usmjam/guns

"One of the participants was state Rep. Sean Jerguson (R-Holly Springs), a Georgiacarry member, who said he believes so strongly in gun ownership that, when his daughter turned 4 years old, he gave her a "pink .22." His son was about to turn the same age, and would get a blue one, the lawmaker said.

But the focus was on three candidates for governor: State Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine, state Rep. Austin Scott of Tifton, and Ray McBerry of McDonough. A stand-in appeared for Secretary of State Karen Handel. Libertarian candidate John Mond also attended.

Oxendine told the gun crowd that he thought licensed carriers should be allowed to pack heat "virtually" anywhere - except for courtrooms, prisons and jails.

"I wouldn't feel bad at all if someone wanted to carry a gun in the Governor's Mansion. We may go out on the back porch and shoot a few wine bottles or something," he said.

But drinking while carrying a concealed firearm is a no-no. "Commissioner Oxendine, you'd have to change the no-alcohol policy first," Scott interjected.

"That will be done the day I'm sworn in, don't worry," Oxendine said.

The spokesman for Handel declared that the secretary of state was likewise a strong believer in H.B. 615, sponsored by state Rep. Tim Bearden (R-Villa Rica), which would do away with Georgia's public assembly restrictions.

The only Republican to disappoint Georgiacarry was Scott, who declared himself a gun enthusiast, but said he couldn't support a wholesale dismantling of the state's public assembly law. "I wouldn't be honest with you if I told you that as governor I was going to let you carry firearms into a high school football game," Scott said.

Last week, U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal said he could support an end to restrictions on firearms at public gatherings. But Eric Johnson, the former senator from Savannah, was more careful. "It is not something the campaign senses is a principle concern of Georgia voters," said campaign manager Ben Fry. Jobs and the economy are greater worries."

From the page: "As reported, Marvin Oldham was shot twice, after he forced himself into his ex-wife's parents' Tennessee home and threatened the occupants. Betty Hale, the mother of Marvin Oldman's ex-wife, first shot him in the shoulder with a .22-caliber pistol, which didn't stop him. An elderly man who was visiting the home then shot Marvin Oldham in the stomach with a 9mm pistol.  Mr. Oldham was taken to the hospital for surgery following the home invasion.
This is yet another example of why I support gun ownership for self defense purposes.  It is unlikely that an elderly man or the ex-wife's mother would have been able to stop this man from breaking in and harming the occupants, had they not been armed.  Luckily, they were armed, and the home invading ex husband was unable to make good on his threats.

Contrast this with cases where the victims lived in areas with handgun bans, such as the murder of Jennifer Hudson's family, or the severe beating of an Oak Park, IL mother and baby, and the benfit of gun ownership become even more apparant.  Gun control leave law abiding citizens without a gun for defense against gun-ban-ignoring criminals, or allows physically stronger criminals to beat or stab their victims to death."

From the page: " MEXICO CITY (AP) - A woman was arrested guarding an arsenal that included an anti-aircraft machine gun--the first weapon of its kind seized in Mexico, police said Tuesday.

The arsenal belonged to a group linked to the powerful Beltran Leyva drug cartel, federal police coordinator Gen. Rodolfo Cruz said. It also included ammunition, five rifles, a grenade and part of a grenade launcher.

Mexican drug cartels, battling a fierce crackdown by soldiers and federal police, have increasingly gotten hold of higher-powered weapons, even military-grade arms such as grenades and machine guns. That has left police--particularly state and municipal forces--grossly outgunned, and many officers have quit following attacks.

Cruz said the confiscated .50-caliber, anti-aircraft machine gun can fire 800 rounds per minute and is capable of penetrating armor from more than 5,000 feet (1,500 meters). Police on a routine patrol Monday found the gun fitted atop an SUV at a house in northern Sonora state. "

From the page: "FIREARMS SALES have surged in the five months since President Obama's election. Millions have gone on a buying spree that has stripped shops in some parts of the country of assault weapons and led to a national ammunition shortage. The FBI says that since November more than seven million people have applied for criminal background checks to be carried out on them so they can buy weapons, a figure excluding the many more buying in states with no such checks."

From th page: "US car dealer in free gun offer

The offer is proving popular - sales have quadrupled so far

A car dealership in the United States is offering a free handgun with every vehicle sold.

Max Motors in Butler, Missouri, says sales have quadrupled since the start of the offer.

Customers can choose between a gun or a $250 (£125) petrol card, but most so far have chosen the gun."

From the page: "SENATE PASSES LEGISLATION AIMED AT PROTECTING GUN OWNERS AND HARD WORKING MISSISSIPPIANS



2.6.09 -
Lawmakers had an intense week as they pushed through a number of common sense items. The Mississippi State Senate approved legislation this week that gives gun owners additional protection and legislation prohibiting the selling of children.





"In these tough economic times, I think it makes sense to get back to common sense approaches. That is why the Senate is working on basic legislation that helps ensure the safety of our everyday life," stated Lt. Governor Phil Bryant.

The MS Senate passed a total of 132 bills during this week and places the Senate in good standing for approaching deadlines. Legislation that now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.

A few of the common sense legislative items include:

1. SB 2036 that restricts the power of a peace officer to confiscate firearms and ammunitions in an emergency or during a time of martial law.
2. SB 2479 prohibits the buying and selling of children and punishable by a fine not exceeding Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000) or ten (10) years imprisonment, or both.
3. SB 2014 is aimed at helping our servicemen and women in the National Guard or Reserve Forces receive the tax breaks they are entitled to.
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