Gun Purchases Soared On 'Black Friday'

FBI stats show the number of background checks done on Black Friday three years ago pales in comparison to the number done this year — a 32-percent jump. ~ CBS Sacramento

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ATF: Chore Boy Pot Scrubbers Are 'Firearms'!

By David Codrea/Gun Rights Examiner ~ The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Firearms Technology Branch has deemed “Chore Boy copper cleaning pads, along with fiberglass insulation,” a firearm, subject to registration and a $200 transfer tax, an official letter obtained recently by Gun Rights Examiner reveals.

The response to an attorney inquiry by John R. Spencer, Chief, Firearms Technology Branch, offers one of the more creatively restrictive assessments since ATF declared a shoestring to be a machinegun (http://jpfo.org/images02/shoestring.jpg).

The rationale Spencer uses:

A silencer is a firearm per U.S. Code, subject to National Firearms Act registration and transfer tax requirements.

“[S]ound/gas absorbing materials manufactured from Chore Boy copper cleaning pads, along with fiberglass insulation, constitute a silencer…”

Therefore, it is illegal for an individual to replace deteriorated material within an already- registered suppressor without an approved ATF Form 1 (http://www.atf.gov/forms/download/atf-f-5320-1.pdf), ‘Application to Make and Register a Firearm,’” along with a “$200.00 making tax” and “a ‘no-marking’ variance…since there is no viable area in which to apply a serial number to the sound-absorbing material.”

And further, an otherwise-lawful owner of a registered silencer probably ought to find something else to clean pots and pans with, as possession of an unspecified quantity of Chore Boy cleaning pads could be considered a “stockpile.” The letter is presented in the slideshow accompanying this column. The name and address of the recipient attorney has been blacked out because his office was not the source providing the letter to Gun Rights Examiner.

Continue reading on Examiner.com: ATF classifies Chore Boy pot scrubber pads NFA firearms - National gun rights | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/gun-rights-in-national/atf-classifies-chore-boy-pot-scrubber-pads-nfa-firearms#ixzz1fzGOgieJ.

Hat Tip to Mark Mayes

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Supreme Court Tackles Local Gun Control Measures

The U. S. Supreme Court will decide whether strict local and state gun control laws violate the Second Amendment, ensuring another battle over the rights of gun owners.

The court will review a lower court ruling that upheld a handgun ban in Chicago.

Gun rights supporters challenged gun laws in Chicago and some suburbs immediately following the high court's decision in June 2008 that struck down a handgun ban in the District of Columbia, a federal enclave.

The new case tests whether last year's ruling applies as well to local and state laws.

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Ammunition Demand Still Exceeds Supply

The Associated Press reports that some bullet-makers are working around the clock and still can't keep up with the nation's demand for ammunition.

Shooting ranges, gun dealers and bullet manufacturers say they have never seen such a demand.

Bullets for sportsmen have been scarce for months. Some gun store owners and gun rights advocates say the demand is due to a fear that President Barack Obama and the Democratic-controlled Congress will pass antigun legislation.

The Obama administration has not proposed anything specific and the president recently signed a law allowing people to carry loaded guns in national parks.

The National Rifle Association says Americans usually buy about 7 billion rounds of ammo a year. That figure has jumped to about 9 billion in the past year.

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Coburn, Inhofe Vote For Concealed Carry Proposal

Senators Tom Coburn and Jim Inhofe today voted in favor of a proposed federal law that would allow holders of concealed carry licenses to carry firearms in every state, but the measure failed by two votes despite winning a plurality. Sixty votes were needed; 58 senators voted for it.

Oklahoma now honors concealed carry permits from all states that have them and 31 states have honored Oklahoma's concealed carry laws.

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Concerns Mount Over President Obama's Cass Sunstein, 'The Most Dangerous Man In America'

From News Sources ~ President Obama's nominee for "regulatory czar," the man described by The McCarville Report Online as "the most dangerous man in America," has hit a new snag in his Senate confirmation process, a "hold" by Texas Senator John Cornyn, who's says he's not convinced that Harvard professor Cass Sunstein won't push a radical animal rights agenda, including new restrictions on agriculture and even hunting.

Sunstein's push to institute legal rights for animals and to ban firearms ownership raised eyebrows when Obama nominated him.

Senators are permitted "holds" to prevent a vote on a nominee from coming to the floor. They are often secretive and for very specific reasons.

