Saturday, June 20, 2009



OK: Daughter shoots drunken father to save mother: "A rural Sallisaw man was shot to death late Thursday during a domestic dispute, Sequoyah County Sheriff Ron Lockhart reported. Lockhart said Friday morning that the sheriff’s office was called to the home of Keith Foreman, 47, at about 11:15 p.m. Thursday. He reported that Foreman’s body was found in the home with a single gunshot to the chest. Foreman’s body was sent to the medical examiner’s office in Tulsa, Lockhart said. Lockhart reported, “It was apparently a domestic that had been going on for about five hours at the residence. When the daughter arrived home at about 9:30 p.m., the domestic escalated between the wife, the daughter and the victim. “He apparently pulled a gun and was holding it to the head of the mom,” Lockhart said.... He said the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) will most likely not be called in to assist with the investigation because there is little doubt how Foreman was killed. The mother and daughter, Shelly and Felicia respectively, were interviewed at the sheriff’s office. Neither one was arrested, and both were released, Lockhart said. “I have no doubt that it would have been a double homicide,” Lockhart said, if Foreman had not been shot, suggesting that the shooting was most likely self defense."


Texas man fatally shoots teen at home: "A homeowner who had twice ordered a teenager to leave the property — once while holding a rifle — shot the teen dead after the boy refused to leave and walked toward him, authorities said. “He feared for his life,” said Harris County sheriff’s Lt. Rolf Nelson. Dwayne Austgen, 69, was inside his north Harris County home in the 5500 block of Susanna around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday when he noticed a teenager in his front yard, officials said. The man went outside, confronted 17-year-old Vidal Herrera, and told him to leave, authorities said. After the teen left the property, Austgen noticed Herrera had left a crack cocaine pipe, officials said. Austgen then went back inside his home, taking the pipe with him, officials said. A short while later, Herrera returned to the home, confronted Austgen about the pipe, and the pair argued, officials said. Austgen, this time holding a rifle, again ordered the teen to leave, officials said. Herrera began to walk away but then approached the homeowner, who fired the .22-caliber rifle, striking the teen in the abdomen, officials said. Herrera was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where he died. The case will be referred to a Harris County grand jury without charges.


Mont. gun law challenges federal powers: "A new Montana gun law puts the state at the forefront of a national bid to restore states' rights by attacking up to a century of federal court decisions on Washington's power. Two other states - Alaska and Texas - have had favorable votes on laws similar to Montana's, declaring that guns that stay within the state are none of the feds' business. More than a dozen others are considering such laws, and more-general declarations of state sovereignty have been introduced this year in more than 30 legislatures.... In May, Montana became the first state to approve the Firearms Freedom Act, which declares that guns manufactured and sold in the Big Sky State to buyers who plan to keep the weapons within the state are exempt from federal gun regulations. According to the act's supporters, if guns bearing a "Made in Montana" stamp remain in Montana, then federal rules such as background checks, registration and dealer licensing no longer apply. But court cases have interpreted the U.S. Constitution's Interstate Commerce Clause as covering anything that might affect interstate commerce - which in practice means just about anything. So if this law sounds ripe for a court challenge, well, that's the idea, said Gary Marbut, president of the Montana Sports Shooting Association, the state's largest pro-gun group. "The Interstate Commerce Clause has grown and grown until the government asserts authority over everything under the sun," said Mr. Marbut"


PA: Nutty Nutter loses as court again strikes down Philly gun restrictions: "“A state appeals court ruled Wednesday that the city cannot enforce an assault weapons ban and a law prohibiting guns bought by one person and given to another, measures passed by City Council in an effort to combat persistent gun violence. The 6-1 ruling marked the latest setback for Philadelphia officials …. The National Rifle Association challenged a series of measures that were passed by City Council in April 2008 and signed by Mayor Michael Nutter. Both sides expect the case to end up before the state’s highest court again.”

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