Capital Gazette Reveals Details On Office Shooting

A memorial service Monday in Annapolis will celebrate the life of a sharp, witty, long-time journalist– and shorts will be fine, because friends say “Big Rob” Hiaasen wouldn’t want anybody to be uncomfortable in Maryland’s summer heat.

Hiaasen, 59, and four colleagues were killed Thursday when a gunman rampaged through the newsroom of the Capital Gazette, a small daily that is as much a city institution as the sailboats that fill the harbor and the charmingshops and restaurants that line the city’s quaint streets.

The small cadre of Gazette journalists who survived the rampage are mourning their colleagues and doing their jobs, continuing to write stories from the offices oftheir sister newspaper, The Baltimore Sun.

The Gazette published a print edition the next day, and the staff continued to report and write over the weekend.Among the headlines on the Gazette website Sunday:How the Capital Gazette attack happened.The article cites police – and the staffers who lived throughthe horror.

Jarrod Ramos, 38, who had sworna “legal oath” in court documents to kill a Gazette writer, was being held without bond on murder charges. Police say he targeted the paper because ofits coverage of his 2011 conviction for harassing a former classmate. Ramos had sued the paper, but a judge threw out his lawsuit.

More:5 killed in ‘targeted attack’ on Capital Gazette newspaper, police say

More:Shooting suspect Jarrod Ramos, a ‘loner’ obsessed with reputation

More:Accused Capital Gazette shooter had sued paper, held grudge

The Gazette story details how the gunman entered the newspaper office’s main entrance at around 2:30 p.m., shattering the glass door with the first blasts from his shotgun.He had already barricaded the room’s only other exit.

Eleven people were in the room. Within minutes, Hiaasen, editorial page editor Gerald Fischman, 61, editor-writer John McNamara, 56, sales assistant Rebecca Smith, 34, and reporter-editor WendiWinters, 65, would be fatally shot.

The attacker fired twice at he entered, striking Smith, then picked his way through the room, shootingWinters, Fischman and Hiaasen. McNamara was last, then the shooter apparently ducked under a desk.

Surviving staffers trembled under their desks.The room smelled of gunpowder as police fearlesslyswept in, lessthan two minutes after the first 911 calls.Some tended to victims, others began the search for the gunman.

The suspect was found within minutes and surrendered without further violence. The survivors were ushered out by officers who counseled not to look at the surrounding carnage.

An outpouring of support for the paper and its staff soon followed. A vigil Friday drew thousands to the City Dock. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly blasted the “fake news” media, called the attack a “horrible, horrible event” and said no one, including journalists, should fear a violent attack for doing their job.

“To the families of the victims, there are no words to express our sorrow for your loss,” he said.

New England Patriots football coach Bill Belichick, who was raised in Annapolis, issued a statement callingthe Gazette his “hometown newspaper” for his entire life.

“My family and I have enjoyed special relationships with many great people who have worked for the newspaper,” Belichick said. “My heart goes out to the victims, their families and the entire Annapolis community for this terrible and senseless tragedy.”

In an editorial Sunday, the Gazette said it would never forget the avalanche of love. But the response was not all warm and fuzzy, the editorial noted:

“Here’s what else we won’t forget: Death threats and emails from people we don’t know celebrating our loss, or the people who called for one of our reporters to get fired because she got angry and cursed on national television after witnessing her friends getting shot.”

The lineup of memorial services begins with Hiaasen. Winters will be celebrated July 7. Dates for the others will be revealed soon.

Homage for Hiaasen and the other victims was everywhere.

“This is so sad. Rob taught for the first time this spring,” tweeted Rafael Lorente, associate dean at the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism. “Feedback: He was a natural. Students loved him. Patient. Caring. And damn good.”

Article Originally Published On: USA Today

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The License To Carry formerly known as a Concealed Handgun License is commonly referred to as a gun permit, concealed carry license, CCW, concealed carry, handgun license, handgun permit was changed to License To Carry on January 1,2016.

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Water Balloon Fight Leads to Shooting at Rooftop Pool Party

A water balloon fight led to a shooting at a rooftop pool on top of a Dallas hotel Sunday night, police say.

The shooting happened at about 8:45 p.m. during a private event being held at the Crowne Plaza hotel at 1015 Elm Street, according to Dallas Police Department Public Information Officer Debra Webb.

Police said someone hit by a water balloon became angry and then fired several rounds, Webb said.

Webb said two people were detained and later released and that during the investigation four firearms were temporarily taken into police possession.

It is not clear if any arrests were made or if anyone at the event was ticketed for the gunfire.

__________________________________________________________

The License To Carry formerly known as a Concealed Handgun License is commonly referred to as a gun permit, concealed carry license, CCW, concealed carry, handgun license, handgun permit was changed to License To Carry on January 1,2016.

There are many myths out there about handguns and the LICENSE TO CARRY, our job is tell you what the laws and facts are and put any myths to rest during class, so you know the truth. We believe in paying special attention to handgun safety and Situational Awareness, to help teach students how to avoid situations.

