GUNS IN THE NEWS--February 10, 2004

[MrBenchley]

Please try to adhere to the following voluntary guidelines, in order that we can have an orderly discussion of gun-related news topics:
1 - Feel free to add any CURRENT stories to this thread by replying to this message. In order to be considered current, stories should have been originally posted on the Internet within the previous 24 hours, or provide follow-up to a story that was previously posted on the J/PS board. On Mondays (since many people do not log in to DU over the weekend), stories can be posted from Saturday, Sunday, or Monday.
2 - Both pro-gun and anti-gun stories, editorials, and press releases are welcome in this thread, as long as they're current. Please do not post links to items from a few years back that support your position.
3 - Bear in mind that any links to extremely right-wing sites (such as Newsmax, CNS, or the Washington Times) or intentionally pro-gun or pro-control sites (such as the NRA or the Brady Campaign) are not considered reliable sources by many DU-ers. If at all possible, try to find a link for your story from a more mainstream source, such as a general-circulation newspaper or magazine site. If you choose to use a slanted site, be prepared for any negative feedback you may receive.
4 - Do not change story titles. In other words, if the Oskosh Gazette's web site runs a story titled "Two Killed in Holdup", the title of your message should read "Two Killed in Holdup". Don't change it to "Gun Owner Kills Two People", or anything else that changes the meaning of the story.
5 - If it's not clear from the title where the story occurred, add the city, state, or country in parentheses after the title.
6 - Comment on a story by replying to that story.
7 - Please direct your comments to the story, rather than attacking the person posting the story or any person responding to the story. In accordance with DU rules, any messages that appear to be personal attacks against another DU-er or violations of any other DU rule will be reported to the moderators.
8 - If you object to these guidelines, do everyone else a favor and go to another thread.

[MrBenchley]

1. Teacher Shot at Upstate N.Y. High School

"EAST GREENBUSH, N.Y. - A 16-year-old student shot and wounded a special-education teacher in the leg Monday as he let off three shotgun blasts in a high school hallway, authorities said.
Police did not immediately disclose a motive for the shooting, which happened around 10:30 a.m. and sent Columbia High School in suburban Albany into lockdown before the arrest.
Superintendent Terrance Brewer said the student fired three rounds of birdshot from a pump-action 12-gauge shotgun, and one round hit teacher Michael Bennett in the leg. Assistant principal John Sawchuk stopped Romano and held him until police came, Brewer said. "

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040210/ap_on_re_us/brf_teacher_shot_4

[demsrule4life]

2. Thanks for starting my day with a smile with this and the ignore thread

what was that word that was being thrown around on Sun? obsessive?

[CO Liberal]

8. A Story About a Shooting Starts Your Day With a SMILE??????

How sad....

[MrBenchley]

9. Says it all, doesn't it....

[RoeBear]

10. Oh come on...

...you must realize that he's smiling about you and Benchley both starting the GITN thread within a minute of each other this morning.

[CO Liberal]

11. Since Most People Don't Know That...

...only people who were logged on first thing this morning know that Bench and I posted GITN threads within a minute of each other - I immediately changed mine to "Please Ignore This Thread".

A person coming onto the board without this information would look at Dems' post and draw the logical conclusion that the story Bench posted brought a smile to his face.

[RoeBear]

13. And so with that knowledge...

...what were you trying to accomplish?

[CO Liberal]

20. Saving The Moderators The Trouble...

...of removing a dupe.

[RoeBear]

22. Let me see if I have this straight now...

...you say to Dems :
"A Story About a Shooting Starts Your Day With a SMILE??????...How sad"

I point out to you that:
" you must realize that he's smiling about you and Benchley both starting the GITN thread within a minute of each other this morning."
(giving you a chance to apologize and/or edit your message)

Your response is:
"A person coming onto the board without this information would look at Dems' post and draw the logical conclusion that the story Bench posted brought a smile to his face." (a message about a teacher being shot by a student, I might add)

To which I ask:
"And so with that knowledge what were you trying to accomplish?"

