When an lone gunman went on a murder spree in the sleepy little town of Samson, Alabama on March 10, it didn't take long for the 5-officer police department to be overwhelmed.

When the enormity of the act started to sink in, the town put out the call for help from all the police departments in the area.

Now, an inquiry is underway to determing just who called for - or authorized - twenty two active-duty military police officers from Fort Rucker, Alabama who patrolled the streets and helped out with civilian police duties.

It wasn't Alabama Governor Bob Riley.

His office was apparently surprised to learn the Fort Rucker MPs had been on the scene.

No request was issued by the White House or the Defense Department. And a commander's inquiry is underway at Fort Rucker to find out who gave the "go" command - and why.

Geneva County, Alabama Sheriff Greg Ward says he spoke with an officer from Fort Rucker who told him "Rucker was there if we needed generators, lights, equipment and stuff like that." From there, it seems the offer escalated.

Sheriff Ward dismisses the idea that someone overstepped their bounds- or the idea that troops may have violated federal law.

Good intentions and Sheriff Ward aside, what happened when the MPs hit the streets of Samson was an unlawful use of federal troops inside U.S. borders. That violates the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878. Congress has not been crystal clear on many things, but has remained adamant that the use of U.S. troops as civilian police is forbidden in any but the most dire situations.

Even the expanded Insurrection Act of 1808 - amended in 2007- which allows the President to authorize troops to restore order and enforce the laws of the United States has clear procedural steps which must be followed in order for troops to be deployed.

As that investigation continues, we'll keep you posted.

In the meantime, it looks like a draw in the courts.

Last week, U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly issued a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit brought by gun-control advocates and environmental groups looking to block former-President Bush's last-minute rule allowing visitors of national parks to carry concealed weapons.

The Justice Department had sought to block the injunction against the controversial rule, but Kollar-Kotelly issued a scathing rebuke of the rule, saying it violated all required policies and procedures for rule-making.

And it wasn't a scathing rebuke, but the Illinois Supreme Court did dismiss Adames vs. Sheehan, a wrongful death lawsuit seeking to hold Beretta U.S.A. Corp. responsible for a criminal shooting involving a firearm legally manufactured and sold. The Illinois high court said the suit was baseless under the 2005 Protection in Lawful Commerce in Firearms Act of 2005. That act was passed to protect firearms makers and retailers from lawsuits seeking damages for acts committed with firearms which were lawfully made and sold.

Other than the aforementioned lawsuit seeking to block concealed carry in national parks, the Brady Center has seen many of its suits against gun makers. New York City and the District of Columbia both had similar cases and appeals dismissed by the United States Supreme Court.

And finally, something that's thankfully more recreational and less litigious....

For several years, Irlene Mandrell has hosted her annual celebrity charity shoot benefitting Wish Upon A Star and the Boy Scouts of America. This year, the event will be held June 24-28 at the Seven Springs Mountain Resort in the Laurel Mountains outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The Mandrell sisters (Country Music Hall of Fame Member Barbara, Irlene and Louise) will reunite for the event, and we're told many other celebrities will be attending.

The main event will be sporting clays, but there will be side matches of 9mm pistol, paintball challenge, wobble trap and 5-stand, tomahawk throwing, and other events.

Thursday, June 25 is Kid's Day with girls and boys ages 6 through 17 encouraged to participate in a variety of strictly supervised activities.

Sounds like several great days in the outdoors - and some fun competition.

You can learn more about it at www.IrleneMandrellShoot.com.