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<title>Of Arms and the Law</title>
<link>http://armsandthelaw.com/</link>
<description></description>
<copyright>Copyright 2010</copyright>
<lastBuildDate>Sat, 20 Mar 2010 20:24:07 -0700</lastBuildDate>
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<item>
<title>More on pistol-gripped shotguns</title>
<description><![CDATA[<p>From James Bardwell's always-useful list, comes a <a href="http://www.titleii.com/bardwell/atf_letter10.txt" target="_blank"> 1996 BATF opinion letter</a>. Its conclusion is that a shotgun that starts out with a pistol grip and a rifled barrel, which is then shortened below 18", becomes a "destructive device" since it is a rifled firearm of over 50 caliber.</p>

<p>(I checked, BTW, and even the 28 gauge is over .50 in bore).</p>]]></description>
<link>http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2010/03/more_on_pistolg.php</link>
<guid>http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2010/03/more_on_pistolg.php</guid>
<category>National Firearms Act</category>
<pubDate>Sat, 20 Mar 2010 20:24:07 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Indiana gets law allowing firearms in parked cars on company property</title>
<description><![CDATA[<p>Story <a href="http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20100320/News01/100329991/-1/XML" target="_blank"> here</a>.</p>]]></description>
<link>http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2010/03/indiana_gets_la.php</link>
<guid>http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2010/03/indiana_gets_la.php</guid>
<category>State legislation</category>
<pubDate>Sat, 20 Mar 2010 20:11:33 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Don Kates on the California gubernatorial race</title>
<description><![CDATA[<p>Don writes:</p>

<p>"I have been asked to comment on the up-coming California<br />
gubernatorial election: Of the Republican candidate, an immensely<br />
wealthy woman named Meg Whitman, I know nothing except that she is the<br />
former Chief Executive Officer of eBay and that she is alleged to be<br />
anti-gun by some people who claim to know and that the allegation is not<br />
surprising to anyone.</p>

<p>SPECIFICS: Whitman has no interest in meeting with gun groups to solicit<br />
their support; Whitman has supported Barbara Boxer; Whitman supports<br />
"environmental" lawsuits that are anti-hunting but makes no attempt to<br />
gain the aid of gun groups on environmental issues.</p>

<p>In contrast, I do know Jerry Brown. We went to law school together<br />
though we were not big buddies. And when I contacted him about<br />
supporting the pro-Second Amendment position in the McDonald case, he<br />
filed an influential pro-Second Amendment brief with the US Supreme<br />
Court. I know that he personally made the decision to do this,<br />
overruling his staff; and he wrote the brief himself. (He is an able<br />
lawyer.) When he was assailed by anti-gun forces, his response was that<br />
the 2d Amendment is a "civil rights issue.""</p>]]></description>
<link>http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2010/03/don_kates_on_th_1.php</link>
<guid>http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2010/03/don_kates_on_th_1.php</guid>
<category>Politics</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:17:42 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>medicinal pot grower defends self</title>
<description><![CDATA[<p>Story <a href="http://www.philly.com/dailynews/national/20100316_Shoot-out_over_legal_marijuana.html" target="_blank"> here</a>. </p>

<p>Sounds like a hazardous occupation: "I don't want to shoot people, but God, this is our eighth home invasion since last May." He ought to get something a bigger than a .22, at that rate!</p>

