Daily update August 30

Arizona: Resident exchanges gunfire with 2 intruders in back yard
Tucson Citizen

"The shooting happened about 11 p.m. in the back yard of a home on South Avenida Don Arturo, near West Valencia Road and South Camino de Oeste, Barkman said. She said a woman and her two sons, both in their 20s, were watching television inside when they heard their dogs barking in the back yard. When one of the sons went to see why the dogs were barking, he was confronted by a man with a gun, Barkman said, adding that the other son got a gun, went into the back yard, and was confronted by the gunman and another who had joined the gunman. The gunmen and the armed son started shooting at each other and all three were wounded, Barkman said. .... She said it was too early in the investigation to say what the gunmen were doing in the yard." (08/30/05)

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/breaking/083005_shootings.php

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Georgia: Victim shot burglar
WSAV News

"A Savannah woman says she was a burglary victim twice before she turned the tables and shot the man she says was trying to rob her for a third time. We first told you Friday night about a shooting at Westlake Apartments on Greengate Court. Police say the woman's apartment was broken into several times last week. Friday night she says the same man tried breaking into her apartment again and she shot him. " (08/29/05)

http://tinyurl.com/cuuzx

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NRA offering new booklet
El Dorado Times

"The National Rifle Association's Disabled Shooting Services Department is offering a free disability awareness booklet.The booklet is a collection of articles by Dave Baskin, manager of the NRA Disabled Shooting Services Department, on a variety of related subjects, including hints for instructors working with the disabled, organizing wheelchair-accessible sporting clays events, rifle shooting as a physical rehabilitation tool and safety tips for disabled hunters.For a free copy of the booklet, call (703) 267-1495." (08/30/05)

http://www.eldoradotimes.com/articles/2005/08/30/news/news6.txt

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South Africa: Gun act failing dismally - DA
News 24

"The Democratic Alliance has asked for a special parliamentary debate on the problems relating to the implementation of the Firearms Control Act. Giving notice of a motion in the national assembly on Tuesday, DA MP Roy Jankielsohn said his party believed the government would have to reconsider whether it was able to properly implement the act.
Firearm owners had experienced a number of problems when trying to renew their firearm licences. .... The costs involved with training, obtaining competency certificates, and the licensing process was, for many people, unaffordable. This was especially true for pensioners. Backlogs with licensing and appeals were causing a great deal of frustration among applicants for both renewals and new licenses. In many instances, licences were refused with the only reason given as "a lack of sufficient motivation"." (08/30/05)

http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/Politics/0,,2-7-12_1762269,00.html

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Texas: DA opposed to new handgun law
Houston Chronicle

"Motorists arrested for carrying pistols in their cars without a concealed handgun license will continue to be prosecuted in Houston, despite a new law that purports to give them a legal defense, Harris County District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal said Monday. .... "It is still going to be against the law for (unlicensed) persons to carry handguns in autos," the district attorney said, adding that the new legal defense can still be challenged by prosecutors.The new law, enacted during the regular legislative session last spring, seeks to clarify a longtime law that allowed Texans to carry handguns while traveling, a qualification that was subject to a number of inconsistent court interpretations over the years.The new statute says a person is "presumed to be traveling" if he or she is in a private vehicle, is not engaged in criminal activity (except for a minor traffic offense), is not prohibited by any other law from possessing a firearm and is not a member of a criminal street gang." (08/30/05)

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3330553

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Arizona: Mesa is near to 2004 count of homicides
Arizona Republic

"Russell Wagner, 54, told police he shot Aaron Prescott, 19, after Prescott tried to enter his home about 2:30 a.m. He said he opened his door after hearing yelling outside and Prescott tried to enter through a screen door. Wagner claims he shot in self-defense and told investigators he didn't know Prescott, Detective Tim Gaffney said. Police questioned Wagner and released him." (08/30/05)

http://www.azcentral.com/news//articles/0830mesamurders.html

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Georgia: Pawn shop employee, burglary suspect exchange gunfire
Macon Telegraph

"A pawn shop employee escaped injury in an exchange of gunfire with a burglar late Friday night, Warner Robins police say. Warner Robins police Lt. Bobby Brantley said the suspect also was not hit and fled with a stolen handgun. The suspect was interrupted by the employee who arrived at the Northside Pawnshop at 1313 Green St. just before midnight. According to a Warner Robins police news release, the employee responded to the business alarm, which automatically calls his residence when the alarm is sounded. The employee was fired upon as he entered the store and he returned fire. The employee fled the pawn shop and called 911. The suspect also fled." (08/30/05)


http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/local/12510235.htm