"We've got multiple individuals detained on scene, and we have four firearms recovered from the scene, so it's possible that the individuals who were shot were also individuals shooting, but it's very early on in the investigation. We're looking to determine that," Foley said.
Sunday, May 31, 2026
Friday, May 29, 2026
Review of CPRC Count of Armed Citizens who Stop Active Shooter Attacks
On July 30, 2023, the Crime Prevention Research Center (CRPC) published a paper showing massive errors in the FBI Active Shooter Reports from 2014 through 2023. This correspondent has been following the issue for the entire period. The first viral post this correspondent wrote about the subject of armed civilians stopping mass murders was published on December 15, 2012. It had 16 incidents documented from October, 1997 to 11 December 2012. All of these incidents occurred before the FBI started collecting data on "active shooter" incidents.
The CRPC paper, with a solid institution and organization behind it, does a better job than a single blogger did at the end of 2012. The CRPC shows how badly the FBI has bungled the job of tracking these events. The first FBI report was published ten months later, during the Obama administration, in September of 2013. The CRPC covered the problems with the FBI report in October of 2014.
The reason for the difference in the numbers reported by the FBI is not immediately obvious. It happens because of the way the FBI structured its approach to finding the incidents and deciding if they qualify for inclusion.
According to the FBI, the FBI, under the Obama administration, started to report "active shooter incidents", as part of the Investigative Assistance for Violent Crimes Act of 2012, 28 USC 530C(b)(1)(M)(1). The research for the report appears to have been done at Texas State University, with overview by FBI Agent Katherine W. Schweit. Later reports were also contracted to and researched at Texas State University. The FBI definition of an "active shooter is stated below:
From the 2016-17 report
"The FBI defines an active shooter as one or more individuals actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area. Implicit in this definition is the shooter’s use of one or more firearms."
From the 2013 Study:
"Incidents identified in this study do not encompass all gun-related situations; therefore caution should be taken when using this information without placing it in context. Specifically, shootings that resulted from gang or drug violence—pervasive, long-tracked, criminal acts that could also affect the public—were not included in this study."
Those definitions, together, create a system which is inherently subjective. It is a system which depends on a great deal of judgement on the part of the people grading the incidents. John Lott investigated the process, asking for answers from the FBI as to why certain incidents were included while others were excluded. Here is an answer he received from and FBI administrator. From email to John Lott in response to queries about incidents, by Shayne E. Buchwald of the FBI, dated May 16, 2018 7:36 AM:
"The selection of cases for inclusion in these reports is the result of a consensus vote of analysts and Law Enforcement professionals using the methodology stated in the original 2013 study. In some cases, a level of interpretation is required with which all may not agree. The FBI notes your differing opinion in the stated cases."
This correspondent's understanding of consensus voting depends on the specific method used. In a small group, it usually means everyone agrees with the decision. If such is the approach, any member of the group has veto power over whether an incident is included. Any member may exclude incidents, but all members are necessary to include any incident. Such a system minimizes the number of incidents which are included.
The CRPC article gives example after example of incidents which were excluded, while others which are very similar are included. There is a high correlation with incidents stopped by armed "civilians" and incidents which are excluded. Incidents are also mislabeled. Volunteer church security action was labeled as defense by a "security guard", instead of an armed civilian, even though the defender was an unpaid volunteer, in the West Freeway Church incident.
The CRPC shows a total of 515 active shooter incidents which they believe qualify for the FBI definition. This is 165 more incidents than the incidents judged to meet the definition by the FBI. The FBI shows only 14 incidents where "active shooters" were stopped by defensive gun use. The CRPC shows 180 incidents stopped by defensive gun uses, or 166 more than the FBI.
Because of the subjective nature of finding and including incidents, and because of the nature of "consensus voting", the FBI can justify its selection of some incidents and its exclusion of others. The CRPC report shows how subjective and exclusionary this process is. The selection of incidents to be voted on by consensus is subjective. The grading of chosen incidents is subjective. It is not surprising those who value armed defense of self and others grade the incidents differently.
Analysis:
The FBI was created in the Progressive ideological era, where government was seen as the solution, and never as the problem. Progressive ideology believes restrains on government are bad. The earliest report of justified homicide statistics found by this correspondent by the FBI is dated 1976. Clayton Cramer does an excellent job of showing how the FBI undercounts justifiable homicides by a factor of 5-1 in his 2016 academic paper. Only 15%-20% of justified homicide are recorded in the FBI Uniform Crime Reports. This correspondent wrote about the undercount problem in 2015. The undercount of justified homicides is part of the institutional bias at the FBI. The undercount of armed defenders who stop active shooters appears to be an extension of such a bias. It is not hard to understand how people who believe the population is unable to govern itself, are reluctant to admit armed civilians are a significant part of an effective defense against mass murder. It is not hard to understand how people with such an ideology are subject to confirmation bias by excluding such incidents from their reporting.
Whether such bias is justified can be determined by each reader. Go to the CRPC web site and look at the incidents which were excluded from the FBI report. Draw your own conclusions.
The problem is larger than the FBI. The old media had/has a progressive ideological bias which minimizes coverage of such incidents. This correspondent had a naive belief that when a mass murder was stopped by an armed defender, it would be national news, a "man bites dog" story. It would go "viral". The opposite happened in 1999 when a gun store employee stopped a mass murder by shooting the would be murderer. The story was covered locally. With the internet in its infancy in 1999, the story quickly disappeared. You can find an excerpt on freerepublic, where it was placed in 2012. How quickly the story disappeared convinced this correspondent to start keeping track.
