Should You Report a Grizzly Bear Self-Defense Shooting?

 

 

Decades ago, the USA Fish and Wildlife Service created a regulatory requirement to report the self-defense taking of grizzly bears in the lower 48 states. From 50 C.F.R. 17.40(b)(1)(i)(B)

(B)
Grizzly bears may be taken in self-defense or in defense of others, but such taking shall be reported by the individual who has taken the bear or his designee within 5 days of occurrence ... 

The penalties for not reporting to the authorities within 5 days are up to six months in prison and a $25,000 fine.

Tim Sundles of Buffalo Bore recently created a video about handguns for defense against wild animals. He has interesting experiences and views. At about 33:00 minutes, he puts forward his opinion about the requirement to report grizzly bear self defense shootings. He talks about the Fifth Amendment. From the transcript:

And another thing about these protected grizzlies, you know, if you shoot one in self-defense, okay, now you've got a certain number of I think it's 2 days, 3 days to get somewhere to a fishing game department and and notify them. Incriminate yourself. Yeah. And that goes completely against the fifth amendment. There is no law that is legal that says you have to go self-incriminate. Um that's what the fifth amendment is all about. 

As Sundles mentions, reporting a self defense shooting has risks. If the government decides to prosecute, it could cost a hundred thousand dollars in defense bills, and take up months or years of time.  The risks have little to do with the penalties for not reporting. The risks are primarily from being charged with killing a grizzly without justification. The legal standard for justified shooting of a grizzly, even in the lower 48 states, is not high.

Sundles does not mention the risks of not reporting such incidents. The reporting, itself, implies a level of innocence. Not reporting can imply a desire to conceal.  The penalties for not reporting are small compared to the other risks of not reporting. Not many people are convicted of not reporting the self defense shooting of a grizzly bear. A recent case resulted in a plea deal. It appears Othel Pearson did not claim self defense. From justice.gov:

MISSOULA — A Troy area man who admitted to killing a grizzly bear on his property in 2020, not reporting the shooting as required and throwing the bear’s GPS collar in the Yaak River was sentenced today to two months in prison and fined $10,000, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

The defendant, Othel Lee Pearson, 80, pleaded guilty in February to tampering with evidence, a felony, and to failure to report taking of grizzly bear, a misdemeanor.

According to the court records, Pearson went to considerable lengths to conceal the bear's killing.

Pearson cut a GPS collar that had been fitted to the bear and discarded the collar nearby in the Yaak River. Pearson also cut paws, ear tags and an identifying lip tattoo from the bear carcass. Pearson then concealed the bear’s claws and an ear tag in a hollowed-out tree on Forest Service land near his residence. Meat from the bear was discovered in Pearson’s freezer inside his home. 

The remains of the butchered carcass was dumped some distance from Pearson's home.  The resources devoted to solving this case were substantial. The tracking collar was found in the river. The GPS unit had been destroyed. The data on it was recovered. It showed the death of the bear occurred about 40 yards from Pearson's residence. DNA testing was used to tie meat in Pearson's freezer and remnants on Pearson's truck to the dead bear. DNA testing tied the bear claws hidden in a hollowed out tree and discovered by hikers 18 months after the killing.

In 2011 Jeremy Hill shot one of three grizzly bears, which he believed was a threat to his children. He reported the incident. After considerable community support, he plead to federal civil ticket and a thousand dollar fine.

“I am thankful that the government has dismissed all criminal charges against me in this case. I received a federal civil ticket and have paid the $1,000 fine to avoid putting my family through the emotional strain and the cost of a trial. I am glad this issue has been resolved out of court and I am looking forward to putting this unfortunate incident behind me.”

Jeremy Hill appears to have met the requirement for legally shooting a grizzly bear in defense of self and others, as established in the Ninth Circuit court of appeals. Unfortunately, the standard was not established until 2021.

In 2017, Brian Berg killed a big grizzly as it attacked him in Montana. He talked to family and friends about the incident. He took two bear paws as mementos.  Brian Berg did not report his incident. He ended up with a plea bargain.

Analysis: This correspondent agrees with Tim Sundles on the Constitutional issue. The reporting requirement is unconstitutional. There are risks involved in reporting an incident. There are significant risks in not reporting, unrelated to the reporting requirement. The resources used by the federal government to investigate grizzly bear deaths in the lower 48 states are considerable. The Pearson case shows some of the risks. There are others. If a self defense shooting occurs, did the defender have have a working cell phone with them? Federal authorities can ask for all cell meta data within a box of time and place. The legal standard for justification in a self defense killing of a grizzly bear is not high. 

