Florida Arrests Man for Vessel Homicide

Following the completion of an accident investigation, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) issued an arrest warrant for a Sunny Isles man on a vessel homicide charge. Felipe Escobar (DOB 03/03/69) turned himself in when notified.

If convicted of the charge, he could face up to 15 years in prison.

“The reckless or careless operation of a vessel will not be tolerated,” said Maj. Alfredo Escanio, FWC regional commander. “And when it results in a death, it is our top priority to hold the responsible party accountable and to keep Florida’s waterways as safe as possible.”

On May 26, 2014, Escobar was operating a 23-foot boat when he struck an anchored boat near Elliot Key in Miami-Dade County. As a result of the crash, a passenger on board Escobar’s vessel, Giovanna Santos (02/05/77), died. Escobar and another passenger, Jason Carvalho, sustained serious injuries. The occupants on board the other vessel were uninjured. An investigation into the incident revealed that Escobar was operating his vessel in a reckless manner which resulted in a homicide.

“Deaths caused by boating accidents that involve reckless vessel operation, alcohol or drugs are preventable,” Escanio said, “Boating safety is a top priority for the FWC and we will continue working to avoid similar incidents in the future.”

Fishing

New Concealed Pistol Legislation Heads to Gov. Snyder

GW:  I’d be really surprised if Governor, Rick Snyder, doesn’t sign the new gun bill to streamline and revamp the current model.  He doesn’t stand for the “piling on” tactic employed by politicians proposing new laws, by seemingly always adding carrots and concessions as a form of quid pro quo.

Part of the issue over the years, is that certain gun board members have remain opposed to the idea of law abiding citizens’ carrying concealed pistols.  Before “shall issue” it was even worse and typically made an applicant prove why he needed a permit.  Some of these self-anointed judges are still with us and do everything in their power to circumvent the Constitution.  Just look at Washington, D.C., if you need a glaring example.

Sponsored by Sen. Mike Green, R-Mayville, the bill would eliminate county gun boards December 1. Applicants will then be able to apply for permits through county clerks, submitting fingerprints and proof of certified handgun-use training and would receive permits, if they cleared state police and national law enforcement criminal background checks.

Let’s get on with it!

 

Gun Control, Self Defense

Michigan DNR appeals federal court’s wolf decision

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources today filed an appeal of a December 2014 federal district court ruling that returned wolves in Michigan and Wisconsin to the federal endangered species list and wolves in Minnesota to federal threatened species status. The appeal – filed by the Michigan Attorney General in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia – asks the court to uphold the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s December 2011 decision that removed the Great Lakes Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of wolves from the federal endangered species list.

 

“Returning wolf management to wildlife professionals in the state of Michigan is critical to retaining a recovered, healthy, and socially-accepted wolf population in our state,” said DNR Director Keith Creagh.

 

“Michigan residents who live with wolves deserve to have a full range of tools available to sustainably manage that population.” Wolves in Michigan are 15 years past the population recovery goals set by the federal government. The DNR will argue against the federal district court’s ruling that wolves must recover across their historic range – which includes the lower 48 states and Mexico – before Michigan’s wolf population can be removed from the federal endangered species list. In addition, the state will argue against the district court’s conclusion that the USFWS failed to demonstrate that Michigan’s laws and regulations adequately protect the wolf population within Michigan.

 

“Wolves in Michigan and the other western Great Lakes states are fully recovered from endangered species status, which is a great success story,” said DNR Wildlife Division Chief Russ Mason. “Continuing to use the Endangered Species Act to protect a recovered species not only undermines the integrity of the Act, it leaves farmers and others with no immediate recourse when their animals are being attacked and killed by wolves.”

 

Michigan’s wolf population numbers approximately 636 in the state’s Upper Peninsula. With the return to federal protection in December 2014, the DNR lost the authority to use a variety of wolf management methods, including lethal control, to minimize wolf conflict with humans, livestock and dogs. The change in status also suspended state authority that allowed livestock and dog owners to protect their animals from wolf depredation when wolves are in the act of attacking those animals.

 

The federal district court’s December 2014 decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by the Humane Society of the United States, in which the State of Michigan participated as a defendant-intervener arguing against returning the Great Lakes DPS of wolves to the endangered species list. Michigan joins the USFWS and a number of hunting and conservation organizations in appealing the ruling.

 

For more information about Michigan’s wolf population and management plan, visit www.michigan.gov/wolves.

Animal Rights, Hunting, Wildlife

Michigan State Parks Offer Alternatives to Tent Camping

Furnace Hill Lodge at Fayette State Park boasts a modern kitchen.

Yurts, like this one at Waterloo Recreation Area, offer a unique alternative to other winter camping facilities.

Most people consider camping at Michigan state parks and recreation areas a three-season activity. Who really wants to pitch a tent when there’s a foot of snow on the ground and the thermometer reads well below freezing?

But folks who want to get away from it all in the winter have a plethora of options at numerous state parks and recreation areas that don’t involve sleeping out in the elements.

