Columbia police say suspect was shot in self-defense

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia police say a woman they arrested after she showed up to a hospital with gunshot wounds early Sunday had earlier exchanged gunfire with two people in a parked vehicle.

Officers arrested Laronya Brown, 25, of Columbia, after finding out that a woman had been hospitalized with gunshot wounds following a shooting at about 3 a.m. in the 200 block of East Texas Avenue, according to a Columbia Police Department news release.

Police suspect Brown had driven up to and fired into a parked vehicle that had two adults inside, CPD said in the news release. A man inside the vehicle had been in a relationship with Brown, according to police.

Neither of the people in the parked car was hurt but Brown was hit when the man in the vehicle fired back in self-defense, police say. He is not being charged.

Prosecutors charged Brown with first-degree domestic assault, first-degree assault and armed criminal action. She was in the Boone County Jail without bond Monday. Her first court appearance was set for Monday afternoon.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: BEYOND DEMOCRATIC DESPOTISM

John Adams Wettergreen (d. 1989), writing in 1988 with a startling prescience of our present time:

In 1970 I believed that Tocqueville’s soft despotism was the aim of the bureaucratizers. However today we cannot be so optimistic as was possible in 1970. Today’s bureaucratizers are not soft despots at all. The political use of criminal law, such as began during the Watergate scandals and has begun to be regularized during the Reagan administration, is characteristic of tyranny-not Tocqueville’s ‘new,’ ‘soft’ one, but a harsh one. . . To the carrot-spending unlimited by law-the legislature has now added the stick-the penalties of the criminal law.

What Wettergreen perceived in the shadows more than 30 years ago is now evident to most everyone with eyes to see.

For the year 2020:
Population of Philadelphia: 1.6 million
Population of Pennsylvania: 13 million
Homicides in Philadelphia: 499
Homicides in Pennsylvania: 1,009

When gun laws are the same throughout the state, and your city accounts for 12% of the state population but nearly half of all homicides in the state, the problem isn’t guns……

No, we don’t

Gabby Giffords: We need to come together for gun control

Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords was the unfortunate victim of a violent attack targeting her specifically. It was an awful event and one that should never have happened.

Since then, though, the Democrat who tried to position herself as at least somewhat pro-gun has fully embraced gun control, founding her own group to advance just that agenda.

Now, she’s taken to the opinion page of the Fox News website to call on all American gun owners to join with her to advance gun control.

That’s why I founded a coalition within Giffords called Gun Owners for Safety. It’s a community for responsible gun owners to advocate for gun safety laws while standing up to extremists who claim to stand up for freedom — but whose ideas undermine the safety of our schools and communities.

Members of Giffords Gun Owners for Safety have the courage to take action to address the gun violence epidemic. They understand that the right to own guns must be balanced with civic responsibility. They know that gun ownership is not a license to terrorize and harass others with firearms — and they don’t feel understood, heard or represented by gun lobby groups that use fear and extremism to sell more guns.

First, I agree owning a gun isn’t a license to “terrorize and harass others with firearms.” Of course, I’m pretty sure Giffords thinks any sight of firearms counts as terrorization and harassment with a gun whereas I don’t, but that’s just my assumption based on her views. I could be wrong.

The problem, though, is that rather than working on educating gun owners about how to be responsible gun owners or something like that, they’re demonizing the groups that actually work to preserve our gun rights.

That’s because, for Giffords, the only way to advance “gun safety” is to restrict law-abiding gun owners.

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The Paranoid Style in Gun Control Politics
Bloomberg’s “The Trace” fabricates a conspiracy about amicus brief writers who adhere to Supreme Court Rules

If you’re looking for a website like QAnon, but catering to gun control advocates, you will enjoy some articles from The Trace, a gun control website founded and funded by Michael Bloomberg. In August, The Trace presented a conspiracy about the amicus briefs filed in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. The article was reprinted by Politico. Will Van Sant, The NRA’s Shadowy Supreme Court Lobbying Campaign, Politico, Aug. 5, 2022.

The 12-brief conspiracy

The Politico reprint of the Trace article opens with snazzy graphics. Forty-nine amicus brief were submitted in the Bruen case: “12 of those briefs were filed by people or institutions who had received millions of dollars from the NRA, a Trace and Politico Magazine investigation found. Only 1 brief disclosed the financial connection.” According to Van Sant, “neither the justices nor the public were told that 11 of these ostensibly independent voices owed their livelihoods in part to the NRA.” Let’s look at some of his examples.

