United States
84yr-old Gun Collector, Doctor, Felon Had 500 Guns in New Jersey Home
Record (New Jersey)
9 Apr 2008
An 84-year-old man who kept nearly 500 guns, 800 pounds of gunpowder and 75,000 rounds of ammunition at his Ridgefield home pleaded guilty Tuesday to creating a community hazard. Sherwin Raymond had rejected plea offers since his arrest in 2005 and insisted that his stash of rifles and pistols was nothing more than that of a gun enthusiast. On Tuesday, however, after jurors were picked for his trial in state Superior Court in Hackensack, Raymond took a plea deal that requires him to serve up to five years' probation. Instead of getting his guns back, Raymond also agreed to have a dealer sell them and turn over the proceeds. "I feel... ( gunpolicy.org )
Canada
'Amazing' Response to Toronto Mayor's Petition to Ban Handguns in Canada
Toronto Sun (Ontario)
9 Apr 2008
The response has been nothing short of "amazing." Less than 24 hours after its online debut, Mayor David Miller's petition calling for a federal handgun ban already bore 7,000 signatures. "We could hit 10,000 within a day or two," said Stuart Green, spokesman for the mayor. "It's an amazing response ...this is obviously an issue that struck a lot of people," he said yesterday. Miller launched the petition on the city's toronto.ca website Monday as the executive committee unanimously endorsed the mayor's bid to outlaw handguns. The mayor also appealed for support on a video on YouTube which received 1,200 hits by yesterday afternoon.... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Baltimore's Pilot Gun Offender Registry Yields First Criminal Charge
Examiner (Baltimore)
9 Apr 2008
BALTIMORE -- Four months after it took effect, Baltimore's new gun offender registry is starting to yield results -- including its first criminal charge. As of Tuesday, 47 people have registered under the new city law -- the first of its kind in Maryland -- which is modeled after many states' sex offender registries. Late Thursday prosecutors filed their first criminal charge, when a Baltimore man's Salisbury address didn't check out. "Extra attention on gun offenders is what we were looking for, and I think there's reason to believe it's going to have some effect," said Sterling Clifford, spokesman for Mayor Sheila Dixon and the Police Department. ... ( gunpolicy.org )
Canada
Canadian Collector Had 70 Illegal Firearms, Handguns, Submachine Gun
Regina Leader-Post (Saskatchewan)
9 Apr 2008
REGINA -- There wasn't any sinister intention behind a fearsome arsenal of guns and ammunition found inside a south Regina home two years ago, a Regina court heard on Wednesday. Instead, the defence told court that Murray Dalrymple Hogg's impressive and varied collection of firearms was a kind of savings plan, an investment for a man of modest means. "This is his Registered Retirement Savings Plan, so to speak," lawyer Mervin Ozirny said, appearing for Hogg at Regina Provincial Court. Still, having 70 guns -- including handguns and a submachine gun -- and 18,000 rounds of ammunition stored haphazardly inside a Lakeview-area home is clearly cause... ( gunpolicy.org )
Liberia
Liberia, West African States Ratifying ECOWAS Gun Control Convention
Analyst (Monrovia)
9 Apr 2008
The ratification of the Economic Community of West African States Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, their ammunition and related materials has begun in Monrovia. The ratification exercise, which is expected to be discharged by the National Legislature, was launched on Friday, April 4, 2008 at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center in Monrovia. The ceremony brought together lawmakers, government officials, civil society leaders, rights activists and the public. Speaking during the ceremony the chairperson of the Liberian Action Network on Small Arms (LANSA), Rev. Fr. Anthony Borwah said LANSA, is a consortium of over 25 civil society organizations... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
McCain Must Please US Gun Owners in 'Most Important Year in NRA History'
The Hill (Washington, DC)
9 Apr 2008
If Sen. John McCain expects the support of gun owners in this year's presidential race, the Arizona Republican must make an effort to overcome some decisions the National Rifle Association (NRA) has found troubling. "John McCain still has some work to do to give them a comfort level," Chris Cox, executive director of the NRA, said during an interview with The Hill. "Truth be told, he's not there yet." Cox said McCain and the anti-gun control group have endured some "high-profile disagreements" in the last several years that have left many gun owners concerned about his candidacy. Specifically, McCain played a leading role in crafting the campaign... ( gunpolicy.org )
