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1. UPDATE: Fairfax County Park - No Firearms Sign
2. Lobby Day will be here before you know it - make plans to attend NOW
3. The date for the Goochland Board of Supervisors to vote on the ORAPAX shooting range is going to be January 8th!
4. Supreme Court to rule on whether treaties break constitutional bonds
5. York County to amend, and now possibly repeal, a gun ordinance
6. Get the lead out: the very real threat of lead poisoning at indoor ranges
7. Brutal group linked to 9 beatings
8. Witness to brutal attack speaks with WJZ
9. Who needs a gun at a zoo?
10. Bloomberg denied National Guard assistance in Brooklyn because of their possession of guns
11. Violent home invasion caught on camera [VIDEO]
12. Gunman kills 2, wounds 2 at chicken processing plant in Fresno, CA
13. Shoot while you wait: Alabama GOP plans election night party at gun range
14. Help needed for VCDL booth Sunday morning at Hampton gun show
15. Providing comments on security to VCU Police Chief Venuti
16. Another person to thank in the successful effort to stop extra-legal requirements for CHPs in Roanoke City
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1. UPDATE: Fairfax County Park - No Firearms Sign
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Some signs in the Eleanor C. Lawrence park in Fairfax with "no guns" wording were noticed by a member named Ryan. He reported them to VCDL and I forwarded the issue to our EM email list. EM Ed Levine volunteered to chase down the problem. Turns out that the wording had been covered up originally, but for whatever reason was now visible.
Hats off to Fairfax park employee Kevin Williams, who knew the gun laws and confirmed that those signs had been fixed to cover the "no guns" wording years ago. He needed exact locations to correct the offending signs, which Ryan provided.
The signs were fixed promptly. Ryan walk through the park confirming that the "no guns" wording was gone.
Fairfax has come a long way over the years and deserves kudos for the professionalism shown in dealing with issues such as this.
Thanks to Ed for his help.
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2. Lobby Day will be here before you know it - make plans to attend NOW
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Lobby Day, an important event for VCDL each year, is going to be held on January 21st, 2013 at 9 AM at the General Assembly Building in Richmond (9th and Broad). That is also Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, a holiday for some of you. For those who do not normally get that day off, NOW is the time to ask your boss for that day off.
In the past we have drawn up to 1,000 gun owners and we really need to keep that kind of turnout so we can more effectively fight off bad bills and get good ones passed. We flood the halls with a sea of Guns Save Lives stickers and go in groups to lobby all of the legislators to support pro-gun bills.
There will be more information on Lobby Day as the date approaches.
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3. The date for the Goochland Board of Supervisors to vote on the ORAPAX shooting range is going to be January 8th!
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The Goochland Board of Supervisors is having a hearing on approving the Special Use Permit requested by ORAPAX so they can open a sporting clays range. The date will be on January 8th at the Goochland Government Building. More details to follow as the date approaches. (In an alert earlier this week I thought the date was going to be December 4th).
The opponents have had between 75 and 100 people at Planning Commission hearings and we need to show our own strong numbers.
The opponents are throwing up all kinds of mostly emotional arguments, along with plenty of disinformation. We need to counter that, too.
Plan to be there to show support or to speak if you can.
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4. Supreme Court to rule on whether treaties break constitutional bonds
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From
examiner.com:
http://tinyurl.com/acoc4ql
Supreme Court to rule on whether treaties break constitutional bonds
by Mike Stollewerk
November 4, 2012
[SNIP]
The Obama Administration's Department of Justice is expected to continue to argue before the Supreme Court in this case that the federal government may expand its powers over the people and the states by way of international treaties, notwithstanding the fact that this "effects a change in the sensitive relation between federal and state criminal jurisdiction." If the Supreme Court agrees with the Department of Justice, then it will be clear that entering into an international small arms treaty would provide the federal government potentially unlimited power to regulate firearms.
