Minnesota restores Right-to-carry law

Gov. Tim Pawlenty on Tuesday signed a bill that allows easier statewide access to handgun permits. The law, which restores an identical 2003 measure that was struck down by the courts, takes effect immediately.

The concealed-carry law allows law-abiding people older than 21 to get a gun permit as long as they have a clean record, no mental illness and proper safety training.

I thought that this story was an April Fools joke: "Doctors' kitchen knives ban call"

A team from West Middlesex University Hospital said violent crime is on the increase - and kitchen knives are used in as many as half of all stabbings.

They argued many assaults are committed impulsively, prompted by alcohol and drugs, and a kitchen knife often makes an all too available weapon.

The research is published in the British Medical Journal.

The researchers said there was no reason for long pointed knives to be publicly available at all.

They consulted 10 top chefs from around the UK, and found such knives have little practical value in the kitchen.

None of the chefs felt such knives were essential, since the point of a short blade was just as useful when a sharp end was needed. . . .

I would like to thank Kae for alerting me to this article.

Proposed ban on 50 caliber guns in NJ

Legislation to ban 50 caliber guns introduced in New Jersey.

One of my op-eds on the topic is available here.

Texas going to let judges, attorneys to carry guns in court?

The Senate has passed a bill that would allow district and county attorneys and federal judges to carry concealed handguns inside the courthouse.

State Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, who sponsored the House bill authored by State Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, said he was pleased all 31 senators voted for the bill Tuesday.

"I think it's a good piece of legislation, especially after the shooting at our courthouse," Eltife said.

In February, a man angry about being sued for unpaid child support opened fire with an AK-47 assault rifle outside a Tyler courthouse. David Hernandez Arroyo Sr. killed his ex-wife and a bystander. Arroyo's son and three officers were wounded. Arroyo was killed by police after fleeing the scene.

For the rest of the story on the Tyler attack and links at the bottom of the page to other discussions see here.

Unlike New York, Illinois House narrowly defeats so-called Assault Weapons Ban and .50 caliber ban

Illinois lawmakers narrowly rejected a proposed ban on assault weapons and .50-caliber rifles Tuesday amid intense lobbying by both sides in the debate.

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley has repeatedly called for stronger gun control measures, and Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a fellow Chicago Democrat also got personally involved by calling lawmakers and distributing videos demonstrating the firepower of assault weapons.

New York Assembly Passes Expanded Assault Weapons Ban

A wider range of semi-automatic rifles and pistols would become legally off-limits to gun buyers under legislation that passed the Democratic-controlled state Assembly yesterday.

Assemblyman John Lavelle (D-North Shore) sponsored the bill, arguing that "military-style guns" -- the kind used in several killings, including the executions of two undercover cops in Tompkinsville two years ago -- should not be sold legally. . . .

To become law, Lavelle's bill must pass the Republican-controlled state Senate and be approved by Gov. George Pataki. Based on history, it's not an impossible road.

Lavelle said his co-sponsor is Sen. Frank Padavan, a well-established Republican from Queens who, as a member of the majority party, could get a bill through the Senate.

Asked about the prospects for Lavelle's bill, state Sen. Diane Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn) said she would need to review it. A spokesman for Sen. John Marchi (R-Staten Island) said the same, but added that Marchi "feels nobody needs a combat weapon to go deer-hunting."

Do these guys even know what an a so-called "assault weapon" is?

Retired officers slowly allowed to carry concealed weapons

It is hard for me to understand why police agencies make it difficult for off-duty or retired police to carry guns.

Dozens of other Wisconsin police agencies have so far balked at implementing the law, which allows qualified retired police officers and sheriff's deputies to carry firearms even in states such as Wisconsin that have concealed carry bans.

The agencies say they do not want to be held liable for potentially deadly incidents involving their former workers.

Clerks shoots suspected robber

Robertson County, TN

Greenbrier police are investigating a robbery that led to a shooting at a gun store on Monday. Authorities say a man walked into an indoor gun range and store on Highway 41 and stole several guns.

"He came in and he was threatening to the employee and did try to take several weapons and he tried to leave with them," say police.

The suspect, Courtney Hall II, walked into "Guns and Leather Indoor Gun Range" pretending to be a customer and stole several weapons. . . .

The clerk shot Hall twice in the lower waist and shoulder. He was taken by Life Flight to Vanderbilt Medical Hospital in critical condition.

The owner of the business says his worker feared for his life since Hall had several weapons in his waistband and he did not want to take any chances.

A Peabody and Applause for Dan Rather?

The Peabody had in the past been a very prestigious award:

It's worth mentioning here that the unrepentant Rather and his colleague Mary Mapes, who was fired for her role in presenting the forged documents, received a major industry award last week, a Peabody, as well as "extended applause" from the journalists in the crowd.

Ending Gun registry or closing so-called gun show loophole: Illinois' choice

As part of a bill to eliminate the so-called gun show loophole, Illinois legislators have included a provision to end the state gun registry. Governor Blagojevich has said that he will veto the bill, but the vote on the override will be close.

Reducing gun free zones in Ohio

This is not exactly the most unbiased article, but it sitll at least it points to an interesting bill in Ohio:

Under the Ohio House of Representatives Bill 91, universities, churches, day-care centers and homes must allow people to bring concealed weapons on their premises, currently considered a criminal act.

Thanks to Alphecca for the heads up on this.

"Misleading filibuster myths"

Donald Lambro goes through several of the myths about judicial filibusters. It is a nice summary of the debate from the Republican point of view.

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison on keeping a gun at home to protect yourself

She may be able to hang a giant Lone Star flag outside her office, but Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison said today there's one part of her Texas culture she couldn't bring to the nation's capital — her handgun.

Hutchison said she didn't know when she arrived from Austin in 1993 that the District of Columbia prohibits keeping a fully assembled handgun in the home. The district's ban has been in place since 1975.

Hutchison, a Republican who is considering a 2006 run for Texas governor, introduced legislation today to lift the ban. If the bill passes she said she would keep a gun in her D.C. home. . . .

"I have always had a handgun in the drawer next to my bed, and I would certainly again have one if it were legal in D.C.," Hutchison said.

Her office said her handgun is a Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum revolver.

Hutchison said after she learned of the D.C. gun ban, she dismantled her gun, bought a travel case for it and took it back to Texas. She said she's complying with the law even though she thinks it's unconstitutional.

"I think every woman in the District of Columbia should have the ability to protect herself in her home," she said.

Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership

Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership's website always makes for an interesting read.

Guns, Gays, Utah

From David Nelson:

SALT LAKE CITY -- With an expected attendance of almost 30,000 people, the state's annual gay- and lesbian-pride events planned for June 8 through 12 will continue to be one of the largest outdoor events organized in the capitol city. But, the leader of a group whose members own and use legally concealed firearms, and attend the events said that an events rule which would ban "weapons of any kind" is too broad, unenforceable and shouldn't discourage the members from attending the events with their firearms if they choose to do so.

Stonewall Shooting Sports of Utah founder and owner David Nelson said that the rule, which was published in May is a departure from the 2003 and 2004 pride events when their organizers agreed that people with legally concealed firearms could not be denied admission to the events and adopted no such rules. Nelson said that his requests to the organizers to revise the new rule remain unanswered.

"Previous organizers understood that people with Utah Concealed Firearm Permits have met every federal and state legal requirement to choose carrying legally concealed firearms, and welcomed us," Nelson said. "There were no complaints at the 2003 and 2004 events. The previous organizers didn't confuse the difference of legal and illegal firearms."