"Sen. Cornyn finds numerous aspects of Mr. Sunstein's record troubling, specifically the fact that he wants to establish legal 'rights' for livestock, wildlife and pets, which would enable animals to file lawsuits in American courts," the Republican's spokesman, Kevin McLaughlin, said in a statement to FOXNews.com.

Cornyn's hold on Sunstein comes just as Senator Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., last week lifted his own hold on the nominee, whom Obama tapped in April to become the administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the Office of Budget and Management.

Chambliss said he was dropping his hold because Sunstein had convinced him that he "would not take any steps to promote litigation on behalf of animals," and that he believes the "Second Amendment creates an individual right to possess guns for purposes of both hunting and self defense."

Both statements were included in a letter Sunstein sent to Chambliss on July 14.
Chambliss added in a Senate floor speech last Wednesday that "Professor Sunstein comes highly recommended by a number of folks from the conservative side of the philosophical divide in this country."

One of Sunstein's top jobs would be to review and provide guidance for draft federal regulations at different federal agencies. It is a wide-ranging and largely unrestrained position in the executive branch.

That's a large part of the reason Sunstein's positions on animal rights have become worrisome to his critics. Despite his assurances to the contrary, Sunstein has spoken stridently in favor of allowing people the right to bring suit on behalf of animals in animal cruelty cases and to restrict what he calls the more horrific practices associated with industrial breeding and processing of animals for food.

In a 2007 speech at Harvard, Sunstein also advocated restricting animal testing for cosmetics, banning hunting and encouraging the general public to eat less meat.

Read "The Most Dangerous Man In America" at http://wwwtmrcom.blogspot.com/2009/03/opinion-most-dangerous-man-in-america.html.

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Reid OKs Floor Vote On Gun Laws Measure

From Politico ~ Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is supposed to be the protector of the Senate’s skittish Democratic flock — the guy who soothes intraparty spats and shields his 60-member majority from dangerous, career-threatening votes.

Yet Reid — whose low approval ratings in Nevada make him a tempting GOP target in next year’s midterms — put many of his members in a sticky situation when he OK’d a floor vote on a controversial GOP amendment that could significantly alter the nation’s gun control laws.

Reid says the bill deserves a hearing and reflects his commitment to supporting gun rights in a state that sanctifies the Second Amendment. Other Democrats say he approved the vote out of personal political necessity — to avoid the ire of the National Rifle Association during the 2010 elections.

“Nobody’s angry at Harry, but it’s created a problem for us,” says a Democratic aide, speaking on condition of anonymity. “There’s a huge level of sympathy for him, because we don’t want to have another Daschle situation.”

That was, of course, a reference to Tom Daschle, the last Democratic majority leader who was knocked off in 2004, by Republican John Thune.

By astounding coincidence (not), Thune, now the No. 4 man in the Senate, just happens to be the guy who authored the current amendment to allow licensed gun owners to transport their weapons across state lines.

“This has nothing to do with electoral politics,” said Reid spokesman Jim Manley, who emphasized that the amendment has the support of many other Democrats besides Reid.

Two previous NRA-backed measures, one loosening D.C. handgun restrictions and another allowing guns in national parks, passed by comfortable 60-plus vote margins in the Senate earlier this year.

“Harry Reid has always supported gun rights and intends to do so in the future,” Manley added.

Still, Reid’s decision prompted a mini-uprising among two top lieutenants — Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) — who are considering a filibuster to kill the measure before it comes to a vote, as expected on Wednesday.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0709/25193.html#ixzz0LuVGO5YN.

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Sotomayor And The Second Amendment

Second Circuit Judge Sonia Sotomayor recently held that the Constitution does not protect the right to keep and bear arms against infringement by state and local governments. Her defenders maintain that she was merely applying settled precedent, which only the Supreme Court itself is authorized to reconsider. This is a half truth that conceals more than it reveals.

Read all of Nelson Lund's commentary at http://www.realclearpolitics.com/.

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Poll Cites Fear Of Obama Gun Control

Fifty-seven percent (57%) of Americans say gun sales are up in the United States because of a fear of increased government restriction on gun ownership.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that just 23% say gun sales have risen because of a fear of increased crime.

Read all the poll results at http://www.rasmussenreports.com.

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'Watch What What He Does, Not What He Says'

Republican activist and blogger Steve Fair has a thoughtful opinion piece on President Obama and his stand on gun control: "Watch what he does and not what he says," cautions Fair.

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Citizens Question BATFE Gun Buy Tactics

From The National Rifle Association's Institute For Legislative Action ~ NRA-ILA has recently received several calls from NRA members in border states who have been visited or called by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. In some cases, agents have asked to enter these people's homes, and requested serial numbers of all firearms the members possess.