Today the CRPC does a better job.
©2026 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.
Gun Watch
PA: Philadelphia - Gunfight in Convenience Store, CCW Holder Shoots, Kills Assailant
Officials said the 22-year-old victim walked into the store and approached the shooter. Surveillance footage shows them getting into a face-to-face altercation. Then, the 22-year-old pulls out a gun and points it at the man.
“This other individual, who we now know to be a 21-year-old Hispanic male, pulls out a gun himself and fires at least three times at the person who initially put a gun toward his head and neck area,” said Inspector D.F. Pace.
The victim tried to walk out of the store but collapsed. Officers took him to the hospital, where he died shortly thereafter.
Police said the shooter has a license to carry and is cooperating with the investigation.
AZ: Sierra Vista Gunfight Update: Both Parties Claim Self Defense
According to Sierra Vista Police, Fire, and EMS, detectives continued investigating the shooting after officers initially responded Sunday night to reports of gunfire. During the course of the investigation, the individual accused of shooting another person contacted the Sierra Vista Police Department and voluntarily met with detectives for an interview.
Investigators stated that both individuals involved confirmed they had met for the purpose of a firearm sale. However, police say each account of what happened afterward differed significantly.
According to police:
• The individual who sustained gunshot wounds told detectives the seller had left the firearm inside his vehicle before the sale was completed, exited the vehicle, and then opened fire.
• The second individual told detectives he had been robbed at gunpoint during the transaction and alleged the other party fired shots first.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
MS: Biloxi - Naked Attacker Disarmed Investigating Neighbor after Being Shot
During the confrontation, the neighbor fired multiple shots, striking the individual. Despite being shot, police say the man continued to attack and was able to disarm the neighbor before walking away from the home and returning to the water.
Emergency responders initially had difficulty reaching the area due to heavy flooding. Officers were ultimately transported by boat. Upon arrival, officers located the neighbor, who was treated for facial lacerations and bruising. Investigators also reviewed video from the home’s security system, which recorded the incident.
A search of the area was conducted using rescue boats. The body of the individual was later found on shore in the general area of the incident around 2:00 a.m. Sunday, May 24, 2026.
TX: Houston - Update on Garage Burglar Shooting
One neighbor previously told Hood News:
“After
I wrote you I decided to go out into my neighborhood on foot and knock
on doors to let people know that we had a problem and that’s when I
found out that other people had things stolen from their garages. Then a
week later this happens.”
Looks like the suspect did not make it very far after the shooting and hopefully he changes his line of work!
PA: Philadelphia - Gunfight at Recording Studio, 1 Dead
Police Response and Possible Robbery Claim
As reported by WPVI, officers arrived just after 2:30 a.m. at an abandoned church that has been converted into a recording studio on the 5100 block of Bible Way and spoke with a man who described what he said was a would-be robbery and told police he fired a weapon. That report said one man died while being driven to the hospital in a private vehicle and that no arrests had been announced in either of two overnight triple shootings under investigation.
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
IO: Des Moines - Stolen Handgun, Gunfight, Assailant Shot, Wounded
Police say the 17-year-old was part of a group of people that committed an armed robbery of a 22-year-old man who was parked in his car. Investigators say the 17-year-old stole a handgun from the 22-year-old. The 22-year-old then grabbed a second handgun and shots were fired back and forth, which is when the 17-year-old was shot.
Officers detained the 22-year-old shooter, but later released him without criminal charges.
NC: Raleigh - Domestic Defense? Man Shot, Arrested
Deputies said the charges came after investigators determined the man who was shot had a firearm at the time of the incident.
The shooting happened around 10 p.m. Friday in the 2470 block of Bud Lipscomb Road.
When deputies arrived, they found Russell suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was taken to the hospital with injuries believed to be non-life-threatening.
Authorities have not released additional details about what led up to the shooting, but say it is believed to be domestic-related.
Monday, May 25, 2026
TX: Marlin - Domestic Defense, Woman Shoots Relative Who Attack Childeren
MARLIN, Texas (KWTX) - A Marlin woman was forced to intervene when a relative attempted to stab three other underage relatives, fatally shooting the attacker, KWTX has learned.
Sunday, May 24, 2026
OK: - Midwest City - Neighbor Breaks in House, is Shot, Killed
When officers arrived at the scene, police say they learned Ronnie Goodson had broken into his neighbor's house.
The neighbor shot Goodson. He was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Saturday, May 23, 2026
OR: Eugene - Gunfight with Intruder, 2 Wounded
At 1:07 a.m. on May 19, Eugene police responded to a report of shots fired at a home in the Churchill area in the 1600 block of Oak Patch.
Police say a man reported someone broke into his house and was shooting - and the caller said he was shooting back.
Officers responded and found two individuals had suffered gunshot wounds.
Friday, May 22, 2026
WV: Charleston - Road Rage Aggressor Shot, Killed
According to statements and evidence gathered at the scene, Hinerman allegedly made a U-turn, returned to the location, exited his vehicle, and approached the other driver. During the confrontation, Hinerman allegedly struck the other driver multiple times.
The second driver then pulled out a gun and shot Hinerman once in the abdomen. Hinerman was transported to a local hospital, where he died.
