United States
Boss of Chicago Schools Counts 'Whole Classrooms' Dying by Gunshot
Chicago Sun-Times
8 Oct 2008
His voice quaking with emotion, Chicago Schools CEO Arne Duncan refused Tuesday to accept an anti-gun violence award, saying "I don't feel I've earned it" with student deaths on track to double this school year. Duncan left the Abraham Lincoln Award from the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence on a sidetable, but walked away from the lecturn at the Ritz Carlton to a standing ovation from an obviously moved audience. But first, Duncan choked back tears as he recited this year's grim tally: eight Chicago Public School children killed since Sept. 2 -- the equivalent of two a week. "At this rate we could lose 60 or 80 children this year,"... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Nations
Global Gun Trade 'Out of Control,' Fueling Conflict, Poverty, Says Oxfam
Press Association (UK)
8 Oct 2008
The arms trade is "out of control" and is destroying global attempts to tackle poverty, according to a new report. International aid agency Oxfam said many developing countries will not reach their fundamental targets for human advancement because of "irresponsible" arms dealing. Its report, Shooting Down The Millennium Development Goals, said weapons trading had damaging consequences far beyond the immediate effects of stoking conflict. The charity said some governments increase their national debts by buying arms at high prices, reducing the amount of money available to fight poverty. It also said a lack of transparency in arms transfers can... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Moderate Pro-gun Hunters' Lobby Group Tours US Democrats for Obama
Zanesville Times Recorder (Ohio)
8 Oct 2008
COSHOCTON -- American Hunters and Shooters Association President and former NFL star Ray Schoenke visited Coshocton's Democratic Headquarters on Tuesday. "We are very excited to have him and glad to see sportsmen supporting Obama," said Teresa Thorson, a campaign manager for the Coshocton County Democratic party. Schoenke is in the middle of a two-day tour of Ohio and was following his Coshocton visit with an evening trip to Zanesville. Over a dozen people listened to him speak in Coshocton, including a strong showing by the United Mine Workers Association. "It's the first time in my memory someone has come down and presented the other side.... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
New Orleans Police Return Stolen, Abandoned Guns Seized in Hurricane
Associated Press
8 Oct 2008
New Orleans officials have agreed to return hundreds of firearms that police officers confiscated in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, part of a deal to resolve a lawsuit filed by gun lobbying groups. The settlement agreement filed Tuesday in federal court calls for the groups, the National Rifle Association and the Second Amendment Foundation, to drop their case if the city follows a plan for returning guns to owners who had them seized by the police after the Aug. 29, 2005, hurricane. The Supreme Court recently ruled on a Washington city ordinance that the amendment protects private ownership of handguns, not just the arsenals of state militias.... ( gunpolicy.org )
Australia
Public Prosecutor Renews Call for Total Handgun Ban in South Australia
ABC News (Australia)
8 Oct 2008
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Stephen Pallaras is again urging a total ban on guns in South Australia. His call has been made in light of more violence in the Adelaide CBD. The SA Government knocked back the DPP's call a year ago for an end to legal ownership of guns. Mr Pallaras says his position has not changed and he wants something done about the guns problem before it is too late. "We've had three shootings in five months and I've previously said that when people in Adelaide wake up to the morning news and say, without any sense of alarm, that there's been another shooting in Adelaide, on that day we would have lost the... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Recession, Fear Drive 'Steady Increase' in North Carolina Gun Sales
WRAL-TV News (North Carolina)
8 Oct 2008
RALEIGH, North Carolina -- Some Triangle shop owners report a steady increase in gun sales, which they credit to the struggling national economy. This year so far, sales at the Personal Defense and Handgun Safety Center in Raleigh are up about 35 percent, owner Mike Tilley said. "Probably most of this year we've seen sales and class attendance increase. In fact, our classes right now are so full that we're suspending taking any reservations right now until November," Tilley said. Triangle area shop owners said when the economy's down, the public perception of crime goes up. "Crime is hitting home. It's not just something you hear about... ( gunpolicy.org )
|
|
