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Singer, Gunslinger, Sheriff

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Last news: July 8, 2010 00:49:29

With budget cuts depleting local police and sheriffs departments, concealed weapons permit applications have bumped up slightly. "We are seeing an increase in students asking for concealed weapons classes," said Terry Wingert, firearms instructor with Advanced Security Institute in Rancho Cordova. "It hasnt been a huge increase, but the concern over personal safety is driving a bump in business." - [Read more]

Matt Speckman, a former Turlock police sergeant, used to be in charge of processing concealed gun permits. Now retired, hed like one himself. Speckman, 49, attended the FBI academy, trained at a nationally recognized firearms course, earned an MBA, is studying for a Ph.D, toted a gun for 30 years and screened gun permit applicants for seven years. Yet Turlock Police Chief Gary Hampton and Sheriff Adam Christianson, both of whom have approved gun permits for politicians and prominent... - [Read more]

Seven months before Californias new law regulating the sale of ammunition fully takes effect, a local ammunition business has taken the state to court with a constitutional challenge. State Ammunition Inc. in Ventura has filed a federal suit alleging the law violates the Commerce Clause by prohibiting ammunition sellers from making sales that arent face to face transactions. - [Read more]

A bill that would have banned hunters from using lead shot on state wildlife areas has been killed in committee. The Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee rejected AB 2223 last week. The bill would have banned lead shotgun shells on state Wildlife Management Areas. - [Read more]

A look at the numbers might give the impression foothill communities are crawling with armed residents, ready for an Old West shootout at the drop of a hat. Not so, said Mariposa County Sheriff Brian Muller. Although statistics show rural, foothill counties issue more concealed weapons permits per capita than their urban counterparts, Muller said people dont abuse them. - [Read more]

Local gun shop owners are seeing an increase in the number of women customers right now. Personal protection is the main reason theyre shopping. According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, almost half the people taking their first handgun class this past year were women. - [Read more]

A bill that would ban the public display of unloaded guns narrowly passed the Senate Public Safety Committee Tuesday. The 4-3 vote sent the legislation carried by Assemblywoman Lori Salda?a, D San Diego, to the Appropriations Committee and likely on to the Senate floor where the final outcome is in doubt, particularly in this election year atmosphere. - [Read more]

Given El Dorado Countys Old West name, maybe it isnt surprising that the big issue in its biggest election this year is about carrying guns. Everywhere the six non incumbent candidates for sheriff go -- even Mondays forum in an upscale retirement community -- Topic A has been who gets a license to carry a concealed weapon. - [Read more]

Sheriff Sandra Hutchens prompted guffaws from some Second Amendment stalwarts when she said at a Feb. 9 candidate forum that shes approved 90 percent of applications for concealed weapons permits. In fact, shes significantly tightened distribution criteria. There are 22 percent fewer CCW permits than when Hutchens was appointed to the job in 2008. And most permits shes approved come with restrictions absent from permits issued by predecessor Mike Carona. - [Read more]

People with a clean record who want to carry a gun will have a much better chance at snagging a concealed weapon permit, Sheriff Adam Christianson said Monday, drawing thunderous applause from firearms advocates. The stunning change in policy comes as Christianson prepares to lay off dozens of deputies because of budget cuts. He has released 300 inmates to comply with new state rules. - [Read more]

Assemblywoman Lori Salda, D San Diego, and allies of legislation she introduced Wednesday to ban the public display of unloaded weapons believe so. State law permitting Californians to display their empty chamber firearms has been on the books since about 1968, drawing little attention. - [Read more]

The past 20 years have seen Californias Legislature enact a wish list for gun control advocates, including "banning" so called "unsafe handguns," restricting handgun purchases to one per month and a number of expansions and clarifications of the original "assault weapon" legislation. All were touted as must have tools for law enforcements crime fighting arsenal. Yet the result has been 20 years of unintended consequences, a steady erosion of the rights of gun owners, and no measurable... - [Read more]

Tehama County Sheriff Clay Parker didnt know that he would be named as the lead plaintiff on a suit challenging a new law that would require handgun ammunition buyers to register with the government. - [Read more]

Ventura County Assemblyman Pedro Nava, who three years ago authored a landmark law that barred the use of lead bullets by those hunting deer in areas where condors are known to forage, introduced new legislation Wednesday that would ban the use of lead shot by those hunting pheasant, quail, doves and other birds in California wildlife areas. - [Read more]

Could a bill banning the open carrying of firearms actually result in more guns on California streets? Thats what some gun rights advocates are saying about AB 1934 by Assemblywoman Lori Saldana, D San Diego. They claim that the difficulty in getting concealed weapons permits in many California counties is so great that a ban on openly carrying guns would essentially infringe on the right to bear arms. - [Read more]

After nearly 20 years, Canada appears poised to end one of its boldest experiments in gun control the required registration of long guns, or shotguns and hunting rifles. Last November, a bill to abolish the Long Gun Registry, enacted in 1995 and gradually phased in through 2003, passed a second reading in the Canadian House of Commons by a tally of 164 to 137. It faces a third and final reading in that chamber later this year; prospects are good for passage in the Canadian Senate. - [Read more]

Conservative MP Scott Armstrong presented an anti long gun registry petition in the House of Commons last week, drawing new attention to a private members bill that aims to dismantle what the Liberals are referring to as gun control. - [Read more]

Putting criminals behind bars for longer will do more to prevent gun violence in Canada than the long-gun registry, three former Winnipeg cops told a House of Commons committee Thursday. "(The gun registry) is not a particularly useful tool for investigating crime," said Jack Tinsley, a former inspector with the Winnipeg police. Eliminating early parole and house arrest would keep criminals from committing crimes, he said, while the gun registry just tracks numbers of guns by people who... - [Read more]

The private members Bill C 391 before the House of Commons could take hunting rifles off the federal gun registry, something local gun users say they would welcome. - [Read more]

The National Firearms Association of Canada is demanding access to an RCMP report that explains why a previously restricted rifle was suddenly reclassified as prohibited. Once merely restricted due to the length of its barrel, the Norinco Type 97A rifle was apparently deemed prohibited last year after it was found to be easily converted to an automatic weapon. The High Standard Model 10B shotgun also went from being a restricted firearm to a prohibited weapon with little explanation, the... - [Read more]