weapon news stories on Newser

NC Police Chief Fails Gun Test, Loses Badge

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 11:46:27 CDT

The police chief of a North Carolina town has been prohibited from carrying a badge and gun because he can't shoot straight. Thomas Bennett was suspended as a law enforcement officer after failing his recent annual firearms qualification exam. He has been police chief in Richlands, near the Atlantic coast,...

NY Youths Arrested in Snowball Assault

Matt Cantor — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 13:48:05 CST

A vicious attack on a mailman has three New York youths charged with criminal arms possession. Their weapon of choice? Snowballs, the New York Post reports—hard, icy ones. A 16-year-old and a pair of juveniles allegedly threw them at the carrier, then beat him when he yelled back. They...

After 50 Years, a New Army Rifle

Evann Gastaldo — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 09:21:21 CST

For nearly 50 years, US Army troops have relied on M4 and M16 rifles, but that could soon change. While Army leaders have long been loyal to the "combat proven" rifles, questions and complaints have arisen about their design and reliability. So the Army this week advertised its interest in...

New Way to Fight Pirates: With a Laser

Matt Cantor — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 13:49:59 CST

Somali pirates, beware: British scientists are developing a laser that works by confusing would-be attackers from more than a mile away, the Daily Mail reports. The laser hides the ship in a veil of green light, preventing pirates from easily steering toward or aiming at their victims. “We are using...

Video Bares Snowball-Gun Near Tragedy

M Papenfuss — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 02:07:23 CST

A video has emerged revealing how tense a standoff became between a pistol-brandishing cop and several snowballers on a DC street. The angry off-duty detective, who has been rebuked by his superiors, is seen waving his gun after his Hummer was pelted by snowballs, and taunting the crowd, "Go on,...

School Suspends 1st-Grader for Cub Scout Eating Utensils

Nick McMaster — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 01:42:18 CDT

A first grader was suspended for 45 days from school for bringing a Cub Scout combined knife-fork-spoon utensil to class, triggering an uproar among parents. Zachary Christie, 6, was booted because his Newark school has a zero-tolerance policy on knives. Horrifying episodes like the Columbine and Virginia Tech shootings have...

Iran Test Launches Its Longest-Range Missiles

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 06:03:19 CDT

Iran claimed to have test-fired the longest-range missiles in its arsenal today—weapons capable of carrying a warhead and striking Israel or US military bases in the Middle East. It was the third round of missile tests in two days of drills by the power Revolutionary Guard, which controls Iran's...

Girlfriend Owned Gun at McNair Crime Scene

M. Morris — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:55:15 CDT

Steve McNair's girlfriend bought a gun on Thursday, less than 2 days before she and the retired NFL quarterback were shot to death with the weapon, Nashville police say. A spokesman refused to say who sold Sahel Kazemi the gun but did say it fired five shots, the Tennessean reports....

Sotomayor's Nunchuks Ruling Worries Gun Groups

Rob Quinn — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:44:43 CDT

Ninjas aren't the only people concerned about Sonia Sotomayor's decision earlier this year to uphold New York's ban on nunchuks, or nunchakus, CQPolitics reports. The Supreme Court nominee was on a panel that rejected a man's claim that the ban on the martial arts weapon violated his Second Amendment right...