Ballistic Evidence crime lab shut down!

Makes you ask just how effective New York's COBIS program is.

Detroit Police lab shut down after probe finds errors
BY BEN SCHMITT AND JOE SWICKARD • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS •September 25, 2008

The Detroit Police crime lab is so riddled with errors that officials ordered an immediate shut down today, saying that the local criminal justice system could be at risk. A Michigan State Police audit of the Detroit Police firearms lab revealed a 10% error rate in ballistic evidence and led to Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy and Police Chief James Barren to announce the closing of all operations of the crime lab.
"If we have even one person in prison on evidence that was improperly done, that's a huge problem," Worthy said. "As prosecutors we completely rely on the findings of police crime lab experts every day in court and we present this information to juries. And when there are failures of this magnitude, there is a complete betrayal of trust."The audit said: "If this 10 % error-rate holds, the negative impact on the judicial system would be substantial, with a strong likelihood of wrongful convictions and a valid concern about numerous appeals.

"Questions about the firearms testing in the Detroit lab were raised in April after defense attorney Marvin Barnett determined that police mishandled evidence in a shooting case. Former Chief Ella Bully-Cummings closed the firearms unit and requested the State Police to conduct an audit.Barnett was trying a double homicide case and questioned whether 42spent shell casings could have come from the same weapon as the crime lab indicated.

He hired former Michigan State Police firearms examiner David Balash to review the evidence, and determined that 17casings came from one weapon and 25 came from a second weapon."Oh My God I cant tell you how catastrophic this is," Balash said today after learning about the audit "That kind of number – I never would have thought it. You could have people in prison who shouldn't be there."Detroit Mayor Ken Cockrel Jr. also attended a press conference this morning at Detroit Police Headquarters to announce the findings.

Cockrel and Barren made the decision to close the entire lab, which also handles fingerprints, DNA and drug evidence."I want to make it very clear that the problems that have since been uncovered as a result of this audit did not occur on my watch,"Cockrel said. "However they have now come to light on my watch. We have a serious problem within the crime lab."Worthy said members of her staff will team up with Barren and Michigan State Police investigators to review crime lab findings.

The problems could lead to numerous appeals, Worthy said."It's a huge can of worms," she said, adding that criminal charges are a possibility.All 68 employees of Detroit's crime lab will be reassigned while an examination into what caused the problems takes place, Barren said."I assure you we're one team and we're going to get to the bottom of this," he said.

NBC targeted to halt fur sales

The following is currently being circulated.

Another Boycott, this one to NBC for promoting the sale of animal fur.

NBC Universal television network is involved in advocating the fur trade.

Sign petition!
NO DON'T SIGN IT! JUST READ IT!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/boycott-nbc-for-selling-furs

NBC operates shopping channels such as "ShopNBC!" that traffic in coats made from the pelts of raccoons, foxes, coyotes, rabbits, and others

You can also view this video at the following URL:

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/cedrics-luxe-collection-fringed-knitted-racoon-red-%20fox-and-rex-fur-jacket/3357182163


Pages full of fur on NBC Universal TV network shopping website:
http://www.shopnbc.com/SearchM/Default.aspx?page=LIST&free_text=fur

You guys need to write in or create a petition showing NBC your support to continue in a free market society!
Regards
BPB

Federal bill to stop running pens!

Yepper Ol BPB done found another turd in the ointment for sportsmen!

Now that the Indiana DNR has rolled over to the HSUS I just read where the Feds. in particular one U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (D-N.J.) has authored a Federal bill to outlaw all running pens in the U.S.
Better know as "wildlife penning which are fenced enclosures where game animals are coursed by hounds for training.

The bill is labeled as Wildlife Penning Prohibition Act of 2008, H.R. 6988, would amend the Lacey Act to prohibit the interstate transport of animals used in wildlife penning.

Here is the information from the Thomas registry;'

H.R.6988 Title:
To amend the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to treat wildlife, other than birds, used or intended to be used in penned dog training activities as prohibited wildlife species under that Act, to make corrections in the provisions relating to captive wildlife offenses under that Act, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12] (introduced 9/22/2008)
Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 9/22/2008 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

TEXT of bill:


Yea sure looks like the whole county is involved, now that is in everyone's backyard!

Regards BPB

Hummm, New York & the Endangered Species Act

Hummmm, New York & the ESA

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the ESA it stands for Endangered Species Act.

