Georgia SB572 Passes Senate, Bill Ehances Right to Self Defense

Georgia State Capitol, Atlanta from wikipedia

In Georgia, Senate Bill 651 has passed the Senate 30 to 23 on March 6, 2026 and has been sent to the House. The bill amends the current statutes about the justification of the use of force and immunity from civil liabililty: From legiscan.com, Here is the summary:

 A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to justification and excuse in defenses to criminal prosecutions, so as to provide for an additional justification for use of force in defense of self or others; to amend Code Section 51-11-9 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to no duty to retreat and immunity in certain instances of threat or use of force, so as to extend immunity from civil liability in justified use of force cases to legal representatives and heirs of the person against whom force was used; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

The changes happen mostly in Section 2 of the 16-3-24.2, which relates to immunity from prosecution and exceptions.  Section 2 of Code Section :

"16-3-24.2.

(a) A person who uses threats or force in accordance with Code Section 16-3-20, 16-3-21,76, 16-3-23, 16-3-23.1, 16-3-24, or 17-4-20 shall be immune from criminal prosecution therefor unless in the use of deadly force, such person utilizes a weapon the carrying or possession of which is unlawful by such person under Part 2 of Article 4 of Chapter 11 of this title.

Unlawful weapons are defined in the law and include sawed off shotguns and rifles and National Firearms Act weapons, including silencers if they are not legally possessed under federal law.  Georgia is a Constitutional Carry state, but there are people who are not allowed to carry certain weapons. They include children and felons.  The changes are in paragraphs (b) and (c):

(b) A law enforcement agency may use standard procedures to investigate the use of threats or force in instances set forth in subsection (a) of this Code section; provided, however, that such agency shall not arrest a person for using or threatening to use force unless a probable cause determination has been made that such force used or threatened was unlawful.

(c) A claim of immunity pursuant to this Code section may be made during arraignment or as a pretrial motion. When a prima-facie claim of immunity has been raised, such claim shall only be overcome by clear and convincing evidence."

The claim of immunity is a bit like Florida law. If self defense is claimed, charges may only be brought if there is probably cause to believe the use of force was unlawful. A claim of self defense can only be overcome by "clear and convincing evidence".

If a person is justified in threatening or using force or deadly force under Georgia law, they have no duty to retreat and they shall not be held liable in civil actions. The bill adds this immunity to legal representatives and heirs of such persons:

"has no duty to retreat from the use of such force and shall not be held liable to the person against whom the use of force was justified, to any legal representative or heir of such person, or to any person acting as an accomplice or assistant to such person in any civil action brought as a result of the threat or use of such force."

This correspondent is not a lawyer. The explanation of the bill and the law above comes from a plain reading of the bill and the law. It is not legal advice, and should not be relied on as legal advice.

©2026 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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LA: New Iberia Shooting was Self Defense

UPDATE, 3/16/26, 4 p.m.: Following the investigation and multiple witnesses interviews the New Iberia shooting that occurred earlier today, police said the individual was shot in self-defense.

All parties involved have been identified but no names have been released. The investigation is ongoing.

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CA: Lancaster - Gunfight, Man Wounded, Suicide Attempt

Initial Call: Deputies from the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station and California Highway Patrol (CHP) responded to a "shots fired" call. An intoxicated man was reportedly firing at his neighbor, who returned fire and was struck before the call disconnected.

 

The Standoff: Upon arrival, law enforcement observed the suspect moving between outbuildings on the property while armed. Although a Deputy-Involved Shooting (DIS) occurred during the encounter, the suspect did not appear to be hit by police gunfire at that time.

 

Resolution: Air units from the LASD and CHP observed the suspect's hat on the ground near a pool of blood following the sound of a single gunshot heard by ground units. Entry was made by a CHP supervisor and deputies, who located the suspect and initiated CPR, though the wound appeared self-inflicted.

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WV: Charleston - No Charges for Warning Shots..

As tensions rose, a person outside the bar reportedly fired “two warning shots”, which ricocheted off the ground, striking two people, according to the Charleston Police Department. 

One person was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and another person refused treatment.

According to the Charleston Police Department, the suspect who fired the shots was cooperative and stayed on scene to talk with detectives, claiming that the warning shots were fired in self-defense.

The Charleston Police Department is still investigating the incident, and no one has been charged at this time.

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Slovakian Bear Attacks Stopped by Use of Handguns

Public domain map showing area of the two bear attacks. 

On February 15, 2026, a Slovakian father and son used a handgun or handguns to defend against an attacking European brown bear, ursus arctos. From bernama.com:

Environment state secretary Filip Kuffa said the father and son had been inspecting timber in a mountain forest with a hunting dog when the bear attacked unexpectedly.

According to Mr Kuffa, the father fired several shots from his pistol in self-defence, but the bear knocked him to the ground and bit him repeatedly.

His son then shot and killed the animal with a handgun.