Following the shooting, the driver immediately contacted 911, remained at the scene and cooperated fully with investigators.
Thursday, May 21, 2026
PA: Rhawnhurst - Resident Shoots, Kills Armed Intruder
A person sleeping in the first floor woke
up and saw the intruder. That intruder was carrying a stick and refused
to drop it when told to do so. The homeowner then shot him once in the
chest when he refused. The suspect was pronounced dead at a local
hospital.
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
TX: San Antonio - Security Guards Shoot Man who was Shooting Handgun in Parking Lot
According to police, a man in his 30s was on foot in the parking lot, actively firing a handgun. Security guards moved in, treating the situation like an active shooter, and closed the distance.
Officers say the man then turned the gun toward the guards and fired at them. The chase ended when one of the security guards shot the suspect.
CA: San Diego - Mosque Security Guard engaged Killers in Parking Lot
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said the security guard, identified as Amin Abdullah, reached for his radio and put out the lockdown protocol, then engaged in a gun battle with the two suspects in the mosque’s parking lot.
“Individuals that did this heinous act ran past the security guard, most likely not knowing he was there. He immediately observed the threat to everybody at the mosque. He began to engage them with gunfire, both suspects returned fire,” said Chief Wahl.
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
NICS numbers for April, 2026, Sales Slightly up, 11.9% Drop in Background Checks
The April, 2026 National Instant background Check System (NICS) numbers are in. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) adjusted background check numbers show firearm sales are slightly higher than April of 2025. Firearm sales are holding steady. Contrary to firearm sales as measured by the adjusted numbers, the numbers of background checks themselves is almost 12% lower than the number in April, 2025. From NSSF:
The April 2026 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 1,193,428 is an increase of 1.6 percent compared to the April 2025 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 1,174,294. For comparison, the unadjusted April 2026 FBI NICS figure of 1,933,972 reflects an 11.9 percent decrease from the unadjusted FBI NICS figure of 2,194,006 in April 2025.
April has been a busy month. The conflict with Iran continued through the end of the month. National Firearms Act (NFA) applications NICs checks are up 130% over April of 2025. The massive increase in applications for NFA firearms is a measure of how much the insane, $200 excise taxes were infringing on the rights of Americans to own silencers, short barreled rifles, short barreled shotguns and any other weapons under the NFA. The removal of the tax infringements has unleashed a significant demand for these types of arms. From the NSSF:
• The April 2026 NFA figure of 190,086 is an increase of 130.3 percent compared to the April 2025 figure of 82,519.
To be sure, these are NFA application background checks. Not all NFA application background checks result in an authorization to purchase an NFA regulated arm. Some are duplicates; some are rejected, some are told a mistake was made and they need to re-apply. It is not clear the precise number which are approved. The 103k increase in NFA checks continues a massive increase in NFA applications in 2026. You can see in the NSSF graphic below, April 2026 is fairly close to a "new normal" for firearm sales, as measured by the adjusted background checks. Average the "Trump slump" years with the "Biden Jump" years, and you see a fairly steady amount in April.
Analysis:
The intense conflict in and around Iran, a response to an effective 47 year war with the United States, has dampened down as of this writing in early May. This correspondent predicted stability would return to world markets after April, firearm sales would continue to be up slightly in April, then decrease in May and June. The prediction still looks good for an uncertain future. The Trump administration's more aggressive stance on supporting the Second Amendment with the Civil Right Division of the Department of Justice is not likely to increase sales. A role back of illicit laws and infringement bodes well. Such a roll back assures prospective purchasers the Constitutional Republic is being restored, in spite of the deranged rhetoric on the Left. Firearm sales thrive on domestic and foreign instability. In the long term, a new "golden age" could increase firearm sales with increased wealth and recreational opportunities.
©2026 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.
Gun Watch
TN: Clarksville - Woman Shoots Intruder
Investigators said a female tenant was awakened by her dogs barking and believed someone was trying to break into her home.
She initially thought it could be her husband attempting to get inside.
However, investigators said after unlocking and opening the door, an unknown man entered the townhouse and a struggle began. The woman, who was armed, fired her weapon.
Monday, May 18, 2026
MI:Detroit - Gunfight, Victim Wounded, Returned Fire
Shooting: #DetroitPolice 8th Precinct is investigating a non fatal shooting in the 19700 block of Burt. The shooting occurred around 2:13PM. The victim was struck at least once while inside a vehicle. The suspect was described as a B/M in his 20s, 20-25 wearing all black. The victim also stated he returned fire, unknown if the suspect was struck.
Sunday, May 17, 2026
GA: Lagrange - Armed Clerk Stops Robbery Attempt
Officers responded to Fuller’s Superette at 900 Hamilton Road around 10 a.m., according to investigators. A store clerk reported that a man entered the business and handed over a note that read, “Put all the money in a bag.”
The robbery was cut short, authorities said, when the clerk pulled a firearm from beneath the counter and pointed it at the suspect. Police say the man quickly grabbed his note and left the building.
Saturday, May 16, 2026
Black and Polar Bears and Handguns Fired in Defense, Number of Shots
In the continuing study of how effective handguns are when used as a defense against bears, this correspondent posted two articles on Ammoland showing the distribution of the number of cases vs the number of shots fired. The first article was for the statistics for all cases, which included brown bears, black bears and polar bears. The second article separated out the statistics for brown bears. Unsurprisingly, ursus arctos (brown bears, grizzly bears and Kodiak bears) showed more shots being fired per case than black bears and polar bears.
