New statistics showing the number of illegal firearms sales at Richmond-area gun shows failed to sway a Senate committee yesterday. The Senate Courts of Justice Committee voted 9-4 against a bill seeking to close the so-called gun-show loophole, which allows unlicensed private sellers at shows to sell firearms without having to perform criminal-background checks on purchasers. That was the same vote as last year. The bill got out of the committee two years ago on an... (GunPolicy.org)

Wal-Mart once was one of the few places in Delaware that hunters could shop for shotguns, rifles and ammo at the same time they picked up their tube socks and toothpaste. That's changing, both here and around the country. In late 2005, the discount giant decided to end gun sales at Wal-Marts where demand is relatively low, a marketing decision that has now reached three Delaware stores. In July, the store in Dover stopped sales; this month, stores in Prices Corner and... (GunPolicy.org)

There's one .45-caliber Colt Combat Commander handgun that Quad-Cities police departments have connected to four shootings, two of them fatal. Police say the gun was used June 14 in the attempted shooting of three people at the Century Woods Apartment Complex in Rock Island. It was used in the July 26 slaying of Michael "Buddy" Jones just a few blocks away. It also was used in the Aug. 19 slaying of Vincelina Howard in Davenport and the Aug. 23 shooting of Ramsey... (GunPolicy.org)

The City Council unanimously approved a $1.5 million budget request from the mayor yesterday to put on city streets an acoustic gunshot detection system that police say would help them pinpoint the location of gunshots. Police Superintendent Robert Dunford said in an interview that the department will immediately launch an open bidding process and hopes to have the technology running by this summer. Mayor Thomas M. Menino is facing intensifying pressure to answer a... (GunPolicy.org)

Even as President Arroyo ordered the Philippine National Police to map out a plan to dismantle private armies and ensure peaceful elections in May, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) approved 20 applications for exemption from the gun ban. Comelec may have been correct in approving the applications: Pacquiao is indeed a "high-profile personality," is "living in a troubled land" (General Santos City where a bomb exploded recently) and is rich (he earned millions of... (GunPolicy.org)

CAMP OLIVAS — Even policemen and soldiers undertaking official functions and wearing uniforms are not exempted from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban. All policemen in Central Luzon have been directed to apply for a Comelec clearance, with a warning of criminal sanctions once they are caught with their issued service firearms, even on official duty, but without the necessary permit. Comelec officials issued the warning during a meeting with top police... (GunPolicy.org)

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts — Smith & Wesson may be best recognized as the brand of choice for Dirty Harry, the movie cop who warned punks his .44 Magnum was "the most powerful handgun in the world." But that was in 1971, and much has changed in the past 36 years. Police officers want lighter-weight pistols than the bulky steel revolver "Dirty" Harry Callahan barely concealed under a sport coat. Soldiers need foolproof weapons that won't get jammed by the desert... (GunPolicy.org)

Labour has been accused of losing control of gun crime as new figures show a sharp rise in armed robberies. Guns were used in 4,120 robberies last year — a 10% jump — including a 9% rise to 1,439 in the number of street robberies where guns were used. There was also a rapid and unexplained increase in the number of times householders were confronted in their own homes by armed criminals. Residential firearms robberies show a 46% leap, a record 645 cases in England... (GunPolicy.org)

The Montgomery Police Department revealed Wednesday that an officer whose department-issue gun was stolen — allegedly by her 12-year-old son — resigned Monday. The 12-year-old has been charged along with three others with conspiring to rob CJ's One Stop, 5780 Woodmere Blvd. Akeen Stewart, 18, turned himself in to police Tuesday. Desmond Jones, 16, and a 13-year-old were already in custody. Jones is being charged as an adult. The four appeared to be casing the... (GunPolicy.org)

Villagers in the Waria Valley of Garaina sub-district have been urged to surrender unlicensed fire arms. The call was made after reports were received by Garaina police of unlicensed shotguns and assault rifles being held in the area. Police believe a number of unlicensed shotguns and five high powered rifles were with the villagers illegally and were being used to disrupt law and order in the area. Villagers should voluntarily surrender these illegal fire arms... (GunPolicy.org)