Top of PageGun Policy News, 6 March 2006
Changes to Proposed Firearms Law a Mixed Bag for Gun Owners
6 March 2006
Business Day (Johannesburg)
After years of controversy, millions of legal gun owners, rendered vulnerable to prosecution by the Firearms Control Act, are welcoming the news that the act's onerous re-licensing provisions could soon be changed due to massive administrative complications.
The full implementation of the act, in July 2004, and the start of the relicensing process at the beginning of last year, resulted in massive backlogs at the Central Firearms Registry.
Last year Safety and... (GunPolicy.org)
Hunters Being Given 'Public Playground' in State Forests, Say Greens
6 March 2006
Daily Telegraph (Sydney)
Allowing hunting in some New South Wales state forests was more about giving shooters a public playground than eradicating pests, the NSW Greens said today.
From March 13, recreational hunters will be able to visit 31 state forests scattered throughout rural areas of the state to shoot feral animals, including pigs, goats, foxes, rabbits and wild deer.
The NSW Government says the plan is aimed at culling high numbers of introduced species.
Greens MP Lee Rhiannon said... (GunPolicy.org)
Macedonian Police Seize Nearly 500 Weapons, Quantities of Ammunition
6 March 2006
BBC Worldwide Monitoring / Vest (Macedonia), Transcript
Last year the police confiscated 464 pieces of weapons, over 10 kg of industrial explosives, 1 kg of TNT explosive and 21,336 pieces of various types of ammunition. The Interior Ministry also says that its efficiency in detecting criminal acts was 65.8 per cent higher in 2005 than in 2004 and that the amount of seized arms was twice as high as in 2004.
The seized arms include 153 pistols, 74 grenades, 61 hand grenades, 48 automatic rifles, 41 hunting rifles, 13 hunting... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Store Owner Dies from Wounds Suffered in December Robbery
6 March 2006
Arizona Daily Star (Tucson)
A 78-year-old man who was assaulted during a December robbery at his East Side gun store has died of his injuries, his daughter said Monday.
Jerry Zwicker, the owner of Jerry's Gun Exchange, 6480 E. 22nd St., had been hospitalized since the Dec. 29, assault. He died early Saturday.
He had been fighting to recover, but he was suffering and his condition deteriorating, said Robin Zwicker, his daughter.
Police continue to investigate the case but have not determined if... (GunPolicy.org)
Outdoors Columnist Stirs Up a Storm, Calling NRA 'No Friend of Hunters'
6 March 2006
Oregonian (Portland)
A Corvallis free-lance writer with a national reputation and a chukar-hunting book under his belt has fired a broadside at the National Rifle Association over its avowed defense of hunting.
The NRA's support is superficial and, ultimately, dangerous for hunting, says Pat Wray, a 57-year-old retired Marine helicopter pilot and NRA member for more than 20 years.
Wray says the NRA is selling hunting down the political river solely to bolster its advocacy for gun rights... (GunPolicy.org)
New PM's Vow to Dismantle Canada's Gun Registry a 'National Tragedy'
6 March 2006
Toronto Star (Ontario), Editorial
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has made no secret of his dislike for the federal gun registry. If it were in his power to dismantle it outright, Harper would surely do so.
But because Harper and the Conservative party lack the parliamentary majority to change the legislation that created the registry, he is seeking a more circuitous path to undermine it and ultimately to render it useless.
In recent days, the Prime Minister has talked of reviewing options, including... (GunPolicy.org)
Nationally Prominent US Pro-gun Advocate Arrested With Illegal Gun Cache
6 March 2006
WXYZ-TV News (Detroit)
A local man was charged with keeping a stockpile of weapons inside his condo and police said he threatened a woman, but Monday he was back on the street.
Oakland County Sheriffs found 15 illegal handguns, 10 long guns and 17,000 rounds of ammunition in 38-year-old Angel Shamaya's condo.
Police went to the condo, confiscated the weapons and arrested Shamaya.
"Obviously the ammo is a concern. The biggest reason it's a concern is because of the threats he's made... (GunPolicy.org)
Hurricane Katrina Disarmament Prompts Arizona Gun Lobby Backlash Bill
6 March 2006
Business Journal (Phoenix)
The National Rifle Association is pushing a measure at the state Legislature that would keep the governor from confiscating or placing restrictions on firearms and ammunition — including sales — during a state of emergency.
The bill was approved by the state Senate on Monday and has the backing of some leading Republican lawmakers, including state Senate President Ken Bennett and Senate Majority Leader Tim Bee. The measure prohibits the governor from curtailing... (GunPolicy.org)
Dunblane Massacre to Be Marked Privately, Gun Lobby Book 'Bad Taste'
6 March 2006
Herald (Scotland)
Schools in Dunblane will not formally observe the tenth anniversary of the classroom massacre.
In letters to families, headteachers of its four schools have asked that the occasion, on March 13, be commemorated privately. Joy McFarlane, head of Dunblane primary, where the tragedy occurred, and the other heads say: "We understand that the majority of the community want to mark this anniversary privately … we wish to respect this by endeavouring to have as normal a... (GunPolicy.org)
