3 last year in the same committee.
"The arguments against the bill were really sort of weak," said Marsh, D-Richmond. "

http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/virginia/dp-va--xgr-gunshows0121jan21,0,3523081.story?coll=dp-headlines-virginia

You will notice that among the "weak" arguments is the phony "only 2% of criminals" crap...and that it was decisively answered.

[MrBenchley]

19. Man shot, another held in Mission shooting (MN)

"An adult male was shot while in his vehicle shortly before 1 am Jan. 20 in Mission Township. A few minutes later a suspect was arrested.
Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Department received a report of a shooting incident in Mission Township at 12:59 am, Tuesday. The victim drove his vehicle to the Merrifield area where he was met by North Ambulance. He was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Brainerd where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries.
At 1:39 am, Michael James Simmonds, 44, was arrested for the shooting. He was located in his vehicle near the vicinity of the shooting and was arrested without incident. He is being held in the Crow Wing County Jail pending formal charges from the Crow Wing County Attorney’s Office."

http://www.pineandlakes.com/Main.asp?SectionID=23&SubSectionID=27&ArticleID=9109

[MrBenchley]

21. Man Sentenced For Teen's Shooting Death (FL)

"A Jacksonville man will be sentenced Thursday for the shooting death of a young man in 2002.
John Hogwood was convicted of killing 19-year old Ryan McCarthy, whose body was found in Chriswell Park in October 2002. He had been shot several times while he was a passenger in a car with two friends. The case went unsolved for weeks -- until police and the Justice Coalition offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of McCarthy's killer. "

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ibsys/20040122/lo_wjxt/1970051

[MrBenchley]

22. Investigators link 2 slayings in Tangerine (FL)

"ORANGE COUNTY -- Authorities on Wednesday asked for the public's help in catching a killer who shot two men last month in the Tangerine area in northwest Orange County.
The victims' bodies were found about a mile apart in the rural area.
Orange County sheriff's officials linked the deaths Wednesday, saying Bobby Lee, 57, was killed because he witnessed the fatal shooting of Adam Chisholm Felske, 23. Lee lived in Orange County; Felske lived in Sorrento in Lake County."

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orl-locmcfbriefs22012204jan22,1,7665527.story?coll=orl-news-headlines