NY STATE NEWS

NEW YORK STATE CONSERVATION COUNCIL announces officers

Anti-gun Andy Spano, Westchester County Executive, fights the NRA in election video

Pat Manning, 103 District Assemblyman, to run for Governor in 06

NATIONAL NEWS

Gun possession now OK at FEMA temporary housing Pres. Bush signs S.397 the "Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act," PETA workers face 25 felony counts in North Carolina

UPDATE: CBS's Public Eye Blog reply to NRANEWS.com's Cam Edwards e-mail about Mike Wallace at HCI's fundraiser

ATF has new FORM 4473

FEDERAL JUDGE HALTS NEW ORLEANS GUN SEIZURES

Handgun Control, (aka Brady Campaign,) launches fear campaign aimed at Florida vacationers.

Gun control's best friend

For Immediate Release: October 24, 2005
      BELLEVUE, WA -- Sunday's landmark rejection by Brazilian citizens of a proposed nationwide gun ban demonstrates that when given a choice, people around the world will opt for freedom and the security of personal firearms ownership over the false promises of government, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA) said today.
      "With nearly 100 percent of the votes counted, it appears that 64 percent of Brazilian voters opposed the idea of giving up their firearms," said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb. "History has demonstrated that when people are disarmed, they are at the mercy of predators who have no mercy, and governments that all too often oppress people rather than protect them from evil.
      "Take, for example, the views of taxi driver Mohammed Osei, who was quoted by CNN," Gottlieb noted. "When asked why he voted against the nationwide gun ban, he explained matter-of-factly, 'I don't like people walking around armed on the street. But since all the bandits have guns, you need to have a gun at home'."
      Gottlieb noted that the track record of Brazil's proposed gun ban was much the same as similar proposals here in the United States. Early on, polling suggested that the gun ban had the support of 80 percent of the population. However, as the election approached, that support began to evaporate, especially after both sides were given free air time on television to present their cases.
      "It never fails," said Gottlieb, "that when citizens are presented with facts instead of emotionalism and rhetoric, they choose firearms freedom every time. Brazilian citizens understand that you vote freedom away only once, and when you surrender it, through referendum or initiative, you never get it back.
      "The Brazil vote should stand as a lesson to global anti-gunners," Gottlieb observed. "The people they want to disarm through their global gun control efforts don't care to be left defenseless. Citizens who enjoy firearms freedom are not likely to give up that essential cornerstone of liberty. Gun banners, whether they roam the halls of the United Nations, or the streets of San Francisco, need to be reminded of that every day, and certainly on every election day.
      "The vote in Brazil was a victory for freedom," Gottlieb concluded, "and a strong message for those zealots who would take away that freedom."

What those wacky guys and gals at IANSA, (aka "We are the UN and we want all of your guns,) have to say

Brazil gun referendum defeated: a lost opportunity for victims of gun violence Battle to reduce the gun death epidemic continues

IANSA PRESS RELEASE, For Immediate Release: Monday 24 October 2005
      Campaigners for gun control in Brazil and around the world today expressed disappointment at the result of Brazil’s gun ban referendum in which 64% of the population voted No to banning the sale of guns and ammunition.
      ‘The financial and marketing power of the gun lobby and the gun industry in Brazil won in the end,’ said Rebecca Peters, Director of the International Action Network on Small Arms. ‘We are disappointed at this lost opportunity to take a dramatic stand against gun violence, but we know the country’s strict new guns laws will continue to help save lives.’
      The result is a victory for the financial and marketing power of the gun lobby and the gun industry. In the last 3 weeks before the referendum, Brazil’s election law required that each side be allocated equal air-time to promote their arguments. The pro-gun lobby used that period to run a slick, professional and misleading campaign of TV propaganda for the No vote. By contrast, the Yes vote depended on thousands of volunteers campaigning on the streets, but had very little money to produce TV ads.
      The referendum was one of the measures contained in a tough national gun law introduced in December 2003, which made it illegal to carry guns, imposed tighter restrictions for obtaining a gun, and stiffened penalties for using or owning guns illegally. In 2004, 3200 fewer people died from gunshot wounds, a drop of 8% and the first decrease in 13 years.
      ‘We will keep fighting to prevent gun deaths,’ said Jessica Galeria of the NGO Viva Rio, an IANSA member that campaigned for the ban. ‘Most Brazilians do not own guns and do not believe guns make a household safer. But the No campaign exploited people’s fears: that police cannot protect them; that the government was trying to take away their “rights”.’
      The pro-gun lobby claims that if the sale of guns is banned, only criminals will have guns. But the fact is that the majority of crime guns were originally legally owned.
      The Brazilian referendum was the first time any country has put its national gun laws to a popular vote. Brazil has the highest number of gun deaths in the world, around 38,000 a year – or more than 100 every day. This is a higher rate than in many conflict zones. It is also the second largest producer of guns in the hemisphere.

