Top of PageGun Policy News
The ''semi-automatic M-16'' and its variants
US Quietly Approves Massive Escalation in Number of Guns Sold to Mexico
6 December 2011
CBS News (USA)
Selling weapons to Mexico - where cartel violence is out of control - is controversial because so many guns fall into the wrong hands due to incompetence and corruption. The Mexican military recently reported nearly 9,000 police weapons "missing."
Yet the U.S. has approved the sale of more guns to Mexico in recent years than ever before through a program called "direct commercial sales." It's a program that some say is worse than the highly-criticized "Fast and... (GunPolicy.org)
Mexico Makes Biggest-Ever Seizure of Smuggled Guns, Source Unknown
29 November 2011
InSight Crime (Bogota)
Federal authorities confiscated 911 guns from a container ship in the port of Lazaro Cardenas, on Mexico's Pacific, which was headed to Nicaragua.
The guns were found on board a cargo ship en route to Nicaragua, during a planned stop at the Michoacan port of Lazaro Cardenas. The ship is believed to be of Turkish origin, but no information was provided on the origin or destination of the weapons.
The operation was carried out by Mexico's Navy, working with the Federal... (GunPolicy.org)
Demand Growing in Canada for High-Tech Guns Popularised in Games, Movies
26 October 2011
Vancouver Sun (British Columbia)
Whether it's computers, cars, motorbikes or guns, 28-year-old Greg MacDonald — a self-confessed "tech nerd" — is always looking for the latest and greatest technology.
A Newfoundlander and lover of fine machinery, MacDonald says the rigorous research and development that goes into modern military-grade firearms — known as "black rifles" within shooter circles — is a sort of poetry in motion.
"When I see a firearm, I see engineering, mathematics and physics,"... (GunPolicy.org)
Quebec Woman Charged with Trying to Export Assault Rifle Parts to Lebanon
21 October 2011
National Post (Toronto)
MONTREAL — Young and striking in her black hijab, Mouna Diab was once active in a Quebec youth group that fought discrimination against Muslims by challenging the stereotypes that too often associate them with violence and terror.
But the outspoken 26-year-old activist had little to say this week after appearing in a Montreal courtroom to face a charge alleging she had violated a United Nations Security Council arms embargo that prohibits the export of weapons to... (GunPolicy.org)
Smuggled US Ammunition Feeds Mexico's Ongoing Drug Gun Wars
9 October 2011
USA Today
PHOENIX - Every year, thousands of guns are smuggled into Mexico from the United States, fueling the brutal drug-cartel wars and stirring outrage on both sides of the border.
But often overlooked in the controversy are the tons of bullets that also make their way south of the border.
In Mexico, ammunition is strictly regulated and possession of even a single illegal round can lead to prison. But there is nonetheless a steady supply of bullets. Almost all of it comes... (GunPolicy.org)
Man Charged with Smuggling Hundreds of Guns to Puerto Rico from US
8 September 2011
Orlando Sentinel (Florida)
Investigators have charged a New Jersey man with trafficking hundreds of .40-caliber Glock pistols from Central Florida to Puerto Rico though underground channels, a federal affidavit states.
Luis Velazquez-Pinero was indicted on Aug. 31 on charges that he illegally shipped firearms in interstate and foreign commerce, travelled from New Jersey to illegally acquire firearms and lied to investigators.
Records show agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and... (GunPolicy.org)
Mexico Arrests US Man Accused of Smuggling Arm Parts for Cartels
6 September 2011
Washington Post / AP
PHOENIX — Police have arrested an American man who allegedly smuggled parts for as many as 2,000 grenades into Mexico for drug cartels, more than a year after he was released by U.S. agents who stopped him at the Arizona-Mexico border for having more than a hundred grenade parts.
While a Department of Justice official said the case will be added to the investigation of Operation Fast and Furious, a flawed effort by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and... (GunPolicy.org)
For Mexicans, US Gun Industry Plays a Role in Mexico's Drug Violence
31 July 2011
McClatchy Newspapers (USA)
MEXICO CITY -- While a gunrunning sting known as Fast and Furious draws criticism in Congress for losing track of weapons that were smuggled into Mexico, Mexicans say the controversy confirms their conviction that the U.S. gun industry profits off of bloodshed south of the border.
As new details of the U.S. undercover operation emerged last week in congressional hearings in Washington, many Mexicans said the scandal demonstrates how easily crime gangs obtain large... (GunPolicy.org)
Norway Shooter's Ruger Mini-14: Very Popular, 'Poor Man's Assault Rifle'
27 July 2011
Huffington Post (USA), Blog
The attack in Norway by Anders Behring Breivik, apparently involving a Ruger Mini-14 assault rifle, is only the most horrific of the mass shootings involving the company's products.
