RANDOM SHOTS - Gun Sales Up Thanks To Obama, Bad Choice Awards, Air Force Religion Policy Questioned, and More!

FIRST SHOT!

Gun Sales Up Thanks To Obama!

In March of this year, it was reported that sales of handguns and ammunition are booming across the country, and retailers say it’s all about the November election. The latest numbers confirm that report.

Gun shop owners around the nation say sales have been brisk ever since President Obama was elected, but now sales have spiked upward in recent months because American citizens are worried what Obama will try to do if he's re-elected.

Lately, with Obama's immigration edict, everyone has just had a lesson in how Obama can by-pass Congress when in comes to making laws.

Presidential Executive Order pertaining to Illegal immigrants is a big red flag. Many believe Obama will do the same thing when it comes to trying to outlaw firearms in America.

As a result of what Obama says and does, gun sales are through the roof. 

Sales are so intense that some guns are now going at prices never seen before. And the waiting list is getting longer. 

Manufacturers are having so much trouble keeping up with the demand that one, Sturm, Ruger & Co., can’t keep up with demand.

In fact, the Southport, Connecticut, based company has had to suspend new orders after taking orders for more than 1 Million guns in the first three months of the year.

Along with Ruger, Smith & Wesson sales are way up as well. But it's not only big name manufacturers. Smaller gun manufacturers of AR-15 spin off are hard at work. And yes, though Obama is the main reason - the scare from Democrats in office is the other.

Right here in California, there are Democrats right now in the state legislature wanting to tighten gun laws. Many are encouraged by the Obama administrations handling of Fast and Furious.

Believe it or not, last year there were Democrats in Washington saying that Fast and Furious was orchestrated precisely to "prove" the need to clamp down on gun sellers and purchasers. And yes, they still believe it!

As scary as our politicians are, they are great the for sales of guns. In fact, gunmaker stocks are soaring these days.

"Sales usually increase this time of year with tax returns, but this year has been higher than most," Mike Weeks, owner of Georgia Gun Store in Gainesville told Fox News. “People are scared their gun rights are going to be curtailed after the election."

Weeks said his sales are up around 30 percent, and that he now sells ammo by the case.

"Usually people come in to buy three or four boxes for target practice. Now they are coming in asking what kind of deals they could get on a case,” he said.

Industry experts and gun shop owners alike say the factor driving gun sales is the Nov. 6 election. There was a similar spike before President Obama was elected to his first term, and many gun buyers are saying they fear Obama’s re-election could mean more regulations on firearms.

Obama famously told fundraisers in 2008 that many Americans “cling to guns or religion,” and gun enthusiasts believe he is not fully behind the Second Amendment.

“It’s definitely the election year," Jason Hanson, a former CIA officer and personal security specialist, told Fox News. "People feel that Obama will serve second term and with it their gun rights with taken away, so they are stocking up.

“They’re also worried that the economy is not getting any better and that they need to protect themselves,” Hanson added.

In 2009, gun sales had shot up after Obama took office and firearm enthusiasts rushed to stores, fearing he would tighten gun control. Sales have continued to grow throughout his administration.

This year’s uptick comes on top of a record 2011, when nearly 11 million firearms were sold in the U.S., according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry.

The group notes the $4 billion firearms business has bucked the weak economy, with robust sales since 2008.

One of the best indicators of firearms sales is the FBI's National Instant Background Check System, which federally licensed firearm retailers use to conduct the mandatory background check on purchasers of new and used firearms.

Statistics through December showed an unprecedented 19th straight month of background check increases when tabulated year over year.

"Black Friday," Nov. 25, 2011, saw a record for the most background checks in a single day of 129,166 guns sold.

Another strong indicator comes from Wall Street. Smith& Wesson shares are up a whopping 125 percent over the past year, while Sturm, Ruger’s are up about 112 percent. Even Taser, which makes non-lethal weapons, has seen its sales surge.

