Not-so-Safe Minnesota; Another Gun Death

Later this weekend I'll try to reconstruct the missing posts.

In the interim, from the May 14th 2011 STrib:

Woman guilty of first-degree murder in pawn shop robbery
by Abby Simons

A Hennepin County jury convicted a woman of murder for her role in a 2009 pawn shop robbery that left a customer dead.Rosalyn McDonald-Richards, 58, was found guilty of first-degree murder and first-degree attempted murder. The jury delivered its verdict at about 12:30 p.m. Saturday after deliberating about 12 hours.

McDonald-Richards only bowed her head when the verdict was read, while her attorney, Philip Leavenworth, gently patted her back to console her. Her family, including siblings who testified on her behalf, only looked on.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 19. A first-degree murder conviction carries a life sentence.

McDonald-Richards was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the September 2009 robbery at Avi's Pawn and Jewelry in Richfield. She was accused of helping to plot the robbery and serving as a getaway driver for her boyfriend, Calvin Anderson, and the shooter, Johnny Perry. Perry shot customer Malcolm Cowens, 33, as Cowens and clerk Antonio Culpepper as they tried to flee the store during the robbery. Cowens, who was shot in the back, died. Culpepper survived.

"There are really no winners today," said Cowens' twin sister, Christina Cowens-Gholson. "More than a few hundred dollars was taken that day, and in a way the system has made the defendant pay for that day."

Prosecutors contend that although McDonald-Richards didn't set foot in the store during the robbery, her role made her just as culpable as Anderson, the alleged mastermind, and Perry, who pulled the trigger. All three were charged with first-degree murder. Perry pleaded guilty to second-degree murder last year and received a 33-year sentence in exchange for testifying against his co-defendants. Anderson has not yet gone to trial.

McDonald-Richards, who took the stand in her own defense, contended throughout the trial that she did not know Anderson and Perry's intentions when she drove them to Avi's that evening and waited outside. She initially told police Anderson had taken her car that night, but later admitted to lying because she was scared, although she said she had nothing to do with the robbery. She contended that Anderson was abusive and manipulative, and she was planning to leave him the day before the robbery occurred. She had been in the pawn shop that morning, she said, and claims she told Anderson in passing about a $4,000 transaction she saw. Later that day, Anderson asked her to pick up Perry and drive them to Avi's.

Leavenworth said he plans to appeal McDonald-Richards' conviction.

"Ms. Richards, from the first day I met her, maintained her innocence. I believed her then and I believe her now, but the jury has the last word and they have spoken," he said.

Assistant Hennepin County Attorney Judith Hawley declined comment, as did McDonald-Richards' family.


A Hennepin County jury convicted a woman of murder for her role in a 2009 pawn shop robbery that left a customer dead.Rosalyn McDonald-Richards, 58, was found guilty of first-degree murder and first-degree attempted murder. The jury delivered its verdict at about 12:30 p.m. Saturday after deliberating about 12 hours.

McDonald-Richards only bowed her head when the verdict was read, while her attorney, Philip Leavenworth, gently patted her back to console her. Her family, including siblings who testified on her behalf, only looked on.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 19. A first-degree murder conviction carries a life sentence.

McDonald-Richards was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the September 2009 robbery at Avi's Pawn and Jewelry in Richfield. She was accused of helping to plot the robbery and serving as a getaway driver for her boyfriend, Calvin Anderson, and the shooter, Johnny Perry. Perry shot customer Malcolm Cowens, 33, as Cowens and clerk Antonio Culpepper as they tried to flee the store during the robbery. Cowens, who was shot in the back, died. Culpepper survived.

"There are really no winners today," said Cowens' twin sister, Christina Cowens-Gholson. "More than a few hundred dollars was taken that day, and in a way the system has made the defendant pay for that day."

Prosecutors contend that although McDonald-Richards didn't set foot in the store during the robbery, her role made her just as culpable as Anderson, the alleged mastermind, and Perry, who pulled the trigger. All three were charged with first-degree murder. Perry pleaded guilty to second-degree murder last year and received a 33-year sentence in exchange for testifying against his co-defendants. Anderson has not yet gone to trial.

McDonald-Richards, who took the stand in her own defense, contended throughout the trial that she did not know Anderson and Perry's intentions when she drove them to Avi's that evening and waited outside. She initially told police Anderson had taken her car that night, but later admitted to lying because she was scared, although she said she had nothing to do with the robbery. She contended that Anderson was abusive and manipulative, and she was planning to leave him the day before the robbery occurred. She had been in the pawn shop that morning, she said, and claims she told Anderson in passing about a $4,000 transaction she saw. Later that day, Anderson asked her to pick up Perry and drive them to Avi's.

Leavenworth said he plans to appeal McDonald-Richards' conviction.

"Ms. Richards, from the first day I met her, maintained her innocence. I believed her then and I believe her now, but the jury has the last word and they have spoken," he said.

Assistant Hennepin County Attorney Judith Hawley declined comment, as did McDonald-Richards' family.

Joe Huffman Keeps Spinnin' It

His Quote of the day, with comment.

We are singular in the world culture in our tolerance of guns.
The United States has become a kind of underdeveloped moral Third World, a place where the rest of the world can indulge its gun lust.
Tom Diaz
Senior policy analyst at the Violence Policy Center.
May 23, 1999
Florida -- Gun Culture Makes The U.S. A Trigger Point For Foreign Tourists With Firearms Fantasies
[This is from the dark days of the late 1990s. There are still troglodytes who think this way and want us to return to the age of clubs, rocks, and primitive knives even though most of the rest of the country is far more enlightened these days. Just don’t forget this is what they think of us and what they will do to our culture if they get the chance.—Joe]

Here's my response:

Naturally you're misrepresenting what Diaz says and wants.