ELECTIONS SET FOR NOVEMBER 8TH,
MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE VOTING FOR
(I will be adding to this information over the next few weeks so check back for updates.)

     November 8th is the day that you have to go out and vote. We have many local races that are very important with the most important being the local Judge Positions.

FAMILY COURT JUDGES

     Four people are running for two family court seats. These are VERY IMPORTANT!!! THESE JUDGES ISSUE PISTOL LICENSES AND ARE ELECTED FOR 10 YEARS!!! One of the seats is old and one was just created. This race is slightly unusual because four people are running for two positions so the two people with the highest vote count wins. The four people running are:

• Debra Kiedaisch from Greenwood Lake, D, I, WFP, Incumbent
• Lori Currier-Woods from Monroe, R, C
• Christine M. Krahulik, R, C
• Carla Wise , D

County Court Judge Stewart Rosenwasser is also running for a seat on the state Supreme Court bench

The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association's PAC supports the following:

• Orange County Legislature District 9, Mary Ellen Matise (D)
• Orange County Legislature District 14, Ralph Caruso (R)
• Orange County Legislature District 21, Thomas Pahucki (D)

Click here to see all of the names of everyone who filed a petition to run for any office in Orange County

Rumors about Unrestricted licenses being restricted

     (Do not over react to this article!! I have been unable to verify any of this information and I do not personally know the person that I talked to and we do not know who the other person even is.)
      Two people have said that they have received phone calls stating that they were being requested to turn in their UNRESTRICTED Handgun License so that Restrictions could be added on to them. I have talked to one person , (who I will call Mr. A), who was unable to tell me the name of the person who had called or exactly when the call was made other than it was month to two months ago. Mr. A told the caller that they would not ever voluntarily have their license restricted and Mr. A's license has not been changed. Mr. A has not had their license changed in many years and the issuing Judge no longer issues pistol licenses so we are unable to say who Mr. A's Judge is. Another unidentified person told employees at one of the gun stores of a similar phone call but we are unable to identify the person or any other information.
     I have called the Pistol Permit Department, the office of the Judge who is most likely to be the Judge for Mr. A, and some other people but all denied making such a call, or taking any such action.
     If anyone gets or has gotten a phone call requesting that they turn in their restricted license so that restrictions can be added, please contact me at once. Make sure that you get the name and phone number of the person that you are talking to and who they work for. You do not have to voluntarily turn in your unrestricted license to have restrictions placed on them but a Judge can review your license at any time for any reason and reissue you a license that is restricted.
     Judges do have the power to add restrictions of any type to any license that they control and they can review any license at any time without any reason. (CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NY STATE CASE LAW IN GENERAL AND IN SPECIFIC O'CONNOR v. SCARPINO, and O'BRIEN v. KEEGAN on the same page. I hate it as much as you do but it is settled law and unless someone has a few hundred thousand dollars to try to take it to Federal Court without much chance of winning, we are stuck with it. Don't start yelling about the Second Amendment, our own NY State Appeals Court has decided that the Second Amendment does not apply in NY as far as the NY Court system is concerned.)
      AGAIN!! Do not over react to this article. I have been unable to verify any of this information and I do not personally know the person that I talked to and we do not know who the other person even is. This article is to make people aware that if they do get a call to contact me at info@OCShooters.com so that I can verify the information and try to figure out what to do. We do not want to have more restricted licenses issued in Orange County, we want more UNRESTRICTED licenses issued in Orange County!