“It’s been a strong cycle. Sales of tactical rifles have been extremely strong,” Bret Jordan, a stock analyst specializing in the firearms market, told FoxNews.com, “Personal handguns have had a steady rise since 2008. The kind of stuff that fits in the waistband for when someone tries to steal your gas can.”

“There’s a lot of speculation that the Second Amendment will be affected by the next presidential term. There was one investors call and an executive was asked what he thought would happen if Obama was elected a second term and he said, ‘No one in the gun industry will tell you they like Obama, but everyone will vote for him,’” he said implying that a second Obama term would be good for continued business.

Josh Horwitz, executive director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, said he is skeptical of claims that firearms sales are way up. But he said the gun industry does work to promote that perception.

"There's no doubt [National Rifle Association President] Wayne LaPierre is out there every day saying that President Obama has a secret plan to take away your guns," Horwitz said. "They want to gin up sales."

And now, in the middle of June, the FBI has just released it's report that says that with more guns in the hands of American citizens - violent crime has gone down 4% from last year.

SECOND SHOT!

Gun Sales Up - Violent Crime Down

Per the FBI's own website, http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/fbi-releases-preliminary-annual-crime-statistics-for-2011

Preliminary crime statistics for 2011 released today by the FBI show a 4 percent decrease in violent crime–a continuation of a long-term downward trend nationwide.

The report highlights that all four violent crime categories–murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault–declined in the country’s four major geographical regions and in all city population groups.

The report also noted that violent crime decreased both in urban and rural counties.

The continuing decrease in violent crime comes at a time when firearms ownership has increased across America, a fact that utterly contradicts the mantra of anti-gun groups that that more guns equals more crime. “Every gun owner should be armed with this information,” said NSSF President and CEO Steve Sanetti.

According to the FBI’s Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report released today, the nation experienced a 4.0 percent decrease in the number of violent crimes and a 0.8 percent decline in the number of property crimes in 2011 when compared with data from 2010.

The report is based on information the FBI gathered from 14,009 law enforcement agencies that submitted six to 12 comparable months of data for both 2010 and 2011.

Violent Crime

In 2011, all four of the violent crime offense categories—murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault—declined nationwide when compared with data from 2010.

Murder and non-negligent manslaughter declined 1.9 percent, while forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault each declined 4.0 percent.

Violent crime declined in all city groups. Cities with populations of 50,000 to 99,999 saw the largest decrease (5.2 percent) in violent crime. Violent crime decreased 6.6 percent in metropolitan counties and 4.7 percent in non-metropolitan counties.

Within city groups, murder and non-negligent manslaughter offenses increased the most (18.3 percent) in cities with populations under 10,000.

Cities with populations of 50,000 to 99,999 showed the largest decrease of murder and non-negligent manslaughter offenses (14.4 percent).

All city groupings experienced a decline in forcible rapes except in cities with 500,000 to 999,999 inhabitants, which had the increase in forcible rapes (0.5 percent).

Forcible rape offenses declined 6.8 percent in metropolitan counties and 9.0 percent in non-metropolitan counties.

Robbery offenses decreased in all city groupings, with the greatest decrease (5.3 percent) in cities with 50,000 to 99,999 inhabitants.

Robberies decreased 7.5 percent in metropolitan counties and 3.6 percent in non-metropolitan counties.

Aggravated assaults decreased in all city groups. Cities with 50,000 to 99,999 inhabitants experienced the largest decrease at 5.3 percent.

Aggravated assaults declined in both county groups, with a decrease of 6.3 percent in metropolitan counties and 4.2 percent in non-metropolitan counties.

Violent crime decreased in all four regions (4.9 percent in the Midwest, 4.7 percent in the West, 4.5 percent in the South, and 0.8 percent in the Northeast).

Property Crime

Nationally, the property crime offense categories of larceny-theft and motor vehicle theft decreased in 2011 when compared with 2010 data.

Motor vehicle theft dropped 3.3 percent, and larceny-theft decreased 0.9 percent. However, burglary offenses increased 0.3 percent.

