No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.362 / Virus Database: 267.13.4/176 - Release Date: 11/20/2005 Bringing An Oxygen Bottle To A Gunfight: An 83-year-old Georgia man, hooked up to an oxygen bottle, was able to scare two robbers out of his home with an unloaded "squirrel rifle." Shooting while using oxygen may not be the safest practice. (Accounts differ as to the firearm was a .22 rifle or a shotgun.) http://www.wesh.com/news/5367753/detail.html http://www.opinioneditorials.com/freedomwriters/rboyd_20051120.html --- Bringing Jujitsu To A Gunfight: Three years ago a would-be rapist in New Mexico attacked a woman trained in grappling skills, only to be shot to death with his own gun. The woman now investigates sex crimes as an Albuquerque police officer. http://www.observer-online.com/articles/2005/11/19/news/story3.txt --- Rule Five Reminder: A Massachusetts police officer lost his handgun after setting it on the roof of his vehicle, then driving away in the vehicle. The officer received relatively minor discipline from a chief who is notorious in his opposition to issuing firearm permits to private citizens. http://www.patriotledger.com/articles/2005/11/19/news/news04.txt --- Watch What You Say: An Illinois store clerk, who fired at robbers who had fired through the door at him as they fled the store, says he was just trying to scare them. Since the shooting appears justified it seems foolish to make a statement that casts doubt on its justification. http://www.wifr.com/home/headlines/1992722.html --- Charges Dropped In Oregon Shooting Incident: Charges have been dropped in a shooting incident outside a Eugene bar because the prosecution doubts that it could prove its case. Sounds like a good reminder not to hang out where people go to get drunk. http://www.registerguard.com/news/2005/11/18/d1.cr.chargesdropped.1118.p1.php?section=cityregion --- Front Sight Suit Invokes RICO Act: The local paper in Pahrump NV looks at the current legal problems facing Front Sight Firearms Training Institute. (I have had one former Front Sight student liken its membership program to a Ponzi scheme, in an effort to describe the financial woes Piazza faces.) http://www.pahrumpvalleytimes.com/2005/11/18/news/frontsight.html --- Tacoma Mall Shooting - Two Views: The link is to a standard news account. Then John Farnam furnishes an account by a cop on the scene. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10129879/ From John Farnam: 20 Nov 05 Active Shooter in Tacoma, WA Mall, from a friend at the scene: "Today's shooting involved a twenty-year-old, Hispanic male, high on crystal meth. It was an attempted suicide-by-cop. However, during the entire incident, no police bullets were ever fired at the suspect. The suspect was armed with a CZ 9mm pistol, loaded with Remington Golden Saber ammunition. He also had a Kalashnikov clone (7.62X39, hardball ammunition) secreted in a guitar case. He started by firing his pistol randomly down a mall corridor. He was jumped from behind by an unarmed mall patron who attempted to disarm him. In the ensuing struggle, the patron was hit four times in the torso before the suspect's badly-rusted and poorly maintained CZ experienced a stoppage which precluded additional shooting by the suspect. The heroic patron was the only person seriously injured during the incident. All other injuries were minor, mostly caused by ricochets and people being trampled during the panicked exit of mall shoppers. With his pistol non-operational an apparently not knowing how to fix it, the suspect abandoned it and reverted to his AK, again firing randomly. Our 'Active-Shooter' training really paid off! First officers to arrive did not hesitate. They organized into the diamond formation and entered the mall building straightaway, moving toward the sound of gunfire. Some officers were armed with Ruger Mini-14s. Upon seeing advancing officers, the suspect ran into a mall store and took three hostages. Officers were successful in containing the suspect and clearing the rest of the mall. Negotiations began. At one point, the suspect fell asleep! He eventually gave up and released all hostages. He is currently in custody, uninjured. No shots were fired by police." Comment: As my friend indicated, "Active Shooter" training is critical for all departments, big and small. It surely worked here. The suspect was rapidly contained, and damage was minimized. SWAT teams were eventually involved, but the guys who heroically organized themselves and entered the building first were plain-vanilla patrolmen. They deserve a lot of credit. Good show, guys! /John -- Stephen P. Wenger Firearm safety - It's a matter for education, not legislation. http://www.spw-duf.info .