GUNS IN THE NEWS--July 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. 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.
8 - 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 message that appears to be a personal attack against another DU-er or a violation of any other DU rule will be reported to the moderators.
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. Teen Dead After Gun Accidentally Discharges (LA)

"Police say a 15 year old Shreveport boy was shot and killed as he and 3 other boys played with a handgun.
It happened in the 7200 block of Mossell street in Shreveport.
No adults were in the house at the time.
Right now police are calling this an accident."

http://www.newschannel6.tv/news/default.asp?mode=shownews&id=5965

Quick! What insane far right wing lobbying group with nutcase Grover Norquist on its board publishes a gun magazine for kids?

[Bowline]

8. "No adults were in the house at the time."

Where were their parents?

[MrBenchley]

9. You mean the "responsible law abiding gun owners"

that nobody has to worry about?

[Bowline]

12. No, I mean the parents who are responsible for their children.

If they let kids get access to guns then they are not, by definition, "responsible" gun owners.

[MrBenchley]

15. Gee, what far right wing lobbying group

refers to laws manadating such things as "burglar protection acts" and urges its ignorant and feeble-minded members to agitate against them?

[iverglas]

41. and yet, and yet ...

If they let kids get access to guns then they are not, by definition, "responsible" gun owners.

THEY HAD GUNS!!

How can this be?? Aren't there supposed to be laws that (if only they were enforced, sigh) would ensure that only law-abiding gun owners get guns??

I mean, I kinda imagine that it's not only "irresponsible" but also illegal to make handguns available to children. And I mean, Benchley DID say, in the post you were responding to, "responsible law-abiding gun owners". So again: if they weren't law-abiding, how the hell did they get a gun??

Now, maybe they weren't responsible, law-abiding gun owners. Maybe they were drug dealers. But I still don't get how they got that gun, if that's the case -- how did it get from a responsible, law-abiding gun owner (which is where ALL guns start out, right?) to a drug dealer?? It always seems to me that SOMEBODY must have sold it on to somebody other than a responsible, law-abiding gun owner (been non-law-abiding), or left it lying around for somebody other than a responsible, law-abiding gun owner to get hold of it (been non-responsible).

You ever seen a crossing guard in front of a school?

Parents are responsible for their children. Why the hell should my taxes go to pay for somebody else to protect them from speeding cars on their way to school? It's the damned parents' job, and if they don't do it and the kid gets run down and squashed, then they were just irresponsible. Sure as hell isn't *my* problem.

[MrBenchley]

2. Woman Arrested After Allegedly Pointing Gun At Kids (FL)

"A woman in Leesburg, Fla., was arrested for allegedly pointing a gun at a 7-year-old girl and other children, according to police.
Police responded to a call of a woman pointing a gun at children Tuesday on Virginia Drive in Leesburg at 3:57 p.m.
When officers arrived, a witness said that Norma Williams,40, was arguing with someone in front of her home.
When the witness walked closer to Williams, she allegedly aimed the gun at the witnesses' 7-year-old daughter."

http://www.local6.com/news/3560533/detail.html

[MrBenchley]

3. Assault guns (WV)

"NO OTHER civilized nation lets people roam about with rapid-fire, mass-killing, military-style assault weapons with huge magazines. What possible purpose could these murder instruments have, except to slaughter humans, as they’re designed to do?
In 1994, after mass slayings of schoolchildren, office workers and police officers, Congress imposed a 10-year ban on 19 types of assault guns in America.
The ban will expire Sept. 13 unless Congress extends it. Right-to-bear-arms advocates are demanding that it die, so they can obtain more 75-shot weapons.
As the Sept. 13 deadline approaches, we hope this state’s members of Congress muster enough courage to defy the gun lobby and vote to continue protecting Americans from mass-murder devices."

http://wvgazette.com/section/Editorials/200407212

[Bowline]

5. Hmmm...

NO OTHER civilized nation lets people roam about with rapid-fire, mass-killing, military-style assault weapons with huge magazines

Switzerland?

Right-to-bear-arms advocates are demanding that it die, so they can obtain more 75-shot weapons.

LOL!!! "75-shot" weapons????

[MrBenchley]

11. Alas, the poor "enthusiasts"

EVERYONE is lying about their fetish objects, except for "honest folks" like John AshKKKroft and David Duke.