Founded in 1949, the "corporate motto" of Sturm, Ruger & Co. is "Arms Makers for Responsible Citizens." But Sturm, Ruger firearms are also often found in the hands of mass shooters: last year's attack at a Connecticut beer distributor, leaving eight victims dead and two wounded; the 1999... (GunPolicy.org)
Norway Mass Killer Tried Smuggling, Then Bought His Guns Legally Instead
24 July 2011
Financial Times (UK)
The Nordic countries' hunting traditions mean that there is a high rate of gun ownership in Norway, where locals – and tourists - often go out to the woods to hunt wild reindeer, moose, deer, hare and grouse.
About 439,000 Norwegians are recognised by the Norwegian Register of Hunters, or about one in every 10 citizens. However, most have licences for bolt-action rifles and shotguns, with a smattering of semi-automatic weapons, and ownership of heavier weapons and... (GunPolicy.org)
Badly Flawed US Background Check System Fails to Contain Gun Sales
23 June 2011
Center for Public Integrity / iWatch News (USA)
Like many states, Maine depends on the FBI to conduct background checks of people who want to acquire firearms from the state's federally licensed gun dealers.
And like many states, Maine is a slacker in supplying the records that the FBI depends on to run those checks.
That's how Raymond Geisel got his guns, including a Glock Model 17 pistol and a semi-automatic version of the AK-47 assault rifle. Geisel had previously been committed to a psychiatric hospital in... (GunPolicy.org)
Assault Weapons Lawfully Bought in US End Up in the Hands of Mexican Cartels
28 May 2011
Deseret News (Utah)
WASHINGTON — Convicted gun smuggler John Phillip Hernandez of Houston was likely not the kind of customer that Bushmaster Firearms International had in mind when he purchased 14 of the company's .223 caliber AR-15s at Houston area gun shops in 2006 and 2007.
Bushmaster describes the AR-15 rifle, a civilian version of the U.S. military's standard-issue M-16, as intended "for law enforcement, security and private consumer use." But the weapons that Hernandez and his... (GunPolicy.org)
Mexican President Blames Violence on End of US Assault Weapons Ban
11 May 2011
Bloomberg (USA)
Mexican President Felipe Calderon said drug-related violence is being fueled by illegal imports of U.S. guns that have surged since a ban on assault weapons ended in 2004.
"The violence in Mexico started when the assault weapons ban expired," Calderon, 48, said today in an interview on the "Charlie Rose" program airing on PBS and Bloomberg Television.
Authorities have seized more than 100,000 weapons in the past four years, 85 percent of which came from the U.S.,... (GunPolicy.org)
Pink Pistols, Fitted 'Girlie' Gear: US Gun Lobby Convention Courts Women
25 April 2011
Tribune-Review (Pittsburgh)
Dyanna Auston is the kind of woman the National Rifle Association looks for.
The single mom browsed Anthony Arms & Accessories in West Mifflin last week and bought a .38-caliber, pink-gripped Taurus pistol for personal protection. It's the first gun for Auston of Duquesne, and though she's not a member of the NRA, she said she'd consider joining and checking out this weekend's 2011 Annual Meetings & Exhibits in the David L. Lawrence Convention Center for gun... (GunPolicy.org)
Mexico Tries to Sue US Gun Makers for Selling Flood of Smuggled Arms
21 April 2011
CBS News (USA)
CBS News has learned that the Mexican Government has retained an American law firm to explore filing civil charges against U.S. gun manufacturers and distributors over the flood of guns crossing the border into Mexico.
Sources say Mexico's frustration with U.S. efforts to stop the flow of weapons has pushed them into this novel approach. The law firm is looking at charges that may include civil RICO. The contract was signed on November 2, 2010 by a representative of... (GunPolicy.org)
The American Gun Lobby's Solution to Gun Violence: Pack More Heat
24 March 2011
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Column
Utah is America's first lucky locale to have an official state gun: A week ago, the Browning M1911 automatic pistol joined cuthroat trout, Spanish sweet onions and the Dutch oven among symbols of the Beehive State.
Utah beat out Arizona, where legislators want to honor Wild West traditions by making the Colt single-action Army revolver official firearm of the Grand Canyon State.
The gun lobby gives no quarter. If you felt the Jan. 8 mass shooting in Tucson, which... (GunPolicy.org)
Legal Gun Owners, Dealers, Gun Shows Fuel Minneapolis Gun Violence
22 March 2011
Minnesota Public Radio, Transcript
MINNEAPOLIS — In January 2010, three men were gunned down during an apparent robbery attempt at the Seward Market in south Minneapolis. One of the victims worked at the store. The second victim was the clerk's cousin who stopped by to chat. The third was a man who just happened to walk in at the wrong time.