In each case, the agents were making inquiries based on the number of firearms these NRA members had recently bought, and in some cases the agents said they were asking because the members had bought types of guns that are frequently recovered in Mexico.

This kind of questioning may or may not be part of a legitimate criminal investigation.

For example, when BATFE traces a gun seized after use in a crime, manufacturers' and dealers' records will normally lead to the first retail buyer of that gun, and investigators will have to interview the buyer to find out how the gun ended up in criminal hands.

But in other cases, the questioning may simply be based on information in dealers' records, with agents trying to "profile" potentially suspicious purchases.

On the other hand, some of the agents have used heavy-handed tactics. One reportedly demanded that a gun owner return home early from a business trip, while another threatened to "report" an NRA member as "refusing to cooperate."

That kind of behavior is outrageous and unprofessional.

Whether agents act appropriately or not, concerned gun owners should remember that all constitutional protections apply. Answering questions in this type of investigation is generally an individual choice. Most importantly, there are only a few relatively rare exceptions to the general Fourth Amendment requirement that law enforcement officials need a warrant to enter a home without the residents' consent. There is nothing wrong with politely, but firmly, asserting your rights.

If BATFE contacts you and you have any question about how to respond, you may want to consult a local attorney. NRA members may also call NRA-ILA's Office of Legislative Counsel at (703) 267-1161 for further information. Whether contacting a local attorney or NRA, be sure to provide as many details as possible, including the date, time, and location, agent's name, and specific questions asked.

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Edmondson Joins Pro-Gun Letter Signers

Attorney General Drew Edmondson is among 23 top law enforcement officials who have signed a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, expressing opposition to reinstatement of the federal ban on semi-automatic firearms.

"We share the Obama Administration's commitment to reducing illegal drugs and violent crime within the United States," the letter reads. "We also share your deep concern about drug cartel violence in Mexico. However, we do not believe that restricting law-abiding Americans' access to certain semi-automatic firearms will resolve any of these problems."

The letter notes congressional opposition to bringing back the ban, and calls for increasing enforcement of existing laws.

Read the entire letter: http://www.nraila.org/media/PDFs/SemiAutostateAGsLetter061109.pdf.

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The Oklahoman Editorial: Should Oklahomans Worry About Concealed Carry Licensees?

The Oklahoman Editorial ~ "If the number of concealed handgun license holders is any indication,” said a Tulsa World story two years ago, "robbers may have to worry about more than stolen goods during a heist.”

Should Oklahomans now worry about those license holders, given the fact that one of them recently killed a 16-year-old who was attempting to rob his pharmacy?

We don’t think so, but the question must be asked. The state has nearly 78,000 concealed carry permit holders; the number is growing by the day. Incidences involving permit holders, however, are extremely rare.

Nevertheless, reporting by The Oklahoman’s Nolan Clay on the mental state of Jerome Ersland raises questions about the law and whether Ersland should have been issued a permit.

Read the entire editorial at http://www.newsok.com/shooting-raises-question-on-concealed-carry-permits/article/3376400?custom_click=pod_headline_opinion-oklahoman-editorials.

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2nd Amendment Expert On Pharmacy Shooting: 'Imminent threat' Means Just That

Nationally-recognized 2nd Amendment expert Howard Nemerov of Austin, Texas, weighs in on the Oklahoma City pharmacy shooting with an analysis in three parts that focuses on what the law says about "imminent danger" facing law-abiding citizens and what justifies, and does not justify, the use of deadly force.

Read Nemerov's reports at http://www.examiner.com/x-2879-Austin-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m6d2-Justifying-deadly-force-Part-1.

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Police, DA Clear Homeowner In Shooting

Oklahoma City police and District Attorney David Prater have cleared homeowner Scott Henson in the shooting death of an intruder inside Henson's home last week.

Prater said it appears Henson, who holds a license to carry a concealed firearm, was justified in shooting 29-year-old Ronald Penn when he found Penn inside his home when he returned for lunch. Henson said he drew his pistol and fired when Penn made an aggressive move toward him.

Prater's comments in the Henson case came as he discussed the filing of a first degree murder charge against pharmacist Jerome Ersland in the shooting death of an armed robber on May 19th. Prater said Ersland, who also holds a license to carry a concealed firearm, fired five shots at near-point blank range into Antwun Parker after Parker already was incapacitated by a shot to his head. "It's a good example of what not to do," Prater said of Ersland's action.

