Fatal Glacier Grizzly Attack Report Confirms Hiker Emptied Bear Spray

 

On Sunday, May 3, 2026, at about 9:30 pm, Anthony Polio was attacked by a mature grizzly bear boar on the Mt. Brown Lookout trail in Glacier National Park. Polio had time to draw and empty his 7.9 ounce Bear Guard bear spray before he was killed by the bear. The official report on the incident has been released by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) Board of Review.  The Board of Review consisted of ten people, four from federal agencies, one from Wyoming Game and Fish, and five from Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. From the official report, p. 10:

Claw marks on a burned tree and a displaced stone suggested that the bear launched its attack from this point (Photo 4). This is also where the discharged canister of bear spray was located. 

The bear spray can was fully discharged. The empty can weighed 84 g. A new, full can of the same brand with the same expiration date weighed 312 g, a difference of 228g. The advertised quantity marked on the label was 225g.

Fallen trees and poor light would have probably obscured the bear. As the bear attacked, the victim fell or was thrown downhill. His path was littered with personal effects beginning 10 ft below the trail (Figure 2). We believe the bear followed Mr. Pollio downhill, continuing the attack. Spatters of blood increased in frequency and volume down the hill. Mr. Pollio’s ear was found approx. 40 ft downslope. A large pool of blood marked the limit of his descent 93 ft below the trail, (Figure 3).

The initial attack site as determined by the investigation. 

First contact is believed to have been at the trail just before first tree across trail with bark worn off. The trail switches back to the right, uphill, just beyond the second deadfall across the trail with the bark worn off. The scent of bear spray lingered around the area where the trail switches back. 

 

 

The handwritten notes and sketch of the attack scene show some context and the probable routes taken by Polio and the grizzly bear.  The sketch shows an area with the scent of bear spray at the point the trail switches back to the south, going uphill. The top of the sketch is roughly to the West. The sketch shows the distance from claw marks to the point on the trail where the initial contact is believed to have taken place as seven feet.

 

In the sketch, the x-x, y-y, and z-z measurements appear to be from the trail to points below the trail, with x to be the furthest from the trail.

The investigators believe the attack occurred as Polio was coming down the trail, heading back toward the trail head. The investigators place the attack time about 9:30 pm, just at the end of civil twilight. The report lists "last light" as 9:24 pm. The Sunrise/Sunset tables Glacier National Park for May 3, 2026 list Sunset at 8:54:58 and End of Twilight at 9:29:02. pm. In mountainous terrain, atmospheric conditions and lighting from mountainsides and clouds mean those numbers can vary by several minutes. According to the report, the moon would not rise until 11:46 pm on May 3, 2026. Because the sky was mostly clear, the area would not have been completely dark. Light levels were low.

The temperature listed at West Glacier weather station was 58 degrees at 9:12 pm at an elevation of 3202 feet on May 3, 2026. The elevation where the attack occurred was over 2,000 feet higher, at about 5,300. The snow field was  only 800 feet above the attack site. The temperature at the attack site was likely lower than 58 degrees but above freezing. According to research done by Tom Smith on how temperatures affects bear spray, the reach of bear spray starts to be reduced at about 64 degrees F. Wind at West Glacier was light, at about 2 mph gusting to 7 mph. It is unknown what the wind was at the attack site when the bear attacked. As noted in the Tom Smith paper, wind can have a significant effect on bear spray.  We do not know what the temperature of the bear spray was when it was sprayed. The investigators were not able to determine if any bear spray contacted the attacking bear.

 

 

The distance from the claw marks to the trail, at 7 feet downhill, is remarkably similar to the distance at which Brian Murphy shot a grizzly bear which charged at him through bear spray on the same trail. That bear was also charging uphill, in 2014. In 2014, the .357 magnum shot stopped the bear when the bear spray did not. The estimated distance was 7-10 feet.