The easiest solution to the fifth amendment problem is to de-list the grizzly bears in the lower 48 states.  Once management of the bears is at the state level, the bears can be rationally regulated as required by local circumstances.

 

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

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WI: Germania - Brent Hoffman Charged with Homicide

The shooting happened Wednesday at a location on Highway M in the town of Germania, just west of Tigerton, around 9:15 p.m.

A 911 caller reported that a man had pulled a gun and shot his friend. The caller said he was in another building on the property with the door locked. While the caller was on the phone, sheriff's officials say the original shooter tried to get into the building, and the caller fired his gun in the man's direction.

When deputies arrived, they say the shooter initially refused to comply with their verbal commands, but eventually they were able to arrest him.

The victim, a 67-year-old man from the Greenleaf area, was found in a garage. His name was not released.

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FL: Pasco County - Senior Citizen Fires at Juvenile who Attacked

Deputies responded to Sierra Center Boulevard in Wesley Chapel around 6 p.m. Thursday for a shooting investigation.

A person over the age of 65 fired a gun after a juvenile allegedly struck the victim in the head, PCSO said. No one was stuck by the bullet, deputies said.

The juvenile fled and was later arrested, according to PCSO.

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CA: Madera - Robbers Steal $170,000 worth of Jewelry, as Store Owner Fires Shots

“The employee, she believed that they were armed at the time,” added Short. Surveillance footage shows one of the robbers with both his arms extended out as if he were holding a weapon before jumping across the counter, grabbing necklaces in handfuls. The other men, simultaneously smashing cases and making off with more than $170,000 worth of jewelry, according to Madera Police.

“During that time, the store owner retrieved a firearm and began firing at the subjects.” The family put up a good fight; one employee is seen attacking a robber from behind.

“He’s within his rights to own that firearm and did what he had to do to protect his family and his property there at the store.” The owner chased after them, firing a few more rounds as the robbers drove away.

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NC: Raleigh - Homeowner Shoots Home Invader

“I heard the door being kicked open,” Johnson said. “[The suspect] was already in the house. I told him to get out.”

After rushing to get his gun, Johnson described how the suspect rushed at him, giving him no choice but to open fire. He said he fired four shots, hitting the suspect at least once. His wife then called 911.

“We had blood on the walls,” Tonya Johnson said. “We don’t know this guy.”

The suspect was identified by Raleigh police as 26-year-old Christian Beasley. He was taken to the hospital for treatment and will be charged when he is released.

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Faulty Premises: WSJ Article Assumes Justifiable Homicides Don't Save Lives

A recent Wall Street Journal article makes claims about justifiable homicides using false, or at least unproven assumptions. From wsj.com:

 It’s easier than ever to kill someone in America and get away with it. 

In 30 states, it often requires only a claim you killed while protecting yourself or others. 

There are several assumptions wrapped up in the opening sentences. First is the assumption it is never necessary or justified to kill someone.  The phrase "get away with it" implies the person was not justified. Even though the article is about justified homicides, the authors, in the first sentence, imply justified homicides are not justified.  Why the literary double speak? It is because the premise of the article depends on convincing the reader justified homicides were not justified.

This is a progressive article of faith. It is not sustained by the facts. In a previous article at AmmoLand, this correspondent explained two different models of how homicide happens, at least in Western society. From AmmoLand:

The first model, which I call the “Progressive Elite” model, has these basic assumptions about criminal homicide and its causes:

1.  The majority of people, except for the exceptional elite, are just moments away from committing a criminal homicide.  They have poor impulse control and fly into rages which escalate into homicidal rages if a weapon happens to be present.  For this reason, only those in the elite, who have become experts in government through the attainment of public office, employment by police agencies, or attendance at ivy league schools, should be allowed access to weapons that might be use when these uncontrollable, emotional fits, strike.  Just a few months ago, it was reasonably summarized by  David Frum at thedailybeast:

 Most gun casualties occur in the course of quarrels and accidents between people who would be described as “law-abiding, responsible gun owners” up until the moment when they lost their temper or left a weapon where a 4-year-old could find it and kill himself or his sister.

2.  The second model, which I call the “Trust the People” model, holds that the vast majority of criminal homicides are committed by a tiny fraction of society, that they are easily identified by their past history of violence, cultural set, and lack of civilized values and discipline instilled by a stable home life.