No matter what you think now, everybody better grab some popcorn and pay attention. The stakes are high and the Supreme Court has, as noted by Ilya Somin, not only issued a "rare unanimous decision on a federalism issue" (Tenth Amendment standing), but subsequently granted certiorary on the merits in "one of the rare cases that get to the Supreme Court twice."
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5. York County to amend, and now possibly repeal, a gun ordinance
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York county is amending its concealed carry ordinance to remove the fingerprinting requirement for first time CHP applicants (fingerprinting has not been done since it was made illegal, though).
I had another engagement in Richmond, so I authorized EM Doug Peterson to represent VCDL at the hearing tonight (Tuesday). VCDL asked that the concealed carry ordinance, which mimics parts of 18.2-308, simply be repealed as unnecessary.
My thanks to Sheriff Danny Diggs, who has a strong record of supporting gun-rights, for his help. Sheriff Diggs supported the idea of the repeal and led the charge at the hearing to do so.
The effort looks like it may be successful, as the Board of Supervisors voted to table the motion on amending the ordinance and agreed to bring the ordinance up for a repeal at a future hearing (after giving required public notice of the hearing).
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6. Get the lead out: the very real threat of lead poisoning at indoor ranges
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James Durso emailed me this:
--
From
modernserviceweapons.com:
http://tinyurl.com/bzp67wa
GET THE LEAD OUT: THE VERY REAL THREAT OF LEAD POISONING
by Steven Harris
November 5, 2012
In the Wild West someone said to have "lead poisoning" usually died of a gunshot wound, although some actually probably did die of illness caused from excessive exposure to lead. (Annie Oakley, so they say). While it would be extraordinary today for a frequent shooter or instructor to die of illness caused by long term exposure to the heavy metals associated with ammunition, the serious inhalation and contact hazards associated with shooting, handling ammunition components, and cleaning of firearms can and should nevertheless be minimized. This is especially critical if you or someone in the household is pregnant or have children in your home.
If you shoot indoors or spend time on an indoor range (or shoot house) while others shoot, your blood lead level should be tested at least twice a year. (Everyone else reading this, once per year is probably sufficient). The level of lead in the blood is measured in micrograms per deciliter. Theoretically, there should be no lead in the human body, but there are several ways we are exposed to it in our lifetime. Thus, few have a near 0 blood lead level. Blood lead level figures reflect cumulative exposure; it takes several months, possibly up to one year, for the level to recede. If you stop shooting indoors entirely, your blood level should show a dramatic drop in about six months.
Here are the conservative levels I apply in monitoring myself. If my blood lead level is consistently below 15, I do not have concerns, absent symptoms. If it is frequently more than 15 but less than 25, I limit time in the indoor range, whether shooting or instructing, and consider wearing a special particulate-rated respirator mask. If the level is more than 30, I promptly stop all indoor range activities and have a physician run further tests for deficiencies and conditions normally associated with lead poisoning. (Reproductive health may be affected at level of 30 and above). Another commonly available blood test is the ZPP (zinc protoporphyrin), used to determine chronic exposure over longer intervals. A doctor may want to run that test as part of a regular diagnostic routine once a higher than the upper limit normal (about 25) level has been detected more than once. Adults are rarely given treatment for lead poisoning by medical intervention (usually IV chelation), since the treatment itself carries risks.
Lead contamination by inhalation, ingestion, and skin exposure can be minimized if you shoot in well ventilated, regularly cleaned ranges. You can reduce exposure if you shoot early in the day, before the range air becomes saturated, leave the range area when not shooting or actually instructing, and by using fully encapsulated or nontoxic loads. When you handle used brass or clean firearms, wear disposable (I use powder-free nitrile) or washable, reusable solvent proof gloves with long cuffs. Throw out cleaning patches and cloths outdoors and promptly. Keep your hands away from mouth, eyes, and nose. Always keep open wounds on the hands and arms covered. If you use toxic cleaning products indoors, open several windows and wear a light respirator mask.
