Titled: Canada Blames Us

The experiences in the U.K. and Australia, two island nations whose borders are much easier to monitor, should also give Canadian gun controllers some pause. The British government banned handguns in 1997 but recently reported that gun crime in England and Wales nearly doubled in the four years from 1998-99 to 2002-03.

Crime was not supposed to rise after handguns were banned. Yet, since 1996 the serious-violent-crime rate has soared by 69 percent; robbery is up 45 percent, and murders up 54 percent. Before the law, armed robberies had fallen 50 percent from 1993 to 1997, but as soon as handguns were banned the robbery rate shot back up, almost to its 1993 level.

The 2000 International Crime Victimization Survey, the last survey completed, shows the violent-crime rate in England and Wales was twice the rate of that in the U.S. When the new survey for 2004 comes out later this year, that gap will undoubtedly have widened even further as crimes reported to British police have since soared by 35 percent, while those in the U.S. have declined 6 percent.

Yea like facts are going to matter to gun grabbers.

Titled: New CCW law hasn't resulted in 'Wild West'

There have been no shootouts at local fast-food restaurants following disputes over who was in line first, nor has there been vigilante justice carried out by armed citizens since a signficant change in the state's approach to issuing concealed weapons permits four years ago.

The Dodge City, OK Corral, and Wild West-style gun fights in the street predicted by those opposed to a change in the concealed weapons law have failed to materialize. The naysayers who voiced opposition to the new law, which opened the door for more individuals to carry a concealed weapon (CCW) have been silenced — not literally, but figuratively.

I don't think anybody worth taking seriously ever really believed that Michigan or any other "Shall Issue" state was going to turn into the wild west. It was nothing more then fear mongering.

It seems concerns about simple disputes being solved by gun battles in the streets were overblown. Even Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard says concerns over the CCW reforms — and the potential for gun violence — was more hype than reality.

"I don't think there have been many problems at all," Bouchard said. "We are one of the largest issuing counties in the state in terms of raw (CCW permit) numbers. Typically, what you find is that people that are law-abiding individuals are the ones that are going to go through the process to be licensed to carry (a concealed weapon)."

Well duh. By definition a non-law abiding citizens are not abiding by the laws anyway. A prohibition to carry a weapon would mean nothing to them.

Bouchard admits that the uproar over the new CCW law was blown out of proportion. The fear that traffic altercations would end up in gun battles never materialized.

"There was a lot of misconception about what would go on," he said.

Most local law enforcement officials agree.

West Bloomfield Police Lt. Carl Fuhs said he's not aware of any problems related individuals with CCW permits within the township.

"(There have been) none," Fuhs said.

How can anyone be surprised that people who generally obey the laws are in fact generally obeying the laws and not using their guns to settle arguments.

I am sure there have already been CPL holders who have used their guns wrongly (and lost the right to carry) but obviously they are the exception and not the rule. You just can't argue with reality. Well that is unless you are a part of the Brady campaign and then you not only argue with reality you twist it to fit your narrow view of the people's right or non-right, as the case would be, for self protection.

This is a great article detailing the post "Shall Issue" condition of Michigan. I wish there were more like it from main stream media outlets but that just aint gonna happen. Not in my lifetime anyway.

Oh yea there is this also

Jones has also introduced legislation that would allow permit holders carry a concealed weapon registered to their spouse. That bill, House Bill 4642, was introduced earlier this year and sent to the House Conversation, Forestry, and Outdoor Recreation Committee.

"Rather than make a husband and wife buy another gun, we let the CCW holder carry their spouse's," Jones said. "This is just plain common sense that makes the CCW permit more user-friendly to the good, law-abiding residents of Michigan."

Say Uncle has a run down of some good news concerning eminent domain. Hopefully this is just the beginning of the backlash.

For more information concerning eminent domain issues be sure to check out the eminent domain blog here.

Titled: Libraries vs. guns

The words are still there in red on the Ferndale Public Library's front door.

"Absolutely no weapons including those permitted by concealed weapons law may be brought into this facility."

The statement remains, even though the courts have said the rule is not enforceable for properly registered concealed weapons.

In 2001, Ferndale's City Council took a bold stand and voted to ban guns from its city buildings.

The move - called groundbreaking by some - spurred other cities to take similar stands. Soon Detroit, East Lansing, Saline and others had passed their own bans.

Two words. Civil Disobedience.

Titled: Worker right or workplace danger?

In an effort to keep weapons out of the workplace, his employer, ConocoPhillips, is challenging state law and has forbidden workers to leave guns in their cars in company parking lots. Now, the National Rifle Association (NRA) is encouraging gun owners to stop buying ConocoPhillips gasoline.

The boycott is the latest skirmish in an expanding battle over gun control. Now that many states allow citizens to carry concealed weapons, the NRA is pushing to eliminate remaining restrictions on where those guns can be taken. Gun-control groups - and some employers - are fighting back.

I am not a member of the NRA but I am joining the boycott. I can certainly understand if a place a business wants to keep weapons out of their buildings but a person's vehicle is their private property. If you are licensed to carry a weapon in the general public why shouldn't you also be able to keep one locked in your car at your place of employment? A ban will not stop someone from using a weapon to harm someone if that is their intent.