Thailand: Another Mass Murder at a School in 2026 and Strict Gun Control

 

 Bangkok, public domain

On August 7, 2026, Reuters reported a 14-year-old Thai student killed his grandparents, obtained his grandfather's legal 9mm pistol, then went to his school and killed at least five people as well as wounding  15 more. It is difficult to stop a person who is willing to kill their grandparents in order to kill others. The incident in August is the latest in a series of mass murders committed with firearms in Thailand.  In July of 2025, a mass murderer killed five people and then committed suicide at a Bangkok market.

Thailand had imposed even more restrictions on their already restrictive gun control measures in 2023. In 2023, a 14-year-old killed two and wounded five in a shopping center in Bangkok. In 2022, a former police officer killed 36 people, including his wife, his son, and 22 children. The former police officer used a gun and a knife. In 2020 a soldier killed 29 people in a mass murder with a gun in Nakhon Rtchassima.

Bangkok has very strict gun control laws.  It was not always so. When Thailand became a constitutional republic in 1932, there were no comprehensive gun control laws. In 1947, mandatory registration, licensing and permits for civilian ownership was instituted. Licensing for self-defense is relatively common in rural areas.

 

 

  

Firearms in Thai Museum. Public domain. 

  

Self defense is considered a legitimate reason to apply for a firearm permit. Carry permits for public areas are difficult to obtain, according to Grokipedia. About one in ten Thais own a firearm. Ammunition ownership is tightly regulated. Reloading ammunition is banned. Resistance to the strict laws is common. It is estimated as many as 40% of the 10.4 million firearms in Thailand are not legally registered. Thailand has an estimated total firearms related death rate of about 4 per 100K population.  The homicide rate with firearms is about 1 per 100K and the total homicide rate is lower than the USA, about 2-2.4 per 100K. In the USA the total homicide rate dropped below 4.0 in 2025.

Total firearm ownership rates have little or no correlation to homicide rates. Mass murders committed with firearms occur in countries with strict firearms controls. Some of those countries experience mass murder rates with firearms greater than the USA, when the numbers are corrected for population. Mass murder can be accomplished with many different methods. Attacks with vehicles have become more common. An important way to prevent public mass murders is to not legitimize mass murder through mass media. This is difficult but can be done without censorship. There was considerable success when media companies cooperated to not publicize suicides of celebrities. Copy cat suicides were immediately and significantly reduced. The total death toll from mass public murders is low, but the media attention is high.

Mass murder with firearms is promulgated as a phenomena of media contagion. When people who commit mass murder are made into anti-heros. People with mental problems and suicide ideation see mass murder as a way to achieve fame and media immortality.

Thailand has much stricter gun control than exists in the United States.

Gun control does not stop mass murder, with or without firearms.

Analysis: People with guns can stop mass public murder, which was recently demonstrated in the attempted  mass murder in Twin Falls, Idaho. An armed citizen engaged the mass murderer, as did an off duty state trooper. A former police officer engaged the killer, but was shot before he drew his handgun. These heroic individuals helped to lower the death toll. In the Twin Falls incident, a bystander picked up a handgun the killer had abandoned. It was jammed, and she was unable to make it functional, so she abandoned it as well.

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

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FL: Fort Pierce - Assaulted by Acquantaince, Homeowner Shoots the Attacker

A 37-year-old man was shot and killed inside a Fort Pierce mobile home Wednesday night after he allegedly forced his way inside and punched the 22-year-old homeowner repeatedly in the stomach during a dispute between the two men, according to deputies. The homeowner has not been charged, and St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office investigators say the case is now being reviewed under Florida's self-defense laws.

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ID: Mackay - Man who was Shot has been Arrested

Investigators say Flagg was shot while attempting to force his way into the home. Deputies said that Flagg and the homeowner knew each other, but have not released details about their relationship or what led up to the incident.

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IN: Indianapolis - Domestic Defense, Son Shoots Man Who Assaulted Mother

Investigators think the man was abusing a woman in the parking lot, and her son showed up and shot the man. Police at the scene did not identify any of the people involved.

The son remained at the scene and cooperated with the police. IMPD says the Marion County Prosecutor's Office will determine if any criminal charges should be filed.

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LA: New Orleans - Car Burglary Suspect Shot by Armed Victim

According to the NOPD, a man was walking to his car when he noticed the vehicle’s passenger door was open and two juveniles climbing out. The man told police one of the juveniles pointed a gun at him, so he pulled out his own firearm and shot at the suspects, striking one.

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Il: Chicago - Woman Shoots Man Entering Window

A 30-year-old male opened the screen of a window while on the front porch of a residence. A 49-year-old female inside the residence discharged a firearm, striking him in the arm.

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PA: Philadelphia - Attempted Carjack ends with Suspect Shot, Wounded

During this incident, officials said, the suspected attackers produced a firearm and shot the victim. The victim, police said, then produced his own weapon and returned fire.

The man that was struck was taken to a nearby hospital after the shooting where, officials said, he was listed in stable condition.

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PA: Philadelphia - Off Duty Police Officer in Shoot-out with Suspected Car Theives

An off-duty Philadelphia police officer fired shots at suspects who stole his car early Monday morning, touching off a chase through Southwest Philadelphia that ended with multiple stolen vehicles recovered but no arrests, investigators said.

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MI: Warren - Double Domestic Defenses, Two Men Shot, Killed

Investigators learned that the victim had assaulted his 63-year-old father and threatened to kill people at the scene following a verbal argument.

The victim’s 25-year-old brother, a valid CPL holder, discharged his firearm and killed his brother.

Life-saving measures were attempted but the victim was pronounced deceased. The county Prosecutor’s Office determined the action was justified in defense of another.

Just over an hour later, the second incident took place at about 03:15 p.m. at a residence on Stewart Avenue near Stephens and Hayes where officers discovered a 40-year-old man was shot.

Investigators determined the victim arrived uninvited at his ex-girlfriends home, assaulted her and aggressively confronted her current boyfriend, a 33-year-old CPL holder, who shot the victim during the confrontation.