Property crime increased 0.3 percent in cities with 250,000 to 499,999 inhabitants and increased 0.1 percent in cities with 10,000 to 24,999 in population.

Decreases in property crime were reported in all other city groupings. Property crime decreased 1.4 percent in metropolitan counties but increased 2.6 percent in non-metropolitan counties.

Burglary offenses increased 1.2 percent in cities with 50,000 to 99,999 persons, which is the largest increase reported within city groupings. Burglaries increased 1.0 percent in non-metropolitan counties.

Larceny-theft offenses decreased in all city groupings except those with populations of 250,000 to 499,999, which had an increase of 0.2 percent, and those with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants, which showed virtually no change.

Larceny-thefts increased 4.1 percent in non-metropolitan counties.

Motor vehicle thefts declined in all population groupings. Cities with 100,000 to 249,999 inhabitants experienced the largest decline at 4.3 percent. Metropolitan counties reported a 6.1 percent decrease in motor vehicle thefts.

Three of the nation’s regions had decreases in property crime in 2011 when compared with data from 2010. These offenses declined 1.3 percent in the South, 0.8 percent in the West, and 0.4 percent in the Midwest. However, property crimes increased 0.2 percent in the Northeast.

Arson

Even arson offenses, which are not included in property crime totals, decreased 5.0 percent nationwide. Arsons declined in all four regions in 2011, with the Northeast experiencing the largest decrease (12.3 percent).

That ain't bad. It's just a shame we don't hear about this anywhere on the liberal controlled news stations.

THIRD SHOT!

Phoenix Youth shoots Armed Intruder while watching Three Younger Siblings

A 14-year-old Phoenix boy shot an intruder who broke into his home while brandishing a gun as the teenager watched his three younger siblings, police said.

The teen and his brothers and sisters were at home alone at their residence at 55th Avenue and Baseline when a woman rang the doorbell Friday. The teen didn't open the door because he didn't recognize her, Police Officer James Holmes said Saturday.

Soon after, the teen heard a bang on the door, rushed his siblings upstairs and got a handgun from his parent's bedroom. When he got to the top of the stairs, he saw a man breaking through the front door and point a gun at him.

The boy shot the 37-year-old man, who is in critical condition but expected to survive and be booked into jail.

Holmes said the suspect did not get a shot off. He declined to release his name until he is booked into jail.

The woman who rang the home's doorbell got away.

Holmes hailed the teen's actions and his parents for teaching the kids to never open the door to strangers.

"The police and indeed our community does not ever want to see a situation where a teenager of that age has to take a weapon to protect his family ... but this young man did exactly what he should have done," he said. "I'm not sure he gave full thought about what he had to do. He just acted."

Holmes said that the gun the teen grabbed was his father's, but did not know whether the boy had been trained to use it.

He said the family, whose names were not released, is declining to speak to reporters about the ordeal, saying that they "are all pretty traumatized."

"The dad was pretty much out of his mind with distress, officers couldn't even talk to him," Holmes said. "It's going to take them a while to recover mentally."

He said police don't yet know what the bad guy's intentions were  - and that will be one of the first questions they ask the jerkweed when he is well enough to talk.

"This was mid-block in a neighborhood, at 4:30 in the afternoon in summertime and children are there," he said. "They just took a heck of a gamble for this particular house, and we've got to try to figure out why."

Holmes added that the family is lucky that the teen acted so swiftly and effectively.

"As ugly as this is, and as much as this family is going through, we don't have injured children on our hands," he said.

It's gratifying to see that more and more people are teaching their kids gun use and gun safety. One less bad guy in this world means nothing compared to losing our children. Officer Holmes is right on the money!

NEXT SHOT!

Two Teens who assault girl who turned out to be Martial Arts Expert

Out of Vancouver, Washington, another Bad Choice Award goes to two teenagers who got more than they bargained for when a Washington state woman they attempted to assault turned out to be an expert in martial arts.

