United States
300-strong Group of Mayors Pressures US to Close Gun Show Loophole
Agence France Presse
14 Apr 2008
WASHINGTON -- Dozens of mayors of US cities gathered Monday in Washington to propose "common-sense" measures to better control gun sales across the country, one year after the deadliest school shooting in US history. Through the "Mayors Against Illegal Guns" initiative, which brings together some 300 Democratic, Republican and independent mayors, the city leaders blasted the timidity of local and national lawmakers who refuse to strengthen legislation. "There are 34 people murdered every single day. That's two more than Virginia Tech," New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said, referring to last April's shooting rampage at a campus in the state of Virginia.... ( gunpolicy.org )
Angola
Another 668 Civilian Guns Voluntarily Surrendered for Destruction In Angola
Angola Press Agency (Luanda)
14 Apr 2008
LUBANGO -- Six hundred and 68 firearms were handed over voluntarily by citizens, last March, to the command of the National Police in central Huíla province, in light of the process of disarming the civil population, underway in the country, ANGOP learnt from an official source. The assistant co-ordinator of the provincial sub-commission of disarmament, 1st superintendent Feliciano António explained at a press conference that 50 percent of the firearms were handed over by citizens of Lubango and the rest from the districts of Quipungo, Chibia and Matala. Feliciano António, who is also the director of public order of the National Police, revealed that... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Big-City US Mayors Dare Presidential Hopefuls to Stop Avoiding Gun Control
ABC News (USA)
14 Apr 2008
A group of 300 mayors from across the nation have banded together to produce an advertisement aimed at forcing the three remaining presidential hopefuls -- Democratic Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and Republican Sen. John McCain -- to tackle gun control. The ad is being released nationwide today and will appear on television, radio and the Internet. The release coincides with the third annual Mayors Coalition Against Illegal Guns in Washington, D.C., which also begins today. "All three want to be the president of the United States. One of them will be, and it's time to show leadership. Don't just talk about it, but actually stand up," said New... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
California Lawmaker Targets 'Loophole' Allowing Loaded Guns in Cars
Burbank Leader (California)
14 Apr 2008
The California Senate Public Safety Committee on Tuesday approved a bill being carried by State Sen. Jack Scott that would prohibit carrying a loaded firearm while in a vehicle in unincorporated areas of the state. Incorporated cities already prohibit carrying loaded firearms in vehicles, as do some individual counties that have passed similar gun-control ordinances -- including Los Angeles County. But Scott's bill, which is sponsored by a host of public safety entities including the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, would extend the prohibition of loaded firearms in vehicles to unincorporated areas in counties that don't currently address the... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Clinton, Republicans Alike 'Thrilled' by Obama's Belittling of Gun Owners
The Hill (Washington, DC)
14 Apr 2008
Guns are expected to be a focal point in Wednesday's debate between Democratic rivals Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) and Barack Obama (Ill.), which is set for Philadelphia just days after controversial comments by Obama about gun owners. Campaign news over the weekend was dominated by recently surfaced remarks by Obama that painted small-town gun enthusiasts as "bitter." Clinton repeatedly criticized her rival for the remarks, and favorably mentioned hunting outings she took with her late father. Clinton and Obama now face a balancing act of promoting what Democrats call common-sense gun control regulations, which are important to urban and suburban... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Connecticut Mayors Join 300-strong Leaders' Group in Gun Control Push
Hartford Courant (Connecticut)
14 Apr 2008
WASHINGTON -- The mayors of Hartford and Bridgeport -- no strangers to the problems of illegal firearms in their cities -- stood among a large group of their colleagues Monday to announce that the Mayors Against Illegal Guns has a new four-step mission. The group's plan, hatched at this national summit in Washington: Stop gun-show sales of firearms to people without background checks. Require that gun dealers' employees be checked out, too. Close the loophole that lets dealers with revoked licenses sell off their stock. And block people on the terrorist no-fly list from buying guns. Mayors Eddie Perez and Bill Finch both said that success on those goals... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Declared Policies of Three US Presidential Candidates on Gun Control - AP
Associated Press
14 Apr 2008
A look at some of the presidential candidates' positions on gun control: - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-NY: Voted for ban on assault-type weapons and to require background checks at gun shows. Calls for renewing the ban, which expired in 2004. Favored leaving gun-makers and dealers open to civil suits. In 2000, supported proposals for a federal requirement for state-issued photo gun licenses, as well as a national registry for handgun sales. - Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.: Voted to leave gun-makers and dealers open to suit. Also, as Illinois state lawmaker, supported ban on semiautomatic weapons and tighter state restrictions generally on firearms. ... ( gunpolicy.org )