[Bowline]

13. What do Ashcroft and Duke have to do with this?

They're not mentioned anywhere in the article.

[MrBenchley]

16. Gee, that is a stumper...

What do the handful of political figures in favor of not renewing the AWB have to do with not renewing the AWB?

Jeepers, better call for the Hardy Boys...

[Bowline]

17. But...

"What do Ashcroft and Duke have to do with this?"

[MrBenchley]

18. Call for Nancy Drew...

[Bowline]

19. But...

"What do Ashcroft and Duke have to do with this?"

[CO Liberal]

24. The Question You're Asking Should Be.....

"Are my beliefs more in line with those of the Democratic party, or more in line with those of John Ashcroft or David Duke?"

:shrug:

[FeebMaster]

28. That's funny.

I'm always saying people should ask "Are my beliefs more in line with those of the Democratic party, or more in line with the party that passes most of the gun control?"

:shrug:

[MrBenchley]

32. Wow, and nobody pays attention to that?

Who would have guessed people ignore a statement like that?

[FeebMaster]

33. Well, the truth hurts. (nt)

[Bowline]

30. The question I ask is not which party my beliefs are more in line with...

But rather are my beliefs in line with what is right for me and my family, party affiliation be damned. Neither John Ashcroft nor David Duke represent me, my family, or my beliefs.

[MrBenchley]

31. Gee, that's strange...

I can't imagine why anybody would parrot gun rights rhetoric and not wonder what the source of that rhetoric was...

I can't imagine how anybody could argue a position without trying to figure out who else argued that position...and why...

But then I'm not the sort of person who could pretend that I'm getting that assault weapon "for my family"....

[MrBenchley]

4. Boy Dies From Gunshot (WA)

"An 11-year-old Bonner County boy died Wednesday from what appears to be an accidental shooting.
The Bonner County Sheriff's Office received a call about the shooting around 11:30 a.m. at a house on Grouse Meadow Road outside of Sandpoint. Deputies say the boy was dead upon their arrival.
Investigators with the sheriff's office spent about three hours on the scene gathering evidence. At this point, they say they believe it was an accident."

http://www.kxly.com/common/getStory.asp?id=38143

[Bowline]

7. Where were his parents? n/t

[MrBenchley]

10. Those "law-abiding responsible gun owners"

nobody has to worry about?

[Bowline]

14. No, I mean the parents who are responsible for their children.

If they let kids get access to guns then they are not, by definition, "responsible" gun owners.

[MrBenchley]

6. Man, 77, kills ex-wife, 82, then self at Sarasota nursing home (FL)

registration required
"SARASOTA, Fla. - A 77-year-old man shot his 82-year-old ex-wife to death in her room at a nursing home Wednesday, then killed himself, police said.
Police did not immediately release their identities, but said both were in "failing health."
The man had visited the woman every day, sometimes twice a day, for the four years she had been a patient at The Pines nursing home, entering past a security guard, investigators said.
"Nothing seemed out of the ordinary" on this visit, police spokesman Jay Frank told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune."

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/9210483.htm

[MrBenchley]

20. Man reports being shot while at park (CA)

"MIRA MESA – A 20-year-old gunshot victim drove himself to a Chula Vista hospital last night and later told police he had been wounded at a Mira Mesa park.
One round went through a little finger and thigh, San Diego police said. "

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20040722-9999-7m22ccrime.html

[MrBenchley]

21. Teen shot in fight at West Valley park (UT)

Another glorious celebration of the Second Amendment...

"WEST VALLEY CITY — A 16-year-old boy was shot at Hunter Park Sunday night, apparently because he called another boy's girlfriend and asked her out on a date.
      The shooting happened about 9 p.m. at the park near 6000 West and 3550 South. The victim was shot at least three times, said West Valley police Capt. Craig Black."

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595078681,00.html

[MrBenchley]

22. Boy, 15, shot to death while riding bike in Chicago Lawn

registration required
"Anthony Padron, 15, of the 3400 block of West 59th, was riding his bicycle in the 3100 block of West 60th when he was shot for unknown reason, Chicago Police said.
Two men in a gray sedan pulled up alongside Anthony about 7:45 p.m. Tuesday and shot him several times, striking him once in the neck, said Chicago Police spokesman Carlos Herrera."

