Free Republic

Three years ago, The Los Angeles Times published a story on the Little Free Library movement. The idea is simple: A book lover puts a box or shelf or crate of books in their front yard. Neighbors browse, take one, and return later with a replacement.The L.A. Times followed up last week with a trend story that got things just about right. "two cities have recently cracked down on one of the country's biggest problems: small-community libraries where residents can share books," Michael Schaub wrote. "Officials in Los Angeles and Shreveport, Louisiana, have told the owners of homemade lending libraries...

The U.S. Forest Service has tightened restrictions on media coverage in vast swaths of the country's wild lands, requiring reporters to pay for a permit and get permission before shooting a photo or video in federally designated wilderness areas. Under rules being finalized in November, a reporter who met a biologist, wildlife advocate or whistleblower alleging neglect in any of the nation's 100 million acres of wilderness would first need special approval to shoot photos or videos even on an iPhone. Permits cost up to $1,500, says Forest Service spokesman Larry Chambers, and reporters who don't get a permit could...

**SNIP** Contrary to what some environmentalists say, FWS insists that the permitting process actually works to protect wildlife. "We're not going to issue a permit unless we think there's an overall conservation value," said David Cottingham, senior adviser to the director of the service. But environmentalists remain unconvinced—a stance that has put them at odds with the wind industry, which defends the permitting process as necessary to provide regulatory certainty for wind developers. "Most environmental organizations support the wind industry, but what we're saying right now is just because you're producing clean energy, that doesn't mean you have carte blanche...

"GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) -- A man who tried to rob someone with a fake gun is in the hospital after he was shot by his intended victim."

".....This 'teen' runs up and jabs a stun gun to the man's side but it does not shock him. The man thinking its a gun or knife pulls and fires his CCw .40 hitting the teen twice. The teen from jail says he's learned a lesson because it could have been much worse...(Video only)

One more lying Obama agency – The Parks Department. As you know, the permit for a no-stop ride through DC tomorrow September 11, 2103 was denied. A Park Department employee Sheila Gotha allegedly told media the Biker’s application for a permit was never received and that’s why it was denied. Odd since the organizer, Belinda Bee says: “From my understanding, [Gotha] has told two other media outlets that she had never heard of our permit, that we have never had a conference call. I shot them the email showing where she scheduled the conference call and on that conference call...

NASHVILLE — Applications for Tennessee handgun carry permits increased by more than 100 percent during the first six months of this year, a period that saw the Legislature enact new laws protecting permit holders from criminal prosecution and prohibiting public release of their names. The state Department of Safety and Homeland Security, which issues the permits, reported Thursday that it accepted 86,334 handgun carry permit applications at driver services centers from Jan. 1 through June 30, compared with 40,503 applications accepted during the first six months of 2012 — an increase of 113 percent.

Charlotte, NC --(Ammoland.com)-  As recently reported, your NRA is aggressively working to pass a comprehensive right-to-carry reform bill, House Bill 937. H 937 contains numerous pro-gun provisions, including a section to repeal the antiquated permit-to-purchase requirement for anyone who wishes to purchase a handgun in North Carolina.  However, the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association is apparently circulating a letter to legislators that urges them to remove this section from H 937. H 937 is currently being considered by the state Senate, so it is critical you contact your state Senator IMMEDIATELY and urge her or him to oppose efforts of the...

Carry permits for concealed weapons are soaring all across the country. Part of the reason for this is uncertainty about the future. No one knows what is going to happen with tax rates, inflation, Obamacare, and the stock market. This uncertainty has translated into uncertainty about public safety, both from ordinary criminals and from the possibility of a breakdown of public order. A comment writer in Lane County, Oregon expresses the motives for and results of obtaining a concealed carry permit well: After many years of no guns in the home (grandchildren, after all), we made the decision to resume...

Lexington Board of Selectmen wave victory flag for marathon attacker On April 16th the Lexington board of selectmen called an “emergency meeting” to discuss permit suspension for The Muster On The Battle Green. The permit was revoked under the guise of public safety. Video content can be viewed here. (at site) -- The “emergency meeting” assembled at 6:00PM but turned out to be a smoke and mirror show. The Lexington Patch reported that the permits have been revoked at 3:22PM April 16th. That is 2 hours and 38 minutes before it got voted on. As the organizer of this rally,...