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Nearly 1 in 3 Voters Say They Carry a Concealed Handgun, Survey Finds

Research done at the Crime Prevention Research Center and published in July of 2026 shows the percentage and number of people carrying concealed handguns continues to increase. A survey of 1000 people conducted by McLaughlin  & Associates on July 22, 2026 shows significant increases in the carrying of concealed handguns. In the last 19 months, from December of 2024 to July of 2026, the percentage of likely voters who carried all or most of the time increased from 13% to 15.7%, an increase of 2.7% of the sample. Those who carry sometimes/rarely increased from 11% to 15.2% or 4.2% of the sample. 

The total who carry increased from 24% in 2024 to 30.9% in 2026, or 6.9% of the sample.  

Similarly, the total of those who say they never carry dropped from 73% to 66.6%, a 6.4% drop. Those who claim they "don't know" if they carry increased from 2% to 2.5%. The sample is of likely voters in general elections.  Such a sample may or may not be indicative of the habits of non-voters.

20.1% of the respondents stated they possessed a concealed handgun permit. This is slightly lower than previous findings. The slightly lower number may be related to the increasing number of Constitutional Carry states, now at 29, where no permit is needed to carry a holstered handgun, openly or concealed, in most public spaces. 68.9% of the people who carry most or all of the time are located in Constitutional Carry states. The 29 Constitutional Carry states contain 47% of the population of the United States. The 29 Constitutional Carry states account for 68.8% of the land area of the United States of America. About 2/3 of the people who carry all or most of the time in Constitutional Carry state have a concealed carry permit. About half of the people who carry some of the time in Constitutional Carry states have a concealed carry permit. 

People aged 18-40 carry at higher rates than people aged 41 and up. In ethnic groups, Hispanics carry at slightly higher rates than Blacks, Asians carry at the lowest levels, and White people and Other are in between.  Republicans carry at higher rates than Democratic or Independent voters do. When ranked by ideology, very liberal voters carry at the highest rates, with 30.8% carrying all the time, vs 21.6% of very conservative voters carrying all the time.

Economic status shows the strongest correlation with carrying concealed handguns. Those who identified themselves as wealthy showed a percentage who carried all the time at 62.9%. Those who considered themselves upper middle class and who carried all the time were 28%. Those who considered themselves middle middle class showed 15.7% carrying all the time, lower middle class showed on 9% carrying all the time and only 7% of self identified poor people carried all the time. 4.1% of the sample considered themselves to be wealthy, and 15.5% of the sample considered themselves to be poor. 80.4% considered themselves to be in the middle class. 

From the self-identified sample, it appears the average income of those who considered themselves to be wealthy was over $175K per year per household.

Analysis: These surveys commissioned by the Crime Prevention Research Center offer fascinating insight into the makeup of people who routinely go armed in the United States. The numbers and percentages keep increasing. While not all people who go armed support the Second Amendment, going armed increases the odds of valuing the Second Amendment. When a person goes about armed, it changes their mental set. They become more independent and aware. They are more likely to view those who seek to disarm them with suspicion. The wealthy in society tend to be those who set trends. The large percentage of wealthy who carry all the time suggest the percentage of people who carry will continue to increase.

 

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

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NY: Richmond - Homeowner Holds 2 Burglary Suspects at Gunpoint for Police

Deputies responded to an Oneill Road home Sunday at 9 p.m. to check on a report of a burglary. The homeowner, seeing the car of the suspects in his driveway, shot out the tires of the vehicle, the sheriff’s office said. Upon hearing the shots, the two suspects came out of the home with their hands up and surrendered to the homeowner, who held them until police arrived to arrest the pair.

 

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FL: Leesburg - Domestic Defense, Man Attempts to Force Entrance to Home, is Shot, Killed

The man arrived unannounced and "became involved in a physical altercation with the homeowner and attempted to force his way into the residence," LCSO said. "During the incident, the homeowner discharged a firearm, striking the male subject."

The man was pronounced deceased at the scene.

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IN: Fort Wayne - Domestic Defense Leads to Homicide, Bystanders Shoot Offender

One witness, described in court documents as a security guard who also manages the club, told police no one was hurt in the initial fight, and it happened quickly. But Klotz then followed Rinker back to his car. The witness said they heard multiple gunshots and saw Klotz fall to the ground. Rinker allegedly “swept” his gun toward the witness and others around him, so the witness told police they fired shots at Rinker but weren’t sure if they hit him.

Another witness told police that even after shooting Klotz, Rinker allegedly stood over him and fired about five more shots, according to court documents.

Before police got to the scene, Rinker – who did have a gunshot wound – drove himself to the hospital, according to court documents.

The security guard tried to aid Klotz, who did not have a gun and wasn’t known to carry one. Klotz was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. The Allen County Coroner ruled it a homicide.

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TN: Memphis - Victim of Drive-by was Wounded and Shot Back

The vehicle was identified and an arrest was made

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The victim told officers he was sitting at the apartment steps when some men pointed a gun at him and started shooting. 

He said he fired back in self-defense and ran inside the apartment while bleeding to get his brother to seek medical help.

A witness told MPD he saw the victim sitting on the steps outside of his apartment when four men walked past him and toward where the victim was sitting.

The witness said he heard a shooting and the suspects then fled the scene, officers said.

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AZ: Phoenix - Security Guards Fires at Driver

A security guard opened fire on a driver who allegedly tried to run him over near 27th and Glenrosa avenues in central Phoenix on Friday morning, according to police. The driver sped off before officers arrived, and it remains unclear whether the person was struck by gunfire. As of Friday, the vehicle had not been located and the driver has not been identified.

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UT: Riverton - Man, Refused Alcohol, Returns with Shotgun, is Shot, Killed

Slack said the man drove around, but soon came back with a shotgun, and an individual inside the gas station chose to fire and killed Angilau. After being shot, Angilau exited the store and collapsed outside, where he died from his injuries.

He said the person who shot the man has been very cooperative with officers.

