Miami Herald Misdiagnoses Murder in Carribbean

Caribbean Sea map is public domain

In the November 14 edition of the Miami Herald, in an article titled: Report: Majority of trafficked guns in Caribbean are from the U.S., shipped from Florida, reporters Jacqueline Charles and Jay Weaver claim a lack of restrictive gun laws in the United States cause high murder rates in Caribbean countries. From the article:

A new report from the U.S. government’s lead investigator on gun trafficking in the Caribbean area is confirming what region leaders have long said: Most of the firearms wreaking havoc in their vulnerable nations and being used in 90% of the homicides are coming from the United States.

Note the premise included in the misuse of the English language in the opening sentence:  the firearms wreaking havoc.

Firearms do not wreak havoc. This is Orwellian distortion of the language. Firearms are inanimate objects. Firearms do not cause harm. Firearms do not have a will of their own. The correct usage would be: People in vulnerable nations are wreaking havoc with firearms. This is important. Semantics are important. You must correctly understand cause and effect if you are to solve a problem. If you confuse cause and effect, your attempts to solve problems will almost certainly fail. You will attempt to change an effect rather a cause. Occasionally, simply by chance, an action taken with the wrong assumption may line up with a real cause.

Firearms do not cause murders and violent crime. The evidence does not support this assumption. Firearms numbers vary wildly across the globe, and in the Caribbean. Firearms laws vary wildly across the globe and the Caribbean as well. Murders and violent crime vary wildly as well. There is no correlation between them.

People can sometimes find a correlation between firearms laws and murders/violent crime committed with firearms. This does not show firearms cause crime. It shows a truism. Firearms can be used in crime.  Firearms can also be used to defend against crime. There is no good evidence to show a decrease in overall murders or overall violent crime when/where extremely restrictive firearm laws are implemented. If overall murder rates or overall violent crime rates do not decrease when firearms laws are implemented, the laws have failed in their stated objectives.

Consider two sets of Islands in the Caribbean, close together. There are the British Virgin Islands and the United States Virgin Islands. They are separated by a few miles. Both sets of Islands have extremely restrictive firearms laws. The US Virgin Islands has the most restrictive firearms laws under any US jurisdiction. The British Virgin Islands have similar firearms laws, inherited from the United Kingdom. The population of the British Virgin Islands is about 39,000. The population of the U.S. Virgin Islands is about 86,000. The British Virgin Islands homicide rate, when reported, averages about 7.5/100,000 of population per year. This correspondent has not found records since 2007. The US Virgin Islands homicide rate has averaged about 40.6/100,000 over the last 25 years.

Jamaica, another island nation in the Caribbean, had relatively low murder rates under British rule, and relatively mild gun laws. Jamaica became independent in 1962. In 1967 it instituted extreme, draconian laws restricting gun ownership. Murder rates increased tenfold.

Another entity in the Caribbean, Puerto Rico, recently made major reforms in its firearm laws. Puerto Rico greatly reduced restrictions on owning and carrying firearms. The murder rate dropped.

The United States has the largest concentration of firearms in the world. Saying countries in the Caribbean obtain most of their firearms from the United States is similar to saying water is wet.

Analysis: The purpose of a report showing there are high rates of violent crime committed in some Caribbean nations, with high numbers of murders committed with guns from the United States, is to persuade the reader to believe the solution to violent crime in Caribbean nations is to restrict gun ownership in the United States.

This is not reporting. This is Orwellian propaganda.  This correspondent uses the term Orwellian precisely. The purpose of "news" in Orwell's novel 1984, was to restrict how people could think. The Miami Herald article is part of an attempt by a political movement to restrict how people can think about firearms ownership. The means of reducing violent crime are well known.  Extreme control of firearms ownership is not required.  To reduce violent crime: Create a "trust society" where people trust the police, the political system, and believe a reasonable approximation of justice will be produced by the courts. When the body of the people trust the justice system, and work with it, violent crime is reduced to low levels.

• Create laws which are simple and easy to understand.
• Enforce the laws fairly and reasonably effectively.
• Hold people who abuse their legal authority to account.

These actions are opposite of what Leftist political philosophers require:

• Make laws to govern every situation, in such ways, no one is sure what is legal or illegal. This maximizes government power.
• Enforce the law based on the political requirements of the moment. Find the man you wish or "need" to prosecute, then find the crime in order to prosecute the man.
• Hold people in power accountable only if it serves the purpose of the political moment.

When a person knowingly subjects other people to the last three actions, they fear retribution. High rates of legal firearm ownership give people who are victims of the last three points a way of making life difficult for the people who victimized them.  There appears to be a correlation between high levels of corruption in government and highly restrictive firearms laws.   A knowledgeable source told this correspondent the most corrupt jurisdiction in the United States is the U.S. Virgin Islands.

 

©2024 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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WA: Lakewood Convenience Store Owner Wounded in Gunfight with Four Suspects

 Three males reportedly entered the store, while another one waited outside. One of the men tried to steal some items. The owner confronted them, which led to one of them striking him with a can, the release said. They left the store, and the owner followed them out. The incident escalated when the owner and men exchanged gunshots. The owner was struck, and the men ran off, the release said.

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Errol Musk is Armed all the Time (video)

In a fascinating interview by Alarabia News on Youtube, Errol Musk, Elon Musk's father, explains how Elon Musk moved from being a Democrat to being a fervent Trump supporter. Errol Musk lives in South Africa, where Elon was born and raised.

At  14:25 in the video, Errol says Elon Musk changed from being a Democrat to being a Trump supporter because Elon is rooted in reality. Errol says he lives in reality, not a leftist utopia. Errol says in South Africa, he  has to be armed all the time.

"I live in a sort of real world. I'm not in America. I live in a world where, unfortunately, you have to walk around armed all the time. A dangerous place."

Elon's father says Elon will do a wonderful job of cutting the federal government expenditures. He says:

Elon will look at the whole thing from the top to the bottom. 

Errol compares the United States to South Africa. He says he and many others have been looking for something like this to happen in South Africa, where the government takes enormous sums of money and nothing good happens! He says:

People like myself has been looking for this for years! 

South Africa is far further down the socialist/communist slide into terror and dystopia than is the United States. It is functionally much closer to Venezuela or Cuba than it is to the United States. Electricity is only available part time. South Africa has a very high murder rate, several times that of the United States. It is known as the rape capitol of the world. Most of the money taken in taxes ends up in the hands of corrupt politicians or their cronies.

Most people in the United States do not want to see the United States become South Africa  or Venezuela or Cuba. They are rooted in realism much as Errol Musk is rooted in realism.  This video is a refreshing look inside the world of the richest man in the world. It is a look through one of the most important men in his life, his father. Error Musk is obviously very intelligent. You can see this in the way he handles the interview. Even though the host tries to lead Errol in certain directions, Errol does not take the bait. He questions the premises embedded in the questions from the host. Then he gives direct answers.

