Gun Policy News, 17 January 2008
Gun Summit Planned to Reform, Tighten Firearm Laws in Scotland
17 January 2008
BBC News
A firearms summit to identify how gun laws can be reformed is being planned by ministers in Scotland.
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill will invite police, farmers, shooting clubs and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, as well as gun control campaigners.
He said that with gun crime increasing, the law needed to be tougher and simpler to understand and enforce.
Last year saw 247 firearms incidents in Scotland resulting in death or injury, up 25% on the year before.
The... (GunPolicy.org)
Clinton Touts Assault Weapon Ban, Abandons Gun Licensing, Registration
17 January 2008
Wall Street Journal, Transcript
MODERATOR TIM RUSSERT: Sen. Clinton, when you ran for the Senate in 2000, you said that everyone who wishes to purchase a gun should have a license, and that every handgun sale or transfer should be registered in a national registry. Will you try to implement such a plan?
HILLARY CLINTON: Well, I am against illegal guns, and illegal guns are the cause of so much death and injury in our country. I also am a political realist and I understand that the political winds are... (GunPolicy.org)
Police, Gun Control Campaigners, Gun Lobby Join in Scottish Gun Summit
17 January 2008
Scotsman (Edinburgh)
Scotland is to host a UK-wide summit on reforming the law on firearms including air guns.
Kenny MacAskill, the justice secretary, yesterday wrote to Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, inviting her to join Alex Salmond, the First Minister, and himself, in hosting the event.
The summit is being welcomed by gun control campaigners, police organisations, and rural and shooting groups.
Attempts to allow firearms legislation, particularly concerning air guns, to be devolved... (GunPolicy.org)
Survey Estimates 100,000 Illegal Guns, Small Arms in Burundi
17 January 2008
Burundi Réalités (Bujumbura)
BUJUMBURA — More than a hundred thousand small arms continue to flow into Burundi. This was reported in a study jointly carried out by leading local human rights organizations, Ligue Iteka, and the Small Arms Survey.
In the study, these two organisations indicate that most of these arms come from the Democratic Republic of Congo where fighting continues. These weapons were carried into Burundi by civilians after the government failed to protect them when they were... (GunPolicy.org)
Dangerous People Easily Buy Firearms: Close Virginia's Gun Show Loophole
17 January 2008
Washington Post, Editorial
In Virginia, site of the deadliest rampage by a single gunman in American history, it remains shockingly easy for anyone — convicted felon, psychiatric patient, court-restrained vindictive spouse, you name it — to buy a gun, no questions asked. Just stroll down the aisles at one of the state's scores of gun shows, and look for the dealers displaying signs that read: "No Background Checks."
For three years running, the gun lobby and its allies in the Virginia... (GunPolicy.org)
Outpouring of Support for 10yr-old California Boy Paralysed by Stray Bullet
17 January 2008
San Francisco Chronicle
The parents of an Oakland boy paralyzed by a stray bullet during a piano lesson said Wednesday they were overwhelmed by the community's support and bear no anger toward the shooter.
"I don't want to have hatred in my heart," said Richard Rodriguez, whose 10-year-old son, Christopher, has been in intensive care at Children's Hospital Oakland since last Thursday's incident. "Although, I don't want to see (the shooter's) face, either."
Christopher Rodriguez was... (GunPolicy.org)
Furore Over Kentucky's 'Bring Your Guns to School' Campus Firearm Bill
17 January 2008
Herald-Leader (Kentucky)
As the rhetoric in Frankfort rolled to a boil, Kentucky's public universities expressed solid opposition Wednesday to a bill that would allow people to bring firearms onto campuses as long as the weapons remained in vehicles.