And you claim that you were merely:
"Saving The Moderators The Trouble of removing a dupe."

Now I get it. Your personal attack on a member was really just a unique way to remove a duplicate thread. Good Job. I guess the next time I need to remove a dupe I'll just have to find someone to attack. Where do I find this in the message board rules?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules.html

[MrBenchley]

24. Quoting somebody's own words is an attack....

ho-kay, I guess that's what passes for RKBA logic.

[slackmaster]

49. It certainly can be a personal attack

If done out of context, and maliciously juxtaposed with other information in a manner intended to create a false perception of what the quoted person meant to say.

[CO Liberal]

Let's Look At This Morning's Time Line

All times are Mountain Standard Time, because that's how they're displayed on my PC:

6:12 am –

MrBenchley posts a GITN thread.

6:13 am –

CO Liberal posts a GITN thread.

6:15 am –

CO Liberal realizes the duplication and changes his thread to “Please Ignore This Thread.”

6:25 am –

Demsrule4life posts his “Thanks for starting my day with a smile with this and the ignore thread” message

Now – what other impression would a person logically get from Dems’ post other than the story about the shooting contributed to the smile on his face? After all, that’s what he said.

[RoeBear]

41. Look at it closer...

...and note that Dems replied to the thread starter and not the story about the teacher being shot. I'm sure he'll accept your belated apology.

[CO Liberal]

42. Please Refer to My Post #31...

...where I apologized to Dems over an hour ago.

[RoeBear]

43. Very nice of you...

...did you ask the mods to remove your message? (message #8)

[CO Liberal]

45. It's Been There For Over Six Hours

If the mods had a problem with it, they would have removed it by now.

[demsrule4life]

19. Hmmmm

Since I replied off the main heading, there is no reason for anyone to be confused. I did not reply off Benchies post.

[CO Liberal]

31. When You Posted at 6:25 am.....

...the story about the shooting had already been there for ten minutes. What else was I to assume other than that story helped put a smile on your face?

If that's not what you meant, the I apologize. It was just very unclear to me.

[RoeBear]

50. Well at least YOU...

...apologized. I'm going to hold my breath while I wait for the other apology that is due to Dems, starting right now. x(

[Withergyld]

12. I finally got to use the "ignore thread" button

Thanks C0! B-)

[MrBenchley]

3. Police: Woman Fatally Shot Male In Welfare Office (IN)

"A woman is accused of fatally shooting a male Monday afternoon at a Randolph County welfare office in Winchester, police said.
The name of the male wasn't released. Police said the shooting happened shortly before 3 p.m. on the second floor of 320 S. Oak St.
Janet L. Blakeslee, 35, of Losantville, was arrested on a preliminary charge of murder. She was taken to the Randolph County Jail. "

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ibsys/20040210/lo_wrtv/2000332

[MrBenchley]

4. Medical examiner charged in shooting (OR)

The Coos Bay medical examiner is accused of shooting a 22-year-old man in what a sheriff's deputy described as a "disturbance gone bad."
Dr. William Hosack, 63, was being held in the county jail Sunday on $500,000 bail. The authorities say he shot Justice Mason Cloud at about 5 p.m. Saturday near the end of the Coos River Highway, about 10 miles east of Coos Bay.
A friend drove Cloud, 22, toward Bay Area Hospital before paramedics reached the car and transported Cloud the rest of the way, the Coos County sheriff's office said.

http://www.kgw.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D80JKAV81.html

[MrBenchley]

5. Man Arrested For Murder While Walking (OH)

"olice said they are questioning a suspect for the murder of a man at a west-side restaurant, NewsChannel5 reported.
The victim, 41, who is being described as a good samaritan, was reportedly shot as he tried to stop the robbery.
He died from his injuries after being transported to MetroHealth Medical Center. "

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=387&ncid=387&e=4&u=/ibsys/20040210/lo_wews/2000841

[MattPinNC]

6. Phelps County resident shoots home invader (MO)

Phelps County resident shoots home invader
By R.D. Hohenfeldt Staff Writer -

A neighbor who invaded a couple's home late Friday night and shot them in their bed was shot to death by the man who defended himself and his wife. Pronounced dead of apparent gunshot wounds at the scene was home invader David W. Brown, 45, who was facing charges for harassing and stalking the couple.

