Lawsuit filed to stop gun confiscations in New Orleans

The Second Amendment Foundation and National Rifle Association are seeking a temporary restraining order to stop authorities in and around New Orleans from seizing firearms from private citizens in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

The motion was filed Thursday in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

The Second Amendment Foundation said arbitrary gun seizures, without warrants or probable cause, have been reported over the past three weeks, including some cases where police refused to give citizens receipts for their seized firearms.

SAF said it has received no response to its inquiries about how or if the guns will be returned to their rightful owners.

New Orleans: "U.S. marshals confiscated her weapons"

But on Wednesday night, Guidos said, armed federal agents identifying themselves as U.S. marshals confiscated her weapons and ordered her and six friends to leave by noon Thursday.

"When you get 15 M-16s pointed at you and they line you up against the wall, it's kind of scary," said Guidos, 55.

Bloomberg News: Frist says O'Connor's replacement could be confirmed "around Thanksgiving."

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee said he urged Bush to submit a name to the Senate promptly. ``I feel we should proceed with the nomination as anticipated,'' Frist said. If so, the confirmation process could be completed ``around Thanksgiving.''

She hates guns, but now plans to purchase one: "It's better than being defenseless"

A Henderson man shot and wounded two men who allegedly broke into his home near College Drive and East Horizon Drive on Monday night, Henderson Police said.

The homeowner, whose name was withheld by police, shot 24-year-old Joey Bolden and his cousin, 25-year-old DelMarco Bolden, . . .

The cousins are being charged with felony home invasion, Rasmussen said.

Police believe the homeowner acted in self-defense, so he has not been charged with a crime, Rasmussen said. . . .

That neighbor, 20-year-old Carrie Metcalf, said she heard gunshots, then her dog began barking loudly. She went to investigate and spotted blood in her backyard near a jacuzzi. . . .

Metcalf said she had never heard of any home invasions occurring in the area in the two years she has lived there. She said she applauded her neighbor -- identified as Brad -- for shooting the suspects.

"Thank God he did," she said.

Although she hates guns, Metcalf plans to purchase one. It's better than being defenseless, she said.

Thanks very much to L.J. O'Neale for sending me this.

"Man shoots burglar coming through window"

A Minneapolis man shot and wounded a suspected would-be burglar Monday morning after he climbed through a broken window.
Police said the suspect broke into a home in the 3000 block of 16th Avenue S. about 9 a.m. The man, who was living in the lower-level duplex, confronted the burglar and fired several shots, said Capt. Rich Stanek.
The alleged burglar was transported to Hennepin County Medical Center in critical condition and was later stabilized, said Capt. Mike Martin. Police would not say how many times he was shot. He was expected to recover.

Thanks very much to Dean Cummings for sending me this.

"Which Democrats will vote 'yes' on Roberts?"

See this link for a somewhat vague discussion on how Biden, Bayh, Clinton, and Feingodl will vote on Roberts. I guess that it tells you something that few have a clue how these guys will vote even after the hearings.

Changes in self defense rules move forward in Michigan

Gun control advocates failed earlier this year to stop a Florida law allowing people to use deadly force to defend themselves without fear of prosecution from being signed by Gov. Jeb Bush.

They don't want to let it happen again.

National and local groups that seek tighter restrictions on guns are taking early aim against similar legislation introduced this month in Michigan. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and the Million Mom March are sending out press releases criticizing the legislation and are calling lawmakers in an attempt to keep the bills from getting out of the House Judiciary Committee. . . . .

Just a clarification note for this article: Florida was not the first state to have the so-called castle rule that do not require people retreat before then act in self-defense.

Thanks to Al Lowe for sending me this.

Violent crime rates around the world

A UNITED Nations report has labelled Scotland the most violent country in the developed world, with people three times more likely to be assaulted than in America.
England and Wales recorded the second highest number of violent assaults while Northern Ireland recorded the fewest.

The study, based on telephone interviews with victims of crime in 21 countries, found that more than 2,000 Scots were attacked every week, almost ten times the official police figures. They include non-sexual crimes of violence and serious assaults.

Violent crime has doubled in Scotland over the past 20 years and levels . . . .

The study, by the UN’s crime research institute, found that 3 per cent of Scots had been victims of assault compared with 1.2 per cent in America and just 0.1 per cent in Japan, 0.2 per cent in Italy and 0.8 per cent in Austria. In England and Wales the figure was 2.8 per cent. . . . .

Thanks to Sonya for sending me this.

Defensive gun story on front page of Atlanta Journal Constitution

Fatal carjacking was a nightmare in broad daylight
Passer-by praised for quick thinking

By MICHAEL PEARSON, PAUL KAPLAN, DON PLUMMER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/18/05
Through her office window, Becky Porter watched as the white Toyota SUV swerved across Cobb Parkway and crashed into a concrete truck.

Porter remembers a blur of action as she ran outside.

The driver jumped out. Porter heard three shots, then witnessed a scene that brings tears to her eyes.

"The driver ... had a gun in his hand, and the guy who was chasing him shot him," Porter said. "Then he hit his knees and started crying, because he turned around and saw the lady in the car was dead. I heard him say, 'Oh God.' "

The crime was as random as one could imagine.

A stranger carjacks a woman in broad daylight. There's a crash. The woman dies. Her abductor is shot and killed — not by police but by an armed passer-by who gave chase in his truck.

That man, Shawn T. Roberts, has emerged as a hero for trying to help 30-year-old Kimberly Boyd and for saving other lives that police say might have been taken had the carjacker escaped.

"Scores of people were coming up to him and thanking him for what he did," said Scott Cannon, a friend of the Boyds who attended Kimberly's funeral Friday. . . .

Thanks to John Corry for sending me this piece.