And yes, she kicked their asses!

KATU reports that Priscilla Dang was jogging in her Vancouver neighborhood last Friday when she was approached by two teenagers on their bikes.

One pulled in front of her as the other groped her from behind.

Unknowing to the two young fools, Miss Dang had studied Kung Fu for 18 years at a Martial Arts School owned by her family. She used the training to kick the crap out both of the punks!

"I grabbed him and said, 'You need to apologize, and he did,'" said Miss Dang.

Then things escalated when the second teen started swearing at her. Not a good idea!

Miss Dang said that something snapped inside her and that is when her Kung Fu background really kicked in as she punched him twice in the face.

"He started coming in for a few, and I was lucky enough to dodge his shots. I came up for another one and I got him good, and I think that upset him," she told the news station.

That is when the second teen pulled out a knife, said Miss Dang, and her instincts kicked in telling her to back off and play it safe.

Personally, I wish that she had pulled a gun when he pulled his knife. She could have watched him shit himself!

Two people witnessed the confrontation taking place and called 911. Miss Dang was not hurt and thinks she taught the teenagers a lesson.

"I think they knew they messed with the wrong girl," she said.

The suspects were 16 and 18 years old. The 18-year-old was arrested while the younger suspect was turned over to his parents. I'm will to bet that the 18 year old will have a heck of a time explaining to the guys in cell block how a girl kicked his ass!

FOURTH SHOT!

Megan Crafton, Cheer Leading Coach, for having Oral Sex with Indiana High School Basketball Player

That's right! The 3rd Bad Choice Award today goes to Megan Crafton! 

She's not the head cheerleader or Sandra Fluke. She is Megan Crafton, an assistant cheer leading coach in Indiana, and she has been arrested for having oral sex with a 17-year-old high school student in her car.

So, you say it wasn't like that when you were in school - well me neither!

The high school cheer leading coach pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from a sexual encounter with an Indiana high school basketball player.

But why plead not guilty? Megan Crafton, age 22, an assistant cheer leading coach in Shelbyville, Indiana, admitted to police that she performed oral sex on the 17-year-old boy in her car in a supermarket parking lot in January.

But her lawyer claimed after her court appearance Thursday that Crafton didn't break the law. She's charged with child seduction, a felony, but in Indiana the age of consent is 16 so her lawyer says its basically OK .

Authorities counter that they went after her because she works for Shelbyville High School and it's illegal for adults to have sex with anyone younger than 18 that they supervise or oversee.

Crafton's lawyer asserted that the law doesn't apply in this case!

Why? Well he says its because "as a part-time member of the cheer leading staff," Megan Crafton doesn't have authority over the teen aged boy.

Now I don't know where that lawyer went to school, but a coach is a coach is a coach if you know what I mean. She was a coach and subsequently an authority.

Shelbyville High School officials tipped off police about rumors circulating in the halls that Meg Crafton was involved with a student, Fox News said.

Police questioned Meg Crafton about the "hanky-panky" in February, but only charged her this month. She turned herself in on June 15.

The charges carry a potential jail term of three years. Her trial is scheduled for September 24th. In the mean while, I read somewhere that the whole Shelbyville High School basketball team has lost their motivation to play well!

ANOTHER SHOT!


Is the U.S. Air Force hostile towards religion, especially Christianity?

Dozens of House lawmakers accused the U.S. Air Force this week of being "hostile towards religion," citing a string of recent incidents they claim show the military is taking separation of church and state too far.

"Censorship is not required for compliance with the Constitution," they wrote in a letter to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.

The letter from 66 Republican members of Congress referenced a series of cases where they claim the Air Force "succumbed" to demands from outside groups.

Among the incidents:

1) A decision to remove a Latin reference to "God" from a logo/motto for the Rapid Capabilities Office

2) A decision to stop requiring staff to check for Bibles in Air Force Inn rooms

3) The removal of a document from a distance-learning course for Squadron Officer School that suggested chapel attendance is a sign of strong leadership

4) The suspension of an ethics course because the material included Bible passages

"Mr. Secretary, the combination of events mentioned above raises concerns that the Air Force is developing a culture that is hostile towards religion," the lawmakers wrote. They urged Panetta to investigate all the incidents and issue "clear Department of Defense policy guidance."