Injured were James Butler, 48, who suffered a gunshot wound to the neck, and his wife, Suzanne Butler, 44, who suffered a gunshot wound to the left arm.

http://www.therolladailynews.com/articles/2004/02/09/news/news2.txt

one dead bad guy!

VVV

[MrBenchley]

7. Alleged Tax Office Shooter Now In Police Standoff (OH)

"A man who investigators believe shot and killed another man in a Tri-State shopping center Monday afternoon now is involved in a police standoff, WLWT Eyewitness News 5 has learned.
Police have surrounded a house on North Hill Lane in Springfield Township, where they believe 22-year-old Roger McGee is, WLWT Eyewitness News 5's John London reported Monday.
McGee is accused in the fatal shooting of another man in front of the H&R Block office in the Hillcrest Shopping Center in Roselawn, near the intersection of Reading Road and Seymour Avenue.
McGee's father is with police, trying to get the suspect to come outside of the house, while his mother collapsed and was being treated at about 6 p.m., London reported. McGee's aunt, Eline Williams, told her nephew, through WLWT, to turn himself in. "

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=410&ncid=410&e=3&u=/ibsys/20040210/lo_wlwt/2000199

[MrBenchley]

38. Update: Bond Set At $1.1 Million For Homicide, Standoff Suspect

"According to police, Rodrick McGhee Jr., 22, walked up to Eion Carter, 24, in the Hillcrest Shopping Center in Roselawn and shot him several times from point-blank range in front of numerous eyewitnesses Monday. His bond was set at $1.1 million Tuesday, WLWT Eyewitness News 5 reported.
After the shooting, McGhee reportedly forced Carter's girlfriend to drive him to Springfield Township early Monday afternoon, according to investigators. A short time later, a police SWAT team was called to a home on North Hill Lane in that community. After several hours, McGhee was taken into custody after reportedly surrendering peacefully at about 7:30 p.m. "

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=410&ncid=410&e=2&u=/ibsys/20040210/lo_wlwt/2001102

[MrBenchley]

14. Worst fear comes to pass (FL)

"Miami police sergeant Juana Pacheco told friends she disliked her Liberty City neighborhood. The regular shoot-'em-ups in the street made her fear for her children, and she rarely let them go outside.
After the mother of five found a bullet hole in the wall of her home last week, she decided it was time to move, she told The Herald.
But it would be too late.
On Saturday, her teenage son was gunned down a few blocks away."

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/7915820.htm

[StClone]

15. Man convicted in Killing Adams Co. Sheriff (WI)

FRIENDSHIP, Wis. -- A man accused of killing a sheriff's deputy after threatening a roadside brush-cutting crew with a rifle was convicted Thursday of first-degree intentional homicide.

Jurors in Adams County Circuit Court also found Thomas G. Kramer, 55, of Strongs Prairie guilty of theft from a corpse and attempted first-degree homicide...

http://www.channel3000.com/news/2805281/detail.html

[iverglas]

28. "theft from a corpse"

Now that's tacky.

Kramer claimed he acted in self-defense. According to the criminal complaint, Shannon responded to a report from the brush-cutting crew that a man armed with a rifle was threatening the workers. Defense attorney Sheila Kessler said during closing arguments that Kramer fired only after Shannon fired first.

Ah yes, the "I had to kill the person I was trying to kill when he defended himself, so he wouldn't kill me first" defence.

(Yes ... I know that the accused hadn't actually tried to kill anyone yet; just a little hyperbole. A threat with a weapon is an assault and all.)

Fortunately, the Criminal Code of Canada has that one covered -- as I suspect US state criminal laws would too.