West Point's 3-Gun Match
October 15-16, 2005
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE MATCH PAGE FOR MORE INFO

     The United States Military Academy Combat Weapons Team held their first annual 3 Gun Competition scheduled on October 15-16, 2005. The event was named “First Annual Houghton Memorial 3 Gun Challenge at West Point” after CPT Andrew Houghton was a member of the Combat Weapons Team during his four years at West Point.
      Upon his graduation in , Andy graduated in 2001 as Second Lieutenant and in 2004 was deployed to Iraq as a platoon leader with 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment. During his deployment Andy’s platoon carried out over 400 combat missions. First Lieutenant Houghton volunteered to extend his duty in Iraq and was gravely injured in an RPG attack on July 10, 2004 (his first day back from leave). Andy succumbed to his wounds on August 9th, 2004 at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Captain and awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. (Please visit www.andyhoughton.org for more information on the life of CPT Andrew Houghton, and The Captain Andrew R Houghton Foundation.)
      The event consisted of 8 challenging stages utilizing Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun alone and was held on six different ranges in the West Point training area, to include the 300-meter pop up range. Participants faced a mentally demanding match in three divisions, Limited, Tactical, and Open. Many Companies had donated items as prizes for the event among them were a S&W 1911, a Sig P220 or P226, Auto Ordinance 1911, Halo sights, backpacks and other items. Every one who registered was also entered into a raffle for the many other items that were donated from T-shirts to sights to gift certificates.
     I was able to watch the event on Sunday and and everyone had a great time. The CWT Club is a West Point Club that is limited to about 30 members. Normally only between 5 and 10 slots are available in the club and up to 200 apply for the positions. This event is held as a fund raiser for the club to supplement the limited funds that are available for clubs at West Point. The members of the club have to find the time in their busy schedule to attend practice and they spent their time this weekend running this event. They did all the chores from laying out the course, acting as RSO's, scoring, timing, food prep, and everything else that had to be done. Sunday, they had their hands full dealing with all the problems caused by having high winds up to 40 MPH trying to blow down all of the targets and other stage props. The deserve a lot of credit for their hard work.
     The event had slots for up to 80 people, 40 on each day, and almost 100% of the slots were taken. All of the courses of fire were straight forward with several added requirements that forced you to keep thinking while you were shooting to avoid the dreaded "PROCEDURIAL PENALITY" because you did not keep your feet in the box or you did not load behind cover. Targets covered the range from just a few feet out to 125 yards. Some had to be shot while moving, some from behind cover both left and right, some through barriers and some from 3 positions.
      The shooters were from all over, NY, NJ, Conn and PA. Many individuals shot and several teams attended from police to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy from New London, CT. The shooters abilities also covered a wide range from high skill level by members of some of the formal teams and hard core 3 gun shooters who had the best guns and all of the bells and whistles to guys who were shooting borrowed guns and carrying the spare clips in their pockets but everyone had a good time.

Heather had to deal with a grill that wanted to turn into a Rocket because of the wind.

Too close for sights

One stage

Run and shoot

U.S. Coast Guard Academy

Keep your feet in the box.

All the bells and whistles.

No bells and whistles

Me, George Rogero, shooting a gun from a very special table that had several guns you could try out.

A special thanks to CPT Medina for his help and to all of the members of the CWT Club for their hard work. It was a great event.

