United States
Gun Collector, 'Paranoid' Security Guard Kills Police Officer in California
Associated Press
27 February 2010
FRESNO, California - The man who authorities say killed one law enforcement officer and wounded two others in a gunbattle at his mobile home was a paranoid private security guard who kept a gun collection and told his wife he would rather die than go to prison, authorities said Friday. Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer identified Rick "Ricky" Ray Liles, 51, as the shooter and said he had been taking medication for depression and probably... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Arizona Gun Maker, Dealer Pleads Guilty to Illegally Selling Firearms
Arizona Republic
22 February 2010
A Gilbert firearms manufacturer will cease its gun operations after the company's owner pleaded guilty to illegally selling rifles, shotguns and handguns. Cavalry Arms Corp. says on its Web site that it has been "engaged in an ongoing dispute" with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or ATF, for two years over "regulatory and compliance mistakes." But in federal court last week, owner Shawn Nealon admitted that... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
California Man 'Obsessed with Guns' Stole 6 Assault Weapons from Police
San Francisco Chronicle
10 February 2010
SAN PABLO, California - A San Pablo man described as being obsessed with "tools of warfare" was sentenced Tuesday to more than five years in federal prison for stealing assault rifles and shotguns belonging to the Contra Costa County sheriff's office and the California Highway Patrol. Daniel William Vess, 21, pleaded guilty Tuesday to possession of a stolen firearm. At a hearing in Oakland, U.S. District Judge Saundra Brown Armstrong... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States,Mexico
Michigan Man Caught Smuggling Assault Weapons from Texas to Mexico
NBC-25 TV News (Michigan)
3 February 2010
A Michigan man is behind bars in Texas after being caught smuggling guns and bags filled with bulletproof vests into Mexico. U.S. Border Patrol agents spotted Pablo Leyva-Angiano in a car near the Roma International Bridge around 8:15 p.m. Thursday. Court records show that the agents saw two men come from nearby brush, go to the trunk of his and run towards the Rio Grande with two trash bags. The 26-year-old Grand Rapids, Michigan... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
47 US States Roll Back Law, in National Trend to Even Looser Gun Control
Associated Press
30 January 2010
PHOENIX -- Arizona's permissive gun laws gained national attention last year when a man openly carried an AR-15 rifle to a protest outside a speech by President Obama. Now, gun rights advocates are hoping for even fewer restrictions on where they can have a firearm. Among their top goals is to make Arizona the third state where it is legal to carry a concealed weapon without a permit. Bills in the House and the Senate would also... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Hidden Handgun Permit Holder Shoots, Kills Sister, 7 Others in Virginia
Washington Post
21 January 2010
APPOMATTOX, Virginia -- Christopher Bryan Speight described himself in court papers as a dependable, hardworking person who was not quick to anger, and he showed pride in his ability to "find ways to get out of problems without using force or violence." Friends, in letters in support of his successful 1995 application for a concealed weapons permit, called him "an upstanding, Christian young man" and "very mature and responsible."... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
US Gun Industry Lobbies to Popularise, Sell More 'Sporting' Assault Rifles
ESPN (USA)
20 January 2010
LAS VEGAS -- If Jim Zumbo had the National Shooting Sports Foundation in his corner a few years ago, he might still be the hunting editor of Outdoor Life magazine. Zumbo was literally driven from the temple after expressing discouraging words in his web site blog about the viability of so-called "black rifles" or AR-15-style guns as hunting firearms. Unfortunately, Zumbo expressed his opinions just at the time black rifles were... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Pennsylvania Gun Show Patrons Far Too Honest to Traffic in Firearms
Philadelphia Inquirer
17 January 2010
They began arriving well before the 9 a.m. Sunday opening, cramming the parking lots and forcing latecomers onto snowy fields. At least half the vehicles were pickups, peppered with road salt and bearing such bumper stickers as "Don't blame me, I voted for McCain" and "If guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns." When the doors to the Lebanon Valley Exposition Center finally opened, they stepped inside and paid $5 to attend... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Cache of Assault Weapons Stolen, Owner Arrested for Illegal Possession
Contra Costa Times (California)
24 December 2009
CONCORD, California - Intruders took a small cache of assault weapons from a house this week, and police made an arrest. The only man they arrested, however, was the homeowner -- for having the weapons in the first place. Police were called to a home in the 1600 block of Allegro Avenue about 2 a.m. Wednesday after getting reports of a home invasion, said police Lt. Garrett Voerge. A roommate told officers that... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Alaska Gun Owner Amassed Arsenal, Planned 'Something,' Now Faces Life
Anchorage Daily News (Alaska)
18 December 2009
A convicted Mat-Su felon who amassed an arsenal of assault rifles, grenades, flak jackets and weapon silencers has been indicted on a federal charge of being a felon in possession of firearms, according to the U.S. attorney. Gregory Dale Hayes, 53, is facing life in prison on the charge, which is the result of a yearlong investigation by federal authorities that included surveillance of Hayes' home at 6670 W. Hemmer Drive in Wasilla.... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Firearms Riding High on America's Holiday Gift Lists, Say Gun Dealers
St Petersburg Times (Florida) / Scripps Howard News Service
7 December 2009
On Kevin Wence's 10th Christmas, he opened a gift from his father and discovered what would become "A Christmas Story" legend: a Red Ryder BB air rifle. His first gun. Last week, Wence bought his 15th, a stainless-steel Smith & Wesson Model 686 revolver. Unlike the air rifle, this gun won't sit under the Christmas tree, he said. But it would be a family gift that he, his wife and his 24-year-old son, all trained in shooting, could... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Texas Shooting Highlights Frightening Availability of Guns in America
Irish Times, Editorial
7 November 2009
The tragic shootings in Fort Hood, Texas, have drawn attention again to the frightening availability of guns in the US -- a staggering 97 guns for every 100 people. Although the killings took place on an army base, neither of the pistols used were army-issue. And the state of Texas, ranked 27th by a gun control lobby group in terms of the ease with which guns can be bought, has no requirement that handgun buyers obtain a licence or undergo... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Illegal Alien Bought Guns for Mexican Drug Cartel at Kansas Gun Show
Kansas City Infozine (Missouri)
29 October 2009
KANSAS CITY, Missouri -- United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Guatamalan national pleaded guilty in federal court today to illegally possessing firearms that he purchased at a local gun show and intended to sell to an intermediary who would deliver them to Mexico. Mynor Guerra, 25, a citizen of Guatamala who was residing in Overland Park, Kan., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Gary... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Florida Gun Show Patron Arrested for Having Illegal Assault Rifle
