Top of PageGun Policy News, 6 December 2010
Judges, Lawyers Get Official Help, Training to Carry Guns in Philippines
6 December 2010
Philippine Star
MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima yesterday supported a proposal to allow judges and lawyers to carry firearms to defend themselves amid rising cases of attacks targeting them.
This developed as the Supreme Court (SC) continues with its program to prepare and train judges nationwide to defend themselves from possible attacks that could be related to their work.
In an interview with Agence France Presse, De Lima also called on judges and lawyers to... (GunPolicy.org)
20 Handguns Stolen from Dead Australian Gun Dealer's Storage Locker
6 December 2010
Daily Telegraph (Sydney)
In the past year police have seized 3,200 firearms. And while shootings are in decline - 96 in 2008, 86 last year and 42 in the first half of this year - figures from the Australian Institute of Criminology show theft of guns is increasing.
In 2007-08 1712 firearms were reported stolen by owners in 708 incidents, an increase of 186 from the previous year. Most of these thefts netted one or two firearms, primarily from private homes.
Dr Samantha Bricknell from the... (GunPolicy.org)
Australian Gun Runners Charged, Machine Guns, Assault Weapons Seized
6 December 2010
Daily Telegraph (Sydney)
Police have smashed a major arms-dealing ring based in NSW. In an exclusive insight, The Daily Telegraph takes you inside the operation
The three gun runners didn't care who was buying their lethal weapons or what they were going to do with them. All they wanted was the cash.
In cafes, backs of cars, even in the car park of a Wollongong hotel in daylight, Aristos Dionys, Michael Zarakas and Andrew Kafizas traded thousands of dollars for machineguns and assault weapons... (GunPolicy.org)
150 Children 10yrs and Older Have a Shotgun Licence in Lancashire
6 December 2010
Blackpool Citizen (UK)
More than 150 children in Lancashire hold a shotgun licence — including one aged 10.
Home Office figures released in the House of Commons showed a further 10 children aged 11 have also been grated a certificate to use the weapon.
Shotgun certificates last for five years and the statistics also show that 47 children aged 17 have been granted a licence between 2005 and September 2010. There's a total of 153 across the county.
A spokesman for Lancashire Police said:... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Army Guns Kill 300 a Year, Govt Rejects Ban on Small Arms at Home
6 December 2010
SwissInfo
The Swiss government has come out against an initiative to ban Swiss men from keeping their military-issue guns at home.
Justice Minister Simonetta Sommaruga said on Monday that the current gun law was sufficient to protect against misuse and that the initiative would be difficult to put into practice.
The people's initiative, launched by the centre-left Social Democratic Party – Sommaruga's own party – as well as pacifist and doctors' organisations, will be put... (GunPolicy.org)
Canada Laments Mass Shooting, Gun Owners Applaud Gun Tracing Delay
6 December 2010
Canadian Press
OTTAWA - The 21st anniversary of the Montreal massacre reignited political combat over gun control Monday.
The Harper government came under fire for last week's decision to delay — for the third time — regulations that police say are essential to quickly trace guns used in crimes.
Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said the timing of the decision demonstrates the Conservatives' insensitivity to the national trauma caused by the 1989 tragedy, in which Marc Lepine... (GunPolicy.org)
Montreal Recalls Mass Shooting: Tories Draw Flak for Gun Lobby Support
6 December 2010
Montreal Gazette (Québec)
OTTAWA — Conservative MPs have no right to commemorate the Montreal Massacre on Dec. 6 given their efforts to abolish the long-gun registry, according to a group of former l'École Polytechnique students.
Twenty-one years ago, Heidi Rathjen heard the gunshots ring out in the halls of her school when Marc Lepine went on his deadly rampage and killed 14 of her fellow students. She escaped unharmed that day and has been at the forefront of campaigning for tighter gun... (GunPolicy.org)
Remembering Lessons of Montreal Mass Killing, Value of Gun Registry
6 December 2010
Vancouver Observer, Opinion
Twenty one years ago today, I was studying at McGill University. On that day I vividly recall twenty or so of us watching Radio Canada's live coverage in horror as the carnage was taking place just a few kilometers away on the other side of Mount Royal.
Marc Lepine, entered the doors of the l'École Polytechnique, the engineering department at the University of Montreal. He did not come out alive. Neither did 14 of his unsuspecting and innocent victims. They were all... (GunPolicy.org)
Children of US Police Killed by a Parent's Gun: Cops Promote Safe Storage
6 December 2010
Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh)
When her service weapon is not on her, city homicide detective Peg Sherwood keeps it in a safe, stored in a closet and locked with a key. Her husband, Teddy Anderson, a sniper on the SWAT team, also keeps his guns locked and out of the reach of their 7-year-old son.
"We made him aware of our guns, and let him touch them," Ms. Sherwood said. "We figured that would take the curiosity away."
Keeping guns safely secured while off duty is a concern for police officers,... (GunPolicy.org)
