plus 4, Tennessee demonstrates trend of looser gun laws - Canton Repository |
- Tennessee demonstrates trend of looser gun laws - Canton Repository
- Auto Dent Repair Less Expensive and More Convenient with Mobile Auto ... - PRLog (free press release)
- Auto Painting and Dent Repair using Green Practices in Los Angeles - PRLog (free press release)
- Gun Laws are Getting Looser Across Much of US - Flathead Beacon
- The German forced to become a Turk @B=By Jochen-Martin Gutsch - Tehran Times
| Tennessee demonstrates trend of looser gun laws - Canton Repository Posted: 12 Dec 2009 01:06 PM PST It's been the year of the gun in Tennessee. In a flurry of legislative action, handgun owners won the right to take their weapons onto sports fields and playgrounds and, at least briefly, into bars. A change in leadership at the state Capitol helped open the doors to the gun-related bills and put Tennessee at the forefront of a largely unnoticed trend: In much of the country, it is getting easier to carry guns. A nationwide review by The Associated Press found that over the last two years, 24 states, mostly in the South and West, have passed 47 new laws loosening gun restrictions. Among other things, legislatures have allowed firearms to be carried in cars, made it illegal to ask job candidates whether they own a gun, and expanded agreements that make permits to carry handguns in one state valid in another. The trend is attributed in large part to a push by the National Rifle Association. The NRA, which for years has blocked attempts in Washington to tighten firearms laws, has ramped up its efforts at the state level to chip away at gun restrictions. "This is all a coordinated approach to respect that human, God-given right of self defense by law-abiding Americans," says Chris W. Cox, the NRA's chief lobbyist. "We'll rest when all 50 states allow and respect the right of law-abiding people to defend themselves from criminal attack." Among the recent gun-friendly laws: — Arizona, Florida, Louisiana and Utah have made it illegal for businesses to bar their employees from storing guns in cars parked on company lots. — Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, South Carolina and Virginia have made some or all handgun permit information confidential. — Montana, Arizona and Kansas have allowed handgun permits to be issued to people who have had their felony convictions expunged or their full civil rights restored. — Tennessee and Montana have passed laws that exempt weapons made and owned in-state from federal restrictions. Tennessee is the home to Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, the maker of a .50-caliber shoulder-fired rifle that the company says can shoot bullets up to five miles and is banned in California. The AP compiled the data on new laws from groups ranging from the Legal Community Against Violence, which advocates gun control, to the NRA. Public attitudes toward gun control have shifted strongly over the past 50 years, according to Gallup polling. In 1959, 60 percent of respondents said they favored a ban on handguns expect for "police and other authorized persons." By last year, Gallup's most recent crime survey found 69 percent opposed such a ban. The NRA boasts that almost all states grant handgun permits to people with clean criminal and psychological records. In 1987, only 10 states did. Only Wisconsin, Illinois and the District of Columbia now prohibit the practice entirely. "The NRA has a stranglehold on a lot of state legislatures," said Kristin Rand, legislative director the Violence Policy Center, a gun control group in Washington. "They basically have convinced lawmakers they can cost them their seats, even though there's no real evidence to back that up." Tennessee's new laws came after the Republican takeover of the General Assembly this year, but most other states that loosened restrictions didn't experience major partisan shifts. Most of the states where the new laws were enacted have large rural populations, where support for gun rights tends to cross party lines. While some states have tightened gun laws during the same period, the list of new restrictive laws is much shorter. In 2009 alone, more than three times as many laws were passed to make it easier on gun owners. New Jersey's 2009 law limiting people to one handgun purchase per month is the most notable of the more restrictive laws. Other examples this year include Maryland's ban on concealed weapons on public transit and Maine's vote to give public universities and colleges the power to regulate firearms on campus. The most contentious of Tennessee's new gun laws was one allowing handguns in bars and restaurants that serve alcohol. It took effect in July after lawmakers overrode a veto by the governor. Last month, a Nashville judge struck down the law as unconstitutionally vague, but supporters have