Monroe Chester BHR Posse held Cowboy Action Shooting Open House

    The Monroe Chester BHR Posse is held an Open House to introduce experienced Orange County shooters to Cowboy Action Shooting last month and we all had a good time. I was "The Dosta Kid" and I had a great time.
     Rowdy Rich and Annabelle Bransford, NY State first place SASS holders, were on hand to show everyone some good shootin and splane all thu rules and regulations to us new people. Bog Water Mary and Judge Zaney Gray made sure that everything ran smooth and safe and they made sure that we all had the guns that we needed for each stage. (Though Judge Zaney Gray did get a little frisky when I had to dress up for the first stage, see picture.)
     We all had fun but the season is over for the year. Next spring if any of you got a hankering to put on your cowboy or cowgirl duds on and come out for a shoot. Feel free to contact ??? for more information or go to http://northeastcas.com/ to find out about other shoots.
     CLICK HERE TO SEE LAST MONTHS STORY

	Judge Zaney Gray overcome by my buety and unable to control hiself after I gussied up for the first stage.
				Rotten Rich making some smoke
					Joe brought along his own posse.
	Rowdy Rich and Annabelle Bransford
		You need a lot of guns and you get to build something to carry them on.
	CLICK HERE TO SEE SOMOE PICTURES

Senior Games Trap Shooting a success

     On September 27th, about 15 trap shooters gathered at the Shawangunk Fish & Game Club west of Middletown participate in the first shooting event that has ever been held as part of the Orange County Senior Games. The Senior Games are coordinated by the Orange County Office for the Aging and anyone 55 and older can participate. This year the Senior Games celebrated their 22nd Anniversary. The Recreational, Social and Competitive Activities, events and contests cover just about every activity that you can think of from athletic events to playing cards to outdoor river trips. This year trap shooting was their "major new event."
      Shawangunk Fish & Game Club did a great job hosting the event. Not only did they provide the 3 trap ranges, safety officers and scorers, they also provided 100 rounds of free ammo for each shooter. A big thanks to SFGC for volunteering to hold the even and all of the hard work of their members, the Orange County Senior Games for reaching out to the shooting community and for Orange County Legislator for Middletown, Jeff Berkman for bringing them all together.

Some of the helpers

Some of the winners


CLICK HERE FOR SOME MORE PICTURES

NEW YORK STATE CONSERVATION COUNCIL announces officers

     The NYSCC recently held its annual convention for 2005.  At that meeting a new slate of officers were elected to oversee the operations of the Council.  The following is to provide for you those names and contact information:

If you have any questions please feel free to contact them as shown.

Anti-gun Andy Spano, Westchester County Executive, fights the NRA in election video

     Andy Spano, best know for his push to pass a renewable handgun license in Westchester, is running again for Westchester County Executive. He enlisted the help of NY State's anti-gun Attorney General Spitzer to tout Spano's best accomplishments. In the ad, the first accomplishment listed is Spano's fight with the NRA and Spitzer states that "The NRA fought him viciously but Andy Spano signed a bill that said that trigger locks were necessary," referring to a bill that Spano had passed in 2000 that requires all guns to be locked up all of the time.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIEDO OR GO TO http://www.andyspano.com/
     I don't remember the NRA being in this fight at all, if you do remember that the NRA was involved, please send me an e-mail with more information.

Pat Manning, 103 District Assemblyman, to run for Governor in 06

      Pat Manning, who represents the 103 Assembly District, has announced plans to run for Governor in 2006 and The New York State Rifle and Pistol Association's PAC will be supporting him. Pat's 103 District includes parts of Dutchess and Columbia Counties.
     Manning was present at the NYSRPA-PAC fund raiser and was announced as the "next Governor of NY State." Pat has always supported the outdoor sportsmen and sportswomen and the 2nd Amendment. Pat is asking for your support and you can keep up with what is going on and sign up for e-mails at Pat's new website at: PatManning.com.
     SCOPE, (Shooters' Committee On Political Education) has also had talks with Pat and it looks like that he will be getting an A+ rating from SCOPE
     For those of you who do not know, Pat Manning is also one of the tallest people in NY State Government as you can see from the picture.
     The State Republican Party has been pushing for x-Massachusetts Governor William Weld but William Weld supported an AW Ban in Massachusetts and even went the extra step to file an AW Ban under his own name and testify as to why it should pass. For more information read Somebody get me a shovel at Jacob Rieper's Blog, Gun Legislation & Politics in New York.