Rather than returning to the dark ages, what we'd like is to move into the 21st century. We don't want the lawlessness that you keep preaching, and I think you've very mistaken to say that most do. Most gun owners even, want common sense gun laws. You know this. Yet you keep pretending it's not true.

Only extremist fanatics want what you preach, Joe. You are a tiny minority which is why your little victories in the gun-rights movement are so hard-won. If it was like you say, you'd be "winning" in a much more obvious way, don't you think?

What do you think? Please leave a comment.

Uncivilized Society?

Welcome to the wild no-longer-frontier.

The excellent cartoon work of Jeff Stahler, by way of Yahoo's collection of political cartoons.

Mike W. Loves to Hate Those Penis Comparisons

Case in point, Mike W. loves to accuse gun-control folks of making those penis jokes and then to tell us how bad that is. The fact is, it usually starts with him. In this post he linked to another post OF HIS, in which he did the same thing.

This weird debating technique is not limited to the penis.  Gun-rights advocates do this very same thing in any number of other areas.  They exaggerate what we say or twist the meaning and then argue against that as if we'd really said it.

Why do they keep resorting to such shabby tactics if they're right, if they have god and the Constitution on their side?  Seems odd, no?

Please leave a comment.

Castle Doctrine Kills Cops (and Other Humans)

via The Truth About Guns, where incredibly you can read any number of complaints about what this police chief has to say.  One thing they couldn't say is that the upper management of the police department is comprised of political appointees who don't really know what they're talking about. Tim Dolan worked SWAT for 27 years.

How Far Back Does Gun Control Go?

Recently we've had a couple of bizarre attempts to claim that gun control goes all the way back to the days of the American Revolution.

Mike G. said, "Even back in the Revolutionary days, there were some folks who were against having or owning firearms." What is it with these guys and the Revolution, anyway? When pressed Mike, said he'd been referring to the Quakers, a claim that's been totally trashed.

An anonymous commenter said, "Mike G, My family is quaker and I know of absolutely no basis for your claim. There are old artistic renditions of early Quakers with guns for hunting.

Some family members of mine that were farmers owned guns."

I gave Mike G.'s theory the coup de grace with this one about Annie Oakley.

Then comes Fat White Man with this: "In fact, the first shots of the American Revolution were fought because of attempted gun control." And this: "The soldiers did not march on the Massachusetts countryside on April 19, 1775 to collect tea or sell tax stamps."

That made me wonder if we should consider all occupying armies that would disarm their opponents, gun control organizations.  In a sense, I guess that's right, but really it sounds like a stretch, don't you think?

What's your opinion?  I figure the gun-control movement as we know it today is a fairly recent phenomenon. This applies to the gun-rights movement as well.  To think of the American revolutionaries as gun-rights advocates is just silly. The concept didn't exist at that time.
 
The bastardization of the 2nd Amendment usually requires omitting the first three words (A well-regulated militia) and emphasizing the last four (shall not be infringed).  This has taken place over the last five or six decades, spearheaded by the NRA and gun manufacturers and naturally supported by gun owners everywhere.  The movement (gun-rights movement = bastardization of the 2nd Amendment) received its first stamp of approval only a couple years ago, finally achieving some semblance of legitimacy.  However, even in that historic Supreme Court ruling, Justice Scalia, no friend to gun control, said restrictions are allowed. In other words, he admitted the "shall not be infringed" part is bullshit.

What's your opinion?  Are the gun-control and gun-rights movements modern events?  Or do you consider certain chapters in our history as the beginnings of these movements?

Please leave a comment.

More about the Quakers - Annie Oakley

via TYWKIWIDBI

FAMILY BACKGROUND: Quaker parents Jacob and Susan were originally from Pennsylvania. After a tavern fire ended their livelihood as innkeepers, they moved to a rented farm in Ohio. Father, who had fought in the War of 1812, died in 1866 from pneumonia and overexposure in freezing weather.

Well, I guess that settles it about the Quakers being gun control advocates in the 18th century, eh Mike G.? Annie's daddy owned a tavery, fought in a war and I suppose taught her how to shoot.

What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.

Bad Boy with AK-47 Arrested in Missouri

The Associated Press reports

Further investigation by the state Highway Patrol showed that Willcoxson fired more than 80 rounds at pursuing officers, reloading an AK-47 assault rifle as he drove. Officers recovered several other firearms when Willcoxson was arrested four hours after he was denied entry at Fort Leonard Wood due to concerns over his identification, said Highway Patrol Sgt. Dan Crain. The guns were believed to be stolen.

Some guys have all the luck, you know?  How many can do what he did and not kill someone along the way?  But, he keeps trying.

Willcoxson was released from the Oklahoma Department of Corrections in 2008 after serving about 3½ years for burglary, escaping from jail and other felonies.

He was among nine inmates who attacked a jailer and fled on foot from the Delaware County Jail in Oklahoma a decade ago. He had escaped at least one other time previously, and authorities suspected him of masterminding the jail break. Willcoxson remained at large for nearly three years before he was arrested in Texas in 2003.

OK, what do we say about a solution? Surely, violent offenders and "masterminds" like this one have to stay in jail longer. Agreed? While we're working on that, why don't we make it a bit more difficult for guys like Wilcoxson to get guns? Wouldn't that be the smart move?

What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.

Shared Responsibility - The Mattel Company

12-Year-Old Repeat Offender - Gun Culture at Work

The Hartfort Courant reports

A 12-year-old seen firing a rifle at his home without supervision, leading to his mother's arrest Wednesday, is the same boy who shot his father in the neck three years ago, police said.