This article shows the statistics for black bears and polar bears. There were 63 cases where only handguns were fired in defense against black bears. In 57 of those case, the number of shots were known. In six cases, the number of shots fired was not shown in the documentation. In 1 case, the effect of shots could not be determined. In 1 case, the use of the handgun did not stop the bear attack. Here is the distribution:
1 shot - 25 cases 43.9% of the cases where the number of shots is known. 3 cases involved warning shots. In two cases warning shots were successful, in one case the warning shot was unsuccessful.
2 shots - 9 cases 15.8% of the cases where the number of shots is known. Warning shots were involved in 4 cases. In 3 cases the warning shots were successful (1 temporary), in 2 cases they were unsuccessful.
3 shots - 6 cases 10.5% of the cases where the number of shots is known. Warning shots were involved in 4 cases. In 2 cases they were successful, in 2 cases they were unsuccessful.
4 shots - 1 case 1.8% of the cases where the number of shots is known. The case did not involve warning shots
5 shots - 3 cases 5.3% of the cases where the number of shots is known. Warning shots were fired in one case and were not successful. This case is the only case where use of a handgun was unsuccessful in stopping the attack.
6
shots - 4 cases 7.0% of the cases where the number of shots is known., In the 1 case involving a warning shot, It was temporarily successful. After the husband left with the handgun (a .22 rimfire) to go get help, the bear returned and killed Darcy Staver in a predatory
attack.
The number of cases where six shots or less were fired is 48 or 84.2%.
7 shots - 3 cases 5.3% of the cases where the number of shots is known. Warning shots were fired in 1 case. They were unsucessful.
8 shots - 2 cases 3.5% of the cases where the number of shots is known. There were no warning shot cases.
9 shots - 1 case 1.8% of the cases where the number of shots is known. There were no warning shots recorded.
10 shots - 1 case 1.8% of the cases where the number of shots is known. There were no warning shots recorded.
12 shots - 1 case 1.8% of the cases where the number of shots is known. There were no warning shots recorded.
18 shots - 1 case 1.8% of the cases where the number of shots is known. There were no warning shots recorded.
There were 6 cases where an unknown number of shots were fired. In 1 case of those cases it is unknown if warning shots were fired.
The number of cases where only handguns were used to defend against polar bears is much smaller, only 12 cases. In 11 cases, the number of shots was recorded. In one case the number was not recorded. In the 12 cases there were two cases where shots fired from a handgun did not stop the aggressive behavior of the bear(s). One of those is the case where a .22 handgun was used in defense against a polar bear. That case is the only recorded case where a human was killed by the bear when a handgun was fired in defense against a bear. The other case is where warning shots were fired from a .44 magnum in an attempt to drive off polar bears, but the bears did not react to the shots. No humans or polar bears were injured in that case. With such a small number of cases, the distribution of shots does not have much statistical value.
Here is the distribution of the 11 cases:
1 shot - 3 cases 27.2% of the cases where the number of shots is known, no warning shots were recorded.
2 shots - 2 cases 18.2% of the cases where the number of shots is known. Warning shots fired in 1 case which was unsuccessful. No people or bears were injured.
3 shots - 3 cases 17.2% of the cases where the number of shots is known. No warning shots were recorded.
5 shots - 2 cases 18.2% of the cases where the number of shots is known. Warning shots were fired and were unsuccessful in one case.
6 shots - 1 case 9.1% of the cases where the number of shots is known. Warning shots were fired and were unsuccessful. This is the case of a .22 rimfire handgun used in the Svalbard archipelago. One man was killed and one severely injured.
In 100% of known cases six shots or fewer were fired. There was 1 case where the number of shots fired was not recorded. No warning shots were used. In the experience of the government of the Svalbard Archipelago, warning shots are recommended. Most cases of warning shots are not recorded in publicly available materials.
If you wish to read about each case individually, they are available from the following links:
Last full list, published on June 2021, 104 incidents.
First update, April 11, 2022; Eleven additional cases, March 16, 2022; Second update November 21, 2023; Third update May 8, 2024; Fourth update October 22, 2025.
©2026 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.
Gun Watch
TX: Houston - Man Commits Multiple Trespass, Assaults Person Investigating, is Shot, Killed
Further investigation determined the male was trespassing in several backyards throughout the day. The male shooter stated he attempted to get the suspicious male to leave the neighborhood when the male began to assault him. The male discharged his firearm striking the suspicious male. The shooter remained at the scene and provided information to investigators. .
MA: Armed Samaritan and Police Officer Stop Mass Public Murder attempt
A Massachusetts State Police trooper and a civilian with a license to carry a firearm went toward the gunman and fired their weapons at him. Officers treated Brown at the scene, and he was brought to a Boston hospital, where he is in intensive care, according to the district attorney.
Friday, May 15, 2026
Tennessee Bill to Change Self Defense Law Sent to Governor Bill Lee
Tennessee Capitol
The Tennessee reform of use of deadly force bill, SB1847/HB1802 is about to be or has been sent to Governor Bill Lee. The case is instructive about the intricacies of a bill becoming a law.
The Tennessee Legislature passed SB1847 on April 23, the last day of the legislative session. SB1847 includes the right to use deadly force to protect property under certain limited circumstances. In this correspondent's reading of the law, the legal ability to use deadly force under the bill is not very wide or broad. In the previous law, residents could use force to protect or recover property, but not deadly force.
