Armed Citizen: Pharmacist halts robbery
A man with what looked like a real gun entered Medicap Pharmacy in Cheyenne, Wyo., pointed it at an employee, handed them a bag, and ordered them to fill it with Oxycodone and Percocet. Pharmacist Jackson Quick became aware of the robbery, and retrieved a gun. As Quick was making his way to another part of the store, ducked behind a counter, the criminal spotted him. Quick responded by standing up and firing at the criminal, striking him, and ending the robbery. The robber is expected to survive.
Police have no plans to charge Quick. (The Wyoming Tribune Eagle, Cheyenne, Wyo. 12/09/14)
See more stories of how responsible owners have used their firearms to protect themselves at NRA-ILA Armed Citizen.
Armed Citizen: Veteran’s .45 frightens off thieves
Sixty-eight-year-old disabled veteran Joseph Sapienza was at home in Gastonia, N.C. when he heard a suspicious noise at his front door. Sapienza retrieved a .45-caliber pistol, placed it in a holster attached to a walker he uses to get around, and opened the door. There were two masked men on his porch attempting to get inside. Recalling what happened next, Sapienza told a reporter, “When they saw the .45, one ran one way up the street, and the other went the other way.”
Sapienza believes he may have been targeted by the criminals because of his disability. (The Gaston Gazette, Gaston County, N.C. 12/05/14)
See more stories of how responsible owners have used their firearms to protect themselves at NRA-ILA Armed Citizen.
Happy New Year… Stay Safe!
Happy New Year, GunLinkers. 2014 flew by for us but, all in all, it was pretty good and we hope that you had a great year and are geared up for a great 2015.
That said, it’s time for the annual “don’t shoot your guns into the air to celebrate at midnight” and “don’t get drunk and play with guns” post. If you choose to ring in the new year by exercising the constitutionally protected rights that we all spent the year fighting for, we hope that you do so intelligently and safely: no booze with your guns, no shooting in the air and always following the rules for gun safety. The ATF has issued the following release warning against celebratory gunfire:
Special Agent in Charge Christopher Shaefer, of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Atlanta Field Division, wishes everyone a happy New Year’s and is encouraging the public to celebrate the arrival of the New Year responsibly and safely.
ATF wants you to know that celebratory gunfire is not only unsafe; it may be against the law. Discharging a firearm into the air may lead to charges under Georgia state law or federal charges if that person is prohibited from possessing a firearm. ATF will continue to support state and local law enforcement agencies by conducting ballistics testing on shell casings recovered if celebratory random shooting is suspected. ATF will also aggressively pursue any Federal charges applicable to help deter these irresponsible and dangerous incidents.
“ATF wants you to know that you can enjoy the festivities without placing the public in danger. We don’t want to see the New Year ruined by a senseless tragedy as a result of someone shooting a gun in the air,” said Shaefer.
ATF established the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) as a tool to help law enforcement combat violent firearms related crime. Through the use of this program, ATF administers automated ballistic imaging technology for NIBIN Partners: Federal, State and local law enforcement, forensic science, and attorney agencies in the United States. Partners use this technology to acquire digital images of the markings made on spent ammunition recovered from a crime scene or a crime gun test fire and then compare those images (in a matter of hours) against earlier NIBIN entries.
If residents observe anyone criminally misusing a firearm, they are urged to contact their local police department immediately, or call ATF at 1-800-ATF-GUNS (800 283-4867).
ATF is the lead federal law enforcement agency with jurisdiction in violent crimes involving firearms and regulation of the firearms industry. More information on ATF can be found at www.atf.gov.
ATF Receives Nearly 9,500 Comments on Proposed NFA Trust Rule Change 41P
Responses include 100+ pages from David M Goldman, 17 from NRA-ILA
The Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE) received 9,479 comments filed regarding docket ATF-2013-0001: Machine Guns, Destructive Devices and Certain Other Firearms: Background Checks for Responsible Persons of a Corporation, Trust or Other Legal Entity with Respect to Making or Transferring a Firearm.