From 2003 to 2023, there were 211 independent grizzly bears which were killed in defense of human life in the lower 48, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2025. Those fatalities averaged 13 per year, or about .64% of the grizzly bear population per year. Grizzly bear populations can easily increase at 7% per year. Alaska harvests about 6% per year. A harvest of 15% a year may be sustainable. Grizzly bear populations in the lower 48 states continued to increase through the entire period. While not stated, it is reasonable to assume the vast majority of fatalities of grizzly bears in defense of human life occurred with the use of modern firearms. The Fish & Wildlife Service did not differentiate between types of instruments used to kill the grizzly bears in self defense in the cited report.

The IGBC Board of Review Report gives recommendations for bear safety. One of the things they continue to recommend is bear spray. They do not mention firearms or handguns at all. Handguns, when fired, have been shown to be more effective than bear spray, when sprayed. The latest bear spray statistics show about 90% effectiveness when sprayed. The latest handgun statistics show about 98% effectiveness when fired. Anthony Polio is the eleventh person recorded in North America as having been killed by a bear after bear spray was sprayed in defense. No human has been recorded as being killed by a bear in North America where a handgun was present and fired in self defense against a bear.

Analysis:  Anthony Polio had time to recognize a threat, draw and empty his can of bear spray. This is at least five seconds or more. He would have had time to draw and fire multiple shots from a modern handgun carried in a modern holster.  While it can never be known if a modern handgun would have saved him, the numbers show his chance of survival would have been improved.

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

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FL: Lehigh Acres - Pickaxe Attack Results in Defensive Shooting

After the victim had told Jordan to leave the property, Jordan followed the victim with a pickaxe and shoved it into his back, which caused him to fall to the ground. Jordan then stood over the victim, threatening to strike him, before the victim shot Jordan in self-defense, according to Sheriff Marceno.

Jordan and the victim declined to press charges; however, deputies responded to the property again on Wednesday after another incident between the two. After Wednesday's incident, the victim decided to press charges against Jordan for the Monday incident.

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KS: Wichita - Aggressive Attempt to Enter Home met with Gunfire

The incident happened at around 11:10 p.m. in the 800 block of South Rutan, near Lincoln and Hillside. According to the Wichita Police Department, the suspect was reportedly banging on the door and attempted to enter the residence after being told he was at the wrong house.

The 55-year-old man retrieved a gun, confronted the suspect in the driveway and shot him in the abdomen, police said. The suspect was taken to the hospital in critical condition. 

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FL: Deland - Aggressive Trespasser Shot, Killed

The initial investigation indicates the shooter lives in a camper at the property. The man who was killed had stayed at the property but was no longer allowed to remain there, deputies said.

VSO said on Tuesday night, the man was found asleep in the laundry room of the house, leading to an argument and the initial trespassing call.

The shooter told investigators that the man advanced toward him despite warnings to back away or he would be shot. The shooter then fired several rounds.

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TX: Cedar Hill - Bank Robber Brings Knife to Bank Robbery, is Shot, Killed

Investigators said the suspect allegedly entered the business armed with a knife and demanded money from employees. During the incident, a customer, who was armed with a firearm, fired his weapon, striking the suspect.

Police said the suspect ran from the bank and was found nearby by officers, who immediately began life-saving measures. The suspect, who has not been identified, was taken to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

Police said the customer who shot the suspect stayed at the scene and is cooperating with investigators. Police haven't said if the customer faces any charges. 

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CA: Pomona - Gunfire at Jewelry Store, Robbery Suspects Flee

At about 3:30 p.m., four individuals wearing ski masks entered the store in the 700 block of Indian Hill Boulevard, Pomona police Lt. Iain Miller said.

In response, the person working inside the store fired a shotgun, prompting the masked individuals to flee.

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AZ: Saint David - Homeowner Shoots, Kills man Near Window

As officers investigated, they learned the homeowner saw a shadow near a window and believed someone was trying to gain entry. The homeowner told deputies that he was armed and fired his weapon, apparently shooting the individual attempting to enter the residence.

