Top of PageGun Policy News, 21 August 2007
US Suburb Made Guns Compulsory, Now Wants Right to Ban Guns in Parks
21 August 2007
Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Georgia)
Kennesaw, which attracted national attention 25 years ago for requiring landowners to own a gun, plans to fight a state law that prohibits local governments from banning firearms in city parks, Mayor Leonard Church said Tuesday.
He said the Kennesaw City Council "against our will" rescinded its ordinance banning the carrying of firearms in parks on the advice of attorneys to avoid a suit from a pro-gun group called GeorgiaCarry.org.
The group had demanded that... (GunPolicy.org)
US Republican Presidential Hopeful Supports Carrying Hidden Handguns
21 August 2007
Washington Post, Blog
Fred Thompson says he enjoyed his time in New York, where he lived and worked while filming the hit television show Law & Order.
But he just felt a little naked walking around town without all his rights.
"Anybody who knows me knows I've always cared deeply about the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms," Thompson wrote today in an email to supporters. "So I've always felt sort of relieved when I flew back home to where that particular civil liberty gets as... (GunPolicy.org)
US Feds Say Virginia Provides Major Share of Crime Guns to Other States
21 August 2007
Washington Post
Law enforcement authorities traced more than 10,000 guns recovered in Virginia, Maryland and the District last year — and nearly half came from Virginia, according to federal data released yesterday.
Virginia also was among the top sources of guns recovered by authorities in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and South Carolina, the data show. In New York, more recovered guns came from Virginia than from any other outside state — roughly one of 11... (GunPolicy.org)
Most US Law Enforcement Agencies Don't Bother Tracing Crime Guns
21 August 2007
USA Today
WASHINGTON — Only about a third of the nation's estimated 17,000 local law enforcement agencies regularly request federal assistance for "trace information" identifying the source of firearms used in crimes, federal authorities said Monday.
"There may be law enforcement agencies out there not asking for it because they don't think they have access to it," says Michael Sullivan, acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
For... (GunPolicy.org)
Kennesaw, Famed Gun Town, Now Laments Inability to Ban Guns in Parks
21 August 2007
Marietta Daily Journal (Georgia)
KENNESAW — The City Council on Monday reluctantly lifted a ban on firearms in public parks, but officials said they plan to lobby the state Legislature for more local control on firearms restrictions.
To comply with a conflicting state law, the council unanimously approved repealing a section of Kennesaw's parks ordinance that altogether banned firearms in city parks.
But officials voiced frustration as to not having the ability to simply restrict firearms use in... (GunPolicy.org)
Mozambique Army Debates Strategies to Curb Proliferation of Illicit Guns
21 August 2007
Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique (Maputo)
MAPUTO — There is under way in Maputo a four day seminar on "Small Arms and Light Weapons" that seeks to address the problem of illicit fire weapons proliferation in Mozambique and in the South African sub-region.
There is huge number of illegal arms still circulating across the country, a legacy of Mozambique's 16-year civil war that ended in 1992.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, permanent secretary of the Defense Ministry, Tiofilo Joao, stressed the... (GunPolicy.org)
