Another sad outcome

October, 2009 - Crime: Murder, Suicide
Lebanon, Pennsylvania - Meleanie Hain was a CCW permit holder who made the mistake of showing up at her 5 year old's soccer practice with a handgun holstered to her hip. Her permit was temporarily revoked. Meleanie complained that because her permit was revoked that her babysitting business had suffered and she had been ostracized in her community. The judge in the case, while giving her bad her permit, made it clear he questioned her judgement.

This morning Meleanie and her husband were found dead in what looks to be a murder/suicide. Meleanie and her husband had been having marital difficulties. The couple's three children were at home at the time of the murder but were physically uninjured.

October, 2009 - Crime: Attempted murder, Failure to secure a high powered weapon, Discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling
Randolph, Massachusetts - Christopher Leonard, a CCW permit holder, got into an argument with his next door neighbor, John Rota, about the leaves falling in their yards. Leonard felt so strongly about the argument that he shot his neighbor in the stomach.

Leonard was released on $20,000 cash bail with the conditions that he not reside at his home, not have any contact with the victim, not take any alcohol or drugs and take regular drug tests.

October, 2009 - Crime: Making terroristic threats
Minneapolis, Minnesota - Raymond Kenneth Kmetz was at the Hennepin County courthouse because he was a defendant in a criminal case. Prior to arriving at the courthouse he informed someone that he planned to bring a gun with him and shoot individuals involved in the case. Police investigating the threat discovered that Kmetz had applied for a CCW permit.

A Story That Will Break Your Heart

September, 2009 - Crime: Impersonating a police officer
San Rafael, Florida - Back in 2002, police officer named Timothy McGinley was involved in a car crash which caused a serious brain injury. The injury, unfortunately, cost Officer McGinley his career in law enforcement.

[Those who work with individuals will tell you that people who suffer from TBI (Traumatic brain injuries) will tell you it can effect not only cognitive processes but also emotional processes and personality. While the article does not state directly the impairments Officer McGinley suffered, I wanted to make note that the behavior discussed in the article could very well have been the result of his disability. That said, this is solely this blogger's opinion and not gospel. ed]

Four years later, Mr. McGinley was arrested for walking into a church with a concealed weapon and three controlled substances. After posting bond, he made the poor choice of returning to the church and confronting the minister. The police were once again called and this time Mr. McGinley showed them a police badge and a card which stated "Sworn CCW for life". When the police verified that Mr. McGinley was no longer a police officer, he was arrested again.

This month, after a domestic dispute with his ex-girlfriend, Mr. McGinley was arrested for violating his parole. While in police custody, Tim McGinley hung himself in his jail cell.

While there are multitudes of tragedies connected to this story, this blog is dedicated to CCW. It is unfathomable that an individual with a disabling brain injury would be permitted to get a permit since the mental and emotional disablity is permanent.

Our prayers are with Tim McGinley's family.

Update August 15, 2009

August, 2009 - Crime: Murder
http://www.wreg.com/wreg-davisparttwo-story,0,2446637.story

Bartlett, Tennessee - Austin Agee, a 22 year old CCW permit holder, committed suicide in front of his mother and sister. He was apparently distraught because the police were planning on questioning in more detail over the disappearance of aspiring actress, Lisa Davis. Agee left several suicide notes informing the police where he dumped Davis' body. She had been shot in the back of the head. Agee wrote that 'things just got out of hand'.