I attended a state wide sportsmen meeting this past weekend where the DEC’s top leaders presented the annual DEC report and other news worthy items.

I think I may have been the only person to pick up on Patricia Rexinger’s comment about NY’s plans to revise, review and update NY’s involvement in the ESA.

The ESA covers approximately 1,800 species worldwide of which 1,300 are in the United States. I’ve asked many times why only 1,300 in the good ol USA.

Well let’s see where this leads NY’s sportsmen. I can only hope when the updates start we are given protections from lawsuits by antis because some part of the ESA was violated, specifically the “take & harass” portions. Least we end up like some other states, spending our conservation dollar$ fighting the antis to protect land where both hunted species and endangered both exists.

I’ve written on this subject in the past warning folks it was over due in NY & was and still to this day folks act like they never heard of the ESA. LMAO

More doom and Gloom:
Commissioner Grannis spoke about the current affairs of NY’s budget and how it will effect the DEC and sportsmen this past weekend.


An invitation as extended for next week ,so I’m headed to Albany on my own dime to meet with the DEC Commissioner & the leaders of NY’s sportsmen’s associations about our most important issues facing us in the very near future.

Final nail er a note; NY is now ripe for an anti surge!

Regards,BPB

Gov. Palin receives award from trappers

On August 5th the National Trappers Association awards committee voted to give the "Conservationist of the Year Award" to Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska.

This program is designed to recognize individuals inside and outside of the trapping community for work that is done on behalf of trapping. Governor Sarah Palin’s "Conservationist of the Year Award" was given in recognition of an individual who shows outstanding leadership in protecting and conserving our wildlife resources. The Governor’s efforts to protect the moose and caribou calving areas by having that states agency implement a predator control effort on the wolves. Showing courage and leadership in the face of those who would do away with wolf population control.

Regards,
“BlackPowder” Bill Brookover
Walworth, NY.
NTA Member

WWW.SCOPEny.org
NY State Director @ Large
WWW.NYSMLA.ORG President

In the races~ Primary news Winners and Loosers

In The Races
Primary News
This past week New Yorkers went to the polls to vote in the primary election. A summary of some of the key victories and defeats are outlined below:

Congress

Democratic Congressman Edolphus Towns easily held onto the Democratic line in the 10th Congressional District in Brooklyn. Towns will face Republican Salvatore Grupico in the November election.

Michael E. McMahon defeated Brooklyn attorney Stephen Harrison for the Democratic line in the 13th Congressional District, which includes all of Staten Island and part of Brooklyn. McMahan will face Republican Robert Straniere in the general election.

Former Assemblyman Paul Tonko secured the Democratic line in the Capital District’s
21st Congressional District. Tonko will face Republican Jim Buhrmaster in the fall.

Alice Kryzan secured the Democratic line in Western New York’s 26th Congressional District. She will face NAR-backed Republican Christopher Lee in November.

State Legislature - Assembly

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver easily beat two challengers for the Democratic line in lower Manhattan’s 64th Assembly District.

Assemblyman Sam Hoyt held onto the Democratic line in Buffalo’s 144th Assembly District.

Assemblyman Greg Ball secured the GOP line in the lower Hudson Valley’s 99th Assembly District

Assemblyman Philip Ramos kept the Democratic line on Long Island’s 6th Assembly District.

Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat successfully beat a challenge for the Democratic line in Manhattan’s 72nd Assembly District.

Rockland County Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee held onto the Democratic line in the 95th Assembly District.

Queens Assemblywoman Ellen Young lost the Democratic line to Grace Meng, the daughter of Young’s predecessor in the 22nd Assembly seat.

State Legislature - Senate

Queens Senator Shirley Huntley secured the Democratic line in the 10th Senate District.

Senator Dale Volker kept the GOP line in Western New York’s 59th Senate District, which he has represented since 1974.

Senator George Maziarz withstood a GOP challenge for the Niagara Falls-area, 62nd Senate seat he has represented since 1995.

Senator Martin Connor lost the Democratic line for the Brooklyn seat he has held since 1978 to a former US Senator Schumer staffer.

