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Josh Sugarmann

Josh Sugarmann

Posted: March 30, 2010 03:14 PM

Man Who Threatened Rep. Cantor Had Concealed Handgun Permit

What's Your Reaction:

2010-03-30-leboon.jpg Norman Leboon -- the 38-year-old Northeast Philadelphia man recently charged with threatening the life of House Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) -- was, according to the brother of Leboon's live-in partner, a "giant loon." Leboon was also a concealed handgun permit holder.

As reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer:

Peter Leboon was concerned because his brother [Norman], who he said began showing signs of mental instability three years ago, had a permit to carry a concealed weapon.


"The last time I tried to get him help, we searched the whole house, six or seven of us, we couldn't find the gun," Peter Leboon said. "I found the permit, though, and destroyed it. Whatever happened to that gun, who knows?"


Or as a neighbor told the Inquirer: "For the past two years, he's been off his rocker....I've called the cops plenty of times."


The threats and crimes committed by these "upstanding citizens," as the gun lobby likes to call concealed handgun permit holders, are no surprise. You can check the Violence Policy Center's Concealed Carry Killers website to see the most recent killings by concealed handgun permit holders (151 since May 2007, including nine dead law enforcement officers). What is surprising (but becoming less and less so) are the number of grotesque high-profile incidents -- from mass shootings to the murder of law enforcement, and now a threat to kill a Member of Congress--in which it's eventually revealed that the protagonist is a concealed handgun permit holder. With that in mind, does anyone want to take odds on these folks?

2010-03-30-militia8_doomsday_604x341.jpg

Such revelations regarding concealed handgun permit holders are often the result of a reporter who just happens to ask the right question, since such information is extremely difficult to obtain as the result of the gun lobby's successful "ignorance is bliss" legislative strategy when it comes to information on gun violence.

Now granted, the pro-concealed carry crowd will blame either the police -- literally another frequent target of permit holders -- or Leboon's family for this incident. After all, it's the job of the gun lobby and gunmakers to get as many guns into the hands of as many people as possible. It's everyone else's job to clean up after their mess.

 

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Norman Leboon -- the 38-year-old Northeast Philadelphia man recently charged with threatening the life of House Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) -- was, according to the brother of Leboon's live-in partner, ...
Norman Leboon -- the 38-year-old Northeast Philadelphia man recently charged with threatening the life of House Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) -- was, according to the brother of Leboon's live-in partner, ...
 
 
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11:55 AM on 04/08/2010
I have to reiterate a comment already posted. What is the significance of having a CCP or a drivers license, for that matter, when the crime centers around crank phone calls? Are these phone calls reason enough to deny me or 5 million others a concealed carry permit?
06:48 PM on 04/07/2010
An armed society that is also a polite society always says "excuse me" before firing.
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owlafaye
Love, laugh, be happy and free, God is dead
02:40 PM on 04/04/2010
I have a concealed hangun permit and I threatened to kill my cat if he jumped up on the dining room table one more time.
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owlafaye
Love, laugh, be happy and free, God is dead
02:39 PM on 04/04/2010
Yeahhhhh...big deal
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OdinsEye
Korean-Latino cop and retired military combat vet
07:59 PM on 04/02/2010
Have the police actually confirmed he had a current and valid concealed carry permit?

Probably not. Josh and the refernced article are probably just relying on hearsay from the brother.
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owlafaye
Love, laugh, be happy and free, God is dead
02:41 PM on 04/04/2010
anti-gunners like Christians think that lying is an abomination unto the Lord but sure comes in handy in a pinch.
07:18 AM on 04/02/2010
Josh Sugarman post the picture of the Hutaree to somehow relate it to CCW's. My question is, why does he not post the picture of the 11 African Americans and their dead leader killed by the FBI in a shootout in Detroit since this incident involves the same seperatist as the Hutaree. These were followers of ex-Black Panther leader H. Rap Brown who advocated violence to have a seperate state in the US. My guess is Sugarman wants to paint gun owners who committ these acts as only white racist. It would ruin his advocacy if a hero of the left advocates armed violence.
12:23 PM on 04/01/2010
"Man Who Threatened Rep. Cantor Had Concealed Handgun Permit "

Big Deal.

The man who wrote this blog has a Federal Firearms License.
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okami
former US Marine, retired police. disabled.
10:58 PM on 04/06/2010
I used weapons while I was in the Marines and working for my police department.

Does that count?
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12:02 PM on 04/01/2010
If this guy was a nut case, and this was reported to the police, who then did nothing, how is it the gun's fault (not that this guy actually shot anyone)?
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Rooster Coburn
Less Gov't + More Responsibility = A Better World
10:07 AM on 04/01/2010
I have yet to see any valid proof, or any proof at all for that matter, that the suspect even had a currently valid concealed weapons permit from any state, have you?
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molonlabe
Before you ban it, at least learn what it is.
09:17 AM on 04/01/2010
Hey, does anyone have a better calculator I could borrow? I was trying to calculate the statistical probablilty of being victimized by a CCW holder, but mine cannot handle that many zeros after the decimal point.

I've seen estimates of the total number of CCW holders in the US being anywhere between 5 million and 9 million. Compare that to the total number of CCW holders responsible for the 151 deaths.

Imagine if we held our health care professionals to comparable standards.
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owlafaye
Love, laugh, be happy and free, God is dead
02:46 PM on 04/04/2010
Well actually these are 151 deaths according to THEIR calculations and the stat contains a lot of misrepresentation. In addition, the time period is over 20+ months. The percentage of CCW people killing (not murdering) and the murdering thrown in is a miniscule percentile down in the 100ths of a percent.