LANDMARK NRA VICTORY NOW LAW

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

(Washington, DC) - President George W. Bush today signed into law the National Rifle Association (NRA)-backed "Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act" (S. 397) ending politically motivated lawsuits designed to bankrupt law-abiding American firearm manufacturers and retailers. S. 397 passed both chambers in Congress with broad bipartisan support.
      "This is an historic day for freedom. I would like to thank President Bush for signing the most significant piece of pro-gun legislation in twenty years into law. History will show that this law helped save the American firearms industry from collapse under the burden of these ruinous and politically motivated lawsuits," said Wayne LaPierre, NRA’s executive vice president.
      In late July, the Senate approved the measure 65-31. Last week, the House overwhelmingly passed the bill 283-144. The "Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act" was NRA's number one legislative priority and a monumental victory for the Association and its members.
      "What we witness today is the culmination of a seven-year effort that included a comprehensive legislative and election strategy," stated Chris W. Cox, NRA’s chief lobbyist. "We worked hard to change the political landscape to pass this landmark legislation. As always, our members were up for the task. Key electoral victories in 2000, 2002 and 2004 helped pave passage of this law.
      "The Bush administration was a vital ally during debate on Capitol Hill. I would also like to thank Senators Larry Craig and Max Baucus and Congressmen Rick Boucher and Cliff Stearns for doing a yeoman’s job as lead co-sponsors of this legislation. In addition, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell ought to be commended for their steadfast leadership during Senate deliberations," added Cox.
    In recent years, 33 states passed similar legislation outlawing frivolous lawsuits intended to bankrupt the gun industry. However, this new law creates judicial uniformity in all courts across the United States.
      "This law will help preserve the American firearms industry and also help preserve American manufacturing jobs. American companies will cease to make products if they continue to be sued every time a violent criminal they do not know, have never met and cannot control, misuses a legal non-defective product. This is a significant step toward saving millions of manufacturing jobs," concluded LaPierre.

Gun possession now OK at FEMA temporary housing
CLICK HERE FOR THE KATC3 ARTICLE

     NEW ORLEANS FEMA says residents can now possess and store firearms in trailer parks or other temporary housing set up for hurricane victims. FEMA spokesman Butch Kinerny says use of weapons is still prohibited in the parks.
      Gun rights groups had sought the change, saying the original policy violated Second Amendment protections for gun ownership. Kinerny says FEMA made the change after consulting with lawyers.
      The old policy banning possession or storage of firearms had been in place for years. But two gun rights groups, the National Rifle Association and the Second Amendment Foundation, said they only found out about it earlier this month as a FEMA trailer park was opening in Baker, north of Baton Rouge.
      Coincidentally, the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office had asked for enforcement of such a ban because the small, camper-style trailers are close together and have thin walls. The sheriff's office feared any gun going off accidentally would cause deaths or serious injuries.

PETA workers face 25 felony counts in North Carolina
By DARREN FREEMAN, The Virginian-Pilot, 10/15/05
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE WHOLE ARTICLE

WINTON, N.C. — The cats and dogs two PETA employees have been charged with euthanizing and dumping in an Ahoskie garbage bin were killed by injections of pentobarbital, a barbiturate commonly used to put down animals, according to new warrants issued and served on Friday.
     Additionally, the two employees were charged with three felony counts of obtaining property by false pretenses. The charges allege that they euthanized three cats from an Ahoskie veterinarian after promising to find the animals new homes, according to the new warrants.
      PETA employees Andrew B. Cook, 24, of Virginia Beach, and Adria J. Hinkle, 27, of Norfolk, were served with warrants on 22 felony charges of animal cruelty and the three felony charges of obtaining property by false pretense in court on Friday.
      A grand jury is expected to consider formal indictments Oct. 31, Assistant District Attorney Donnie Taylor said. The new animal cruelty charges replaced 31 previous animal cruelty charges, which were dismissed.
      The new warrants now include more information, such as descriptions of animals investigators found, the causes of death and – in some warrants – photographs of the dead dogs.
      The new information was added to clarify the charges, which previously did not have such information as the cause of death, Taylor said.
      The two employees are still charged with eight misdemeanor counts of illegal disposal of dead animals and one count of trespassing.
      Both have been released on $35,000 bail, and PETA is paying their legal fees. PETA suspended Hinkle for 90 days and did not discipline Cook.
      Police began investigating this summer after carcasses of cats and dogs in plastic bags were found in a supermarket garbage bin in Ahoskie every Wednesday for four consecutive weeks. At least 80 animals were found.
      Officers say that on June 15 they followed a van after it left Bertie County’s animal shelter, then staked out the garbage bins and arrested two PETA employees.
      The officers found 18 dead dogs in a bin and 13 other animal carcasses in the van, which was registered to PETA.
      PETA had been picking up animals in northeastern North Carolina since 2001, when a caller informed the group of poor conditions in shelters, according to a written apology PETA President Ingrid Newkirk sent to Bertie County officials.
      Bertie County and Northampton County officials and one Ahoskie veterinarian said they believed that adoptable animals would find new homes, while sick, injured and wild animals would be euthanized.
      Newkirk has since said that dumping the animals into trash bins violates PETA policy.
      PETA typically euthanizes animals in Norfolk and cremates the carcasses, Newkirk said in a June 17 press conference.
      Newkirk said at the time that the animals found in North Carolina had likely been given a lethal injection of a barbiturate that PETA is licensed to use.
      Bertie and Northampton officials cut ties to PETA pending trial.
      The counties are now euthanizing animals without help from PETA.