The letter was drafted by Reps. Diane Black, R-Tenn.; Randy Forbes, R-Va.; and Todd Akin, R-Mo.

'Censorship is not required for compliance with the Constitution'
- GOP lawmakers in letter to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta

The incidents were not all as clear-cut as the lawmakers made them sound.

In the case of the Squadron Officer School course, the training document in question contained the following paragraph: "If you attend chapel regularly, both officers and Airmen are likely to follow this example. If you are morally lax in your personal life, a general moral indifference within the command can be expected."

The Military Religious Freedom Foundation complained to the Air Force in March that the line "creates the inescapable impression that regular church attendance is a requirement for commissioned Air Force officers in order to demonstrate positive morals to subordinates." The group said the document violates the constitutional prohibition on religious tests for U.S. office holders.

The Air Force subsequently scrapped the document.

In the case of the Rapid Capabilities Office, the reference to God was removed following a complaint from an atheist group. The original logo, according to Fox News Radio, said in Latin: "Doing God's Work with Other People's Money."

It was changed to say, "Doing Miracles with Other People's Money."

In the case of the Air Force Inn rooms, the Air Force moved to nix a question from its checklist asking whether a Bible was provided, according to the Air Force Times, though it did not order Bibles to be removed.

The Republican lawmakers, though, said the change in attitude can all be traced back to a September 2011 memo from Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz that said chaplains, "not commanders," are expected to notify airmen of the Chaplain Corps programs.

The lawmakers said this suggested "that the mere mention of these programs is impermissible." All the subsequent incidents, they said, "go beyond the requirements of the Constitution."

"The changes lend credence to the notion that the Air Force will remove any reference to God or faith that an outside organization brings to its attention," they wrote.

LAST SHOT!

Oracle CEO Larry Ellison to Buy 98% of a Hawaiian Island

Oracle CEO Larry Ellison has reached a deal to buy 98 percent of the island of Lanai from its current owner, Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie said Wednesday, June 20, 2012.

The land's owner, Castle & Cooke Inc., has filed a transfer application with the state's public utilities commission, Abercrombie said.

The sale price for the property - the vast majority of the island's 141 square miles - was not immediately clear. The Maui News previously reported the asking price was between $500 Million and $600 Million, but some think it went for much much more.

Representatives for Castle & Cooke, owned by self-made billionaire David Murdock, did not immediately return a call seeking comment from The Associated Press.

Governor Abercrombie said Ellison has had a longstanding interest in the island.

"We look forward to welcoming Mr. Ellison in the near future," Abercrombie said. "His passion for nature, particularly the ocean is well known specifically in the realm of America's Cup sailing."

Governor Abercrombie and Maui County Mayor Alan Arakawa met with Castle & Cook last week to go over the prospective deal between the company and billionaire Ellison  whose software company is based in Redwood City, California.

Murdock bought out fellow Castle & Cooke shareholders for nearly $700 million in 2000 and took the company private.

Lanai is Hawaii's smallest publicly accessible inhabited island, with some 3,200 residents. It is known as the "pineapple island" even though Murdock has closed its pineapple operations to make way for luxury resort and home development.

The island boasts unspoiled charm with 30 miles of paved roads, 400 miles of unpaved roads and no traffic lights. Other people own the 2 percent of the land that Ellison isn't buying.

According to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, more than 26,000 people visited the island from January to April of this year, a 6 percent decline from the same period last year.

Hawaii doesn't need more billionaires buying land. It needs billionaires wanting to invest money, maybe start a software company there, and make good paying jobs more available for locals who don't want to leave Hawaii and relocate to the mainland for more opportunities.

I'm just talking from experience!

Story by Tom Correa