Officials said the man killed was a 67-year-old man who had also been living in the Saint David area. 

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IN: Evansville - Homeowner Swing Board at People he wishes to Leave, is Shot in Defense

Police found 34-year-old Carson Helmling with a gunshot wound to the chest.

Police say Helmling owned the home. He had gotten into an argument with two people his brother had allowed to stay there. Officers say Helmling tried to get them to leave and swung a board at them.

Police say based on evidence and statements from witnesses, the shooting was done in self-defense.

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TN : Antioch - Victim Fires Shot after Being Wounded

After reviewing video footage, authorities learned that the victim arrived in the area in a dark SUV, got out and confronted another person. That’s when the suspect pulled out a handgun and shot the victim.

“The victim then appeared to pull a handgun and could have fired a round as well,” stated the MNPD.

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MI: Ann Arbor - Armed Robbery Stopped by Armed Clerk

The preliminary investigation indicates that an adult male entered the business and produced a firearm. During the incident, a clerk also produced a firearm and fired one shot.

 

No one was struck by the gunfire, and no injuries were reported. The suspect fled the business on foot with another adult male who was already inside the business at the time of the incident.

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IL: Chicago - Home Invader Shot

Police said the offender entered a home in the 900 block of North Lavergne Avenue at approximately 3:16 a.m. August 28, 2026. 

Adult female resident confronted the intruder, and a brief physical altercation followed. 

Firearm discharged during the struggle, striking the offender in his left arm. Police did not say who fired the weapon. 

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OK: Tulsa - Gunfight at Business, Assailant Wounded, Man and Wife Killed

Police said a group came to a towing company in the area looking for a vehicle that had been repossessed.

The department said two people went inside to speak with the owner when an altercation began and one of the people searching for the vehicle, later identified as Darius Jones, pulled out a weapon.

Officers said the business owner pulled out a weapon of his own to defend himself and shots were exchanged between the two.

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MO: St. Louis - Gunfight over Gun Deal, 1 Killed, 1 Wounded

The shooting remains under investigation. Preliminary investigation indicates that the two men met up for the sale of a firearm. The 22-year-old then pulled a gun and attempted to rob the 20-year-old, and the two shot each other.

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FL: Leesburg - Intoxicated Woman Attempt to Break into Home, is Shot, Killed

Police said their investigation has been consistent with the shooter's account of what happened. Cuts on Conley's arm were consistent with cuts from reaching through the door glass.

The shooter heard Conley trying to enter and repeatedly told her to leave. He also warned her that he was armed, police said.

Leesburg police said Conley continued attempting to gain entry, at which point he fired a handgun through the door, breaking the window. That's when she reached through the broken window in an attempt to open the door from inside.

The homeowner fired a second time, striking Conley and killing her, police said.

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Virginia State Shooting Exposes the Failed Logic of Gun Control

 

On Saturday, August 15, 2026, at about 1:30 a.m. on the Virginia State University campus, shooting broke out. Five people were wounded, one of them a 20-year-old student at the university. Camron Rarris, 19, was found hours later and was charged with four counts of malicious wounding. The Virginia State student was treated and released with non-life threatening injuries. A 21-year-old man remains in critical condition, according to foxnews.com. Police are seeking others to determine if some people fired back in defense of self and others. A 23-year-old man, a 17-year-old teenager and a 19-year-old woman had non-life threatening injuries. The crimes appear to have had little to do with the school except for the location.

Virginia State University is located about 25 miles south of Richmond and has close to six thousand students. It is an historically black university. The cause of the shooting is not yet known.

Sandy Hook Promise, a non-profit with a mandate to reduce school violence, referenced the Virginia State incident and posted this on X:

 
Gun violence is an ever-growing public health epidemic that demands our attention now.