Sun-Sentinel (Florida)
26 October 2009
FORT PIERCE -- A 39-year-old Vero Beach man was arrested Saturday after being found with a short-barrel assault rifle outside a gun show at the Havert L. Fenn Center in Fort Pierce, according to a recently released arrest affidavit and a sheriff's official. James Mathew Kennedy, of the 1000 block of 27th Avenue Southwest, took the AR15-type rifle into the gun show, where he went to buy parts, officials said. They gave this account:... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Florida Republicans Proudly Proclaim Politics at Assault Weapon Shoot
Sun-Sentinel (Florida)
11 October 2009
HALLANDALE BEACH, Florida -- Armed with handguns and AK-47 and AR-15 assault rifles, the members of the Southeast Broward Republican Club abandoned the usual community center for their club meeting this week, and gathered at a gun range where they fired bullets instead of political bombshells. The aims, said club president Ed Napolitano, were to have fun, educate club members who were new to shooting -- and send a political message.... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Licensed Minnesota Gun Dealer Loses 21 Rifles, Handguns to Thieves
Mankato Free Press (Minnesota)
28 September 2009
MANKATO -- Investigators are still searching for 18 of the 21 rifles and handguns stolen from a Lake Crystal federally licensed arms dealer more than a week ago. Many of the weapons were military quality and Capt. Rich Murry of the Blue Earth County Sheriff's Department said deputies are hoping to find them before they leave the area. Two people have been arrested for stealing the guns, but leads those suspects provided... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Machine Guns, AK-47s in 'Arsenal' Seized from Santa Barbara Homes
Daily Sound (California)
22 September 2009
Authorities over the weekend busted one of the largest illegal weapons rings in city of Santa Barbara history, seizing 13 guns, including eight fully automatic AK-47 assault rifles that officials say are used for one purpose: to kill. The raid, known as "Operation Apehanger," unfolded at 8 a.m. Saturday when more than 100 officers from federal, state and local agencies simultaneously stormed seven homes in the city, making 12 arrests.... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Pastor of Assault-rifle Toter at Obama Event Prayed for President to Die
Talking Points Memo (USA), Web page
27 August 2009
Chris Broughton, the man who brought an assault rifle and a handgun to the Obama event in Arizona last week, attended a fiery anti-Obama sermon the day before the event, in which Pastor Steven Anderson said he was going to "pray for Barack Obama to die and go to hell", Anderson confirmed to TPMmuckraker today. Anderson also said Broughton had informed the pastor about his planned show of arms-bearing, but "he planned out the AR15... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Guns at US Rallies 'To Strike Fear Into Hearts of Those Who Disagree'
Albany Times-Union (New York), Editorial
24 August 2009
A responsible gun owner knows that a firearm is serious business. It's not a toy, or a fashion statement. It's a deadly weapon. Its place is in the woods for hunting, at the range for target shooting, or in an appropriate place at home for self-defense. Unless you're a law enforcement officer, you've got no business in a free, civilized society displaying a gun in a crowd of people who have peacefully gathered to express their views.... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Carrying Guns to US Town Hall Meetings 'Punk Tactic Looking for Trouble'
Miami Herald, Editorial
24 August 2009
Protesters who bring guns to rallies where President Obama has been speaking are taking the national debate over healthcare and other issues to a new and dangerous level of concern. It's a frightening sign of how deep our divisions have become and what a bizarre turn our political debate has taken. The presence of guns at a political event cannot be justified as a form of self-defense, freedom of expression or as a way to make a... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Chilling Sight: 'Thugs' Toting 'Weapons of Mass Murder' to Obama Events
Los Angeles Times, Editorial
21 August 2009
Outside the convention center in Phoenix where President Obama was discussing healthcare reform earlier this week, about a dozen protesters were openly displaying their guns -- including one man with an AR-15 rifle slung over his shoulder. Police monitoring the situation reported that no threats, physical or verbal, were made by or toward the armed demonstrators. Big surprise. Who's going to argue about the merits of the public... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
American Men Flaunt Guns Outside Obama Rallies in 'Macho Nonsense'
New York Times, Editorial
20 August 2009
It is hard to know what is more shocking: the sight of a dozen Americans showing up to flaunt guns outside the venue for President Obama's speech in Phoenix on Monday, or the fact that the swaggering display was completely legal. We are all familiar with the right to bear arms and the noisome extremes indulged by its zealots. But is there no sense of simple respect due the nation's elected leader when he ventures forth among the citizenry?... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
White House Backs Protestor's Right to Carry Assault Rifle Near Obama
Washington Post
19 August 2009
Armed men seen mixing with protesters outside recent events held by President Obama acted within the law, the White House said Tuesday, attempting to allay fears of a security threat. Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, said people are entitled to carry weapons outside such events if local laws allow it. "There are laws that govern firearms that are done state or locally," he said. "Those laws don't change when the president... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
US Protesters Carry Guns Against Health-Care Reform at Obama Events
Time (USA)
19 August 2009
WASHINGTON -- The fact that protesters at President Obama's political events have begun showing up bearing arms may be disquieting, but it's perfectly legal -- and the Secret Service, charged with protecting the President, insists that it is not unduly alarmed by the development. That's because while the Second Amendment guarantees Americans the right to carry guns, federal law also gives the Secret Service the right to keep gun-toting folks... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Man Carrying Assault Weapon Attends Obama Protest 'Because He Could'
Associated Press
18 August 2009
PHOENIX -- About a dozen people carrying guns, including one with a military-style rifle, milled among protesters outside the convention center where President Barack Obama was giving a speech Monday -- the latest incidents in which protesters have openly displayed firearms near the president. Gun-rights advocates say they're exercising their constitutional right to bear arms and protest, while those who argue for more gun control... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Interview with Gun-toting Protester at Obama Rally was Staged by Lobby
CNN
18 August 2009
PHOENIX, Arizona -- He was to demonstrating his right to bear arms -- and he wanted you to know it. Video of the unidentified man toting an assault rifle outside President Obama's speech to veterans Monday was aired all over the country, causing a buzz about weapons popping up -- legally -- around recent presidential events. The protester, who refused to give his name, was interviewed by a man carrying a microphone and... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
