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The gun rights group, The Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance, is taking aim at Republicans in the Minnesota Senate for not taking up a bill that would change when it's legal for a person to shoot someone in self defense. The Minnesota House already passed the bill and supporters were lobbying the Senate to pass it as well. The Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance sent out an action alert today that says the Senate has decided to not take up the bill this session. In a strongly worded e-mail, the group suggests that Senate Republicans "made a deliberate, political decision...

One local politician has her controversial agenda locked and loaded at the Minnesota Legislature. District 10 Senator and conservative Republican Gretchen Hoffman has sponsored a bill that would put into law a version of what is known as the “Castle Doctrine,” or “Stand Your Ground.” This defines the right of homeowners to not only shoot an intruder in self defense, but the right to shoot them if they believe “in good faith” the situation could lead to bodily harm. The bill would also extend those rights to other places outside of the home, such as vehicles, SUV’s, yards or tents....

ST. PAUL, Minn. - A proposal expanding the right to use deadly force in self-defense continues its advance through the Republican-controlled Legislature. The gun bill from GOP Rep. Tony Cornish goes before a House judiciary panel Wednesday after passing a public safety committee last week. The legislation would grant the right to defend oneself using deadly force in an expanded definition of home, including a garage, car, deck, tent, boat, overnight accommodation or other dwelling. The person wouldn't have to retreat from a threatening situation first.

Two important pro-gun bills need your immediate attention. As we reported last week, House File 1467 passed in the House Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance Committee by a 10 to 7 vote. HB 1467, which is sponsored by state Representative Tony Cornish (R-24B), is now before the House Judiciary Committee and will be voted on during its hearing at 8:15 a.m. this Wednesday, May 4. The Senate companion bill sponsored by state Senator Gretchen Hoffman (R-10), Senate File 1357 Senate File 1357, is expected to be considered by the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee as early...

The top prosecutor in Dakota County doesn't like it. Neither do St. Paul police or Minnesota police organizations. Not to mention gun-control groups. But Republicans, backed by gun-rights groups, apparently do. And so, a bill that would give Minnesotans more flexibility in using deadly force to defend themselves and their properties cleared its first legislative hurdle Thursday. The Republican-controlled House Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance Committee voted 10-7 to send the measure to another committee. "It's a common-sense bill,'' said its chief sponsor, state Rep. Tony Cornish, R-Good Thunder. The measure would expand state laws on use...

ST. PAUL, Minn. — A bill that would expand the rights of people to use deadly force to defend themselves if they feel they are in imminent danger passed a House public safety committee Thursday despite opposition from some law enforcement, including an assistant police chief who called one provision "a recipe for disaster."

Business owners, managers and employees soon will be able to defend themselves when they have a reasonable fear they face death or great bodily harm. Gov. Mary Fallin on Monday signed into law House Bill 1439, which expands the right to use deadly force when in fear of imminent peril of death or great bodily harm. It takes effect Nov. 1. Advertisement Rep. Steve Vaughan, the author of the measure, said he filed the bill partly because of a pharmacist who has been charged with first-degree murder after shooting a masked robber six times in May 2009 inside an Oklahoma...

While the Legislature has been going full speed working to draft and pass finance omnibus bills, legislators continue to introduce new bills about issues important to constituents. Reps. Kurt Bills (R-District 37B), Rosemount, and Tara Mack (R-District 37A), Apple Valley, are authors of a bill that looks at people's rights to protect themselves on their private property, HF1467, introduced on Thursday. It would allow people to use "deadly force" against someone who is committing a felony in their home. The bill also includes a provision to make transfer permits valid for five years instead of one year. Mack said she's...

Castle doctrine expansion approved by NC SenateUpdated: 11:10 a.m. yesterday RALEIGH, N.C. — There's a legal presumption people inside their home, car or business are justified in shooting an intruder in legislation now heading to the North Carolina House. The bill expanding the state's "castle doctrine" was given final Senate approval Monday night. **SNIP** The bill would shift the burden of proof to the district attorney that the shooting wasn't justified. A shooter also would be presumed to have acted appropriately during an attempted carjacking or business break-in. Senators approved the bill 35-13 after opponents argued the expand doctrine would...

If only this were a coalition of the left and the right working out differences. But alas, it’s just a coalition of mostly liberal politicians who used to label themselves by a political party and now would rather fly stealth. Sigh. If you are not familiar with “No Lables”, no worries, it’s brand new and they certainly deserve a Hat Tip for brevity. Here’s their declaration: We are not labels – we are people. We care deeply about our country. We are frustrated and concerned about the tone of politics. We are passionate about addressing America’s challenges. We are Democrats,...

