Gun Policy News, 15 April 2004
Florida's State House Speaker Takes Aim at Anti-Gun Lobby
15 April 2004
Florida Sun Herald
TALLAHASSEE — The so-called Brady gun law, which is set to expire in September, isn't necessary, says state House Speaker Protempore Lindsay Harrington.
While advocates for gun control spoke to the press of the need for Congress to re-enact a ban on assault weapons here in the state Capitol on Tuesday, Harrington grumbled from the back of the crowd.
The ban on "machine guns" represents one step in a larger campaign to rid law abiding citizens of all guns — which... (GunPolicy.org)
10 Oklahoma Suspects Accused of Illegally Selling Guns in Baltimore
15 April 2004
Associated Press
TULSA, Oklahoma — A federal grand jury in Tulsa has indicted 10 Okmulgee residents for trafficking firearms, according to a federal prosecutor.
U.S. Attorney David O'Melia said the 10 are accused of buying about 240 semiautomatic handguns from gun dealers in Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Broken Arrow and taking the guns to Baltimore.
The guns were then sold on the streets at inflated prices to people prohibited from owning a gun, including felons, O'Melia said... (GunPolicy.org)
Kansas Concealed Gun Stance is Awkward
15 April 2004
Wichita Eagle (Kansas), Opinion
In anticipation of the governor's veto, Statehouse champions of the bill to allow law-abiding, qualified Kansans to carry concealed handguns announced Tuesday that they didn't have enough votes to override in the House and would try again next year.
It's a pity.
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius hasn't given the concept of self-defense, let alone this bill, its due.
Instead, she has clung to an idea she put forward during her campaign: That only retired law enforcement officers... (GunPolicy.org)
Allure of Guns Hurting Detroit
15 April 2004
Detroit Free Press
Guns are everywhere in Detroit.
And it seem the city's worst-kept secret is that virtually everyone knows how they get here.
Of the 114 homicides that have taken place in Detroit this year, almost 90 percent involved a gun.
Despite recent citywide prayer vigils, public appeals by police and politicians to end gun violence, and Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's multi-agency task force charged with getting wanted felons off the streets, guns continue to kill and injure... (GunPolicy.org)
Columbus Seeks Limitations on Concealed-Carry
15 April 2004
This Week (Ohio)
With Ohio's concealed carry law going into effect last week, Columbus lawmakers will lobby for tighter restrictions in the law for public spaces.
Though the law allows cities and municipalities to prohibit firearms from publicly owned buildings, it does not give them the authority to ban such devices from public spaces such as parks, trails, sports fields or pools, according to city officials.
"Either give us home-rule (to prohibit concealed firearms) or... (GunPolicy.org)
Columbine Principal Says Staying on Helped Him Keep His Sanity
15 April 2004
Associated Press
LITTLETON, Colorado — Two-thirds of the staff at Columbine High School have left in the five years since two suicidal teenagers gunned down 12 classmates and a teacher. Only one administrator remains.
Principal Frank DeAngelis had vowed to stay until every student in the building that awful day, April 20, 1999, graduated. But two years later, he still sits in the office where he once chatted with Dylan Klebold, one of the killers, about a student play.
"I don't... (GunPolicy.org)