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-teenshot22.html

[MrBenchley]

23. One dead, four injured in street-side shooting (FL)

registration required
"Miami police are unraveling a street-side shooting in Coconut Grove that left one man dead and four others wounded Wednesday afternoon.
The men were outside, near the corner of Grand Avenue and Hibiscus Street, when the shots were fired shortly before 5:30 p.m.
The injured men ''scattered, and ran off,'' said Detective Herminia Salas-Jacobson, a police spokeswoman. One man managed to duck inside a nearby grocery store, while another ran inside an apartment building on Williams Street. Two others jumped into a Ford Taurus and drove past U.S. 1 out of the Grove -- but soon crashed at Southwest 27th Street and 26th Avenue. The four gunshot victims were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center, their conditions unknown, Salas-Jacobson said."

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/9211316.htm

[MrBenchley]

25. One dead in shooting on Westside (IN)

"One man was killed and two others wounded in an early morning shooting on the city's Westside.
Indianapolis Police detectives said officers initially discovered two wounded persons about 4 a.m. in the 1000 block of North Centennial Street.
Some time later, police were summoned back to the scene when a neighborhood resident reported a body lying between two houses on the opposite side of the street from the wounded men."

http://www.indystar.com/articles/9/164122-8559-103.html

[MrBenchley]

26. Man held in shooting death, hammer attack (MN)

"BECIDA, Minn. -- A 49-year-old Becida man is suspected of attacking his sister with a hammer before fatally shooting his nephew.
The suspect was arrested Wednesday -- about five hours after the body of 21-year-old Dustin Ellenson of Becida was found.
Hubbard County Attorney Greg Larson said the suspect is expected to appear in court today on assault and possibly murder-related charges."

http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/4888748.html

[MrBenchley]

27. Two Injured In Separate Shootings (NC)

"The first shooting happened around 1 a.m. in east Charlotte.
One man was shot several times after an argument broke out at the El Paisano restaurant on Albemarle Road, police say.
The second shooting happened on Morton Street in west Charlotte around 3:22 a.m."

http://www.wsoctv.com/news/3563815/detail.html

[MrBenchley]

29. Overnight Shootings (MD)

"Baltimore (WJZ) It was a violent night in Baltimore after a series of shootings leaves two people dead.
Three people were shot in the Northwest section of the city.
The fatal shooting happened in the 3800 block of Sequoia Avenue.
In the eastern district, a man is ushered in to Johns Hopkins Hospital with a wound that later turns out to be fatal. "

http://wjz.com/localstories/local_story_204071557.html

[MrBenchley]

34. Three wounded in overnight shootings (CT)

"Investigators responding to numerous 911 calls before dawn Thursday discovered an 18-year-old woman outside a Vine Street apartment building suffering from a gunshot wound to the stomach.
She was taken to St. Francis Hospital, where she was listed in stable condition, police said. While police were at the hospital, an 18-year-old man who had been shot in the face arrived.
Police said he was listed in critical condition Thursday.
A third victim, a 17-year-old man shot in the back of the head, was found outside a building on Magnolia Street, not far from the crime scene, police said. "

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-ct--hartfordshootings0722jul22,0,238316.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire

[MrBenchley]

35. Officers still looking into recent rash of shootings (GA)

"Dublin Police are investigating the third shooting in Dublin in a week.
According to Dublin Investigative Lt. Greg Dominy, at about 10 p.m. Tuesday night William Doby, 21, of Ackerman Street, was driving a 1985 Lincoln Towncar down North Decatur Street when a dark colored vehicle pulled up behind him.
“It was flashing its lights trying to get him to stop,” said Dominy. “When he stopped he heard the shot and his back glass shattered.” "

http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?show=localnews&pnpID=909&NewsID=561905&CategoryID=13280&on=0

[MrBenchley]

36. Two charged in separate shootings (GA)

"A 16-year-old remains in serious condition at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta after being shot in the face Monday night but a second man is expected to recover from injuries suffered in an unrelated shooting Wednesday morning.
Henry police Lt. Ken Turner said Wednesday that Holt was shot through the roof of his mouth with a small caliber gun in a dispute over money.
Early Wednesday morning, Frank Lawler, 30, of Robin Hood Lane, Hampton, reportedly went on a shooting spree after a night of drinking and playing darts.
"He didn't know the man he was looking for had moved from that location," said Barber. "He fired four shots into the mobile home there around 2:37 a.m.""

http://www.henryherald.com/articles/2004/07/22/news/news2.txt

Another glorious celebration of the RKBA!!