CBS's Public Eye Blog reply to NRANEWS.com's
Cam Edwards e-mail about Mike Wallace at HCI's fundraiser
CLICK HERE FOR THE WHOLE BLOG
AND LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS

     Cam's Email:

“On Sept. 28th of this year, Mike Wallace from ‘60 Minutes’ appeared at a Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence Event at the French Embassy in Washington, D.C. During his appearance, Mr. Wallace used a clip from a ‘60 Minutes’ interview he conducted with then-NRA President Charlton Heston.

Does CBS have a policy regarding on air talent appearing at special interest events like this, and does CBS have a policy regarding use of their broadcast material at events like this? Further, do you believe Mr. Wallace and ‘60 Minutes’ have an ethical obligation to disclose Mr. Wallace's support for the Brady Center the next time the program does a story on guns and/or gun control?

I look forward to your response.

     It took several days and I am sure many other emails after Cam talked about this on the show, (including me,) but Vaughn Ververs finally responded. These are some selected quotes: "

• “We allow CBS correspondents to speak at various functions and occasionally show video. We have strict regulations that if a CBS correspondent becomes identifiable with one side of a controversial issue, they will not be allowed to cover that issue in the future.”
• “we’re looking into it to determine”
• I then spoke with Wallace ... “had no idea” that the event was a fundraiser for the Brady Center
• the focus of the entire affair was on Buchwald, not on gun issues
• But Edwards raises important questions. CBS News will have to decide whether or not Wallace should cover issues involving the Second Amendment again or if he does, whether he should disclose his appearance at the event. His presence, and especially the video, comes very close to making him “identifiable” with a cause ...
• We are hopeful that the dialogue will continue. It's a cautionary tale for all journalists about the perceptions they create whenever they appear at any event.

     What a bunch of CRAP. It was after Wallace found out that it was a fundraiser for HCI that he bought tickets for himself and his family. The whole event was a swipe at the NRA and Wallace used a tape of Charlton Heston and made fun of him. Everyone knew what was going on.

To see the video of event go to
NRANEWS.com then click on
BROWSE ARCHIVES then
2005 MEETING scan down to BRADY CAMPAIGN AT FRENCH