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Man is shot, critically injured after flashing a gun, Fort Worth police say

FORT WORTH

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The License To Carry formerly known as a Concealed Handgun License is commonly referred to as a gun permit, concealed carry license, CCW, concealed carry, handgun license, handgun permit was changed to License To Carry on January 1,2016.

There are many myths out there about handguns and the LICENSE TO CARRY, our job is tell you what the laws and facts are and put any myths to rest during class, so you know the truth. We believe in paying special attention to handgun safety and Situational Awareness, to help teach students how to avoid situations.

Be sure to visit our class schedule page to sign up for our next license to carry class.

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2 gunmen at large after robbing bank in northwest Dallas

Two armed men are at large after robbing a Capital One bank Wednesday in northwest Dallas.

The robbery happened about 10:15 a.m. atthe bank in the 5300 block of Forest Lane, police said. One of the gunmen jumped over the teller’s counter and demanded money.

The second man forced employees seated in the lobby to walk over to the teller’s counter, and then both robbersfled on foot with an undisclosed amount of money.

One man is described as black, about 5 feet 8 and wearing all black, including a black ski mask.

The second man is described as black, in his mid-20s, about 6 feet tall and about 200 pounds. He was wearing a purple long-sleeve hoodie, gray cap and white sweatpants, police said.

Anyone with information should contact the FBI at 972-559-5000 or Dallas police at 214-797-0296.

__________________________________________________________

The License To Carry formerly known as a Concealed Handgun License is commonly referred to as a gun permit, concealed carry license, CCW, concealed carry, handgun license, handgun permit was changed to License To Carry on January 1,2016.

There are many myths out there about handguns and the LICENSE TO CARRY, our job is tell you what the laws and facts are and put any myths to rest during class, so you know the truth. We believe in paying special attention to handgun safety and Situational Awareness, to help teach students how to avoid situations.

Be sure to visit our class schedule page to sign up for our next license to carry class.

For questions please feel free to contact us at 817-247-2990.

Waffle House Shooting Hero James Shaw Jr. Raises $165,000 For Victims

Article Originally appeared on CNN News

__________________________________________________________

The License To Carry formerly known as a Concealed Handgun License is commonly referred to as a gun permit, concealed carry license, CCW, concealed carry, handgun license, handgun permit was changed to License To Carry on January 1,2016.

There are many myths out there about handguns and the LICENSE TO CARRY, our job is tell you what the laws and facts are and put any myths to rest during class, so you know the truth. We believe in paying special attention to handgun safety and Situational Awareness, to help teach students how to avoid situations.

Be sure to visit our class schedule page to sign up for our next license to carry class.

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Dick’s Sporting Goods Will Destroy Unsold Assault-Style Weapons

Almost two months after Dick’s Sporting Goods announced they will no longer be selling assault-style weapons, the company announced it is destroying the unsold stock.

“We are in the process of destroying all firearms and accessories that are no longer for sale as a result of our Feb. 28 policy change. We are destroying the firearms in accordance with federal guidelines and regulations,” the company said in a statement to ABC News.

In late February, two weeks after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, Dick’s Sporting Goods announced that they would no longer sell assault-style rifles or high capacity magazines. The company also said it would no longer sell firearms or ammunition of anyone under the age of 21 years old.

“Following all of the rules and laws, we sold a shotgun to the Parkland shooter in November of 2017. It was not the gun, nor type of gun, he used in the shooting. But it could have been,” the company said in February.

Dick’s Sporting Goods had already removed all assault-style rifles from all Dick’s stores after the Sandy Hook shooting but removed them from sale at all 35 Field and Stream stores following the shooting in Parkland.

In an interview with George Stephanopoulos on Good Morning America, Dick’s Sporting Goods Chairman and CEO Edward Stack said, “We’re staunch supporters of the Second Amendment. I’m a gun owner myself. We’ve just decided that based on what’s happened with these guns, we don’t want to be a part of this story and we’ve eliminated these guns permanently.”

Article Originally appeared on ABC News

__________________________________________________________

The License To Carry formerly known as a Concealed Handgun License is commonly referred to as a gun permit, concealed carry license, CCW, concealed carry, handgun license, handgun permit was changed to License To Carry on January 1,2016.

There are many myths out there about handguns and the LICENSE TO CARRY, our job is tell you what the laws and facts are and put any myths to rest during class, so you know the truth. We believe in paying special attention to handgun safety and Situational Awareness, to help teach students how to avoid situations.

Be sure to visit our class schedule page to sign up for our next license to carry class.

For questions please feel free to contact us at 817-247-2990.

Remington, one of America’s oldest firearms makers, files for bankruptcy protection

Remington, one of the nation’s oldest gun manufacturers, filed for bankruptcy court protection late Sunday amid heavy debts, falling sales and the potential for adverse court rulings stemming from the 2012 Sandy Hook school massacre.

Remington Outdoor and its subsidiaries submitted a Chapter 11 petition to the federal bankruptcy court in Delaware, outlining a restructuring plan that would maintain the company’s operations, continue pay and benefits for employees and ultimately turn the operating control of the company to creditors.