The new language allows residents to use deadly force to prevent "the other's imminent commission of arson, burglary, robbery, aggravated robbery, or aggravated cruelty to animals; "if the resident reasonably believes the property cannot otherwise be protected and the use of lesser force would expose the resident or a third party to "a risk of death, serious bodily injury, or grave sexual abuse."
The initial versions of the law were more radical. They allowed the use of deadly force to prevent trespassing. They prohibited a person from using deadly force if the suspect was facing away from them. Both instances were radical changes in the use of deadly force law in Tennessee. In the final debates leading to the passage of the bill, both the trespass and "facing away" parts of the bill were removed in the last amendment before both houses passed the bill.
In legislatures across the United States, it is common to have a post-vote process to send the bill to the governor to be signed. An administrator or bureau checks the bill to be sure the language is what was voted on. Then the house and senate leadership sign declarations the bill language is correct. These are checks to insure the legitimacy of the bill. After the legislative leadership signs off on the bill, the bill is sent to the governor for signature. States vary significantly in how long a governor has to sign a bill, and what happens if the governor vetoes the bill, or refuses to sign it.
SB1147 passed with significant super-majorities in both houses. The final votes on the amended bill were: 62-24 in the house, 3 present and not voting; 23-5 in the Senate. The bill final votes occurred on April 23, the last day of the session. The bill was not enrolled (checked and made ready for signatures) until April 30, a week later. The Speaker of the Senate signed the enrolled bill on April 30. The Speaker of the House did not sign the enrolled bill until May 7, 2026.
In Tennessee the bill is automatically sent to the Governor after the signatures. In Tennessee, the governor has 10 days, excluding Sundays, to veto or sign the bill. If the governor does not veto or sign the bill during the 10 days, it becomes law. The 10 day clock does not start until the bill is officially received by the governor.
Analysis: The rules for sending the bill to the governor can be used to play legislative games, depending on whether the leaders of the legislature want to see the bill vetoed, want to discredit the governor, or want to insure the bill is made into law. This correspondent has seen legislatures accelerate the process so the governor receives a bill one or two days after the vote. Legislators have been known to delay the process to allow the governor to veto the bill without the concern of a veto override in some states. Sometimes the timing is a matter of convenience, to allow the Governor to arrange a bill signing ceremony, for example.
The two week span to send SB1147 to Governor Bill Lee is a mild cause for concern. It may mean the legislative leaders are not worried about a veto. The Tennessee legislature can override a veto with simple majorities in both houses. It would appear to be an easy thing to do, with the super-majorities which voted for SB1147. Ballotpedia shows of four vetos done in Tennessee from 2010 to 2020, only one was overridden by the legislature.
If Governor Lee officially receives SB1147 on May 8th, he has until May 20 to sign, veto, or allow the bill to become law without his signature.
©2026 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.
Gun Watch
LA: New Orleans - Defensive Gunfight, Suspect Wounded
Gist: Two unknown black males confronted third subject. One suspect struck third subject in face and produced gun. Third subject also produced gun and began shooting. During exchange of gunfire, one suspect was struck by gunfire and went to a local hospital via private conveyance
TX: Houston - Gun Beats Jack Handle in Altercation
Officials first believed the shooting stemmed from a carjacking incident. Now, sources at the scene say the shooting victim had come to a resident's home with a car jack, and the resident came out and shot the man.
The man was driven to a hospital, then flown to another hospital via Lifeflight. Sources say he is expected to recover.
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
CA: Sacramento - Burglary Suspect Killed, Security Guard Wounded
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — One person died and another was injured in a shooting connected to a reported burglary at a Sacramento business early Friday morning, according to the Sacramento Police Department.
Police said officers responded just after 4:30 a.m. to the 8500 block of Thys Court after receiving reports of a burglary at a marijuana dispensary. Dispatchers also received calls reporting sounds of gunfire in the area.
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
As Silencers Become Mainstream, States Reform Laws
In 1934, the National Firearms Act (NFA) was passed by Congress. The bill which became law was a consolation prize for the Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) administration. The primary purpose of licensing and registration of all handguns had been stripped from the bill because of lobbying by the NRA and Second Amendment supporters. One of the items left in the bill was an absurdly high tax on silencers/suppressors. The $200 tax was the equivalent of five months wages for a person earning minimum wage.
Silencers had never been involved much in crime. No serious reason is included in legislative history for the inclusion of silencers in the NFA. Their ban was part of the hysteria of the time. The new Attorney General, Homer Cummings, conflated guns and crime. The NFA was his grab for power within the FDR administration.
In 1934, when what was left of the National Firearms Act made silencers unaffordable except for the very rich, the law was relatively limited. It only applied to silencers which had crossed state lines. If you made your own silencer, it was not involved in interstate commerce, so the federal law did not apply. It was the middle of the depression, and people were too concerned with having enough to eat and a roof over their heads to be worried about a silly new federal law.
All of that changed over the next 50 years. The Interstate Commerce clause and the National Firearms Act of 1934 were expanded far, far beyond what had been the original boundaries. Short barreled rifles came to include pistols with shoulder stocks. Short barreled shotguns came to include revolvers with shot cartridges and a smooth bore. The Interstate commerce clause came to include almost everything. Bureaucracies came to be the dominant ruling force in most people's lives.