It seems Elon has reconciled with his father, and his father is very happy about it. The entire interview is only 30 minutes long. If you wish to understand the richest man in the world, if you wish to understand how Elon Musk will approach his new job of co-director of the Department of Government Efficiency, this video offers tremendous insight.

Elon grew up in a dangerous country, but the country was run relatively well. Elon moved to Canada in 1988. South Africa gave in to international pressure and leftist terror tactics in 1994.  South Africa immediately became dominated by far left political parties and communists.  South Africa is much worse off today than when Elon emigrated to Canada, eventually to move to the United States. The parallels to what has been happening in the United States to what happened in South Africa are obvious to a man with Elon Musk's experience. This explains Elon's dedication to the First and Second Amendments and to the United States Constitution. They are the core of the reason for the success of the United States. There is no other country in the world where a person of genius like Elon Musk could have accomplished what Elon has accomplished.

©2024 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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AL: Enterprise Attack with Pipe leads to Shooting, Death

November 19, 2024

On November 18, 2024, at 11:05 AM, EPD Officers responded to the 800 block of County Road 266 on a shooting call. At the scene, Officers located one male victim with injuries to his head and one deceased male individual with a gun-shot wound to the pelvic area. Witnesses advised the suspect attacked the victim with a metal pipe after a verbal altercation. During the attack, the victim fired a single shot at the suspect. The suspect, identified as Patrick John Cerqua, age 59, was pronounced deceased at the scene. This investigation is still ongoing and no further information will be released.

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FL: Miami-Dade Tire Shop Shooting was Self Defense, Disarm

According to police, the incident occurred after both men came to the shop and argued with the employee over a job done on a car.

At some point during the argument, police said Rodriguez began punching the employee multiple times.

The victim then drew a gun from his waistband and held it in the air, according to the report.

At that moment, police said Rodriguez-Candano lunged at the victim and began pushing him.

Authorities said both brothers then jumped on top of the victim, punching him multiple times in the head and body.

During the altercation, the employee fired three gunshots, with one of them striking Rodriguez in the leg.

Rodriguez then grabbed the victim’s gun and struck him on the head with it while saying, “What good is it to kill you?” in Spanish,” according to the report.

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NC: Assault, Fight, Armed Defense in Greenboro McDonalds

Investigators say that a physical altercation took place between Little, who was working at McDonald’s at the time of the fight, and three other people inside the restaurant.

According to police, three people went into the kitchen of McDonald’s, approached Little and began to assault him. Little discharged a firearm during the fight.

Little, who remains hospitalized will be charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, possession of a stolen firearm, carrying a concealed weapon and discharge in city limits.

Investigators say the three people who are accused of going into the kitchen to assault Little are: 20-year-old Cory DeAndre Malik Mashburn Brown, 18-year-old Jiziah Smith and 18-year-old Jacob Johnson.

Brown and Smith have both been charged with misdemeanor assault and misdemeanor conspiracy. A warrant for Johnson’s arrest has been issued for those same charges.

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OK: Burglary Suspect in Gunfight, Shot Wounded

Deputies said the suspect, Cameron Wahpekeche, ran away. He was found four hours later when family members of the victim spotted him holding their stolen duffle bag.

The affidavit said they confronted the suspect and told him to get on the ground.

“He, in fact, had a gun and gun fire ensued. The suspect was shot. They actually at one point were wrestling with the suspect on the ground and more gun shots were fired by the suspect,” said Lt. Hawkins.

Shortly after, deputies and the victim got to the scene.

The affidavit explains that once deputies got there, the suspect ran about 200 yards and then fell into thick brush.

Deputies tackled him and told him to put his hands behind his back, but wouldn’t cooperate. The affidavit also says Wahpekeche tried to bite a deputy’s hand.

In the end, deputies said the victim helped handcuff Wahpekeche and they were able to take him to the hospital before booking him into jail.

 

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MS: Gunfight in Columbus Leaves one Man Wounded, School Bus Hit

Occupants of a dark-colored Dodge Charger, driving north on MLK, shot at Martus Meeks and Enry Meadows, both 18, at a residence on the street’s 1500 block, across from the Columbus Housing Authority. Meeks and Meadows returned fire, hitting the right front tire of a Columbus Municipal School District bus dropping off children nearby.

Meadows was hit in the exchange and was taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle for non-life-threatening injuries, Daughtry said.

The school bus was carrying 10 elementary school students and the driver, none of whom were injured, Daughtry said.

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IL: Decatur Man Shoots Suspect who was Breaking into 66-Year-Old Family Member's Home

Witness statements and video surveillance footage indicated the woman was at her home when the man entered the property unlawfully. During this, a family member of the woman arrived at the home and encountered the man. He attempted to continue into the residence, when the family member shot at him with a handgun multiple times, striking him.

Further investigation revealed the man was on Mandatory Supervised Release through the Illinois Department of Corrections. He had no known association with the residence, Decatur Police added.

 The family member, identified as a 48-year-old male, has a valid FOID card and active Concealed Carry License.

 

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MS: Domestic Defense, Boyfriend Forces way into Girlfriend's Home, is Shot

39-year-old Zackery Mixon of Steens died at the scene.

Mixon, who was living in a camper on the property, got into an argument with his girlfriend and then allegedly forced his way into her home.

A family member then shot him.

The fatal shooting is now being investigated as a “Stand Your Ground” case which refers to a self-defense situation.

Witnesses say the family member who was in fear for his life, shot the other man once in the arm, called 911, and began rendering aid.

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IL: Urbana Driver who was Legally Carrying a Gun shoots Man who Threatened Him

Police said they were made aware the shooting stemmed from a road rage incident that happened near Five Points and continued through Busey Avenue and Park St. A female driver and a male passenger engaged in a verbal fight with another man driving by himself. The female driver followed the car into Carle Hospital's emergency department parking lot, then pulled onto Park St. to create space between himself and the other vehicle.

The female driver and the male passenger exited their vehicle near Park St. The woman allegedly was armed with a baseball bat. The man walked toward the other male driver with his hand under his shirt. The solo driver believed he was armed with a gun. The driver, a concealed carry permit holder, then drew out their legally concealed gun and fired several shots, hitting the male passenger. The driver called 911.

 

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NC: Special Forces Soldier Cleared in Shooting of Chechnya Native

On May 3, 2024, a U.S. Army Special Forces Soldier shot and killed a Chechen national. The incident occurred at the Soldier's rural home, about 15 miles from Fort Brag (Liberty), North Carolina, after sunset. Sunset on May 3, 2024 occurred at 8:03 p.m. The initial 911 call to police was placed at 8:12 p.m. The shooting occurred shortly after 8:25 p.m.

