Where Even Prosecutors Can't Carry

Uncle links to a story about a man who fires some warning shots because a gang of, well, gang members was threatening him. The comments discuss the wisdom of warning shots and legal implications.

Here's some additional background. The Nassau County DA's Office is reeeaaaally anti-gun. The office has a policy of barring handgun ownership by its employees. That's in great contrast with a lot of places like Virginia, where prosecutors can carry concealed anywhere, even in bars while drinking, without the training necessary for a concealed handgun permit. Because they're like you and me, only better.

Here is the application for assistant district attorney, and here is the one for interns. Note the following in background questions:

Applicant Questionnaire: Yes or No
3. Have you ever had a license to possess a firearm in this state or any other state?
...
NOTE: AN AFFIRMATIVE RESPONSE WILL NOT NECESSARILY SERVE, IN AND OF ITSELF,
AS A DISQUALIFICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT

And the closing (signature-required) condition:
Gun ownership: I understand that assistant district attorneys are not permitted to apply for a handgun permit nor own or possess a handgun while employed by the Nassau County District Attorney. Any exception to this policy must be in writing and approved by the District Attorney.

So, anybody think that this attitude may, even unconsciously, affect the judgment of the prosecutors in this case?

There's nothing so egregious as this in Virginia, but I discuss a lot of relevant self-defense considerations such as the standards for the use of deadly force in Virginia in my legal seminars. Next one is October 23, 2010; contact me to sign up.

Restaurant Carry

First Virginia (takes effect 1 July) and now Tennessee passes restaurant carry reform.

Over the governor's veto.

Again. (H/T Sebastian)

America Going Green

Well, on this map anyway. Uncle reports that the Arizona governor has signed into law a repeal of their restaurant carry ban. Arizona goes green on September 30, Tennessee just went green, and hopefully Virginia will follow suit by this time next year.

41 states allow restaurant carry of some kind; this will make it 42. Kind of puts into perspective that whole "guns in restaurants = booze-fueled mayhem" claim that gun controllers keep pushing.