The report from the police homicide investigation shows that five shell casings found at the crime scene likely match a test casing provided by the maker of a... (GunPolicy.org)
Vicious Cartel Drug War Has Mexicans Taking Up Guns for Self Defence
6 March 2011
El Paso Times (Texas)
NUEVO CASAS GRANDES, Mexico - On the ranch lands near the U.S. border, people no longer take security for granted and have turned to weapons to stave off drug thugs.
Teachers, ranchers, town officials, business owners and lawyers in rural towns of northwest Chihuahua near New Mexico have armed themselves.
Legal or not, they are ready to use their guns for protection.
In a country caught in the clutches of a vicious drug war, people have decided it's better to fight... (GunPolicy.org)
Florida Gun Dealer Gets 3yrs Jail for Selling Illegal Machine Gun Parts
19 February 2011
Associated Press
FORT PIERCE, Florida - A Florida gun dealer has been sentenced to more than three years in prison for selling parts to convert weapons into fully automatic machine guns.
A federal judge in Fort Pierce imposed the sentence Friday on 47-year-old Edward Todd Basile of Okeechobee. Basile pleaded guilty to two federal firearms charges in December.
Prosecutors say Basile sold an informant parts to convert legal semiautomatic weapons such as an AR-15 rifle into an automatic... (GunPolicy.org)
White House Won't Abandon US-Mexico Gun Smuggling Curbs, Says ATF
9 February 2011
Reuters
The White House is pressing ahead with rules meant to slow the flow of weapons to Mexico, a high-ranking U.S. official said on Wednesday, despite fears among gun control advocates that the Obama administration may be backing away from the plan.
In an attempt to curb gun running to Mexico, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said in December it would tighten reporting requirements for dealers in several southwest states on sales of multiple... (GunPolicy.org)
Romanian Assault Rifles Modified in US, Flood South to Mexican Drug War
3 February 2011
Center for Public Integrity (Washington DC)
Camron Scott Galloway, 21, walked into X Caliber Guns in Phoenix, Ariz., on Jan. 30, 2008, and filled out forms for the purchase of six AK-47 rifles.
Reliable and powerful, and a bargain at about $500 each, the Romanian-made gun, a semiautomatic version of the iconic Kalashnikov assault weapon, had become popular with the drug cartels in Mexico.
Galloway, who eventually pleaded guilty to a forgery charge and became a cooperating prosecution witness in a broader case,... (GunPolicy.org)
Licensed Alberta Gun Owner in Fantasy World, Faces Jail for Illegal Arsenal
27 January 2011
Calgary Herald (Alberta)
CALGARY - John Sattler told police after they seized a cache of restricted and prohibited weapons from his northwest Calgary home nearly two years ago that he was the "master of war."
He also referred to himself as "the biggest hit man in the world and the smartest," and said he owned about 10 rocket launchers and "was thinking about shooting down the police helicopter because he thought it would be funny."
Facing 75 criminal charges on Thursday, Sattler, 48, pleaded... (GunPolicy.org)
Pennsylvania Cop Surrenders After Son, 5, Killed Himself With Police Pistol
20 January 2011
WTAE-TV News (Pennsylvania)
PITTSBURGH - A suburban police officer in Allegheny County surrendered Wednesday afternoon to face charges connected to the death of his young son, who investigators believe accidentally killed himself with the officer's gun.
John Thompson is a part-time police officer in the small southern borough of Liberty and a police officer in nearby Port Vue. He was arraigned on charges of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of children,... (GunPolicy.org)
Governor of Virginia Quietly Allows Open Carry of Firearms in State Parks
19 January 2011
Washington Post
Gun rights advocates celebrated Wednesday -- and supporters of gun control grieved -- over news that Gov. Robert F. McDonnell has quietly lifted the ban against people carrying firearms openly in state parks.
Philip Van Cleave, president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, sent an e-mail blast to fellow gun-rights supporters with news that as of Tuesday people could carry openly. Gun owners with concealed weapons permits had the right to carry in Virginia State... (GunPolicy.org)
At Richmond's Lobby Day, Virginians Take Stand on State's Gun Laws
17 January 2011
Washington Post
RICHMOND - Tucked into the Rev. John Hilton's shirt pocket was a miniature copy of the Gospel. Tucked into his belt was a 9mm handgun.
Hilton, whose clerical collar peeped out from a jacket showing a blaze-orange "Guns Save Lives" sticker, said there is no contradiction in carrying a Jimenez Arms semiautomatic and the New Testament, just as there is no contradiction in the idea that only by increasing access to firearms would society be a safer place.