A neighbor saw the boy "recklessly firing a .22-caliber rifle without supervision" on the family's property on Jan. 18, according to police. The allegation led to the arrest of the mother, Alexandria Simonelli, 51, on charges of risk of injury to a minor and first-degree reckless endangerment, police said.

She posted $20,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned April 19 at Superior Court in Middletown.

On April 3, 2008, Simonelli and the boy's father, Joseph Simonelli Sr., were arrested after the boy accidentally shot the father in the neck.

After that shooting, police seized 62 rifles, shotguns and machine guns from the family's Wopowog Road home. They also confiscated 10 pistols, a flare gun, a grenade launcher, two crossbows and what they called a "massive" amount of ammunition, according to the 2008 arrest warrant.

What do you think? Please leave a comment.

The Perpetual War Syndrome

via Opinione

From Tom Dispatch

The killing of Osama bin Laden, “a testament to the greatness of our country” according to President Obama, should not be allowed to obscure a central reality of our post-9/11 world. Our conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, and Libya remain instances of undeclared war, a fact that contributes to their remoteness from our American world. They are remote geographically, but also remote from our day-to-day interests and, unless you are in the military or have a loved one who serves, remote from our collective consciousness (not to speak of our consciences).

And this remoteness is no accident. Our wars and their impact are kept in remarkable isolation from what passes for public affairs in this country, leaving most Americans with little knowledge and even less say about whether they should be, and how they are, waged.

Do you think the American people have become more gullible in recent years? Or was it always like this?

How many people actually believed, for example, that the billionaire Osmam bin Laden was hiding in caves and moving from one to another to aviod capture? It was well said recently that the only billionaire who lives in a cave is Batman and that's only to get changed.

What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.

Using the Wrong Ammunition - Is It a Biggie?

Sent by e-mail from a friend. What do you think?

After telling the gun range officer I needed .40 ammunition, I

proceeded to the gun range and put on my eye and ear protection. I proceeded to put the ammunition the range officer gave me into my firearm and noticed that the rounds were going into the magazines much more easily than before. Shooting my firearm on a more regular basis the springs in the magazines seem to be more broken in.

Inserting the magazine in the firearm and sliding the barrel forward I was ready to fire. After depressing the trigger and getting off one round the gun did not cycle back like it normally does. Being very conscious of keeping my finger out of the trigger area and along the slide, I pulled the slide back and recycled the weapon and ejected a round that seemed to be caught in the chamber.

Gong through the normal firing checklist before firing the weapon, I again pressed the trigger and noticed that the firearm again did not cycle through like it normally does.

Now knowing that something was a miss, I ejected the magazine and chambered out a round that was still in the chamber. After checking the firearm for any foreign objects in the barrel or trigger area, I

then checked the box the ammunition the box came in and did not see anything indicating it was .40 caliber ammunition. Looking more closely on the package, I noticed in fine print 9mm.

The range officer gave me the wrong ammunition.

Evidently you can shoot 9mm ammo in a .40 cal weapon. I guess if I tried to shoot a .40 in a 9mm firearm, the results might have been a little different. Most likely you can't use a larger caliber round in a smaller caliber weapon.

While it was the gun range officer's mistake, as the operator of the gun it was my ultimate responsibility. Luckily nothing happened this time. I learned two valuable lessons today.

1. Always be sure the ammo you are using is the right caliber for the firearm.

2. You can safely fire a smaller caliber round in a larger caliber weapon.

PA Gun Owner Murders Wife and Wounds Himself

Lehigh Valley News reports on another "nice" family gone down the drain with gun violence

A child made a desperate call to 911 Tuesday night, after gunshots rang out in the family home. Now, the mother is dead and the father is in the hospital, about to be charged with murder.

The pro-gun folks keep trying to pretend this has nothing to do with them. The truth is it IS them.

The gun-friendly state of Pennsylvania makes it entirely too easy for unstable and irresponsible people to own guns.

What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.

The Camden Cop Who Really Hated his Job

The Courrier Post Online reports

But an intensive investigation found the incident had been staged, said a knowledgeable source who spoke anonymously. The source said Frett's wife allegedly fired the shot in an attempt to wound the officer in the leg, so that he could qualify for early retirement. The shot missed, however.

In Pennsylvania he probably would have gotten a slap on the wrist, but in Joisey, he's finished. He's off the police force, and I don't suppose he'll be allowed to own guns in the future.

One strike you're out, is what I always say.

What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.

Kids and Guns in the Czech Republic

via TYWKIWDBI

Torture Led to Bin Laden - Or Not

To Our Readers

Blogger, the platform which hosts this blog, has been down for the past day - day and a half.  We have lost posts and comments.  If you see something of your missing, please duplicate it here if you can.

Let me emphasize this was a blogger / google problem, not an editorial or administrative action on our part.  But our apoligies in any case, as we regret the inconvenience to our readers.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.
----Dog Gone 'for the management'

Guns on Campus - A Great Idea

California Beat reports

Three people were struck and killed by gunfire inside a San Jose State University parking garage Tuesday evening in an apparent murder-suicide, police said.

Campus police said the shooting happened after 8:30 p.m. on the fifth floor of a multi-level parking garage at South Tenth and San Fernando Streets near Downtown San Jose.

Authorities said two people were killed in the shooting and a third person — believed to be the shooting suspect — was transported to a local hospital suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The third shooting victim died shortly after arriving at the hospital, according to authorities.

You know what the pro gun voices never mention when they champion guns on college campuses and any other loosening of gun restrictions for that matter? They never mention that the vast majority of murder-suicide incidents is committed by lawful gun owners. I believe the figure is about 85%. These are unstable gun owners who just crack.