The soldier's wife was outside their residence with their children when she noticed a man dressed in a burgundy t-shirt, black shorts, and flipflops who appeared to be taking pictures of her house, children and herself. She informed her husband who approached the individual to speak with them. There was a language barrier. The soldier asked the individual to leave. The individual became aggressive and refused to leave. The soldier retrieved a handgun from his home and returned to ensure his family's safety. Another, more urgent call was made to 911 at 8:25 p.m. From the sheriff's report, released on August 12, 2024:

The confrontation escalated when Daraev reportedly became agitated and lunged at the homeowner after repeatedly refusing to leave the property. The homeowner reported firing several shots in response to Daraev’s advance. Under the North Carolina Castle Doctrine, the homeowner's actions are protected, providing legal justification for using defensive force.

 

Investigators uncovered that the only identification associated with Daraev was an International Driver's License found in his Chevrolet Spark, which was parked along Dowd Road and registered to him out of Chicago, Illinois. No items identifying him as a utility worker were found on his person or in his vehicle.

The person shot was identified as Ramzan Daraev, a Chechnya national who had crossed the Southern border on December 16, 2022. Daraev was employed by a subcontractor of Utilities One, named Cable Warriors. Utilities One is based out of New Jersey, and is run by CEO Serghei Busmachiu. Serghei Busmachiu is an immigrant from Moldova.  Investigation by the Moore County Sheriff's office indicate other members of the subcontractor routinely took pictures and did surveys of utility lines in the area after dark, without any identifying uniforms or clothing and without notifying homeowners of the nature of their work. The work was explained as a legitimate survey prior to possible installation of fiber optic services.

The only item in Daraev's possession was the cell phone he was taking pictures with. The sheriff's office had not been able to unlock the cell phone at the time the report was written, but had made the phone and other evidence available to the FBI and the Army Criminal Investigative Division. Some images from Daraev's phone were able to be retrieved from a Russian cloud server.

The Sheriff's office concluded the shooting was justified under North Carolina castle doctrine law:

After a thorough review of the case by the Moore County Sheriff’s Office and Moore County District Attorney, including evidence collected at the scene, digital evidence, witness statements, and the pattern of gunshot wounds and shell casings, it was determined that no charges will be filed against the homeowner involved in the incident. The determination of justification is based on the reasonable belief of the homeowner, considering the totality of the facts known to the homeowner at the time of the shooting, and the North Carolina Castle Doctrine. The homeowner’s actions were deemed justifiable under the North Carolina Castle Doctrine, which allows for the use of defensive force in situations where there is a perceived imminent threat to personal and family safety within one's home or property.

Analysis: 

A special forces soldier shooting a Chechnya national within forty yards of his rural home, 15 miles from Fort Brag, North Carolina is an unusual circumstance. It is tragic for the family and friends of Ramzan Daraev. It is the sort of peculiar circumstance expected to happen when the borders were opened wide by a corrupt Biden administration. The Biden administration appears to have placed foreign interests ahead of American interests in numerous circumstances. The Biden administration quashed a grant to Elon Musk's Starlink to provide rural broadband service. Perhaps a Trump administration will consider the case more closely.

©2024 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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LA: Domestic Defense? Shootout between Brothers in Hammond

According to the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office, the dispute between the brothers occurred outside their mother's home.

The sheriff's office said one of the brothers retrieved a gun from his car and entered the home when a third man, who also lived at the residence, got involved and got into a shootout with the armed brother, who died as a result of the shooting.

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OH: Dayton Gas Station, Driver Shoots Robbery Suspect 2 A.M.

"We had a driver go there around 2 o'clock this morning to get gas, while getting gas there was an individual in the parking lot loitering there,” said Major Brian Johns, Dayton Police Investigations.

Since it was raining, the driver getting gas decided to let that person sit in their car for a few minutes to get dry.

“At one time the individual asked for a ride but didn't have any gas money at that time a disagreement broke out inside the vehicle,” said Major Johns.

That’s when things turned violent.

"I just shot somebody, they tried to rob me,” said the 911 caller.

“The driver of the vehicle pulled out a firearm and shot the person who was loitering causing his death,” said Major Johns.

This is the seventh shooting that Dayton Police have responded to since November 7.

Major Johns says he understands being nice like this driver tried to be, but you also have to be aware of your surroundings.

 

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MT: Domestic Defense? Bystander Shoots Man who Wounded Man and Woman

Billings police said the early morning shooting outside a Billings bar involved gunfire from at least two people, including a bystander.

Lt. Matt Lennick said in a press release the shooting in the parking lot of the Reno Club off Calhoun Lane started with a verbal argument.

During the argument, a 46-year-old man "pulled a firearm and began shooting at a 38-year-old male and a 42-year-old female striking them both," the press release states.

The injured woman pulled a firearm and "attempted to return fire," the press release states, when a 25-year-old man described as a "bystander" who was not initially involved in the argument "pulled a firearm and fatally shot the 46-year-old male."

Lennick said the investigation was ongoing and no arrests had been made.

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Federal Judge on Illinois Assault Weapon Ban: Not Constitutional, Registration not Constitutional

Restrictions on semi-automatic rifles, pistols, and shotguns have been ruled unconstitutional under the Second Amendment in the Federal District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, in the Seventh Circuit court of Appeals. The order is a permanent injunction against enforcement of the state legislation in the case of Halley v Raoul  on 8 November, 2024.  It is commonly known as an "assault weapon" and magazine ban.

There are two basic arguments which Judge Stephen P. McGlynn addressed in his order. The first is whether semi-automatic rifles and magazines for them are "arms" as covered by the text of the Second Amendment. Part of this argument is whether  military arms are covered by the Second Amendment.

The second is whether there is a history and tradition to support the arms as outside of the protections of the Second Amendment.

In the analysis of the  first question, Judge McGlynn defines bearable on page 16:

Therefore, this Court defines bearable as: a weapon that an individual carries for the purpose of being armed and ready for offensive or defensive action in a case of conflict with another person.

Judge McGlynn then identified "dangerous" as more than merely capable of inflicting harm. He defines "dangerous" as weapons who are difficult to control the harm to only an opponent. From page 67:

Therefore, this Court defines dangerous as: bearable arms that a typical operator cannot reasonably control to neutralize discrete, identified aggressors. Once more, it is the lack of the ability to discriminately control the arm and its discharged projectiles that makes it dangerous, not its rate of fire.

Judge McGlynn goes on to define what is meant by "unusual". From page 70:

Therefore, considering the above, unusual is defined as: an arm deploying an atypical method to neutralize an opponent in confrontation or that deploys a neutralizing agent that is caustic, incendiary, noxious, poisonous, or radioactive. Unusual would also include those weapons that are not designed for successful self-defense in neutralizing an opponent, but rather are primarily deployed to inflict cruel, brutal, or inhumane suffering on a person.

