GUNS IN THE NEWS - June 21, 2004

[CO Liberal]

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 - The person adding a news story to the "GITN" thread is allowed (and encouraged) to comment on that story, indicating their position on the topic being discussed. These comments can appear either at the beginning or end of the post; if possible, place comments in a different typeface so readers can separate the comments from the story. Others who wish to comment on a posted story can do so by replying to that story; this allows other readers to follow the comments by scrolling through the subthread.

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 message that appears to be a personal attack against another DU-er or a violation 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.

[GOPFighter]

1. Why?

Do you think there is anyone here that hasn't heard every argument for or against gun control a thousand times? This is a hot button issue which conservatives are using to scare voters away from the Democratic Party. They claim that Democrats want to take away everyone's guns. It's a lie, but it works. Those of us who favor common sense gun control laws are not going to change our minds. Those who favor the NRA's interpretation of the 2nd Amendment are not going to change their minds. Logic and reason have long fled this issue.

What burns me up the most is that to many pro-gunners, this is the only frickin' issue they care about. So they dominate the gun-control debate everywhere they go, giving the impression that they represent a larger segment of the population than they actually do. I believe most of us here in DU care about many issues, gun control being only one of them. We have also learned that arguing with a zealous pro-gunner is about as much fun, and even less productive, than beating your head against a brick wall. I care about gun-control, but I rarely allow myself to get sucked into the Justice/Public Safety debates. In fact I would just as soon see it abolished.

GOPFighter

[JayS]

2. "Those of us who favor common sense gun control laws"

The problem with that statement is that "common sense gun control laws" is vague. I favor common sense gun control laws but have not seen them originating from the Democratic Party in decades. Some of us want to change this and try and correct those that have bought into the lies of the so-called liberal organizations like the Brady Bunch. The Democratic Party is its own worst enemy when it comes to fueling the anti-gun accusations.

You will find that the most zealous "pro-gunners" are in states that have seen the Democratic Party either die out or become a carbon copy, in practice, of the Republican Party. We want to change this.

[CO Liberal]

7. We Started Doing These "Guns In The News" Threads...

...because people were complaining that the J/PS board was getting filled up with gun related stories. By placing them in a single daily thread, other discussions stay on the first page longer, and those who don't want to read these stories can just ignore the GITN threads.

So far, it seems to work well - although some pro-gunners apparently don't want these stories posted at all.

[CO Liberal]

3. St. Matthews man charged in co-worker's shooting death (SC)

Yet another of those law-abiding gun owners we don't have to worry about.... - Wayne

* * * * * *

St. Matthews man charged in co-worker's shooting death

(Columbia-AP) June 21, 2004 - Investigators think a fight led to a fatal shooting at a horse training facility in Saint Matthews.

Calhoun County Sheriff Thomas Summers says Jesus Pineda, 20, of Saint Matthews has been charged with murder in the shooting death of a 22-year-old co-worker.

Authorities say the victim's name was not being released until his family could be notified.

The two men worked at the Webb Carroll Training Center, where 2002 Kentucky Derby winner War Emblem trained.

<more>

http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1955356&nav=0RaPO3z2

[CO Liberal]

4. Man Charged with Murder in Shooting over Bicycles (MN)

This is the kind of story many of us fear we'll read more of if concealed weapons become more commonplace. - Wayne

* * * * *

Man Charged with Murder in Shooting over Bicycles

A man has been accused of fatally shooting another man after an argument over boys' bicycles in Minneapolis.

Thirty-year-old Terry Brown is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Todd Copeland.

The criminal complaint says Copeland's son had traded bicycles with a friend earlier this week, but the trade went bad when the son told Copeland that a man had tried to take his bike.

<more>

http://www.kare11.com/news/news-article.asp?NEWS_ID=65458

[CO Liberal]

5. Police investigating weekend shooting (ME)

This story appears in its entirity, due to its brevity. - Wayne

* * * * *

Police investigating weekend shooting

Monday,June21,2004,8:59 AM

PARKMAN (AP) -- A state police investigation was under way in the Maine town of Parkman this weekend. Authorities say a man armed with two shotguns was shot dead when he went to a neighbor's home.

Spokesman Stephen McCausland of the state Public Safety Department says 33-year-old William Glover of Wellington Road went to the home of David Tweedie, armed with a pair of shotguns at about 4:30 Saturday afternoon.

McCausland says Tweedie, who lives along the same road, shot Glover on the front steps of Tweedie's home. McCausland said the reason for the confrontation was not immediately clear.

<more>

http://www.wmtw.com/Global/story.asp?S=1955839&nav=7k6rO49U

[CO Liberal]

6. Man dies from shooting at party (CA)

I guess no party is complete without firepower.... - Wayne

* * * * *

Man dies from shooting at party

By STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

MENLO PARK -- Police were still searching Sunday for the man who killed Menlo Park resident Travis Quesada, 21, and injured another at a large party late Saturday night.

Officers arrived at approximately 11:30 p.m. Saturday to a party on the 1300 block of Hill Avenue after neighbors reported hearing shots.

Two people were found in the street with gunshot wounds when officers arrived, according to Sgt. Matt Bacon.

Quesada was dead and the second man suffered minor injuries to his hand. He was taken to a local hospital, where he was treated and released, police said.

<more>

http://www.sanmateocountytimes.com/Stories/0,1413,87~11268~2225791,00.html