16,000 Guns Crushed, Turned Into Steel Reinforcing in Los Angeles
Los Angeles Times, Blog
28 July 2009
Officials today will destroy 16,000 guns confiscated from criminals and collected from numerous gun buy-back programs across L.A. County. Law enforcement agencies have attempted to get guns off the street by allowing people to turn them in for gift cards. Back in March, an LAPD gun-buyback program that traded gift cards for firearms netted nearly 1,700 weapons, including 40 assault-style weapons and a rifle with a grenade... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Battle Rages Over Move in US Congress to Close Gun Show Loophole
Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Texas)
18 July 2009
FORT WORTH -- Paul Smith loves guns, and he loves to collect them. Always working to update his collection, he took a Ruger .357 Magnum revolver and headed to a gun show last weekend, hoping to get $400 and find something better. "I like to trade and collect," said Smith, 68, a farmer from Loving who went to the Texas Gun & Knife Show at the Will Rogers Memorial Center. What he doesn't like is a bill in Congress... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
What Assault Weapon Ban? Loopholes Have Weakened California Law
San Luis Obispo New Times (California)
15 July 2009
On paper, California has among the strictest prohibitions of assault weapon-style guns in the nation. First passed in 1989 in response to a mass murder of elementary school children involving an AK-47, the state law bans the sale of weapons with certain militaristic features and bans other weapons and parts specifically by name. The law has been vilified by gun enthusiasts and heralded as an example to the nation by gun opponents.... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Gun Sales Soar in America Amid Fear of Obama, Assault Weapon Ban
Telegraph (UK)
11 July 2009
MEMPHIS -- President Barack Obama may never have fired a gun but he is turning out to be one of the best firearms salesmen in American history. "I've sold probably four times as much in the last six months as I have in 20 years combined," said Cliff Hunter, owner of Tommy Bronson Sporting Goods in Memphis. "Hand guns and the tactical weapons, they're absolutely off the charts." Most of his gun sales used to be for hunting,... ( gunpolicy.org )
Mexico, United States
Mexican Drug Cartels Shop for Guns in Arizona, Where Feds are Scarce
Arizona Daily Star
28 June 2009
PIMA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS -- Behind the rows of gun-filled tables at the back of the exhibition hall, a large red banner shines like a beacon: AK-47. Beneath the sign, Joeken Firearms owner Joe Cox does a brisk business selling the popular semiautomatic rifle at gun shows such as this one and at his store in Winslow. The rifle is fun to shoot and easier to clean than other rifles, and, perhaps more importantly, it carries... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Going Great Guns With Fear Marketing: Veteran Exposes US Gun Industry
Business Week (USA), Book review
25 June 2009
Lethal Logic: Exploding the Myths that Paralyze American Gun Policy By Dennis A. Henigan Potomac Books; 256 pp.; $29.95 Don't let the title fool you. Lethal Logic sounds like an anti-gun polemic, the latest shot in America's endless battle over the right to pack heat. It is, in part, but the book offers much more. Read from a business perspective, it dissects the marketing genius of an industry that moves merchandise despite... ( gunpolicy.org )
Mexico, United States
Most Guns Used by Mexican Drug Cartels Smuggled from United States
CNN
18 June 2009
WASHINGTON -- Most of the weapons that Mexican drug cartels use are smuggled from the United States, but the U.S. government lacks a cohesive strategy to combat the arms trafficking, according to a Government Accountability Office report to be released Thursday. Assault rifle magazines are among weapons seized in April in northern Mexico near the U.S. border. In Mexico last year, drug violence was blamed for the deaths... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Gun Sales Climb as 'Scared' Americans Cite Obama Gun Ban, Economy
Boston Globe
10 May 2009
The firearms industry appears to be riding out the recession in fine form, with sales across the country flourishing. And the enthusiasm for purchasing such weaponry has spread to communities south of Boston, according to area gun dealers. Firearms of all types are in demand as well as the ammunition to feed them. Customers run the gamut from the seasoned hunter and skilled marksman to the novice. Training classes for new gun owners... ( gunpolicy.org )
Mexico, United States
Mexico's Cache of 88,537 Smuggled, Seized Crime Guns Stymies Tracing
Associated Press
6 May 2009
MEXICO CITY, Mexico -- Deep inside a heavily guarded military warehouse, the evidence of Mexico's war on drug cartels is stacked two stories high: tens of thousands of seized weapons, from handguns and rifles to AK-47s, some with gun sights carved into the shape of a rooster or a horse's head. The vault nestled in a Mexican military base is the government's largest stash of weapons -- some 88,537 of them -- seized from brutal drug... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Distrust of Obama, Fearful Americans Drive Record Spree of Gun Buying
Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh)
27 April 2009
On the gun counter at Ace Sporting Goods in Washington County, customers are greeted with a picture of President Barack Obama next to the caption, "Salesman of the Year." The "Salesman of the Month" honor goes to Gov. Ed Rendell, whose picture is next to the president's. "Obviously it's a little bit of humor," said owner George Romanoff. "But any time our politicians start discussing gun control, it has the adverse effect... ( gunpolicy.org )
Australia
Sydney Gun Dealer, Collector Gives Up Illegal Automatic Assault Weapons
Sydney Morning Herald
19 April 2009
An alleged illegal gun dealer charged by police over a hoard of military firearms, including the first AK-47 assault rifle seized in NSW, has used the gun amnesty to surrender more firearms. A solicitor acting for Allan Driver, 59, of Elanora Heights, stunned Firearms and Organised Crime Squad officers by surrendering six high-powered weapons and ammunition to Manly police on Wednesday. Police said the weapons were inside... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Fear and Greed Have American Sales of Guns and Ammo Shooting Up
Wall Street Journal
17 April 2009
FAYETTEVILLE, Georgia -- The way Jay Chambers sees it, the semiautomatic weapons in his firearm collection might be the most promising investment in his financial portfolio. Like many gun enthusiasts, Mr. Chambers, a manager for a door wholesaler here, believes President Barack Obama and the Democrats in Congress soon will reimpose a version of an expired federal ban on the sale of so-called assault weapons. If such a law passes,... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States, Mexico, Americas
Sorry, NRA: Mexican Gun Traffickers Do Buy American Assault Weapons
Huffington Post (USA)
16 April 2009
In a recent 'commentary' posted on CNN.com, National Rifle Association Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre dismissed statements from U.S. and Mexican government officials that, based on firearms tracing data from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Mexico's drug cartels obtain 90 percent or more of their firearms from the United States. In making his argument, LaPierre preaches to the choir... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States, Mexico