35. Every one who has without justification assaulted another but did not commence the assault with intent to cause death or grievous bodily harm, or has without justification provoked an assault on himself by another, may justify the use of force subsequent to the assault if

(a) he uses the force

(i) under reasonable apprehension of death or grievous bodily harm from the violence of the person whom he has assaulted or provoked, and

(ii) in the belief, on reasonable grounds, that it is necessary in order to preserve himself from death or grievous bodily harm;

(b) he did not, at any time before the necessity of preserving himself from death or grievous bodily harm arose, endeavour to cause death or grievous bodily harm; and

(c) he declined further conflict and quitted or retreated from it as far as it was feasible to do so before the necessity of preserving himself from death or grievous bodily harm arose.

The statutory equivalent of "nice try, bozo" ...

.

[MrBenchley]

36. Wonder how many of the gun owners

in these stories try the "self defense" dodge when apprehended?

[MrBenchley]

16. Slow-speed police chase briefly shuts down I-95 after fatal shooting (FL)

"FORT LAUDERDALE -- After seeing one man shot to death and another wounded in front of a tire shop Monday, a witness jumped into his car and chased the gunman down Interstate 95 while directing police on his cell phone, officers said.
The two shooting victims were sitting outside of Marc Tires shop at 612 NW Eighth Street in Fort Lauderdale just after 4 p.m. when a man walked up and fired several shots, police Detective Andy Pallen said.
The gunman fled the scene and jumped into a nearby Chevrolet Malibu carrying two other men, and the car headed northbound on Northwest Seventh Avenue, Pallen said.
The witness, who would not give his name, said he quickly got in his Mercedes Benz and followed the Malibu west on Sunrise Boulevard and south on I-95."

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/yahoo/sfl-cshoot10feb10,0,7882763.story?coll=sfla-newsaol-headlines

[MrBenchley]

17. Marion man convicted of murder (IN)

"MARION, Ind. -- Jurors convicted a man of five felony counts in the shooting death of a woman whose body was found inside a burning car.
A Grant Circuit Court jury returned the verdict Monday after more than eight hours of deliberations in the weeklong trial of Michael Collins, whose attorney had tried to move the hearing outside of the county because of pretrial publicity about his criminal history in Florida and elsewhere.
Collins, 46, was convicted on five charges in last April's shooting death of Michele Jaynes: murder, criminal confinement, abuse of a corpse, arson and pointing a firearm.
During the trial's second and third phases, jurors will consider an additional felony count of possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, and a habitual offender sentence enhancement.
Prosecutors argued Collins intended to kill the 33-year-old Marion woman when he pointed a .357-caliber handgun at her head last April. Collins said the shooting was accidental."

http://www.indystar.com/articles/4/119467-6424-093.html

[MrBenchley]

18. No Contest Plea in School Board Shooting (WV)

"CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A former maintenance worker accused of shooting a teacher at a school board meeting and trying to ignite two people doused with gasoline has pleaded no contest to criminal charges.
Richard Bright, 59, entered the pleas Monday to wanton endangerment and assault during the commission of a felony for his actions at a July 17 Kanawha County School Board meeting.
He was accused of walking into the meeting and dousing a maintenance supervisor and a personnel official with gasoline.
When he could not ignite the fuel, Bright pulled an AK-47 assault rifle from his overcoat and shot a high school teacher in the abdomen before members of the audience knocked him to the ground. The teacher was released from a hospital the next day. "

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040210/ap_on_re_us/school_board_shooting_1

[MrBenchley]

21. Shots Fired In Lake County Standoff (FL)

Another responsible gun owner defending himself against the forces of tyranny (snicker)

"The Lake County Sheriff's Office is in a standoff with a man near Eustis Monday afternoon.
The suspect is identified as Tim Swisher, 45, who is on probation for drug offenses, WESH NewsChannel 2 reported.
A representative with the Sheriff's Office says some shots have been fired, but it's not known if the shots were fired at deputies.
The area has been sealed off, and a SWAT team is on the scene. "

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ibsys/20040210/lo_wesh/2001506

[MrBenchley]