I suppose if you divide the total number of murder-suicide incidents by the 80 million gun owners in America, the percentage is very small. I say we should divide by all the stars in the galaxy, AND IT'S STILL TOO HIGH.

What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.

Monty Python's Argument Clinic

via The Unruly Mob

Greensboro North Carolina - Big Increase in Gun Violence

via The News and Record

Police look at patterns to fight crime. But the recent spate of gun violence perplexes them.

Other than the rising use of guns, there is no easily discernible pattern, Greensboro police Chief Ken Miller said.

Wait a minute, did they really say, "other than the rising use of guns, there is no easily discernible pattern?"

How about if we just call it "the rising use of guns," or perhaps, "the ever increasing gun availability?"

What is so difficult about this? It's not rocket science. When there are more guns there is more gun violence, period.

What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.

Pennsylvania Senator Bob Mensch Convicted

via The Sacramento Bee

A Berks County judge says a Pennsylvania state senator who allegedly displayed a handgun while driving on Interstate 78 is guilty of a summary charge of disorderly conduct.

District Andrea Book convicted Sen. Bob Mensch after a hearing that lasted more than two hours.

Mensch faces a maximum $300 fine and 90 days in jail, but the prosecutor says he will not recommend jail time.

Mensch, a Montgomery County Republican, denied displaying any weapon even though state troopers who stopped him after the March 9 incident found two handguns in his vehicle. Mensch, who has a permit to carry the weapons, said the other motorist was harassing him

The other motorist, Brian Salisbury of Easton, called 911 after he says Mensch displayed the gun in the palm of his hand.

Now, let me guess. This is in Pennsylvania, right? A Disorderly Conduct conviction would not result in the loss of gun rights? Is that true?

Please leave a comment.

Gov. Pat Quinn on Concealed Carry

via Mokena Patch

According to The Huffington Post, the Illinois House voted against the measure Thursday, following months of heated debate. The bill received 65 "yes" votes, but needed 71, a supermajority, to pass. Supermajorities are necessary for measures that would limit the regulatory powers of local municipalities.

The plan would have allowed residents to carry guns after passing a background check and completing eight hours of training, according to Illinois Statehouse News. Licensed gun holders would be prohibited from bringing guns to certain public places, such as government buildings, airports and schools.

Earlier last week, Gov. Pat Quinn threatened to veto the bill if it were to come across his desk.

"The concept of concealed, loaded hand guns in the possession of private citizens does not enhance public safety, on the contrary it increases danger for everyday people as they go about their lives," Quinn said in the Statehouse News.

Do you think eight hours of training is sufficient to achieve the level of gun proficiency necessary to carry a concealed weapon responsibly? I certainly don't. I think the governor said it exactly right.

What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.

Bill Maher on Obama

via Deus ex Malcontent

Barack Obama is one efficient, steely-nerved, multi-tasking, black ninja gangsta president.

a/k/a Tommy Chong

Mary Beth Buchanan was the genius behind the whole thing, guess where she's from.  Of course, this all happened on the Bush / Ashcroft watch.

Brad Kozak on the Big Dilemma. Should You Lock Up the Guns?

Preparedness? Really? That's total lunacy if you ask me. The comments are a priceless collection of paranoia justification complete with links to horror stories.

'Safe' Minnesota; More Gun Violence?

When people live in fear of this kind of gun violence, guns don't make us 'more free':

Minneapolis violence ends another young life

An 18-year-old man shot earlier this week in north Minneapolis has died, and two 17-year-old boys have been arrested in the killing, police said Friday.
The shooting occurred at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in an alley behind the Church of St. Bridget at 3811 Emerson Av. N. Police and other emergency responders found the man on the ground and unresponsive, said police Sgt. Stephen McCarty.
The victim was taken to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale, where he died the next day. Police did not disclose what led to the shooting. Authorities have yet to release his identity, but his friends confirmed that he was Keontrell Govan, 18.
Govan spent days at the basketball courts, said his friend Jafaria Listenbee. "He was a hooper and a lady's man. Definitely a rapper," said Listenbee.
He said he last saw Govan two weeks ago when they played basketball. Everything seemed fine at the time, said Listenbee, who added that he doesn't think Govan was the shooter's intended target. "He was on the right track," said Listenbee. "He wasn't thinking no negative stuff."
Govan was friends with Anthony Titus, a popular 16-year-old killed last July 4 by a gunman who shot randomly toward Titus and his friends.
"[Govan] was actually like my brother's best friend," said Jessie McDaniel, Titus's older brother. "Every time I seen him he would be talking about my brother, how he missed the old days. He was definitely still mourning the loss of my brother."
Govan was homeless last fall and needed help moving into a new place, said Sy Huff, a disc jockey known as "Big Sy" on KMOJ Radio. Huff was among those who helped Govan at the time.
Minneapolis youth worker Sarah Klouda said she knew Govan as someone who was largely on his own.
"I was definitely worried about him not having a stable place to live, kind of being day by day not knowing where you're going to be at," she said. Govan's mother died in 2005, according to public records. His father has an extensive criminal record and was in prison as recently as 2004, records say. He could not be located Friday.
Klouda, who works at the Oak Park Neighborhood Center on the North Side, said she saw Govan's death as evidence of the need for more support for troubled kids.
"If we as a community continue to accept violence as a way of life, it will never end," she said. "These kids are reaching out for help, and not enough people are reaching back."