The incident has been verified by multiple accounts from Slovakian sources. It is unclear whether there was one or two handguns or what caliber they were. The attack happened very fast, with little or no warning. The bear grabbed the father and they tumbled down a steep slope. The son had to be sure he would not shoot the father who was underneath the bear. The father was 57 years old. The attack took place near Ružomberok, in the Zilina province in north central Slovakia.

Defense against bears with handguns is unusual in Europe because of highly restrictive firearms laws. However, 2% of adults in Slovakia have a permit for concealed carry of handguns. This is a very large number for Europe. 8.2% of adults in the United States have concealed carry permits. There are 29 of 50 states in which no permit is required to carry a handgun, concealed or openly. There are nine states in which it is difficult to obtain a permit to carry. For example, in California, only about .6% of adults have a permit to carry.

While researching the most recent defensive firing of a handgun against a bear in Slovakia, a previous incident was uncovered. The incident occurred near Sučany, about 30 miles to the east of Ružomberok. From praguemonitor.com:

Over the weekend, a man walking his dog near the village of Sučany, close to Martin in northwestern Slovakia, was attacked by an 18-year-old female bear. In an act of self-defense, the man shot the bear with a legally held weapon. TA3 television reported that even warning shots fired into the air were ineffective in deterring the bear, which was stopped by a fatal shot just a meter away from the man. The police are currently investigating the incident.

The weekend referred to would have been July 8-9, 2023.  Spiegel is quoted as saying 12 shots were fired, two as warning shots, with the final fatal shot fired from 1 meter away. As quoted from Spiegel:

  Jul 15, 2023 - Summary by Spiegel First he shot twice in the air, then ten times at the animal — the last bullet was fatal: In Slovakia, a man repelled a bear attack with a pistol.

In the most recent case, the bear was also a female, with very young cubs in a den. Bear attacks in Slovakia have resulted in a culling of bears.  A recent academic paper showed Slovakia as suffering from the highest density of human-bear conflicts. Local bear density was found to be one of the most important factors. The population of bears in Slovakian is estimated at 1,300, according to the BBC.  In 2004, the Slovakian bears were protected, and no longer listed as a game species.  In 2010 the bear population was estimated at 500, increasing at about 20% per year. A cull of 350 bears out of a population of 1,300 would stabilize the population of bears.

(Confusion between Slovakian and Slovenian corrected)  

©2026 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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NC: Nashville - Juvenile Wounded, Investigation Shows Shooting was Self Defense

A thorough investigation was conducted with evidence collected at the scene and video footage obtained which helped investigators determine that an adult female approached another adult female sitting outside the business and who began assaulting her; this led to a physical altercation occurring. During the altercation, two additional females, one adult and one juvenile got involved and shots were fired.

 

In consultation with the Nash County District Attorney’s Office, a determination was made that the firearm was discharged during the altercation in an act of self-defense. As a result of the investigation, Michelle Murphy was arrested and charged with ‘Misdemeanor Assault Inflicting Serious Injury’, for she was shown as the aggressor of the incident. Charges are also being sought as a juvenile petition for ‘Misdemeanor Assault Inflicting Serious Injury’ against the female juvenile for her role in the incident.

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MI: West Bloomfield - Temple Israel Attacker Reported to Have Shot Self in Head During Gunfight

OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – The FBI confirmed that the man accused of attacking a West Bloomfield temple died after shooting himself in the head.

The suspect, identified by authorities as 41-year-old Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, reportedly drove a truck into Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township on March 12. After an exchange of gunfire with the temple’s security, he died at the scene. One security officer was taken to a hospital after being struck by the truck.

No children or staff were injured. The FBI is leading the investigation and is considering the case as a targeted act of violence.

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OH: Akron - Road Rage Turns Deadly, Rager's Brother Killed when Target Fires Back

Investigators say the younger teen admitted he opened fire on another vehicle during a confrontation on the entrance ramp from East Tallmadge Avenue to State Route 8 South. Afterward, detectives allege, he ditched the gun and drove off in the car used in the incident. The 17-year-old, who was riding in that same vehicle, was shot and later died at Akron Children’s Hospital, police said.

Officers were called just after midnight to the southbound SR-8 entrance ramp on reports of shots fired. At the scene, they found multiple shell casings, according to WOIO.

Police say a 28-year-old driver whose car was hit by gunfire told investigators he shot back through his windshield, then left the area and called authorities. Detectives are still sorting out how that exchange unfolded and which shots struck the 17-year-old passenger.

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NICS for February, 2026 -Gun Sales Increase, Checks Decrease

In February of 2026, the National Instant background Check System (NICS) data, as compiled by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, shows gun sales are up 3.5% while background checks are down 13.5%, compared to February data for 2025. From NSSF:

The February 2026 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 1,265,320 is an increase of 3.5 percent compared to the February 2025 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 1,222,980. For comparison, the unadjusted February 2026 FBI NICS figure of 1,933,972 reflects a 13.5 percent decrease from the unadjusted FBI NICS figure of 2,236,637 in February 2025.

