Gun Talk & Chat Today!

I'd like to invite everyone who reads this blog to join me for chat during Gun Talk every Sunday from 11AM - 2PM PST.

There's a good bunch of folks that chat there during the show, so come on in!

-Yuri

Fincher Denied Appeal Bond

Militia leader free until reporting to prison

FAYETTEVILLE -- A Washington County man convicted of having illegal machine guns won't be allowed out of jail while his conviction and sentencing are on appeal, a judge ruled Friday.

Hollis Wayne Fincher, 61, was convicted in U.S. District Court in January on a count of possessing a machine gun and possessing an unregistered firearm.

U.S. District Judge Jimm Hendren sentenced Fincher, opting to impose the minimum recommended sentence according to federal sentencing guidelines, which set his imprisonment at between 78 and 97 months. Hendren also put Fincher on two years' probation once he leaves prison and required him to pay the government $1,000.

Fincher filed motions Monday asking that he be allowed to post bail and remain free pending the conclusion of his appeal or at least to allow him out until he is scheduled to report to a federal prison.

Hendren on Friday denied the motion to remain free while the appeal runs. Fincher is being allowed to remain free on $100,000 bond until he reports to federal prison July 24.

Hendren said federal law is aimed at not allowing convicted persons to remain at large while pursuing their appeals. The judge said he doesn't think Fincher is a flight risk, but he also doesn't think Fincher has a substantial chance of winning on the points he plans to raise on appeal.

Specifically, Fincher thinks he was improperly given more prison time based on the number of guns seized by police that were "attributable" to him. The government said there were 45 while Fincher contends the number should have been much lower. Fincher also challenges whether the guns were "illegally possessed" or not.

A second issue planned on appeal is whether Fincher should have been given more prison time for being an organizer or leader of a criminal activity that involved more than five people. Fincher claims that was never proven at trial.

Fincher also intends to raise Second Amendment issues his attorney said could go to the heart of his conviction and require its reversal.

Fincher had two .308-caliber machine guns, homemade versions of the Browning model 1919. The other firearms were 9mm STEN design submachine guns and the shotgun.

Fincher never denied he had the guns.

The defense tried to make a case of the Constitution versus gun laws; the government kept the case more simple, arguing Fincher had the machine guns and they weren't registered as required by federal law.

Fincher didn't testify before the jury. The judge ruled after hearing testimony with the jury out of the room that Fincher's proposed testimony was inadmissible because it was aimed at challenging the legality of federal gun laws, not whether Fincher had illegal, unregistered firearms in his possession.

Thanks to The War on Guns for the update!

BB Gun Range for Kids!

Man opens BB gun shooting range for children

This has been all over the blogosphere already, but I'm posting it here because it's just "That Cool!". I wish Mr. Dowdell all the best! -Yuri

ELYRIA, Ohio (AP) -- In an effort to bring back a tradition from his own childhood, an 84-year-old man has created a BB gun shooting range for children.

Ted Dowdell decided to turn the barn next to his home near Cleveland into a free shooting range for children.

"The kids don't get a chance to shoot a BB these days," Dowdell said. "I'm just a host inviting my guests to come and shoot."

The range, open by appointment only, is equipped with eight Daisy Red Ryder BB guns mounted on a pole so that they can be cocked only by pointing into the barn. Empty soda cans, cottage cheese containers and pieces of plastic foam serve as targets.

Each station has eye-protection glasses, and anyone under the age of 21 must be accompanied by a parent, who is required to sign a waiver.

Dowdell said he has tested his range at family reunions and considers it safe. He did purchase a $600 insurance policy through the National Rifle Association for added protection.

A deputy with the Lorain County Sheriff's Department inspected the range and did not see anything unsafe, Sgt. Don Barker said.

"It is a legitimate sport for kids," said gun-control advocate Gerald Nunziato, a former agent with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Dowdell suspects a few ruffled feathers.

"I expect a big outcry. I do. So what? Our founding fathers went against the grain. I can take the heat," he said.

Lunatic with a gun...

Suicidal gunman ‘angry at the government’

WILLINGBORO — The Pennsauken man who shot and wounded a member of the U.S. Air Force before killing himself left suicide notes that indicated he was “angry at the government and wanted to make a statement” on Independence Day, one of the man’s relatives said yesterday.

