[In 2007 the Harvard Journal on Law and Policy published a lengthy article I co-authored with a Canadian criminologist, Gary Mauser. Its topic was the common misconception (mantra) that the more firearms in a society the greater its murder rates. The following is the text of an historical discussion in the article. The very extensive footnotes have been deleted because I am too technologically unsophisticated to transmit...

http://www.calgunlaws.com/index.php/che-talk/759-gun-ownership-and-homic...

Smokey

The USDA Forest Service today celebrated the 65th birthday of an American icon – Smokey Bear –and released the new Smokey Bear Story "big book." This bilingual (English and Spanish) illustrated educational book introduces Smokey Bear and fire prevention messages to a new generation of American children. Smokey Bear's trademark message, "only you can prevent wildfires," is one of the longest running PSA campaigns in U.S. history.

"Smokey Bear is one of the most beloved symbols in American history and his important message has been communicated to generations of Americans during the past sixty five years," said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. "This new book will help mentor a new generation in carrying on Smokey's message."

The celebration featured a bilingual reading of the Smokey Bear Story to local pre-school children. The Alexandria Children's Chorus performed in honor of the celebration and Smokey Bear cut his birthday cake. Additionally, the illustrator for the book was on hand to sign complimentary copies of the Smokey Bear Story "big book". This beautifully illustrated children's book is tied to national education standards of learning and suggests activities and programs that can be conducted with children while learning five rules to prevent wildfires.

Since his birthday on August 9, 1944, Smokey Bear has been a recognized symbol of conservation and protection of America's forests. His message about forest fire prevention has helped to reduce the number of acres lost annually to forest fires, or wildfires, from about 22 million (1944) to an average of 6.5 million annually today. However, wildfire prevention remains one of the most critical issues affecting our country. Many Americans believe that lightning starts most wildfires. In fact, 9 out of 10 wildfires nationwide are started by humans. The principle causes are campfires left unattended, trash burning on windy days, careless discarding of smoking materials and BBQ coals, and operating equipment without spark arrestors.

To learn more about Smokey Bear and wildfire prevention visit www.smokeybear.com. Smokey's "big book" is available for purchase (free to teachers) at www.symbols.gov .

The mission of the USDA Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land and is the largest forestry research organization in the world.

U.S. Forest Service Chief Thomas Tidwell announced today the agency's decision to initiate an interagency review of the suppression efforts of the Station Fire on the Angeles National Forest in the Pacific Southwest Region of the Forest Service in southern California.

"Our highest priority is firefighter and public safety and the efforts by firefighters to achieve this were outstanding during this event, and deserve to be recognized," said Chief Tidwell. "Reviewing our firefighting efforts is part of our normal process, however due to the unprecedented size of the Station Fire and questions being raised about firefighting actions, I am directing a review of the Station Fire, and seeking the participation of our key interagency partners."

"With the significant loss of life, and impacts CONTINUED »

Fairfax, Va. -- The National Rifle Association applauds the Supreme Court's decision, announced today, to hear the landmark Second Amendment case of McDonald v. Chicago. The case will address the application of the Second Amendment to the states through either the Due Process clause or the Privileges or Immunities clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The case has major implications for the legality of restrictive gun laws not only in Chicago, but also in other cities across the United States. The decision to hear the case, which will be argued later this year or early next year, gives Second Amendment advocates across America hope that this fundamental freedom will not be infringed by unreasonable state and local laws.

"The Second Amendment applies to every citizen, not just to those living in federal enclaves like Washington D.C. In the historic Heller decision, the Supreme Court reaffirmed what most Americans have known all along -- that the Second Amendment protects an individual right and that it applies to all Americans. The government should respect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens throughout our country, regardless of where they live, and NRA is determined to make sure that happens," said Wayne LaPierre, NRA executive vice president.

In the June ruling that the Supreme Court will now review, the U.S. Court of Appeals CONTINUED »

Whether shopping online, at Wal Mart or local sporting goods stores, gun enthusiasts continue to forage for .45 caliber bullets, handguns and tactical rifles fallout from what some would say has been a perfect storm of economic and political change over the past 10 months.