Using all the definitions he has created, Judge McGlynn comes to this conclusion about the arms covered by the Illinois statute (PICA):

Therefore, in relation to the weapons banned by PICA, this Court defines common use as presumptively encompassing: any bearable rifle, shotgun, or pistol that is capable of semiautomatic fire and is or has been available for purchase, possession, and usage by law-abiding citizens for self-defense, provided that it is not otherwise “dangerous and unusual.”Moreover, for the sake of clarity, the Court will also include essential features (like magazines) and nonessential features that increase operability, accuracy, or safety (like the various attachments prohibited by PICA) as items that are presumptively in common use.

Judge McGlynn then addresses the argument that AR15 rifles are not covered by the Second Amendment because they are too close to being "military" weapons. In this analysis, he makes an argument with which many will disagree. From page 110:

The current version of the militia is the United States Army National Guard and Air National Guard. Both organizations utilize U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force uniforms, accessories, and equipment.

He then states AR15 rifles are not "military-grade", on page 111:

Therefore, the Court holds that “military use” refers to weapons that are selected, procured, tested, and issued to military members for use in combat.With this in mind, none of the weapons, magazines, or attachment prohibited by PICA can be called “military-grade” since they were not issued to the military for use in combat.

On page 112, Judge McGlynn talks about "dual use" weapons, and concludes many weapons used by the U.S. military are "dual use".

Considering the above,the Court holds that “dual use” refers to weapons that, while predominantly useful in military contexts, are also useful for civilian offensive or defensive use in confrontation such that they would be covered by the Second Amendment’s guarantee.

On page 115, Judge McGlynn considers whether AR15 type rifles are used mostly for lawful purposes. The wording is a little awkward. Instead of "if every AR-15 in Illinois was used in a mass shooting", he meant if an AR-15 was used in every mass shooting in Illinois.

 JOHNSON,ET AL.,FIREARMS LAW AND THE SECOND AMENDMENT2000–01, 2005 (3d ed. 2021) (2024 Supp.) (discussing FBI Crime statistics and noting that the“[h]andguns” deemed protected under Heller and Bruen, not the firearms banned by PICA, “are the most common firearm used in mass shootings, accounting for over 50 percent”))). Moreover, as the Plaintiffs argue, even if every AR-15 in Illinois was used in a mass shooting, then 99.99% of AR-15 rifles would never have been used in a homicide. (Doc. 253, p. 92). Clearly, this means that such weapons are not used “for unlawful purposes.”(Id.). Such horrific and traffic incidents are clearly outliers, not the most common use for the semiautomatic “assault weapons” PICA purports to ban wholesale.

On page 116, Judge McGlynn shows the argument that AR-15 rifles are easily convertible is a non-starter, because commonly available shotguns are easily convertible to short barreled shotguns; yet common shotguns are protected under the Second Amendment.

Having shown most of the weapons regulated by PICA are covered by the text of the Second Amendment, Judge McGlynn uses the next 50 pages showing there is no history of commonly accepted statutes to ban most of the weapons covered by PICA, including accessories and magazines. He talks of the arguments about the requirement for registration on page 145.

The order is given on page 166:

 Therefore, the Court must take action as justice demands. PICA is an unconstitutional affront to the Second Amendment and must be enjoined. The Government may not deprive law-abiding citizens of their guaranteed right to self-defense as a means of offense. The Court will stay enforcement of the permanent injunction for a period of thirty (30) days from the date of this Order.

The conclusion of the 168 page order is given on pages 167-168. Judge McGlynn specifically mentions registration of weapons protected by the Second Amendment is an unconstitutional infringement.

"As the prohibition of firearms is unconstitutional, so is the registration scheme for assault weapons, attachments, and large-capacity magazines."

Here is the conclusion of Judge McGlynn's order: 

CONCLUSION

For the reasons set forth above, the Government’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on the Langley Plaintiffs’ Counts IV and VI(Doc. 220) is GRANTED. Most importantly, considering all of the evidence presented, the Court holds that the provisions of PICA criminalizing the knowing possession of specific semiautomatic rifles, shotguns, magazines, and attachments are unconstitutional under the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution as applied to the states by the Fourteenth Amendment. Therefore, the Plaintiffs’ request for a permanent injunction is GRANTED. The State of Illinois is hereby ENJOINED from the enforcement of PICA’s criminal penalties in accordance with720 ILL.COMP.STAT. §§ 5/24-1(a)(14)–(16) (bump stocks and assault weapons); 5/24-1.9(a)–(h)(assault weapons and attachments); and 5/24-1.10(a)–(h)(large-capacity magazines) against all Illinois citizens, effective immediately. As the prohibition of firearms is unconstitutional, so is the registration scheme for assault weapons, attachments, and large-capacity magazines. Therefore, the State of Illinois is ENJOINED from enforcing the firearm registration requirements and penalties associated with entering false information on the endorsement affidavit for non-exempt weapons, magazines, and attachments previously required to be registered in accordance with 430 ILL.COMP.STAT. 65/4.1. This permanent injunction is STAYED for thirty (30)days. The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to enter judgment in favor of the Plaintiffs.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: November8,2024

The Defendants (state of Illinois) are given 30 days to appeal the decision to the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. The case was already sent to the Seventh Circuit on appeal about a temporary injunction. The three judge panel had a split decision, which struck down the temporary injunction, in favor of the Defendants. Judge Wood was on that three judge panel. She has retired. Therefore, it will be a different three judge panel to hear the appeal of the permanent injunction.

 

©2024 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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OH: Detail on Homeowner Defense against Home Invasion

The first shooting was reported around 11 a.m. Sunday in the 3300 block of West Second Street.

A group of five people were attempting to break into a house when the resident fired a gun.

“This was part of an ongoing crime spree involving the victim, who was shot, and he had four juvenile suspects with him,” Johns said.

All five were armed with handguns.

“When the shooting occurred, they had went to the residence there, dismantled the Ring cameras that were outside the residence and tried to force their way into the residence,” the police major said.

The resident then fired a shot, which hit the 23-year-old man in the head.

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OK: Shooting of Man inside Camper may have been Self Defense

Due to Bradford’s Native American status and the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in McGirt v. Oklahoma, officers from the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse and agents from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the FBI were called to assist in the investigation along with deputies from the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office.

Ford said a Wilburton man was identified as a possible suspect was later taken into custody.

After further investigation, Ford said it was determined that “Bradford appeared inside” the camper “wearing a mask and was armed with a shotgun” and a struggle over the shotgun ended with Bradford being shot.

The suspect was later release after witness statements were collected, according to Ford.

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IL: Champaign Homeowner Struggles with Home Invader, Shoots Same

 Officers said they located two men hurt at the house and began to administer emergency aid with the help of crews from the Champaign Fire Department.

The resident of the home had non-life-threatening gunshot wounds to the arm and was transported to a local hospital, where he remains in stable condition.

The other man, who did not live at the home, died at the scene. The Champaign County Coroner later identified him as Emmanuel Becerril-Perez, a 21-year-old of Urbana.

Police said the initial investigation showed the homeowner fired multiple shots at the intruder and got hurt during the struggle.