Looking at the NICS figures from the FBI, by Month, Year, by State and Type,February totals for permits and permit rechecks, 2026 were 378921 and 291731, with the total background check numbers at 1933972. In February of 2025  the permit and permit recheck numbers were 360126 and 655531. The total background check numbers totaled 2236637,

The drop in permit an permit rechecks from February 2025 to February 2026 was  345K. The total drop in background checks from February 2025 to February 2026 was 302K. The drop in permit and permit rechecks accounted for more than the total drop in background checks.

At the Crime Prevention Research Center, a slight drop in concealed carry permits has been occurring. This was attributed to the increase in Constitutional Carry (permitless carry), which is now up to 29 states. Such a drop could explain the drop in the numbers of background checks being done for firearms permits and permit rechecks. Permit and permit rechecks have gone up and down, complicating the correlation between NICS background checks and firearm sales. They are the major reason the NSSF adjusted NICS is a much better measure of firearm sales. The adjusted numbers remove the NICS background checks done for permits and permit rechecks.

Looking at the 27 year history of NSSF Adjusted NICS, which is a reasonable proxy for firearm sales conducted through the NICS system, firearm sales are close to what they have been in the month of February since 2012, with 2013 and 2016 years of spikes up and 2019 being a substantial drop. Those years correspond to the year after the re-election of President Barack Obama and the election year for the first term of  President Donald Trump.

 

 

The drop in sales in 2019 is correlated to a positive economy in the third year of the first Trump administration. The NICS background check numbers, even the NSSF adjusted numbers,  have not been adjusted for population growth. The population of the United States has grown about 22% since 2000.  Gun sales have increased considerably more than population grown, roughly 108%.  If you look hard, you may see an upward climb in gun sales in 2009, the year after the Heller decision at the Supreme Court officially recognized the Second Amendment as a fundamental enumerated right in the Bill of Rights.

The reasons for the 3.5% increase in gun sales  February 2026 compared to February 2025 are not clear or obvious. The economy has improved. President Trump has acted decisively in foreign affairs, even though the war on Iran was relatively quiet at the end of February.  Perhaps Americans have a bit more money and a bit more stability than in February of 2025. It is possible people on the far left are seeing the advantages of the Second Amendment and are purchasing firearms.

©2026 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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WA: Centralia - Alleged Gun Fight, Two Arrested, Charged

The two men arrested upon suspicion of shooting at each other in a Centralia residential area Tuesday have been formally charged in Lewis County Superior Court. 

 

Phillip D. Forbes, 44, of Centralia, is charged with single counts of first-degree assault with a deadly weapon, first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and drive-by shooting. 

 

Forbes faces up to life in prison for the assault charge. 

 

Jonathan T. Maae, 29, of Tumwater, is charged with single counts of first-degree assault with a deadly weapon and first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. He, too, faces up to life in prison for the assault charge.

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OK: Tulsa - Domestic Defense, Ex Boyfriend breaks into Home, Shot and Killed by Friend

Officers arrived to find 27-year-old Sean Six with a gunshot wound to the chest. He was taken to the hospital, where he later died. 

Through the investigation, Homicide Detectives learned Six had broken into the home where his ex-girlfriend was staying with a friend. Six first tried to get in through a window, but then kicked in the front door. 

The ex-girlfriend's friend shot Six after he entered the home.

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PA: Somerset - Homeowner Shoots, Kills Intruder Attempting to Break In

Investigators say the intruder reportedly broke a window and attempted to enter the residence, at which time he was reportedly warned that the homeowner was armed.

Police say that is when the homeowner then shot the intruder in the head and his body was found by responding troopers near the back door.

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Tony Gonzales Drops Out, Herrera Republican Nominee in Texas District 23

Texas Congressional District 23

In Texas District 23 for the House of Representatives, Tony Gonzales has dropped out of the race, at the request of House Republican leaders. According to texasscorecard.com, House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republican leaders called on Tony Gonzales to step aside from his current campaign. From texasscorecard.com:

In a joint statement, House Speaker Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Majority Whip Tom Emmer, and Conference Chair Lisa McClain said they have urged Gonzales to step aside from the race while the investigation proceeds.

The investigation into ethics complaints about Representative Gonzales started after Brandon Herrera received 43.3% of votes in the Republican primary election, while Gonzales received 41.7%. Then Gonzalez essentially confirmed an affair with a staffer who later committed suicide, on the Joe Pags Show. The allegations of the affair had mired Gonzales' campaign in the controversy.  On March 5, 2026, Gonzales issued a statement on X, stating he would not continue to seek re-election. From X.com:

After deep reflection and with the support of my loving family, I have decided not to seek re-election while serving out the rest of this Congress with the same commitment I’ve always had to my district. Through the rest of my term, I will continue fighting for my constituents, for whom I am eternally grateful,

Brandon Herrera posted on X, thanking Tony Gonzales for dropping out of the race. From X.com:

 I appreciate Tony Gonzales for making the appropriate decision.

