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Another Mass Shooting….In a Gun Free Zone

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Photo Credit: Irish Central

Photo Credit: Irish Central

On a naval base where it is against the rules to carry weapons and in a city with some of the strictest gun laws in the US, a gunman chooses to disobey their rules and gun down a dozen victims.

The shooting at the Washington Naval Yard in Washington DC today, follows a familiar pattern in mass shooting history: The gunman finds a location where he knows his victims cannot shoot back and he can attain maximum mayhem.

Today that resulted in 12 innocent people shot dead and others left wounded.

No matter what the motives behind this shooting, whether it is terrorist related, a grievance, or just a mental case on a rampage, this incident shows it is time to stop disarming or making it almost impossible for law abiding citizens to be armed.

Most people would think a military installation would be a poor choice for a gunman to find unarmed, defenseless victims. After all most of our military personnel are trained in the use of firearms and are trusted to use those weapons in the defense of our country.

But most US soldiers on military bases are not allowed to carry weapons, except for the military police who are usually stretched thin. Regulations forbid military personnel from carrying their personal firearms and make it almost impossible for commanders to issue firearms to soldiers in the U.S. for personal protection.

It seems the government has decided it can’t trust its own service members.

This same idiotic mindset made it possible for Major Nidal Hassan at the Fort Hood Army base to leisurely slaughter 13 and wound over 30 in a room full of unarmed soldiers, before armed base police arrived.

The knee jerk reaction to this latest shooting will be to call for more gun control laws, but ask Chicago and Washington DC how those extremely strict gun laws are working out.

Obviously if military personnel/employees had been trusted to carry side arms on military bases, the death toll in these mass shootings would have been far less, or the incidents never would have been attempted.

Obviously, if law abiding citizens, including educators, had been armed during recent tragedies in Aurora Colorado, Sandy Elementary and Fort Hood, perhaps these and other tragedies could have been averted. See Mother Jones article: US Mass Shootings, 1982-2012: Data From Mother Jones’ Investigation.

John Lott wrote a book titled: “More Guns, Less Crime.” In it he has statistics where gun laws have been liberalized and ordinary law abiding citizens were encouraged to own and carry firearms, crime is reduced,,,…mass shootings are almost unheard of.

“Violent crime rates go down when states pass “shall issue” concealed carry laws. He presents the results of his statistical analysis of crime data for every county in the United States during 29 years from 1977 to 2005. The book examines city, county and state level data from the entire United States and measures the impact of 11 different types of gun control laws on crime rates.”

Perhaps its time to examine a radical idea and make it easier for the law abiding US citizen to carry a personal firearm, than it is for the criminals who routinely prey on them.

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Ed Farnan is the conservative columnist at IrishCentral, where he has been writing on the need for energy independence, strong self defense, secure borders, 2nd amendment, smaller government and many other issues. His articles appear in many publications throughout the USA and world. He has been a guest on Fox News and a regular guest on radio stations in the US and Europe.

Father Charged in BB Gun Shooting Death of 18-Month-Old Boy

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Photo Credit: MYFOXATLANTA.COM

Photo Credit: MYFOXATLANTA.COM

An 18-month-old Georgia boy is dead after being shot in the chest with a BB gun and his father has been charged with felony murder, police say.

The toddler’s father, Jesse Sellers, 23, reportedly told police he was playing with the gun when it accidentally went off, MyFoxAtlanta.com reported. Sellers has been charged with second-degree cruelty to children and felony murder.

Police say six people, including three children, were in the home at the time of the shooting.

Read more from this story HERE.

Authorities: Iowa Couple Shot, Killed Escaped Inmate (+video)

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iowaLaw enforcement authorities said Tuesday that an Iowa couple shot and killed an escaped inmate after being held in their home for four hours.

Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Special Agent Mitch Mortvedt said Rodney Long forced his way into the couple’s home at 2609 Highland Avenue about 10:15 p.m. and held them for the next four hours.

Jerome and Carolyn Mauderly said Long was armed with a semi automatic handgun. He had also taken their phones.