 

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FL: Son of Homeowner Shoots Armed Intruder

Investigators discovered that the homeowner’s adult son shot the suspect after he broke in.

“Imagine the fear of being awoken in the middle of the night to a stranger invading your home,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said. “This is every homeowner’s greatest fear, a dangerous and brazen individual breaking in, showing a complete disregard for the safety and security of others. Our thoughts are with this family as they recover from the trauma of this event.”

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DC: Man with Knife Shot by Security Guard

SHOT FIRED BY SECURITY GUARD WITH MAN DOWN--- S&S Liquors, 6925 4th St NW. He was reportedly armed with a knife when he was shot. He's conscious. 

 

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Trump’s Victory Begins the Long Road to Restoring the Republic

President Trump and his band of hyper-talented hero/associates have won a decisive victory over the Progressive/Deep State/Media/Intelligence Agency Machine. Trump and allies need to convert the tactical victory into a long term strategic victory. They need to restore the Republic, eviscerate the administrative state, and start the road back to public trust in our institutions. To do this, they have to restore a healthy economy and a fear of America's might by our enemies abroad. Three terms of President Barack Obama's vision for a fractured, divisive, wounded and emasculated America has done a great deal of damage to the nation's economy, military, and monetary systems. Our enemies have been emboldened and the welfare state bloated to benefit millions of invaders invited to the nation by Obama surrogate Joe Biden.

The election of President Trump and his team has already accomplished much. The lying, deceitful propaganda arm of the left, the "Media" concluded the win was "too big to rig".  Instead of calling for more lawfare and insurrection against a duly elected president, as they did in 2016, they acknowledged President Trump's victory. It is unlikely massive riots will be incited against Trump before he is inaugurated. Such insurrections need the support of the media machine. It is not forth coming. There will be no "color revolution" against President Trump. The oligarchy has too much to lose. With Trump in office, they have no realistic place to hide.

China has shown they cannot be relied on to respect property, persons, or any rule of law. Russia shows how the Putin machine reacts to wealthy oligarchs who fall out of favor:  defenestration, gelsemium, or  polonium. Europe might offer sanctuary, but Europe is rediscovering value in its sovereignty and customs, and has always respected President Trump over President Obama.  In an increasingly transparent world, where do billionaires hide after they back a failed coup? Why would they want to live in the manner required? Hence, Jeff Bezos withholds the endorsement of the Washington Post. Patrick Soon-Shiong witholds the endorsement of the Los Angeles Times.

Elon Musk showed the way, not only to resist the DeepState, but to actively support the restoration of the Republic under President Donald Trump. Tens of millions flowed into Trump's campaign coffers. While the Trump Team raised only 2/3 of the campaign cash raised by the Harris/Biden/Obama machine, the money helped create a victorious campaign.  The Trump Team showed a new, legitimate coalition had been formed.

If the Obama/Biden administrations had been extended by a Harris/Walz administration, Elon Musk would have been destroyed. Musk understood this very well, as shown in the Joe Rogan interview at 16:50-20:40.  Elon Musk, at 29:20 - 29:50 makes the obvious case for the Second Amendment to protect the Republic from tyranny.

When Elon Musk decided freedom of speech was worth fighting for, and openly backed Donald Trump, other billionaires felt they had a chance to fight the Obama created/empowered and censorship oriented autocratic deep state.  It is hard to see how the Obama/DeepState attempt to re-create a corrupt Chicago political machine, nationwide, becomes stronger in the next four years. It is easy to see how the Deep State loses influence and power in a Trump administration.

X (formerly Twitter) is gaining influence as a free speech outlet. The old media has shown they are merely extreme partisan shills for Leftist politicians. They are losing audience and power. This election showed talented individuals with their own media, such as Joe Rogan, Jordan Peterson, and Dave Ramsey are at least as important, if not more important, than ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, and MSNBC.

There is an authenticity to individuals talking to, interviewing a politician in long form, or an intellectual talent who has earned an audience's trust, which is not duplicated in the old media. As alternate media gains audience and power, old Media loses audience and power. The power of the administrative state will be reduced. The power of the intelligence agencies over domestic politics will be reduced or abolished as too dangerous.  The new Trump administration has learned from the previous mistakes in personnel. The new Trump administration has a plan to restore Constitutional government and limits on government power. The new Trump administration will replace 2-3 Supreme Court justices. It is likely Justice Thomas and Alito will retire and be replace by vigorous, 40-year-old originalists and textualist lawyers.  It is possible one of the three leftist justices will need to be replaced as well.

This single election will not restore the Republic and Constitutional government entirely. Such a project cannot be done in one term. It can be mostly done in three or four terms. A single term is a good start. A good start toward restoration of Constitutional government is far superior to moving into tyranny.

©2024 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

Gun Watch

 

TX: Desoto Woman Shot Armed Intruder

When police arrived at 7:57 p.m., the woman, who was not identified, met them out front. She told police she noticed a dark truck following her in her neighborhood that pulled into her driveway behind her. According to the release, she said that she then ran into the home, called 911 and armed herself with her pistol. When Flores Mondragon attempted to force his way in, she fired multiple gunshots which stopped him.

When police searched the residence, they came across Flores Mondragon, 35, lying in the garage with a pistol next to him, the release said. Flores Mondragon had two gunshot wounds, one to the chest and one to the face. He was transported to the hospital in critical condition, according to the release.

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OH: Dayton Homeowner Stops Home Invasion with Gunfire

Police on scene told 2 NEWS that the incident began when a group of five suspects attempted to break into a home on Second Street. The suspects fired shots into the home upon entry.

A male homeowner was at home at the time, and reportedly returned fire, striking one of the intruders. That individual was hospitalized for their injuries.

Police say they arrested all five suspects. Investigation is underway.

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MD: Motorcycle Rider defends Himself in Road Rage Incident

A 22-year-old man, who was also on the scene, reported that he was a victim of an assault and that he was the alleged shooter, officers said.  

Homicide detectives collected several pieces of evidence from the scene and interviewed witnesses, including the 22-year-old. 

A preliminary investigation revealed that the 22-year-old was driving a motorcycle around Route 1 and Furnace Branch Road when he noticed a vehicle tailgating him and driving erratically, according to officers.  

The driver of the vehicle pulled alongside the motorcyclist and shouted at him, officers said. The other vehicle then nearly collided with the motorcyclist, causing him to pull off of the road.  

Officers said both the vehicle and motorcycle stopped on East Furnace Branch Road, where the driver of the vehicle allegedly charged toward the motorcyclist while holding a hammer.  

The 22-year-old then took out a handgun and shot the driver, identified as Gushe, officers said.  

According to officers, the 22-year-old had a concealed carry permit valid in Maryland.

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TX: Gunfight in Hewitt, Suspect Wounded, Arrested

Hewitt, Tx (FOX 44) – Bond has been set at a half-million dollars for a 37-year-old man accused of coming to a Hewitt parking lot with a rifle and firing shots at another man.

