The trial of a Buena Park homeowner accused of murdering a teenager over the theft of a plastic Halloween pumpkin began Monday with a prosecutor telling jurors the man threatened to kill the boy moments before shooting him with a .357 magnum revolver. In previewing the case against Peter Tavita Solomona, Deputy Dist. Atty. Carolyn Carlisle-Raines said a witness would testify that Solomona flew into a rage when he confronted the 17-year-old boy, and then said, "Don't... (GunPolicy.org)

In an agreement officials hope will be duplicated in cities around the nation, gunmaker Smith & Wesson settled a suit with the city of Boston yesterday, pledging radical changes to the safety features of its firearms nationwide and intensive programs to prevent guns from slipping into criminal hands. Terms of the settlement are slightly weaker than another agreement Springfield-based Smith & Wesson signed earlier this year to avert a threatened suit by the federal... (GunPolicy.org)

Gun advocates say that if criminals want guns, they'll get them. True, but nothing says we have to make the process easy. Now it's pathetically so, especially in Ohio, where there's virtually an absence of gun-sale laws. In 1996, only six states sold more guns used in out-of-state crimes, according to the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Tougher federal laws would be the most effective remedy. But Congress, the target of intense pro-gun lobbying, has yet... (GunPolicy.org)

SAO PAULO, Brazil — A "Candid Camera" style TV hoax on Brazilian TV ended up as a real drama with an actor arrested on attempted murder charges after shooting a man in the leg, police said on Wednesday. According to police officials, during the filming of an episode of humoristic program "Te Vi na TV", which means "I saw you on TV", the RedeTV! crew asked a security guard to take part in the show. The program is modeled after "Candid Camera", where people are... (GunPolicy.org)

BOSTON — Boston city officials, fresh from settling a lawsuit with gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson, said they would use the agreement as the basis for deals with other firearm companies the city is suing. Boston became on Monday the first city in the country to settle an individual case with a gun maker. It still has lawsuits against 30 others. Smith & Wesson, one of the largest U.S. gun manufacturers, is being sued by 32 other cities. "The city is going to start... (GunPolicy.org)

LOS ANGELES — A $100 million wrongful-death claim has been filed against the city over the fatal shooting by police of an actor holding a fake gun. Anthony Dwain Lee, 39, was shot in the back at a Halloween party on Oct. 28. The claim says the city, the Police Department and the two officers present at the shooting are responsible for the killing, although only Officer Tarriel Hopper fired his weapon. The victim's sister, Tina Vogt, filed the claim Monday. If it is... (GunPolicy.org)