I have certain protocols for decontamination after shooting or instructing, on any range. I recommend and regularly use products by Esca-Tech, the manufacturer of D-Lead® products. They contain complex compounds which decontaminate skin of heavy metals. The product line includes skin wipes, smooth/abrasive and waterless hand soaps, body and hair shampoo, laundry detergent, and surface wipes. Protocols I follow have kept my blood lead level at under 16, and rapidly reduced a twice elevated level (20-25), in about three months, even while still shooting once or twice weekly indoors, several times per month outdoors, and cleaning several handguns weekly.
Here are some of the decontamination protocols I follow: Never bring food into or eat in or near an indoor range, or eat without first decontaminating hands and face. Wash your face, hands, and arms with decontamination soap and cold water (warm opens pores), and wipe your hair (including facial if any) with a regular baby or D-Lead® wipe before you leave the range. Blow your nose and clean your nostrils with a wipe. Flush with nasal saline if necessary. Before you drive away from the range, wipe down your range bag and other exposed gear (cell phone, eye and ear protection). Avoid bringing fabric range bags into the range, as over time these become impregnated with the range smell and airborne particulates.
When you return from the range, rinse your dedicated range shoes outdoors, wipe down your vehicle seat and rinse the floor mat. Bag and leave your range clothing and shoes in the garage or utility room, away from the kitchen and its sink. Wash range clothing separately from regular laundry and give them an extra rinse. Keep clean range clothing apart from your regular attire. Shower and shampoo as soon as possible, first with soap and cold water. For washing of hands, use bathroom sink, not kitchen. Use abrasive hand soap, or a nail brush to scrub your fingers and under your nails. (The D-Lead® product line mentioned above includes several type hand and body soaps and shampoo).
In addition to decontamination protocols, I have used supplements and homeopathic self-help to help keep my blood lead level in check, including making sure my intake of calcium, iron, and zinc were high, and by reducing high dose Vitamin D supplementation when my blood lead level was over 20. I have also used homeopathic remedies available at health stores with apparent positive result of lowering the blood lead level. These include non-FDA approved oral chelation agents (algin, EDTA, antioxidants, and others) found in heavy metal detox and cardiovascular formulations.
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7. Brutal group linked to 9 beatings
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And the joys of living in self-defense-free DC keep coming. DC would rather have an innocent person beat to death than to have the horrible situation where a bad guy gets shot by his intended victim.
Paul Kent emailed me this:
--
From
wtop.com:
http://tinyurl.com/b9stbto
Chief: Brutal group linked to 9 beatings
by Amy Hunter
November 2, 2012
WASHINGTON - A total of five men have been arrested in connection with the brutal beating near Eastern Market in August and police say the group is responsible for nine separate violent assaults in recent months.
"Different members of the group would go out together at different times," Cathy Lanier, D.C. police chief, said on Thursday. "We've linked them now to several cases. I think we're up to nine, and the investigation is ongoing."
Three suspects were charged in September for the beating that left Thomas Maslin, 29, unable to speak in August after three brain surgeries.
Maslin, who is married with one young child, was walking home from a Nationals game on Aug. 18 when police say he was violently robbed and beaten. His credit card and cell phone were taken and he was found unconscious on the porch of a Capitol Hill row house the next morning. Maslin was in a coma for six days and was left blind in one eye.
Tommy Branch, 21, of Fort Washington, Michael Moore, 18, of Landover, and Sunny Kuti, 17, of southeast D.C., are charged in the attack.
"Right now we've identified, in addition to the three, another two guys," Lanier said. "We've linked that group of five, in various different combinations, to various crimes, all of which the victims were beaten."
All five have been arrested and charged, and Lanier says the investigation is ongoing and she expects more charges will be filed.
"We're really looking at targeting robbery suspects that cause injury to the victims," she says. "There really should be a whole different view on how you view someone who commits a robbery who just takes your property, versus somebody who injures you."
"We've seen groups now, like this group, who unnecessarily assault victims and cause pretty significant injury."
Lanier says violent crime in the city is up about 6 percent and robbery is up about 5 percent, although she attributes this climb to an increase in domestic assaults, which she says tend to be isolated.