"I think this is why a lot of people do conceal carry just to protect themselves in situations like this. Obviously a very unfortunate situation, but they do occur; they are rare, however, especially here in Riverton," Slack said.

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July Gun Sales Rise 8.5% as NFA Checks More Than Double

Both firearm sales and the number of National Instant Criminal background Check System (NICS) as recorded in the FBI NICS system were up in July of 2026. The adjusted NICS background checks, which are a close approximation of the actual number of NICS based firearm sales, was up 8.5% over the 2025 numbers. The total number of check done in NICS for the month was up 6.3%. As reported by the National Shooting Sport Foundation (NSSF):

The July 2026 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 1,061,883 is an increase of 8.5 percent compared to the July 2025 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 978,731. For comparison, the unadjusted July 2026 FBI NICS figure of 2,057,967 reflects a 6.3 percent increase from the unadjusted FBI NICS figure of 1,936,621 in July 2025.

Looking at the 27 year history of NICS reports, the number of firearm sales, as measured by the NSSF-Adjusted NICS, has had ups and downs. Over 10 years, from 2017 to 2026, the number has increased 17%, or compounded annually at 1.8%. This is about three times the increase in the population over the last 10 years. The census is conducted every ten years, so the population numbers are not as accurate as the NICS numbers.

Population does not appear to be the major driver of firearm sales. The effect of population numbers is relatively small. In this correspondent's experience, political factors, both domestic and international have had much greater impact. An extreme example is how the number of NICS checks done for National Firearms Act items such as silencers/suppressors, short barreled rifles (sbr), short barreled shotguns (sbs) have skyrocketed once the $200 tax was removed in the Big Beautiful Bill (BBB) which was signed by President Trump at the end of 2025.

At the SHOT Show in Las Vegas in 2026, the ATF released a figure showing the official number of registered silencers/suppressors at 5.78 million. As July 1, 2026, the number of registered silencer/suppressors is 6.50 million. This is an increase of .72 million silencers/suppressor in six months. A half million of those have been added since April 10, 2026. A total of half a million silencer/suppressors were added to the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR) from 1934 to 2006, over a period of 72 years. More silencer/suppressors have been registered in the USA in the last three months than were registered in the first 72 years of the infamous, and most likely unconstitutional, National Firearms Act. From the NSSF:

The July 2026 NFA figure of 130,013 is an increase of 108.8 percent compared to the July 2025 figure of 62,271.

Analysis: Politics continues to be a major driver of firearms sales in the USA and around the world. The silencer/suppressor figures show how much sales of NFA items have been politically suppressed (pun intended) in the USA. There is no evidence the suppression of silencers has any measurable effect on violent crime. There is no evidence the suppression of short barreled rifles or short barreled shotguns has any measurable effect on violent crime. There is evidence the widespread ownership of firearms suppresses crime, and a scanty evidence firearm ownership increases crime. The overall evidence is firearm ownership has a slight, but measurable effect on decreasing violent crime.

The effects of political attempts to reduce firearms ownership has enormous effects on firearm sales. The more uncertainty in domestic and political politics, the greater the firearm sales.

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

 

 

 

 

 

SC: Rock Hill - 3 Attempt to Rob man of Gun, 1 shot, Killed

Jeremiah Jacorey Tolliver, 18, died after allegedly being shot by a 20-year-old man outside Rock Hill apartments Thursday night, officials said. Tolliver, Thompson, and Turner-Hansley allegedly plotted to “hit a lick” and rob the man of a gun, according to arrest warrants and statements in court from Rock Hill police Det. Tayler Englert. 

The robbery victim allegedly shot Tolliver in self-defense, Englert said. 

Both Thompson and Turner-Hansley are charged with murder, armed robbery, conspiracy, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Even though neither Thompson nor Turner-Hansley shot Tolliver, they face murder because Tolliver’s death allegedly happened during the commission of a felony, according to Englert and arrest warrants in the case.

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FL: Miami Gardens - Men Attempt Robbery of Driver, Driver Shoots, Kills 1 of 2

Thomas and another man are accused of trying to rob a delivery driver, who then allegedly fired his gun in self defense.

One of the suspects was shot and taken to HCA Florida Aventura Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

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OH: Dayton - Woman Shoots, Kill EX who Broke into Home

.. a 33-year-old woman called 911 saying her ex-boyfriend was kicking in the front door and smashing a window in an attempt to break in. 

Authorities said the woman was then heard yelling at the man, followed by what investigators believed was "a muffled gunshot." The caller, according to the news release, then told 911 dispatch that she had shot her ex-boyfriend and was leaving the home with her three children. The children were at home at the time of the shooting, but they were not physically injured, officials said. 

The 34-year-old man was pronounced dead inside the home by first responders. 

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Canadian Authorities Charge Former MP with Improper Transfer and Storage of Firearms

Screenshot from ourcommons.ca 

Former Member of Parliament, 78-year-old Inky Mark has been a long time and vocal opponent of the increasingly restrictive Canadian firearms laws.  Mark's father and grandfather had immigrated to Canada from China in 1923. Mark and his mother came to Canada when he was five years old, fleeing Chinese communist oppression in 1953. Mark could not immigrate earlier due to the Chinese Immigration Act of 1923.

Inky Mark served as a member of Parliament for 13 years, 3 months and 15 days. He was fiercely independent with a strong conservative bent. He criticized highly restrictive Canadian firearms laws and Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

On March 21, 2026, at a gun show in Newfolden in the north west corner of Minnesota, about 50 miles south of the Canadian border, Wilfred Kachurowski, 73, was looking at the items in the show. Wilfred is a Canadian citizen who has a residence is in Dauphin, Manitoba. Inky Mark also has a residence in Dauphin.

It appears Kachurowsiki did not have a hunting license in the USA nor was he a member of a United States gun club. If he were, he could have been legally eligible to purchase firearms. Merely looking at firearms or purchasing a firearm may not have been his intention. He is reported by inews.tv as taking a .38 caliber firearm from one of the gun show tables and placing it in a bag attached to his walker. The owner of the firearm followed him and took him to the floor. The police were called. Later reporting by cbc.com stated the revolver was a Taurus Judge chambered for .45 Colt/.410 shotgun rounds. Kachurowski was arrested and taken to jail in Newfolden.  He was later released on bail. He returned to Canada on March 28.