Many states came to mirror federal law about silencers and other items regulated by the National Firearms Act. This served two purposes. It tied state and federal law together so that court challenges had to overcome both state and federal defenses. It provided a way for state and local law officials to prosecute people for what had been made a crime by the National Firearms Act.
By 2000, inflation had eroded the insanely high $200 tax on silencer ownership to the merely extreme one week's minimum wage. The truth about silencers and their many beneficial uses was being exposed.
By 2020, the fight to restore Second Amendment rights was in full swing in the courts. In 2025, the $200 tax on silencers was eliminated by statute. In 2026 there are several lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the inclusion of silencers, short barreled rifles and short barreled shotguns in the NFA.
If the federal law is removed, state laws which reinforced the NFA create a trap. If a law requires compliance with an NFA rule which no longer exists, hundreds of thousands could become felons overnight, without any action on their part. Fortunately, several states are taking action to prevent this legal disaster.
Texas eliminated their requirement to comply with the federal law on silencers in 2021. Mississippi passed a similar bill in 2023, which is contingent on the state of federal silencer law. Montana passed a bill eliminating the federal requirement in 2025. Here is the Montana provision:
45-8-336. Possession of silencer. (1) A person commits the offense of possession of a silencer if the person possesses, manufactures, transports, buys, or sells a silencer and has the purpose to use it to commit an offense or knows that another person has such a purpose.
South Dakota eliminated the requirement for federal compliance in 2026. Other states have bills in progress. They are:
Arizona, SB1069 in process.
Missouri, a bill is in progress, SB273.
Ohio, Senate Bill 214 in process.
Analysis:
The trend is in favor of removing silencers from the NFA and of eliminating unnecessary state regulation as well. It is plausible the Supreme Court will eventually issue an opinion to the effect silencers/suppressors are arms protected by the Second Amendment. The Supreme Court moves slowly. The court has a hundred times more demand on its time than it has time. Restoration of rights protected by the Second Amendment is happening, but it all takes time. The information above is not comprehensive. State laws are changing rapidly. Use the comments to add information about bills and statutes not mentioned in the article.
©2026 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.
Gun Watch
Fl: Wesley Chapel - Truck and Gun Assault on Crowd. Members of Crowd Return Fire
Officials say there were around 1,000 people at a block party near North 20th Place and Eagle Street at around 8 p.m. They say Lazayeus Bartley, 36, drove his truck through the crowd and started shooting.
Several people and vehicles were hit by the truck.
People in the crowd shot back at him, including Palatka Police officers.
MN: Inver Grove Heights - Gunfight over attempted Carjack? Victim Wounded.
Officers responded to the 3300 block of 76th Street around 2:45 a.m. for a report of shots fired and a person who had been hit by gunfire, according to the Inver Grove Heights Police Department. They found the 911 caller, who was struck by a bullet. They were taken to a hospital and is expected to survive, officials said.
Investigators said the suspect was trying to get into the vehicle of the caller. Both individuals shot at each other after a short verbal altercation, according to police.
AR: Pine Bluff - Gunfight, 1 Dead, 1 Survivor
Upon arrival, officers found 2 individuals lying on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds.
1 victim was pronounced dead at the scene and officers attempted to administer first aid to the other victim, but ultimately the victim was pronounced deceased.
During the investigation, multiple handguns were recovered.
Police made contact with an unidentified black female witness on scene.
She recounts one victim was speaking to the other, while said other victim was sitting in their silver SUV prior to the shooting.
They exchanged gunfire before the Silver SUV fled eastbound on 2nd St after being struck.
IL: DeKalb - Gunfight Moves from Apt to Street, Suspect Arrested
The second man involved had locked himself inside an apartment in the 1000 block of Ridge Dr. He later came out and turned himself over to officers.
The 42-year-old man had been shot multiple times in the leg and was taken to the hospital for treatment. At the hospital, he told detectives that Cotton pulled out a gun inside the apartment and tried to take money from him. After the man grabbed his own gun in self-defense, Cotton fired several shots hitting the man twice in the leg.
The man chased Cotton into the street, where more gunfire broke out. The DeKalb County State's Attorney's Office is reviewing the man's actions and he could face charges, according to police.
Monday, May 11, 2026
Grizzly Bears and Handguns, Number of Shots Fired
In the ongoing study of how effective handguns are when used as a defense against bears, this correspondent posted an article on AmmoLand showing the distribution of the number of shots fired vs the number of cases. The most common case was one shot fired, with the least common cases having the most shots fired. On examining the data, there is a significant difference noted among bears species.
In cases involving brown bears, grizzly bears, Kodiak bears, (ursus arctos) more shots are fired per case.
There are 109 total handgun only cases involving ursus arctos, of which 93 cases had known shot numbers. One case had an indeterminant outcome. There was 1 failure. 1 case was indeterminant because both handgun and bear spray were used and it could not be determined which weapon was decisive.
As in the previous article, the largest number of cases were with one shot fired, but the percentages were different for brown bears. As with the previous article, unavoidable selection bias will tend to exclude successful warning shots, because many will not think it necessary to report incidents where no bear or human was injured. Of the 93 cases where the number of shots fired is known or reasonably inferred, the distribution is as follows:
1 shot - 18 cases or 19.4% of the cases where the number of shots is known. 5 cases involved a warning shot(s). 4 of the warning shot cases were successful. In one case where one handgun shot was fired, killing the bear, two warning
shots were fired with a .22 rimfire rifle. Those shots were unsuccessful. It was decided to include the case because the .22 rifle shots were not effective and not aimed at the bear.