vowed to pass it again. A similar Arizona law that took effect in September allows people with concealed-weapons permits to bring their guns into bars and restaurants that haven't posted signs banning them. While Tennessee's law was in place, many bars chose not to let customers bring guns in. Likewise, more than 70 communities have opted out of allowing guns in parks. "People go in there and start drinking and then they want to start a fight. What are they going to do if they got a gun in their hand?" said Larry Speck, 69, who works at an auto repair shop in Memphis. "I've got a gun permit and I'm not carrying mine in there even if they have a law." Chattanooga retiree Ken Hasse, 71, said he worries about the possible consequences of allowing people to carry their guns in places like parks. "It's going to tempt somebody to use one," he said. Supporters of expanding handgun rights argue that people with state-issued permits are far less likely to commit crimes, and that more lawfully armed people cause a reduction in crime. Opponents fear that more guns could lead to more crime. Academics are divided on the effects of liberalized handgun laws, and determining the impact is complicated by the move in several states to close handgun permit records. A Violence Policy Center project has mined news reports to find that more than 100 people have been killed by holders of handgun-carry permits since 2007, including nine law enforcement officers. The project originally intended to list all gun crimes by permit holders, but there were too many to keep track of, Rand said. "They shoot each other over parking spaces, at football games and at family events," Rand said. "The idea that you're making any place safer by injecting more guns is just completely contradicted by the facts." The flood of legislative victories in Tennessee after many years of frustration now has some gun backers aiming for a whole new level of freedom: No permits at all. The permit laws "are an extra burden on people to exercise essentially a constitutional right," said John Harris, executive director of the Tennessee Firearms Association.
fivefilters.org featured article: Normalising the crime of the century by John Pilger | |
| Posted: 12 Dec 2009 12:52 PM PST PR Log (Press Release) – Dec 12, 2009 – Redondo Beach, CA – Auto dent repair and paint work is often put off by consumers who don't have time to arrange alternate transportation while their car is in the auto body shop for days. Consumers are keeping their vehicles longer; therefore, they are hesitant to spend the money on cosmetic repairs in case of mechanical break-down. In today's economy, keeping the vehicle running takes priority over keeping it looking good.
Joaquin Hernandez, owner of Collision on Wheels, a mobile auto body shop has gained the attention of local consumers. One happy customer said, "I loooved my Navigator! Everything is just right. I'm very happy with your work and Carlos was very nice and professional. In fact, he was stopped several times while he was working by people interested in estimates for their car!" Ginger G. Lomita. Collision on Wheels serves a unique niche market that provides on-site minor auto collision repair, dent repair and paint repair in a consumer's driveway or at their workplace. Learn more at http://dentrepairlosangeles.blogspot.com/ 2009/12/dent- re ... Studies have found that consumers are hesitant to report minor collision damages to their insurance company for fear of their premiums being increased. "The cost of our service is often less than an insurance deductible; therefore, people are willing to pay for cosmetic repairs to their vehicle out of their own pocket rather than file a claim," said Hernandez Founded in 1987 by Louis Mancina and John Maio of Warren, Michigan, the company has awarded over 50 franchises in major metro markets across the US. Juaquin Hernandez serves consumers and businesses in Los Angeles, Playa Vista, Playa Del Rey, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, El Segundo, Torrance, Gardena, Lawndale, Redondo Beach, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Palos Verdes Estates, Palos Verdes, Signal Hill, Lomita, Long Beach, Hawthorne, Westchester, Harbor City and neighboring cities and communities. For more information visit http://www.collisiononwheels.com
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| Auto Painting and Dent Repair using Green Practices in Los Angeles - PRLog (free press release) Posted: 12 Dec 2009 12:52 PM PST PR Log (Press Release) – Dec 12, 2009 – Los Angeles, CA –.Auto body repair technicians who work for Collision on Wheels in Los Angeles appreciate PPG Envirobase paint products because they pose less of a threat to our environment while being cost-competitive. PPG auto paint products are durable; their topcoat products resist scratches and abrasions.