 

Variations of Taurus Judge Revolvers. Image by Weingarten

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol notified the Manitoba RCMP that Kachurowski had been charged with the theft of a handgun on March 23. Kachurowski was still in custody at that point. The owner of the handgun stated Kachurowski matched the description of a suspect in a previous theft from a Grand Rapids, North Dakota gun show in 2025.

The RCMP used the information to obtain a search warrant for Kachurowski's home in Dauphin, Manitoba. The search was conducted on April 15. During the search, the police found seven firearms, two of which had been reported as stolen in the United States.  On one, the serial number had been altered. The firearms were not stored as required by Canadian law. Some of them were loaded.

 

Firearms found in the home of Wilfred Kachurowski in Dauphin, Canada. Image from RCMP.  

The firearms appear to be a Hi-Point carbine, a revolving shotgun, and five revolvers. Revolvers with a barrel less than 105 mm are highly restricted in Canada. The short-barreled shotgun may not be legal in Canada, as short barreled shotguns are legal in Canada only if they come from the factory with a short barrel. The shotgun in the image appears to have had its barrel shortened by simply cutting the barrel off at a convenient point. The short barreled shotgun would make an excellent bush gun. The RCMP is reported as saying the firearms were not stored in compliance with Canadian law.

One or more of the guns found at Kachurowski's residence were linked to former Member of Parliament Inky Mark.

The firearms had not been legally transferred to Kachurowski. This made them "crime guns" under Canadian law. The RCMP obtained a warrant to search former MP and gun collector Inky Mark's residence. On July 7, 2026 the RCMP executed the search warrant.

At Inky Mark's residence, they found and seized 429 guns. Some are alleged to not have been stored properly by Canadian standards. Some were antiques. Three of the firearms linked to Inky Mark were found to have been stolen in the USA.  Canadian and U.S. media have made much of the fact that Inky Mark's collection contained a muzzle loading antique cannon. Because it is an antique, such a firearm is not required to be registered in Canada, and can be transferred without government permission. The RCMP seized $300,000 Canadian in cash. It is not illegal to possess cash in Canada. Canada has an asset forfeiture law. It is possible the RCMP are claiming the money was the result of illegal firearms transfers. Asset forfeiture can be challenged more easily in Canada than in the USA. The value of the firearms seized could easily exceed half a million Canadian dollars. From the pictures in the media, many of the firearms are valuable antiques and high dollar modern firearms.

The RCMP charged Inky Mark with 12 firearms related offenses. The offenses included: Unsafe storage of firearms, careless use of a firearm, possession of a property obtained by crime, and possession of a firearm with a tampered serial number.

78-year-old, former Member of Parliament (MP), firearms collector, and refugee from the People's Republic of China has been released under conditions. In Canada, this is essentially the same as being released on bail in the USA. Former MP Inky Mark has admitted to the illegal transfer of three firearms. In a cbc.ca article, Mark states the $300,000 came from property sales in Dauphine. He says the illegal transfers were not sales. From Inky Mark: 

 "I didn't sell anything. I transferred — according to them illegally, which it was," he said. "I did it three times, stupid me."

Analysis: Inky Mark's legal problems likely stem from the highly restrictive firearms laws in Canada. So far, it appears three firearms have been found to have been stolen at some point during their existence. Most of the charges have to do with requirements for storing the firearms. Those requirements are nearly non-existent in the USA. Over the course of a long and successful life, this correspondent does not find it unusual for a man who fled Communist China to have $300,000 Canadian (213,000 U.S. dollars) in cash at his residence. It is hard to discount the political symbolism of the case. A man who fought the highly restrictive laws, in the name of liberty, is caught in their tentacles. While three firearms are said to have been sold illegally, it is not clear if two or all of them may be from the case of William Kachurowski. The charges mostly appear to be malum prohibitum, (bad by definition of law). With the restoration of Second Amendment rights ongoing in the American courts, such cases are becoming less likely south of the Canadian border.

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

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LA: Shreveport - Domestic Defense, Ex Tries to Force Entry, is Shot, Killed

Investigators say the incident began when Lewis went to the home of his former girlfriend, who is also the mother of his child. Upon arriving, Lewis discovered that her new boyfriend had arrived at the home shortly before him.

According to police, Lewis allegedly tried to force his way inside the residence by kicking in the front door to search for the other man. During the ensuing confrontation, the new boyfriend reportedly fired several shots, killing Lewis.

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TX: Converse - Domestic Defense? Man Shoots at Woman, Neighbor Shoots Man

The incident began after a disturbance inside the home. A woman left the residence and began walking toward a nearby house.

As she was leaving, the man allegedly fired at her. A resident from the neighboring home then shot the man, fatally wounding him.

The man who fired the fatal shot left the area in a black SUV before deputies arrived. Investigators are working to locate him to determine the full circumstances surrounding the shooting.

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Ilinois Enacts Reform: Hunting Rifles Allowed to Hold 3 Rounds for Hunting Deer

 

The Illinois government has passed into law Senate Bill 2756. The bill reforms the limitations on what firearms may be legally used for hunting deer in Illinois. The previous limitations allow centerfire rifles to be used if they were limited to one shot. Bill SB2756 passed the Senate third reading on April 15, 2026. It passed the House at third reading on May 21, 2026. Democratic Governor Pritzker Approved of the bill on July 24, 2026, now known as public act 104-0627.  

Centerfire rifles or handguns used to take deer are required to use either bottleneck cartridges of .30 caliber or more, with a case length of no more than 1.4 inches, or straight walled cartridges of .30 caliber or more. The cartridges must be available in a factory round with manufacturer published ballistics of 500 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle. 

The .300 BLK case is 1.368 inches long. It meets the requirements. The .357 magnum, 10mm magnum, .41 magnum, .44 magnum and larger magnum calibers meet the requirements.  

