Mediaboss Marketing

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - As debate dragged into a second week on a bill to toughen sentences for convicted domestic abusers in South Carolina and take away their guns, state Sen. Katrina Shealy made the issue personal with the story of her sister who was abused for years by her husband before he finally shot himself to death.

"When you make it personal, people understand," said Shealy, who got her sister's permission over the weekend to tell her story. "I bet there are a lot of people out there who have similar stories."

Shealy, the state Senate's only woman, took the floor of the chamber Tuesday and for the first time publicly recounted the story of her sister's 30-year abusive marriage which ended when her brother-in-law killed himself on the hood of his wife's car just days after she left. He had written several suicide notes outlining different scenarios, including one with him walking to her job and killing her before turning the gun on himself, the Lexington Republican said.

The Senate adjourned again Tuesday without voting on the bill. More debate is expected Wednesday, and Senate Judiciary Chairman Larry Martin hopes the bill will come to a vote before the Senate leaves early Wednesday because of the threat of snow in the Upstate.

"I don't know why this has taken so long," said Martin, R-Pickens. "I know there are strong passions when someone thinks their Second Amendment rights are at stake."

The main sticking point is a provision that would prevent people convicted of domestic violence from owning a gun for 10 years. Several amendments watering down or eliminating the provision for certain convictions have slowed debate.

The bill also defines three degrees of domestic violence. Penalties would increase with the violence of the attack.

Shealy said her sister's abuse was well known in their family at the time. She occasionally came around with black eyes and missed family gatherings without a reason. Shealy and other relatives would buy her clothes, and her husband would cut them to ribbons if he thought she owned too many things.

"Why didn't she leave? She was scared of him," Shealy said. "He had threatened to kill her and her children."

Shealy's brother-in-law killed himself 16 years ago. But she said her sister and her adult children still struggle with low self-esteem from his blows and his words.

See the original post:
Shealy tells sister's story during domestic violence debate

PHOENIX (AP) A Republican lawmaker who has been pushing a series of guns rights bills pulled out a new proposal Monday, tacking an amendment onto a minor bill that will legalize sawed-off shotguns, silencers and nunchucks in Arizona.

The state already has some of the strongest Second Amendment protections in the country, but the Republican-dominated Legislature is working to add more breathing room for gun owners.

The amendment by Sen. Kelli Ward, R-Lake Havasu City, adds to a bill designed to restore a persons gun rights if a judge sets aside a guilty conviction.

We have a right to keep and bear arms and really that right shouldnt be infringed, she said.

The amendment legalizes devices that muffle guns, rifles and shotguns with barrels less than 16 inches and nunchucks weapons made from two sticks or rods connected by a rope or chain.

Ward said the idea for her amendment came from a pastor in the western Arizona community of Topock who wants to own nunchucks.

Critics said the amendment is overly broad and avoided scrutiny by never going through committee hearings.

Rep. Steve Farley, D-Tucson, said Wards amendment makes the bill less about helping people and more about legalizing weapons prohibited under Arizona law.

It is only going to further our reputation on The Daily Show here in Arizona that we couldnt find a way of banning driving while texting while at the same time making legal silencers, sawed-off shotguns and nunchucks.

Rep. Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, said he sees the problem with sawed-off shotguns, but not silencers.

Excerpt from:
Ward amendment would OK sawed-off shotguns, silencers

By Sean Whaley, Las Vegas Review-Journal

CARSON CITY A flurry of firearm and Second Amendment related bills introduced in the Legislature have already generated plenty of controversy even though none of the major proposals have even had hearings yet.

First there was a dust-up between Senate Democrats and Republicans over a GOP gun measure that includes domestic violence provisions that Democrats said fell short of what is needed.

Firearms are making some noise in the Nevada Legislature this session.

This could be the year of the gun, as Republicans, who are in the majority in the Legislature for the first time in decades, see a chance to enact Second Amendment measures supported by many of their constituents.

Assembly Judiciary Chairman Ira Hansen, R-Sparks, said the large number of bills is in part a reflection of concerns that there is a strong movement to curtail gun rights nationally.

At least nine bills directly relating to firearms have either been introduced or are being drafted.

Read the whole story

Continue reading here:
2015 could be year of the gun in Nev. Legislature

Episode #2 THE HOTSEAT "Open Carry" "2nd Amendment" law in MO
Discussion of Open Carry Law the Second Amendment with MO State Rep. Deb Lavender Richard Lofftus with Open Carry Missouri.

By: The HOTSEAT with Mark Bland

Read this article:
Episode #2 THE HOTSEAT "Open Carry" & "2nd Amendment" law in MO - Video

An Erie man who claimed he could not be prosecuted on weapons charges under the Second Amendment was convicted by a jury of illegally possessing firearms.

Philip R. Zapata, 37, of 6705 Preston St. was ordered held in jail after the jurys verdict this week.

Monroe County Circuit Judge Michael A. Weipert remanded Mr. Zapata to jail after he was convicted of three counts of being a felon in possession of firearms and one count of committing a felony while possessing a firearm.

Mr. Zapata, who relayed beliefs in court that are similar to those known as sovereign-nation citizens, acted in his own defense. A 12-member jury deliberated about an hour before finding the defendant guilty on all counts, said Monroe County Assistant Prosecutor Jack Simms.

Mr. Simms said the defendant claimed that he could not be charged with weapons violation felonies because he was protected under the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, the right to bear arms.

Mr. Simms called six witnesses, including Erie Township Police Chief Dean Ansel, who testified that he had a legal search warrant when he entered the defendants home Feb. 6, 2014, and found weapons inside. Mr. Zapata was convicted of a felony drug charge previously and was not allowed to be in possession of weapons.

Inside the house, police found three different guns, including a rifle in a bathroom, a 9mm handgun behind a trap door in a wall and a shotgun behind a freezer. Mr. Zapata claimed he had a legal right to own the guns, but the jury disagreed.

Chief Ansel said the trial had to be interrupted up to eight times while the judge excused the jury so he could explain proper procedures to Mr. Zapata, who insisted on defending himself. He added that Mr. Zapata often held up a book in court claiming it to be the Constitution and saying that he was bound only by laws in that book.

I think the judge did a terrific job of running the courtroom and not letting things get out of hand, Chief Ansel said. And I praise the jury for keeping their attention.

Originally posted here:
Erie man convicted of weapons charges