"Even in the... (GunPolicy.org)
Arizona is Heavily Armed State Where Even a TV Station is Called KGUN
16 January 2011
Miami Herald
TUCSON, Arizona -- At the Frontier Gun Shop toward the east side of this city, Jim Sharrah figures he can outfit you with a quality handgun or rifle, ammunition and pretty much whatever else you need in 15 to 20 minutes.
As long as you're a resident of Arizona and at least 21 without an adjudicated history of violence or mental issues, that's about how long the entire process takes, including the background check. You can walk out with the weapon loaded and tucked... (GunPolicy.org)
Business Brisk at Tucson Gun Show Just a Week After Shooting Rampage
15 January 2011
Reuters
TUCSON, Arizona - Thousands of shoppers browsed for guns at a trade show in Tucson on Saturday, a week after a shooting rampage that killed six people and raised questions about permissive gun laws in the United States.
"People see it as either guns are going to get banned, or I'm going to get shot," said stall holder Randall Record, 27, explaining the mood at the Crossroads of the West Gun Show on the outskirts of the city. "Either way, it drives sales."
The show was... (GunPolicy.org)
Wingnuts and Gun Nuts: How the Lunatic Fringe Tries to Hijack America
14 January 2011
CNN, Opinion
In the wake of the Tucson tragedy, even calls for civility are being politicized.
Common-sense criticisms of the rise we've seen in violent campaign rhetoric and imagery and threats are themselves attacked.
This ironically ignores the work of the wounded congresswoman for whom we are all praying. Gabrielle Giffords is a centrist Democrat representing a primarily Republican district, committed to reaching across the aisle in a spirit of civility and finding... (GunPolicy.org)
Arizona's Most Likely Response to Mass Shooting is Reduced Gun Control
10 January 2011
Slate (Washington DC)
Arizona's Legislature began its new session Monday, guns in tow. At a rally outside of the state Capitol, a 73-year-old Tea Party activist named Arthur Olivas Jr. was photographed wearing a holstered pistol. Anyone who blamed the Tea Party for the slaughter outside a Tucson Safeway, he said, didn't understand the movement and didn't understand gun rights.
"If you see 20 guns out there," Olivas told Politico, "you would not be stupid enough to hold up a bank or shoot... (GunPolicy.org)
After Tucson: Why Are the Mentally Ill Still Bearing Arms in America?
10 January 2011
Time (USA)
When the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the handgun ban in the nation's capital in 2008, Representative Gabrielle Giffords applauded the ruling, calling gun ownership "an Arizona tradition." That she had co-signed a congressional amicus brief against the ban came as no surprise: she has always been pro-gun, and she represents a state with a history of proud gun ownership and lax gun laws.
So there is at least a touch of irony to the fact that her name is being invoked,... (GunPolicy.org)
Will Arizona Reexamine Its Gun Culture, Lax Firearm Law After Shooting?
10 January 2011
CBS News (USA)
Back in 2009, the Arizona Republic wondered whether its state's gun culture was creating an "image problem" for Arizona.
Today, after the horrific mass shooting in Tuscon that left six dead and a congresswoman in critical condition, many are left baffled over that culture and the state's lax gun laws, and some are wondering whether it's time for a change. Still, gun ownership is deeply ingrained in Arizona life, and many others are reluctant to change that.
Democratic... (GunPolicy.org)
In Mexico, Only One Gun Store But No Dearth of Firearms, Armed Violence
29 December 2010
Washington Post
MEXICO CITY - In all of Mexico, there is only one gun store. The shop, known officially as the Directorate of Arms and Munitions Sales, is operated by the Mexican military. The clerks wear pressed green camouflage. They are soldiers.
The only gun store in Mexico is not very busy.
To go shopping for a gun in Mexico, customers must come to Mexico City - even if they live 1,300 miles away in Ciudad Juarez. To gain entry to the store, which is on a secure military base,... (GunPolicy.org)
Most Cop-killer Guns Were Legally Purchased: Major 341-gun US Study
21 November 2010
Washington Post
Hattie Louise James was sitting on her front porch in Charlotte when two police detectives emerged from their car. There had been a shooting, they said. Two officers were dead. The gun had been traced back to her.
"I liked to had another heart attack," said the 72-year-old James, a retired hospital worker.
The .32-caliber revolver used to kill Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers Sean Clark and Jeff Shelton in April 2007 started out as a legally owned weapon. James... (GunPolicy.org)
During Traffic Stops, Arkansas Police Now Cover Driver with Assault Rifle
15 November 2010
ABC-24 TV News (Arkansas)
WEST MEMPHIS, Arkansas - Police in West Memphis, Arkansas are packing serious heat these days. The department's new AR-15's, high-powered assault rifles, are locked and loaded and ready to be used during routine traffic stops.