In addition to the the cartridge case and ballistic limitations, many rifles and handguns are not eligible because of the extreme restrictions on how they may be rendered incapable of holding more than three cartridges in the chamber and magazine combined. If they can use removable magazines, it is very difficult to meet the requirements. From the law:  

If a centerfire handgun or centerfire rifle is capable of holding more than 3 rounds, it shall be fitted with a one-piece plug that is irremovable without dismantling the handgun or rifle or it shall be otherwise altered to render it incapable of holding more than 3 rounds in the magazine and chamber combined without dismantling the handgun or rifle.

This appears to require more than merely placing a block inside a removable magazine. People are ingenious about solving such problems, but some solutions are may cost more than purchasing a firearm which meets the legal requirements. 

The three round limit does not apply to revolvers. A centerfire revolving rifle is still a revolver, the 3 round limit might not apply to a revolving rifle if it meets the cartridge requirements. 

Firearms which use blind magazines could be fitted with a block if they meet the other requirements. It would not be too difficult of use a plug similar to a shot gun plug for firearms which use tubular magazines. It appears most lever action rifles which fire straight walled cartridges which meet the requirements, such as .357 magnum, .41 magnum, 10 mm, .44 magnum, or larger cartridges could be modified to meet the requirements with plugs to the tubular magazines. More powerful cartridges such as the .45-70, .444 Marlin, .405 Winchester, the .38-55  the new .360 Buckhammer, .350 Legend, .400 Legend meet the energy requirements, and appear to be legal if the firearm meets the magazine limitations. 

Limitations on the number of shots held by hunting guns started being enacted with more restrictive game laws in the early 1900's. The most famous of the early restrictions were from the federal regulation of 1935 which limited migratory bird hunters to a three shot limit per shotgun. Some states put limits on the number of cartridges deer rifles could hold. Currently, according to battlbox.com, California has a ten round limit; Colorado, Florida, and New York, have five round limits for some species. Illinois will now have a three round limit for rifles. 

Silencers/suppressors are not allowed in Illinois.  

Analysis: removal of the single shot limit for centerfire rifles to be used in deer hunting in Illinois is a small, but significant step toward more sensible game regulations in the state. 

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

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FL: Liberty City - Gunfight over Online Argument, Victim Caught in Cross-fire

“Upon going outside, (the first witness) stated that they got into a verbal argument with the group that arrived,” an arrest report states. “A Black male wearing all black and a black mask from the offending group then began to reach into his waistband. (The witness) stated she believed the offender was about to brandish a firearm and she began to run.”

The witness then heard multiple shots being fired and “found the victim screaming,” having been shot in the leg, police said.

Police said after reviewing videos, it turned out that the victim had been caught in the crossfire: They said the clips showed the man taking the gun out and pointing it at the group, but putting it back, turning his back and walking away before Penichet, whose stepdaughter had been involved in the altercation, began firing at him.

They said the victim was shot after the man fired eight shots back at Penichet.

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AL: Mobile - Road Rage - Aggressor Charged

DuBose, 54, suffered a gunshot wound during an altercation on Jarrett Road that investigators described as “road rage.” Investigators allege that DuBose pointed a gun at the back of the other driver, prompting the man’s girlfriend to fire two shots. They say DuBose fired back, striking the back window of the Honda. 

The Sheriff’s Office said it is charging DuBose because investigators determined he was the aggressor.

Mayor Carletta Davis told FOX10 News that city policy prohibits non-police employees from carrying firearms while on the job. But she added that she does not have any other details about the incident – including DuBose’s license status.

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TX: Houston - Suspects Bear Spray Armored Car Driver, Get Shot

Police said initial information indicated that a Loomis armored vehicle was making a delivery at an Ace Cash Express location when the driver noticed an idling truck nearby. Investigators said the driver was then approached by three suspects from the truck, who sprayed him with bear spray.

Authorities said the Loomis driver then fired multiple shots at the suspects before they fled the scene.

Two of the suspects were later found with injuries at a nearby urgent care facility, police said, adding that they are 15 and 16 years old and were taken to Texas Children's Hospital for surgery.

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NY: Rochester - Homeowner Shoots, Kills Intruder

Rochester police responded to the scene on Avery Street at approximately 4:30 a.m. on Monday after a neighbor reported hearing gunshots. The resident then called 911 to report he had fired upon a man who entered his house.

Arriving officers discovered the suspect dead in the kitchen. The individual reportedly gained entry to the home through a rear door.

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AL: Mobile - Man Defending Against Robbery Wounded

The investigation determined that the man was walking on Seale Street earlier in the evening when a person he did not know attempted to rob him at gunpoint.

The man then allegedly pulled out his gun, which is when the other person shot him before leaving the area.

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PA: MkKeesport - Suspect Shot During Robbery Attempt

When officials arrived on the scene, they said a man was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to the hospital and is last said to be in stable condition.

Preliminary information shows that the victim was shot while trying to rob another person.

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CA: Oakland - Disarm, but Person who Disarmed Wounded

A person was shot in the 80 block of Fallon Street at about 7:15 p.m., but was able to take the gun away and pistol-whip the shooter, police said. They were both then taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and detained, according to the Oakland Police Department. 

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AL: Tuscumbia - Burglary Suspect Shot in Feet

Authorities say the homeowner shot the suspect in the feet during the attempted burglary.

The suspect was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Officials say his injuries are not considered life-threatening and he is expected to make a full recovery.

He is expected to face burglary charges upon his release from the hospital, authorities say.

No injuries were reported to the homeowner or any other occupants of the residence.

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GA: Warner Robbins - Self Defense Incident, 1 Killed

Police in Warner Robins said officers were sent to Ignico Drive near Village South apartments for a call about a shooting in the area at 2:42 a.m. on Friday.

At the scene, police discovered an 18-year-old boy dead after he had been shot.

City officials later identified the victim as Kaden McGhee, and announced that the shooting is being investigated as a self-defense incident.