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8. Witness to brutal attack speaks with WJZ
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And self-defense-unfriendly Maryland, not wanting to be upstaged by D.C., has some extremely bad beatings of its own.
John Treaster emailed me this:
--
From
baltimore.cbslocal.com:
http://tinyurl.com/ahj7usu
Witness To Brutal Attack Speaks With WJZ
Reported by Mike Hellgren
November 6, 2012
BALTIMORE (WJZ) — A man is fighting for his life after a brutal attack in downtown Baltimore. A witness to the broad-daylight beating is speaking only to WJZ.
Mike Hellgren has this new account and why this case is so unusual.
It's so stunning to many because it's so brazen. The beating happened in the afternoon last Friday on Lombard and Howard just blocks from Camden Yards and the Inner Harbor.
John Mason, a 32-year-old tattoo artist, is in a medically induced coma with serious head injuries after being beaten downtown on Lombard and Howard streets, just a block from the Bromo Seltzer Tower. The bold attack was at 1:30 p.m. last Friday.
A witness–who does not want his face shown–says there were at least eight attackers, all young men.
"Twice, he kept telling them he didn't want to fight. He didn't want to fight," the witness said. "They didn't care."
It didn't look like it was a targeted attack.
"They didn't know him at all. They was just looking for trouble," he said.
He says it happened at the bus stop and one of the attackers kicked Mason more than a dozen times.
"The guy was already knocked unconscious and the guy sat there and held his feet while his homeboy just started stomping on his head," he said. "When I came down and I called 911, he was on his back. I turned him on his side and when I did, he came about and the last I recall was, I saw him getting on the stretcher."
"At this point, it's unclear what the motive was. We're looking at a variety of possibilities. One of them is an obvious robbery. We're also looking at the background of the victim, trying to see if there are any disputes that might have resulted in this," said Anthony Guglielmi, Baltimore City Police spokesperson.
Police are combing through images from the extensive camera network downtown and say the area is safe, despite this attack and the beating of a tourist earlier this year that was caught on video and got attention nationwide.
Some who live and work here are fed up.
"Somebody needs to come forward and say what they saw so we can get these people off the streets who are doing these things to our citizens," said Eric Adams.
Police say they hope to interview the victim and do not yet have any good description of the attackers.
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9. Who needs a gun at a zoo?
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Very sad. I'll bet the parents would have given their right arms to have been able to shoot the vicious dogs killing their child. Just like with a criminal attack, you are either ready or you are not - there isn't time to be looking for a gun once an attack has started.
Andrew Endsley emailed me this:
From
dailymail.co.uk:
http://tinyurl.com/aqhmkjr
Boy, 2, mauled to death at zoo after falling into African wild dog pit
by Rachel Quigley
November 4, 2012
This is the tragic two-year-old boy who was mauled to death by a pack of ravenous African wild dogs after he fell off a zoo railing his mother put him on to get a better view of the animals on Sunday.
Maddox Derkosh had 'no chance' of surviving after falling 11 feet into the dog pit at the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium while his horrified parents Jason and Elizabeth Derkosh looked on helpless.
Desperate rescue attempts by zookeepers and armed police officers could not deter the 11 aggressive beasts as they savagely attacked the two-year-old, from Pleasant Hills, on Sunday morning.
A medical examiner concluded today that the toddler was killed by the animals, not by the fall.
Barbara Baker, CEO and president of the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium said there is a net below the rail, but the boy bounced off it and into the enclosure.
She said the animals attacked the child so quickly that by the time a veterinarian and other zoo staffers arrived seconds later, they determined it would have been futile to try to rescue the child.
Authorities said that zoo staff and then police responded 'within minutes' but visitors described that time as being filled with screams for help.
Zookeepers called off some of the dogs, and seven of them immediately went to a back building.
Three more eventually were drawn away from the child and one especially aggressive dog refused to back down and stop attacking the boy.
It was shot dead by an officer. Experts said the death is highly unusual.