UPDATE: Disarming Mike Wallace, October 21, 2005      There were some loose ends remaining when we last left the story of “60 Minutes” correspondent Mike Wallace and his appearance at a birthday party for columnist Art Buchwald -- a party that just so happened to also be a fundraiser for the Brady Center, a prominent advocate of gun control laws. We’ll tie up those loose ends below.       First, some quick background. Wallace’s appearance raised questions for CBS News from some quarters, most notably from Cam Edwards, host of the Cam and Company show on nranews.com. At issue were comments made by Wallace at the event and the fact he showed a 47-second video of a past “60 Minutes” segment that, by Wallace’s own admission, cast former NRA President Charlton Heston in a less-than-favorable light.       We were asked what CBS News standards are on appearances such as these. Linda Mason, senior vice president for standards and special projects at CBS News at the time informed us that if a CBS correspondent becomes identifiable with one side of a controversial issue, that correspondent would no longer be allowed to cover that issue. When we asked if Wallace’s appearance in this case made him “identifiable” on this issue, Mason said CBS was looking into the matter to determine that.       I spoke with Mason late yesterday and she told me how CBS News will deal with this issue in the future. Mason said that if Wallace “suggests a story that we feel is a potential conflict, we’ll look at it and if we see a conflict, we’ll turn it down.” I take that to mean we won’t be seeing Mr. Wallace doing any more stories involving Second Amendment issues.       When I first addressed this issue, it was with mixed feelings. I sympathized with Wallace and the explanation he provided me for his appearance. He emphasized what he saw as his humorous approach to his comments and his focus on his very good friend’s 80th birthday party. But I also found the fact he had brought a video addressing the gun issue to be troubling.       I have since seen some of Wallace’s remarks and am far less conflicted. In introducing the video, Wallace calls Heston the “self-righteous enemy of the Sarah and Jim Brady bunch.” Coming out of the video, he mocks Heston’s widely-seen comments that the government would take away his gun only from his “cold, dead hands.” And he referenced, we assume, the relatively unknown position on gun control of Chief Justice John Roberts, calling him part of “the legions of the already convinced.”       Wallace told me his appearance was “meant to be and was received as a joke.” If so, it was one that was out of my range of humor. Others present at the event stressed to me the relative lack of discussion over gun control or the Second Amendment, saying the primary focus by far was Buchwald’s birthday. I have not seen a tape of the entire event but have no reason to doubt that. Even so, Wallace did make reference to the gun debate in a way that made him identifiable with one side of this issue.       I trust Mason and CBS News to carry through with the pledge to turn down a Wallace story if there is a conflict involving his Brady Center appearance. It is the right thing to do. And I have no doubt that we’ll hear about it if that does not happen. I don't trust Mason and CBS News, I am sure that Wallace will be able to report on any "event" that is negative about guns. I don't expect to see Wallace or anyone at “60 Minutes” to do a positive story on the rejection of more gun control in Brazil or the passage of "Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act," or

ATF has new FORM 4473
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW FORM 4473

     Just when you thought that the famous ATF Form 4473 was perfect, the ATF has revised the form and it is now dated July 2005. The phrase, "The more things change, the more they stay the same." comes to mind but don't expect to see any big changes. The biggest change you will notice is that the form is now on white paper.
     This form change has become a big problem for some people because many FFL's have not been sent the new forms.
      CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NRA-ILA ALERT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM however the link on the web page leads to a 404 error on the ATF web site. I have been unable to locate a clean form that you can download from the ATF web site so click on the link above to see the new form.

Handgun Control, (aka Brady Campaign,) launches fear campaign
aimed at Florida vacationers.

     Handgun Control, (aka Brady Campaign,) has announced that they are going to start a campaign to make vacationers aware that Florida now has a law that allows anyone to protect themselves against criminal attack no matter where that criminal attack occurs. (And the downside of that is ??) However HCI does not consider the fact that this campaign might backfire when law abiding citizens across the nation realize that they do not have that right in their state.
     Let Florida and Handgun Control how you feel. Apply for a Florida CCW.

FEDERAL JUDGE HALTS NEW ORLEANS GUN SEIZURES
CLICK HERE TO SEE LAST MONTHS ARTICLE
CLICK HERE FOR Stephen Halbrook's, copy of the order.