In the Bronx, Senator Efrain Gonzales lost the Democratic line in the 33rd Senate District.
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Sent to BPB courtesy if Steve Alstead SCOPEny.org

Another NY Dem. bites the dust

QNS. POL CAUGHT IN STING
FBI NABS '$500,000 GRAFT' ASSEMBLYMAN
By FREDERIC U. DICKER and BRENDAN SCOTT in Albany and JENNIFER FERMINO in New York

GOTCHA:
Anthony Seminerio, at court yesterday, allegedly introduced an FBI undercover man to other elected officials.
Posted: 3:54 am
September 11, 2008

In an unprecedented sting that brought an undercover FBI agent onto the state Capitol floor, a veteran Democratic assemblyman from Queens was busted yesterday for allegedly taking $500,000 in bribes, prosecutors announced.

Anthony Seminerio, 73, who has represented South Ozone Park since 1978 and often boasted he was "John Gotti's assemblyman," was charged with running a secret consulting firm through which he pocketed the cash in return for peddling influence in Albany.

"Mr. Seminerio crafted a plan to receive such payments in a fashion effectively shielding those payments from public scrutiny," said Mark Mershon of the FBI.

Seminerio, released on $500,000 bail, declined to comment as he walked out of Manhattan federal court. His wife, Catherine, told reporters, "Drop dead!" and stuck out her tongue.

Using a cooperating witness, phone taps and, eventually, an undercover agent, investigators were able to unravel how Seminerio hid the alleged scam while pressing Albany colleagues to help him aid constituents who had paid him cash.


For the rest of the story and a picture of the leggiscritter visit the nypost.com

jennifer.fermino@nypost.com

bpb

HOLY POOPIES Batman! MN pays API 160 grand

Man, I heard the state of MN paid Animal Protection Institutes lawyers a cool 160 grand for the lynx lawsuit.

I sure hope the trappers get their reimbursed next!

Anyone got the story , is this fact or fiction?
BPB

SSDD concealed carry in New York

Here is a question that comes up from time to time at various sportsmen meetings across the state.
It has been beat to death with varing degree's of agreement.
BPB
===========================
Couple questions came up at our monthly meeting last night and no one was really sure of the answers - appreciate some input.

I thought that if licensed to carry in NY you must carry concealed. Open carry is not permitted other than in a hunting situation.

Again, given a carry license, if your handgun is in the vehicle must it be on your person if loaded?

Thanks
===========================
BPB reply:
Ken ,(scopeny.org); is correct!
Concealed means concealed! [bpb]A gun case, jacket pocket or locked container for transportation.
Quote:
"Open carry is not permitted other than in a hunting situation."+++
I'd like to see that in writing. We discuss this issue every year.

When I was attending the hunter education instructor classes back in the 90's there were 50 different arguments and this was from law enforcement in the class as well. At that time I had asked for a definition for hunting from the state DEC. I'm till waiting & I figure I'll be dead before a WRITTEN reply is made.

A few years back an eager ECO was handing out tickets for hunters carrying their pistols on the outside of their clothing.

During the same time frame a DEC LEO put out a memo to arrest fathers for "endangering the welfare of a child" for having children a field. This was spurred by a pissed off EX-spouse causing trouble against the old man.

A friend was at Sears in Greece and a clerk spotted his pistol under his jacket. Security was called and he was detained and arrested. He had forgotten his permit & wallet at home. It cost him $1,000.00 in attorney fees , of which the atty. did nothing for the payment.
My friend got his stuff in order after I became involved.

I had a phone call once where 2 guys were discussing firearms at a store checkout counter. The clerk called the police and reported them. They were stopped while driving, detained, searched & harassed.
No charges were ever made, even though the cop at the scene was trying to come up with some.
Oh yea and the real kicker, they had no firearms on them or in the truck! I told them to file official complaints in writing.

It only takes one butt hole to ruin your day!

Remember my saying; You're already a criminal, you just haven't been arrested yet.

Regards BPB

Heller Attys sue for DC court cost

SHORT SHOTS (on the shooting wire, 9.3.08)


The Washington Post has a pair of interesting reports related to the Supreme Court's Heller versus the District of Columbia decision. First, attorneys for Dick Heller have asked a federal judge to order the District of Columbia to fork over more than $3.5 million in legal fees. Alan Gura, Robert A. Levy and Clark M Neily III filed a motion in U.S. District Court that detailed both hours and expenses. FYI, the motion says they expect a fight with the District over the fees. As many millions as the District's poured into losing lawsuits, you'd think another $3.5 million would go unnoticed…And there may finally be a licensed FFL dealer in the District to handle firearms transfers. Several weeks ago, we reported that the single FFL in the District couldn't handle firearms transfers because he had moved. The ATF approved his move in July, the last two months have been spent waiting on - you guessed it - the District of Columbia to issue his annual license. No word yet from Washington, but that license could have been issued yesterday.