Canada
Drive-by Gang Shooting Injures 23mth-old Girl in Canadian Tribal Settlement
CBC News (Canada)
14 Apr 2008
Local gangs are to blame for a drive-by shooting Sunday that left a 23-month-old girl in critical condition, the chief of the Samson First Nation said Monday. Marvin Yellowbird said gang violence has reached a crisis level in the Hobbema area, about 100 kilometres south of Edmonton, which is home to a number of First Nation groups. Yellowbird has called a special meeting of the tribal administration to discuss how to deal with the problem. Asia Saddleback was eating supper with her family when a bullet came through the wall of her home and struck her just below the stomach, her aunt, Charmaine Saddleback, told CBC News Monday. She was... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Illinois Police Warned to Stop Concealing Campus Killer's Gun Licence Info
Daily Herald (Chicago)
14 Apr 2008
SPRINGFIELD -- The Freedom of Information Act guarantees that anyone, not just reporters, can obtain copies of public records kept by the government. The Daily Herald filed a FOIA request to the Illinois State Police for the gun card information of the man who shot and killed five students and then himself two months ago in a Northern Illinois University lecture hall. Though police officials replied within the seven working-day timeline as required by law, they denied both the request and subsequent appeal, citing occupational license and privacy reasons. The initial request asked for a copy of the NIU gunman's firearm owner's ID card, including his... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
New York Mayor Corners All 3 US Presidential Hopefuls on Gun Show Sales
Washington Post / The Trail, Blog
14 Apr 2008
A coalition of big-city mayors is using the words of the three presidential candidates as backing for their mission to enforce stricter gun control. The group, called Mayors Against Illegal Guns, has released a television ad that shows Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John McCain each calling for legislation to close the loophole that allows guns to be sold at gun shows without the same checks as in a store. The release coincided with the group's 2008 annual summit in Washington, D.C., today. "I'll be on your side for closing the gun show loophole," says Clinton in an unidentified speech in 2000. "Crack down on the gun show loophole," Obama... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Obama Belittles Gun Owners, 'Annie Oakley' Clinton Jumps to Their Defence
Associated Press
14 Apr 2008
STEELTON, Pennsylvania -- Accused of being elitist, a defiant Sen. Barack Obama lashed out at rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, saying "Shame on her" and mocking her vocal support for gun rights as their political tempest threatened to consume the Democratic presidential race. It was a startling twist Sunday to the three-day controversy that erupted after the publication of comments the Illinois senator made at a San Francisco fundraiser a week earlier. At that event, Obama said some working-class voters are bitter over their economic circumstances and "cling to guns and religion" as a result. Campaigning Sunday in Pennsylvania, Clinton derided the... ( gunpolicy.org )
Uganda
Ugandan Student Gets 9yrs Jail for Illegal Possession of Submachine Guns
New Vision (Kampala)
14 Apr 2008
KAMPALA -- Julius Nyago, a 20-year-old student of Dodoth College in Kotido district, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for illegal possession of guns. The 3rd Division Court Martial chaired by Col. John Baptist Mulindwa convicted Nyago on Friday. The court heard that he was arrested from school on January 17 with two sub-machine guns and 120 bullets that were concealed in a suitcase. The court also sentenced Simon Chepkurei to six months in prison for having 720 bullets illegally. The two will serve their sentences at Malukhu Prison in Mbale. The Division spokesman, Capt. Henry Obbo, said Nyago, a resident of Namatala... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
US Group Honours Virginia Tech Victims with Gun Show Loophole Protest
Charlotte Observer (North Carolina)
14 Apr 2008
As the nation prepares to mark the first anniversary of the Virginia Tech shootings, a group of Charlotteans is planning to honor the victims of gun violence Wednesday during a demonstration uptown. The demonstration is part of a growing movement led by Charlotte native Abby Spangler, founder of Protest Easy Guns, a gun-control advocacy group. It's one of 80 demonstrations being planned across 33 states. "A law-abiding citizen of course ... should have that right to buy a gun, with a background check," Spangler said. "But a dangerous person, a felon, a terrorist, a gang member should not be able to buy a gun. It's common sense." Thirty-two people... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Wal-Mart Toughens Gun Sale Policies, Joins US Mayors Against Illegal Guns
Associated Press
14 Apr 2008
WASHINGTON -- Wal-Mart, the nation's largest seller of firearms, announced Monday it will toughen rules for gun sales, from storing video of purchases to creating an internal log of which guns they sell that are later used in crimes. J.P. Suarez, the chief compliance officer for Wal-Mart Stores Inc., appeared with outspoken gun control advocate Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York to announce the changes at a gathering of Bloomberg's group Mayors Against Illegal Guns. Changes to come at about 1,100 Wal-Mart stores selling guns include: - Creating a record and alert system to record when a gun sold at Wal-Mart is later used in a crime. If the... ( gunpolicy.org )
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