23. Police: Student Brought Gun, Bullets to School (PA)

"A local seventh grader from the David E. Williams Middle School in Kennedy Township is being detained at the Shuman Juvenile Detention Center after police say he brought a gun and bullets to school -- and threatened three other students.
According to officials, the 13-year-old boy is facing charges including having a handgun without a license and making terroristic threats.
"He did threaten these other students and he said he had a gun," Chief Bruni adds, "but he did not show the other students the gun that he threatened."
Police say the gun belonged to the boy's father."

http://kdka.com/local/local_story_041131033.html

[MrBenchley]

25. Salem police shoot, kill suspected burglar (OR)

"Salem police shot and killed a burglary suspect early this morning after he pulled out a gun, police said.
The shooting happened about 3:30 a.m. when two officers responded to a report of a burglary in progress at River Park Apartments, 2696 River Road S., Salem.
Once there, they confronted a man carrying a duffle bag. The suspected burglar drew a gun, police said.
Both officers opened fire, killing the suspect at the scene."

http://news.statesmanjournal.com/article.cfm?i=75183

[MrBenchley]

26. Oxford men face federal charges (NC)

"OXFORD -- Authorities arrested eight Oxford men in an ongoing investigation targeting drug and firearm traffic in and around Oxford, police reported.
The investigation, which has been ongoing for about a year, is a collaboration between the Oxford Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the U.S. Attorney's Office. According to a news release, those arrested were:
-- William Patrick Williams, 31, and David Bumpass, 21, each charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. "

http://www.herald-sun.com/granville/11-445571.html

[MrBenchley]

27. Alabama man sentenced to two life terms in 2002 slayings

"GREENVILLE, N.C. -- An Alabama man charged in the 2002 murder of a Pitt County couple pleaded guilty Monday and received two life sentences without parole.
After a slight hesitation, Timothy Vines, 30, said he was guilty in the shooting deaths of James Edward Equils, 49, and Virle Haley Equils, 60, in their trailer.
Two other men await trial in the double homicide, which police believe was committed during a robbery. Royvitt Fortson, 33, and Joshua Gentry, 25, both face charges and could go to trial later this year.
The Equils were found dead in their home on June 24, 2002. A medical examiner said Virle Equils died of a gunshot wound to the chest. James Equils died of a gunshot to the abdomen, but also was shot in the right arm and stabbed, said Assistant District Attorney Glen Perry. "

http://www.herald-sun.com/state/6-445663.html

[MrBenchley]

29. Muhammad attorneys seek to overturn verdict (VA)

The RKBA's poster boy back in the news....

"Defense attorneys for convicted sniper John Allen Muhammad wanted to argue that their client suffered from an "abnormal brain" and "neurological deficits" about the time of the shootings that left 10 dead in October 2002, according to reports from mental health experts made public yesterday.
The information was not allowed into evidence at Muhammad's trial last fall, when a jury convicted him of two counts of capital murder and recommended a death sentence, because Muhammad refused to meet with the prosecution's mental health experts.
Defense attorneys said in motions filed yesterday to overturn the convictions that the jury should have been allowed to hear the evidence as it weighed whether death was an appropriate punishment. They also said jurors should not have been barred from hearing testimony about his "horrific childhood" and the abuse he suffered."

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/yahoo/bal-md.sniper10feb10,0,2837617.story?coll=bal-newsaol-headlines

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[MrBenchley]

32. You will notice

that the folks in the gun porn threads boasting about the lethal and expensive toys that give their stubby a chubby NEVER seem to have contributed a dime.

[demsrule4life]

33. There really are times you need to watch what you say

I donated more yesterday, in fact why dont you go down to ask the admin when I'm asking Skinner to make sure AL get's counted.

[MrBenchley]

34. Ahem....

"There really are times you need to watch what you say"
Posted by demsrule4life

[demsrule4life]

37. MrB MrB MrB

Are you privy to has donated money? Of course you can go by the star but how do you know with us proguns with the star hasent donated more? I have, and I hope the rest have, and hopefully the progun folks without the star will. I want to see DU grow and prosper, I want to see that idiot out of the Whitehouse. I'm just sorry you hate me because I own some guns.