In 1991, the Law Enforcement Alliance of America (LEAA) was created by San Jose police officer Leroy Pyle. The then-police chief of San Jose, Joseph McNamara, was one of the leading gun control spokesmen in America. McNamara attempted to fire Pyle for Pyle’s Second Amendment advocacy. Pyle ended up winning his case, thanks in part to the excellent work of his attorney, who happened to be the daughter of California Senator Dianne Feinstein. Later, Jim Fotis succeeded Pyle as head of LEAA, and LEAA received substantial donations from NRA. Although LEAA is apparently now defunct, in its day it advocated for the viewpoint of most rank and file law enforcement officers: skepticism about gun control and support for strict punishment of violent criminals.

In Bruen, an amicus brief was filed by The League for Sportsmen, Law Enforcement and Defense, which is based in Virginia. Van Sant’s article reports:

“Those of us involved with the League have been involved in 2nd Amendment advocacy for decades,” attorney Christopher Day, counsel of record on the brief, said by email in response to a request for comment. “The League is not affiliated with the NRA, nor received any financial support from them.” The League is led by James Fotis, who for many years oversaw an NRA-supported effort to elect judges and state attorneys general who opposed firearms restrictions.

According to Van Sant, it was “shadowy” for the League’s 2021 brief not to disclose in that brief that the League’s president had, years before, headed an organization that received NRA grants.

That is not what the Supreme Court Rules say, nor should they. Consider some career attorneys at the U.S. Department of Justice. During their employment, they “owed their livelihoods” (Van Sant’s phrase) to the DOJ. Later, they left the DOJ for private practice, and still later they wrote an amicus brief supporting a DOJ position in a Supreme Court case. Per Van Sant’s theory, the former DOJ lawyers must disclose their past DOJ employment in their amicus brief.

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Security guard shoots man assaulting woman near El Paso international bridge

A security guard shot a man who may have been assaulting a woman near an international bridge in El Paso on Friday, police said.

The security guard witnessed the apparent assault taking place inside a car waiting in the southbound lane leading up to the Stanton Bridge, El Paso police said.

The guard fired “at least one shot,” an El Paso officer told the Post. A video shared by KVIA captured the sound of at least ten shots being fired.

Police block Stanton International Bridge after the shooting.
Police block Stanton International Bridge after the shooting.
Go Nakamura for New York Post

The alleged assailant was sent to the hospital with one gunshot wound and is expected to recover, authorities said.

No arrests were made as of late Friday.

Fatal shooting in Warner Robins being treated as self-defense

HOUSTON COUNTY, Ga. (WGXA) – Police in Warner Robins are investigating a fatal Saturday shooting.

In a post on Facebook. the Warner Robins Police Department says their officers were called to the area near American Deli on Watson Blvd. just after 2 p.m. Their investigation shows that 22-year-old Tamar Lewis was shot and later died at the hospital. Investigators say Lewis approached another man and started shooting at him. That man returned fire and then ran away and called 911. Investigators are treating this shooting as self-defense.

The investigation is ongoing.

What exactly are the laws for minors possessing guns in North Carolina?

When it comes to minors purchasing firearms in North Carolina, the rules are clear: No one under the age of 21 may buy handguns, and no one younger than 18 can buy long guns, such as shotguns or rifles.

The state actually adheres to federal standards when it comes to such age restrictions.

But the rules are different in North Carolina when it comes to the possession of firearms. And it can get a little confusing.

  • North Carolina law makes it a misdemeanor for someone under the age of 18 to possess a handgun.
  • But there is no similar NC statute specifically addressing the possession of “long guns” — rifles, shotguns and carbines (except for a statute that allows children younger than 12 to handle firearms with permission from or under supervision of adults.).

So what exactly are the rules for minors possessing or using guns? There are a few.

▪ Under the age of 12. A child under the age of 12 must have permission from their parent or guardian to possess or use a firearm, whether loaded or unloaded, or be under the supervision of an adult, says NC statute 14-316. Violation is a misdemeanor.

▪ Keeping guns away from minors. According to North Carolina statute 14-315.1., people who possess firearms and live with minors have a responsibility to store firearms in a way that unsupervised minors cannot access them.

The penalty for not doing this is a Class 1 misdemeanor — but only under certain circumstances: if that firearm is obtained without permission and the minor exhibits the weapon in a public place or in a threatening manner, carries it onto an “educational property,” causes injury or death (not in self-defense) or uses it in the commission of a crime.

The statute is long, but specifies that the adult may be responsible if the firearm is stored “in a condition that the firearm can be discharged and in a manner that the person knew or should have known that an unsupervised minor would be able to gain access to the firearm.”

