Woman Who Bought Guns for Killer Gets Prison

Local news reports

Dawn Nguyen, who bought weapons that a gunman used to kill two West Webster firefighters in 2012, will spend the next 16 months to four years in a state prison.

State Supreme Court Justice Thomas Moransentenced Nguyen on Monday, a month after she was convicted of lying on a firearms transaction form when she bought the guns in 2010.

It was the maximum sentence, yet Moran said it failed to match Nguyen's crime — providing guns to William Spengler Jr., a convicted felon who beat his grandmother to death with a hammer in 1981. He was barred from owning firearms as a result.

The sentence was a win for prosecutors, who sought a prison term. Nguyen's attorney, Matthew Parrinello, previously said probation would be appropriate.

"Everyone wants to connect Dawn Nguyen to that, to say but for Dawn Nguyen that wouldn't have happened," he said of the shooting. "Our position is that isn't correct."

After the sentencing, Ted Scardino, one of two firefighters wounded in the 2012 shooting, said Moran "hit the nail on the head." With a crowd of uniformed first responders behind him, Scardino recalled what Nguyen's attorney said about her nieces.

"Several families here have little kids that don't have a father or don't have a son anymore," Scardino said.

Nguyen bought a rifle and shotgun at Gander Mountain in June 2010. She indicated on a firearms form the weapons were for her, but authorities said they were for Spengler, her neighbor.

On Christmas Eve 2012, Spengler set a fire at his Lake Road home in Webster and ambushed emergency responders, killing volunteer firefighters Tomasz Kaczowka andMichael Chiapperini and wounding Scardino and Joseph Hofstetter.

Authorities say Spengler also used a third weapon — a handgun — to kill his sister, Cheryl, before setting the fire. He used that gun to kill himself.

Assistant District Attorney Timothy Prosperi said Nguyen chose to ignore obvious risks in buying weapons for a felon whom her family called the "crazy dude."

As Nguyen traveled to Gander Mountain, looked at guns with Spengler and filled out the transaction form at the register, she had several chances to change her mind and walk away, yet she did not, Prosperi said.

"Essentially, judge, she ignored these dangers and made a calculated decision to engage in this crime for money," he said.

Prosecutors maintain that Spengler paid Nguyen $1,000 to buy the guns.

Nguyen also faces federal charges in connection with the gun purchase.

Poll: Georgia Voters Disapprove of New Gun Law

PBS reports

A new poll shows Georgia voters disapprove of the state’s new gun law, despite being more likely to own guns or believing gun ownership helps protect people.

Fifty-nine percent of respondents gave HB 60, or the Safe Carry Protection Act, a thumbs down, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll conducted by SRBI of New York. The bill will allow licensed gun owners to carry firearms in many churches, bars, and government buildings. It will also allow military men and women age 18 and older permission to obtain a license to carry a firearm. Under current law, applicants must be at least 21 years old to be granted a gun permit.

Fifty-seven percent of Georgia voters said they believe owning a gun helps protect people from crime. A majority of the people polled — 55 percent — say they or someone they live with owns a gun. Only 35 percent said gun ownership puts people’s safety at risk.

The law goes into effect July 1.

The poll surveyed 1,012 adults statewide between May 5 and May 8.

A Brief History of Drones

Criminal Justice Degree Hub

And some people are more concerned about gun rights than....

Their drinking water.

According to the latest list issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, there are 21 water systems that could be out of water in 90 days or less. Eleven water systems may have just 45 days or less before running out of water. According to reporting by the Associated Press, the state's reservoirs are at their lowest point for this time of the years since 1990.

Of course, people cannot live without water, even if you are going to joke make a dumb comment about drinking beer instead since most alcoholic beverages require water at some stage in the process.

In fact, without water you cannot live.

You can't really say that about having a gun.

Do you feel stupid yet?  Or will that take time to soak into your heads?

I don't care if I am not in the majority...

I would rather be expressing something which I find to be true and beneficial to society than go with the herd.

Which takes me out of the class "Sheeple" since that implies a person who unquestioningly goes along with the herd.

In fact, Robert Ferrago said to me in a comment something along the line that I should give up and go along with the consensus.

Yes, I should agree with something that I have investigated and found wrong because everyone else believes it.

WRONG

I have made a couple of posts about dumbed down citizens and people who believe patently false things--that would place me in that group.

I've also mentioned the argumentum ad populum (argument to the people, or everybody believe it's true) fallacy.  I would be engaging in fallacious thinking.

While some might call me a pseudo-intellectual (which shows they have never met me and don't know me), it would be far more in character of a pseudo-intellectual to go with something which sounds good, but doesn't withstand scrutiny.

Personally, I don't know how you can feel intellectually superior when you are expressing something which is so obviously wrong and false.

See also:

• Why Do People Persist in Believing Things That Just Aren't True? : The New Yorker

Nebraska Man Charged with Accidentally Shooting His Friend

Delynn Matthew Sanders, 18, was charged with reckless use of firearm causing injury.

Local news reports

Police arrested a Des Moines man in the accidental shooting of a teen who arrived at a hospital emergency room Sunday morning and passed out, officials said.

Delynn Matthew Sanders, 18, was charged with reckless use of a firearm causing injury. He remains in the Polk County Jail on a $50,000 cash-only bond.

Sanders told detectives he accidentally shot the 16-year-old victim at his apartment in the 200 block of Franklin Avenue, apparently while mishandling a gun, said Des Moines Police Sgt. Jason Halifax. Investigators believe Sanders' story, Halifax said.

The victim arrived was dropped off at an emergency room around 9:50 a.m. Sunday with a gunshot wound to the chest. He fell unconscious before he could tell hospital staff what happened. A witness gave investigators the address where the shooting occurred, police reports show.

The gun Sanders had was legal for him to own and no weapons charges were filed.

The teen was in serious condition at the hospital Sunday.

That's a good one.  No weapons charges were filed except reckless use of a firearm.

South Carolina 4-Year-old Dead - No Charges - It Was Just a Tragic Accident

Local news reports

A 4-year-old boy who accidentally shot himself after he found a .25-caliber pistol last week has died, according to the Dorchester County Coroner's Office.

Coroner Chris Nisbet identified the boy as Jeffery Scott of Otranto Road in North Charleston. He died Friday afternoon at Medical University Hospital, where he was being treated following the May 12 incident.

Nisbet has ruled his death an accident.

Summerville Police Capt. Jon Rogers said detectives are still trying to determine who owned the gun. The case remains under investigation, and no criminal charges have been filed, he said.

The boy's 75-year-old grandmother, Margaret G. Wilson, called 911 around 4:40 p.m. on May 12 to report the shooting at 811 W. Richardson Ave.

"I don't know where he got a gun from," Wilson told the 911 dispatcher. "Somebody, please come. Come quick."

By then, the .25-caliber Taurus pistol had been placed on the dining room table, and the boy was lying on the floor.