From "Bullet Points" the online newsletter of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a great job of laying out the primary differences in the Democratic and Republican positions on gun control. We're borrowing, but giving them credit for good work that's beneficial to any firearms owner.

The Democratic Platform: "We believe that the right to own firearms is subject to reasonable regulation, but we know that what works in Chicago may not work in Cheyenne. We can work together to enact and enforce commonsense laws and improvements -- like closing the gun show loophole, improving our background check system, and reinstating the assault weapons ban ..." (Democratic Platform Page 48)

The Republican Platform: "We condemn frivolous lawsuits against firearms manufacturers, which are transparent attempts to deprive citizens of their rights. We oppose federal licensing of law-abiding gun owners and national gun registration as violations of the Second Amendment. We recognize that gun control only affects and penalizes law-abiding citizens, and that such proposals are ineffective at reducing violent crime." (Democratic Platform, Page 51).






FEATURE


A New Horse Race
Editor's Note: Today's column appeared on Michael Bane's Blog on Monday. We felt the historical perspective and background worthy content as we enter the stretch run of the presidential campaign.

It's a new horse race, and we in the gun culture are now in it up to our necks.

Two things happened last week to recast the Presidential election in a new, and for all of us clearer, light. The first is obviously John McCain's selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his VP choice. Not to pat myself on the back, but I have said publicly for months that Palin would be a superb choice not just for her conservative/libertarian credentials, but because McCain needed desperately to shore up the gun vote. Put simply, no modern Republican has ever been elected to the Presidency without our vote...think George H.W. Bush. We stayed home and we got Bill Clinton. What that proves to me is that, yes, as a culture we will occasionally cut off our nose to spite our face. But more importantly, the gun culture vote is not a gimme for Republicans...a fact that Republicans spend four years trying hard to blot out of their minds.

We go into this election with a sitting Republican President who, when it came to - as my friend Jerry Miculek is fond of saying - nut-cuttin' time on D.C. v. Heller, sold us out without even flinching. The fact that the Supreme Court chose to ignore the Bush Solicitor General's disingenuous argument against extending Constitutional rights to D.C. residents doesn't mitigate Bush's actions, which highlighted the Republican Party's utter contempt for the gun culture...stay in the closet and sit quietly until we need you to fill our your ballot.

John McCain stepped into this already poisonous atmosphere with a "C" rating from the NRA and an obstinate support for closing the non-existent gun show loophole. McCain did an excellent job with his NRA Annual Meeting speech (not the least of which was his insistence than counter to Secret Service dogma, he did not feel uncomfortable in a room full of armed NRA members).

Still, there is a difference between grudging support and a willingness to get out and beat the bushes for votes. On this blog and the DRTV Forums, it was clear that a large majority of the gun vote remained in the "grudging" category.

The choice of Sarah Palin certainly shocked and electrified me and seems to have had the same effect on the whole of the gun vote. In one swipe McCain has gone from grudging to ga-ga; the troops are rallying and we will march toward November.

The second point that has been somewhat overshadowed by the Palin frenzy is Barack Obama specifically bringing up "assault weapons" in his coronation speech in Denver Thursday evening:

"The reality of gun ownership may be different for hunters in rural Ohio than for those plagued by gang violence in Cleveland, but don't tell me we can't uphold the Second Amendment while keeping AK-47s out of the hands of criminals."

With that simple statement Obama blew up two years of Democratic Party glad-handing on gun issues, their insistence throughout the primary campaign that either guns were not on the table or that Dems had "seen the light" and, following Heller, we could all Rodney King it and learn to live together.

Coupled with the choice of Joe Biden, another "F" NRA rating and one of the architects of the 1994 Clinton Gun Ban, Obama's acceptance statement, made to the cheering, now-in-total control Far Left wing of the Democratic Party, tells us exactly what's on the Democratic agenda for January 2009 - a new Assault Weapons Ban with teeth.

This time, no sunset clause, no loopholes, no lookalike guns allowed...don't believe me? Go read the text of H.R. 6257, "Assault Weapons Ban Reauthorization Act of 2008," introduced last June:

"It shall be unlawful for a person to manufacture, transfer, or possess [emphasis mine] a semiautomatic assault weapon."