Texas District 23 covers a large chunk of west Texas. It is one of the largest congressional districts in the United States. It is a mostly rural district, running up to the edge of El Paso in the west, Oddessa in the east, and San Antonio in the southeast of the District.

In 2024, the district voted Republican, 180,720 votes to Democratic, 109,373. Because Herrera will not have to campaign in a runoff primary, he can conserve his resources to campaign against the Democratic challenger. The odds have shifted strongly in favor of Herrera becoming the next congressional representative from Texas district 23.

Analysis: With Gonzales dropping out of the race, it is likely the Democratic party will push significant funding to attempt to flip the seat. It is difficult to do in a district which has a strong conservative majority.  Brandon Herrera has shown he can run a good primary campaign. Now he has to run a campaign in the general election. He has a good start in funding the campaign. The actions of Speaker Johnson and the leadership make it likely he will have an endorsement from President Trump and obtain some campaign funds from the Republican party.

The Democratic opposition has tried to paint Herrera as a fringe candidate. Such attacks are not as effective as they have been, because the media landscape is far more fractured and partisan than it has been in the past. In the past, Progressive candidates, both Republican and Democratic, could rely on the old, dominant, progressive media to set the narrative and decide what was a scandal, and what was not. "Scandals" for conservatives had a low threshold. Scandals for progressives tended to be swept under the rug. That dynamic is no longer dominant.

 

©2026 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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FL: Fort Pierce - Attempted Murder, Chase, Disarm, Wounded Victim Shoots, Kills Attacker

The confrontation escalated rapidly when the suspect allegedly produced a handgun and shot the victim in the upper chest and shoulder area, according to Sheriff Del Toro. Despite his injuries, the victim fled toward his own home, but was pursued by the armed suspect. 

The chase ended in a physical struggle on a nearby lawn, according to the sheriff.

"Kind of a wrestling match ensued where the gun exchanged hands," Sheriff Del Toro told reporters during a press briefing at the scene. "The suspect was then fatally shot."

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GA: Powder Springs -Woman Shoots, Kills Man, Claims Self Defense

Officers were called to the park at around 9:20 p.m., where they found 30-year-old Rashad Liddwell shot in the chest. He was taken to the hospital but died less than an hour later, according to authorities.

Police said a woman shot the man, claiming self-defense and fear for her life. She has not been charged, but the investigation continues.

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IN: Indianapolis - Man Shoots Attacker in Self Defense

INDIANAPOLIS — The victim of an attack over the weekend in downtown Indianapolis told police two men tried to beat him in the street before he shot one in the stomach in self-defense. While one suspect has since been arrested, the other is recovering in the hospital.

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Colorado Gun Control Bills Target Homemade Firearms and Barrel Sales

The Colorado legislature is passing bills designed to keep people from making their own firearms without government permission. Two bills appear likely to become law. The two bills are expected to be signed by Governor Jared Polis. House Bill 1144 has passed the House 40 - 25 on a partyline vote on March 2, 2026. Senate Bill 43 passed the Senate 18 -16, with four Democratic senators joining twelve Republican senators to vote against the bill. The Senate voted on the bill the same day as the House voted on House Bill 1144, March 2.

House Bill 1144 prohibits the manufacture of firearms by "3D printing", except for people licensed by the government:

 Knowingly manufacturing or producing a firearm, unfinished frame or receiver, large-capacity magazine, or rapid-fire device (firearm or firearm component) by 3-dimensional printing. The prohibition does not apply to a federally licensed firearm manufacturer , an instructor or student of an accredited gunsmithing program, or an institution that operates an accredited gunsmithing program. Unlawful three-dimensional printing of a firearm or firearm component is a class 1 misdemeanor; except that a second or subsequent offense is a class 5 felony.

House Bill 1144 defines 3D printing broadly, to mean both additive and subtractive manufacturing.  The bill also makes it illegal for most people to offer or sell digital instructions in a rather broad and vague way:

"Knowingly offering to sell or distributing digital instructions that may be used for an activity that constitutes a violation of specified existing state law concerning unlawful conduct involving an unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver."

Senate Bill 43  requires firearm barrels to be sold or transferred by a federally licensed dealer in person. From legiscan.com, a summary of the bill:

The bill requires a firearm barrel to be sold or transferred in person by a federally licensed firearm dealer. A person who is not a federally licensed firearm dealer shall not possess a firearm barrel with the intent to sell or transfer, or with the intent to offer to sell or transfer, the firearm barrel. Unlawful sale of a firearm barrel and unlawful possession with intent to sell a firearm barrel are each an unclassified misdemeanor.

A person must be 18 years old or older and legally allowed to purchase a firearm under state and federal law to purchase a firearm barrel, subject to certain exceptions.

The bill requires a federally licensed firearm dealer to record a sale or transfer of a firearm barrel for at least 5 years.