Canada
Municipal Leaders Across Canada Should Sign Up for Handgun Ban
Toronto Star (Ontario), Editorial
9 Apr 2008
Violent gun crime isn't just a Toronto problem; it's of concern in cities across this country. That's why Mayor David Miller's campaign to ban handguns nationwide should resonate from Vancouver to St. John's and every major urban area in between. Unlike a hunting rifle or shotgun, a pistol has no practical use except to kill a human being. That's why handguns are the preferred weapon of drug dealers and criminal gangs. There were more than 8,100 cases of gun crime in 2006, and pistols were used in two-thirds of those incidents. It only makes sense, then, to restrict handguns to police and the military. Yet almost 184,000 Canadians had at least one handgun... ( gunpolicy.org )
Canada, United Nations, World
Nations View Global Burden of Gun Violence Through a Development Lens
Ottawa Citizen (Ontario), Opinion
9 Apr 2008
Poor countries are less safe than rich ones. Most of the world's 30-odd armed conflicts are raging in the global South. As a country's human development ranking declines, its risk of succumbing to violent conflict grows. More than one-third of all countries mired in poverty experienced war since the late 1990s. Fewer than two per cent of rich countries experienced conflict over the same period. The international aid community has been slow to grasp the real and urgent implications of the linkage between armed violence and human development. Armed violence disrupts markets, displaces populations, destroys schools, clinics and roads, and scars families, communities... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Sleeping California Woman Takes Bullet to the Head in Memorial Shooting
San Francisco Chronicle
9 Apr 2008
OAKLAND -- An Oakland woman was clinging to life Tuesday after a stray bullet from a drive-by shooting tore through her bedroom wall and pierced her head while she slept. Shanice Davis, 22, is in grave condition at a local hospital after the midnight shooting, which happened during a street memorial for an Oakland murder victim killed three years ago, police and neighbors said. Three men at the memorial were also struck by gunfire. All three were in stable condition and expected to recover, Oakland police Officer Roland Holmgren said. Davis lives with her mother and infant daughter in an apartment next door to the site of the shooting, on the... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States, Thailand, World
Thailand Drops Charges Against Global Gun Runner to Allow US Extradition
Associated Press
9 Apr 2008
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thai police will seek court approval to extradite a Russian man accused of being one of the world's most prolific black market arms dealers to the United States. Intelligence officials say Bout shipped weapons to areas of civil war in Africa and Asia. Thai authorities had lodged charges against Viktor Bout related to his alleged arms smuggling activities, but are dropping them to process the U.S. request to try him. "We are working on the legal procedures to extradite him to face trial in United States as requested by America, so police and the attorney general decided to drop the related charges against him here," said Lt. Gen.... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
US Sheriffs Mull Armoured Cars to Shield Against .50cal Sniper Rifle Bullets
Glenwood Springs Post Independent (Colorado)
9 Apr 2008
GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado -- The Garfield County Sheriff's Office is looking to purchase an armored vehicle for high-risk, dangerous situations such as pulling an injured person out of a line of fire. Sheriff Lou Vallario and Undersheriff Colt Cornelius spoke before the Garfield County commissioners on Monday to explain their planned purchase of a new Lenco Industries BearCat, which is the only law enforcement rescue vehicle that offers .50-caliber protection to its occupants. The sheriff's office wants to purchase the $236,000 vehicle for its Garfield County All Hazards Response Team, which is currently comprises 17 members. "We know when... ( gunpolicy.org )
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