American Gun Sale Loopholes Let Weapon Smuggling to Mexico Flourish
New York Times
15 April 2009
HOUSTON -- John Phillip Hernandez, a 24-year-old unemployed machinist who lived with his parents, walked into a giant sporting goods store here in July 2006, and plunked $2,600 in cash on a glass display counter. A few minutes later, Mr. Hernandez walked out with three military-style rifles. One of those rifles was recovered seven months later in Acapulco, Mexico, where it had been used by drug cartel gunmen to attack the offices... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States, Mexico
Sting Nets Mexican Gun Runners Buying $2million Worth of US Weapons
El Paso Times (Texas)
14 April 2009
EL PASO -- Two men from Guadalajara, Mexico, are accused of trying to buy $2 million worth of weapons and ammunition from undercover federal agents in El Paso. Osvaldo Tostado Gonzalez, 31, and Gabriel Gonzalez Gonzalez, 38, allegedly planned to smuggle automatic rifles and other firearms into Mexico, said Leticia Zamarripa, spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Both men made an initial appearance before... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Ban Assault Rifles, AR-15: Members of US Congress Cower from NRA
St Petersburg Times (Florida), Editorial
11 April 2009
St. Petersburg police Chief Chuck Harmon is right when he says that AR-15 semiautomatic rifles "don't belong on any city street in America." So why are they so easily available? Maybe because they are legal. These military-style assault weapons are the kind that police say killed 8-year-old Paris Whitehead-Hamilton after more than 50 bullets pierced her Bartlett Park home early Sunday. These guns have no practical use for hunting,... ( gunpolicy.org )
Australia
Sydney Police Seize Machine Guns, .50cal Sniper Rifle, Assault Weapons
Sydney Morning Herald / AAP
3 April 2009
Among a stockpile of illegal weapons seized by police was a sniper rifle so powerful it could bring down a jet or penetrate a bulletproof car over two kilometres away, experts say. A sniper standing on Sydney's Centrepoint Tower using the .50 calibre rifle could take out the engine of a car near the Opera House or stop a bus on the Anzac Bridge, such was its potency, they said. Police yesterday showed off the weapons stash,... ( gunpolicy.org )
Australia
Machine Guns, AK-47, .50cal Sniper Rifle Seized in Australian Police Raid
Australian Associated Press
2 April 2009
An AK-47 assault rifle, a high-calibre sniper rifle and machine guns are among a large cache of weapons uncovered by police in a sting operation culminating in a series of Sydney raids. The Russian-designed Kalashnikov military rifle is the first recovered by New South Wales police. Two men have been arrested after the year-long operation targeting the illegal supply of military-style firearms and other weapons, which culminated... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States, Mexico
US Begins Serious Searches for Guns, Drugs, Money at Mexico Border
Reuters
28 March 2009
LAREDO, Texas -- Ending years of lax controls, the United States is stepping up checks of vehicles heading into Mexico to stop weapons and cash fueling a drug war south of the border. But local U.S. officials on the border are clamoring for even more help. At Laredo, Texas, one of the busiest points for cross-border truck traffic between the two countries, U.S. customs agents have seized at least $5.5 million in suspected drug cash... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States, Mexico
Drug Cartels Thrive on US Addicts, Guns: Curb Flow of Assault Weapons
Miami Herald / McClatchy Newspapers, Opinion
25 March 2009
TUCSON, Arizona -- When Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visits Mexico this week to discuss the drug-related violence that left 6,200 dead there last year and is spreading across the U.S. border, she should be told in unmistakable terms: Stop the trafficking of U.S. guns that is fueling the bloodshed. Clinton is scheduled to go to Mexico on Wednesday amid an outcry by increasingly out-of-control Mexico-bashing hotheads on U.S.... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States, Honduras
Gang, US Woman Smuggled 100 Guns, Assault Weapons to Honduras
Sun-Sentinel (Florida)
23 March 2009
FORT LAUDERDALE -- A Naples woman has been convicted in Fort Lauderdale on federal charges of conspiracy and delivery of firearms for export to Honduras, prosecutors said today. Jenny Mejia de Hernandez was convicted on Friday and will be sentenced on May 29 before U.S. District Judge James Cohn. The conspiracy count and the delivery to a common carrier counts carry sentences of up to five years, federal officials said. The exporting... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States, Mexico
NRA Ignites Firefight Amid Claims US Assault Rifle Ban Could Aid Mexico
Fox News (USA)
17 March 2009
Get ready for a gunfight. Attorney General Eric Holder is using the drug violence in Mexico to "confuse and mislead" Americans in an attempt to reinstate the expired Federal Assault Weapons Ban, gun advocates claim. Holder revealed his intention to reinstate the ban last month while announcing more than 700 arrests in connection with a crackdown on Mexican drug cartels operating in the United States. "As President... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Central America
US, Central America Fuel Mexican Drug Cartel Wars with Guns, Grenades
Los Angeles Times
15 March 2009
ZIHUATANEJO and MEXICO CITY -- It was a brazen assault, not just because it targeted the city's police station, but for the choice of weapon: grenades. The Feb. 21 attack on police headquarters in coastal Zihuatanejo, which injured four people, fit a disturbing trend of Mexico's drug wars. Traffickers have escalated their arms race, acquiring military-grade weapons, including hand grenades, grenade launchers, armor-piercing munitions... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Alabama Mass Shooting Re-ignites America's Assault Weapon Debate
Montgomery Advertiser (Alabama) / Gannett Newspapers
15 March 2009
Last week's horrific killings in south Alabama put the state in the crosshairs of the ongoing national debate about gun control. An e-mail from five gun-control organizations arrived at the Montgomery Advertiser less than 24 hours after Michael Kenneth McLendon, 28, of Coffee County killed 10 people and himself in an hour-long bloody spree last Tuesday afternoon. He was armed with a semi-automatic SKS rifle, a semi-automatic... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Alabama Gun Massacre Re-ignites Debate on Sale of Assault Weapons
Montgomery Advertiser (Alabama)
15 March 2009
Last week's horrific killings in south Alabama put the state in the crosshairs of the ongoing national debate about gun control. An e-mail from five gun-control organizations arrived at the Montgomery Advertiser less than 24 hours after Michael Kenneth McLendon, 28, of Coffee County killed 10 people and himself in an hour-long bloody spree last Tuesday afternoon. He was armed with a semi-automatic SKS rifle, a semi-automatic... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Georgia Gun Owners Blast Potential Obama Assault Weapon Ban
Gainesville Times (Georgia)
9 March 2009
When the 10-year federal ban on assault weapons expired in 2004, sports shooting enthusiast Tyler Cooper bought his first AR-15, a semi-automatic civilian version of the U.S. military's M-4 assault rifle. The 21-year-old Flowery Branch man has since expanded his collection to include an SKS, a Chinese-made rifle similar to the AK-47, complete with 30-round magazine. "I have them for self-protection, but shoot them pretty... ( gunpolicy.org )
Canada
Why Would Anyone Need the Equivalent of an M16 in a Canadian City?