Jerome, 71, and Carolyn, 66, decided to defend themselves, Mortvedt said. Jerome shot Long with his shotgun. They were not seriously hurt in the incident.

Read more from this story HERE.

Video: Mural of George Zimmerman Shooting Trayvon Martin Unveiled in Florida State Capitol

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A Miami artist has unveiled a painting of George Zimmerman shooting Trayvon Martin in the Florida State Capitol, WFTS-TV reported.

Photo Credit: WKMG-TV

itled, “We Are All Trayvon Martin,” the painting shows Zimmerman firing a gun at a hoodie-wearing figure. The painting features a mirror to signify that the shooting could have happened to anyone. There is also an image of Martin Luther King Jr. with blood trickling down his head.

Read more from this story HERE.

Congressmen Move to Strip Military Paycheck From Fort Hood Shooter, Other Violent Offenders

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Photo Credit: APA coalition of Republican congressmen have introduced the Stop Pay for Violent Offenders Act, which would suspend pay for military service members if charged with a violent offense, including rape, sexual assault, or murder.

The bill comes as a response to the revelation that the alleged Fort Hood Massacre shooter, Nidal Hasan, has received over $278,000 worth of military pay while awaiting trial for charges of 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted murder.

The representatives co-sponsoring the bill include Reps. Joe Barton (R-TX), Tim Griffin (R-AR), Tom Rooney (R-FL), and Frank Wolf, (R-VA).

“It is outrageous that taxpayers continue to pay an accused terrorist that killed more than a dozen people,” said U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas. “Does anyone think this make sense? You are innocent until proven guilty in this country, but that doesn’t mean you should be rewarded while awaiting trial.”

Hasan’s trial, which began Tuesday, added fuel to the fire once Hasan, representing himself, admitted he was guilty of the charges held against him. During his brief opening statement, he confessed that he “is the shooter,” and explained that his motivation came from jihadist principles, which led him to shoot American soldiers to stop the ‘war on Islam.’

Read more from this story HERE.

Lawyer: Fort Hood Shooting Suspect Trying to Get Death Penalty (+video)

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Photo Credit: APBy Nomaan Merchant and Paul J. Weber

The standby attorney for the soldier charged in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting rampage accused Maj. Nidal Hasan on Wednesday of deliberately charting a course toward a conviction and death sentence, abruptly halting the trial after only one day.

Lt. Col. Kris Poppe, Hasan’s lead court-appointed standby attorney, said he is willing to step in and be Hasan’s defense lawyer. But he asked that his responsibilities as co-counsel be minimized if Hasan, who is representing himself at trial, continues to work toward being executed.

It is “clear his goal is to remove impediments or obstacles to the death penalty and is working toward a death penalty,” Poppe told the judge overseeing the case at the Texas military base.

Hasan responded: “I object. That’s a twist of the facts.”

The judge, Col. Tara Osborn, then cleared the courtroom.

Read more from this story HERE.

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Fort Hood gunman’s apparent death wish no surprise to veteran prosecutors

By Joshua Rhett Miller

The apparent death wish of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan, which brought his court martial to a temporary halt Wednesday, came as no surprise to veteran prosecutors who have handled high-profile cases involving terrorists.

Hasan is representing himself but is advised by a team of attorneys appointed by the military court trying him for the Nov. 5, 2009 shooting at a Texas military base that left 13 dead and 30 injured. On Wednesday, members of his legal team told the military judge the former Army psychiatrist appears to be angling for the death penalty as he represents himself in the military trial.

One of the attorneys, Lt. Col. Kris Poppe, said he is willing to step in and serve as Hasan’s attorney, a day after Hasan gave an opening argument that lasted less than two minutes and included an unambiguous admission that he “was the shooter” who killed 13 and injured 30 in the Nov. 5, 2009, attack at the Texas Army base. Hasan’s court-appointed legal team is refusing to be part of a process in which Hasan seems determined to become a martyr, according to one former prosecutor experienced in terror cases.

“This is his soapbox,” said Andrew McCarthy, who, as a federal prosecutor, made the government’s case against Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman in the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. “He’s really doing a performance to the world here, to the jihadists of the world here, and, secondly, he wants to get their case out there.”