<p>Hat tip to XD Owner....</p>]]></description>
<link>http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2010/03/medicinal_pot_g.php</link>
<guid>http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2010/03/medicinal_pot_g.php</guid>
<category>Self defense</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:14:30 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>A good year in Virginia</title>
<description><![CDATA[<p>The Virginia Citizens Defense League is reporting <a href="http://www.vcdl.org/static/2010leg.html" target="_blank"> a very good year indeed</a> at the Legislature.</p>]]></description>
<link>http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2010/03/a_good_year_in.php</link>
<guid>http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2010/03/a_good_year_in.php</guid>
<category>State legislation</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:57:43 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Tidying up after self defense</title>
<description><![CDATA[<p>Story and photo <a href="http://wdbo.com/localnews/2010/03/homeowner-kills-robber-in-ocoe.html" target="_blank"> here</a>.</p>]]></description>
<link>http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2010/03/tidying_up_afte.php</link>
<guid>http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2010/03/tidying_up_afte.php</guid>
<category>Self defense</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:55:38 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Interesting questions re: pistol grip shotguns</title>
<description><![CDATA[<p>From CleanupATF.org comes <a href="http://cleanupatf.org/forums/index.php?/topic/85-implications-of-acting-director-and-others-for-atf/" target="_blank"> this interesting question</a>. ATF has consistently taken the position that a shotgun that leaves the factory with a pistol grip and no buttstock, and is kept in that condition, is a pistol rather than a shotgun. I suppose this was in accord with their desire to construe statutes in ways that increased regulation: here, an 18-21 year old couldn't buy it if it was a pistol, but would have been able to if they declared it a shotgun.</p>

<p>      But a commenter there raises a question ATF will find difficult: if such a shotgun is actually a pistol, can't he saw the barrel below 18" without it becoming an NFA firearm? The NFA dictates a minimum barrel and overall length for a shotgun, but not for a pistol. </p>]]></description>
<link>http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2010/03/interesting_que.php</link>
<guid>http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2010/03/interesting_que.php</guid>
<category>National Firearms Act</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:39:01 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Utah votes for &quot;John M. Browning Day&quot;</title>
<description><![CDATA[<p>Story <a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_14650857" target="_blank"> here</a>. A demigod deserves at least a day!</p>]]></description>
<link>http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2010/03/utah_votes_for.php</link>
<guid>http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2010/03/utah_votes_for.php</guid>
<category></category>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:48:34 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Wash. Times on Starbucks debate</title>
<description><![CDATA[<p>Editorial <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/mar/10/packing-a-gun-in-starbucks/" target="_blank"> here</a>. Interesting note:</p>

<p>"From sea to shining sea, the climate for guns is changing, and the progress extends beyond Starbucks. Major retailers such as Home Depot, Best Buy and Barnes & Noble apparently also are friendly to people who openly pack heat, according to the Wall Street Journal. The Brady Campaign warns businesses that allowing customers to carry guns will scare away other customers. Yet it seems pretty obvious that the businesses themselves - despite all the pressure they face from trial lawyers and bureaucrats to ban guns - are in a much better position to know what their customers want."</p>

<p>Hat tip to George Mocsary....</p>

<p>An interesting point. We're seeing, simultaneously, (1) an increase in gun sales to record levels, and increases in new gun owners; (2) Collapsing poll figures for public belief that guns are bad and gun restrictions are good; (3) legislatures predictably pulling away from those ideas, as well, and (4) the judiciary (and not just the Supreme Court, either) endorsing gun-related rights. It's hard to say which is cause and which is effect, or whether all are being driven by some manner of collective consciousness.</p>]]></description>
<link>http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2010/03/wash_times_on_s.php</link>
<guid>http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2010/03/wash_times_on_s.php</guid>
<category></category>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:47:11 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>The economy is truly tanking</title>
<description><![CDATA[<p>The "million dollar Luger" <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-luger15-2010mar15,0,7573316.story" target="_blank"> is auctioned for half that figure</a>.</p>

<p>Hat tip to Sixgun Sarah....</p>]]></description>
<link>http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2010/03/the_economy_is.php</link>
<guid>http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2010/03/the_economy_is.php</guid>
<category></category>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:55:39 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Low Brady Campaign ratings = lower violent crime?</title>
<description><![CDATA[<p>Over at Calguns, <a href="http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=254017" target="_blank"> an interesting chart</a> on the subject.</p>]]></description>
<link>http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2010/03/low_brady_campa.php</link>
<guid>http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2010/03/low_brady_campa.php</guid>
<category>Crime and statistics</category>
<pubDate>Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:24:55 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>New approach to classroom discipline</title>
<description><![CDATA[<p>The Department of Education is acquiring <a href="http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/education-secretary-duncan/ed-department-buying-27-shotgu.html?hpid=sec-education" target="_blank"> a lot of short-barreled shotguns</a>. They're for the Office of Inspector General, in case they have to deploy a SWAT team against cheated on a student loan or a contract.</p>