Three shots rang out

A man who lives near the scene said he was working in his garage when he heard three shots. "I looked up and saw some kids running," said Charlie Lee. He moved into the neighborhood eight months ago with his family, including three teenagers.
Lee said he was shocked after moving into the house to find bullet holes in the garage walls. Wednesday's shooting had him thinking about moving away.
"I don't like this," he said.
Huff said the shooting set off at least two retaliatory shootings between street gangs.
"It's been a mess since then," he said. Rumors about the shootings have quickly circulated, causing Huff to fear that some kids may spread false information that prompts more violence.
Meanwhile, two young men who belong to the Tre's gang went to Huff to tell him they had thrown out four handguns, saying they didn't want to get involved with what they saw as a rekindled turf battle.
"I don't know what the summer's going to bring," Huff said.
Funeral arrangements for Govan are pending.

Toy Gun Mistaken for Real Gun - By a Robber

UPI reports

A robber armed with a handgun broke into a Pasadena, Calif., residence, pepper-sprayed the homeowner and stole his toy BB gun, police said.

The intruder entered the home about 11:30 p.m. Thursday sprayed the man with an irritant and took an Airsoft gun before fleeing.

No wonder the cops keep mistaking toy guns for real ones. Do you think something needs to be done about this?

Please leave a comment.

Summary Execution for Disobedience - Auburn WA Cop Shoots Man with Knife

The Seattle Times reports

The officer pulled over a red Honda coupe in the 1400 block of Harvey Road Northeast just before 10:30 p.m. because the car had a burned-out headlight, authorities said. The 48-year-old driver climbed out of the car and threatened the officer with a knife, said a source close to the investigation.

The officer opened fire and killed the man after he refused to put down the knife, Kent police said.

I don't believe there was no other way. This is not a cop afraid for his life, this is a cop enraged at the gall of someone who refuses to obey a direct order.

The same thing happens in home invasions and burglaries. Homeowners, not unlike the cops, have a veritable license to kill. And they use it.

I say something is seriously wrong with a society that condones this kind of unnecessary killing.

What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.

Domestic Shooting in Tustin California - 1 Dead, 1 Wounded

The Los Angeles Times reports on the unusual domestic shooting, unusual since it was the woman who did the shooting. Had it not been for the gun availability perhaps she would have found another way to resolve her differences, whatever they were.

A woman allegedly shot and killed an elderly man and wounded a teenage boy during what appears to have been a domestic dispute Sunday afternoon at a home in Orange County, authorities said.

What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.

Safe Minnesota, Another Gun Killing

Wouldn't you love to know who the first owner of these guns were?

Three charged in murder outside St. Paul bar

Trent A. Crumble was fatally shot during a drug deal.

Three men were charged Monday in the fatal shooting of Trent A. Crumble in St. Paul last week, apparently during a drug deal gone awry.

Joshua M. Bystrom, 21, of St. Paul, allegedly shot Crumble, according to charges filed in Ramsey County District Court. He was charged with second-degree murder. Also charged are Ronald A. Gilgenbach, 22, for illegally possessing a firearm and Javaier Abdul Ahmed, 18, for aiding an offender.

Police found Crumble, 24, shot in the back about 9:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Malina's Sports Bar in the 600 block of Dale Street at Minnehaha Avenue. He died at Regions Hospital about an hour later.

http://stmedia.startribune.com/images/J Bystrom.jpg

According to the complaint: Gilgenbach told police he was going to buy $200 worth of marijuana from Ahmed. Gilgenbach drove to Dale Street and Minnehaha Avenue with Crumble as his passenger.

Gilgenbach followed Ahmed's car into the alley and parked alongside his car. Gilgenbach got into Ahmed's car, and Bystrom, who was riding with Ahmed, got into the back seat, the charges said.

Bystrom told police that Crumble then approached the vehicle, pulled out a gun and threatened them. Crumble reached inside and grabbed Ahmed in a headlock as he pointed the gun back and forth between Ahmed and Bystrom. Meanwhile, Gilgenbach ransacked the car and glove box, asking, "Where is it at?"

Bystrom told police he thought they were being carjacked and shot Crumble, according to the charges.

Bystrom turned himself into police Friday afternoon after authorities contacted him. Police divers started searching Como Lake that afternoon for evidence.
Ahmed turned himself into police Saturday.

Crumble's May 4 murder was the city's third this year compared to 11 by the end of April 2010. (There were 14 homicides by the end of May 2010.)

Mr. G Guy Makes Another Indefensible Claim

That's Mike G. from That Mr. G Guy's Blog

He said:

It matters not. Anti-gun loons are against gunloons and it will always be this way. Even back in the Revolutionary days, there were some folks who were against having or owning firearms. The difference is, back then, they didn't try to force their beliefs on everyone else like pacifists and anti-gunloons do now a days.

I said:

Dear Mike G., Are you making stuff up again? What could you possibly be referring to as "folks who were against having or owning firearms" during the Revolution?

What do you think? Was he just shootin' off at the mouth, or is he actually saying there was a gun control movement in the 18th century? Could he have been referring to Quakers or people like that?

I wish he'd tell us.

What do you think? Please leave a comment.

Los Angeles Gun Owner Does Murder Suicide - 4 Dead in Total

The Associated Press reports

A man shot and killed his girlfriend and two 5-year-old twins before turning the gun on himself in a murder-suicide inside an SUV that was witnessed by three other children, Los Angeles authorities said Sunday.

The shootings occurred Saturday night in a residential area of East Los Angeles, according to Sheriff's Sgt. Michael Thomas.

Salvador Acevedo, 45, was driving with his girlfriend, Iris Oseguera, their young twins and three other children when the two adults began to fight, Thomas said.

Acevedo pulled out a handgun and shot Oseguera, 33, and the twins, striking each victim in the upper torso.

He then drove the three other children, described as adolescents, to a relative's home. After Acevedo drove away, the children, who were not injured, told an adult about the shootings and authorities were notified.

Guns are bad news for women and children when the guns are in the hands of the wrong men.

What's your opinion? Please leave a comment?