Chilliwack Times (British Columbia), Column
6 March 2009
OK Chilliwack, this will not be popular, but in light of ongoing gunplay on the streets of the Lower Mainland I think it's time to say there is almost no reason for anyone other than the police and the military to have guns. I say "almost" because there are certainly paramilitary organizations such as border services who need to have firearms. And a shotgun or rifle is important for those who work in the bush (myself included at... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Panic Buying of 'Pre-ban' Guns, Ammo Merely 'A Blip' in US Gun Market
LewRockwell.com (USA), Web page
5 March 2009
Since Obama's victory in November, Smith and Wesson and Ruger, the only two publically traded US gun makers, have experienced major increases in their stock prices. Ammo manufacturers are running 24/7 attempting to keep up with demand. Military-pattern semi-automatic rifles, including AR-15's and AK-clones are expensive, stocked-out, or both. Are these price increases "gouging," as some would say, or are they a natural response... ( gunpolicy.org )
Canada
BC Gun Dealer Surrenders Submachine Gun, 'Armour-piercing Ammo'
Chilliwack Times (British Columbia)
3 March 2009
Sgt. Rob Tan of the Lower Mainland Emergency Response Team stood just 10 metres away from a dummy made of coiled fire hose that was wrapped in a vest of body armour and he repeatedly fired .223-calibre bullets out of his C7 rifle. The shooting wasn't a training exercise, it was a demonstration of the power of some of the guns currently in the hands of criminals on the streets of the Lower Mainland. The bullets -- which... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States, Mexico
Politicians Acknowledge Easy US Gun Trade Fuels Mexican Drug Wars
KGNS-TV News (Texas)
22 February 2009
LAREDO, Texas -- After a week of bloodshed and protests across the border, top U.S. government officials are speaking out on what has to be done to prevent a spillover of violence. United States Senator John Cornyn spent the day in Laredo and made it clear that the United States must be a part of the solution. John Cornyn, United States Senator. "I think they've got a terrible fight on their hands and they're doing everything... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Fear, Hysteria Fuel Sales of Guns, Ammo for Assault Weapons in Florida
Sun-Sentinel (Florida), Editorial
22 February 2009
It is time for many South Floridians to get a grip. Not on their weapons, but on their senses. First, there was the big run on guns, both locally and nationally, when it was feared the Obama administration would quickly enact tougher gun legislation that would make it difficult to own guns. Didn't happen. And doesn't figure to happen, particularly since the Supreme Court has reinforced the right of an individual to bear... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
NY Quadruple Murder Suspect Carried a Legal Hidden Handgun Permit
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (New York)
19 February 2009
The suspect in four weekend shooting deaths was denied a pistol permit three times in the past 15 years, each time seeking a hearing without relief -- until 2007, when a judge finally gave Frank Garcia the right to carry a concealed weapon. Garcia, 35, of Hamlin served in the New York Guard, a volunteer force, and purported to be qualified as an expert in various assault rifles and handguns. He also had letters of reference, from... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Firearms, Bullets Fly Off Shelves as Fearful Florida Gun Owners Stock Up
Sun-Sentinel (Florida)
17 February 2009
After a surge in firearms sales linked to political change in Washington, some South Florida gun dealers report an inability to meet the demand for certain types of ammunition. "People are hoarding," said Vito Servideo, whose Pompano Beach store, Only The Best, specializes in high-caliber weapons. Exploding off the shelves are rounds for military-style assault weapons. Curtis Soles of Davie's Tropical Firearms... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Lax Gun Laws, Firearm Trafficking, Drugs Go Hand in Hand in West Virginia
Associated Press
14 February 2009
BECKLEY, West Virginia -- Many West Virginians enjoy a peaceful existence, free from the violent crimes that plague big cities. But police and activists say West Virginia's few, if any, firearm restrictions can attract profit-minded inner-city drug dealers who bring their narcotics and inner-city violence with them. Last Wednesday, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence released its 2008 State Scorecards, rating each... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Gun Lobby's Anti-Obama Panic Triggers Short-lived US Gun Sale Spike
Huffington Post (USA), Blog
12 February 2009
According to National Rifle Association Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre, gun owners are uniting in "political spontaneous combustion." Ouch. In the most recent edition of the NRA's America's 1st Freedom magazine, LaPierre cites a "tsunami of Second Amendment consumerism" in the wake of the election of Barack Obama and his appointment of Eric Holder as Attorney General. Says LaPierre, "Americans are speaking... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States, Mexico
Mexican Drug Cartels Armed with US Guns, Threaten National Security
Fox News (USA)
4 February 2009
In November, along the border with Texas, Mexican authorities arrested drug cartel leader Jaime "el Hummer" Gonzalez Duran -- one of the founders of "Los Zetas," a paramilitary organization of former Mexican soldiers who decided there was more money to be made in selling drugs than in serving in the Mexican military. As El Hummer was being transported to the airport in an armed vehicle, his fellow cartel members launched a brazen... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Rush to Buy Guns Includes More Women, Say Florida Gun Show Dealers
Florida Trend
28 January 2009
MIAMI -- It was a tough day for Victor Bean. Typically, a weekend in September would find 3,300 people at his Victor Bean Southern Classic Gun and Knife Show in Miami. But the threat of a hurricane had people in line at Home Depot and Publix, making for a very slow day for Bean, a friendly 49 year old. "When things are slow, we joke, 'Where's Bill Clinton when you need him?' " Many a true word spoken in jest. Two months later, Barack... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
California SWAT Team Recycles Disabled Submachine Guns Into Movies
Daily Sound (California)
27 January 2009
Weapons currently carried by members of the Santa Barbara Police Department's SWAT team may soon pop up in Hollywood action films. If the move is approved by the City Council tomorrow, the department will trade out its set of old weapons for new equipment through Cinema Weaponry, a firearms dealer out of Glendale, Calif., that converts weapons for use as props in movies. Police officials began searching for an arms dealer... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Missouri Gun Dealer Loses 31 Firearms, Assault Weapons to Thieves
Cass County Democrat Missourian
15 January 2009
