Gun Policy News, 2 January 2009
Michigan Man Arrested for Firing .50cal Muzzleloader in Domestic Dispute
2 January 2009
Saginaw News (Michigan)
MOUNT PLEASANT — A domestic dispute Thursday afternoon escalated into a shooting — landing one man in jail and another seeking medical treatment for an arm wound.
A 26-year-old Clare man at 12:45 p.m. went to see his 22-year-old wife where she was staying — in the 4000 block of Chippewa in Denver Township near Coleman — and assaulted her after an altercation, Isabella County Sheriff Leo Mioduszewski said.
The 36-year-old homeowner intervened, the sheriff said,... (GunPolicy.org)
Chicago Celebratory Gunfire: 32 Gun Arrests, 75 Weapons, AK-47s Seized
2 January 2009
Chicago Tribune
Chicago police arrested 32 people for firing guns during the New Year's celebration and seized 75 weapons, including two AK-47s and an assault pistol with a silencer.
The department's Mobile Strike Force enforced a zero-tolerance policy for celebratory gunfire New Year's Day, according to a department news release.
The strike force arrested 13 people on the West Side and confiscated eight guns, including one assault rifle and an AK-47, police said.
In one instance,... (GunPolicy.org)
San Francisco DA Calls for 'Meaningful National Gun Policy' to Cut Murders
2 January 2009
San Francisco Chronicle
SAN FRANCISCO — It's been more than three months and the rainy season has begun, but the memorial to Caprisha Green remains, ringing a tree near her home with photos, cards, candles, flowers and liquor bottles. A neighbor tends to it, tidying a monument to one of San Francisco's messiest problems.
A bubbly 19-year-old with a 1-year-old daughter, Green became the 77th homicide victim in San Francisco in 2008 when she was hit by a stray bullet during a gunfight Sept.... (GunPolicy.org)
Thieves Lift 6 Handguns from Another Licensed Canadian Gun Owner
2 January 2009
Regina Leader Post (Saskatchewan)
The Yorkton RCMP is trying to track down a culprit or culprits who took what they wanted this Christmas from a Yorkton residence — and the only thing on the list were guns. "We are asking for the public's assistance on this one," said RCMP Sgt. Sheri Fedorowich of the Yorkton detachment. "Six handguns stolen, of course, incites concern in any community but that's why it's a priority for us at this time."
Between the evening of Dec. 25 and the afternoon of Dec. 26, a... (GunPolicy.org)
Stray Bullet Hits 6yr-old Girl in the Head in Guam Celebratory Gunfire
2 January 2009
Pacific Daily News (Guam)
A 6-year-old girl who was struck in the head by a stray bullet while watching fireworks about 1:30 yesterday morning is in stable condition at Guam Memorial Hospital, said Guam Police Department Sgt. Richard Cress.
Emily Mae Caalim, daughter of Mamerto Caalim and Elmie Caalim, is scheduled for surgery to remove the bullet today. Cress said he suspected the bullet was fired upward as part of a New Year's Eve celebration and police will try to match unique grooves on the... (GunPolicy.org)
Licensed Irish Gun Owners Lose Another 31 Handguns to Criminals
2 January 2009
Independent (Dublin)
Thirty-one handguns have been stolen by criminals — including the gangster's favourite weapon, a Glock semi-automatic pistol — since the law on licensing was relaxed four years ago.
New official figures show that a variety of pistols, revolvers, air pistols and starting pistols and revolvers have been taken from the owners' homes. A breakdown of the figures show that the haul included one Glock, two Webley revolvers and a Beretta semi-automatic pistol.
Apart from... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippine Police List 37 Recent Stray Bullet, Celebratory Gunfire Injuries
2 January 2009
Philippine Star
Rains did not dampen the traditionally boisterous New Year's Eve celebration, with two people killed and 346 injured during the revelry.
The Department of Health (DOH) said the number of firecracker-related injuries and people hit by stray bullets was "significantly" reduced to 346 cases with no casualties on record.
Police, however, reported two casualties during the New Year revelry in Navotas and Valenzuela City.
Police said Renato Petilona of Road 10, Barangay... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Handgun, Ammo, Belt Stolen from Unlocked Australian Police Car
2 January 2009
Courier-Mail (Brisbane)
A fully equipped police utility belt, including a Glock pistol and ammunition, has been stolen from an unlocked and unattended police car.
The belt also held capsicum spray, an extendable baton, additional magazines of ammunition and handcuffs.
The only thing missing was a stun gun — yet to be rolled out to all operational police officers in Queensland.
A bag containing a digital camera was also stolen.