The family's neighbor Rachel Majcher told the Tribune Review: '(Jason and Elizabeth) went nowhere without Maddox. I cannot imagine the dark cloud that is following them.'
'I can't imagine as a mom myself what tragedy that would be, Your heart stops when your kid skins a knee.'
She said her father saw Maddox trick-or-treating in a Superman costume, and he could often be found playing on a swing set with his cousin, who lives nearby.
'The hardest part is going to be to explain to my kids that their playmate is no longer here. His life will be celebrated.'
Steve Feldman, a spokesman for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, said no one he's spoken to can recall any deaths of children at an accredited zoo over the last 40 years or more.
Feldman said the Pittsburgh Zoo successfully completed its five-year review in September, which means it meets or exceeds all safety standards.
The zoo was immediately closed, and it was not clear when it will reopen, authorities said.
The so-called painted dogs are about as big as medium-sized domestic dogs, and 37 to 80 pounds , according to the zoo. They have large, rounded ears and dark brown circles around their eyes and are considered endangered.
The attack happened in a 1.5 acre exhibit called the Painted Dog Bush Camp that's part of a larger open area where elephants, lions and other animals can be seen. Visitors walk onto a deck that is glassed on the sides, but open in front where the roughly four-foot railing is located.
In May, some of the dogs crawled under a fence and escaped into a part of the exhibit that's usually closed. The zoo was on lockdown for about an hour as a precaution.
Kraus said there was nothing to prevent visitors to the painted dog exhibit from jumping into the exhibit area. He described the accident as 'horrific'.
'Unfortunately, the dogs were in pack mentality and not responding to zookeepers' efforts to control them,' the zoo said in a statement.
Police and the Allegheny County medical examiner's office are investigating, and they haven't yet interviewed the mother or father, who are receiving grief counseling.
Baker said the zoo, which has never had a visitor death, will also investigate. She said no decision has been made yet on the future of the exhibit.
Zoo officials said there is a mesh barrier beyond the railing, but Lt Kraus said it was designed to catch small objects such as cameras, and not humans.
Investigators have not determined the exact cause of death, he said.
'The screams just kept coming and coming: "Someone help. Someone has to do something,''' witness Angela Cinti, 20, who was visiting the zoowith her boyfriend told the Pittsburgh-Post Gazette.
'We were on our way to the polar bear exhibit when we heard the most horrible piercing screams,' Ms Ciniti recalled. 'Someone was begging for help, asking someone to do something.'
Guests recounted being hurried into the nearest building for safety, waiting for a half an hour according to Ms Cinit.
'We were locked down in the building and told to stay inside,' Ms Cinit told the paper. 'We thought it was a problem with one of the animals that got loose. Then we were told it was an incident with the wild dogs and that a child had been hurt.'
In May, 200 patrons were rushed inside buildings and the zoo was put on lock-down when nine of the dogs sneaked out of the exhibit and found its way into a secondary holding pen.
Alone, the dogs, which weigh up to 80 pounds, can be formidable, but in packs they are vicious -- capable of hunting and killing prey many times their size.
They have been known to kill wildebeest and zebras, though they usually pursue less dangerous prey.
The dogs, which are endangered, are among the most deadly predators of the Serengeti Plain.
Their hunts end in a kill 80 per cent of the time. Lions have a success rate of just 30 per cent.
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10. Bloomberg denied National Guard assistance in Brooklyn because of their possession of guns
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What can I say about Mayor Bloomberg of New York City? He needs to see a good psychiatrist. He's clearly unfit to run even a tiny town, much less a huge city.
Bob Greene emailed me this:
--
Apparently Bloomberg has denied National Guard entry into Brooklyn because they carry guns. I supposed it is better to have robbery, murder and other mayhem than have citizen soldiers carrying out one of their prime state missions. What does he think the Guard will do, go on a shooting spree? Bloomberg seems to prefer people dying than having the guard in, so I guess their guns don't save lives.