The bill requires the Colorado bureau of investigation to create a form for federally licensed firearm dealers to record a sale or transfer of a firearm barrel.

Analysis:

Both bills are likely to be challenged as unconstitutionally infringing on rights protected by the Second Amendment. In the Bruen decision, the Supreme Court ruled infringements on the Second Amendment are only allowed if they were understood to be acceptable as part of the right to keep and bear arms in 1791, when the Bill of Rights was ratified. The Senate bill on barrel sales only applies inside the State of Colorado, so Colorado residents could purchase barrels in other states, if the sale was done outside the state of Colorado.  It is unclear of Colorado could prevent the mailing of a firearm barrel to someone in Colorado from outside the state.

Colorado is likely to argue these measures are only regulations on the commercial sale of firearms, and the Supreme Court in Heller noted some regulations on commercial sales are allowed.

Challengers to the bill will likely argue the bills directly infringe on the right to acquire firearms by making your own, an activity which has been practiced since before the Constitution was written. The challengers will likely argue the right includes the right to purchase firearms parts, such as barrels.

There may be a challenge to the law claiming the state does not have the authority to regulate federally licensed dealers.

©2023 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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Il: Chicago - Armed Homeowner Shoots, Wounds Burglary Suspect

A 59-year-old man allegedly broke into a garage in the area and was confronted by the homeowner, police said.

The homeowner had a valid concealed carry license and fired a gun at the burglar. The offender was shot in the right calf and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was listed in good condition.

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CA: Ettersburg - Neighbor Responds, Detains two Suspects, Fires Warning Shot

While still on the line with the resident, dispatchers heard a gunshot in the background. Dispatch then spoke with the neighbor, who reported he had detained two individuals at gunpoint outside the residence and had fired a warning shot.

Upon arrival, deputies and CHP contacted the victim and her neighbor. Based on witness statements, investigators determined three suspects were involved. Two fled before deputies arrived and remain at large. They are described as an adult white female and an adult white male.

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Brandon Herrera - Tony Gonzalez Texas Primary Moves to Runoff on May 26, 2026

Texas Congressional District 23 in 2026. 

In 2024, Brandon Herrera, also known as the online personality The AK Guy, came very close to winning a runnoff primary against Representative Tony Gonzales in the Texas Republican primary for District 23. The Texas Congressional District 23 extends over a vast, mostly rural area of west Texas. In the initial multi-candidate primary, Herrera won 24.6% of the vote. In the 2024 runoff, Herrera won 49.4% of the vote, very close to an upset victory. Texas District 23 is considered a "safe" Republican district.  In the general election of 2024, Gonzales received 180,720 votes to Democratic candidate Santos Limon, who received 109,373 votes, according to ballotpedia.   Whoever wins the runoff Republican primary in 2026 is very likely to be the Republican Congressman in the House of Representatives from Texas District 23.

In 2026, Gonzales has been embroiled in a scandal involving the suicide of a married woman staffer. Some racy texts were sent to her by Gonzales. In the initial primary in 2026, Herrera obtained about 1.6% more votes than Gonzales, in field of four candidates. Kens5.com reported, as of 5:40 p.m. on March 4, 2026, these results:

43.33% Brandon Herrera  23,830 votes

41.73% Tony Gonzales    22,949 votes

8.49% Keith Barton   4,668 votes.

Francisco 'Quito' Canseco 6.46%   3,551 votes.

There were about 55,000 votes total in the initial primary of 2026.  It is close to the number cast in the 2024 primary race, about 57,600 votes. In the runoff primary election of 2024, less than 30,000 votes were cast. In the initial primary of 2024, Gonzales had 25,988 votes. In the initial 2024 primary, Herrera received 24.6% or 14,201 votes. In the initial primary in 2026, Herrero almost doubled his vote total, while Gonzalex dropped almost three thousand votes. If that dynamic holds for the 2026 runoff, Gonzalez is in trouble.  In the initiial primary of 2024, 54.9% of the votes were against Tony Gonzales. In the initial primary of 2026, 58.3% of the votes were against Tony Gonzales. After the bruising in the initial runoff of 2026, the U.S. House Ethics Committee opened an investigation into the allegations of an affair. From tpr.org:

The U.S. House Ethics Committee announced Wednesday that it has opened an investigation into Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Republican from Texas CD-23, following allegations involving his conduct toward a former staff member in his congressional office.

In a statement, the committee said it voted to create an investigative subcommittee to examine whether Gonzales may have violated the House Code of Official Conduct or other applicable rules.

According to the committee, the inquiry will focus on allegations that he may have engaged in sexual misconduct involving an employee in his office and whether he may have unfairly granted special favors or privileges.

On a YouTube with Joe Pags, Representative Tony Gonzales admitted to "making a mistake".

Trump had previously endorsed Tony Gonzales, but on Friday, February 27th, before the primary, Gonzales name was conspicuously absent from Trump's list of endorsements in the Texas primaries. From fox7austin.com:

Gonzales is facing a primary challenge from Brandon Herrera, who pushed him to a runoff in the 2024 primaries. The two were separated by less than 400 votes in the runoff in 2024.