As it turned out, the would-be victim was also armed and returned fire, wounding his attacker.

Hewitt Police said it happened about 7:00 a.m. in the 600 block of Alliance Parkway.

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CA: Justin Trudeau's Ban on Guns is Withering on the Vine

In Canada, PM Justin Trudeau's gun ban is in trouble. Delay has followed delay as the government finds resistance to the leftist gun ban plans.

In 2020, Canada's Liberal government, headed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, signed an emergency order to "freeze" handgun sales, imports, and transfers.

Under increasingly strict restrictions on handgun ownership and use, most handguns in Canada are required to be kept locked up and unloaded, except when being transferred while locked up and unloaded to an official range, where they may be loaded and shot, before being unloaded, locked up and transported back to where they are registered, and then locked up again. In Canada, 85% of handguns which are confiscated come from the United States, not from Canada.

In addition to the "freeze" on handguns, the executive order banned 1,500 models of firearms which were currently legal, labeling them as "military grade" or "assault style". They included bolt action or single shot rifles whose cartridges have more than 10,000 joules of energy (7,300 ft-lbs), or whose muzzles are greater than 20 millimeters (.8 inches) in diameter. Some large caliber hunting rifles exceed the energy limit, and many target rifles exceed the .8 inch muzzle diameter limit.

The pushback wasn't long in coming.  The Communist surplus SKS rifle, estimated at 500,000 in Canada, was included, then removed from an amendment to the proposed bill. First Nations, the equivalent of Indian Tribes in the United States, came out strongly against the bill.

The excuse to push the emergency order was a mass killing in Nova Scotia by a Canadian citizen who obtained the firearms used from illegal sources. Three of the four were firearms smuggled in from the United States. A handgun was taken from one of the Canadian officers murdered by the man.

Implementation of the ban has become a nightmare for Trudeau's government. The cost has escalated from an estimated 756 million.  The cost estimate has increased to between 4-6 billion dollars. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) labor union opposes the ban.  The Trudeau government attempted to recruit post office workers as gun collection agents. The National Post was not happy. From tnc.news April 3, 2024:

Government sources told Radio-Canada that the feds expected Canada Post to be involved in the collection of the 144,000 now-banned “assault” and “military-style” firearms, as the crown corporation is already responsible for delivering guns purchased by Canadians online. 

However, Canada Post is declining to do so, saying in a recent letter to Ottawa that it is concerned for the safety of its employees, who would have to be the ones out knocking on doors.

About 67 million dollars have been spent on the program so far, without any significant number of guns being turned in. Opposition leader Poilievre has promised to reverse the Trudeau policies. From tnc.news on June 1, 2024:

Poilievre promised to reverse every law that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has implemented to attack legal gun owners.

Speaking at a news conference, Poilievre fielded a question from a concerned firearm owner about how his party planned to change the narrative around firearm ownership.

“We (will) just reverse everything that Trudeau has done,” said Poilievre.

With the Canadian Parliamentary election system, a national election must be held by October of 2025. From time.com:

Though the direction of polling appears clear, the timing of the next vote remains uncertain. Federal elections are currently scheduled for October 2025, but Trudeau’s Liberals lead a minority government in a hung Parliament, and opposition parties could join forces to compel an early vote at any time.

It has been four years of attempting to implement Trudeau's gun ban.

Analysis:

Much depends on the next election. As with President Biden in the United States, the Trudeau administration is not popular in Canada. If Pierre Poilievre becomes the Prime Minister in the next election, the current gun ban will go away. If not, the fight against it will continue. Canada has no equivalent to the Second Amendment of the Bill of Rights in the United States. This correspondent recalls riding with a someone with dual citizenship 50 years ago. When asked about Canadian gun laws, he said: It's no big deal. If you want a handgun, you only have to apply and register it.

As seen around the world, gun registration is primarily useful for gun confiscation.

©2024 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

Gun Watch

LA: Wounded French Quarter Victim Disarms Assailant, Shoots and Wounds Same

A person who was beaten and shot in the French Quarter early Wednesday morning managed to wrestle the gun away from the attacker, firing back and wounding him, according to the New Orleans Police Department. 

The victim was near the 200 block of Decatur Street when an armed man approached and opened fire, wounding the victim and dragging "him out of sight of cameras to physically assault him," police said. 

During a fight on the ground, police said the victim was able to get hold of the gun and shoot the man. 

The shooting was reported to police at 12:37 a.m. The alleged attacker, 38-year-old Justin Webber, was apprehended on scene and both individuals were transported to a local hospital, police said.

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TN: Road Rage? Truck Driver Shot as he Assaulted Sedan Driver

Their preliminary report says a semi-truck cut off a car and blocked it against a construction barrier near Germantown Road.

Police say the truck driver got out and began assaulting the car driver.

The sedan driver then shot the truck driver and called 911.

He was still alive when police arrived, but died later at the hospital.

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MI: Domestic Defense, Warren Woman Shoots, Kills, Ex

Police officials say a 29-year-old man had been shot in the abdomen and fled the scene. He was found on a nearby street and rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Investigators learned the man had been shot by the 33-year-old woman who lived at the home. She was taken into custody at the scene without incident.

Authorities say the woman admitted to shooting him and told investigators the two had “dated on and off” for a while.

Prior to the shooting, police learned the man had forced his way into her home and chased her, before she fired one shot at him.

 

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Have the Old Dominant Media become a Paper Tiger?

 

 

 

Joe Rogan's interview (video link) with Candidate Trump has been viewed at least 40 million times, with some estimates of over a hundred million.

The most dangerous opponent of the Second Amendment, the Bill of Rights, and limited government in the United States has not been advocacy groups such as "The National Council to Control Handguns", which after several name changes ended up as  "The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence"; or the heavily funded "Everytown for Gun Safety".  The most dangerous opponent has been the old, dominant, Progressive Media.  It took this correspondent until 1994 to understand the problem was not political education. The problem was the dominant Media were ideologically opposed to an armed population. By 1970 Progressive ideology was firmly entrenched in nearly all American Media.

The political ideology of Progressivism became popular in the late 1800's and took political power in the presidencies of Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. Wilson was a dominant theorist and leader of the Progressive movement who became president. He used war powers to ingrain progressive ideas into American government. One of the pillars of progressive thought is government should not be limited in its scope or power. For this reason, the Constitution is outdated and irrelevant. Ways must be found to "get around" the limitations of the Constitution. This is why gun control is in the Progressive DNA. How can government do all the wonderful things progressives want it to do, if they have to worry about yahoos with guns? In 1887, Woodrow Wilson wrote this:

  The germinal conceptions of democracy are as free from all thought of a limitation of the public authority as are the corresponding conceptions of socialism; the individual rights which the democracy of our own century has actually observed, were suggested to it by a political Philosophy radically individualistic, but not necessarily democratic. Democracy is bound by no principle of its own nature to say itself nay as to the exercise of any power.