Up until recently, West Memphis cops only carried 40-caliber Glocks on their hips and kept shotguns in their patrol cars. But now, many officers have an AR-15 in their arsenal.
After losing two of his men, including son Brandon, to a... (GunPolicy.org)
Ex-Marines Allegedly Sold Assault Rifles to Los Angeles Gang Members
10 November 2010
Los Angeles Times
Three former U.S. Marines and two others were arrested on suspicion of selling illegal assault weapons to Los Angeles gang members, federal officials announced Tuesday.
The arrests capped a yearlong investigation into an elaborate scheme to transfer heavy weapons, including AK-47s, to San Fernando Valley-based gang members. Earlier this month, officials from several law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, raided... (GunPolicy.org)
Official Report Slams Failures in Effort to Curb US-Mexico Gun Trafficking
9 November 2010
Reuters
PHOENIX - U.S. efforts to stop the "iron river" of guns headed south to Mexico's drug war are being hampered by failures at the federal agency tasked with tracing and seizing the weapons, according to a Justice Department report.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) fails to share intelligence with other agencies in the United States and Mexico and does not target the big fish in the illegal trade, the department's Office of Inspector General... (GunPolicy.org)
Assault Weapons, Handguns Bought from US Gun Shops for Mexico Cartel
26 October 2010
KRQE-TV News (New Mexico)
ALBUQUERQUE - A Roswell man faces up to five years in prison after admitting he paid straw buyers to purchase semi-automatic weapons, some of which ended up in Mexico.
Carlos Martell, 38, pleaded guilty Monday to making false statements in the purchase of eight weapons from legal dealers in 2009 and early 2010. Martell paid two people to buy the weapons so his name would not be linked to two 9 mm pistols, five AK-47-type assault weapons and an AR-15 assault weapons,... (GunPolicy.org)
Queensland Gun Lobby Fights Law to Register Assault Weapon Lookalikes
11 October 2010
Courier-Mail (Brisbane)
Gun owners have unleashed their anger over changes to the Weapons Act, bombarding the State Government with almost 1200 submissions.
Unveiled in August, the draft act includes proposals to licence toy guns, restrict the ownership of certain categories of firearm and allow religious exemptions for the possession of knives.
Sporting Shooters Association state president Geoff Jones said their 45,000 members were fundamentally opposed to the "draconian" legislation which... (GunPolicy.org)
Texas Firearm, Ammo Prices Fall as 'Obama Gun Grab Scare' Recedes
16 August 2010
CBS-7 TV News (Texas)
MIDLAND, Texas - Some popular firearms like the AR-15 are now selling for up to $600 less than they did at the start of 2009.
The price drop can be attributed to a variety of factors including some that could send the prices back up.
Like most other things, gun prices are largely based on supply and demand.
But it's what causes that demand and influences supply that can be surprising.
At the start of 2009, the demand caused by gun enthusiasts scrambling to purchase... (GunPolicy.org)
Appleseed Project Teaches 25,000 Americans to Shoot, Prepare for Worst
1 August 2010
New York Times
One June morning last year, Jack Dailey drove from his home in North Carolina's Piedmont country, through verdant, hilly farmland to a rifle range near the town of Ramseur. Eleven men and a woman had mustered there for a weeklong boot camp run by the Appleseed Project, a group Dailey started that is dedicated to teaching every American how to fire a bullet through a man-size target out to 500 yards. So far Appleseed has taught 25,000 people to shoot; 7,000 more will... (GunPolicy.org)
Flow of US Weapons to Mexican Drug Cartels Increasing Under Obama?
17 May 2010
Newsweek (USA), Blog
The Mexican military has discovered a major training camp run by the notorious Zetas drug cartel and stocked with an arsenal of military weapons, including 140 semi automatic assault rifles and 10,000 rounds of ammunition — all of them believed to be purchased in the United States, U.S. law enforcement officials tell Declassified.
The discovery last week of the training camp in the town of Higueras, just 70 miles south of the U.S. border in the state of Nuevo León,... (GunPolicy.org)
Growing US Domestic Terror Groups Have Access to All Sorts of Guns
19 April 2010
Voice of America
It was the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in the United States. The April 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City killed 168 people. Domestic terrorism is still a concern for law enforcement officials throughout the country.
At 9:02 AM, silence fell across the Oklahoma National Memorial and Museum grounds, once the site of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal building in Oklahoma City.
At that moment 15-years earlier U.S. Army veteran and... (GunPolicy.org)
A Few Dozen 'Open Carry' Gun Owners March on Washington - Almost
19 April 2010
Boston Globe
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia - From the looks of it, Thursday's rally on the Virginia banks of the Potomac was all about guns. Loaded pistols strapped to the black cargo pants of beefy men. Full holsters on women's hips. Unloaded, but still intimidating, AR-15 semi-automatic weapons swinging across the backs of camouflage-suited men, ammo diagonally across their chests. But no - it was about so much more.