HARRISONVILLE, Missouri -- At approximately 11 p.m. Jan. 12, three men burglarized Gunslinger Firearms at 2110 Royal Road in Harrisonville and made off with a substantial number of firearms. During an early morning telephone interview, store manager Tom Chambers said 26 guns were stolen. Of the 26, Chambers said six weapons were AR-15 semi-automatic rifles. The value of the stolen guns, Chambers said, is $30,000. In a press... ( gunpolicy.org )
Canada
YouTube Video, Porn, Assault Rifle Link Canadian Gun Owner in Court
Victoria Times-Colonist (British Columbia)
13 January 2009
YouTube videos of a Victoria man blasting a couch with an assault rifle in the woods near Jordan River were entered as evidence in a trial yesterday in B.C. Supreme Court. The showing of "AR-15 Makes Swiss Cheese Out of a Couch" is the first time the Crown in B.C. has used YouTube videos to prove a number of allegations, prosecutor Nils Jensen told Justice Robert Metzger in his opening statement. The video has been removed from... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Obama's Economic Stimulus Already Underway for America's Gun Trade
Statesman Journal (Oregon) / Florida Today
13 January 2009
Even without his economic stimulus plan, President-elect Barack Obama has already helped one segment of the economy: the gun business. The post-election bounce for gun sales comes from those who fear the Democratic president and the Democrat-controlled Congress might restrict gun ownership. Obama, a former professor of Constitutional law, believes the U.S. Constitution allows some restrictions on gun ownership, but also... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States, Mexico
Thousands of Mexican Crime Guns Traced to US Just Tip of the Iceberg
El Paso Times
13 December 2008
EL PASO -- The recent sentencing of two men convicted of federal arms-trafficking charges represents the latest cases with ties to El Paso investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. John Avelar, 32, of El Paso and Jonatan López-Gutiérrez, 33, of Mexico were sentenced, respectively, to 37 months and 48 months in prison, after pleading guilty to their roles in a gun-smuggling scheme. The indictment... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
One Blackwater Defendant Can Keep Gun for Work: Others Lose Theirs
Associated Press
8 December 2008
SALT LAKE CITY -- Donald Ball, a 26-year-old decorated former Marine, was the only Blackwater Worldwide defendant allowed to keep a gun after his arrest on Monday. Ball packs a .40-caliber Glock as a justice-court bailiff. "I'm not interested in unduly burdening Mr. Ball," said federal Magistrate Paul Warner. Warner said he was making an exception for Ball, one of five men charged with manslaughter in the 2007 shooting... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
High Demand for Guns, Much Debate Among US Pro Sport Stars, Clubs
Houston Chronicle (Texas)
7 December 2008
From a distance, be it one created by geography, lifestyle, fame or finances, it's easy to consider the plight of Plaxico Burress, the wideout who couldn't shoot straight, and pass it off as slapstick. In fact, one observer quickly compared Burress, the Giants wide receiver who accidentally shot himself in the leg with a handgun at a New York nightclub and now faces weapons charges, to the ultimate goof with a gun. "Plaxico... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States, Mexico
Texas Gun Shops Fuel Drug Wars, 'Caught Between Profit & Conscience'
San Antonio Express-News (Texas)
6 December 2008
LAREDO -- 2003 was a very bad year across the Rio Grande in Nuevo Laredo. But it was a very good one for Mando's Guns and Ammo in this border city north of the river. As open warfare between rival drug cartels were filling the streets of Nuevo Laredo with bodies, Diana and Armando Villarreal Jr., who owned Mando's, noticed a spike in demand for AK-47 semi-automatic rifles. "We were selling in quantity," recalled Diana Villarreal,... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
'Outgunned' Philadelphia Police to Be Permitted Larger-caliber Handguns
Philadelphia Inquirer
6 December 2008
Philadelphia police officers will be permitted to carry larger-caliber handguns next year, part of a wide-ranging effort that Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey is making to upgrade the department's weaponry to match adversaries carrying bigger guns. Ramsey announced yesterday that officers will have the option to replace their 9mm pistols with more powerful .40- and .45-caliber semiautomatic handguns. The sidearms are produced... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
US Gun Control Won 90% of its Election Races, Gun Lobby Lost 80%
AlterNet (USA), Web Page
4 December 2008
Last month, voters across the country took a cue from the late Charlton Heston and pried the assault weapon from the NRA's cold, dead hands. Although the gun group unleashed everything in its arsenal to defeat Barack Obama and dozens of down ticket gun-control candidates, it lost by a margin as historic as the war chest it opened in an attempt to convince voters that Democrats were mortal enemies of the Second Amendment. Despite... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
NRA Fails in US Election, Succeeds in Driving Up Gun Sales, Prices, Fear
Boston Herald / AP
17 November 2008
FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina -- Fear brought Joseph Cannon to Jim's Gun Jobbery on a recent Wednesday. But the 53-year-old retired Special Forces soldier isn't afraid for his safety. He's worried that soon after Jan. 20 -- when Barack Obama takes the presidential oath of office -- he won't be able to buy the gun he wants. The Fayetteville Observer reported that Cannon, who served on a marksmanship unit during his 20-year... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
NRA Tells Judge that Philadelphia Isn't Allowed to Set Its Own Gun Laws
Philadelphia Inquirer / AP
13 November 2008
A lawyer for the National Rifle Association told a state appeals court yesterday that Philadelphia has no authority to implement an assault-weapons ban because such a measure deals with constitutional rights. The NRA is challenging a series of gun-control measures that City Council passed in an effort to combat gun violence. Mayor Nutter signed the bills even though the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has previously upheld the state's... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
US Gun Checks Spiked 49% in Election Week: Assault Weapons Popular
CNN
11 November 2008
WASHINGTON -- Bernie Conatser has never seen business this good. The owner of a gun shop in the Washington suburb of Manassas, Virginia, Conatser said sales have doubled or tripled the numbers he racked up in late October. Saturday, he said, he did as much business as he would normally do in a week. "I have been in business for 12 years, and I was here for Y2K, September 11, Katrina," Conatser said, as a steady stream of... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
US Gun Owners 'Afraid of Obama,' Rushing to Buy Assault Weapons
Reuters
8 November 2008
PHOENIX -- Sales of rifles, pistols and ammo are surging in parts of the United States, as many gun owners fear President-elect Barack Obama's administration may seek to tighten ownership of certain weapons. "The day after the election, I had many more calls than usual from people looking for semi-automatic rifles," said David Greenberg, the owner of the Second Amendment Family Gun Shop, in Bisbee, Arizona, who sold out of AR-15... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