Matthew J. Marren, 22, of Walnut Avenue, drove to a home on Windsor Lane rented by Senior Airman Jonathan Schrieken, 22, at about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Marren got of this vehicle, found Schrieken outside the house, shot him once in the chest with a small-caliber firearm, then turned the gun on himself, said Burlington County First Assistant Prosecutor Ray Milavsky.

Marren was pronounced dead at Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County in Willingboro later Wednesday night.

Schrieken was taken to Cooper University Hospital in Camden where was listed in critical but stable condition yesterday afternoon, Milavsky said.

Schrieken is stationed at McGuire Force Base. He works as a loadmaster for the 6th Airlift Squadron.

Marren’s aunt, Terina Henderson of Trion, Ga., said she spoke to Marren’s mother yesterday who told her Marren left two notes, one in his home and one in his car, indicating he was upset with the government.

She said she did not know the exact wording in the notes, but said Marren was “mad at the government and wanted to make a statement … that’s why he did what he did on the Fourth of July.”

She did not know if Marren knew Schrieken or whether Marren shot him because he was affiliated with the military.

The circumstances and motive for the shooting were under investigation, Milavsky said yesterday. He confirmed the existence of two suicide notes, but declined to discuss the contents due to the ongoing investigation.

“I can confirm that two notes were left and that they were indicative of an individual suffering from mental-health problems,” he said.

Henderson said Marren formerly lived in Willingboro, but she did not know if he graduated from high school there.

“He had some problems with the law in the past, but I thought he had turned himself around,” Henderson said, adding she last saw him in November.

She said Marren’s mother resides in Moorestown.

An autopsy yesterday confirmed Marren’s death resulted from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Milavsky described Marren as “emotionally troubled.” He said detectives have not determined why Schrieken was shot or whether the two men knew each other.

“We’re looking at the motivations, but have not established a connection between the two men,” Milavsky said.

Other persons were present at the home at the time of the shooting.

They were not injured, Milavsky said.

A spokeswoman for McGuire Air Force Base was not able to provide information on Schrieken yesterday afternoon.

She said Marren was “in no way affiliated with the military.”

A resident of a home near the site of the shooting said Schrieken lives with several other men at the ranch-style home where the shooting took place.

“They’re all good boys,” said the neighbor, who declined to be named. “They leave for work early in the morning and then come home late in the evening. I’ve never known there to be any problems with them.”

Col. Harold Rice, commander of the 305th Operations Group, thanked Willingboro police and paramedics for their quick response to the incident.

“During this difficult time, our thoughts and prayers go out to Airman Schrieken. We wish him a speedy recovery,” Rice said in a statement.

England's Gun Ban Working...

Handgun crime 'up' despite ban

Yes it's an older story, but worth a read all the same. -Yuri

Handguns were banned following the Dunblane massacre

A new study suggests the use of handguns in crime rose by 40% in the two years after the weapons were banned.

The research, commissioned by the Countryside Alliance's Campaign for Shooting, has concluded that existing laws are targeting legitimate users of firearms rather than criminals.

The ban on ownership of handguns was introduced in 1997 as a result of the Dunblane massacre, when Thomas Hamilton opened fire at a primary school leaving 16 children and their teacher dead.

Existing gun laws do not lead to crime reduction and a safer place

David Bredin Campaign for Shooting

But the report suggests that despite the restrictions on ownership the use of handguns in crime is rising.

The Centre for Defence Studies at Kings College in London, which carried out the research, said the number of crimes in which a handgun was reported increased from 2,648 in 1997/98 to 3,685 in 1999/2000.

It also said there was no link between high levels of gun crime and areas where there were still high levels of lawful gun possession.

Of the 20 police areas with the lowest number of legally held firearms, 10 had an above average level of gun crime.

And of the 20 police areas with the highest levels of legally held guns only two had armed crime levels above the average.

Smuggling

The campaign's director, David Bredin, said: "It is crystal clear from the research that the existing gun laws do not lead to crime reduction and a safer place.

"Policy makers have targeted the legitimate sporting and farming communities with ever-tighter laws but the research clearly demonstrates that it is illegal guns which are the real threat to public safety."

He said the rise was largely down to successful smuggling of illegal guns into the country.

Weapons have even been disguised as key rings no larger than a matchbox to get them in, he said.