In Frankfort, state Rep. Kathy Stein, chairwoman of the House Judiciary Committee, said the bill amounts to "micromanaging" institutions of higher education, and the legislation is unlikely to get out of her committee for a vote in the full House.... (GunPolicy.org)
Nigerian Army, Police Officers Sold Assault Rifles, Machine Guns to Rebels
17 January 2008
Financial Standard (Nigeria), Editorial
The recent warning by President Umaru Yar'Adua's in Kontagora, Niger State at the end of a training exercise for soldiers that his administration will not tolerate widespread reports that arms and ammunition are missing in some army formations is an admonition that must be taken seriously. This is particularly apposite, following the revelation that some of the missing arms and ammunition from the Nigerian Army Central Ordinance Depot in Kaduna State were actually sold... (GunPolicy.org)
Milwaukee Lawmakers May or May Not Restrict Gun Sales to the Mentally Ill
17 January 2008
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Wisconsin)
Federal funding intended to keep people with mental illness from buying guns is prompting Wisconsin lawmakers to reconsider supporting the federal system of background checks.
Wisconsin is among 17 states that do not provide the federal government with mental health records on residents who should be barred from owning guns.
State officials cite privacy concerns in their refusal to identify Wisconsin residents who are mentally ill.
Some state lawmakers have been... (GunPolicy.org)
Proliferation of Guns Blamed for Epidemic of Violence in San Francisco
17 January 2008
San Francisco Chronicle, Column
A lot has changed since San Francisco police Lt. John Murphy started working the drug and homicide beats in the 1980s.
"In the '80s, we'd get one, two or three guns a week," Murphy said. "Now it's like — who doesn't have one?"
Just about everyone, it seems. Kevin Ryan, the former U.S. attorney who worked on federal law enforcement for the Bush administration, recently joined the staff of San Francisco Gavin Newsom as director of the Office of Criminal Justice. He... (GunPolicy.org)
In Texas, Even Barbershop Customers Get Robbed with an AK-47
17 January 2008
KTVT-TV News (Texas)
FORT WORTH — Wednesday evening several people watched as a man rushed into J's Unique Style Barber Shop in Fort Worth with an AK-47.
"It was the biggest gun I ever seen in my life," said Tony Riley.
The gunmen pointed the assault rifle at the 35-year-old hair stylist and his customer.
After ordering the victims to the ground, the robber told them to empty their pockets.
"I was just … let's give him what he wants and hopefully he won't shoot," said Riley. "He was... (GunPolicy.org)
Atlanta Drug Gang Targeted Cops, Military, Stole Police SWAT Machine Gun
17 January 2008
WXIA-TV News (Georgia)
Patti Thompson said her neighborhood off of Jones Bridge Road in Alpharetta was a hub of gang activity last summer.
"There were groups of guys walking down the street wearing all their gang clothing, guns hanging out of their pockets, dealing drugs in the street. It was horrible," she said.
Thursday, the man investigators said led the gang known as the G-Squad and lived in the neighborhood, was arraigned in federal court on federal weapons charges.
"Members of the... (GunPolicy.org)
US Drug Gang Leader Targeted Cops' Homes, Stole Police Machine Gun
17 January 2008
WGCL-TV News (Georgia)
ALPHARETTA, Georgia — The leader of a gang called the "G Squad" was in court Thursday on gun charges stemming from the burglary of a police officer's home.
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents said they hope that this case will put other agencies on alert.
The pictures on Arrington Griffin's cell phone tell the story. They show the 18-year-old, who also goes by the name "Saint," holding a stolen machine gun. One picture shows him pointing the gun at the... (GunPolicy.org)
Nigeria Vows to Punish Army Officers Who Sold Hundreds of Assault Rifles
17 January 2008
Vanguard (Lagos)
LAGOS — The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Luka Yusuf, has vowed that none of the army officers found to be allegedly part of the syndicate that stole arms and ammunition from the Army Central Ordinance Depot in Kaduna, will go unpunished.
Fifteen officers, including three Colonels, are currently facing trial at a court-martial in Kaduna over the disappearance of hundreds of AK-47 rifles, GPMGs and ammunition boxes from the depot.
Gen. Yusuf, Vanguard... (GunPolicy.org)