Read About It: http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=What%27s+triggering+a+s...

Research has shown that women make up the fastest growing segment of the hunting and fishing population today. There are a number of reasons given for this trend. One of the top reasons is that women don't want to stay at home any more while their husbands and sons enjoy a day in the field and on the water. They want to join them.

Read About It: http://www.mlive.com/advancenewspapers/opinion/index.ssf/2009/09/outdoor...

A collapse of 'civilized life' has allowed a brutal drug and gun crime culture like that of the U.S. TV show The Wire to flourish on the streets of Britain, the Tories will warn today. Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling will blame Labour for standing by while 'urban war' breaks out in parts of the country. Gun crime is up by more than half and there are more than 100 serious knife crimes each day, with fatal stabbings having reached the highest level on record.

Read About It: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1208782/Britains-drug-gun-cultur...

A debate over who should be allowed to carry a concealed weapon in El Dorado County will get plenty of exposure this week. At issue is a Sheriff's Office policy requiring license applicants to not only complete a training program and pass a background check confirming that they are of good moral character, but also to show that they have good cause to carry a concealed firearm in public.

Read About It: http://www.sacbee.com/news/story/2133266.html

The controversial OSHA nominee and left-leaning public health advocate also seems to have strong views on firearms issues. That’s by no means irrelevant to the agenda of an agency like OSHA, because once you start viewing private gun ownership as a public health menace, it begins to seem logical to use the powers of government to urge or even require employers to forbid workers from possessing guns on company premises.

Read About It: http://overlawyered.com/2009/08/david-michaels-and-gun-control/

The state tries to keep geese numbers down but can't always do what it would like, said Art Smith, head of wildlife damage management at Game, Fish and Parks. Budget restraints are one factor. Also, the department often requests additional days of goose hunting and higher limits for the number of geese that hunters can take. That's a federal process, Smith said, and these requests are not always met including one for this year.

Read About It: http://www.mitchellrepublic.com/event/apArticle/id/D9A44II01/

Chicago is trying to stop crime with a gun turn-in program this weekend. But are events like that effective? CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery reports that the results on the street suggest otherwise.

Read About It: http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/gun.turn.in.2.1127786.html

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is offering women a chance to learn hunting skills in a special course just for them.

Read About It: http://www.fox44.net/Global/story.asp?S=10878827

Fremont marksman Greg Drown has fired his way to a national championship at Camp Perry in the difficult discipline of three position smallbore or .22 rifle, and he did it from a wheelchair. Drown, who copes with multiple sclerosis, scored 1195 73X out of a possible 1200 among 324 competitors to win the any sight smallbore competition in what is called "3P" standing, kneeling and prone positions.

Read About It: http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090809/COLUMNIST22/9...

Two years after California passed a novel law requiring the next generation of semiautomatic handguns to leave a microscopic identifying code on shell casings, the controversial technology appears no closer to being introduced here or anywhere else. California Attorney General Jerry Brown has not certified the law, which is required before it can take effect as scheduled on Jan. 1, and his aides could not say when that may happen

Read About It: http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/aug/10/1n10guncodes235322-ca...

One year ago, David Thweatt made a decision so controversial and groundbreaking the story about it sped around the world. The superintendent of the isolated Harrold Independent School District, about 30 miles northwest of here, made history last August when he and his school board decided to allow select teachers and staff members at the 110-student school to carry guns on campus — a first for Texas and the nation.

Read About It: http://www.reporternews.com/news/2009/aug/06/packed-for-school/

As questions about gun rights swirl around the nomination of a new Supreme Court justice, and debate continues over attempts in Congress to make it easier to carry concealed weapons state to state, an increasing number of Long Islanders are applying for pistol permits.

Read About It: http://www.newsday.com/long-islanders-why-we-re-getting-more-guns-1.1343...