Newspapers with and without obvious political ideologies were the dominant media in the 1920s and 1930's. Radios and radio networks were on the rise. When Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the Federal Communications Commission into existence in 1933, he made certain the FCC was staffed with Progressives friendly to his administration. Four terms and WWII censorship later, Progressives were firmly entrenched. The radio networks became the television networks. The television networks became the dominant Media. Progressive ideology was supreme in the media.  By the time a sitting, popular president (Richard Nixon) was driven from office in a Media coup (Watergate), the Progressive, dominant media had become the most power force in American politics. They decided who was suitable for office. They decided what issues were important. They decided what was a scandal and what was not. They took their cues from the AP, the New York Times and the Washington Post. Power corrupts. The dominant media was corrupted.

As AM radio was floundering, a new voice appeared. Many say Rush Limbaugh saved AM radio. He gave a voice to the voiceless majority of Americans who did not accept the Progressive Media narratives. As Limbaugh outraged leftists and heartened conservatives, the Internet erupted on the scene. By the middle 1990's it was providing an outlet for pent-up alternatives to leftist political philosophy. Second Amendment organizations seized the opportunity. The Progressive Media were shocked when they lost control of the Congress, both House and Senate, in 1994. Leftist political scientists had said it was impossible. Limbaugh was celebrated as the "majority maker".

The Progressive Media faced a choice. Stick to the principles of a "fair and unbiased press" or trade credibility for short term political power. Short term political power was the overwhelming decision. Republican majorities had some successes, but were opposed at every turn by the dominant Media. Alternative sources on the Internet gained ground. Social media was developed. While the old media was able to push Bill Clinton into power and a second term, they could not steal the election for George W Bush in 2000. They continued to trade credibility for short term political clout.  Alternate media exposed the dominate Media lies after the fact. Credibility lost is difficult to regain. Obama rode to electorial success on the dominate media and their "hero" and supposed Obama opponent, John McCain. During the campaign he famously quipped the "Media" were his base. The Media pulled out all stops to lie about and destroy his talented and charismatic vice presidential pick, Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska.

Palin was supposed to be a lesson to aspiring conservative politicians. If you don't follow the Media narrative, we will destroy you. President Obama did enormous damage to the United States, aided and abetted by the dominant Media, as the Media traded more credibility to drag Obama to a second disastrous term.

When Donald Trump entered the race for President in 2016, the distance between reality and the dominant Media propaganda was enormous. It could not be ignored.

In 2016, the Progressive Media had little credibility left. Donald Trump became the 45th president in an election which shocked the Media to its core. They spent the next four years in lies and false conspiracy theories. The Democratic party and Media, and the members of the Deep State could never have swung the 2020 election to a corrupt Joe Biden except for their lies about and use of the Covid 19 "emergency".

Very few conservatives think the Media is trustworthy. A small majority of Democrats are unwilling to admit the old Media is in the tank for the Left.  Old Media's stock of credibility has been exhausted. Their lies are exposed on a daily basis. They were a near monolithic ideological structure in 1990. Today, Progressive Media may no longer be dominant. President Trump's media platform is worth more than the hyper-partisan New York Times. Joe Rogan's interview with Candidate Trump has been viewed at least 40 million times, with some estimates of over a hundred million.

The LA times, shrunk to a small fraction of its former self, refuses to endorse Kamala Harris. The Washington Post's owner, Jeff Bezos, ordered the Post not to endorse Kamala Harris. The Post lost 77 million dollars last year.  USA Today refuses to endorse Kamala Harris. On President Trump's side, genius of the age and former Democrat Elon Musk endorses him. The Democratic party has become an existential threat to Musk and his near miraculous enterprises. Robert F. Kennedy endorses Donald Trump. Jordan Peterson endorses Donald Trump (video link).

 

Trump's message has become unstoppable by the old, no longer dominant Progressive Media.  Few find their shrill cries of Trump is literally Hitler persuasive.

If former President Trump wins another term in the White House, the demise of the old Dominant Progressive Media will have been completed. The media landscape will be a broken field of mostly partisan commentators, journalists, and citizen reporters, much as it was at the start of the Republic. Political power, concentrated in an ideologically uniform media, was not anticipated by the founders. It became a deadly threat to the Republic. If it dies, the death is well deserved. It hinges on the election. It is up to voters to "Make it so!"

 

©2024 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

Gun Watch

NV: Reno Gunfight, Suspect and Bystander Wounded

An investigation found that the minor had tried to shoot an adult man and missed - the woman who was hit was a bystander.

The man who was shot at initially went and got his own gun and shot the minor, who was still armed.

Police have determined that the minor is the suspect in the shooting, and all parties are cooperating with the investigation. There is no outstanding threat to the public.

 

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NC: Person Shot and Killed at Zebulon Shop-N-Go on NC-39

ZEBULON, N.C. (WTVD) -- The Johnston County Sheriff's Office is investigating after one person was shot and killed at a convenience store in Zebulon.

The incident happened at the Shop-N-Go convenience store at 13597 NC-39.

Deputies said the shooter was identified and is being questioned.

Authorities said there is no threat to the public.

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FBI Changed Homicide Data for last two Decades

The FBI has quietly changed 20 years of homicide data, from 2004 to 2023. Professor John Lott has published an article showing the FBI revised homicide data for 2022 and 2023. The previous numbers fed Biden/Harris administration talking points.

A close look at the data shows the FBI "adjusted" the homicide data from the last two decades, not just the last two years. The largest adjustment outside of 2021 and 2022 happened to the data from 2005. As of 2006, the total number of homicides reported by the FBI for 2005 were 16,740 for 2005 and 17,034 for 2006 . As of 2019, the numbers were reported as 16,740 and 17,309.  As of 2024, the numbers were adjusted to 17,750 (added 1,010) and 17,241 (dropped 68).

What happened with the numbers in 2005? How do they hold steady for 13 years, then suddenly expand by over a thousand murders for the year? It is an increase of 6%! It is reasonable for homicide numbers to be adjusted upwards for a few years after the initial reporting. Some reports may come in late. Some investigations may show a crime was a homicide instead of a suicide. People who were severely wounded may die. It is harder to see how the number of homicides decrease. Perhaps dates were misreported. The increase of over a thousand homicides in one year should be explained.

FBI UCR data are not simply raw numbers which are arithmetically added. National FBI data includes a number of estimates. From the 2019 Crime in the United States Table 1 data declaration:

Offense estimation

These tables contain statistics for the entire United States. Because not all law enforcement agencies provide data for complete reporting periods, the FBI includes estimated crime numbers in these presentations. The FBI computes estimates for participating agencies that do not provide 12 months of complete data. For agencies supplying 3 to 11 months of data, the national UCR Program estimates for the missing data by following a standard estimation procedure using the data provided by the agency. If an agency has supplied less than 3 months of data, the FBI computes estimates by using the known crime figures of similar areas within a state and assigning the same proportion of crime volumes to nonreporting agencies. The estimation process considers the following: population size covered by the agency; type of jurisdiction, e.g., police department versus sheriff’s office; and geographic location.