The agreement would end the controlling financial interest of Cerberus Capital Management, the private equity company that acquired what was then known as Remington Arms, for $118 million in 2007. Cerberus unsuccessfully tried to sell the company before the decision to seek bankruptcy protection.

Madison, N.C.-based Remington, a maker of shotguns, rifles and handguns since 1816, listed liabilities between $100 million and $500 million, with an identical estimate of assets. Billed as “America’s Oldest Gunmaker,” the company’s brands include Remington, Bushmaster Firearms and DPMS/Panther Arms.

Remington initially announced the pre-agreed bankruptcy plan on Feb. 12. But the actual filing was delayed after the Feb. 14 mass shooting that killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. The filing came hours after student-led rallies across the nation cited the massacre in calling for stricter gun control laws.

Remington will continue to operate while it pursues Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, a procedure that gives financially ailing companies time to devise reorganization plans to stay afloat, shed debt, and at least partly repay creditors.

The deal announced in February said Remington would be able to write off $700 million of $950 million in estimated debt. The agreement would also provide $145 million of new capital for its operating subsidiaries and provide $100 million in creditor-funded money as a debtor-in-possession term loan, the company said at the time.

Stephen Jackson, Remington’s chief financial officer, said in a bankruptcy declaration that the company and its subsidiaries have held leading U.S. market positions in a variety of firearms and ammunition categories since 2008 – including sales to military and law enforcement agencies.

However, along with the company’s debts, he cited a series of financial setbacks over roughly the last one-year period.

Remington increased production rates during 2016, based on expected consumer demand in 2017, but that demand “ultimately did not materialize,” Jackson stated.

Simultaneously, the firearms and ammunition markets faced competitive market pricing pressure from higher inventory levels industry-wide, along with “accelerating reduction in demand,” he said.

Remington borrowed to ramp up production to meet expected sales that fell below expectations. Additionally, the company faced significant market pressure from competitors that engaged in “unusually heavy discounting and promotions to reduce their own excess inventory,” Jackson stated.

Although Remington negotiated forminor borrowing relief, “the overall business and industry environments continue to cause significant financial hardship,” added Jackson.

In interviews on Monday, some independent gun dealers said they wereunsurprised by the bankruptcy filing.Although Remington’srifles and shotguns are well regarded, the dealerssaid the companyfocused its attention on big-box stores, and then those retailersstarted pulling out of the market.

“Remington bet on the wrong horse,”said Justin Anderson, the marketing directorfor Hyatt Guns in Charlotte, which advertises itself as the nation’s single-largest gun store. “They turned their backs on shops like ours.”

There are no federal statistics on nationwide gun sales that might showindustry slumps affecting Remington and otherfirearms makers.

However, statistics from the FBI’sNational Instant Background Check System(NICS) show that the total of all types of background checks fell nearly 8.4%, to roughly 25.2 million, in 2017, the year of President Trump’s inauguration.

Firearms background checks increased steadily during much of President Obama’s two-term White House tenure, as well as during President George W. Bush’s second White House term, the data show.

A caveat with the data states that “a one-to-one correlation cannot be made between a firearm background check and a firearm sale.”

Separately, U.S. firearms manufacturing increased 43%, to more than 9.3 million weapons, from 2011 through 2015, according todataissued by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

In all, 3.6 million rifles and 3.5 million handguns were manufactured in the U.S. in 2015 the data showed. Rifle manufacturing was up 9% from 2014, while the number of pistols manufactured was down roughly 2% during the same one-year period, the data showed.

Owners of some gun shops saw arush of firearms purchasesin the months leading up to the 2016 presidential election, when polls predicted that Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton would likely win the White House.

Apart from industry sales trends,Remington’s reputation and financial outlook took a hit after law enforcement authorities confirmed that Adam Lanza used one of the company’s Bushmaster XM15-E2S guns in the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacrein Newtown, Conn. Lanza killed his motherand then fatally shot 26 children and educators.

Survivors and families of the victims subsequently sued Remington under legal liability theories that could enable the lawsuits to proceed despite federal legislation that blocks most such actions against gun manufacturers.

After litigation in federal court, the Sandy Hook plaintiffs recently made it to the Connecticut Supreme Court, where both sides in the case and the firearms industryawaita ruling. “There’s no certainty that they would win, there’s also no certainty that they’re going to lose at this stage,” Heidi Li Feldman, a Georgetown University law professor, said of the plaintiffsduringa Monday interview.

Article Originally appeared on USA Today

__________________________________________________________

The License To Carry formerly known as a Concealed Handgun License is commonly referred to as a gun permit, concealed carry license, CCW, concealed carry, handgun license, handgun permit was changed to License To Carry on January 1,2016.

There are many myths out there about handguns and the LICENSE TO CARRY, our job is tell you what the laws and facts are and put any myths to rest during class, so you know the truth. We believe in paying special attention to handgun safety and Situational Awareness, to help teach students how to avoid situations.

Be sure to visit our class schedule page to sign up for our next license to carry class.

For questions please feel free to contact us at 817-247-2990.