United States
US Gun Dealers Could See Their Chief Accuser, New York's Mayor in Court
New York Sun
30 Apr 2008
Nearly two years after Mayor Bloomberg launched his legal battle against 27 out-of-state gun salesmen, the city is being forced to prove that it targeted the right ones. Most of the gun dealers, whose businesses stretch between Ohio and Georgia, have agreed to let the city pay to monitor their business practices in return for the dismissal of the lawsuits. A few went out of business shortly after being sued. Three of the gun dealers, though, are going to trial over the city's claim that they have disproportionately contributed to arming criminals in New York. The trial of the first, Adventure Outdoors of Smyrna, Ga., is set to begin May 27 in U.S. District... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
US Appeals Court Tosses Out New York's Lawsuit Against Gun Makers
Associated Press
30 Apr 2008
NEW YORK -- A federal appeals court Wednesday tossed out New York City's lawsuit accusing the gun industry of selling firearms with the knowledge they can be diverted into illegal markets. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a federal law provides the gun industry with broad immunity from lawsuits brought by crime victims and violence-plagued cities. A federal judge had allowed the lawsuit to proceed, though it had not yet reached trial. New York is one of several cities that had sued gun makers. It said the industry violated public nuisance law by failing to take reasonable steps to stop widespread access to illegal firearms. The... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Some Floridians Earned Hidden Handgun Permits 'Firing' Toy Plastic Guns
Orlando Sentinel (Florida)
30 Apr 2008
Some of the 500,000 people holding concealed-weapons permits in Florida qualified by using toy guns. Recent complaints to state officials pointed out that almost anyone who wants to carry a handgun to the movies, mall or church can do so. The shortcomings they cited include training that allows firing bullets without gunpowder, and passing students for merely pulling the trigger once or twice without ever loading or unloading a handgun. Quickie permit classes had become so common, the National Rifle Association threatened this month to fire any NRA-certified instructor who didn't use real guns to teach students in Florida. Though carrying a... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Paralysed by Stray Bullet, 7yr-old US Girl Accepts Gunman's Apology
Boston Herald
30 Apr 2008
Five years after a stray bullet severed her spine as she played on her front porch, 7-year-old Kai Leigh Harriott thanked her shooter today for apologizing from behind bars and urging youngsters to learn from his mistakes. "I would tell him thank you for making an apology because you can inspire so many people by telling them, 'Don't do bad things,' " Kai Leigh said after watching Anthony Warren's videotaped apology at a Dorchester press conference today declaring May "Peace Month." In the video, Warren speaks out publicly for the first time, saying the little girl's forgiveness "made me really take a look at myself. She gave me the chance to really... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
New York's 8 Year-old 'Public Nuisance' Lawsuit Against Gun Industry Fails
Reuters
30 Apr 2008
NEW YORK -- A U.S. federal appeals court on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit filed by New York City against gun makers the city targeted in a bid to stop the flow of illegal weapons. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the city's claims against the manufacturers and wholesale sellers of firearms, ruling a federal law granted them immunity. The decision overturns a lower court ruling. The city claimed firearms makers and suppliers marketed guns to legitimate buyers knowing those guns would end up in illegal markets. It argued manufacturers should be required to ensure guns did not end up in illegal hands, including monitoring the activities of... ( gunpolicy.org )
Philippines
In Philippines, Lawmakers Reject Total Gun Ban, Talk Regulation and Taxes
GMA News TV (Manila) / Business World
30 Apr 2008
MANILA, Philippines -- As far as the House of Representatives is concerned, there will be no gun ban law. This after the committee on public order and safety rejected a bill which seeks to impose a nationwide gun ban, except for policemen, the military, and members of certain law enforcement agencies. Nueva Ecija Rep. Edno Joson, principal author of House Bill (HB) 2206, said the committee decided to instead consolidate all bills seeking to regulate the possession and carrying firearms. This decision practically rejected the Joson bill, which provides for a total gin ban to include law enforcers. Pro- and anti-gun ban advocates attended... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Illinois Vows to Strip Parents of Gun Rights After Child's 3rd Firearm Offence
Chicago Tribune
30 Apr 2008
SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois House passed legislation Wednesday that would allow the state to permanently revoke the gun rights of parents who repeatedly allow their troubled children to gain access to guns or ammunition. The bill, which heads to the Senate, was drafted in response to a Rockford area case in which a 14-year-old boy shot his 15-year-old friend in the chest with his parents' gun. State officials said the boy had gotten in trouble for four prior gun-related incidents, including being suspended after bringing ammunition to school and shooting a 10-year-old with a BB gun. "It is not to say parents can't own a weapon," said Rep. Gregory Harris... ( gunpolicy.org )
World, United States, France, Canada, Germany, Angola, Thailand, Australia, Colombia, South Africa, Turkey, Pakistan, Russia, Brazil, United Kingdom, India, China
Guns Around the World: Civilian Firearms per 100 People in 16 Nations
Economist
30 Apr 2008
An estimated 875m small arms are in circulation worldwide: one for every seven people on the planet. Nearly three-quarters of these are owned by civilians. And about 80% of those guns in civilian hands are found in just 30 countries, according to the Small Arms Survey, a research group. Although America accounts for 40% of firearms in civilian ownership, people put them to more deadly use elsewhere. The gun murder rate in Colombia and South Africa, for example, is much higher than in America. [Table in the original: Civilian Firearms per 100 People: Selected countries. Lists in descending order the United States, France, Canada, Germany, Angola, Thailand,... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Felon Had Bomb, Gun at US Capitol: Claims Gun Rights, 'Legal Conspiracy'
Washington Post
30 Apr 2008
Michael S. Gorbey, the Virginia man arrested in January for allegedly carrying a loaded shotgun and a three-foot-long sword near the U.S. Capitol, told a jury yesterday that his case was a "legal conspiracy" contrived by the federal government. Gorbey made the accusation while representing himself in a trial that began yesterday in D.C. Superior Court. The shotgun and sword are only part of the government's case. Authorities said they also found an explosive device in Gorbey's pickup truck -- three weeks after his arrest. As a result, he is charged with trying to possess or make a weapon of mass destruction, along with other offenses. Reading handwritten... ( gunpolicy.org )
Uganda
Army Seizes Another 31 Guns from Uganda's Karamojong Warriors
New Vision (Kampala)
30 Apr 2008
KAMPALA -- Two Karimojong warriors were killed in an operation in which the UPDF recovered 31 guns on Monday. The 3rd Division spokesperson, Capt. Henry Obbo, said the guns were found in Rupa sub-county in Moroto, Lokopo and Lolalachat sub-counties in Nakapiripirit district. Others were found in Nakapelimoru and Panyangara sub-counties in Kotido district, Obbo said. He added that 50 warriors were being detained at the 405 Brigade detachment in Kotido. A warrior, identified as John Abong, was arrested for allegedly attempting to disarm a soldier, Obbo said. He said following the scrapping of amnesty for armed warriors in March, the warriors... ( gunpolicy.org )
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