The items were taken from a police car in the Roma police... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Control Group Sues US Govt to Keep Hidden Handguns Out of Parks
2 January 2009
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence sued the Bush administration Tuesday in hopes of stopping a new policy that would allow people to carry concealed, loaded guns in most national parks and wildlife refuges.
"The Bush administration's last-minute gift to the gun lobby, allowing concealed semiautomatic weapons in national parks, jeopardizes the safety of park visitors in violation of federal law," said Paul Helmke, the group's president. "We... (GunPolicy.org)
NY's Eve, Chicago: 262 Shooting Reports, 30 Celebratory Gunfire Arrests
2 January 2009
Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Police were patrolling the West Side as New Year's Eve turned into 2009 when officers say they spotted a 23-year-old woman standing in front of her Austin home, firing a handgun into the midnight air.
Deonnaca Gipson, of the 5000 block of West Superior, was among 30 people arrested across the city as the new year rang in. Her .40-caliber semiautomatic Glock was one of 75 seized in Chicago overnight as officers in the city and suburbs cracked down on so-called... (GunPolicy.org)
Dallas Police Field 1,564 Complaints of Random New Year's Eve Gunfire
2 January 2009
Associated Press
DALLAS — A woman was slightly injured by a stray bullet that fell from the sky in downtown Dallas early New Year's morning and grazed her left shoulder, police said Friday.
It was the only injury reported from the 1,564 calls of random gunfire Dallas police received from 11 p.m. Wednesday to 2 a.m. Thursday, Dallas Police Sgt. Gil Cerda said. Last year there were 1,107 calls in Dallas, he said.
Stray bullets damaged the windshield of a Dallas police officer's... (GunPolicy.org)
Stray New Year's Bullet Seriously Wounds 3 Week-old Girl in Philippines
2 January 2009
Philippine Daily Inquirer
CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — A three-week-old baby girl remains in critical condition after a stray bullet hit her in the back during New Year's celebration in Dasmariñas Cavite, police said Friday.
Inspector Raul Bolido of the Dasmariñas police said the mother, Joan Abara, was carrying her infant when a stray bullet from the back of their house in the village of Sto. Nino II hit the child at around 12 a.m. Thursday.
The three-week-old infant was taken... (GunPolicy.org)
LA Police Arrest 13 for New Year Celebratory Shootings, Seize 23 Guns
2 January 2009
Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles police say they arrested 13 people for firing their guns into the air at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve.
Police said Friday that officers also seized 23 guns as part of an ongoing campaign with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's department to stop celebratory gunfire.
Over the New Year's holiday last year, police confiscated 45 guns and arrested five people who fired their guns into the... (GunPolicy.org)
Careless Licensed Gun Owners Leak Firearms to Australian Criminals
2 January 2009
Australian Associated Press
Gun owners have been urged to take more care securing their weapons after an increase in firearm theft.
The Australian Institute of Criminology's (AIC) annual report on firearm theft says 1526 guns were stolen in 2006-07, an increase of 81 from the previous year.
AIC research manager Judy Putt urged gun owners to store the weapons safely.
"Around a quarter of owners who reported a theft in 2006-07 were known not to have complied with the requirements for safe firearm... (GunPolicy.org)
New York Mayor Must Face Gun Dealer's Defamation Case in Georgia
2 January 2009
Fulton County Daily Report (Georgia) / Law.com
A federal appeals court panel has ruled that a defamation case brought by gun store owners against New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg should proceed in Georgia's Cobb County Superior Court, not federal court.
Finding that the federal courts don't have jurisdiction over the matter, the Dec. 19 ruling by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the lawsuit be sent back to Marietta, where it was filed originally.
Jasper lawyer Edwin D. Marger, who represents the... (GunPolicy.org)
Russian Gun Maker Plans New Models of Kalashnikov Assault Rifles
2 January 2009
Pravda (Russia)
Anatoli Isaikin, the Director General of the state arms exporter Rosoboronexport, met recently with the creator of the Kalashnikov rifles, the head of the Izhmash Company, Mikhail Kalashnikov. The meeting's objective was to look into developing a new generation of AK-100 series rifles.
The rifles in this series share a number of innovations that were introduced to the models AK-47, AK-74 and later. Like the AK-47, AK-100 models operate on the explosion of gas... (GunPolicy.org)
Licensed Spanish Gun Dealer, Gunsmith Found with 300 Illegal Weapons
2 January 2009
Deutsche Presse-Agentur
MADRID — Spanish police have broken up an arms trafficking ring, seizing nearly 300 weapons as well as 350 kilos of ammunition, police said Friday.
Five people were detained in Palma on Majorca island and in Zamora in the north of the mainland. They included the owner of an arms store and an expert who repaired used weapons.
The confiscated weapons ranged from revolvers to rifles and machine guns. Police also seized mortars and grenade... (GunPolicy.org)