Gun Violence

Seven fatal shootings in 13 days. No, not in Baltimore or Washington, D.C., but in the Tri-State area. It's time for a closer look at what may be driving these incidents, in case this is more than a horrible set of coincidences. That won't be easy. There is no discernible pattern and few similarities except that two incidents allegedly involved couples having domestic problems. The federal government moved to deal with domestic violence in 1994, when President Clinton signed the Violence Against Women Act, which offered money and resources to states to deal with the problem in a number of ways.

A contingent of about 14 people from Shepherdstown, W.Va., are among the Tri-State area residents attending Sunday's Million Mom March in the nation's capital. Many of them are members of Shepherdstown Presbyterian Church, but the church is not sponsoring their trip. One, Karen Winget, said she wanted to help do something to try to curb gun violence. Lily Hill of Shepherdstown said concern about gun violence sparked her participation as well. "It's children growing up in fear and parents and grandparents fearing for them.

chambersburg@herald-mail.com CHAMBERSBURG, PA. - Franklin County will add an assistant district attorney to focus on violent and gun-related cases in an effort to make the community safer. Through a three-year, $98,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, the Franklin County District Attorney's Office can add another assistant, which will ease the department's workload and establish a direct link to the State's Attorney's Office, said District Attorney Jack Nelson. The grant is part of a national initiative called Project Safe Neighborhoods, which brings together federal, state and local law enforcement officials to target the prosecution of crimes involving guns.

W.Va. student to participate in 13th annual RespecTeen National Youth Forum MINNEAPOLIS - Arianna Price, a 12-year-old from Gerrardstown, W.Va., will be among 51 students - one from each state and the District of Columbia - who will discuss national issues with members of Congress at the 13th annual RespecTeen National Youth Forum, Saturday, April 28, to Thursday, May 3, in Washington, D.C. The RespecTeen program is sponsored by Lutheran Brotherhood, a financial services organization based in Minneapolis.

A gun-control bill endorsed by Gov. Martin O'Malley passed the Senate on Thursday after days of spirited debate and heads now to the House of Delegates. There are Washington County legislators such as Christopher B. Shank, R-Washington, who are opposed to the bill with “every fiber of our being.” On the other side is Sen. Ronald N. Young, D-Frederick/Washington, who said that the bill might not be the complete answer but is a step in the right direction. The bill passed 28 to 19 about 12:30 p.m. Thursday, with the day's proceedings lasting more than four hours.

By DAVE McMILLION / Staff Writer, Charles Town photo: KEVIN G. GILBERT / staff photographer SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. - Maryland and Virginia restrict the number of guns that can be bought in a single purchase, while West Virginia does not. And that's causing problems for West Virginia police. The main concern is how drug traffickers have taken advantage of the situation, a top West Virginia State Police official said at a violent crime symposium here on Tuesday.

There’s no answer to Callaham’s question To the editor: Art Callaham asks ( Jan. 23 and Feb. 4 ), “Where do we draw the line between public safety and individual (gun) rights?” The question assumes that there is a correlation between gun laws and public safety. Is there? Search for information on gun laws vis-à-vis gun violence and you quickly learn that the parties on both sides of the gun debate claim polar opposite things, complete with statistics, graphs and charts.

gregs@herald-mail.com Local police agencies received state and federal money this month for programs to combat gun violence and to make school bus routes safer, but some agencies received less money than in previous years. Hagerstown City Police and the Washington County Sheriff's Department received $63,600 from the state Cease Fire Council, which aims to reduce gun violence. Four Washington County agencies - the Sheriff's Department, the Maryland State Police Hagerstown barrack, and the Hancock and Smithsburg police departments - will share $25,800 from the state's School Bus Safety Enforcement Fund.

