United States
US Soldiers Fired Their Army Handguns in Baltimore: Judge Refuses Delay
WBAL Radio News (Baltimore)
16 Apr 2008
A pair of soldiers who are due to head to Iraq will have to stay in Baltimore City to answer weapons charges. A Baltimore City judge has rejected a request to delay the trials of Army Specialist Joshua Johnson and PFC Denario Desson, who are scheduled to leave Friday for an 18-month mission in Iraq. The soldiers are based at Fort Hood, Texas. Last month they were visiting their cousins in Baltimore, while on leave. When the group was out for the evening on March 19, they were threatened by a group of men, and the two soldiers fired their sidearms into the air to scare off the men. The soldiers are charged with discharging a... ( gunpolicy.org )
West Africa, Central Africa
UN Helps West and Central African Countries Fight Scourge of Illicit Guns
UN News Centre (New York), Media release
16 Apr 2008
A two-day United Nations conference seeking to help West and Central African nations bolster their abilities to identify and trace illicit small arms and light weapons kicks off tomorrow in Lomé, Togo. Held by the Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa -- part of the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs -- the gathering will assist countries' efforts to implement the International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons. Co-organized by Interpol, the workshop aims to identify actions States can take to adhere to the Instrument and familiarize government authorities... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Shock, Anger, City/Rural Conspiracy Seen in Wal-Mart Gun Sale 'Blindside'
Outdoor Wire (USA)
16 Apr 2008
Across the shooting industry, a universal expression of shock, anger and surprise at Wal-Mart's announcement yesterday that it had agreed to a 10-point code of business conduct called the Responsible Firearms Retailer Partnership. The responsible-sounding Partnership is a creation of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns organization, the group founded and co-chaired by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. In signing the document, Wal-Mart has dealt the firearms industry -- and the company's various firearms-related suppliers -- a blow that has taken everyone by surprise. Tommy Millner, CEO of Remington Firearms, Wal-Mart's largest supplier of firearms and ammunition,... ( gunpolicy.org )
United Kingdom
Safety Record of Grand Old British Shooting Club Marred by Gun Suicide
Woking News and Mail (UK)
16 Apr 2008
A man found dead at a shooting centre is believed to have shot himself in the head. The grim discovery was made by staff at the shotgun ranges of Bisley's National Rifle Association. Centre director Jeremy Staples said: "Unfortunately a male was found close to the shot gun ranges last Monday. It appeared that he had self-inflicted shotgun injuries. "The site was closed as there is no shooting on Monday. We immediately called paramedics and police who took over the investigation." The incident happened on April 7 and police have identified the man as 36-year-old Mark Kelly Sebire, who lived in London. A spokesman for Surrey... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
MSNBC Refuses to Air Paid TV Ad for US Mayors' Gun Control Campaign
Business Week (USA) / Brand New Day, Blog
16 Apr 2008
MSNBC refuses to run an ad created by Mayors Against Illegal Guns. The ad shows clips of all three Presidential candidates declaring their position on changing the loophole that allows unchecked gun sales at gun shows. The ad also includes brief messages by Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Mayor Sheila Dixon of Baltimore (Dem) and Mayor John Peyton of Jacksonville, Fla. (Rep.) and Mayor Tom Menino of Boston (Dem.) all calling for bi-partisan support of the change in the law. A memo from MSNBC to the Mayors group obtained by www.politico.com , said "just heard back from legal about your script...unfortunately, we can not accept as it is a controversial issue ad."... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Hunters & Shooters Endorse Obama: Group Says He Supports Gun Rights
Raw Story (USA)
16 Apr 2008
Less than a week after coming under fire for saying small-town Pennsylvanians "cling to" gun rights, Barack Obama picked up the endorsement of a pro-gun association that has backed Democratic candidates in the past. The American Hunters & Shooters Association said Obama's views of the 2nd Amendment have been unfairly criticized and its endorsement comes as Obama's opponents are characterizing him as an "elitist" and condescending towards gun-owners. The group sets itself apart from the "more extreme" elements of the pro-gun lobby like the National Rifle Association and Gun Owners of America. Unlike them, AHSA favors some gun-control measures like background... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Gun Control Groups Hold Lie-ins to Recall Virginia Tech, Push New Laws
Roanoke Times (Virginia)
16 Apr 2008
BLACKSBURG -- They lay down on the grass of the Drillfield, roughly halfway between the places where two groups of victims lay one year ago in Norris and West Ambler Johnston halls. In silence, the 50-some protesters stayed down for three minutes, about the time they said it takes to buy a gun. Unlike the other vigils and ceremonies held on campus and around the region to mark the one-year anniversary of the Virginia Tech shootings, this one did more than commemorate the dead: It appealed to the living to do something about the ease with which guns are purchased in America. "I have no fear of firearms," said Peter Read, a U.S. Air Force veteran... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Families of Virginia Tech Victims Organize Lie-in Against Lax US Gun Laws
Kansas City Star (Missouri)
16 Apr 2008
A year ago you would not have found Overland Park residents Mike and Mary Ellen McGeehan protesting for stricter gun laws. That was before a gunman opened fire a year ago at Virginia Tech University, killing 32 people. One was the McGeehans' eldest niece, Nicole White, shot while in class. On Wednesday, the first anniversary of the tragedy, the couple organized a lie-in at College Boulevard and Metcalf Avenue. It was one of about 75 such demonstrations scheduled across the country to honor the Virginia Tech victims and protest what organizers see as weak gun laws. More than 50 people gathered for the event. Around noon, many of them lay on the... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Clinton, Obama Signal Gun Control 'A Loser for Democrats' in Election Race
Washington Post / The Fix
16 Apr 2008
To commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Virginia Tech massacre, Charlie Gibson questioned both Clinton and Obama about why they -- and the Democratic Party -- have avoided pushing for more stringent gun control measures over the last few elections. Clinton sought to make a third way argument that surely made her husband smile, arguing that she supports the Second Amendment while also sympathesizing with those who want to keep guns out of the hands of the wrong people. "I respect the Second Amendment," Clinton said. "I respect the rights of lawful gun owners to own guns and use their guns. Most lawful gun owners also want to be sure we keep those... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Baltimore, Boston, New York Mayors in US Election TV Ads for Gun Control
Baltimore Sun (Maryland)
16 Apr 2008
Mayor Sheila Dixon appears in a TV ad that's running around the country. In it, she's identified as a Barack Obama supporter. But the Illinois senator isn't likely to welcome the gesture. Appearing in the same ad are Jacksonville, Fla., Mayor John Peyton, who backs John McCain, and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, who's in Hillary Clinton's camp. All three mayors urge the presidential candidates to support closing a loophole that allows felons to buy guns at gun shows. So does New York's Michael Bloomberg, identified in the Mayors Against Illegal Guns spot as an "undecided voter." Some political observers fret that the ad won't do any of the presidential... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Americans Have Institutionalized the Idiocy of Gun Worship - Victim's Father
Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Georgia), Opinion
16 Apr 2008
Today, as I write, House Bill 89 rests on Gov. Sonny Perdue's desk awaiting his signature. It will permit those with concealed-carry permits to take their firearms onto public transportation, into state parks and into restaurants that earn more than 50 percent of their income from food. Perdue should veto this bill. And he shouldn't dilly-dally doing it. The gun issue nowadays isn't ultimately a Republican vs. Democrat or a conservative vs. liberal issue, but simply one of public safety. And if our laws aren't doing the job, please don't believe for a minute that putting more guns in more hands in more places will solve the problem. Indeed,... ( gunpolicy.org )
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