Gun rights advocates have been on the defensive after the mass shooting in Newtown, Conn. last week, but that didn't stop one group in Sacramento from demonstrating their opposition to gun control in a way that was sure to get attention.  Sacramento police questioned and then released a group of men who walked down one of the city's busiest streets with shotguns over their shoulders Sunday evening. Two of the men in the group were carrying shotguns when police stopped them at 10th and J streets around 9:20 p.m., according to officer Michelle Gigante. They were found to be in compliance with current open carry laws as the guns were not loaded, Gigante said. One of the suspects told offic

Sacramento was featured in the Sunday New York Times, with a blurb teasing to the article on 1A of the Northern California print edition. The topic isn't what the Convention & Visitors Bureau would have hoped for. The piece is about how deep cuts in the Police Department have coincided with a rise in crime, and how other cities across the county are facing similar challenges. The article is well-timed for supporters of Measure U, the ballot measure that, if passed onTuesday, will increase the sales tax by one-half cent and direct the money to city services, including the Police Department. The link: Crime Increases in Sacramento After Deep Cuts to Police Force, by Erica Goode. A few key

Welcome to another edition of the "Wake-Up Call," a rundown of items that we're working on, found interesting, or otherwise thought you might want to know about today. As is always the case here at Sac Press, suggestions are welcome. WHAT WE’RE READING RIDIN’ THE RAILS: With just two days left in the legislative session, lawmakers are about to face off on whether to approve funding for high-speed rail – but they should take a peek at the latest Field Poll before they do. Of the three tax measures headed to the November ballot – one from Gov. Jerry Brown, one from attorney Molly Munger that would raise personal income taxes, and one from hedge-fund manager Tom Steyer that would increase

The next tenant for the old Cornerstone space at 2330 J St. could be a gun store, as a federal firearms dealer license was issued for that address Wednesday. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives spokeswoman Helen Dunkel said Thursday that the license was issued to Manuel Hernandez and Jesus Figueroa, and the business listed on the license is M&J Gun Trade. “It’s an 01-type license, so that’s handguns, long guns, and probably accessories and ammunition,” Dunkel said. Calls to the license holders were not returned Thursday afternoon. According to Principal Planner Greg Bitter of the city Community Development Department, there is no public hearing process before the store

Whatever your particular creed or faith, most people regard this time of year as a season of peace — a time to reflect, count blessings, maybe offer a little prayer for better days ahead. We suffer the coarseness and indignities of a saturated consumer market to enjoy the time with family and friends, and work for better days in our communities. That is why it was so appalling that a recent trip to an area Sam’s Club for supplies for a holiday party became an occasion for outrage. Sam’s Club (a division of Walmart) often has vendors set up special displays of merchandise that might not be part of its regular lineup of products. Megawine Inc., a liquor distributor from Van Nuys, had an ent

Sacramento to Rancho Cordova I decided to take advantage of the lull between the hot, and the soon to arrive stormy weather and go for a hike to the gun range today. I needed to prepare for hunting season, and the best way is to suit up and practice a little. You don't want your first day out in the field to be the testing ground for you and your gear, because it usually costs some dough to go on safari, and these days, that's a big concern. You could end up spending a hundred or two, and come home empty handed and with pulled muscles or who knows what other ailments. Before I went abalone diving for the first time each year, I always took a quick check out dive locally for the same reaso

“We have to fight to protect the Second Amendment” said Sam Parades, member of the Board of Directors of Gun Owners of America, to a group of gun enthusiasts who gathered to express their second amendment rights at a “2nd Amendment Day” event, sponsored by TDS Guns of Rocklin. Craig, co-owner of TDS Guns, said they put on this event “to show our support for the Tea Party and the Second Amendment.” “People don’t take responsibility”, said Craig, when asked about the purchase of firearms for unlawful reasons. “It’s not the gun’s fault, it is the individual.” Several guest speakers spoke at the event, including Eric Hogue, VP of Advancement at William Jessup University, Sacramento area talk

When buildings become slums and havens for gangs, prostitution and drug use, a little-known city program can force landowners to clean them up or – in extreme cases – be evicted. The Justice for Neighbors program began in 2006 and allows multiple departments – including police, code enforcement, the city attorney’s office and park rangers – to focus their efforts on some of the worst slumlords and dangerous properties in the city, resolving an average of 17 cases per year. “Essentially, it’s a public and social nuisance (enforcement) team,” said Gustavo Martinez, supervising deputy city attorney. “We meet every month and evaluate the worst security issues.” Property owners are required

With news of Amtrak’s new firearm policy to take effect Dec. 15, The Sacramento Press wanted to get an idea of what travelers think about the decision. First-time Amtrak traveler Tina Stephens simply doesn’t see the need for such a policy. “I don’t see any reason why anybody would need a firearm on the train anyway,” Stephens said. “I see no need for people to carry one if the people who work for Amtrak don’t have to carry them. That just opens yourself up for a lot of problems.” Christina Miller of Redding also has mixed feelings about the policy. “I don’t see a problem with it, but then again the terrorist thing is kind of scary,” Miller said. “If I were a hunter and I was traveling,

Posted by Sorren Hello officer Michelle, thanks for always answering my potentially pesky questions ;) I have another issue that has been bothering me a lot. As you of course know, some unfortunate kid got killed on campus a couple weeks ago. Three days before that, there were gunshots fired on my block in what I used to think was an upper-middleclass safe neighborhood. I don’t really feel safe anymore, and decided that I’m going to purchase a handgun immediately as soon as I can afford the one that I want. The issue is, that it’s not useful, if I can’t have access to it on a whim. I had my dad’s gun a few years ago when I lived in chicago. No CCW. So I had an unloaded, locked up pis

Summary resolution of the Federal suit filed last May 5 against Sacramento Sheriff John McGinness and others, Sykes v. McGinness, was delayed by a September 1 written order from Judge Morrison C. England Jr. His decision gives time to the defendants to determine whether the plaintiffs are qualified to bring the suit, and also waits for a decision from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, rehearing the case of Nordyke v. King. In the Nordyke case, a gun show operator challenged an Alameda County decision to ban gun shows from using the county fairgrounds to hold shows. The appeals court said that the Second Amendment applied to states, just as most of the other provisions in the Bill of Rig

At a August 28, 2009 public forum in Placerville, four of the seven candidates promised to institute a policy of issuing concealed weapon permits to any residents who take the training and pass a background check, vowing that "self-protection" will be considered adequate "good cause" for requesting a permit.  Those candidates are John D'Agostini, an investigator with the Amador County District Attorney's Office and a former Amador County sheriff's deputy, Larry Hennick, who served 32 years with the El Dorado County Sheriff's Department, Craig Therkildsen, a captain with the Sheriff's Department, and Stan Perez, retired chief of the California Highway Patrol's Valley Division. Three other

At their meeting August 25, 2009, all members of the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors voted to approve a resolution asking "that the duly elected or appointed El Dorado County Sheriff adopt and maintain a fair and equitable “Shall Issue” policy for the issuance of CCW licenses."  The resolution does not have the force of law, but essentially criticizes the Sheriff's recent policy of not recognizing "self protection" as "good cause" to issue a concealed weapons permit to persons otherwise qualified.  The resolution focuses attention on the Sheriff's discretion to issue or deny concealed weapons permits, an issue that begins to loom large in the current race for El Dorado County Sherif