McCarthy predicted Hasan will get the death penalty, regardless of how his legal team feels.

Read more from this story HERE.

At Least 3 Killed in Shooting at Pennsylvania Municipal Building

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Photo Credit: APAt least three people were killed when a gunman opened fire at a Pennsylvania municipal building during a meeting, before he was tackled by a local official and shot with his own gun, a witness said.

The shooting, which also injured some people, happened shortly before 7:30 p.m. during Ross Township’s monthly meeting, Monroe County emergency management director Guy Miller said.

The gunman, who Miller said appeared to be “shooting randomly,” was conscious and taken out on a stretcher following the shooting, witnesses told the Pocono Record.

Miller said the gunman was captured and was treated at a hospital, which was placed on lockdown. The shooter later was released into police custody, said the hospital, which was treating two shooting victims.

State police in Lehighton confirmed the gunman had been captured but didn’t immediately have details on the arrest.

Read more from this story HERE.

Accused Fort Hood Shooter Releases Excerpts from his Sanity Board Hearing

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Photo Credit: APOn the eve of his military trial, accused Fort Hood shooter Major Nidal Hasan has released to Fox News two pages of the “Full Report of Sanity Board, US v. MAJ Nidal M. Hasan.” The military “Sanity Board” determines whether an individual is mentally responsible for his actions.

Described as a “forensic evaluation,” the exam was conducted by a three-member panel. It took place at Bell County Jail in Belton, Texas on December 7-9, 2010, more than a year after the massacre at the military base.

Based on the excerpt, a full report dated January 13, 2011, was released to the defense, but only a summary to the prosecution. The 42 year-old Army major is now facing 13 counts of murder, and 32 counts of attempted murder from the November 5, 2009 attack.

Attorney John Galligan, who is handling civil matters for Hasan, confirmed the authenticity of the documents, and that they were specifically released to Fox News.

“Major Hasan has directed me to release the attached portions of the Sanity Board report prepared in his case,” Galligan said. “… He reserves the right to release it to other news media outlets, but has not done so at this time.”

Read more from this story HERE.

84 Year Old Shoots At Robber, Now Under Investigation Himself for Assault (+video)

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Photo Credit: gfairchild

Photo Credit: gfairchild

For the second time this week, a gun owner is under investigation for shooting at a criminal who unlawfully invaded his property.

Tony DiSanto, 84, known simply as Mr. Tony, discovered a would-be robber stuffing stolen items into a Volkswagen parked in his driveway in Bradenton, Fla. After retrieving his firearm, Mr. Tony reportedly issued several warnings to the robber.

According to witnesses, the robber then rammed his car into a fence and into DiSanto’s vehicle in a bid to escape. When the criminal refused to listen to his multiple warnings, he shot at the vehicle multiple times.

One of the rounds missed its target and hit an SUV across the street, WFTS-TV reports. Police are still looking for the robbery suspect, who escaped by riding across a next-door lawn and backing all the way down the street.

DiSanto is cooperating with police, however, Dave Bristow, a spokesman with the Manatee Sheriff’s Office, said the case is under investigation and will likely be turned over to the State Attorney’s Office to determine if the man broke the law.

Read more from this story HERE.

Customer Shoots, Kills Robber, Won’t be Charged (+video)

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Photo Credit: WSB-TV

Photo Credit: WSB-TV

Police are investigating a deadly shooting that happened while a crowd of people waited outside a shoe store on Moreland Avenue in Little Five Points.

More than two dozen people were outside Wish Clothing in northeast Atlanta Saturday morning for the release of Miami Heat star Lebron James’ $180-sneakers.

According to witnesses, an armed man tried to rob a group of customers in line about 5:30 a.m. But one of the customers who was armed with his on own handgun shot and killed the suspect.

The suspect ran just a few yards away before he collapsed and died, police said. Witnesses told Channel 2 Action News the suspect had been pick-pocketing people all week long.

“(The suspect) wanted to pick-pocket everybody. But people out here, they weren’t going for none of that,” said customer Taylor White.

Read more from this story HERE.