"Gun violence" is a political term designed to associate guns with social problems. The term conflates suicides, murders, justified homicides, and firearm accidents as all part of the problem, and thus, defines the "problem" as "guns". Suicides and homicides have different causes and solutions. The number of guns in a community is not correlated with the number of suicides or homicides. Fatal accidents with guns have been dropping for over a hundred years and are at an all time low, in spite of firearms ownership being at an all time high.

In 2025, and it appears likely in 2026, the murder rate in the USA was and will be at an all time low.  

At the Sandy Hook Promise non-profit website, there are several policies the organization supports which work to help keep children safe in their schools. The have programs to reduce violence in schools. They have programs to aid in preventing suicide. Those programs appear to be helpful and probably are helpful.

Unfortunately, Sandy Hook Promise is actively working to:

 Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund is working to expand background checks on all firearm sales, pass temporary transfer orders, create secure storage laws, limit high-capacity magazines, and institute high-capacity magazine limits.

There is little reason to believe these policies would actually reduce active school shootings. There is no consideration of the costs of such policies or the reasons such policies are becoming more and more difficult to implement.  Instead the site promotes highly controversial statements such as:

Background checks rarely provide false-positive results. 

The FBI makes the claim, but John Lott presents plenty of evidence the claim is not correct, that a large number of false positives are created, and the false positive have large racial biases. There is little, if any evidence more background checks would reduce the murder rate or the number of active mass murders. A bill has passed the House, and is pending before the Senate, to force the FBI to share NICS demographic data with the Congress. Currently, the FBI refuses to do so.

Sandy Hook Promise promotes what they call "Temporary Transfer Orders", which appear to be "red flag" laws designed to allow courts to take people's guns without due process. As the statement at Sandy Hook Promise claims these orders respect due process, it is difficult to see exactly what they are promoting. All states currently have processes to place people under care if a court has evidence they pose a threat to themselves or others. Those processes do not focus on firearms. They focus on the individuals and the potential threat they may pose. It is unclear exactly what Sandy Hook Promise is promoting with this policy.

Sandy Hook Promise also opposes some weapons modifications. Auto sears are already heavily regulated and almost impossible to legally obtain. "Glock switches" are a type of auto sear. Bump Stocks are almost never used in crime. Forced-reset triggers are almost never used in crime. The premise used to oppose these modifications is that more shots fired mean more innocents hurt. The example given is Sandy Hook. None of these devices were used at Sandy Hook. These devices make some incidents less dangerous by making the firearms hard to control and aim, thus reducing casualties.

Analysis: Why does an organization such as Sandy Hook Promise promote such dubious policies?  The leaders may not even be aware there are arguments against such policies. They may not know there are strong legal, moral, and Constitutional reasons to oppose such policies. As the organization gets is name and its foundation from a mass murder at a school, it is very difficult for them to carefully consider such foundational questions.  If they question the premises in support of more gun control, they question the foundation of their reason for existence.

Fortunately, Sandy Hook Promise appears to be spending more energy on positive programs to help students, and less on dubious political issues involving firearms. May they continue to put more resources into productive policies and programs, and less into dubious gun control efforts.

  

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

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FL: Orange Park - Man Flees Police into House, Homeowner Shoots Fugitive in Leg

Deputies immediately detained Strickland, but Cook said White ran into a home in the nearby neighborhood through a detached garage near Meadow Drive and Grafton Drive.

The homeowner and his wife were inside the home at the time. Cook said the homeowner shot White in the leg.

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GA: Atlanta - Altercation at Adult Store, Guard Shoots Man

Police initially said the shooting followed a fight between people who knew each other. Further investigation found that a security guard at the business fired a gun during the incident, striking the suspect before he fled, according to police.

Officers later learned the suspect had arrived at Northside Hospital in a private vehicle. They found 23-year-old James Jenkins, who was taken into custody and charged with aggravated assault.

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TX: San Antonio - Domestic Defense, Boyfriend Shoots Brother of Girlfriend

According to the San Antonio Police Department, the man was involved in a physical altercation with his sister when he pulled out a weapon.