John Lott notes that it is the second model that has triumphed:

Actually, as I showed in More Guns, Less Crime, about 90 percent of adult murderers have a violent criminal record. About 89 percent of juvenile murderers have a criminal record for serious crimes.

— In 2010, there were 36 accidental deaths involving kids under age 10. Most of those children were also shot by adults with criminal records. Accidental deaths are very small portion of total gun deaths.

A well known academic on the dynamics of homicide, who has written books on how to reduce murders, David Kennedy, agrees that most homicides come from a very small percentage of the population:

 While homicides result from a variety of factors, the vast majority are committed by a small, violent and often gang-affiliated segment of society.

The Wall Street Journal article embraces the first philosophical view, no matter how much the view has been discredited. From the article:

With more guns in more hands, families are grieving loved ones lost to quick-tempered killings, often involving law-abiding civilians, with no one held accountable. 

In the above quote, another progressive assumption is revealed. The assumption is more guns equal more problems. There is no proof more legally owned guns equal more problems. It is more correct to say the rate of legal gun ownership is not related to the rate of illegal homicides.  A recent paper from Europe reinforces this fact. In the United States the number of firearms per capita goes up and up while the rate of homicides goes up and down. The progressive model for homicides assumes ordinary people commit most homicides. It is a false assumption.

The Wall Street Journal article states a person can "get away" with killing someone with "..only a claim you killed while protecting yourself or others." This is incorrect. All homicides are investigated. Claims of self defense have to be consistent with the physical evidence.

Under the "Trust the People" model of homicide, the death of violent criminals reduces the number of people prone to homicide, protecting others from their attacks.  The death of violent criminals at the hands of victims acts as a deterrent to others prone to violent attacks.

The Wall Street Journal article posts examples where the authors frame the justifiable homicides as not necessary. A detailed examination shows a different view, where the examples likely stopped illegal homicides

The Journal authors refuse to use an example where murder and/or maiming were stopped, and justice served by the laws protecting victims. Consider the Gabriel Mobley case in Florida in 2008, where a black man was viciously attacked. He shot and killed his two attackers. Video evidence confirmed Mobley's actions as justified. Mobley had a concealed carry permit. Mobley escaped unjust punishment because Florida law provides self-defense immunity.

The numbers used by the Wall Street Journal article are highly suspect. The FBI definition of justifiable homicides comes directly from the progressive model. The FBI collection misses about 80% of justifiable homicides. The WSJ article admits the data is incomplete.

In essence, the WSJ article is a symptom of the different models of understanding homicide. the WSJ article exemplifies the "progressive" leftist model. Understanding of justifiable homicide as defense of the innocent exemplifies Natural Law philosophy as used by the proponents of lawful self defense.

Most murders are not committed by ordinary citizens, but by violent, out of control people with a violent criminal history. Most justifiable homicides are by people protecting themselves from the small fraction of violent offenders in society.

 

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

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TX: Houston - Neighbor attempts Break-in, is Shot, Killed

At the scene, deputies learned the man who was shot lives in the complex and was reported as a neighbor of the suspected shooter.

Sgt. Sidney Miller with the sheriff's homicide department said the suspect and his family were inside the apartment when they were awakened by the breaking of glass. The suspect then saw a person breaking into his apartment and shot him multiple times.

According to deputies, the victim was able to run away before he fell and died. The suspect who fired the weapon has been detained, Miller said.

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VA: Axton - Domestic Defense, Brother shot, Killed by Brother

On Tuesday, deputies from the HCSO, along with Henry County Public Safety, responded to 84 Sand Stone Court in Axton, Virginia, for a report of a gunshot victim around 11:35 p.m.

When they arrived, first responders said they found a man, later identified as 46-year-old Ronald W. McGugan, suffering from a gunshot wound. Officials said he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officials said the shooting occurred after an argument with his brother and other family members.

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TX: Montgomery County - Domestic Defense, Gunfight between old and new Boyfriends 1 Killed, 1 Wounded

Subsequent investigation revealed that the deceased male, who had succumbed to a single gunshot wound, was a former boyfriend of a female witness at the scene. The injured male is currently in a relationship with the same female. Investigators established that prior to the incident, the deceased male had been sending threatening text messages to the witness and her new boyfriend. The situation escalated when the deceased male broke into the female’s apartment armed with a pistol and a shotgun, resulting in an exchange of gunfire between him and the surviving male.

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CA: Victorville - Armed Homeowner Causes Suspect to Flee

According to the statement, “The victim turned a corner and observed a subject walking back into the residence through an open door on the side of his house.” The suspect immediately fled the scene. No shots were fired.