US Election Triggers Upsurge in Sales of Military-style Assault Weapons
Salt Lake Tribune (Utah)
6 November 2008
As polls and pundits in recent weeks increasingly pointed to the election of Barack Obama as the next president, scores of Utahns flocked to gun stores. Obama has supported renewing the expired federal Assault Weapons Ban, which stops the manufacture of several semiautomatic guns with large magazines. "Such weapons belong on foreign battlefields and not on our streets," Obama's Web site states. Local gun dealers... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
'Liberals Like to Ban Guns,' so Texans Rush to Buy Assault Weapons
Houston Chronicle (Texas) / AP
6 November 2008
FORT WORTH, Texas -- While watching Republican presidential candidate John McCain's concession speech, gun owner AJ Sullivan had a sinking feeling. "Liberals like to ban guns. That's what it comes down to," said Sullivan, 25, a Texas Christian University student. Sullivan was among hundreds scrambling to buy a weapon Thursday at the gun store Cheaper Than Dirt! -- which sold $101,000 in merchandise the day after the election,... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States, Mexico
Traffic Stop Nabs US-Mexico Gun Runners, 'Numerous' Assault Rifles
Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Texas)
31 October 2008
Two North Texas men arrested last week while passing through Denton County with a cache of guns may be involved in a larger ring smuggling weapons into Mexico, authorities said Wednesday. Victor Manuel Villalpando of Burleson and Norberto Estrada of Fort Worth remain in the Denton County Jail on federal holds. "Gun smuggling, in particular, is a high priority for the ATF right now," said special agent Tom Crowley of the... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Sales of Assault Weapons Spike as Texas Gun Owners Gird for Obama
WFAA-TV News (Texas)
27 October 2008
GARLAND -- With nine days left until the election, people aren't only lining up to vote early; they are also apparently heading to sporting goods stores and gun shops as owners have reported an increase in business. Gun owners have expressed concern that Barack Obama, if elected, will not only renew the ban on assault weapons, but also make it permanent. "Not that people are fear-buying," said John Mannewitz, a manager... ( gunpolicy.org )
Mexico, United States
Licensed US Gun Dealer Sold 7 AK-47s Used to Kill 8 Mexican Police
La Opinión (USA)
24 October 2008
[Translated summary:] Seven AK-47s used to kill 8 Mexican federal police have been traced to a licensed Phoenix gun dealer. Arizona's Attorney General says this is 'the traditional way Mexican drug traffickers are supplied with their weapons'.] El 26 de mayo un grupo de sicarios pertenecientes al cartel de Sinaloa se atrincheró en una vivienda de la colonia Benito Juárez, en Culiacán. Desde ahí los sicarios ser enfrentaron a... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Obama 'Favoured Every Gun Restriction That Came Along in Illinois'
Gazette (Colorado Springs), Editorial
22 October 2008
Brilliantly, Democrats have kept the issue of guns out of the presidential campaign. Guns have barely been mentioned, with the exception of Barack Obama's gaffe about rubes clinging to Bibles and guns, his cautious support of the Supreme Court's Heller decision, and pop culture references to GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin killing moose. Democrats have long been on the losing end of the gun-rights debate, which has cost... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Gun-Toting Texans Warm to Palin, McCain on Key Issue: Their Weapons
Express-News (Texas)
20 September 2008
Among the assault rifles and razor-sharp throwing stars for sale at a recent Freeman Coliseum gun show, fierce loyalty to John McCain also was on display. Lit by flashing red lights and imprinted on buttons, his name greeted browsers at the booths of dealers who consider this year's presidential contest a momentous occasion. "This election is the most important election in my lifetime," said Sheryl Loughlin, a 62-year-old Cibolo... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States, Mexico
US Feds, Gun Lobby Advertise to Discourage Texas-Mexico Gun Running
McAllen Monitor (Texas)
3 August 2008
McALLEN, Texas -- Hundreds of radio and television commercials urging citizens not to agree to be middle men in illegal firearms purchases are expected to hit Rio Grande Valley airwaves this month. The aggressive media blitz dubbed "Don't Lie for the Other Guy" is locally targeted to curb the flow of guns across the Rio Grande to Mexico's violent cartels. The syndicates routinely pay locals with clean records to purchase firearms... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Easily Bought Assault Weapons Kill More Americans, Cops Than Ever Before
Mother Jones (USA) / Jul-Aug Issue
14 July 2008
In a warehouse on the outskirts of the rural Shenandoah Valley town of Fishersville, Virginia, it didn't take long to spot what I was looking for. There were plenty of guns lined up neatly on display tables, everything from Civil War-style muskets to handguns to hunting rifles, but I was in the market for something with a bit more firepower. At a table near the entrance, I found it: a Chinese-made MAK-90 semiautomatic rifle, a variation... ( gunpolicy.org )
Canada, United States, Mexico
US Guns Fuel Both Mexican Drug Wars and Canadian Gang Violence
Canadian Press
4 July 2008
VANCOUVER -- Illicit guns that make their way across the U.S. border into Canada are a serious problem but a relative nuisance compared with the desperate battle being fought on the U.S.-Mexico border, say officials. More than 4,000 people -- including hundreds of police officers -- have died in the last 18 months as the Mexican government battles the country's powerful drug cartels. Border cities such as Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States, Mexico
Almost All Guns in Mexico's Drug Wars Are From US Dealers, Gun Shows
Portfolio (USA), July Issue
16 June 2008
The U.S. has pledged more than $1 billion to help Mexico win its war on drugs. But even as the body count rises above 10,000, most of the guns that do the killing -- Colt .38 Supers and big-bore Barrett rifles among them -- keep pouring in from the U.S. Alfredo Beltrán Leyva was arrested on January 21 in Culiacán, capital of the Mexican state of Sinaloa. The circumstances of his arrest lived up to his high standing in Mexico's... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States, Mexico
US-to-Mexico 'Iron River' Provides 90% of Guns Used in Drug Gang Wars
El Paso Times (Texas)
15 June 2008
The rise in cartel violence in Juárez has made U.S. law enforcement officials all too aware that many of the weapons used for crimes in Mexico come from the United States. Insiders have come to describe illegal gun trafficking from the U.S. to Mexico as the Iron River, a trade route that extends well beyond the border as illegal gun dealers are pulling weapons from U.S. cities "The flow of weapons are going from the United... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Assault Weapons in Florida: What's a Few Dead Cops to the Gun Lobby?