Trump has previously endorsed Gonzales, but during Friday's flurry of endorsements, the congressman's name and district were noticeably absent.

Ballotpedia show Herrera with $868,569 in funds raised according to the Federal Elections Commission, as of February 11, 2026.  According to the Texas Tribune, Herrera has raised 2.3 million in campaign funds as of March 4. The Tribune claims Herrara has more funds available than does Gonzales. According to San Antonio Today, Kyle Rittenhouse campaigned for Brandon Herrara in a door knocking campaign on March 2, a day before the initial primary election.

©2026 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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PA: Philadelphia - Domestic Defense, Son Shoots, Kills Mother's Boyfriend

Philadelphia police said the preliminary investigation found that Jones-Walker was assaulting his girlfriend in a rear bedroom of the home when her 11-year-old son retrieved her firearm and shot him.

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MI: Detroit - Security Guard at Hospital Shoots Man, Possible Self Defense

According to police, the man, who police say had no association with the hospital, was with a group of young men in the parking lot when they were approached by a security guard. At some point, the guard shot the man. Police have not confirmed if the man fired at the guard first.

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CT: Darien - Homeowner Drives off Intruders with Gunfire

The homeowner said at least one of the suspects had a gun, and that's when he feared for his safety, according to police.

He then shot his firearm at the suspects and they fled, police said.

"During our initial investigation, Darien Police Detectives determined that a male juvenile potentially matching the description of one of the suspects arrived at the Bridgeport Hospital suffering from a gunshot wound and was rushed to surgery," Darien police said in a Facebook post.

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FL: Lakeland - Atempted Murder Leads to Gunfight, Killer Arrested

Investigators said a woman tried to hold Reed back during the argument as Magee started backing away with his hands up, attempting to de-escalate the situation. 

Reed pushed Magee and then acted like he was walking away before he turned back around, drew a handgun and fired multiple rounds at Magee, according to police. 

Investigators said Magee then pulled his own handgun and returned fire as he was falling to the ground. Reed reportedly fled the scene in a car.

Reed was taken into custody at his home around 10 p.m. on March 5. He was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence. 

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FL: Boca Raton - Asault and Robbery lead to Defensive Shooting

According to the probable cause affidavit, the victim claimed that Guy and the other man confronted him as he was walking home from the Target shopping plaza and assaulted him, repeatedly punching him in the face.

During the struggle, the victim allegedly retrieved a firearm from his backpack and fired it in self-defense.

The Sheriff's Office said that surveillance footage from the scene revealed Guy fleeing while discarding what deputies identified as Lewis’s stolen iPhone 13. He was also allegedly seen removing a firearm from a cross-body bag before being apprehended by deputies.

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TX: Harlingen - Road Rage to Beating to Defensive Shooting

Investigators say 38-year-old Octavio Sanchez of Rio Hondo was beaten during a confrontation with Roel and Tristan Benitez. Sanchez told deputies he shot both brothers in self-defense during the alleged assault. The case is still under investigation, and no charges have been announced.

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SC: Georgetown County - Man Wounded in Self Defense Shooting

The incident occurred on Greentown Road in the McDonald Community around 1:20 p.m. Upon arrival, deputies located a male victim who suffered a gunshot wound to the leg and was airlifted to a regional trauma center for further treatment.

Another man at the scene, who deputies believe to be the shooter, has been detained for questioning. Deputies said that his statement appears to be consistent with self-defense, according to sheriff spokesperson Heather Pelham.

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Minnesota Bill Would Require Gun Registration and Police Inspections, Deadlocked in Committee

The Minnesota legislature is considering HF 3433. HF33 contains several significant infringements on the rights protected by the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution. The bill was introduced in the Minnesota House of Representatives on February 17, 2026. HF 3433 has been referred to the Minnesota House of Representatives Committee on Public Safety Finance and Policy. 35 members of the House have signed up as authors of the bill.

HF3433 bans a long list of firearms by name, bans firearms by specific features, requires people who desire to keep any of the firearms specified to register them, store them in accordance with requirements to be adopted, and agree to allow police to inspect the storage system. Registration will be required to be renewed every three years, and the firearms will only be allowed to be kept on the property of the individual. In addition, those firearms would only be allowed to be fired on licensed firing ranges.