Friday afternoon Kansas Governor Sam Brownback signed 11 bills into law, including SB 21 which amends several firearms-related statutes including authorizing official recognition of any valid concealed carry permit from another state for individuals traveling through or visiting Kansas. Thanks to Gov Brownback, Kansas now has the best Concealed Carry reciprocity in the nation!

SALT LAKE CITY — Permits wouldn't be necessary for most people to carry concealed weapons in Utah if a state lawmaker gets his way. Rep. John Mathis, R-Vernal, is sponsoring H.B. 76, which allows essentially any law-abiding citizen over the age of 21 in the state to carry a gun, openly or concealed. Utah would effectively become a "constitutional carry" state if the measure is approved. That term refers to a state where carrying a concealed weapon isn't restricted by law. It's unclear whether the bill can clear the Utah Legislature.

Thieves ransacked a house that features on the gun map published by the Journal News, just days after another home on the list was also targeted. Burglars broke into the house in New City, New York, on Wednesday and pried open two safes, before leaving with another one. The criminals escaped with two handguns, two pistol permits, cash, savings bonds and jewelry. The firearms were in the stolen safe. Burglars also broke into a house in White Plains, New York, on Saturday and headed straight for the gun safe.

In recent days, there has been substantial media attention focused on the issue whether the names and addresses of all pistol permit holders in Putnam County must be released to a newspaper, which has indicated its intention to publish such information. By law, the initial determination of this issue is to be made by the county clerk, who is the legal custodian of the licensee records, with any administrative appeal to be determined by the county executive and any further challenge to be decided by the courts. According to the media reports, the county clerk and county executive-as well as...

It’s official: Florida has passed the one million mark in issuing concealed carry gun permits – the most of any other state. In mid-December, Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam released a statement announcing the upcoming milestone and sharing information about the Florida Concealed Weapon and Firearm License Program. “In 1987, Florida issued its first statewide concealed weapon license after the Florida Legislature established standardized and uniform requirements for the issuance of a concealed weapon license,” said Commissoner Putnam. “Twenty-five years later,...

Did some digging. From Dwight R. Worley's own piece at the Journal News website and Angry White Dude - Journal News reporter Dwight R. Worley owns a Smith & Wesson 686 .357 Magnum and has had a residence permit in New York City for that weapon since February 2011.I went to the Journal News map. There is no red dot on his address showing that he is a permit holder. To be fair, they may not have updated all of the info on that website yet. BUT, there are red dots shown in his area.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A suburban New York newspaper that sparked an uproar among gun enthusiasts by publishing names and addresses of residents holding pistol permits is now planning to publish even more identities of permit-toting locals. Further names and addresses will be added as they become available to a map originally published on December 24 in the White Plains, New York-based Journal News, the newspaper said. The original map listed thousands of pistol permit holders in suburban Westchester and Rockland counties just north of New York City. Along with an article entitled "The gun owner next door: What you...

<p>Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) no longer has a permit to carry a concealed weapon.</p> <p>Feinstein, who has taken the lead on efforts to renew a federal assault weapons ban, acknowledged during a hearing in 1995 of previously having a concealed weapon permit.</p>

Way too much red tape. That's the complaint of the Gun Owners’ Action League of Massachusetts, a group that is urging passage of a law that would abolish the requirement of having to renew a gun permit every six years, according to the Boston Herald. For comparison, Massachusetts vehicle drivers' licenses need to be renewed every five years. But the league says local police cannot keep up with timely gun permit renewals, and legitimate gunowners go license-less until the cops get time to do the paperwork. The law now allows 40 days for turning around license applications. In Boston, almost...

For the past two years, Peter Cimino has been selling gourmet tacos in business parks in Amherst, N.Y., a suburb of Buffalo. In his bright lime green truck, creative entrées like chimichurri chicken and tomatillo pork sizzle. His Lloyd Taco Truck was personally invited by the owner of the Amherst Commerce Park to enliven the area and Pete was operating entirely on private property. But on Monday, Amherst shut his business down. A police officer even threatened to tow away Pete’s taco truck, for not having a permit.  There’s just one problem: Amherst doesn’t have a food truck permit yet. The...