Some states have imposed guidelines to eliminate oil-based paint products from auto body shops to reduce the VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions and CO2 that goes into the work environment and our atmosphere. Learn more about green auto paint products at http://dentrepairlosangeles.blogspot.com/ 2009/12/about- p ... Collision on Wheels takes great pride in being eco-friendly. In addition to their use of PPG Envirobase paint products, they repair, rather than replace, plastic bumpers when possible, to reduce rubbish in the landfills. Because Collision on Wheels is mobile, their business uses less energy than the traditional auto body repair shop. Joaquin Hernandez owns Collision on Wheels specializing in auto painting, minor auto scratch and dent repairs, offering the convenience of same-day repairs at your home or workplace. CW uses PPG finishes that are guaranteed to match your existing paint and they warranty their work for as long as you own your car. CW services auto dealerships, limo companies, RV dealerships and consumers in Los Angeles, Playa Vista, Playa Del Rey, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, El Segundo, Torrance, Gardena, Lawndale, Redondo Beach, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Palos Verdes Estates, Palos Verdes, Signal Hill, Lomita, Long Beach, Hawthorne, Westchester, Harbor City and neighboring cities and communities. Visit http://www.collisiononwheels.com to learn more. Contact: Joaquin Hernandez
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fivefilters.org featured article: Normalising the crime of the century by John Pilger | |
| Gun Laws are Getting Looser Across Much of US - Flathead Beacon Posted: 12 Dec 2009 11:47 AM PST NASHVILLE, Tenn. – It's been the year of the gun in Tennessee. In a flurry of legislative action, handgun owners won the right to take their weapons onto sports fields and playgrounds and, at least briefly, into bars. A change in leadership at the state Capitol helped open the doors to the gun-related bills and put Tennessee at the forefront of a largely unnoticed trend: In much of the country, it is getting easier to carry guns. A nationwide review by The Associated Press found that over the last two years, 24 states, mostly in the South and West, have passed 47 new laws loosening gun restrictions. Among other things, legislatures have allowed firearms to be carried in cars, made it illegal to ask job candidates whether they own a gun, and expanded agreements that make permits to carry handguns in one state valid in another. The trend is attributed in large part to a push by the National Rifle Association. The NRA, which for years has blocked attempts in Washington to tighten firearms laws, has ramped up its efforts at the state level to chip away at gun restrictions. "This is all a coordinated approach to respect that human, God-given right of self defense by law-abiding Americans," says Chris W. Cox, the NRA's chief lobbyist. "We'll rest when all 50 states allow and respect the right of law-abiding people to defend themselves from criminal attack." Among the recent gun-friendly laws: — Arizona, Florida, Louisiana and Utah have made it illegal for businesses to bar their employees from storing guns in cars parked on company lots. — Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, South Carolina and Virginia have made some or all handgun permit information confidential. — Montana, Arizona and Kansas have allowed handgun permits to be issued to people who have had their felony convictions expunged or their full civil rights restored. — Tennessee and Montana have passed laws that exempt weapons made and owned in-state from federal restrictions. Tennessee is the home to Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, the maker of a .50-caliber shoulder-fired rifle that the company says can shoot bullets up to five miles and is banned in California. The AP compiled the data on new laws from groups ranging from the Legal Community Against Violence, which advocates gun control, to the NRA. Public attitudes toward gun control have shifted strongly over the past 50 years, according to Gallup polling. In 1959, 60 percent of respondents said they favored a ban on handguns except for "police and other authorized persons." Gallup's most recent annual crime survey in October found 71 percent opposed such a ban. The NRA boasts