Included in the list of specific features are items which sweep into the definition millions of common firearms owned by large numbers of Minnesota citizens at this time. Included in the definition of "Semiautomatic military-style assault weapon" are:

 (2) semiautomatic pistol or any semiautomatic, centerfire, or rimfire rifle with a fixed  magazine that has the capacity to accept more than ten rounds of ammunition;

The above definition includes enormous numbers of .22 rimfire semi-automatic rifles such as the Marlin model 60, Remington models Nylon 66, 550, 552, Winchester models 190, 290 and 77, and many other models of the popular tube-fed, semi-automatic .22 design. In addition, the ban includes semi-automatic pistols with common features such as a threaded barrel:

(3) semiautomatic pistol that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and has one or more of the following: 

(snip)

 (v) a threaded barrel capable of accepting a barrel extension, flash suppressor, forward  hand grip, or silencer;

The above includes many common and highly regarded pistols owned by millions of people across the United States, including many pistols by Ruger, KelTec, Sig Sauer,  Taurus, Smith & Wesson, FN, Walther, and many more.

If you swap out a threaded barrel for a non-threaded barrel, you could be in compliance, as long as you do not keep the threaded barrel. This provision in the bill makes possession of parts which could convert a firearm into the broad definition of a "Semiautomatic military-style assault weapon" as a "Semiautomatic military-style assault weapon". As included in the bill:

 (6) conversion kit, part, or combination of parts from which a semiautomatic military-style assault weapon can be assembled if those parts are in the possession or under the control of the same person.

The 35 authors of the bill  are almost half of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party representatives in the Minnesota House. The DFL is the  Minnesota version of the Democratic Party in the rest of the United States. The Minnesota Legislature is almost evenly split at this time, with a one vote majority belonging to the DFL Party. In the Senate, 34 DFL to 33 Republicans. In the House, the parties are tied with 67 representatives each. 

As of March 2nd, HF3433 has been reffered to the House Public Safety, Finance and Policy committee.  No votes have been taken on the bill. The Minnesota Gun Owners, particularly the Gun Owners Caugus has notified its members about the bill. A hearing was held in the committee. Here is a video link to the hearing.  As of this writing, there have not been any recorded votes on HF2433. 

Analysis: It is unlikely this draconian and almost certainly unconstitutional bill will pass the Minnesota Legislature this session. The parties are so evenly split, a highly controversial bill such as HF 3433 will bring enough attention by Second Amendment supporters to peel off a few DFL votes.  Second Amendment supporters in Minnesota are well organized and active. 

 

©2026 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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MD: Odenton - Domestic Defense, Stepfather Shoots Stepson

Investigators found that the incident began when a man had stolen a personal item from his mother, before assaulting and injuring her. After the assault, the man’s stepfather notified the police, and the man confronted him, while allegedly armed with a knife.

That’s when the stepfather grabbed a gun and shot his stepson in the lower body, police detailed.

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TX: Austin - Domestic Defense? Two Shot, One Killed

HORNSBY BEND, Texas — A woman was fatally shot Tuesday morning during a domestic disturbance in eastern Travis County near Hornsby Bend.

Deputies arrived at a residence in the 4500 block of Secure Lane at 11:27 a.m. after receiving reports of shots fired. Inside, they discovered the woman with a gunshot wound to the chest and a man who had sustained at least one gunshot wound.

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We are Living in a Golden Age. Thank God!

Public domain from Starlink
 

We live in a golden age which far surpasses all previous golden ages. Some call it the industrial revolution. Some say it is the digital revolution. This correspondent calls it the petroleum age.

The cost of firearms and ammunition, in terms of labor, is near an all time low. .22 Long Rifle cartridges can be had for under six cents a round, with free shipping, on the Internet.  The all time low, in constant dollars, would be about five cents per round, not including sales and seconds, from 1993 to 2006. Nominal prices are higher, but costs in labor are much lower.

A .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle can be had for $150 or less. A serviceable AR15 type rifle can be had under $300.  The cost of effective arms for the common man has never been so low. Multiple, effective centerfire pistols are available for less than $200, on sale.

Those who live in golden ages seldom consider themselves to be living in a golden age. To them, having been born in, and growing up in a golden age, it is simply normal, what is. Some, perhaps after the golden age is gone, may reflect on what was lost.

The petroleum age differs from all previous ages because it is where we learned to extract energy from the earth, and make that energy available to the vast majority of people.  The precursor was the age of coal. Coal replaced wood for heating in many cities by 1850. 270 million short tons were being produced in the United States by 1900. That was 3.5 tons for every person in the United States. But coal was not nearly as accessible to most people as petroleum has become.

Enormous benefits accrued to many people during the age of coal. The benefits are small compared to those brought by petroleum. Coal is still important in the petroleum age. Today we consume 27 tons of oil and 1.7 tons of coal for every person in the United States every year.