State parks and recreation areas across Michigan (managed by the Department of Natural Resources) offer lodges, cabins, mini-cabins or yurts that’ll give you a warm place to spend the night when there aren’t a lot of other campers around. There also is a wide variety of recreational opportunities available all winter long. Read more

General

Coast Guard Foundation Announces 2015 Scholarship Opportunities

Applications from Children of Enlisted Coast Guard Members Are Accepted Until March 15th

Stonington, Conn. — The Coast Guard Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to the education and welfare of Coast Guard members and their families, announced today that it has kicked off its scholarship season. Accepting applications until March 15th, children of enlisted Coast Guard members may apply for scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 per year. Over the last 20 years, the Coast Guard Foundation has given more than $3 million through its scholarship program to family members of brave Coast Guard men and women to help them achieve their dreams of higher education. The non-profit’s commitment to education support has significantly grown over time and is now a primary focus of the organization. Read more

General

Parker Tornado F4 Upgraded In 2015

Parker Bows, a leading U.S. manufacturer of high quality Compound bows, Crossbows and Crossbow Accessories is proud to introduce the Upgraded Tornado F4 for 2015. Loaded with RED HOT High Performance Crossbow Accessories, the Upgraded Tornado F4 comes packed with features to enhance the hunters experience in the woods.

The Tornado F4 Crossbow now includes the following RED HOT High Performance Crossbow Accessories, making this the Ultimate Crossbow Hunting Package: a RED HOT Sling, Four RED HOT High Velocity Crossbow Arrows with Field Points, RED HOT Split Limb Dampeners, Four Arrow Quick Detach Quiver and a Premium RED HOT Optic – The Best Crossbow Optics in the Industry.

The Tornado F4 features Parker’s proprietary Advanced Split Limb Technology with integrated Fulcrum Pocket System making it ultra-compact while hurling arrows downrange at over 350 Feet Per Second (FPS). With the Bull-Pup trigger and ergonomic textured pistol grip, the Tornado F4 is easy to maneuver in a treestand or ground blind. At a mere 8 lbs, the Tornado F4 is Ultra Lightweight and Optimally Balanced for a steadier aim on the target. The F4 features Parker’s EZ pull system that reduces cocking effort by over 50%, when paired with the RED HOT EZ Roller Rope Cocker; this system makes Parker crossbows the easiest to cock in the industry.

Featuring RealTree’s Advantage Timber Camo, the Tornado F4 is proudly made in the U.S.A with a retail beginning at $899.95.

Archery

Calguns Foundation Remains “Absolutely Committed” to Handgun Roster Case

SACRAMENTO, CA— In response to a federal district court decision released today on the constitutionality of the State of California’s “Unsafe Handgun Act” handgun roster and microstamping laws, The Calguns Foundation released the following statement:

“We are disappointed that the district court sidestepped a clear violation of Second Amendment civil rights in its decision today. However, we are absolutely committed to litigating this case as far as necessary to reverse this incorrect ruling and restore the right to keep and bear modern handguns in the Golden State.

It is difficult to understand how the Supreme Court’s landmark District of Columbia v. Heller decision could be so badly mis-applied. Laws that ban law-abiding people from acquiring virtually all modern handguns following a rigorous background check have no constitutional basis and must be overturned.

It is utterly preposterous that a Federal Court would rule that a ban on all new semi-automatic handguns does not burden Second Amendment rights. Such a decision conflicts with Ninth Circuit precedent, much less the Supreme Court’s holdings in Heller and McDonald v. Chicago. Read more

Gun Control

NJ Prosecutor Overrules Sheriff on Flintlock Prosecution Case

Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae has indicating she was dismissing the charges against 72-year old retired teacher and military academy graduate Gordon Van Gilder. Van Gilder made international news after being arrested and charged by Cumberland County Sheriff Robert Austino for possession of a flintlock pistol dating back to the 1700’s – a “crime” carrying up to 10 years in prison under the Garden State’s nonsensical gun laws.

The prosecutor’s press release undoubtedly came in reaction to intense public outcry as Van Gilder’s story went viral. While the press release warns gun owners generally not to possess firearms in a vehicle, it states “upon careful review of the circumstances in this case, I am exercising prosecutorial discretion to dismiss the…charges in the interest of justice…”

Van Gilder was stopped in November (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiI-2RD19q0) by a Cumberland County sheriff’s deputy for a minor traffic violation. When he volunteered that he had a nearly 300-year-old flintlock pistol with him, he was initially released but then arrested the next morning at his home and charged with unlawful possession of a handgun, a felony.

Several NJ lawmakers have introduced legislation to exempt possession of antique guns from prosecution (Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande, Sen. Jeff Van Drew and Assemblyman Robert Andrzejczak). Please watch for additional updates.

Gun Control

Brownells 1911 Catalog #11 Now Available

 

MONTEZUMA, Iowa – Brownells has proudly released the 11th edition of its very popular catalog specifically for the 1911, which is entirely devoted to John Browning’s timeless pistol design. With more than 70 pages of the parts, tools and accessories for building, repairing and maintaining America’s favorite handgun, the new catalog features an expanded ammunition section with numerous calibers and loadings to accommodate the many conversions available today.

Fans of popular red-dot sights compatible with the 1911 platform will be excited to check out the Optics & Optics Mounts section, which highlights the C-More STS-2, the Burris Fastfire III and others. Additionally, Catalog #11 features five new 1911 Dream Guns™ built by famous gunmakers and companies like Larry Vickers, Ed Brown and Cylinder & Slide – as well as Brownells’ own employees – to help provide customers with ideas for customizing or building their own 1911 Autos.

“The 1911 catalog is one of our most popular catalogs,” said Brownells President/COO, Matt Buckingham. “Number 11 is packed with thousands of top-quality parts, tools and accessories that appeal to every type of 1911 enthusiast – from skilled gunsmiths to first-time hobbyists. This is a must-have catalog for any 1911 builder or owner.” Customers can obtain a free copy of Brownells 1911 Catalog #11 by visiting the catalog section of Brownells.com, or calling 800-741-0015 and requesting one. Read more

Firearms
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