"This rally is not about guns. It is so much bigger than that," Eric... (GunPolicy.org)
Emerging US Gun Lobby Splinter Groups Say NRA Not Hardcore Enough
19 April 2010
Wall Street Journal
Some gun owners, saying that the National Rifle Association isn't battling hard enough for their rights, are taking the fight into their own hands.
The 4.3 million-member NRA, one of the most powerful and well-funded lobbying groups in Washington, has for 35 years dominated the push to expand gun rights.
But its strategies aren't aggressive or imaginative enough for some gun owners who want to openly carry holstered pistols in public places, or to exploit loopholes in... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Laws in U.S. are Increasing Gun Violence, Where Does it End?
15 April 2010
US News & World Report, Opinion
There are only three states, Florida, Texas, and Illinois, and the District of Columbia that outright prohibit the open carrying of handguns. Only three! Now, contrary to public perception, I have never been against people owning guns for protection, hunting, or sport. But there are days when I read the newspaper or am watching the news and it seems as if our country is back in the Wild West. Brazenly carrying firearms into restaurants and bars and schools and churches... (GunPolicy.org)
Licensed Gun Dealer Linked to 'Anti-Govt, Extremist' Michigan Militia
2 April 2010
Associated Press
Lenawee County gun dealer Walter Priest, who was subject to a 2008 gun records check that upset Hutaree members, is under investigation by the ATF, Special Agent Donald Dawkins confirmed today.
Priest is the father of 25-year-old Walter Jason Priest, who has a previous explosives conviction and was sentenced to federal prison last month for possessing a firearm while being a convicted felon, court records show.
Dawkins, an ATF spokesman in Detroit, declined to... (GunPolicy.org)
Nashville's Orthodox Jewish Gun Dealer an Obnoxious Right-wing Agitator?
17 March 2010
Nashville Scene (Tennessee)
The loud pop of a semi-automatic rifle shatters the quiet of a still winter day. The sun is shining through the motionless branches of bare trees in a large wooded area, reflecting off the sunglasses of a slender, dark-haired German. He takes aim once more, then fires.
Just a few yards away, a slightly round, white-haired man lifts his weapon to his shoulder and eyes the target in his scope. This man, however, could have come from a Central Casting file marked "Hasidic... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Collector, 'Paranoid' Security Guard Kills Police Officer in California
27 February 2010
Associated Press
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 took his own life with a gunshot... (GunPolicy.org)
Arizona Gun Maker, Dealer Pleads Guilty to Illegally Selling Firearms
22 February 2010
Arizona Republic
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 he and his company illegally sold as... (GunPolicy.org)
California Man 'Obsessed with Guns' Stole 6 Assault Weapons from Police
10 February 2010
San Francisco Chronicle
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 sentenced him to five years and... (GunPolicy.org)
Michigan Man Caught Smuggling Assault Weapons from Texas to Mexico
3 February 2010
NBC-25 TV News (Michigan)
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 man was going to leave but Border... (GunPolicy.org)
47 US States Roll Back Law, in National Trend to Even Looser Gun Control
30 January 2010
Associated Press
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 eliminate background checks and... (GunPolicy.org)
Hidden Handgun Permit Holder Shoots, Kills Sister, 7 Others in Virginia
21 January 2010
Washington Post
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."
But something happened in recent... (GunPolicy.org)
US Gun Industry Lobbies to Popularise, Sell More 'Sporting' Assault Rifles
20 January 2010
ESPN (USA)
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 gaining traction in the shooting sports... (GunPolicy.org)
Pennsylvania Gun Show Patrons Far Too Honest to Traffic in Firearms
17 January 2010
Philadelphia Inquirer
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 the Lebanon Gun Show. By 10 a.m., they... (GunPolicy.org)
Cache of Assault Weapons Stolen, Owner Arrested for Illegal Possession
24 December 2009
Contra Costa Times (California)
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 two men entered the home and at gunpoint, took several... (GunPolicy.org)
Alaska Gun Owner Amassed Arsenal, Planned 'Something,' Now Faces Life
18 December 2009
Anchorage Daily News (Alaska)
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.