Other sources of guns include battlefield trophies brought back by soldiers, the illegal conversion of replica firearms including blank firing pistols and the reactivation of weapons which had been deactivated.

Ammunition

Examples of illegally manufactured guns include screwdrivers being adapted to fire off one round, he said.

The Metropolitan Police said its official figures showed a 20% drop in armed robberies of commercial premises between April and July this year, compared with the same period last year.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said that, since April 2001, the Flying Squad has arrested 39 people in connection with 34 armed incidents and seized 52 weapons.

Operation Trident, which investigates "black on black" shootings in the UK, has made more than 300 arrests, recovered 100 firearms and 1,500 rounds of ammunition since it was established a year ago.

The Home Office said measures were being taken to tackle handgun crime, including an intensified effort against illegally smuggled weapons.

Like a school yard bully...

Mayor linked to anti-gun bullying
BY AARON CAHALL
aaron.cahall@newsday.com

July 13, 2007

WASHINGTON - Mayor Michael Bloomberg's aides threatened to run negative ads against House Appropriations Committee chairman David Obey if pro-gun legislation opposed by the mayor was passed in that committee, Obey claimed yesterday. The mayor's office denied the charge.

Speaking during a committee session, Obey (D-Wis.) said Bloomberg aides told his staff that TV ads painting him as anti-law enforcement would be run in his district if the provision, known as the Tiahrt Amendment, restricting police use of federal gun checks, was passed.

"The Mayor's staff came into my office, and rather than discuss the merits, they simply did what so many bullies do ... they threatened to run ads in my district if I didn't bow to their wishes," Obey said according to a transcript provided by his staff.

Obey also took issue with the National Rifle Association, saying the organization didn't endorse him despite his votes against gun control legislation.

"I don't react very well to bullying, and I don't react very well to threats," he said. "I wish I could find a way to vote against both sides of this issue."

The Tiahrt amendment was included in the bill, which passed the committee by voice vote. Obey voted for the bill, his office said.

Bloomberg is co-chairman of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a group of 225 mayors, and lobbied against the amendment Tuesday in Washington.

ProtectPolice.org, a media campaign of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, lists districts of nine representatives and two senators, both Republican and Democrat, in which an anti-amendment ad runs. The ads are paid for by supporters of the organization, Bloomberg's office said.

The mayor's Washington staff said Bloomberg aides had met with Obey's staff, but denied the congressman's charge. Bloomberg called the amendment's passage "a profound disappointment."

James Cirillo Dies in Vehicle Accident

Gun expert dies in Brookfield accident

July 13, 2007
By Jennifer Fusco

BROOKFIELD — A well-known gun expert and author was killed and another man injured in a tractor-trailer-car collision Thursday night, according to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.

James Cirillo, 76, of West Edmeston, was driving west on Welsh Road around 7 p.m. when his vehicle entered Route 8 into the path of an 18-wheel tractor-trailer driven by Christopher Madison, 36, of Richardson Avenue in Utica, deputies said.

The tractor-trailer struck Cirillo’s vehicle on the driver’s side, deputies said.

Cirillo died at the scene. Madison was treated for back injuries at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica, deputies said.

Cirillo taught numerous firearm classes and wrote several books, including “Guns, Bullets, and Gunfights: Lessons and Tales From a Modern-Day Gunfighter.” He also had several videos.

Violet Jimenez, Cirillo’s partner of nine years who lived with him in West Edmeston, said he was a renowned firearms instructor and a retired New York City police officer.

“If you check the Internet, you’ll find everything about him,” she said. “He was a very humorous man and loved his hunting and fishing. He was just a very vibrant person.”

According to Amazon.com, Cirillo spent many years with the New York City Police Stakeout Unit and participated in more than 250 armed encounters. He also spent years as a firearms instructor at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.

Since retiring from law enforcement, Cirillo has conducted periodic firearms training courses, the site states.

Witnesses to the accident told deputies that Cirillo’s car appeared to enter Route 8 to possibly make a U-turn. He apparently did not realize the tractor-trailer was rounding a curve near the intersection, deputies said.

Guide rails prevented both vehicles from going over a steep embankment, deputies said.

Deputies, along with the Sheriff’s Office accident reconstruction team and evidence specialists, are continuing their investigation today.

No charges have been filed against Madison, deputies said.