<p>Of course if you or I wanted one, they'd be "assault shotguns".....</p>

<p>Hat tip to reader XD Owner,,,,</p>]]></description>
<link>http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2010/03/new_approach_to_1.php</link>
<guid>http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2010/03/new_approach_to_1.php</guid>
<category></category>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:09:05 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Snowflakes in Hell: NRA Board recommendations</title>
<description><![CDATA[<p>Here are Snowflakes in Hell's <a href="http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/2010/03/10/nra-board-of-directors-endorsements-2/" target="_blank"> recommendations in the ongoing vote for NRA Board members</a>.</p>

<p>[Oops. Deleted the double posting!]</p>]]></description>
<link>http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2010/03/snowflakes_in_h.php</link>
<guid>http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2010/03/snowflakes_in_h.php</guid>
<category>NRA</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:37:49 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Ohio Supreme Court to hear pre-emption case</title>
<description><![CDATA[<p>Story <a href="http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2010/03/supreme_court_to_hear_case_inv.html" target="_blank"> here</a>. Cleveland adopted a bar on open carry, maintaining that the legislature's pre-emption statute violates its home-rule powers, under the State constitution.  The Court of Appeals agreed with that, but the Ohio Supreme Court, after being petitioned by the state's Attorney General, has agreed to take the case.</p>]]></description>
<link>http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2010/03/ohio_supreme_co.php</link>
<guid>http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2010/03/ohio_supreme_co.php</guid>
<category>State legislation</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:26:37 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Report from Ohio State University campus</title>
<description><![CDATA[<p>Reader Mark Noble emails his thoughts in relation to yesterday's shooting at OSU:</p>

<p>I’ve been very disappointed in OSU PD’s handling of public safety.  The campus is surrounded on 3 sides by some of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Columbus.  When I’ve talked to the Columbus Police Community Liaison officer at on-campus safety events they blame the victims for getting assaulted and robbed in the neighborhood. Many of the robberies happen to students walking in pairs or groups (which are no match for one or two armed attackers) and the Police parrot the same advice “walk in groups”. To discourage car and apartment thefts they advise OSU students to carry all of their valuables on their person – this just leads to juicier unarmed targets.</p>

<p>I watched the 11:00a press conference from OSU PD. Important facts from the conference.<br />
 <br />
OSU “takes safety very seriously”.<br />
OSU PD arrived exactly two minutes and one second after the situation was over.<br />
OSU PD heroically captured the suspect who had shot himself and lay dying.<br />
OSU heroically notified students of the danger a half-hour after the threat was over.<br />
 <br />
<blockquote>Reporter: Are you satisfied with the way that everything worked?</p>

<p>OSU Director of Public safety: I'm extremely satisfied and I'm also very appreciative of not only the way that the staff responded in terms of notifying us - taking cover - but also I'm very pleased with the response of our police and law enforcement personnel and also the EMS personnel who responded fairly quickly.</blockquote></p>

<p>SOURCE: 6:50 into <a href=" http://www.10tv.com/live/content/video/10tv.html?referralObject=ka:943652" target="_blank"> this video</a>.</p>

<p>Other incidents on campus involve multiple armed robberies on the gun-free campus.  One very close to the scene of today’s shooting in the same building with the police station.  Several shootings have happened at the University Hospital nearby where state prison inmates are brought for treatment and occasionally try to escape.<br />
 <br />
Because of fears of “drunken college students” misusing handguns, my mom and brother who work in adjacent buildings to this fatal shooting are prevented by their employer and state law from defending themselves at work.  My brother is a concealed handgun licensee. My wife, an OSU student frequents another part of campus where a woman was raped the other day.  A few days prior, a student with a golf club disrupted an earlier attack attempt in the same area – yet my wife, an NRA Certified Pistol instructor cannot be trusted to defend her own life because she’s a “college student”.<br />
 </p>]]></description>
<link>http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2010/03/report_from_ohi.php</link>
<guid>http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2010/03/report_from_ohi.php</guid>
<category></category>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:56:31 -0700</pubDate>
</item>


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