United States
California 'Santa Killer' Bought 5 Handguns from Gun Shop, Killed 9, Self
New York Times
31 Dec 2008
LOS ANGELES -- The man who killed nine people in a shooting and arson spree at a Christmas Eve party in nearby Covina had also hoped to take the life of his own mother there, then drive to the home of his former wife's divorce lawyer and kill him and his family, police officials said Tuesday. Lt. Pat Buchanan of the Covina police said the gunman, Bruce J. Pardo, had learned that his mother, with whom he had had a falling out when she sided with his former wife in their recent bitter divorce, had been invited to the party, given by his former in-laws. She had planned to be among the two dozen guests, Lieutenant Buchanan said, but came down with the flu and was... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Celebratory Gunfire Killers Face Murder Charge, Warn Arizona Police
Arizona Republic
31 Dec 2008
West Valley police are reminding residents not to fire guns in celebration of New Year's. Firing weapons into the air is illegal and dangerous, they say, because when the bullets come back down, they are traveling fast enough to kill someone. Police want community members to remember: - A bullet fired into the air can climb up to two miles. When it falls back down, it can reach a speed of 300 to 700 feet per second. - Shooting a gun into the air is a felony. The shooter could go to prison and pay a fine. - Those who are arrested for shooting a gun into the air will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. -... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Despite Shootings, Oklahoma Legislators Push to Relax More Gun Laws
Associated Press
31 Dec 2008
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Michael Contway's death followed what has become an all too familiar and tragic pattern in Oklahoma -- an accidental shooting involving an unsupervised child with a loaded gun. At least seven young people have died in Oklahoma since 2006, including shootings in Midwest City, Luther, Lawton, Wagoner, Oklahoma City, Cement and Anadarko. Contway, 13, of Chandler, was carrying a .380-caliber pistol when he was accidentally shot in the forehead by his friend, also 13, who was carrying a .22-caliber pistol Contway had received for Christmas, police said. The two boys were playing in a rural area near Chandler when he was shot. The friend's... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Miami Campaign Aims to Curb Stray Bullets, Celebratory Gunfire Injuries
NBC6-TV News (Florida)
31 Dec 2008
MIAMI -- Miami officials held a news conference asking residents to put an end to firing weapons. People have died from stray bullets and officials want to make sure it doesn't begin in 2009, NBC 6's Ian Wood reported. Commissioner Audrey M. Edmonson held a rally, called "No More Stray Bullets" on the south side of N.W. 61 Street and N.W. 12 Avenue on Wednesday, urging residents not to shoot guns into the air when celebrating New Year's Eve. Reverend Jerome Starling spoke at the event. His niece died when she was hit with a stray bullet in 1997 after she was walking home from the MLK junior parade. "This year e must say, 'No more to stray bullets,'"... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Reverse Bush's Parting Gift to Gun Lobby: Restore Gun Ban in US Parks
Miami Herald, Editorial
31 Dec 2008
In addition to making it easier for coal miners to pollute rivers and streams, allowing more mining in lands adjacent to national parks and implementing rules that weaken the Endangered Species Act, the Bush administration this month gave the National Rifle Association a parting gift by lifting a decades-long ban on concealed weapons in national parks. It is painful to witness the administration's cynical use of the federal rule-making process to assault the environment and pander to the NRA during its waning days. These harmful new rules could take years to undo. Make no mistake, though, they must be taken off the books before they can do too much damage. ... ( gunpolicy.org )
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