LAPD Gun Buy Back

The Contra Costa Times reports

"It's a little incentive. I have no use for a gun anyway," said North Hills resident Ron Domash, who got $200 for an SKS semiautomatic rifle that belonged to his brother, who was living in St. Louis and couldn't transport the weapon across state lines. "I'm going to buy groceries, I guess."

That's just one of the stories behind the guns that are turned in.

I think the reason gun rights guys object so strenuously to these buy back programs is becuase the programs highlight how damaging gun availability actually is. What could be clearer than the case of this North Hills guy who had no use for a gun that his brother left behind. Imagine how many young hoodlums leave a gun behind when they go to jail. These programs are a good way to clean up some of that mess.

Another interesting aspect of this year's event was the competition.

The city faced some competition this year, as a local gun-rights activist group sent members to refer those in line with functioning guns to take their firearms to their affiliated gunshops that would pay them more for their guns.

It was unclear how many were enticed by the offer, but a number did leave the buyback lines, said Bruce Boyer of Sons of Liberty L.A.

The guns will then be donated to women, who will be trained to defend themselves, said Boyer, who called the city's buyback a dangerous initiative.

"This is a one-day amnesty for criminals," Boyer said. "If a criminal uses a gun for a crime and it's turned in to an anonymous buyback, that's crazy. But regardless of what you do, the criminals are always going to have guns."

"Criminals are always going to have guns" no matter what we do, is one of the most popular and self-serving lies of the gun rights movement. Criminals will continue to enjoy easy access to guns as long as the gun owners from whom the criminals acquire their guns keep making it easy. Until strict gun control laws are applied, not just in isolated states like California, but nation-wide, the problem will persist. That's what gun owners want. That's what they're getting.

There's a tricky criticism of the gun buy back programs that murder weapons may be anonymously destroyed. Well, I'm not so sure that's the case, but what are the complainers suggesting that it's better to leave those guns on the street?

What's your opinion?  Please leave a comment.

Scrap Yard Shooting in Milwaukee Declared Homicide

JSOnline reports how in some cases you can't go around shooting people for climbing over the fence and stealing your stuff.

A 53-year-old Milwaukee man who lives in a scrap yard has been charged with killing a teenager he discovered stealing parts from the yard, according to a criminal complaint.

David A. Helton said his shotgun went off when he tripped inside H&R Scrap Metals, 9000 W. Fond du Lac Ave., on Monday night as he searched for the source of the noise coming from outside his trailer, the complaint says.

Helton is charged with first-degree reckless homicide, use of a dangerous weapon, in the death of 16-year-old Shelton D. Smith. According to the complaint, Smith, two other youths and an uncle of the youths climbed over a fence and into the yard, where they began grabbing and tossing motors over the fence.

The article goes on the describe that the dead teen was "a bright kid, a happy kid." He was "a friendly young man who loved to play basketball, soccer and other sports."

Smith was a sophomore at Texas Bufkin Christian Academy. His grandmother, Gloria McClendon, said Smith told her that he planned to attend college after graduating.

It makes you wonder why he was climbing fences and stealing stuff at night. And it makes you wonder why no one is trying to excuse the actions of the shooter.

What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.

Fairfield California - Triple Homicide, Attempted Suicide

Mercury News reports.

Residents of a normally quiet, upscale neighborhood were stunned Saturday afternoon as they watched police officers wearing tactical gear and with weapons drawn storm a home where four people had just been shot. 

Three of the people -- including the suspected gunman -- died of their wounds. The fourth was taken to a hospital for treatment. Their identities were not available at press time.

Another story of gun-owner-gone-wild or criminal-with-gun killing people?

What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.

The Perfect Mother's Day Gift for the Wife

via Mr. G Guy's Blog

I wonder if any training went with that, or safe storage capacity? Nah, they can always take care of that later. A couple visits to the range and a good solid talking-to for the kids should take care of everything.  What do you think? Aren't they the usual priorities of the gun owner, first get the gun then worry about the other stuff?

Please leave a comment.

The Failed Reasoning of Conservative Conpsiracy Theorists

The following silly conspiracy theories made me laugh, but this also reminded me of the severely flawed thinking and failed logic and reason, and just plain made-up stuff that typifies the thinking of people like commenter Serr8d.

I have written more on this here,  for those who are interested.

Whether one of them is a birther, a deather, a truther, or believes in the conspiracies of a one world order, they'er all crazy; they're all delusional and detached from reality.

For your entertainment; I hope you are able to laugh. There is a certain persistent sense of nausea that also accompanies reading this stuff, so be forewarned.  After you are done laughing (or barfing ), consider that these people who promote this stuff or consume it and believe it are a hazard to reasoned and reasonable political discourse in the United States by their devotion to these delusions.

Critical Analysis

Top Government Insider: Bin Laden Died In 2001, 9/11 False Flag Attack

By Paul Joseph Watson

Global Research

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State under three different administrations Steve R. Pieczenik says he is prepared to tell a federal grand jury the name of a top general who told him directly 9/11 was a false flag attack

Top US government insider Dr. Steve R. Pieczenik, a man who held numerous different influential positions under three different Presidents and still works with the Defense Department, shockingly told The Alex Jones Show yesterday that Osama Bin Laden died in 2001 and that he was prepared to testify in front of a grand jury how a top general told him directly that 9/11 was a false flag inside job.

Pieczenik cannot be dismissed as a “conspiracy theorist”. He served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State under three different administrations, Nixon, Ford and Carter, while also working under Reagan and Bush senior, and still works as a consultant for the Department of Defense. A former US Navy Captain, Pieczenik achieved two prestigious Harry C. Solomon Awards at the Harvard Medical School as he simultaneously completed a PhD at MIT.

