Washington examiner.com writer Ken Klukowski says the recent appointment of Harold Koh to be State Department legal advisor should not only have gun owners concerned, but alarm American who want to retain the nation's sovereignty. 

Koh, recently the dean of Yale Law School, now becomes the top U.S. authority on international law, and the top advisor to the president and secretary of state about America's obligations and treaty commitments with the United Nations and other countries.

"Harold Koh is also one of the most far-left legal advocates anywhere in this country, on issues ranging from affirmative action to same-sex marriage to the reach of the federal government into people's lives," Klukowski writes. "While many on the Left believe that foreign law should be considered by American courts in interpreting the Constitution, as a true transnationalist, Koh believes that U.S. courts should directly cite foreign law to decide cases, and that foreign policy actions such as war-making are illegal without express U.N. approval ... "

For more, go to: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columns/OpEd-Contributor/Foreign-law-shouldn_t-impact-American-gun-owners-8027856-51812847.html

Alan Gura, lead counsel for the respondent in District of Columbia v. Heller, is spearheading a challenge to the constitutionality of policies that deny law-abiding individuals gun carry permits in California. (Sykes v. McGinness, U.S. Dist. Court, Eastern Dist. of Calif. No. 09 01235)

Last week, after the Senate failed to approve Sen. John Thune's proposal to require all states to recognize concealed carry permits from all other states, Gura offered his insights into the vote.

"Gun rights opponents at last have cause to rejoice," he wrote. "Only 58 members of a lop-sided Democratic-controlled Senate approved of a provision mandating that states give full faith and credit to each other's gun-carry permits. The laws of 48 states, at least in theory, allow their peaceable citizenry to carry guns in public for self-defense ... "

For more, go to: http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/hotline/2009/07/defeat-of-thune-amendment-runs-afoul-of.php

Related articles: 

-- A trigger lock for the gun lobby; http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0727/p08s01-comv.html

-- Taking aim at the Second Amendment; http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/07/26/edi_542097.shtml

-- Debate over gun rights still roils policymakers; http://newsok.com/debate-over-gun-rights-still-roils-policymakers/article/3387873

-- NRA loses a round in the Senate, thanks Reid anyway; http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/jul/26/nra-loses-round-senate-thanks-reid-anyway/

-- NRA Claims Victory in a High-Profile Loss; http://washingtonindependent.com/52202/nra-claims-victory-in-a-high-profile-loss

-- Lugar and the gun vote; http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20090725/EDIT07/307259932/1021/EDIT

-- Targeting state gun laws; http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/dailycourier/guestcolumn/s_634774.html

-- Thune-Vitter CCW reciprocity rejection is really a win; http://www.ammoland.com/2009/07/24/thune-vitter-ccw-reciprocity-amendment-  

-- Green shoots of recovery for second amendment rights; http://www.examiner.com/x-2944-Denver-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m7d22-Green-shoots-of-recovery-for-second-amendment-rights

-- For Democrats, gun control fades from agenda; http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/07/22/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5181043.shtml

Enlarge Photo

United States House Bill 197, which is in committee, aims to set reciprocity for concealed carry permits across all 50 states in much the same manner as driver’s licenses are recognized throughout the entire country. CCW permit laws vary widely from state to state, and not all states honor permits unless they are issued from within their jurisdiction. 

This legislation would require states to recognize each other’s CCWs; however their laws regarding the use of deadly force and restrictions placed upon concealed firearms would still apply within their borders. For states that do not issue any form of concealed carry, the bill would mandate a federal “Bright-line” standard that would permit carrying in places other than municipal buildings, schools, polling places and other specific venues articulated within the bill.

For more, go to: http://www.examiner.com/x-11748-Jefferson-County-Conservative-Examiner~y...

Related stories:

-- Tell Ohio senators to support the National CCW Reciprocity Law; http://www.ammoland.com/2009/07/13/tell-ohio-senators-to-support-nationa...

-- Senate may try to override state concealed weapons restrictions by amendment to defense authorization bill; http://www.bradycampaign.org/media/release.php?release=1159

Other national trends:

-- Keep your powder dry: No one's taking our ammo; http://www.skyhidailynews.com/article/20090714/COLUMNISTS/907149986/1067

-- House panel adopts amendment allowing guns in federal public housing; http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003161861

-- Alaska: Palin Becomes Second Governor To Sign 10th Amendment Resolution; http://www.kxmc.com/News/Nation/405288.asp

-- I’ll Take The Tenth; http://hotair.com/greenroom/archives/2009/07/12/ill-take-the-tenth/

NRA: Omaha law requiring fingerprints before legal gun sale is illegal

The National Rifle Association has shot back at a new Omaha law that requires anyone selling a gun to get fingerprinted.

The NRA sent a letter to city council members in which the association said the law is an attack on law-abiding gun owners. But city officials said the law, which narrowly passed in a 4-3 vote, will help reduce crime.

City Prosecutor Marty Conboy said pawn shops have required fingerprints for years. Now, other businesses, like sporting goods stores, can catch up.     Conboy said the law will make it more difficult for thieves to sell stolen guns.

Gun owner and City Councilman Garry Gernandt agreed, saying law-abiding gun owners will have nothing to fear when selling a gun.

The NRA rebuffed any claims for the law's role in violence reduction, saying the law would increase the sale of illegal firearms on the black market.

For more, go to: http://www.ketv.com/news/20055148/detail.html

Other state stories

-- Tennessee: Fun law divides opinion; http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8145541.stm

-- Tennessee: Lawmaker Wants Age Limit On Private Gun Sales; http://www.wsmv.com/news/20018623/detail.html

-- Caifornia: Rise in Sacramento County gun sales tied to fewer cops, what Obama might do; http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/2020626.html

-- Louisiana: ACLU Defends Gun Rights in New Orleans; http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/275781

-- Louisiana: Concealed weapon permit applications explode; http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=10671382&nav=menu57_2

-- Utah: Jewish high schoolers debate with gun-rights champion; http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_12805527

-- Minnesota: More concealed weapons in Minnesota? http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/9683-2

-- South Dakota: Firearms permits soaring in state; http://www.mitchellrepublic.com/event/article/id/34904/