One hundred days after the second-deadliest school shooting in United States history, community members gathered at the Boonsboro Free Library on Thursday to sign a petition advocating universal background checks for firearm sales. Hosted by public advocacy group Organizing for Action, close to 150 petition-signing events occurred throughout the country Thursday, according to Carlotta Joyner, Western Maryland chapter director. “We're part of this nationwide effort to make the public aware and make congress aware that there's some common-sense legislation that we think is needed,” Joyner said, noting approximately 1,900 people have been killed by a gun since the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Area residents had mixed opinions Wednesday on President Obama's proposals for curbing gun violence, which include asking Congress to pass universal background checks and bans on military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines like the ones used in the Newtown, Conn., school shooting. Andy Stickle of Gapland said although he is a hunter he supports the gun control proposals, specifically background checks and a ban on assault weapons. “There are too many nuts out there with assault weapons killing our youth,” Stickle, 63, said.

No Quakers were present Thursday to support their earlier request that the Jefferson County Commission adopt a resolution calling for “all reasonable restrictions on sales of firearms.” The gun-rights side, however, was well-represented, with about 20 men and a handful of women who spoke on behalf of their “constitutional rights.” The commissioners, following their own debate after closing off public comments, voted 3-2 to drop the...

The Maryland House of Delegates approved a major gun control measure Wednesday banning assault weapons, requiring people who buy handguns to provide their fingerprints and limiting gun magazines to 10 bullets. The House voted 78-61 for the bill, one of Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley's priorities for the legislative session scheduled to end Monday at midnight. All five Washington County delegates voted against the bill. Some called the bill a de facto ban on handguns, while one local legislator said the piece of legislation is one among several that he might try and put on a referendum in the 2014 elections.

One hundred days after the second-deadliest school shooting in United States history, community members gathered at the Boonsboro Free Library on Thursday to sign a petition advocating universal background checks for firearm sales. Hosted by public advocacy group Organizing for Action, close to 150 petition-signing events occurred throughout the country Thursday, according to Carlotta Joyner, Western Maryland chapter director. “We're part of this nationwide effort to make the public aware and make congress aware that there's some common-sense legislation that we think is needed,” Joyner said, noting approximately 1,900 people have been killed by a gun since the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

“As a taxpayer, I was reading the headlines here in the paper. Looks like the BOE's finally using some common sense, as far as the move into the Allegheny Energy building. So far, so good. At least it appears that way. And another thing, the EDC meeting, someone is finally telling the EDC to do something, get something done for this area. I've made several minor suggestions to the EDC over the years, and because I'm not someone with influence, I'm just brushed off.” - Hagerstown “Thumbs up to the Washington County BOE for considering the former Allegheny Power building for its central office.

A gun-control bill endorsed by Gov. Martin O'Malley passed the Senate on Thursday after days of spirited debate and heads now to the House of Delegates. There are Washington County legislators such as Christopher B. Shank, R-Washington, who are opposed to the bill with “every fiber of our being.” On the other side is Sen. Ronald N. Young, D-Frederick/Washington, who said that the bill might not be the complete answer but is a step in the right direction. The bill passed 28 to 19 about 12:30 p.m. Thursday, with the day's proceedings lasting more than four hours.

Feinstein's proposed gun bill should not be passed To the editor: This is in response to Michael Delaney's letter to the editor on Feb. 2. I looked up the Nazi Weapon Law of 1938 and I suggest everyone else do so, too. It basically did the following: The Nazis classified guns for “sporting purposes.” All citizens who wanted to purchase firearms had to register with the Nazi officials and have a background check. Anybody in the Nazi party was exempt. The Nazis had unrestricted power to decide what kinds of firearms could or could not be owned by private persons.

Area residents had mixed opinions Wednesday on President Obama's proposals for curbing gun violence, which include asking Congress to pass universal background checks and bans on military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines like the ones used in the Newtown, Conn., school shooting. Andy Stickle of Gapland said although he is a hunter he supports the gun control proposals, specifically background checks and a ban on assault weapons. “There are too many nuts out there with assault weapons killing our youth,” Stickle, 63, said.

The National Rifle Association (NRA) has come up with some really good ideas to help confront gun violence in our country. If you were listening last week, Wayne LaPierre, the NRA vice president, said “the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.” LaPierre went on to suggest that the only way to prevent school tragedies such as the recent one in Newtown, Conn., was to place an “armed” officer in every school....