The big LIE from the Brady Bunch is slowly being peeled back and their "news" regarded as irrelevant. They remind me of the goofy mothers pushing children in buggys around in protest of the Spacek fiasco...clueless morons.
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AZreb
equal-opportunity Independent heathen
10:31 AM on 03/31/2010
Come to AZ! New law passed - as long as you are 21 years of age and a legal resident of AZ, you don't even need a permit to carry a concealed weapon.

Makes you wonder just who is carrying and what kind of kook he is!
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Dimensio
I just don't know what went wrong!
12:31 PM on 03/31/2010
Would you experience a similar concern were you a resident of the state of Vermont?
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02:31 PM on 03/31/2010
and Alaska
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02:31 PM on 03/31/2010
It also makes criminals wonder who's carrying too.
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okami
former US Marine, retired police. disabled.
11:02 PM on 04/06/2010
"An Armed society is a polite society" - Robert Anson Heinlein
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09:22 PM on 03/30/2010
Granted, the source is the National Inquirer so don't go off on me half-cocked. The neighbor said the cops had been called several times. Would the police not be able to get information about his permit for their own protection? And if he was having psych problems, would there not be some mechanism to pull his permit? I am not advancing an argument here so much as asking for information please.
09:28 PM on 03/30/2010
"Would the police not be able to get information about his permit for their own protection?"

Who do you think issues the permits and retains the records?
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09:50 PM on 03/30/2010
Thanks.
Each state passed its own CCP Law. I don't know how it works in PA. In my state the State Police issue the permit after the applicant has passed classroom and practical tests. In FL things are easier. At any rate it is a licensed privelege that subjects the holder to a higher level of responsibility. Mental illness would seem to be one of several criteria for loss of said license. At least in my state. We shall have to hide and watch as more information comes to light.
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08:33 PM on 03/30/2010
I can't figure out what difference it makes if the guy has a conceal and carry permit or not. People who threaten kill congressmen probably wouldn't care if they are caught carrying a concealed weapon. I view it this way. The more sane, law abiding people who carry them the safer all of us are. Count on me. I am locked and loaded.
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DiogenesX
PROgressive, not REgressive!
09:23 PM on 03/30/2010
Since the NRA wants us to be able to carry our guns anywhere and lawmakers, by and large, go along with this, then we should be able to carry guns when we visit our congressmen and senators. Why can't I sit in the Senate gallery with a sidearm strapped to my hip?
If it's good enough for Starbucks and our national parks, then it should be good enough for the halls of Congress!
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10:01 PM on 03/30/2010
1954ish. Puerto Rican Nationalist Party dissidents shot up Blair House and the House of Representatives from the galleries. One bunch of whackos gets carried away and everyone else has to suffer the consequences. ..
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Dimensio
I just don't know what went wrong!
11:52 PM on 03/30/2010
"Since the NRA wants us to be able to carry our guns anywhere "

Please substantiate this assertion.
08:12 PM on 03/30/2010
Ok, so according to the VPC, 151 CCP holders have been charged (not convicted, charged). That's over an almost 3 year period: May 2007 to the present. It's currently the end of March, so that makes 151 in 35 months.

From the FBI: http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2008/offenses/expanded_information/data/shrtable_08.html

Number of homicides by year:
2006 15,087
2007 14,916
2008 14,180

So (15087 + 14916 + 14180)/3 = 14,727.67 average homicides per year.

Now take that # and divide by 12, so 14,727.67/12 = 1,227.31 homicides per month. Now we can take that number and multiply by 35 months (the length of time the VPC is using) and we get 1,227.31 * 35 = 42,955.69 homicides.

So, 151 out of 42,955.69 is 0.00352 (murders committed by CCP holders). The 2010 census numbers aren't out yet, but according to Wikipedia the over 20 number of Americans is around 224,000,000. Sadly, they don't seem to have an over 21 number, the age needed for a CCP. But if we figure 6,000,000 CCP holders out of, say, 220,000,000 we get 0.027.

Hmmm, 0.027 is a bit bigger number than 0.00352. Without an exact over 21 number from the 2010 census we have a slightly less than scientific number with the 0.027, but it's still pretty close and still a lot bigger than 0.00352.
11:07 PM on 03/30/2010
I don't disagree with where you seem to be going with this foray into numbers but looking at your link it appears you have used total homicides as opposed to hand gun related deaths which is almost half as many as total murders. Just thought I would point that out.
12:04 AM on 03/31/2010
You're absolutely right, I used total homicides. The reason is that the VPC also used total homicides in their 151 in 35 months figure. I think the whole point they're trying to make is that CCP holders can't be trusted because they've been charged with 151 homicides in 35 months. As such, it doesn't really matter if those 151 homicides were committed with a pistol or a baseball bat.

I also attempted to use non CCP holders over 21 in my comparison, since you have to be 21 to be a CCP holder.
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owlafaye
Love, laugh, be happy and free, God is dead
02:54 PM on 04/04/2010
Your calculations are quite generous. The number of people killed yearly by CCW holders is ENORMOUS if you factor in the hysteria and huge bold type headlines, fear mongering and LIES...laughter
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edgarcaycedoc
06:32 PM on 03/30/2010
Aw, C'mon. Carrying a gun is a citizens RIGHT. Doesn't matter if he/she are planning ass--ass--ina--tion. They have the RIGHT! Just remember, "When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns."
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springsm
11:55 PM on 03/30/2010
bull roar
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owlafaye
Love, laugh, be happy and free, God is dead
02:56 PM on 04/04/2010
You are absolutely right, I will be over shortly and we will run down those ground squirrels in your back 40 and delight in killing as many as we can...laughter We may just plug a few beer cans and rocks.