that almost all states grant handgun permits to people with clean criminal and psychological records. In 1987, only 10 states did. Only Wisconsin, Illinois and the District of Columbia now prohibit the practice entirely. "The NRA has a stranglehold on a lot of state legislatures," said Kristin Rand, legislative director the Violence Policy Center, a gun control group in Washington. "They basically have convinced lawmakers they can cost them their seats, even though there's no real evidence to back that up." Tennessee's new laws came after the Republican takeover of the General Assembly this year, but most other states that loosened restrictions didn't experience major partisan shifts. Most of the states where the new laws were enacted have large rural populations, where support for gun rights tends to cross party lines. While some states have tightened gun laws during the same period, the list of new restrictive laws is much shorter. In 2009 alone, more than three times as many laws were passed to make it easier on gun owners. New Jersey's 2009 law limiting people to one handgun purchase per month is the most notable of the more restrictive laws. Other examples this year include Maryland's ban on concealed weapons on public transit and Maine's vote to give public universities and colleges the power to regulate firearms on campus. The most contentious of Tennessee's new gun laws was one allowing handguns in bars and restaurants that serve alcohol. It took effect in July after lawmakers overrode a veto by the governor. Last month, a Nashville judge struck down the law as unconstitutionally vague, but supporters have vowed to pass it again. A similar Arizona law that took effect in September allows people with concealed-weapons permits to bring their guns into bars and restaurants that haven't posted signs banning them. While Tennessee's law was in place, many bars chose not to let customers bring guns in. Likewise, more than 70 communities have opted out of allowing guns in parks. "People go in there and start drinking and then they want to start a fight. What are they going to do if they got a gun in their hand?" said Larry Speck, 69, who works at an auto repair shop in Memphis. "I've got a gun permit and I'm not carrying mine in there even if they have a law." Chattanooga retiree Ken Hasse, 71, said he worries about the possible consequences of allowing people to carry their guns in places like parks. "It's going to tempt somebody to use one," he said. Supporters of expanding handgun rights argue that people with state-issued permits are far less likely to commit crimes, and that more lawfully armed people cause a reduction in crime. Opponents fear that more guns could lead to more crime. Academics are divided on the effects of liberalized handgun laws, and determining the impact is complicated by the move in several states to close handgun permit records. A Violence Policy Center project has mined news reports to find that more than 100 people have been killed by holders of handgun-carry permits since 2007, including nine law enforcement officers. The project originally intended to list all gun crimes by permit holders, but there were too many to keep track of, Rand said. "They shoot each other over parking spaces, at football games and at family events," Rand said. "The idea that you're making any place safer by injecting more guns is just completely contradicted by the facts." The flood of legislative victories in Tennessee after many years of frustration now has some gun backers aiming for a whole new level of freedom: No permits at all. The permit laws "are an extra burden on people to exercise essentially a constitutional right," said John Harris, executive director of the Tennessee Firearms Association. fivefilters.org featured article: Normalising the crime of the century by John Pilger | |
| The German forced to become a Turk @B=By Jochen-Martin Gutsch - Tehran Times Posted: 12 Dec 2009 11:47 AM PST
The German forced to become a Turk
@B=By Jochen-Martin Gutsch
After a few days, officials at the Hermann Friebe House reported that Eke was missing. As he puts it, he didn't want to be an institutionalized child. After that, he did what he was told and participated in a program called "Training and Employment for Adolescent Asylum Seekers." But he stopped attending after six months, and he also broke off contact with his guardian.
