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David Sherfinski

dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com

David Sherfinski covered politics for The Washington Times.

Articles by David Sherfinski

Supporters of the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act say it would give law-abiding citizens the ability to protect themselves when they travel, but critics say it eviscerates states' rights to uphold their own firearms standards by allowing gun owners who obtain permits in states with lesser requirements to carry in all 50 states. (Associated Press/File)

House Democrats give grudging support to 10-year gun ban extension

The House voted Tuesday to renew a ban on undetectable plastic guns, sending the bill to the Senate, where Democrats must decide whether to accept it as is or pick a fight that could cause them to break the Dec. 9 deadline when the ban expires.

December 3, 2013
A vote on a bill that would extend a ban on undetectable plastic guns was delayed until Tuesday so that bill sponsor Rep. Howard Coble, North Carolina Republican, could be present to vote. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Extending plastic gun ban just first step?

Gun rights groups are rallying to try to stop any extension of a federal law to ban undetectable plastic guns, saying that if the House GOP passes something Senate Democrats will turn it into a broader gun control push.

December 2, 2013
"People are opportunistic buyers — they bought [an AR-15 variant] because they thought they were going to be banned," says David Chipman, a former ATF agent. (Associated Press)

Gun-buying spree wanes after post-Newtown high

Federal gun-purchase background checks ticked up in October, but analysts say the surge in applications to buy guns, which peaked in the months after the Newtown school shootings in Connecticut, likely has leveled off.

November 28, 2013
** FILE ** (Associated Press)

Mental health record checks little-used

Fifteen states have submitted fewer than 100 total mental health records to the federal government's instant check system, marking what gun control advocates said is a major flaw in the system.

November 27, 2013
Rep. Trey Radel, Florida Republican (left), sits in a smoking section Tuesday behind the Hazelden addiction treatment facility in Naples, Fla. The freshman congressman is receiving treatment at the facility during a leave of absence after pleading guilty last week to a misdemeanor cocaine possession charge. (associated press)

Radel resists Republican calls for his resignation

Embattled Rep. Trey Radel is resisting calls from fellow Republicans to resign, as a spokesman said Tuesday the freshman Florida Republican is focused on rehabilitation and returning to work.

November 26, 2013
Sen. Jeff Sessions, Alabama Republican, halted Senate action on a bill last week to renew the plastic weapons ban. He objected because it was introduced just hours before the chamber adjourned.

Recess to complicate push to renew plastic gun ban

The federal law banning undetectable plastic guns expires in two weeks and Congress is on a Thanksgiving vacation, making it likely the law will lapse — and opening up at least a temporary problem.

November 25, 2013
Authorities say Adam Lanza killed his mother at their home and then opened fire inside the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., killing 26 people, including 20 children, before taking his own life, on Friday, Dec. 14, 2012. (AP Photo/NBC News)

Newtown shooter Adam Lanza acted alone, had no clear motive: report

Newtown gunman Adam Lanza acted alone in the December shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School that left 20 children and six educators dead but did not have a clear motive for killing his mother, carrying out the school slaughter, and then killing himself, according to a State's Attorney's report released Monday.

November 25, 2013
In this photo in Richmond, Va. on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009, Gus Deeds, left, attends an election results event with his father, Democratic gubernatorial candidate and Virginia State Sen. Creigh Deeds, after his loss in the Virginia governor's race against Republican Bob McDonnell. Virginia State Police confirmed Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013, that Creigh Deeds was stabbed multiple times and his son Gus, 24, was shot and killed at Deeds' Home in Bath County, Va., during a Tuesday morning assault. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Bob McDonnell orders review of mental health system after attack on Creigh Deeds

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell has directed his secretary of health and human resources to conduct a "comprehensive review" of the state's mental health system in the wake of Gus Deeds' apparent suicide this week and said he'll weigh providing additional resources in the outgoing two-year state budget proposal he'll unveil next month.

November 21, 2013
This photo taken with a cellphone shows Rep. Henry "Trey" Radel, R-Fla. leaving court in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2013, leaving court after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of cocaine possession and was sentenced to a year's probation. (AP Photo/Jessica Gresko)

Florida congressman pleads guilty to cocaine charge

Rep. Trey Radel, Florida Republican elected to Congress in November 2012, pleaded guilty Wednesday morning to a misdemeanor charge of possession of cocaine and was sentenced to one year of probation, federal officials announced.

November 20, 2013
President Barack Obama gives a thumbs-up after speaking at the ArcelorMittal Cleveland steel plant, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013, in Cleveland. Obama touted increased automobile fuel efficiency for helping reduce reliance on foreign oil. For the first time in nearly two decades, the U.S. produced more oil at home in October than it imported from abroad. Obama called the shift "a huge competitive advantage" for the United States. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Obama approval rating sinks to 37 percent

President Obama's approval rating has sunk to 37 percent in a new poll released Wednesday — the lowest of his presidency — and his disapproval rate is at 57 percent, a new high for him in CBS News polls.

November 20, 2013