Guns

The plaintiff in the U.S. Supreme Court case that struck down the city's handgun ban filed a federal lawsuit alleging that its new regulations still violate an individual's right to own a gun for self-defense. Dick Heller and two other plaintiffs contend that the city continues to violate the intent of the Supreme Court's June 26 decision by prohibiting the ownership of most semiautomatic weapons, requiring an "arbitrary" fee to register a firearm and establishing rules that make it all but impossible to keep a gun in the home for immediate self-defense.

High-powered automatic weapons and ammunition are flowing virtually unchecked from border states into Mexico, fueling a war among drug traffickers, the army and police that has left thousands dead, according to U.S. and Mexican officials. The munitions are hidden under trucks and stashed in the trunks of cars, or concealed under the clothing of people who brazenly walk across the international bridges.

Re "Guns from U.S. equip drug cartels," Aug. 10 Oh please, is anyone really surprised that U.S. weapons dealers are selling guns to Mexican drug cartels, just as they have done for decades to U.S. gangs? Weapons manufacturers fund the National Rifle Assn. to lobby Congress to limit gun sales restrictions, and this is the result. It's nothing personal, it's only business. Ted Kuepper Oxnard

Six members and associates of the Varrio Posole Locos street gang and six other people have been indicted on charges of selling drugs and firearms here, federal prosecutors announced Friday. Among other allegations, the defendants are charged with attempting to smuggle heroin into the county jail in Vista and Ironwood State Prison in Blythe. During the investigation, agents confiscated 26 weapons and more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition.

A masked gunman who was waving an American flag on a 101 Freeway overpass in Santa Barbara was taken into police custody Monday after an hours-long standoff that shut down the freeway in both directions and caused a rush-hour traffic snarl, officials said. Edward Van Tassel, a 28-year-old Army veteran who served in Iraq, first surrendered his handgun to police, officials said. As part of the negotiation, Van Tassel asked authorities for a Barack Obama sign, which he posted on a chain-link fence on the overpass along with the flag he was holding, said Sgt. Lorenzo Duarte of the Santa Barbara Police Department.

A week after the election of the nation's first black president, gun buyers across the country are flocking to gun stores to stock up on assault rifles, handguns and ammunition. Some say they are worried that the incoming administration of President-elect Barack Obama will attempt to re- impose the ban on assault weapons that expired in 2004. Others fear the loss of their right to own handguns. A few say they are preparing to protect themselves in the event of a race war.

After a decade and a half in the making, the release of Guns N' Roses' "Chinese Democracy" has everything a good rock 'n' roll myth needs. There's bitterness, as leader Axl Rose is the only original member left standing. There's excess, as the album's cost seems to escalate with each media story, but there's no question millions of dollars have been spent. And there's an enigmatic artist at the helm, one many critics and hard rock fans agree is a genius. There's only one thing missing: An artist to sell it. It's been a 17-year wait since the last Guns N' Roses album with new material, and the biggest questions -- why now and why link with a major retailer?

Teachers and students at Manual Arts High School were still reeling Monday after they said they spent up to seven hours with no official information or, in some cases, access to a bathroom or food after a reported gunman was seen on campus. The allegedly armed student was seen during a lunchtime scuffle Friday and the school went into lockdown at 1 p.m., according to Los Angeles Unified School District officials.

The Department of Interior finalized a rule that allows carrying concealed, loaded weapons in national parks and wildlife refuges in states where people are legally allowed to carry concealed arms. The policy would essentially allow guns in all but three of the nation's 391 parks. It takes effect Wednesday, forgoing the customary 60-day period before new rules are enacted. The rule was criticized by a broad coalition of groups, including law enforcement, park rangers and former Park Service directors.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department took in a record haul of firearms this year through its Gifts for Guns program, an annual event in Compton that allows people to anonymously turn in firearms in exchange for $100 gift cards at Target, Best Buy or Ralphs supermarkets. Over the last two weekends, deputies collected 965 weapons and distributed more than $95,000 in gift cards, deputies said. That far surpassed last year's total of 387 guns.