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MO: St. Louis - Store Clerk Shoots Suspect

According to police, a man entered McNeal’s Superette in the 5900 block of Lillian around 10 a.m. and caused a disturbance, during which he attempted to force his way behind the counter into a secured area. The clerk then reportedly shot the man.

When officers arrived at the market, police said there was a fight between the suspect and the officers who attempted to take him into custody.

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LA: Sulphur - Suspect Enters Hoter Room, Confrontation leads to Shooting

Detectives said a subject had obtained a key card to another individual’s hotel room and entered the room without permission. The subject later exited the room, and the verbal confrontation continued in the hallway.

Surveillance footage showed the subject attempting to strike the other individual and enter the hotel room a second time. 

During the confrontation, the subject reached into his waistband and produced a black object. The other individual then fired approximately eight rounds, striking the subject multiple times, authorities said. 

 

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NC: Winston-Salem - Firearm Dropped, Rounds Fired at Assailants

Police said Peak and another man were physically assaulting David Johnson Gray, a 57-year-old Black man, when a firearm was dropped during the altercation. Investigators said Gray retrieved the firearm and fired several rounds, striking Peak as he and the other man were attempting to run away. The other man was not hit, police said.

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IN: South Bend - Gunfight, Fisherman Shoots Assailant

Hubbard said a man confronted him, falsely accusing him of assaulting the man’s brother earlier this month — an unhoused individual Hubbard said he has gotten to know.

Hubbard denied the alleged assault and said the man pulled a gun, fired at him, but missed. Hubbard said he fired back.

“I needed to know that my daughter was going to live. I needed to know my fiancée was going to live. We’re talking about my family. I’ll do what it takes. But I did not want this,” Hubbard said.

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VA: Richmond - Delivery Driver Shoots Suspect in Attempted CarJack

Sources say the delivery driver fired several rounds at the teen during the alleged carjacking attempt. Rounds were recovered near the vehicle and a short distance down the road from where it was loaded onto a flatbed truck.

A neighbor described what she heard and saw from inside her home.

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Ukraine Moves toward Allowing Effective Self Defense for Citizens

 

On April 18, 2026, a mass murderer killed six people in Kyiv, Ukraine.  He took hostages and barricaded himself in a supermarket. Two police officers fled the scene. He killed the victims with a legally registered assault rifle. The killer was 58 years old. Police attempted to negotiate for an hour before storming the position and killing the murderer.

One day later, on April 19, 2026, Ukraine's Interior Minister, Ihor Klymenko showed his support for relaxing Ukraine's controls on firearms, to allow citizens to have firearms, including handguns, for their defense. Klymenko promised the mass murder would not be used to conduct mass checks of weapons owners.  He deplored the action of the two police officers. He said he supported the loosening of restrictions on the ownership of defensive firearms, especially handguns. Civilian ownership of handguns is banned in Ukraine. From Ukrainska Pravda:

On the question of granting civilians the right to possess firearms, including handguns, the interior minister said: "I believe that people must be given the right to armed self-defense. Especially after the experience of the early days of the full-scale invasion, when civilians received weapons for national resistance".

The push to liberalize the Ukrainian law on the ownership and carry of handguns did not start with Kylmenko. Ihor Friz, who is with the ruling Servant of the People Party, proposed a reform in 2022. Polls on the subject indicate 59% of the public support the right to carry a handgun for self defense. Only 22% reject the idea entirely.

Klymenko's words have been followed with actions. On May 6, 2026, President Zelensky said he had been briefed by Interior Minister Klyenko. He supported a reform law. From kyivpost.com:

“Ukraine needs a modern and strong law on civilian firearms that will protect citizens without weapons and realistically regulate the situation for those who own weapons,” Zelensky said.

The Czech Republic serves as an example. It has some of the least restrictive firearms laws in Europe. In the Czech Republic, a permit to carry a handgun for self protection is shall issue. According to Wikipedia, about 83% of gun owners were authorized to carry concealed weapons at the end of 2025. Once authorization to own guns is approved, the permission is for the lifetime of the owner. The total number of gun owners in the Czech Republic is a little over 3% of the population.  The Czech Republic has one of the lowest crime rates in Europe.

A major motivator to reform the Ukrainian law is the number of firearms which exist in the Republic because of the war. It could be difficult to keep them out of citizens' hands.

As of 11 June, 2026, a published report shows Ihor Klymenko signed an order to create a working group to consider how to regulate citizen ownership of firearms, how to obtain permits to own firearms, and how to address issues of responsibility and self-defense.  Once rules are drafted, they will be presented to the Ukraine parliament to be considered.

Eastern Europe has trended toward a more liberal model of firearms ownership than Western Europe. The Czech Republic, Lithuania, Estonia, Slovakia, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro have shall issue or permissive "may issue" concealed carry laws. Permits to carry concealed weapons are almost impossible to obtain in the rest of Europe.

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

Gun Watch 

 

 

LA: New Orleans - Fight Escalates to Gunfight, Assailant and 2 Victims Wounded

In a separate shooting incident early Tuesday in the Hoffman Triangle neighborhood, a fight among a group of people resulted in three being shot around 12:07 a.m. in the 3700 block of Washington Avenue.

Police said after the fight broke out and appeared to conclude, one man “retrieved a firearm” and began to shoot, striking an adult man and adult woman. Someone managed to shoot back, wounding the first shooter.

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AL: Mobile - Man Points Handgun at Another Man, is Shot, Killed

Investigators say the victim arrived at the business and got into an altercation with another man. Police say the victim pointed a handgun at the other man, and the man then shot the victim.

Police say the shooter drove himself to the Mobile Police 2nd Precinct to turn himself in and was detained for questioning. No arrest has been made at this time.

The case has been turned over to the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office for review, and police said no additional information will be released right now.

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PA: Philadelphia - Man Shoots Man in Backside, Claims Self-Defense

It happened on the 6000 block of Warnock Street in the city's Fern Rock section around midnight.

Police say the 45-year-old victim was shot in the backside.

He is in stable condition.