Recruited by Lawrence Eagleburger as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Management, Pieczenik went on to develop, “the basic tenets for psychological warfare, counter terrorism, strategy and tactics for transcultural negotiations for the US State Department, military and intelligence communities and other agencies of the US Government,” while also developing foundational strategies for hostage rescue that were later employed around the world.

Pieczenik also served as a senior policy planner under Secretaries Henry Kissinger, Cyrus Vance, George Schultz and James Baker and worked on George W. Bush’s election campaign against Al Gore. His record underscores the fact that he is one of the most deeply connected men in intelligence circles over the past three decades plus.

The character of Jack Ryan, who appears in many Tom Clancy novels and was also played by Harrison Ford in the popular 1992 movie Patriot Games, is also based on Steve Pieczenik.

Back in April 2002, over nine years ago, Pieczenik told the Alex Jones Show that Bin Laden had already been “dead for months,” and that the government was waiting for the most politically expedient time to roll out his corpse. Pieczenik would be in a position to know, having personally met Bin Laden and worked with him during the proxy war against the Soviets in Afghanistan back in the early 80′s.

Pieczenik said that Osama Bin Laden died in 2001, “Not because special forces had killed him, but because as a physician I had known that the CIA physicians had treated him and it was on the intelligence roster that he had marfan syndrome,” adding that the US government knew Bin Laden was dead before they invaded Afghanistan.

Marfan syndrome is a degenerative genetic disease for which there is no permanent cure. The illness severely shortens the life span of the sufferer.

“He died of marfan syndrome, Bush junior knew about it, the intelligence community knew about it,” said Pieczenik, noting how CIA physicians had visited Bin Laden in July 2001 at the American Hospital in Dubai.

“He was already very sick from marfan syndrome and he was already dying, so nobody had to kill him,” added Pieczenik, stating that Bin Laden died shortly after 9/11 in his Tora Bora cave complex.

“Did the intelligence community or the CIA doctor up this situation, the answer is yes, categorically yes,” said Pieczenik, referring to Sunday’s claim that Bin Laden was killed at his compound in Pakistan, adding, “This whole scenario where you see a bunch of people sitting there looking at a screen and they look as if they’re intense, that’s nonsense,” referring to the images released by the White House which claim to show Biden, Obama and Hillary Clinton watching the operation to kill Bin Laden live on a television screen.

“It’s a total make-up, make believe, we’re in an American theater of the absurd….why are we doing this again….nine years ago this man was already dead….why does the government repeatedly have to lie to the American people,” asked Pieczenik. 

“Osama Bin Laden was totally dead, so there’s no way they could have attacked or confronted or killed Osama Bin laden,” said Pieczenik, joking that the only way it could have happened was if special forces had attacked a mortuary.

Pieczenik said that the decision to launch the hoax now was made because Obama had reached a low with plummeting approval ratings and the fact that the birther issue was blowing up in his face.

“He had to prove that he was more than American….he had to be aggressive,” said Pieczenik, adding that the farce was also a way of isolating Pakistan as a retaliation for intense opposition to the Predator drone program, which has killed hundreds of Pakistanis.

“This is orchestrated, I mean when you have people sitting around and watching a sitcom, basically the operations center of the White House, and you have a president coming out almost zombie-like telling you they just killed Osama Bin Laden who was already dead nine years ago,” said Pieczenik, calling the episode, “the greatest falsehood I’ve ever heard, I mean it was absurd.”

Dismissing the government’s account of the assassination of Bin Laden as a “sick joke” on the American people, Pieczenik said, “They are so desperate to make Obama viable, to negate the fact that he may not have been born here, any questions about his background, any irregularities about his background, to make him look assertive….to re-elect this president so the American public can be duped once again.”

Pieczenik’s assertion that Bin Laden died almost ten years ago is echoed by numerous intelligence professionals as well as heads of state across the world.

Bin Laden, “Was used in the same way that 9/11 was used to mobilize the emotions and feelings of the American people in order to go to a war that had to be justified through a narrative that Bush junior created and Cheney created about the world of terrorism,” stated Pieczenik.

During his interview with the Alex Jones Show yesterday, Pieczenik also asserted he was directly told by a prominent general that 9/11 was a stand down and a false flag operation, and that he is prepared to go to a grand jury to reveal the general’s name.

“They ran the attacks,” said Pieczenik, naming Dick Cheney, Paul Wolfowitz, Stephen Hadley, Elliott Abrams, and Condoleezza Rice amongst others as having been directly involved.

“It was called a stand down, a false flag operation in order to mobilize the American public under false pretenses….it was told to me even by the general on the staff of Wolfowitz – I will go in front of a federal committee and swear on perjury who the name was of the individual so that we can break it open,” said Pieczenik, adding that he was “furious” and “knew it had happened”.

“I taught stand down and false flag operations at the national war college, I’ve taught it with all my operatives so I knew exactly what was done to the American public,” he added.

Pieczenik re-iterated that he was perfectly willing to reveal the name of the general who told him 9/11 was an inside job in a federal court, “so that we can unravel this thing legally, not with the stupid 9/11 Commission that was absurd.”

Pieczenik explained that he was not a liberal, a conservative or a tea party member, merely an American who is deeply concerned about the direction in which his country is heading.

Paul Joseph Watson is a frequent contributor to Global Research.

Crime and Gun Violence: Them.....and Us/ U.S.

We have a lot of claims about the relative amount of crime in places that have stricter gun laws.  I found this item this morning on the BBC web site:

Man shot in the head and leg in Bromley-by-Bow

The victim was shot in the head and leg

A man has been shot in the head and leg in east London.