The benefits accrued from the availability of cheap energy have become common in the golden age of petroleum. They include:

• Indoor plumbing and clean indoor pressurized water supply.
• Electric utility service capable of powering our many labor saving devices, including safe, flame free lighting, air conditioning, and communication devices which work at the speed of light.
• Fresh, healthy food available all year round. Food checked at multiple points to insure the absence of parasites, germs, and toxins. Malnutrition is a rarity caused by mental illness, drug use, or war.
• Clothes so cheap many people keep large closets full of apparel. Specialty shoes, weather gear, and "sports" clothes are common.
• Medical care available to nearly all for most ailments. Numerous diseases have been conquered and nearly eliminated. Many current diseases are the product of prosperity. Obesity is not a problem in countries subject to famine. Obesity was associated with wealth, not poverty.
• Increase in life span. The average lifespan has increased from 48.0 years in 1900 to 78.7 years today, an increase of 64%, or 30 years gain in 125 years.
• The ability to search and find information thousands of times faster than any library system which existed before 1980.
• Individual to individual communication throughout most of the world, easy quick, and relatively reliable, cheap enough for the common man or woman.
• World commerce with the ability to buy and sell between continents with ease.
• World wide travel is available to most, with intercontinental travel time measured in hours, not years or months or weeks, or even days.
• The average person in the First World has luxuries commonly available which pharaohs, kings, and emperors before 1800 could barely comprehend or dream of.
• "Retirement" is available to most.  Between 1880 and 2000, old people "outside the labor force" grew from 22% of men over 65 to 82.5% of men and women over 65. In 1880, "retirement" meant a "few years of dependence on children at the end of life". In 2000, "retirement" meant an "extended period of self financed independence and leisure".

In the 134 years between 1890 and 2024, the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita increased from  $3430 to $45,742, in 1996 dollars, or more than thirteen times as much.  Nearly all of this growth has happened because we have harnessed energy which exists under the ground, to benefit people today. The United States has done this better and more efficiently than any other nation on the planet. In this correspondent's lifetime, the gdp/capita increased 4X!

Will the petroleum age end? Of course it will. The amount of petroleum available is finite. We do not know how long it will last. The golden age need not end for a very long time. Nuclear fission can supply energy for a couple of hundred years, and nuclear fusion, once harnessed, offers thousands of years beyond that, just from resources available on planet earth. Elon Musk is showing we can access the resources of the solar system. The Moon, alone, offers the potential of fusion energy for a hundred thousand years. In the next hundred or thousand years, we may find a way to access the stars. As Elon Musk has noted, solar energy in space is continuous and reliable. The optimum orbit to harness solar energy changes constantly with available technology.

This correspondent believes God, not man, is ultimately in charge. Perhaps God's plan includes using humanity to spread life across the universe. God has work for us to do in the new heaven and on the new earth.

©2025 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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NC: Aberdeen -Homeowner uses Gun to Capture Knife-Wielding Home Invasion Suspect

A burglary involving a knife-wielding man changed course dramatically when the homeowner pulled a gun and took the suspect prisoner, according to investigators in North Carolina. It happened around 11 p.m. Sunday, March 1, in Aberdeen, and ended with a 21-year-old suspect facing multiple felony charges, Aberdeen police said in a March 4 news release.

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NV: Las Vegas - Atempt to Steal Gun Results in Gun fight, 1 Killed, 1 in Critical Condition

According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan police, when officers arrived, they found a man suffering from gunshot wounds who died at the scene. A second man, identified as 39-year-old Robert Aguilar Jr., was found a few blocks away on Kell Lane suffering from gunshot wounds and transported to the hospital with critical injuries.

Police said the victim who died at the scene was openly carrying a firearm and had just left a business when he was approached by Aguilar, who demanded the victim’s gun. The victim pulled his firearm, and the two shot each other.

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WV: Yellow Spring - Domestic Defense, Man on Bond Found Shot, Killed at Home he was not Allowed to visit

“When deputies arrived, they found a male with first aid being provided by others at the scene. Deputies began to apply first aid until EMS arrived and he was pronounced dead at the scene,” said Sheriff Sions.

Sions confirmed the gunshot victim was free on bond and a stipulation of his bond was he was not allowed to go near the home. Sheriff Sions added there had been previous law enforcement visits to the home for other domestic incidents. He was asked if it was a case of self defense.

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FL: Sanford - Verbal Altercation Leads to Gunfight, both Participants Wounded

Law enforcement said the gunfire followed a verbal altercation between McKever and the 19-year-old victim. Investigators said both men suffered gunshot wounds during the exchange and were treated at local hospitals, where the victim remains in critical condition.

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NC: Wilson - Road Rage leads to Defensive Shooting

“I started shooting at him. The guy hit me and then he got out of his car and he started hitting my window,” Farden told the dispatcher. “I was the one who was doing the shots because he was banging on my window.”

Farden tells the dispatcher that he is armed with “a long rifle 22.”

“So, basically, I was taking the exit and then he came,” Farden told the dispatcher. “We was coming down the same highway. I got it on video. He was trying to like run me off the road. I don’t know why he was trying to run me off the road, and then we got to the exit and we got to like the three lanes and he was behind the car that was behind me, so I guess he was trying to cut in front of the car that was behind me, and then he came. He was speeding so, when he came, I was merging into the other lane too, so he hit me. That’s when he pulled my door open and when he pulled my door open, that’s when I cocked the rifle back and I just shot him. I have got a video of him walking up to my car. I don’t know why he stopped.”

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