Miami Herald, Opinion
5 June 2008
The shock was in the weight of the thing. Less than six pounds. It was a cop's weapon, a semiautomatic assault rifle of dull anodized black steel, stripped down to an unadorned functionality. How light it felt in my hands. Like a toy gun. I thought how easy it would be for some kid, some 110-pound wild-dog street punk, to heft an AR-6520 and wield it to hellish effect. No wonder Fort Lauderdale is spending... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Washington, DC Police to Carry Converted Military Assault Rifles on Patrol
Washington Post
17 May 2008
The D.C. police department's decision to arm patrol officers with semiautomatic rifles is promoted by commanders as a way to stay ahead of criminals. But it is raising concerns among civil rights groups and others, who question whether the weapons are necessary. Hundreds of officers will be issued AR-15 rifles starting this summer, and police say the guns will be a better match for criminals. Although Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier... ( gunpolicy.org )
Canada, United States
Machine Guns, Assault Rifles, Uzis Bought in US, Found in Nova Scotia
Halifax Chronicle-Herald (Nova Scotia)
16 May 2008
Police and customs officers seized machine-guns and assault rifles from at least two Halifax addresses Wednesday. The weapons, including Uzi and MAC-10 submachine-guns and AR-15 assault rifles, were allegedly smuggled into Canada from the United States since March 2006, court records show. A 21-year-old man was arrested Wednesday and arraigned in Halifax provincial court Thursday on four charges under the Customs Act and... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States, Mexico
Car Full of 'Accidental' Guns, Ammunition Lands US Soldier in Mexican Jail
Associated Press
9 May 2008
EL PASO, Texas -- When he crossed the U.S.-Mexico border, Spc. Richard Torres was carrying a small arsenal in his car: an AR-15 assault rifle, a .45-caliber handgun, 171 rounds of ammunition, several cartridges and three knives. At a checkpoint, Torres didn't try to hide the weapons. But he insisted he hadn't meant to cross the border with the guns, which in Mexico are restricted for use only by the military. While searching for... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Ohio Man Took Assault Rifle to Work, Fired Out Window, Shot 14yr-old Girl
Cincinnati Enquirer (Ohio)
4 April 2008
A Morrow man who accidentally shot a 14 year-old girl Thursday will answer to a Hamilton County judge at 9 a.m. this morning. Cameron Barrett, 23, is held at the Hamilton County jail this morning on charges of assault, records show. He took an AR-15 assault rifle to work and fired one round into the street, Sharonville police said. The bullet hit a black Dodge Durango through the passenger side door while the vehicle was... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Thousands of US Firearm Collectors See Guns as a Hobby Like Any Other
Reuters
11 March 2008
DOUGLAS, Arizona -- An odd contraption in retired firefighter Alex Black's cluttered garage looks a bit like the hand winch at the top of a well. In fact, it is a machinegun. Turning the shiny brass handle spat out a withering hail of bullets that transformed modern warfare. "You march in to battle in straight lines against this, and nobody comes back," said Black, standing beside the hefty, carriage-mounted Colt Gatling... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States, Mexico
Feds Tackle 'Unprecedented Surge' of Gun Smuggling from US to Mexico
Washington Times
5 March 2008
A flood of high-powered weapons purchased by Mexican drug smugglers from sellers in the United States has been targeted by agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as part of a law-enforcement initiative aimed at stemming rising border violence. During the past two years, more than 125 ATF agents and investigators have been deployed along the southwest border in Project Gunrunner to increase "strategic... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States, Mexico
Gun Smuggling from United States Is 'No. 1 Crime Problem' Facing Mexico
US House of Representatives, Speech
7 February 2008
Chairman Engel, Ranking Member Burton, and distinguished Members of the Subcommittee: I am William Hoover, Assistant Director for Field Operations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). I have been an agent with ATF since 1987, and in my current position I oversee the operations of all of the Bureau's field offices, including those along the Southwest Border. It is an honor to appear before you today to discuss... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
New York Man Caught with Assault Weapons, Machine Gun, Illegal 'Arsenal'
Newsday (New York)
3 January 2008
Police radios, body armor, combat knives and an arsenal of firearms -- including an assault rifle and a machine gun -- were found along with 20,000 rounds of ammunition in a police search Wednesday after NYPD officers arrested a Flushing man, city police said. Police officers first approached Suwei Chuang, 36, of 135-11 40th Rd., Apt. 7A, after someone reported at 8:45 p.m. Wednesday that he was carrying a weapon. Then... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
Florida Police Fear Being Outgunned by Criminals With Assault Weapons
Gainesville Sun (Florida)
15 December 2007
The Gainesville Police Department could be joining the list of law enforcement agencies around the country allowing more officers to carry semiautomatic rifles as police say they're increasingly being outgunned by criminals. Continue to 2nd paragraph The proposal comes as law enforcement agencies encounter more cases in which weapons such as AK-47s are being used. After hearing of a recent case in South Florida where officers... ( gunpolicy.org )
United States
San Francisco Gun Buyback Reaps Plaudits, Assault Weapons for Furnace
Associated Press
2 December 2007
Armed citizens packing everything from an AK-47 assault rifle to a couple of sawed-off shotguns and enough antique pistols to set a collector's heart racing massed across the street from San Francisco's City Hall on Saturday -- but pulling triggers was the furthest thing from anybody's mind. They came to dump the weapons so these firearms could be forever kept from falling into the hands of criminals. Or from killing someone during... ( gunpolicy.org )
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