2 shots -11 or 11.8% of cases where the number of shots is known. 8 cases involved warnings shots. There were 5 cases where the warning shots were successful, in 2 of those cases, the success was temporary. There were 4 cases where warning shots 4 were unsuccessful, in one case the effect of warning shot(s) was unknown, 1 case had an indeterminate outcome.
3 shots - 10 or 10.8% of cases where the number of shots is known. In 1 case warning shots were successful. In one case the defensive firing of shots failed, involving a .357 magnum in Alaska.
4 shots - 12 or 12.9% of cases where the number of shots is known. Two cases involved warning shots. 1 was temporarily successful and 2 were unsuccessful. In two cases, two handguns were involved.
5 shots - 11 or 11.8% of cases where the number of shots is known. 3 cases involved warning shots, 2 were successful, 1 temporarily, 2 unsuccessful.
6 shots - 9 or 9.7% of cases where the number of shots is known. 3 warning shots cases were successful, 1 temporarily, 1 unsuccessful.
69 cases of six shots or less, or 76.3% of the total for Grizzly bears, where the number of shots is known.
7 shots - 6 cases or 6.5% of cases where the number of shots is known. 1 case involved a warning shot case, which was temporarily successful and then unsuccessful.
8 shots - 5 cases or 5.4% of cases where the number of shots is known. No warning shot cases
9 shots - 2 cases or 2.2% of cases where the number of shots is known. No warning shot cases
10 shots 4 cases or 4.3% of cases where the number of shots is known. 1 warning shot case, unsuccessful.
12 shots 1 case or 1.1% of cases where the number of shots is known. No warning shots
15 shots 1 case or 1.1% of cases where the number of shots is known. No warning shots
16 shots 1 case or 1.1% of cases where the number of shots is known. No warning shots, 2 handguns were involved.
19 shots 1 case or 1.1% of cases where the number of shots is known. No warning shots, 3 handguns were involved.
31 shots 1 case or 1.1% of cases where the number of shots is known. No warning shots, 2 handguns were involved.
There were no cases where 11, 13, 14, 17, 18 or 20-30 shots were fired in the cases documented at the time of this writing.
There were 16 cases where the number of shots was not known. There were 3 warning shot cases, 1 successful, 1 unsuccessful, 1 unknown. In two of the cases more than one handgun was involved.
It is not surprising that brown, grizzly and Kodiak (ursus arctos) bears take more shots per case. The difference is not tremendously large compared to the total. But ursus arctos makes up the majority of cases, which skews the results toward the ursus arctos numbers. In the future we will look at the numbers for black bears and polar bears. In both cases, the number of shots per case are significantly lower than for ursus arctos.
If you wish to read about each case individually, they are available from the following links:
Last full list, published on June 2021, 104 incidents.
First update, April 11, 2022; Eleven additional cases, March 16, 2022; Second update November 21, 2023; Third update May 8, 2024; Fourth update October 22, 2025.
©2026 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.
Gun Watch
TX: Spring - Home Intruder Shot, Killed by Homeowner
According to the Harris County Sheriff's Office, a man wearing gloves and a mask entered the home through a back door, waking the homeowner. Deputies said three other adults and two children were also inside.
A sheriff's office spokesperson said the suspect and the homeowner got into a fight that escalated outside. Investigators said the suspect left but later returned, escalating the situation further.
"At some point, the homeowner retrieved a handgun and shot the suspect, who then fled and leaped across the fence into the walking trail where he was found," a sheriff's office spokesperson said.
SC: Florence - Home Invader Shot, Killed by Resident
Officers responded just before noon Wednesday to the 3000 block of S. Cashua Drive, according to police. The initial investigation revealed that Eaddy had kicked in the door of the home and was shot by a resident after entering.
Police said none of the residents of the home were injured. Eaddy’s body is scheduled for an autopsy at the Medical University of South Carolina.
FL: Orlando - Security Guard Shoots Suspect who Shot 2 Men
Friday, May 08, 2026
CA: Sacramento - Attempted Robbery Victim Disarms Suspect
SPD said that officers responded to reports of a suspect with a gun around 8:15 a.m. in the the 4100 block of Adriatic Sea Way.
The suspect tried to rob the victim at gunpoint, but the victim disarmed the suspect and apprehended him, police said.
OH: Mansfield - Self Defense Shooting
MANSFIELD, OH - Early investigation shows three men from the Columbus area went to Pine Bridge Apartments, 135 E. Cook Road, looking for a 25-year-old Mansfield man.
Chief Jason Bamman said Sylas Daequan Miller, 25, of Mansfield, allegedly shot Marcus Napoleon Wilson, 22, of Reynoldsburg, in an apparent act of self-defense Sunday.
Wilson was taken to OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. He was driven there by Correll Amsbaugh, 21, and Kendrell Moxley, 20, both from the Columbus area.
AL: Mobile County - Man with Machete Loses Gun Fight
During an argument between Hodges and the truck’s driver, later identified as Keyon Jamel Tate, 39, Hodges walked to the trunk of his vehicle, retrieved a machete and approached the truck’s occupants while waving the weapon, officials said.
Tate then fired multiple shots, striking Hodges, and fled the scene.