Investigators say to avoid... (GunPolicy.org)
Firearms Riding High on America's Holiday Gift Lists, Say Gun Dealers
7 December 2009
St Petersburg Times (Florida) / Scripps Howard News Service
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 use to protect their St. Petersburg... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: St Petersburg Times (Florida) / Scripps Howard News Service
Texas Shooting Highlights Frightening Availability of Guns in America
7 November 2009
Irish Times, Editorial
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 any type of safety training.... (GunPolicy.org)
Illegal Alien Bought Guns for Mexican Drug Cartel at Kansas Gun Show
29 October 2009
Kansas City Infozine (Missouri)
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 A. Fenner this morning to being an... (GunPolicy.org)
Florida Gun Show Patron Arrested for Having Illegal Assault Rifle
26 October 2009
Sun-Sentinel (Florida)
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: The rifle had a barrel length about... (GunPolicy.org)
Florida Republicans Proudly Proclaim Politics at Assault Weapon Shoot
11 October 2009
Sun-Sentinel (Florida)
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.
"Why are we here? Because we're... (GunPolicy.org)
Licensed Minnesota Gun Dealer Loses 21 Rifles, Handguns to Thieves
28 September 2009
Mankato Free Press (Minnesota)
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 about where the guns went have not panned... (GunPolicy.org)
Machine Guns, AK-47s in 'Arsenal' Seized from Santa Barbara Homes
22 September 2009
Daily Sound (California)
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.
"It really goes to show you we... (GunPolicy.org)
Pastor of Assault-rifle Toter at Obama Event Prayed for President to Die
27 August 2009
Talking Points Memo (USA), Web page
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 thing long before he heard that... (GunPolicy.org)
Carrying Guns to US Town Hall Meetings 'Punk Tactic Looking for Trouble'
24 August 2009
Miami Herald, Editorial
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 better argument. Guns at political... (GunPolicy.org)
Guns at US Rallies 'To Strike Fear Into Hearts of Those Who Disagree'
24 August 2009
Albany Times-Union (New York), Editorial
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. The only real purpose for doing so... (GunPolicy.org)
Fear, Obama Gun Control Rumours Prompt American Rush to Carry Guns
23 August 2009
Associated Press
HELENA, Montana — Gun owners worried that a bad economy could lead to increased violence and suspicious that new stricter gun laws are on the horizon are rushing in record numbers to get concealed weapons permits.
From Washington state to Florida, state officials say more people are deciding to pack heat. In some cases, states are reporting a near doubling in the number of concealed carry permits.
The firearms industry has seen a big jump in sales and interest... (GunPolicy.org)
Chilling Sight: 'Thugs' Toting 'Weapons of Mass Murder' to Obama Events
21 August 2009
Los Angeles Times, Editorial
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 insurance option with a wing-nut... (GunPolicy.org)
American Men Flaunt Guns Outside Obama Rallies in 'Macho Nonsense'
20 August 2009
New York Times, Editorial
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?
One man strutted through the... (GunPolicy.org)
US Protesters Carry Guns Against Health-Care Reform at Obama Events
19 August 2009
Time (USA)
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 away from the President.... (GunPolicy.org)
White House Backs Protestor's Right to Carry Assault Rifle Near Obama
19 August 2009
Washington Post
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 comes to your state or... (GunPolicy.org)
Interview with Gun-toting Protester at Obama Rally was Staged by Lobby
18 August 2009
CNN
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 said, "I am almost always armed."
The... (GunPolicy.org)
Man Carrying Assault Weapon Attends Obama Protest 'Because He Could'
18 August 2009
Associated Press
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 say it could be a disaster waiting... (GunPolicy.org)
16,000 Guns Crushed, Turned Into Steel Reinforcing in Los Angeles
28 July 2009
Los Angeles Times, Blog
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 launcher.
The grenade launcher AR-15 rifle,... (GunPolicy.org)
Battle Rages Over Move in US Congress to Close Gun Show Loophole
18 July 2009
Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Texas)
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 that he believes could curtail the way he expands his... (GunPolicy.org)
What Assault Weapon Ban? Loopholes Have Weakened California Law
15 July 2009
San Luis Obispo New Times (California)
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.
But does the law still have... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Sales Soar in America Amid Fear of Obama, Assault Weapon Ban
11 July 2009
Telegraph (UK)
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, or personal protection in a city riddled... (GunPolicy.org)
Mexican Drug Cartels Shop for Guns in Arizona, Where Feds are Scarce
28 June 2009
Arizona Daily Star
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 a powerful allure, he says.
"It looks cool,"... (GunPolicy.org)
Going Great Guns With Fear Marketing: Veteran Exposes US Gun Industry
25 June 2009
Business Week (USA), Book review
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 a saturated market and broad support for... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Show Background Check Loophole Feeds Flow of US Guns to Mexico
22 June 2009
Washington Independent
The absence of required background checks for private firearm sales, like those made at gun shows, have helped fuel the steady flow of U.S. firearms to Mexico, where thousands of trafficked weapons are ending up in the hands of violent drug cartels, U.S. government investigators revealed last week.