Police continue to talk to the man who pulled the trigger, who says he did it in self-defense.

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AL: Huntsville - Man Shoots Man in Self Defense

HPD said the shooting happened around 7:30 p.m. The department said that a fight occurred between Blood and another man, who fired his gun. The man who fired the gun remained on scene.

Police determined the person had fired in self-defense, striking Blood.

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OK: Tulsa - Domestic Defense? Man Breaks into Apartment, Boyfriend Protects Girfriend, Shoot Intruder

Investigators say on Saturday night, Penn allegedly stalked and threatened the victim and her boyfriend near a local nightclub. The victims say Penn claimed he had served time for murder and was not afraid of law enforcement.

The next morning, they say Penn forced his way into their apartment.

At that point, the boyfriend shot Penn.

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Il: Chicago - Attempted Disarm Results in Wound to Finger

 At 12:57 a.m., a 27-year-old victim of an unspecified gender was in a residence in the 2000 block of North Pulaski Road with a known offender. A quarrel turned physical when the second person pulled a gun. The victim tried to disarm the person with the gun, and the gun fired. The victim was shot in the right finger.

 

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FL: Pensacola - Police Determine Shot Fired was in Self Defense.

Pensacola Police Department officials have provided more information regarding a shooting Friday morning.

According to police, the shot was fired in self-defense.

Detectives are working to determine how the shooting began and whether or not charges will be filed.

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FL: Tampa - Security Guard Shoots Man who Attacked Him

Police said he was ejected from one portion of the club and then pushed past employees to enter a restricted area. The security guard, described as a man in his early 60s, “engaged in a physical altercation” with him, according to TPD.

The man repeatedly struck the security guard, who then fatally shot him. No arrests have been reported in connection to the shooting.

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AL: Foley - Domestic Defense, Father Shoots, Kills Son

Following an initial investigation, the Foley Police Department has confirmed the incident on Ghost Horse Drive stemmed from a domestic dispute between family members. During the disturbance, 35-year-old Aaron Steed was fatally shot by his 60-year-old father. At this time, we believe the father was acting in defense of himself and other family members present.

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OH: Cleveland - Domestic Defense & Road Rage, Man Shot by Woman

While driving toward the district, police believed that the man intentionally rammed the women’s car.

The women were able to enter the parking lot; however, the man’s car hit theirs again.

Police said the two women got out of the car with the child and tried to enter the police station when the man got out of his car and approached the women.

During the ensuing encounter, shots were fired, and the man was shot multiple times, according to the police release.

One of the women entered the district building and notified officers.

Officers then came out to investigate the incident, detaining the woman and rendering aid to the man.

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PA: Philadelphia - 70-Year-Old vs 36-Year-Old, Self Defense?

A 70-year-old man was also taken into custody and officers recovered a firearm from the man's right front pants pocket.

Police say the shooting stemmed from a physical altercation inside the home.

Officials believe this may have been self-defense.

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FL: Port St. Lucie - Update on Possible Domestic Defense, Victim and Aggressor both Killed

"It appears that Juliun [Stokes] was standing beside the open driver's door reaching into the vehicle when Carl [Loubeau] approached him from that same side of the vehicle and opened fire on him," Chief Niemczyk said. "Dwayne [Walker] was in close proximity, probably around the trunk of the Mustang when he was approached."

Walker, who investigators say is a close friend of Stokes, was also in the driveway. Detectives say he immediately returned fire, shooting Loubeau in what they believe was self-defense.

Investigators say Stokes never fired his weapon. Detectives also believe Loubeau may have mistaken Stokes for Walker, who police say was involved in some type of relationship with Loubeau's girlfriend.

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CA: Cerritos - Man with Knife Shot, Killed by Armed Samaritan

"A lady was saying, 'He's got a knife, he's got a knife," a witness who wished to remain anonymous told CBS LA. "Then he started dipping and dodging in between the lines, and then you hear two shots."

LASD officials say that the suspect, who remains publicly unidentified, was confronted by the customer, who was "lawfully armed and possessed a valid concealed carry permit."

"The customer ordered the male adult to drop the knife. The male adult then charged toward the customer while still armed with the knife, and the customer discharged their firearm," the release said. 

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AZ: Phoenix - More Details on Domestic Defense by Armed Samaritan

A 40-year-old man was found shot at the bottom of a stairwell, along with a knife. Paramedics with the Phoenix Fire Department tried to help the man, but his injuries were too severe, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Two women, aged 27 and 30, were also found suffering from severe stab wounds inside an apartment. They were immediately transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Dig deeper:

Detectives said the deceased man had arrived uninvited at the apartment and assaulted one of the women. When a second woman, who is related to the first, tried to intervene, she was stabbed. One of the women was romantically involved with the suspect.

"The disturbance drew the attention of neighbors, and one neighbor shot the suspect as he continued attacking both women," according to police.

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RCMP ‘Crime Gun’ Story Has a Major Numbers Problem

 

CTV News recently published an article about "crime guns" traced by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Careful analysis of the information provided shows the article is as much about spin as enlightenment.

Only 8% of firearms crime result in a firearm being recovered. Of those, only 20% of firearms seized by police are sent for tracing. Of the ones sent in for tracing, the sample in the CTV News article excluded most of the traces done in Ontario and Quebec. Of those, the definition of a "crime gun" is broad, and includes many non-violent crimes.

Ontario and Quebec have their own firearm tracing systems. Information from those systems was not included in the article. Quebec and Ontario contain about 61% of Canada's population.  Information from the most populated parts of Canada was not included. The sample for the article for CTV news was not representative of the Canadian population.

The way the numbers are used is confusing. For example: the article says the RCMP completed 6,951 firearm traces. Then it says 4,197 of those were identified as "crime guns". Of the 4,197 "crime guns" it says 2,814 had a known source. The implication is: of the 4197 "crime guns" 1,384 did not have a known source. If the 1,384 did not have a known source, how could a trace have been completed? Perhaps the author meant to write the RCMP attempted to trace 6,951 firearms, but was only successful in tracing 67% of those.