[MrBenchley]

37. Jurors hear closing arguments in murder trial (SC)

"This isn't the future Chris Santiago envisioned when he moved with his girlfriend to a beach house on Hilton Head Island.
Santiago, 22, faced a jury of six men and six women Wednesday, charged with murder in the death of his girlfriend's father two years after life as Santiago knew it came to a terrible end with four shotgun blasts.
He claims he meant to kill himself that day.
But it was Joe Wisn who ended up dead outside a Firethorn Lane home."

http://www.lowcountrynow.com/stories/072204/LOCtrial.shtml

[MrBenchley]

38. Man Arrested In Drive-By Shooting Near Kids (WA)

Yippee!! Guns!!

"SNOHOMISH COUNTY - The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office has arrested a man suspected of a drive-by shooting that targeted two kids that are just 8 and 9 years old.
The boys were in front of their house in Sultan when it happened.
The suspect told police he wasn't aiming at the boys, just trying out his gun. "

http://www.komotv.com/stories/32285.htm

[MrBenchley]

39. 2 killers convicted on handgun possession (NJ)

"A jury that had convicted two men of reckless manslaughter returned Wednesday to find them guilty of carrying handguns while felons in the Jan. 1, 2003, fatal shooting.
Gregory Clark, 26, and Larry R. Henderson, 38, were convicted Tuesday of reckless manslaughter for their roles in the shooting of Rodney Harper, during a dispute over a $160 debt.
The jury returned Wednesday to the courtroom of Superior Court Judge William Cook and, in about an hour, found that the two men were barred from possession of handguns by their earlier convictions.
The supplemental convictions carry mandatory consecutive prison terms."

http://www.courierpostonline.com/news/southjersey/m072204j.htm

[MrBenchley]

40. Pair found shot to death at Fort Hood (TX)

"KILLEEN -- Two Fort Hood soldiers were found shot to death Thursday morning in what authorities were investigating as a domestic dispute.
Officers found a woman on the front porch of a residence with an apparent gunshot wound to the head. A man was then found in the parking lot of an apartment complex across the street, dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, officials said. A handgun was recovered at the scene. "

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/2695794

[MrBenchley]

42. Wife to stand trial in husband’s death (NV)

"Donna Cranfield told a detective, "I guess I just lost it," when the gun she was holding fired once, hitting her husband in the face and killing him, the officer testified Wednesday before she was ordered to stand trial for murder.
Daniel Cranfield had come home yelling for his money and his gun, Reno police Detective Jim Duncan said she told him during an interview shortly after the July 1 shooting.
But Cranfield’s lawyer, Don Evans, said she has maintained the shooting was an accident and questioned the detective and a gun expert about this particular weapon’s propensity to fire by mistake.
"Did you know that 600 people have died from accidental discharges from Ruger Blackhawks," Evans asked during Cranfield’s preliminary hearing in Reno Justice Court."

http://www.rgj.com/news/stories/html/2004/07/22/76147.php?sp1=rgj&sp2=News&sp3=Local+News&sp5=RGJ.com&sp6=news&sp7=local_news&jsmultitag=news.rgj.com/news/local

[MrBenchley]

43. Teenager Charged With Stealing Gun Used In Fatal Shooting (VA)

"Jul 22, 2004 -- A 16-year-old Ashburn teenager was charged last week with stealing a gun that was used in the shooting death of Donald Nicholas Shomaker in March.
The Loudoun Sheriff’s Office is not releasing the juvenile’s name because of his age, but stated that he was arrested July 17 for his alleged involvement in the thefts of several guns in March.
Sheomaker, 15, was shot once in the chest area on March 22 while in the basement of his grandparents’ home on Bruceton Mills Circle in Ashburn. Matthew Lathram, 17, was charged with murder in the case, but has since tendered a plea agreement to involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death and six other charges that are connected to drug dealing and receiving stolen property. Cocaine and large amounts of psychedlic mushrooms and marijauna were found in the home. Lathram is to plead guilty to the charges Aug. 5 "

http://www.leesburg2day.com/current.cfm?catid=6&newsid=9248