On June 9, 2006, a few days after his 18th birthday, the immigration office noted that his whereabouts were now unknown and issued a warrant for his arrest. He was now a legal adult, but one that was illegal and eligible for deportation. In retrospect, Eke admits, it might've been a mistake. But, at the time, it seemed like his only option. He didn't trust the immigration authorities, the same authorities who had deported his parents and siblings. And he didn't trust his guardian, either. For the next two years, Eke stayed off the radar. He lived with friends in Essen and then moved in with his sister in Bremen, who has a German passport. He played football in various clubs and earned a little money by giving lessons to children. He likes to tell the story of how he played professionally with Rot-Weiss Essen, a local football club, with Mesut Özil -- a fellow Turk and a member of the German national team today. In the late afternoon of Nov. 7, 2008, Eke gave up. The police had surrounded his brother's auto repair shop in Essen. Eke ran to the emergency exit hoping it would be his last chance to get away. But when he opened the door, there were two police officers waiting outside with weapons drawn. "I was almost glad when they caught me," Eke says. "I thought: Now everything will be straightened out. I really thought they would say: 'It was our mistake' and 'Of course you'll get another chance.'" What exactly constitutes integration? In fact, Eke still seems surprised. He opens his bag and pulls out a few documents: references from the German football clubs he had played with, a letter from the petitions committee of the state parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia, a certificate showing that he had attended an industrial placement program at BMW facilities in Essen, and the boarding pass from his August deportation flight. The documents are now little more than yellowing pieces of paper, testaments to his unsteady German life. Eke left secondary school after ninth grade. His parents hardly speak any German, and they paid little attention to the education of their 11 children. When Eke is asked what his parents did for a living, how they made money, he says, "with nothing." It was a large family that survived on welfare. Under these conditions, how could Eke be expected to score well on any "integration achievement" test? When asked whether he believes that he's integrated, he says that he doesn't exactly know what the term means. Still, the fact is that, in Germany, no one really knows what it means. Can integration really be measured? Eke speaks German like a German. He isn't a criminal, and he isn't a bad guy. That, so to speak, is his integration achievement. Is it necessary to ask more of him? Or is there also such a thing as a German integration achievement? Is there a level of responsibility that someone must achieve after having lived in Germany for 21 years? On Nov. 8, 2008, Eke was taken to the deportation center in Büren. He spent the first few weeks in a six-man cell with three bunk beds. After two months, he was permitted to work as a cleaner in the detention facility. He was having trouble sleeping, so the in-house doctor wrote him a prescription for antidepressants. When his hair occasionally fell out in dark clumps, both the doctor and Eke attributed it to stress. Arguing his case in court Twice during his nine-month incarceration, Eke was taken to the Turkish Consulate. But, on both occasions, he refused to apply for a Turkish passport, arguing that he was "born in Germany and am therefore a German citizen." His sister in Bremen hired attorneys, who filed a lawsuit against the government's deportation efforts. At this point, he was hoping that the German courts would come to his rescue. But that wasn't in his cards. In a tersely worded ruling dated Jan. 14, 2009, an administrative court in Gelsenkirchen, near Essen, wrote: "The claimant's consciously illegal stay in Germany after his disappearance already suggests a lack of integration because it shows that the claimant intends to make his integration into the German legal order dependent on his interests." The judge also ruled "that it is in keeping with the need to fairly balance the public interest in regulating the immigration of foreigners against the claimant's private interest in remaining in Germany that the claimant return to Turkey." Subsequently, Eke's lawyers filed an appeal with the administrative appeals court of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. On June 5, the appeal was denied. The judges argued that there was no evidence of Eke's being rooted in "German society" to a degree that would "make deportation to Turkey seem unacceptable." Besides, the judges wrote in their decision, "through his illegal presence in Germany since June 2006, the claimant has demonstrated his ability to cope with difficult living situations." Eke had run up against a wall. He filed an appeal with a commission responsible for adjudicating hardship cases, but it also was denied. On July 9, the Federal Constitutional Court, Germany's supreme legal body, decided not to hear Eke's constitutional complaint. Now 21, Eke had exhausted his legal options in Germany. The only people left who could have prevented his deportation were Jörg Stratenwerth and the immigration officials in Essen. But they didn't
fivefilters.org featured article: Normalising the crime of the century by John Pilger |
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