The article then states 71 percent of the firearms traced in 2024 (by the RCMP) were domestic long guns. Long guns are the vast majority of firearms in Canada (89%). We know 2,654 of the 6,951 guns "traced" were not crime guns.  Those would be 39% of the firearms traced. If the vast majority of those were long guns, as would be expected, over half of the 71 percent of long guns traced were not "crime guns".

The definition of "crime guns" is broad and worth considering. From the article:

The RCMP centre defines crime guns as firearms that were used or suspected to have been used in criminal offences, guns whose serial numbers have been obliterated or altered, firearms that were found but not reported lost or stolen, and replicas, toys, 3D-printed guns, pellet or air guns that have been used in criminal offences.

The article does not break out the numbers of toys, replicas, pellet and air guns from the total. The article lists 67 home manufactured guns or "ghost guns".  Those can be made in a number of different ways than 3D printing.  3D printing can be used to make replicas or toy guns.

Of the guns which were traced, or perhaps attempted to be traced, 17% were identified as smuggled handguns, or 1,165. Presumably, these were all classified as "crime guns", because they were smuggled. Handguns in Canada are required to be registered. Nine percent (616) were domestically sourced handguns. This probably means they were registered in Canada at some point. Handguns do not appear to have been commercially manufactured in Canada since Para-Ordinace moved to the USA in 2009.   From the above numbers, about 65% of the handguns were smuggled handguns. 9+16 = 26, so only 26% of the total firearms mentioned in the RCMP traces were handguns. Only two percent (137) were smuggled long guns.  Almost 1% (67) were privately manufactured firearms sometimes called "ghost guns".

Of the 2,814 "crime guns" where the source could be identified, 86% were found to have come from within Canada. Only 14% were smuggled. The number may be biased because Canadian guns are more likely to be successfully traced.  The vast majority of traces for the largest Canadian urban centers were not included. This could explain the relatively low handgun figures.

In an official Canadian government report published in 2025, 49% of violent firearms crimes in Canada were committed with handguns.  It is obvious "crime guns" includes a great many non-violent crimes. When firearms are involved in violent crime, very few are recovered. From the article referenced above:

  Where these data were available, more than nine in ten (92%) incidents of firearm related violent crime did not involve the recovery of a firearm, eight in ten (81%) did not involve the seizure of a firearm and nearly all (99%) did not involve a firearm being reported as stolen.

In a separate Parliamentary report using data from 2020, 58% of firearms traced in Canada were reportedly from Canada, and half of those were handguns.  This means 29% of the firearms which were traced were handguns from Canada. The same report states 28% of handguns traced were domestically sourced.  If 29% of all firearms traced are handguns from Canada, and 28% of handguns traced are from Canada, then 29% of firearms traced cannot be long guns from Canada. The use of percentages instead of raw numbers allows many statistical games to be played.

The percent of successful traces done by the RCMP in 2024 matches precisely with the report for all of Canada for 2023. 67% of traces were successful.

The raw numbers show there were only 277 firearms homicides committed in all of Canada in 2020. Less than half of those, only 135, were committed with handguns. 135 deaths, or even 277 deaths of the 300,000 annual deaths in Canada is a very small percentage. Homicides are shocking events, but less than .1 percent of deaths is a very small number. For handguns alone, it is .044%. Nearly three times as many people die in drowning accidents each year in Canada.

Analysis: One of the ways to lie with statistics is to pick a sample which delivers the result you want. When the Canadian government wants to ban handguns, the reports emphasize the percent of homicides committed with handguns. When the Canadian government wishes to ban large numbers of long guns, the article attempts to frame firearms crime in Canada as mostly involving long guns. Firearms in Canada are not a serious problem. 

In Canada, 80% of firearms related deaths are suicides, about 19.8% are homicides and .8% are accidents. The numbers of Canadian suicides by firearms were listed  at 80% without precise numbers. Rounding results in slightly over 100% total.

Draconian firearm restrictions may reduce the number of suicides committed with firearms. They do not reduce the total number of suicides. Draconian firearm restrictions may reduce the number of homicides committed with firearms. They do not reduce the total number of homicides.  The per capita rate of firearms ownership in the United States is unrelated to the homicide rate.

Playing games with the number of firearm traces reduces the credibility of the source.

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

Gun Watch  

TN: Memphis - Gunfight in Line at Market

Once the two were face-to-face arguing, victim/suspect #1 lifted his shirt to show a firearm in his front waistband. Police said victim/suspect #2 started to reach for the firearm, and the two began fighting.

They said that’s when a third man, later identified as the brother of suspect #2, came into the store, pulled out his firearm, and began shooting at victim/suspect #1.

Police said video also showed victim/suspect #2 pulled a handgun from his waistline and started shooting at victim/suspect #1, and his brother picked up victim/suspect #1’s firearm, and the two left the scene in a White GMC.

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MI: Detroit - Gunfight in Detroit, Person with Victim Returned Fire

Responding officers located the scene, however the victim had already been privately conveyed to Sinai-Grace Hospital in a black Chrysler 300.

According to information provided to officers, an individual with the victim returned fire at the suspects, who were described as two B/Ms in a white Chevy Traverse, last seen fleeing southbound on Manor from Fenkell.

Investigators located multiple shell casings at Manor & Fenkell. The investigation was subsequently turned over to the #DetroitPolice 12th Precinct after it was determined the incident occurred within their area of responsibility.

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TX: Houston - 70+ Year-Old Employee Shoots 20+Year-Old Burglary Suspect

Investigators said the employee, who is in his 70s, heard loud banging behind the business and went outside armed with a handgun to see what was happening.

According to HPD Lt. Willkens, the employee encountered one person acting as a lookout while another suspect came from behind the building carrying burglary tools, including a crowbar and hammer. Police said the second suspect then charged toward the employee, who fired one shot, striking the man in the leg.

The wounded suspect, believed to be in his 20s, ran from the scene and was later found at a nearby Jack in the Box after employees called 911. Police said the man had asked workers to contact his girlfriend instead of calling police.

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