The 35-year-old man was actively hitting the other person when the woman's 25-year-old boyfriend intervened, retrieved a handgun and shot him in the torso.

He was taken to University Hospital in critical condition but later died from his injuries.

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SC: Edgemoor - Gunfight, Aggressor Killed

Around 12:30 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 20, deputies said a shooting happened on Mays Drive in the Edgemoor area. The Chester County Sheriff’s Office said there was between altercation over a vaping device which led to the shooting.

The sheriff’s office said Brandon Tavon Cassidy shot the first person multiple times and died.

Deputies said a second person returned returned fire in self-defense and Cassidy exchanged gunfire and he was struck and died.

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FL: Deerfield Beach - Domestic Defense? Woman Shoots, Kills Man

BSO's Crime Scene and Homicide units also responded to the scene for the investigation. According to detectives, the preliminary investigation showed the man, who was identified as Maurice Wright Jr., and the shooter, an adult woman, were known to each other.

The BSO said that the woman told detectives that she needed to defend herself from a physical attack during the incident, and said the shooting was in self-defense.

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AZ: Phoenix - Gunfight with Security Guard, Guard Shoots Opponent

Police said officers detained the shooter, whom they identified as a uniformed security guard contracted by QuikTrip.

Investigators say the man who was shot pulled a gun during a confrontation, and the guard fired in response.

The guard was later released, and the man who died has not been identified as the investigation continues.

 

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IN: Evansville - Gunfight, 2 Victims Wounded

EPD says both victims stated they did not know who had shot them, or why. Officers say the victim who had been shot in the chest did admit to shooting back as they were being shot at. Both victims’ injuries are listed as non-life threatening.

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PA: Philadelphia - Armed Robbery Gunfight, Victim's Gun Failed

A preliminary investigation indicated that four unidentified men robbed the victim's cousin of a Rolex watch reportedly valued at $25,000, police said.

An additional suspect approached the 25-year-old man on a bicycle and pointed a handgun at him, according to investigators.

Police said the man, who is licensed to carry a gun, drew his weapon to defend himself and his cousin. His firearm malfunctioned, however, and he was shot.

The suspects fled eastbound on Juniata Street. Police recovered the victim's gun at the scene.

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TX: Houston - Domestic Defense? New Boyfriend Shoots, Kills Girfriend's EX

HCSO Sgt. Sofia Silva told ABC13 that around 2:30 p.m., deputies were dispatched to a shooting call. She said a man called 911 and told them a man was trying to break into his girlfriend's apartment.

The woman was not home at the time, but the caller was inside, according to law enforcement.

HCSO said while on the phone with 911, gunshots could be heard.

When deputies arrived, they said they found a man dead inside. The caller told deputies where he was inside the unit, according to HCSO.

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TX: Fort Worth - Homeowner and Intruder Gunfight, Homeowner Wounded, Intruder Killed

What we know:

The shooting happened at 3:30 p.m. on Misty Glenn Court, located near Interstate 30 and East Loop 820.

According to Fort Worth police, a resident returned home to find an intruder inside the house. A physical fight broke out between the two men, and both drew firearms and shot at each other. Both men were struck during the gunfire.

The intruder died at the scene. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office has identified him as 29-year-old Darius Levy.

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AL: Mobile - Security Guard Shoots Man who Assaulted Him

Upon further investigation, officers discovered the victim entered the business, and while inside, physically assaulted a male security guard.

The security guard shot the victim during the altercation.

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SC: Florence - Armed Robbery Suspect Shot and Killed by Armed Store Employee

Officers responded at about 10:15 p.m. to a reported armed robbery at Smokers Town on Woody Jones Boulevard, police said. While they were responding, they were told that Brantley had been shot by a store employee.

Brantley had fled the business after being shot and was later found lying in a grassy area behind it, according to police. The preliminary investigation indicates that he entered the business while wearing a mask and gloves and was armed with a gun.

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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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