The news has renewed the call among gun-control advocates and some Democratic lawmakers to tighten the nation's firearms laws to make it more difficult for criminals to buy... (GunPolicy.org)
Most Guns Used by Mexican Drug Cartels Smuggled from United States
18 June 2009
CNN
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 of 78 soldiers and more than 6,000 others. This... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Sales Climb as 'Scared' Americans Cite Obama Gun Ban, Economy
10 May 2009
Boston Globe
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 are not only full but booked months... (GunPolicy.org)
Mexico's Cache of 88,537 Smuggled, Seized Crime Guns Stymies Tracing
6 May 2009
Associated Press
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 gangs. The Associated Press was... (GunPolicy.org)
Distrust of Obama, Fearful Americans Drive Record Spree of Gun Buying
27 April 2009
Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh)
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 of what they intended. It's true across the... (GunPolicy.org)
Sydney Collector Surrenders Military Assault Rifles, Automatic Shotguns
19 April 2009
NSW Police Force, Media release
A collection of prohibited high-powered military-grade weapons, including fully-automatic assault rifles and shotguns, has been handed in to police during the State Government's Firearms Amnesty.
Around 10pm on Wednesday, 15 April, lawyers for a local gun owner attended the Manly Police Station and presented officers with a large, locked metal box.
When detectives from the State Crime Command's Firearms and Organised Crime Squad opened the box, they discovered an... (GunPolicy.org)
Sydney Gun Dealer, Collector Gives Up Illegal Automatic Assault Weapons
19 April 2009
Sydney Morning Herald
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 a locked metal strongbox and included a 5.56mm... (GunPolicy.org)
Fear and Greed Have American Sales of Guns and Ammo Shooting Up
17 April 2009
Wall Street Journal
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, he figures his collection — enough... (GunPolicy.org)
Sorry, NRA: Mexican Gun Traffickers Do Buy American Assault Weapons
16 April 2009
Huffington Post (USA)
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 in the apocalyptic tones familiar to... (GunPolicy.org)
American Gun Sale Loopholes Let Weapon Smuggling to Mexico Flourish
15 April 2009
New York Times
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 of the Guerrero State attorney... (GunPolicy.org)
Sting Nets Mexican Gun Runners Buying $2million Worth of US Weapons
14 April 2009
El Paso Times (Texas)
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 a federal magistrate Monday. A detention... (GunPolicy.org)
Ban Assault Rifles, AR-15: Members of US Congress Cower from NRA
11 April 2009
St Petersburg Times (Florida), Editorial
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, but they are highly efficient tools... (GunPolicy.org)
Sydney Police Seize Machine Guns, .50cal Sniper Rifle, Assault Weapons
3 April 2009
Sydney Morning Herald / AAP
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, which also included a Russian-designed AK-47... (GunPolicy.org)
Machine Guns, AK-47, .50cal Sniper Rifle Seized in Australian Police Raid
2 April 2009
Australian Associated Press
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 in raids yesterday and... (GunPolicy.org)
US Gun Owners, NRA Praise Key Democrats for Assault Weapon Support
30 March 2009
Associated Press
HELENA — Two Montana Democrats are leading the charge against gun control — even helping force the military to continue selling surplus brass to gun aficionados who want cheaper ammunition.
U.S. Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester are not simply placating gun advocates with a vague promise to vote against gun control in Congress. They are forcing former political foes to recognize that Democrats could be their strongest allies while the party controls Washington,... (GunPolicy.org)
US Begins Serious Searches for Guns, Drugs, Money at Mexico Border
28 March 2009
Reuters
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 bound for Mexico and weapons in the... (GunPolicy.org)
Drug Cartels Thrive on US Addicts, Guns: Curb Flow of Assault Weapons
25 March 2009
Miami Herald / McClatchy Newspapers, Opinion
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. cable television — yes, I'm talking... (GunPolicy.org)
Gang, US Woman Smuggled 100 Guns, Assault Weapons to Honduras
23 March 2009
Sun-Sentinel (Florida)
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 firearms counts each have a... (GunPolicy.org)
US Assault Weapon Ban One Way to Fight Back Against Violent Crime
18 March 2009
Orlando Sentinel (Florida), Editorial
Quite expectedly, gun zealots are on the defensive following the recent shooting rampages in Alabama and Germany.
"The enemies of Liberty will use anything as an excuse to rape our civil rights," read a recent blog post by a gun activist.
Please, spare us the righteous indignation.
Most sensible people understand the difference between the legitimate, constitutional right to bear arms and the rat-a-tat chaos inflicted by assault weapons.
If people want to protect... (GunPolicy.org)
NRA Ignites Firefight Amid Claims US Assault Rifle Ban Could Aid Mexico
17 March 2009
Fox News (USA)
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 Obama indicated during the campaign, there are just a... (GunPolicy.org)