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Pharmacist Faces 1st Degree Murder Charge

Pharmacist Jerome Ersland of Chickasha has been charged with 1st degree murder in the recent shooting death of an armed robber inside an Oklahoma City pharmacy.

District Attorney David Prater filed the charge after reviewing police reports and, apparently, a videotape from cameras that captured the entire incident.

The videotape, released to the news media by Prater this afternoon, is about 27 seconds long. After Ersland's initital shot at the robbers, one of whom clearly has a pistol in his hand, Ersland pursues the robber with the pistol to the door. The second robber has fallen to the floor, apparently hit by Ersland's shot. The videotape shows Ersland reentering the store, then walking behind the counter, down an aisle way, opening a drawer, removing a pistol, then walking back to the wounded robber, leaning over and shooting him repeatedly. The robber isn't visible in the released videotape, but Ersland firing is visible. Ersland then returns to the counter and calls police.

Prater said Wednesday that the 57-year-old Ersland was justified in shooting Antwun Parker once in the head on May 19. But Prater says Ersland went too far when he shot Parker five more times in the abdomen while Parker lay unconscious on the floor. Ersland's attorney — Irven Box — says Ersland was protecting himself and two women inside the pharmacy.

The charge alleges Ersland repeatedly shot Parker, 16, while Parker was semi-conscious, incapacitated and prone on the floor. Ersland’s account of the incident doesn’t match the video or the evidence collected at the scene, Oklahoma City Police Detective David Jacobson wrote in his affidavit.

Parker was shot once in the head and five times in the stomach area. The autopsy found Parker was still alive after the head shot and died from the stomach wounds. Apparently, it is the stomach wounds, inflicted after the shot to the head, the prompted the filing of the murder charge.

Ersland, holder of a license to carry a concealed firearm, says he acted in self defense when he shot Parker to stop the armed robbery attempt.

Ersland, a disabled veteran, said two armed men in ski masks threatened him and two other employees when they burst into Reliable Discount Pharmacy in south Oklahoma City.

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OKC Homeowner Shoots, Kills Intruder

For the second time in as many weeks, a person licensed to carry a concealed firearm has shot and killed an intruder.

Today, Oklahoma Cityan Scott Henson returned home for lunch and found an intruder in his home. A confrontation occurred and Henson shot and killed the man, his wife said.

Recently, a pharmacist with a concealed carry license shot and killed an armed robber who was firing his semi-automatic pistol at the pharmacist and other employees.

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Coburn's Firearms Amendment Passes House

The U. S. House today approved an amendment by Senator Tom Coburn that allows visitors to national parks to carry concealed firearms.

Coburn's amendment was attached to a controversial credit card bill. The Coburn amendment passed 279-147. The Senate approved the amendment last week.

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Duncan's Gun Rights Bill Goes To Henry

Legislation to prohibit employers from asking a potential employee if they own a firearm is one signature away from becoming law. The bill is now on Governor Henry's desk.

House Bill 1025, by Rep. Rex Duncan, is in response to President Barack Obama asking potential cabinet members if they owned or possessed a firearm, and if so, for its registration information on their background application.

“I was deeply offended by President Obama’s question. It was an infringement on Second Amendment rights, and I want to make sure no Oklahoma employers, either public or private, are allowed to ask a similar question on a job application,” said Duncan, R-Sand Springs.

Currently, there are over 80 million gun owners in the United States and Duncan said it is their right and their business.

“Exercising your constitutional rights should not be a barrier to employment in America,” Duncan said. “It’s that simple.”

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City Woman's Gunfire Sends Intruder Fleeing

KFOR-TV reports that an Oklahoma City woman, identified as being associated with the National Rifle Association, fired two shots at an intruder in her garage early today.

The television station reported the woman, who identified herself as NRA legislative liaison Heather Fitzgerald, was using her computer at a desk in her garage and had opened the garage door several feet to allow cool air into the garage. She looked up to see an intruder slide under the door. She grabbed her laser-equipped Glock 9mm semi-automatic pistol and fired twice. She said she fired not to hit him, but to scare him off. The intruder, apparently not hit by the bullets, fled. Police found a piece of electronic equipment in the front yard, apparently left by the intruder in his haste to flee.

Fitzgerald said she had her laser sighted on the intruder's back, but did not fire a third shot as he fled.

Fitzgerald said she is licensed to carry a concealed firearm and always takes her pistol with her when she is working at her computer in a part of the garage she uses as a home office.

Police said that under Oklahoma law, the woman was within her rights to use deadly force against the intruder. One officer on the scene congratulated her for her quick thinking.

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