TEHRAN -- Natural environmental factors have been added to the perils threatening the Shush Castle, a historical monument that is a storehouse of many ancient Iranian inscriptions and artifacts. Heavy rainfalls and strong winds have dealt devastating blows to the castle, the Persian service of the Mehr News Agency reported on Monday. The Shush Castle is located on a hill in Shush near the ancient sites of Susa in Khuzestan Province in southwestern Iran. The construction of the Shush Castle was started in 1897 by the French civil engineer, geologist, and archaeologist Jacques Jean-Marie de Morgan (1857-1924), who had come...

Link only - Tea party activists seeing red over Delaware's green initiatives

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama is praising the House for passing legislation to end the Pentagon policy that bans gays from serving openly in the military. The legislation awaits Senate action now. The House passed the measure 250-175. Obama says the legislation permits a smooth transition from the Clinton-era 'don't-ask-don't-tell' standard. Obama says the legislation will give the military "the clarity and certainty it deserves."

Christine O'Donnell is a hero to all for taking out Mike Castle. His "Dream Act" vote cemented that. His yes vote in the house would have been at much more strength, as he could have easily voted for cloture, giving the horrendous act of amnesty bipartition cover. Primaries for RINOs is the only way to save our republic, and my this Castle vote be the first topic Hannity of the other talking heads bring up to Tokyo Rove.

Self-Protection: Pennsylvania's governor vetoes a bill expanding a citizen's right to protect self and family outside one's residence rather than exercise a "duty to retreat." It is a victory for predators over victims. On Saturday, while people were still sleeping off their turkey feast or celebrating their Black Friday goodies, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell vetoed a bill that would have expanded the state's so-called Castle Doctrine to expand the permissible use of deadly force in self-defense outside of the currently allowed home and workplace. The Castle Doctrine gets its name from the saying that a man's home is his "castle."...

Delaware’s Republican Party both violated its own Bylaws and caused the Delaware Republican Party’s losses in the November 2, 2010, general election, a new analysis reveals. The Bylaws of Delaware’s Republican Party require in Article X, Section 1 that: “These rules of the Republican Party of the State of Delaware shall be in compliance and consistent with the Rules of the National Republican Party….” However, Rule No. 11 of the Rules of the National Republican Party states: “(a) The Republican National Committee shall not, without the prior written and filed approval of all members of the Republican National Committee from...

Gov. Ed Rendell should sign a House Bill 1926 that expands the rights of Pennsylvanians to use lethal force to defend themselves against violent criminals and requires sex offenders who are homeless or who move here from another state to register with police. Rendell told reporters last week he's unsure about expanding the so-called castle doctrine, allowing lethal force in self-defense in places other than one's home. "I support the castle doctrine. I support the right to use deadly force on an intruder in a person's home. I think that's in a totally different category. What this would do is...

Rove is right. He predicted how O'Donnell would flop and hinted that it could cost the GPO additional senate seats.... In my personal opinion, he was thinking about Alaska, Nevada, Colorado, Washington, etc. All of these should have been captured by the tea party. Personally, I think O'Donnell cost real conservatives senate seats. Say what you will... but Rove was right. Don't hate the messenger.

(CNN) – The thing about Delaware is: it's no Kentucky. The Tea Party's first Senate loss of the night may be no big surprise - the only question heading into tonight's been how big a victory margin Chris Coons would capture over Christine O'Donnell. But the exit polls lay out the political and demographic roadblocks facing any Tea Party favorite here. [Snip] If GOP voters are feeling any buyer's remorse, they may take some solace in one surprising stat: despite pre-election polls that showed longtime Republican Rep. Mike Castle handily beating Coons in a hypothetical matchup, the voters who turned...

HARRISBURG -- The Senate next week plans to consider a House-passed bill that expands the state's self-defense law, a top GOP senator said. With bipartisan support, the House on Tuesday voted 159-38 to approve the bill that allows lethal force in self-defense outside the home without retreat. Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson County, said there's "support in our caucus to take a look at working it into a tight schedule." The Senate's last three days in session are Tuesday, Oct. 13 and 14. Rep. Curtis Thomas, D-Philadelphia, an opponent, called it "shoot 'em first and ask questions later"...