Much analysis has been done using the UCR numbers. A change of a thousand murders in one year might easily change a policy recommendation, or the results of a paper using a model based on the first reported data.

Analysis:

It seems likely computer models are used to do the calculations to adjust previous data years. In the interest of public trust, the processes used to create the numbers should be open and transparent. If the people do not know how the numbers are changed, there is no reason to trust the numbers.

The philosophy of "experts" creating policies for the public good rests on the "experts" having access to reliable data, the "experts" understanding the processes sufficiently to craft policies to improve the public good; and the "experts" placing the public good ahead of their own selfish or political interests.

Experience has shown data is often unreliable. The "public good" is often hotly disputed. Experts seldom place the "public good" ahead of their personal or political interests.

To expect all three conditions to be satisfied inside an administrative state is naive and unrealistic. 

Transparency, limits on governmental power, and enforcing the independence of three separate branches of government can do much to limit the damage done by powerful administrators.

 

©2024 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

Gun Watch

FL: Hileah Customer with Machete Threatens Mechanic, is Shot, Killed

According to Lt. Eddie Rodriguez, a spokesman for the Hialeah Police Department, Michel Lope Montes de Oca accused Brandon Hurst of installing a used tire instead of a new one.

According to Rodriguez, Hurst told police officers Montes de Oca was so upset that he threatened him with a machete in the area of West Second Avenue and 29 Street.

Hurst reported when Montes de Oca charged at him with the machete he grabbed a gun and defended himself. According to Rodriguez, Hurst fired several times and Montes de Oca died.

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FL: Workplace Dispute ends in Shooting Death

Police say the argument started when 38-year-old general contractor Mostafa M. Ah Abdo got into a disagreement with a sub-contractor tile worker over payment.

"At the height of the argument, the tile worker started smashing completed tile work," the police department wrote.

That's when officers say Abdo went to his truck, grabbed a firearm and threatened the tile worker with it.

The tile worker's father, 52-year-old Yamel Benitez, who was also laying tile at the site, then pulled out his own firearm and shot Abdo, "to defend his son," police said.

Abdo died from his injuries.

 

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DC: Woman Drives off Accoster with Gunfire

WOMAN FIRES SHOT IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IN SELF DEFENSE--- 1300 blk Harvard St NW. Man backed into female, then accosted her. She fired a shot from her handgun. She's reportedly licensed to carry. He fled. No one found shot yet. 

 

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United States Firearms per Capita and Homicide Rates. No Correlation

Sources: Homicide rates are from the FBI UCR. Per Capita Firearm rates calculated from Census data and private firearms numbers calculated using the method pioneered by Newton and Zimring. It was extended by Gary Kleck in “Point Blank: Guns and Violence in America”.  The number is the cumulative addition of domestic manufacture and imports with the subtraction of exports.

A linchpin of the argument of those who favor a disarmed population is the assumption of "More Guns = More Crime". It was succinctly stated as an assumption in a recent paper.  (one source is referenced) Psychopathy, Gun Carrying, and Firearm Violence:

Carrying guns increases the risk of injury and death...

This is a hotly disputed assumption. There are several papers which dispute the premise. If carrying guns does not increase the risk of injury and death, the pragmatic argument for strict restrictions on gun ownership and use collapses. There is some evidence, if guns are restricted in a draconian manner, homicides with guns may be reduced.  Overall homicides are not reduced. 

If the substitution of other methods results in the same or more homicides, or if firearms are used to prevent homicides as well as facilitate them, the argument to restrict gun ownership is not viable.

Long term data to test the premise is available. There is FBI data on illegal homicides rates in the United States from 1910. Homicides are the most reliable crime figure because there is a body and an investigation. There is fairly good data on the number of firearms which are privately owned in the United States. If More guns = More crime, an increase in per capita firearms ownership should be  correlated with the homicide rate.

The number of cartridge firearms in the USA has not been calculated for dates before 1945. This was before records were commonly available. Serial numbers on firearms were generally not required before 1968.  Firearms first sold to the military, then later sold as surplus, are not included in these numbers, nor are firearms made for personal use. Semi-automatic, bolt action, and single shot rifles, revolvers and semi-automatic pistols sold as military surplus could number as high as 19 million.

Similarly firearms imported extralegally, such as "bringbacks" from foreign wars or exported extralegally, such as a shotgun sent in pieces back to Tio Juan on his farm in Mexico, are excluded from these official numbers. The assumption is the military arms sold as surplus and the personally crafted firearms are offset by the destruction of firearms and loss of firearms to extralegal export.

When the per capita numbers of firearms from 1945 to 2023 are compared to the homicide rate from the same years, there is no  correlation.  The homicide numbers have been recently "adjusted" for 2004 to 2023. Using those numbers, the correlation coefficient is .0107. The previous non-adjusted numbers give a correlation coefficient of  -.0037. The correlation coefficient can vary from 1 to -1. 1 is a complete correlation. -1 is a reverse correlation. Small numbers near zero show there is no significant correlation.  The correlation coefficient, calculated online, shows there is no correlation at p<.01, a 99% confidence level.

The lack of correlation is consistent with visual comparison of the graph. Homicide rates go up and down while the number of firearms per capita consistently increases, except for one year, at the end of World War two, when all manufacturing capability was going into the war effort.

A consistent increase in per capita firearms ownership is precisely what would be expected of a valuable manufactured commodity whose constant dollar price is dropping as improved manufacturing techniques reduce the cost of production. The constant dollar cost of ammunition dropped along with the cost of firearms. The cost of ammunition dropped 96% in constant dollars form 1910 to 2022. The cost of firearms dropped about 98% in constant dollars over roughly the same period.

The lack of correlation between the per capita number of firearms and the homicide rate is a strong indicator. More guns do not equal more homicides.

©2024 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

Gun Watch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LA: Iberia Parish Home Invastion Suspect Shot

IBERIA PARISH, La. — Deputies with the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a home invasion and stabbing in the 4900 and 5000 block of Dolphin Street in Iberia Parish on Thursday, October 31, around 6 p.m.

Detectives arrived on scene and assumed control of the investigation.

Upon arrival, deputies located suspect, Casey Meaux, 47, of Lafayette, who was found at the scene with a gunshot wound to the chest. The wound was inflicted by the owner of the second residence during the invasion.

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TX: Fort Worth Homeowner Shoots Suspected Intruder

Fort Worth police are investigating a shooting that they believe occurred during an attempted break-in early Wednesday, officials said. Officers responded to the 4300 block of Berke Road shortly after midnight on Oct. 30 regarding a shooting call. They found a person with two gunshot wounds, according to police. The individual was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Investigators currently believe the person was shot by the homeowner during an attempted break-in, police said

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