Free Republic

DALLAS -- A suspected burglar was fatally wounded on Wednesday during a shoot-out in the 300 block of Hobson Avenue, according to authorities. A man stopped to drop off a newspaper at his mother's house while she was gone and saw that the front door was kicked in and a 17-year-old was inside, police said. The teen, Gabriel Flores, drew his gun and pointed it at the man, who also drew his gun, police said. The son had a concealed handgun license, according to police. Flores fired and the son returned fire, striking Flores, police said. He was taken to...

Some want to ditch listing of permits for concealed guns A conservative House coalition will try to erase from law enforcement databases the list of those who received concealed-carry gun permits. The listing requirement - part of last year's concealed-carry law - makes criminals out of law-abiding citizens, the Republican lawmakers contend, saying the list of weapons holders is often mixed with criminal offenders in computer databases. "I think you shouldn't have to go on a state 'scarlet letter' list for exercising a personal freedom," said Rep. Shawn Mitchell, R-Broomfield. But a sheriff's group says it will fight the move...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP)--Around the country, gun-rights groups are waging what some portray as a deliberately gradual, one-step-at-a-time effort to ease state laws governing the carrying of a concealed weapon. Organizations such as the National Rife Association and Gun Owners of America say their efforts--under way in more than half the states--are no greater this year than before. But they say the Sept. 11 attacks may have provided some momentum. ``Since September 11th people feel the need to protect themselves and their loved ones,'' said Randy Kozuch, the NRA's chief state and local lobbyist. ``Nobody knows what future attacks will...