Investigators interviewed several witnesses in the area who corroborated the events captured on surveillance video, according to the release.
Witnesses also said that this incident stemmed from an ongoing dispute between Tate and Hodges, including a prior argument roughly two weeks earlier in which Tate was reportedly injured by Hodges with the same machete.
Wednesday, May 06, 2026
TX: Garland - Father Shoots unarmed Carjacker As he attempts to take Car from Family of Eight (Drugs?)
The family of eight was unaware of what was happening, and what was about to happen.
Video shows the carjacker in the peach shirt, confronting the father in the white shirt.
The father struggles as the carjacker is trying to drive off with the family’s car with family members still inside. After nearly a minute of struggle, the carjacker, who’s in the driver’s seat, is shot by the father while he stands outside the car and near the passenger side door.
Fl: Miami Gardens - Teen Tries Armed Robbery, is Shot, Wounded
A teen who tried to rob a victim during a watch sale in Miami Gardens wound up hospitalized after he was shot by the victim, police said.
The incident happened around 6:20 p.m. Sunday when the victim met with the 17-year-old in the area of Northwest 187th Street and Northwest 44th Avenue to sell a watch, Miami Gardens Police officials said.
During the transaction, the teen pulled out a gun and tried to take the watch, but the victim pushed the teen and opened fire, hitting the teen in the hand, police said.
Tuesday, May 05, 2026
Supreme Court of Maryland Strikes Down Parts of Montgomery County Ordinance
Maryland State Flag
The Supreme Court of Maryland has ruled in favor of Maryland Shall Issue on several issues in a case challenging a Montgomery County ordinance. The lawsuit was commenced in 2021. On April 28, 2026, on x.com, Maryland Shall Issue posted this:
The Supreme Court of Maryland issued its decision today in our challenge to the Montgomery County ordinance that basically banned carry by permit holders through out the County. On that issue we completely prevailed and the County lost.
In 2021, Montgomery County, Maryland, the State's most populous county, enacted an ordinance which severely infringed on rights protected by the Second Amendment. Maryland has a significant set of preemption statutes to prevent local governments from interfering with state law concerning firearms.
Maryland Shall Issue instituted two lawsuits challenging the ordinance in different ways, one in federal court, the other in state court. In December of 2023, the Circuit Court for Montgomery County granted Summary Judgement in favor of the Shall Issue lawsuit in state court. The County appealed the ruling to the Appellate Court of Maryland. On January 24, 2025, the Appellate Court ruled the Circuit Court had erred and remanded the case back to the Circuit Court. The case, now named Montgomery County v. Engage Armament, was appealed by Maryland Shall Issue to the Maryland Supreme Court.
The X.com post by Maryland Shall Issue on 28 April, 2026, explaining the ruling at the Maryland Supreme Court, quotes the Maryland Supreme Court about the County ordinance. The Supreme Court wrote this:
"is not a local law because of its application to holders of State-issued wear-and-carry permits traveling on public highways who cross within 100 yards of a place of public assembly."
Because such part of the law is not a local law, it is prohibited by the Maryland preemption statutes.
The "local ordinance" banning concealed carry within 100 yards of a "place of public assembly" essentially banned concealed carry.
Most major roads and highways transited through areas withing 100 yards of the multitude of places the County ordinance designated as places of public assembly.
Maryland shall Issue also posted that the Maryland Supreme Court ruled Montgomery County's ban on "ghost guns" was preempted by Maryland law "to the extent it includes firearms that have been serialized in compliance with federal and State law." Therefore owners of "ghost guns" can transport unserialized personally made frames and receivers to Federal Firearms License holders (FFL), and the FFL holders can serialize them as required by Maryland State Law.
The Maryland Supreme Court was reported to have ruled a section of the County's ordinance was preempted, as the County attempted to ban a:
"broad swath of otherwise lawful (and constitutionally protected) conduct by adults merely because it occurs in the presence of a minor, without any apparent connection to whether that activity might result in minors gaining unsupervised access to those firearms."
Exactly what parts of the Montgomery County ordinance remain in effect after the Maryland Supreme Court ruling is not clear at this time.
In the federal case challenging the ordinance, the case was set for oral arguments on January 23, 2024. On December 5, 2023, the January 23 date was continued. No future date appears to have been set in the more than two years following.
©2026 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.
Gun Watch
FL: Fort Pierce - Domestic Defense? Man Shoots Woman Attempting to Enter Home Through Window
She was transported to a local hospital and is in stable condition.
An investigation found the homeowner had called 911 to report a woman trying to enter the home, but another man who knew the homeowner had shot her as she was trying to enter through a window.
TX San Antonio - Business Owner Shoots, Wounds Threatening Suspect
Investigators say the suspect had been harassing and threatening the business owner and employees for weeks, with incidents dating back to March.
Police say the man showed up Sunday, threw a box of fertilizer at the front of the business, then returned armed with a knife. He allegedly slashed a tire and began damaging more property.
That’s when the owner came outside and, fearing for safety, fired a shot that struck the suspect in the leg.
PA: Philadelphia - Homeowner Shoots, Kills Woman Attempting to Break into Home
Philadelphia Police Department Inspector D F Pace said the woman was trying to break through the back window of a home occupied by two people and a dog.
Pace said one of the people inside, who police believe is licensed to carry, warned the woman to stop, but she refused. That's when the homeowner shot the woman, Pace said.
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