Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Report: Juvenile gun arrests double in Boston

Juvenile gun arrests in Boston have more than doubled in the first quarter of 2017, according to police data analyzed by the Boston Herald.

So far in 2017, there have been 19 juvenile gun-related arrests, a more than 100 percent uptick from the first three months of last year. The charges range from warrants for previous gun crimes to illegal possession of a firearm.

Boston Police Commissioner William B. Evans also spoke to the Herald about the issue.“I don’t know whether it’s part of the gang culture to think carrying a gun is cool, but that’s the culture we have to change,” Evans continued.

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Some things Smith & Wesson SD40VE does better than Glock 23 (and for less money)

In my review of the Smith & Wesson SD40VE, I alluded to the Smith & Wesson perhaps being a challenger to the venerable Glock, in this particular case, the Glock 23. The Glock pistol, in its various forms, has become the standard bearer for “polymer defensive pistol” it seems like. I am uncertain if it is because the Glock was the first polymer pistol to gain widespread use, or if it is really just that good. Everything gets compared to the Glock, so why not the SD40VE. I think what we find may be a little surprising.




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Indiana lawmakers pass bill to allow guns in Statehouse

Lawmakers in the Indiana Senate have passed a bill that would allow staff members to carry handguns in the Statehouse.

The measure, Senate Bill 43, passed Monday on a 39-7 vote in the Indiana Senate and now heads to Gov. Eric Holcomb’s desk for signature, the Northwest Indiana Times reported.

The legislation would allow state lawmakers and legislative staffers with handgun permits to carry their handguns inside the state capitol building, including the Senate and House chambers. Handguns could be carried openly or concealed.

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Despite ban, Baltimore police recover more guns with high-capacity mags

Baltimore police confiscated more guns with high-capacity magazines in 2016 than any period of time during the last seven years, despite a four-year-old Maryland ban on the magazines’ sale and manufacture.

Approximately 22 percent of all recovered guns had high capacity magazines, 4 percentage points greater than numbers from 2013, the bloody year that led lawmakers to pass the high-capacity magazine ban.

Police say criminals prefer larger magazines, as they can fire off more rounds before having to reload. A Baltimore Sun investigation last year showed that corpses with at least 10 gunshot wounds have doubled in the past decade.

So far in 2017, the number of shootings and homicides has increased by 40 percent in Baltimore, coming after an awful 2016 that saw the second highest number of homicides on record.

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Baltimore County votes to repeal Taser ban in wake of lawsuit

The Baltimore County Council on Monday voted to scrap its ban on electronic weapons following a federal lawsuit challenging the prohibition on Second Amendment grounds.

Meeting in Towson, the council voted unanimously to lift the local ordinance which promised to punish those caught with Tasers or stun guns up to a $1,000 fine or six months in jail. The measure comes as a response to a lawsuit filed by six area residents that took not only Baltimore County but the City of Baltimore and Howard County into federal court.

With the action on Monday, all the defendants in the suit have thrown in the towel on their local bans. U.S. Chief Judge Catherine C. Blake in February signed off on an order approved by the City of Baltimore putting its prohibition on electronic weapons on ice while officials work on a more formal legislative repeal of the ban. That same week, the Howard County Council voted 4-1 to repeal its ban.

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