The victim, who is in his 40s, was found by a member of the public in Devons Road in Bromley-by-Bow.
Police were alerted about the shooting at about 2220 BST on Friday. The man was taken to hospital by air ambulance and is said to be in a critical condition.
The Metropolitan Police said no arrests have so far been made in connection with the inquiry.

So, I became curious about the assertions regarding gun violence in London, one of the largest cities in the world, and the assertion that other crimes of violence were increasing.  Gun and knife violence were particularly mentioned as DECLINING.

I didn't find any handy stats in a casual peruse for 2011; it might be a bit soon for those to have been tabulated and released, but I'll keep looking.  These were released in 2010 for the preceding year:

Gun crime increased dramatically in London last year even though the total number of offences fell, new figures revealed today. Violent attacks were also up.

Senior officers said there were “grave concerns” over the rises.
The number of offences involving guns — which also includes cases where criminals claimed to be armed — soared by 49 per cent to 3,306 cases, up from 2,224 in 2008.
While many involved air guns or even fake or imitation weapons, senior detectives have told the Standard there was a worrying rise in the number of gangland shootings.
Overall crime in the capital in 2009 was at its lowest level for 10 years, with significant falls in youth violence and knife attacks.
But gangsters engaged in drug and turf wars are increasingly using firearms to settle scores, and often only the skill of paramedics prevented shootings becoming murders.

The bold emphasis added to the quotes above and below is mine.  So, while there has been some areas of increase, overall crime is down, not up.  For those areas that have increased, there appears to have been steps taken to address the increases.  As much as we would all like there to be no crime, I think if we agree that people are more important than property, then we have to posit that these are overall, improvements to the crime problems. The article continued:

Commander Maxine de Brunner said: “Overall, crime continues to fall, which is great news for London.
“In particular, falls in homicide, youth violence and knife crime represent continuing success in tackling these offences. However, the Met is not complacent. We continue to tackle those challenges head-on.”
The number of youth violence cases fell by 3.5 per cent to a total of 20,272, meaning there were 725 fewer victims last year.
Knife crime, which claimed the lives of 10 teenagers, fell 7.9 per cent — a drop of 1,037 offences.
London's murder rate also fell to its lowest rate in recent history — with 130 homicides, compared with 155 in 2008.
The number of teenage murders was halved from a record total of 30 in 2008 to 15 last year.

Cases of homophobic crime rose by 27 per cent and race crime was up by seven per cent.
The total number of crimes in London fell by more than two per cent to 832,439 offences, down from 851,721 offences in 2008.
The Met said there were 20,000 fewer victims of crime last year than 2008.

Not so safe MN - More Gun Violence

I'm becoming intrigued with the frequency with which guns are inappropriately fired.  Fridley is a safe suburb.  I don't engage in illegal drug activity or gang activity.........but I wouldn't be safe apparently on this street in this suburb, walking, sleeping, just living.

Fridley home hit with multiple gunshots

A Fridley resident awoke to find multiple bullets shot through the home's fence, garage door and bathroom wall Thursday morning.
Police responded to the home on the 400 block of 57th Place in Fridley after hearing several reports hours earlier of four to seven gunshots ringing out in the neighborhood. Authorities weren't able to find anything unusual and the case remains under investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Fridley Police at (763) 427-1212.

Paul Helmke on the 2010 State Scorecard

At the Brady website there's a wonderful interactive map.

Perez Hilton Is Not Convinced about the Charlie Sheen "Complete Accident"

via Perez Hilton

Our only question is - how come it took them both SO LONG to just explain that it was an accident? And why on Earth was he walking around with a loaded gun in one of his pant pockets?!

In Gun-Friendly South Carolina a 3-Year-Old Kills Herself

The Post and Courier reports.

Three-year-old India Grant just finished going to the bathroom with her mother's help Friday morning when she crossed through her parents' master bedroom and saw the family's loaded handgun sitting unsecured on a windowsill.

Dorchester County Coroner Chris Nisbet said India's mother was still in the bathroom closet when the child handled the .45-caliber firearm and looked into the barrel.

The gun fired.

Were the parents arrested or charged with a crime? We have no mention of that in the article."[Capt. James] Nettles urged parents to keep their guns locked up and out of reach."  That's about it.

What's your opinion?  Please leave a comment.

Crooked Cops in Northern California Town

This kind of thing is probably a bigger problem than we realize. SFGate reports.

A second member of an anti-drug law enforcement squad in Contra Costa County was charged Friday with selling drugs seized in raids and other crimes.

San Ramon police Officer Louis Lombardi, 38, of Discovery Bay was charged with stealing guns, selling drugs, embezzlement, illegally possessing an assault rifle and conspiracy.

What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.

Alaska Gun Shop Case

NECN.con reports on the way gun-friendly states conspire to make it easy for criminals and mentally ill folks to get guns.

The case involves a gun used to kill Simone Young Kim in 2006 outside a store in Juneau for no apparent reason. The gun was obtained at the Rayco Sales gun shop.

Ray Coxe, owner of the store, has said the shooter — Jason Coday — chose the rifle, put $200 on the counter and left without completing the required paperwork.

Coday, 33, is serving a 101-year sentence after being convicted of first-degree murder.

What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.

Syracuse Cops Shoot and Kill Mentally Ill Man who had a Pellet Gun

 via syracuse.com

On Thursday, two sheriff’s deputies and one Syracuse police officer ended Benjamin Campione’s decades-long struggle with mental illness by shooting him dead when he pointed a pellet gun at them in the parking lot of the Regional Transportation Center.

Glenn Beck Tells O'Reilly How Shameless Obama Is

Over on Pat Dollard's Blog they agree.  What do you think? It seems to me the president was low-keyed and humble, and the only reason for disparaging what he did is if you suffer from islamophobia and good old American black racism.