▪ No guns on school grounds. It is a Class 1 felony for anyone of any age to possess or carry (openly or concealed) any kind of firearm on “educational property” or to an extracurricular activity sponsored by a school. If that weapon is discharged, it’s a Class F felony. (Note: does not apply to BB guns, stun guns, air rifles or air pistols.).

It is also a Class 1 felony to encourage or aid a minor (less than 18 years old) to carry a firearm onto an educational property.

▪ No permit needed for “long guns.” You do not need any kind of permit to own a “long gun,” which includes a rifle or shotgun, but you do need a North Carolina ID and the buyer must pass a background check. (You do need need a permit to purchase a handgun.)

Why is it a crime to improperly store a firearm, but not illegal for a minor to own a rifle?

In North Carolina, it is not illegal for a minor to possess a long gun, such as a shotgun or rifle. And yet, it can be a crime for a minor to access a firearm if a parent or guardian has not properly secured it.

It all depends on what the minor does with the gun they access.

From the state statute (G.S. 14-315.1), here are all the elements that must be present for improper storage of a firearm to be a crime:

WNY Baptist ministers filing federal lawsuit over NYS ban on guns in place of worship

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — On Thursday, two Western New York congregation leaders alongside Firearms Police Coalition and Second Amendment Foundation filed a lawsuit against New York State.

The plaintiffs are challenging the state’s law and regulation banning guns in places of worship or places of religious observation.

The two WNY congregational leaders, Pastor Jimmie Hardaway with Trinity Baptist Church and Bishop Larry Boyd with Open Praise Full Gospel Baptist are filing this against Kevin Bruen, who recently resigned as Superintendent of the New York State Police, Niagara County District Attorney, Brian Seaman, and Erie County District Attorney, John Flynn.

According to the 49-page lawsuit, the ban denies the plaintiffs and “other typical law-abiding individuals” from carrying loaded handguns “in case of confrontation for immediate self-defense in a place of worship that would otherwise permit them to carry.”

The complaint notes that both Hardaway would typically carry a concealed firearm at Trinity Baptist, particularly on Sundays and during services.

“Reverend Hardaway has carried both for self-defense and because he feels a unique obligation to his congregants as Pastor to be prepared in case of confrontation. Trinity Baptist is in a neighborhood that has struggled with violent incidents,” the complaint argues.

It is also noted Boyd would carry a concealed firearm at Open Praise’s on Sundays and during services. “Open Praise is in a neighborhood that has struggled with crime, violence, and gang-related issues,” the complaint argues.

The plaintiffs also argue that because of tragic shootings in churches across the country, specifically in Charleston in 2015, Boyd has even more of a desire to carry for self-defense.

Boyd and Hardaway, the complaint argues, are both law-abiding, responsible gun owners.

7 News did reach out to Boyd and Hardaway for comment, but was directed to their attorneys, Nicolas Rotsko and Pete Patterson. 7 News reached out to them, but have not heard back.

7 News also reached out to the defendants. A spokesperson for the Erie County’s District Attorney’s office said Flynn would not comment on pending litigation.

Store owner shoots, kills 2 suspects trying to rob jewelry booth at Orlando flea market

Two men were killed and two others are on the loose after they attempted to rob a jewelry vendor at an Orlando flea market and were shot by the owner.

Orlando Police Department officers responded on Friday, October 14, at 11:44 a.m. to the Magic Mall after receiving calls regarding a shooting.

According to police, four suspects attempted to rob a jewelry booth inside the mall, which is an indoor flea market located at 2155 West Colonial Drive. At least one of the four suspects was armed.

The store owner shot at the suspects, who then attempted to flee the scene. One of the suspects was found dead at the scene by police.

The other three suspects fled in a vehicle that was later found at a nearby location. One of the suspects who had been shot was found inside the vehicle with a gunshot wound.

That suspect was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.

The other two suspects have not been located by police.

Okay, update on the Raleigh massacre.
Why the type of gun wasn’t mentioned?
Nailed it: Shotgun. And that doesn’t fit the gun banner’s narrative, so this will be shoved down the memory hole by Monday. And all SloJoe could do is replay he want’s to ban ‘assault weapons’.

Raleigh Active Shooter VIDEO: Multiple Dead

A 15-year-old active shooter, wearing camouflage and wielding a shotgun, randomly shot and killed five people near a trail in Raleigh, North Carolina. Video emerged from the scene, showing a massive law enforcement response.