The Seattle Times

Felons easily purchased guns, advocacy group says

WASHINGTON—Since mid-1999, 9,976 felons and others legally barred from buying guns—including 343 in Washington—cruised past background checks and purchased firearms, an advocacy group said yesterday.

A report by the Americans for Gun Safety Foundation said most states, including Washington, rely on outdated records and computer technology for background checks, which allows thousands of felons to purchase guns with little trouble. Twenty-two states received failing grades in the report for not maintaining maintain felony-conviction, mental-disability and domestic-violence records; Washington was given a “B-.”

Background checks to determine whether prospective gun buyers have criminal records have been required since 1994 under the Brady Act, staunchly opposed by gun-rights groups. The foundation advocates a “don’t know-don’t sell” policy for those with uncertain backgrounds.

The National Rifle Association agreed the system is sloppy but said the blame should fall on an out-of-control bureaucracy, not lawful gun owners.

Dismissed law student kills dean, professor, wounds 3

GRUNDY, Va.—A student who had been dismissed from law school went on a campus shooting spree yesterday, killing the dean, a professor and a student before he was tackled by students, authorities said.

The attack also wounded three female students at the Appalachian School of Law. They were hospitalized in fair condition.

Authorities said the 42-year-old suspect, Peter Odighizuwa, had arrived at school to meet with the dean about his academic dismissal, which went into effect yesterday.

Police fatally shoot iguana latched onto owner’s finger

HOLLYWOOD, Fla.—Police shot and killed a 4-foot iguana after it latched onto its 14-year-old owner’s finger and bit off the tip.

Christopher Charlie’s mother called police, who tried unsuccessfully to stun the iguana with a Taser gun. Police then shot the iguana in an attempt to retrieve the finger tip, thought to be in the iguana’s stomach.

The fingertip was found in the yard, but doctors said it was too severely damaged to be reattached.

Suspect in 26 bank heists arrested—in front of bank

BRADENTON, Fla.—A man suspected of robbing 26 Florida banks in three years was arrested yesterday after police said they found him sitting in a car parked outside a bank with a gun in the front seat.

Raymond Norman, 45, of Tampa, was being held in the Sarasota County Jail, officials said. Armed-robbery charges were pending.

‘Controlled’ landing goes out of control; military pilot OK

SAVANNAH, Ga.—A military jet malfunctioned yesterday as it was landing, veering off the runway and catching fire. The pilot was slightly injured as he was ejected from the F/A-18 Hornet.

“It was a controlled landing that went out of control,” said Mike Wilson, a Chatham County police spokesman. He said the accident apparently was the result of a landing-gear problem.

Appalachian School of Law Shootings

The Seattle Times