> > 
> > ================[ Distributed Message ]================
> >          ListServer: liberty (BRASSROOTS Liberty Watch Listserver)
> >                Type: Not Moderated
> >      Distributed on: 15-OCT-96, 16:43:32
> > Original Written by: IN:carlos@theriver.com.
> > =======================================================
> > 
> > > > The Shreveport Times
> > > > August 17, 1995
> > > >
> > > > MURDERED CLERK HAD SOUGHT HANDGUN FOR PROTECTION
> > > > By DUNSTAN PRIAL
> > > >
> > > >      Philip Russell Coleman felt he needed a handgun to protect himself.
> > > >       His application for the purchase of a chrome-plated, .380 caliber
> > > > Lorcin pistol was approved Tuesday three days after Coleman was shot to
> > > > death in a liquor store holdup.
> > > >       Coleman intended to purchase the gun Friday, said Jim Roberts, owner
> > > > of USA Pawn Shop in Shreveport. But his application was initially rejected
> > > > by the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office.
> > > >       Roberts said Coleman, a regular customer at the pawn shop, put a
> > > > down payment on the gun on Aug. 3 and filled out the Brady law
> > > > application, which requires a background check on potential handgun
> > > > owners.
> > > >       "He said he needed the gun for his own protection because he worked
> > > > late hours at a liquor store and he felt it was dangerous," Roberts said.
> > > >       The application shows Coleman answered "no" to each of the
> > > > questions, including whether he'd ever been convicted of a felony, or had
> > > > a past history of drug abuse or mental illness.
> > > >       Coleman's application came back a day later stating that he had been
> > > > rejected.
> > > >       Roberts said Coleman returned to the store on Friday hoping to pay
> > > > the balance of money he owed on the gun. He said Coleman insisted the
> > > > rejected application must have been a mistake on the part of the Sheriff's
> > > > Office.
> > > >       "I told him to go down and straighten it out with the Sheriff's
> > > > Office," Roberts said, "and I guess he did."
> > > >       Coleman didn't return to the pawn shop that day. He went to work
> > > > instead, and was shot to death just as his shift ended around 1 a.m.
> > > > Saturday. He was 42.
> > > >       The Sheriff's Office notified Roberts by fax on Tuesday that
> > > > Coleman's application had been reconsidered and approved.
> > > >       "This is one case where the Brady Bill cost someone their life,"
> > > > Roberts said. "It took away his opportunity to protect himself."
> > > >       Roland Toups, operator of area Thrifty Liquor stores, did not return
> > > > phone calls.
> > > >       Sheriff Don Hathaway said he was unaware of the details of the case.
> > > > He said there was apparently justification for initially denying Coleman's
> > > > application, and that the law allows for rejected applicants to ask for a
> > > > second review.
> > > >       "They have an opportunity to come in and maybe (Coleman) was able to
> > > > clear this up," Hathaway said. "Once he did that, my office followed
> > > > through and approved the application."
> > > >       Gregg Trusty, a spokesman for the Sheriffs Offce, said he didn't
> > > > know why Coleman's application was initially rejected. He added: "There is
> > > > no indication that any thing was done other than in direct accordance with
> > > > the law."
> > > >       Ed Tuggle, a local life member of the National Rifle Association,
> > > > said Coleman's death reveals the flaws in the Brady Bill and federally
> > > > mandated waiting periods. The NRA fought hard on the national level to
> > > > block passage of the bill.
> > > >       "It denies law abiding people the right to purchase a handgun,
> > > > especially when there is a specific need for one," Tuggle said.
> > > >       "I'm not surprised that this happened. It was just a matter of time
> > > > before something like this occurred, and of course it will repeat itself."
> > > >       Hathaway countered: "I think it's premature to make any judgments. I
> > > > think we should wait until we know all the facts before we come to any
> > > > conclusions."
> > 
> > --
> >    Carlos Alvarez, Tucson, AZ, USA, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy
> >                       http://www.isdnet.com/~carlos
> > 
> > Do not make the mistake of the ignorant who think that an individualist
> > is a man who says: "I'll do as I please at everybody else's expense." An
> > individualist is a man who recognizes the inalienable individual rights
> > of man - his own and those of others.  - Ayn Rand
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