[MrBenchley]

39. I don't hate you, Dems...

You make me laugh far too often....

[demsrule4life]

40. I do try to keep a good sense

of humor.

[MrBenchley]

35. Burkheimer defendant accepts plea deal (WA)

"EVERETT— Jeffrey Barth, one of eight people charged in the kidnapping and murder of 18-year-old Rachel Burkheimer, this morning pleaded guilty to first-degree kidnapping with a firearm in exchange for his testimony against the remaining three defendants facing trial.
The plea agreement occurred on the same day that 150 potential jurors had shown up at the Snohomish County Courthouse to fill out a questionnaire which could determine whether they would serve during the joint trial of Barth, 23, and Yusef Jihad.
Testimony in Barth's and Jihad's trial was to begin next week. Each man was charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree kidnapping and first-degree kidnapping.
The Marysville woman was beaten, gagged and tied up in the garage. She was shoved in a duffel bag and driven to Gold Bar and shot by Anderson, according to court filings. Whitaker allegedly helped dig a hole, then took Burkheimer's clothing and jewelry before she was killed. "

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2001854614_webbarth11m.html

[MrBenchley]

44. Dispute leads to deadly shooting (AZ)

"An argument that escalated to a shooting late Sunday left one man dead and prompted a short standoff when the suspect barricaded himself inside his home, officials said Monday.
Investigators still can't say what prompted the fight that killed Daniel Pacheco Mesquita, a 29-year-old man believed to have come from Mexico to visit family members in the 2100 block of East Old Vail Connection Road, south of Hughes Access Road near South Country Club Road.
But they said Francisco Fuentes, 46, was involved in the confrontation, said Deputy Dawn Barkman, a spokeswoman for the Pima County Sheriff's Department. Fuentes has been charged with first-degree murder.
The investigation began shortly before 11 p.m., Barkman said, when her agency received reports that shots had been fired. Deputies found Mesquita's body in the road, she said, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. "

http://www.dailystar.com/dailystar/metro/9240.php

[MrBenchley]

46. No pleas in hostage cases (OH)

"A man facing multiple charges of holding a mother and son hostage and robbing a bank in Bath Township had appearances in Akron and Barberton municipal courts Monday but didn't enter pleas.
William Michael Burns, 22, is set to return this morning to Akron to appear with an attorney and enter a plea. In the Akron court, which handles the initial appearances for crimes in Bath Township, he is charged with three aggravated robbery counts and a kidnapping count.
Burns was arrested Friday after a four-hour standoff with police. He is accused of entering a home in Copley armed with a gun and duct-taping Jane Stafford, 51, and her son, Scott, 19."

http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/local/7917323.htm

[MrBenchley]

47. Witness to murder is slain in Gary

"GARY, Ind. -- A man who witnessed his girlfriend's fatal shooting last July but failed to show up at a court hearing last month has been killed, police said.
Oscar Kelly III, 22, was sitting in a parked car along a main street just south of the city's downtown when someone in another vehicle pulled up alongside and sprayed his car with bullets on Monday, police said. He died at the scene.
Kelly's girlfriend, Monique Austin, 17, a West Side High School honor student, was shot to death about in July as she sat in a car. Kelly, who was wounded in the leg in the same shooting, told investigators that gunmen fired from inside a van."

http://www.indystar.com/articles/8/119482-3408-093.html

[MrBenchley]

48. Boy, 15, fired gun that killed girl (OR)

A 15-year-old male fired the gun that killed a North Salem High School freshman during the weekend, officials said Monday.
No charges or arrests have been made in the death of 16-year-old Shennan N. Edwards, said Lt. Dan Cary of Salem Police Department. The shooting remains under investigation.
Police said they are checking into how the 15-year-old came to possess the .22 caliber pistol from which the fatal bullet was fired.
Meanwhile, crisis counselors and staff at North High and Parrish Middle School spent Monday talking with grief-stricken students about the girl’s death.

http://news.statesmanjournal.com/article.cfm?i=75177