The proposed rule change is summarized on its regulations.gov site as: “The Department of Justice is planning to finalize a proposed rule to amend the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) regarding the making or transferring of a firearm under the National Firearms Act. As proposed, the rule would (1) add a definition for the term “responsible person”; (2) require each responsible person of a corporation, trust or legal entity to complete a specified form, and to submit photographs and fingerprints; and (3) modify the requirements regarding the certificate of the chief law enforcement officer (CLEO).”
In layman’s terms, what 41P does is require anyone obtaining an NFA firearm as a legal entity (e.g. an NFA Trust, LLC, or Corporation) to submit fingerprints, photographs, and proof of US citizenship along with their local Chief Law Enforcement Officer’s (CLEO) approval for each purchase or transfer. In many jurisdictions, this results in de facto ban on NFA firearms where the CLEO refuses to approve NFA transfers either because they are ignorant of NFA items or are outright anti-gun.
Among the comments received is a 17 page document filed by Chris Cox on behalf of the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA). In his comments, Cox references a number of other comments, including those filed by NFA Gun Trust Lawyer Blog’s David M. Goldman in his 55 page submission accompanied by another 88 pages of supporting exhibits. Cox goes on to point out their three main objections to the change:
First, its requirements are not authorized by the NFA and are therefore illegal for the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to impose. Second, the requirements could effectively block even those who are lawfully entitled to receive and possess NFA firearms from doing so under the very regime Congress created, and most states recognize, for this purpose. On the other hand, ATF has articulated no reason why the current regime has proven unworkable or how imposing these additional burdens on responsible, law-abiding persons would enhance public safety.
The comments appear to be overwhelmingly in opposition to the changes in 41P and articulate many reasons why the proposal should not be implemented. The BATFE must now review all of the submitted comments and replies before making a decision – which is expected to come in early 2015.
Texas Plumber’s Former Truck Gets Weapons Upgrade
…In The Hands of Syrian Extremists!
Photo: Twitter
Texas plumber Mark Oberholtzer traded in his old work pickup truck at a Houston dealership more than a year ago and didn’t think any more about it. That is, until he started receiving threats.
Islamic extremist group Ansar al-Deen Front recently posted a photograph of the “upgraded” truck on Twitter. Modifications to the F-250 include mounting an anti-aircraft gun in the bed of the pickup but, unfortunately for Oberholtzer, did not include removing his company’s decals – including his telephone number.
As a result of the photo – shown at right with company information obscured – circulating around the internet, the plumbing company has been inundated with calls and faxes – many of them threatening.
The Ford dealership says that the traded-in truck went to auction shortly after they took possession of it and likely changed hands multiple times before ending up on the front lines of the ongoing Syrian civil war.
As much as many firearms enthusiasts would enjoy having their vehicle outfitted to include heavy duty firepower, this is certainly now how they would like to have it done – or how to find out about it. Company representatives have been cited as saying that they would be certain to remove their decals from future trade-ins.
Newtown Families Sue Bushmaster Over Rifle Used In Sandy Hook Shooting
As noted on the GunLink Forums last week, families of victims of the Sandy Hook tragedy had filed wrongful death notices over the the December 2012 killings by Adam Lanza in Newtown, CT. This was widely seen as the first step towards a lawsuit as the two-year deadline to file approached. Now those families are moving forward with a class action lawsuit in Connecticut superior court against the manufacturer of the firearm that Lanza used.
The complaint claims that the Bushmaster rifle is a military weapon, citing its “efficiency as a military assault rifle,” high muzzle velocity, large magazine capacity, and ability for effective rapid fire. The complaint goes on to call the rifle a “civilian weapon marketed for combat” before going on to trot out the standard anti-gun “sporting purpose” line. In addition to monetary and punitive damages “in excess of $15,000” and attorney’s fees, plaintiffs are seeking injunctive relief against the manufacturer and the distributors who sold the rifle.
The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act generally prevents firearms manufacturers and dealers from being held liable for negligence when crimes have been committed with their products. In theory, this would protect Bushmaster, Remington Outdoor Group, Freedom Group and other named defendants from legal action stemming from the tragic criminal actions committed by an untreated deranged individual.