From
newsbusters.org:
http://tinyurl.com/cvka5s3
Thursday Report: Bloomberg Wouldn't Let Guard Into Brooklyn Over Their Possession of Guns
by Tom Blumer
November 03, 2012
A Philly.com report tells us that "National Guard plays key role in N.J. relief efforts." The LA Times has reported that "More than 10,000 National Guard troops in 13 states have been mobilized to assist in the response to Hurricane Sandy, including more than 2,200 who are assisting with recovery efforts in New York." Guard troops are also in New York City to some degree (Mayor Michael Bloomberg says "We have 13 distribution sites opened, staffed by National Guard members"), including hard-hit Staten Island.
But at least as of Thursday, according to Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, as reported by Eli Rosenburg at the the Brooklyn Paper, which calls itself the borough's "leading news media," the mayor has refused a request to allow the Guard into the borough. Based on resource deployment priorities, the Mayor's refusal could be justified. But wait until you see the actual reason Bloomberg gave for his refusal, one which you might think would have received more media attention by now (bolds are mine):
Bloomberg: The National Guard in Coney is a bad idea
Mayor Bloomberg has snubbed Borough President Markowitz's impassioned plea to bring the National Guard to Hurricane Sandy-scarred Brooklyn — arguing that approving the Beep's request would be a waste of federal manpower and turn the borough into a police state.
"We don't need it," Mayor Bloomberg said on Wednesday during a press update on the city's ongoing Hurricane Sandy cleanup. "The NYPD is the only people we want on the street with guns."
Markowitz demanded the National Guard's help just an hour before Bloomberg's press conference, claiming that the NYPD and FDNY are "brave — but overwhelmed" by all the challenges Sandy brought when it visited the borough on Monday night: flooding, power outages, and looting.
"All of our resources have been stretched to the limit," Markowitz said. "In the name of public safety we need to send more National Guard personnel into Coney Island, Manhattan Beach, Gerritsen Beach, Red Hook, and any other locations."
Markowitz hopes that the sight of an armed soldier would deter criminal activity in the still-unaccessible evacuation zones — such as the rash of break-ins that took place in Coney Island hours after Sandy kissed the borough goodbye — but the Mayor said the NYPD was more than capable of handling the job.
"There are plenty of locations upstate and in surrounding states where they don't have a police department the size of New York and they can use help [from the National Guard]," said Bloomberg.
Markowitz said he was surprised by the Mayor's response, but was sticking to his guns.
"We stand by our statement 100 percent," said Markowitz spokesman John Hill. "We hope the governor will listen to our request."
In the "rash of break-ins" referenced above, "A wave a (sic) looters followed the Sandy storm surge in Coney Island, creating a double-whammy for business owners trying to pick up the obliterated pieces." Whether they could have been deployed quickly enough to prevent this mayhem is probably an open question, but there isn't any reasonable dispute that an armed Guard presence would have had significant deterrent value.
The Mayor's stance would appear to indicate that he might be okay with deploying the Guard if they'd only leave those darned weapons behind. Really? Gosh, what if the bad guys are armed?
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11. Violent home invasion caught on camera [VIDEO]
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In the blink of an eye your life can change. I always suggest carrying a gun while at home - another example why:
From
ksn.com:
http://tinyurl.com/b5qwmqj
Violent home invasion caught on camera
November 2, 2012
TUCSON, Arizona (NBC) -- Arizona authorities are searching for two men involved in a violent home invasion.
The robbery carried out at a Tucson home on October 28 was captured by the home owner's security cameras.
Pima County Sheriff's Deputies released graphic video of the attack.
The video shows three suspects attack the victims at gunpoint as they force their way into the home.
One of the suspects has been taken into custody.
Deputies are still looking for the other two, and say they have information indicating they already have more robberies planned.
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12. Gunman kills 2, wounds 2 at chicken processing plant in Fresno, CA
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Shocking - another violent attack in gun-free California.