Yeah, there's a grandfather clause, but don't expect that to survive an Obama tsunami. The left wing of the Democratic Party has dreamed of door-to-door confiscations of guns since Nelson T. "Pete" Shields outlined the gun control agenda in 1976 in the New Yorker Magazine:

"Our ultimate goal - total control of handguns in the United States - is going to take time. My estimate is from seven to ten years. The problem is to slow down the increasing number of handguns sold in this country. The second problem is to get them all registered. And the final problem is to make the possession of all handguns and all handgun ammunition - except for the military, policemen, licensed security guards, licensed sporting clubs, and licensed gun collectors - totally illegal."

We are one vote away from Pete Shields' nightmarish dream becoming a reality. The first blows will fall on so-called "assault weapons" and exotics like the .50 BMG "sniper rifles," but you can be sure that handguns are next on the list - unless we move to preempt those blows. It is not 1993; the AR-15 is the best-selling rifle in the world and quite literally millions of them have changed hands since the Clinton Ban expired. Hunters, target shooters, plinkers, collectors and tinkerers are all on-board with the AR-15; the NRA and other gun groups are heavily funded and totally on board in this fight.

But we have the opportunity, the one chance, to derail the gun-grabbers' agenda, to end the fight before it begins, on Tuesday, November 4. Once again, it's time for us to stand.

--Michael Bane

Michael Bane is an author, longtime firearms competitor and host of "Shooting Gallery" on Outdoor Channel and "Downrange TV" on the internet.

SCOPEny.org ~In The Races

In The Races
Democratic candidates in WNY congressional race piling up cash
Campaign finance reports filed this week for the 26th Congressional District showed that Democratic candidates Jack Davis and Jon Powers have each raised over a million dollars since the beginning of their campaigns. A third Democrat, Alice Kryzan, has raised approximately $287,000. The three candidates hope to challenge Republican Chris Lee in the open seat being vacated by longtime congressman Tom Reynolds.

21st Congressional District candidate debate
Four of the five Democratic candidates seeking to fill the vacancy left by U.S. Rep. Michael McNulty participated in a debate this week in Delmar, NY. Tracey Brooks, Paul Tonko, Darius Shahinfar and Phil Steck sparred over issues such as energy and government spending. The primary elections for both parties will be on Tuesday, September 9.

McMahon opens campaign headquarters
Democratic NYC Councilman Michael McMahon officially opened his campaign headquarters this week. McMahon is seeking to replace outgoing Congressman Vito Fosella in the 13th Congressional Distict of Staten Island. Former Assemblyman Robert Straniere is the Republican nominated candidate.

Golisano led group makes endorsements
This week a PAC called “Responsible New York” led by billionaire businessman Tom Golisano, made thirty-nine endorsements in state Senate races. Golisano has stated that his committee is willing to spend upwards of $5 million in support of these candidates in this fall’s elections. These endorsements and the potential financial funding that comes with them are being closely watched as the Republican majority in the state Senate is down to 32-30 and a one seat swing would shift power to the Democrats.

__._,_.___
From Steven Alstead SCOPEny.org

Festival of the Centuries

Festival of the Centuries Sept 13th and 14th at the St Marie's Among the Iroquois. It is a living museum which has a working forge and carpenter shop and a lot of history right in our back yard. The Civil War reanactors, Medieval and others will be there.
It is a great spot to encourage the muzzleloading org up. Last week end they had Roy Underhill (a famous woodworker) they have many crafts men to sell and show there trade. I believe it would open many a door to our rendezvous and fun. Anyone interested in setting up to renact can set up and stay the night I heard Saturday night was best with food and music and sleeping in the buildings is possible.
My plan in the future there is to build a teepee with the scouts and many other projects like hawk throwing, archery a day camp this Aug. They are part of the Onondaga Parks system so we can do great things in our own back yard and have fun.
I will be there set up and doing our thing. If youʼd like to visit or join me, the boys, just drop by. There is a fee to get in unless you are participating in a group.
If anyone would like more information call me Allison Smith 652-7093 email me thesilentlady@verizon.net or go online.
Hope to see you there,
Allison

The NYSMLA will have a few folks set up. Stop in and see what we do!
Reguards,
BPB

NYS Muzzle Loaders fall shoot

Figured I'd post this from the local news paper.

A reporter stopped out Sunday and took a bunch of pictures.

We see here Ol' Buck must have impressed her some.

Don't forget this weekend shoot at KVR!

Regards BPB