     While "Armed militia protects its New Orleans neighborhood" the police chief and mayor of New Orleans decided that when they could put SWAT teams on the street again that their first task should be to do a house to house search for legal gun owners who were defending their homes and businesses. The NRA and SAF took them to court and a Federal Judge has ordered that the police stop disarming law abiding citizens and return any firearms that they have illegally taken. The order read in part:

     IT IS ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that C. Ray Nagin, Mayor of New Orleans; P. Edwin Compass III, Superintendent of Police for New Orleans; and Jack Strain, Jr. -, Sheriff, St. Tammany Parish; and the officers, deputies, agents, servants, and employees of a1l such persons, and upon those persons in active concert or participation with them, are hereby enjoined and prohibited, until further order of this Court:
      1. From confiscating lawfully-possessed firearms from citizens, including, but not limited to, Plaintiff Buell 0. Teel and members of Plaintiffs National Rifle Association, Inc. and Second Amendment Foundation, Inc.
     2. And they are further ordered to return any and an firearms which may have been confiscated by Defendants, their officers, deputies, agents, servants, and employees of all such persons from Plaintiff, Buell 0. Teel, who plaintiffs have assured the Court is authorized to possess firearms; members of Plaintiff, National Rifle Association, Inc., who lawfully possess firearms; and members of Plaintiff Second Amendment Foundation, Inc., who lawfully possess firearms; and all other persons who lawfully possess them, upon presentation of identification and execution of a receipt therefore.
     Nothing in this order shall supercede any declaration of emergency promulgated by the applicable authorities.
DATED this 23rd day of September, 2005.

By Dimitri Vassilaros, TRIBUNE-REVIEW, Friday, April 1, 2005

      The slaughter, rape and torment of the citizens of Darfur would end if humanitarian aid included guns.
      Darfur is a Texas-size region of Sudan. The Sudanese government and its militia proxies have killed roughly 70,000 civilians, raped and mutilated untold numbers of others and caused about 3 million refugees to live in camps.
      Sudan could teach Serbia a thing or two about ethnic cleansing.
      This carnage has been going on since 2003. The Sudan People's Liberation Army, a small band of revolutionaries from Darfur, were the only excuse the government needed to wage war on unarmed citizens in the region, who also happen to be fellow Muslims.
     As I was reading story after story about the horrific treatment of the innocents by government-backed forces, I always wondered why there was no mention of the victims fighting back.
      "Some do defend themselves," said Bill Garvelink, acting assistant administrator for the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance in the U.S. Agency for International Development. The United States has given about $600 million since 2003.
      "But Sudan has helicopters and AK-47s. People in the camps have machetes," Garvelink said. International treaties covering humanitarian aid prohibit giving any side arms to defend oneself; otherwise no aid workers would be allowed to bring in supplies to a troubled region.
      But Sudan is not allowing aid workers much access anyway so the refugees are caught in the middle, he said.
      Amnesty International prefers to end the genocide by moral persuasion instead of self-defense.
      "We at Amnesty International are not going to condone escalation of the flow of arms to the region," said Trish Katyoka, director of Africa Advocacy. "You are empowering (the victims) to create an element of retaliation. "Whenever you create a sword-fight by letting the poor people fight back and give them the arms, it creates an added element of complexity. You do not know what the results could be."
      But we do know what they are now.
      Self-defense could exacerbate the situation, Katyoka said. "Fighting fire with fire is not a solution to the genocide. It is a dangerous proposition to arm the minorities to fight back."
      Better they should be slaughtered.
      Katyoka hopes the United Nations can do something -- someday -- to stop the killing. She also hopes Sudan's leaders are charged with crimes against humanity in the International Criminal Court. But at this rate, will there be any eyewitnesses left to testify?
      Even Dr. Ali B. Ali-Dinar, founder and director of the African Studies Center at the University of Pennsylvania -- who was born and reared in Darfur -- does not believe in arming the victims.
      "That could create a vicious cycle of violence," Ali-Dinar said. "The cycle now is mainly orchestrated by the government. Give guns to the traumatized and it will definitely get out of hand. There is no limit then, for them to stop."
      He, too, hopes the international community comes to the rescue -- someday.
      (Ali-Dinar will be speaking 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, 5700 Forbes Avenue in Squirrel Hill. There is no charge for admission. It is sponsored by the Pittsburgh Darfur Emergency Coalition.)
      Darfur is one more reminder that gun control is genocide's best friend.
      Dimitri Vassilaros can be reached at dvassilaros@tribweb.com or (412) 380-5637.