Bill Hine emailed me this:
--
From
usnews.nbcnews.com:
http://tinyurl.com/a38ym7q
Gunman kills 2, wounds 2 at chicken processing plant in Fresno, Calif.
by NBC News and wire services
November 6, 2012
A gunman on Tuesday killed two people and wounded two others at a chicken processing plant in Fresno, Calif., before turning the gun on himself, authorities said.
The suspect, a co-worker of the victims, was found outside the plant with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer told reporters. He died a few hours later.
Police initially reported one death, but a second victim later died, the local coroner stated.
The names of the victims were not immediately released.
The suspect was identified as Lawrence Jones, 42. He has an "extensive criminal history," Dyer added.
Jones reported for work before dawn and his coworkers noticed that he "did not appear to be himself," Dyer said. Jones was at the meat processing plant for more than three hours before opening fire with a handgun, Dyer said.
Dyer initially said the plant is called Apple Valley Farms, but city of Fresno spokesman Michael Lukens later said the business recently changed its name to Valley Protein. The facility processes poultry, he said.
Fresno, a city with a population of about 500,000, is located 160 miles southeast of San Francisco and is surrounded by farmland in the San Joaquin Valley.
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13. Shoot while you wait: Alabama GOP plans election night party at gun range
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Jay Minsky emailed me this:
--
I wish someone in Virginia thought to do this. Maybe this story should be passed to the VCDL membership to try to do this in future elections.
From
foxnews.com:
http://tinyurl.com/a5lwdgc
Shoot while you wait: Alabama GOP plans election night party at gun range
by Associated Press
November 5, 2012
HOOVER, ALABAMA – Alabama Republicans plan to hold their election night party at a gun range, where participants will be able to shoot a few rounds as returns come in.
The state Republican Party is inviting supporters to the 52,000-square-foot Hoover Tactical Firearms for a "victory party" Tuesday night.
The suburban Birmingham business sells firearms and it has ranges where people can shoot their own guns or guns that are available for rent.
A party announcement says the shooting ranges will be available for two hours during the election event. There will also be a band and an appearance by Miss Alabama.
Loaded guns will be allowed only on the firing range and a party spokeswoman says drinking won't be allowed while people are shooting.
Republicans are expecting GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney to easily carry Alabama.
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14. Help needed for VCDL booth Sunday morning at Hampton gun show
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If you can volunteer to help man the VCDL booth at the Hampton gun show this Sunday, November 25, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., please contact Ron Lilly at
HamptonRoadsgunshows@vcdl.org
(Ron's finally feeling better after suffering a ruptured appendix not that long ago. And here he is already coordinating the VCDL booth. What can I say? That kind of dedication is why VCDL is such a successful organization.)
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15. Providing comments on security to VCU Police Chief Venuti
*************************************************
I have been told that for some reason the web site that was used to get comments on improving security and safety at VCU is not working.
A more direct way is to simply send your comments directly to Chief of Police John Venuti via email:
johnavenuti@vcu.edu
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16. Another person to thank in the successful effort to stop extra-legal requirements for CHPS in Roanoke City
*************************************************
Earlier this year Aaron Stevenson had filed a Writ of Mandamus with the Virginia Supreme Court to make the Roanoke City Circuit Court Clerk stop requiring CHP applicants to do things not authorized by law. That Writ of Mandamus is still dragging on, but is now pretty much moot since the Circuit Court Clerk has dropped the illegal requirements. (Not knowing of Aaron's Writ of Mandamus, Jack Doyle and I had been working to get the situation resolved separately.)
No doubt that the pending Writ was another critical brick in the wall that helped get the situation resolved. (Member Don LItton guided Aaron in getting the Writ filed with the Supreme Court.)
I guess that between all three of us, we had the Clerk surrounded! ;-)
Aaron is clearly a strong activist and definitely deserves recognition for his efforts!
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(VCDL). VCDL is an all-volunteer, non-partisan grassroots organization
dedicated to defending the human rights of all Virginians. The Right to
Keep and Bear Arms is a fundamental human right.
VCDL web page:
http://www.vcdl.org [
http://www.vcdl.org/]
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