The case is being investigated under California Penal Code 212.5, which pertains to residential robbery. The Victorville Police Department is handling the ongoing investigation.

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NICS Data Shows Steady Firearm Sales in October 2025, Nearly Unchanged from Last Year

The adjusted National Instant background Check System (NICS) numbers from the FBI show almost no change for firearms sales and for back ground checks, comparing October 2025 with October 2024. There has been a very small decrease in the adjusted firearms sales from 1.303 million to 1.299 million sales, a difference of about .3 percent of sales. The total NICS background checks fell from 2.298 million to 2.289 million, about  a .4 percent decrease of background checks. There are only four Octobers in the last 26 which have numbers higher than than those in 2024 and 2025. 

During the 26 year record keeping of the NICS numbers, all Octobers except for October 2021 show a higher number of NICS background checks than they do for September of the same year. October is well into hunting season for many states. 2021 was the second highest year for gun sales on record. The record year for gun sales in October was in 2020, the presidential election year. Only the presidential year of (Trumpian) 2016 shows more gun sales in the United States than occurred in any of the four years of the Biden administration and the presidential election year of 2020. Firearm sales are a reasonable indicator of the level of discontent in the electorate.

The assassination of Charlie Kirk reminded many Americans of how fragile and dangerous our domestic political situation has become. There have been other periods in our history where danger lurked at least as much. Such was the situation in the colonial period, before the United States became independent. Such existed during the Revolutionary war. Such existed on the frontier with continuing war and raids from Indian tribes up until 1900. During the same period Texans experienced the worse as they fought for and gained independence from a Mexican government which had become tyrannical; then during the fratricidal war between the states, which brought death tolls to all the States and significant destruction to about half.

Since 1900, war at home has only been experienced in Hawaii, Alaska, and California. We had a significant attempt by the Left to start an insurrection in the late 1960s-1970s, but it was wiped out.

911 rekindled a sense of vulnerability which has not departed. It was a sort of renewal of the Barbary Wars against Muslims who view others as legitimate prey. It continues today. The off-off year election victories in Virginia, New York, and New Jersey by the radical Left, will keep the sense of vulnerability and fragility alive.

Only when a decisive victory is won, such as the left losing the next mid-term elections and the next Presidential election will we be poised to enter another golden age, such as we had in the 1950s. The potential exists in accelerating new technologies. They could give the productivity boost required. It can happen.

The downside is the demand for defensive weapons decreases with a golden age. The bonus is the demand for recreation increases.

The number of modern firearms in private hands continues to increase in the United States month by month. We arrived at about 533 million firearms in the private stock at the end of May, 2025. In the five months since that date, we have added about another five million, to bring the total to 538 million. Of the 538 million, over 240 million have been added during the last 20 years.

 

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

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WA: Legal Gun Owner Shoots 2 of 4 Would be Car Jack Suspects

According to police, the victim had parked his sports car along 1st Avenue when a white sedan with four masked occupants approached. After a brief exchange, two men armed with guns attempted to steal the sports car.

Fearing for his safety, the victim fired multiple rounds, hitting one of the suspects.

The other suspects fled in the sedan before police arrived. Later, the white sedan dropped off a second suspect at Harborview Medical Center, also suffering from a gunshot wound. This suspect is in serious condition and under armed guard as well, the SPD says.

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AZ: Phoenix - Homeowner Shoots Suspect who Broke into Home

Officers were first called to the neighborhood near 40th Street and Thunderbird Road around 9 a.m. for a reported burglary.

While police were following up on that call, another report came in from the same area about a shooting.

Investigators say a homeowner shot a man who allegedly broke into his home.

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CA: La Puente - Gunfight Between Occupants of two Vehicles, Two Wounded

The shooting occurred between the occupants of two cars, one of them being a BMW, at the Sinclair Gas station, 13758 Amar Rd. around 2 p.m. Saturday, November 8. Some sort of argument, or confrontation occurred between the two drivers. The driver of the BMW then opened fire and drove off northbound on Puente Road, according to Sgt. Lefevre of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Industry Station

The BMW returned and gunfire was exchanged. It appears initially that one or both of the passengers were injured during the initial shooting, Lefevre told SGV CityWatch.

 

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NM: Las Cruces - Unknown Bystander Shoots 37-Year-Old who Shot 28-year-old

When they arrived, police learned that two men — ages 28 and 37 — got into a fight in the parking lot. At some point, the 37-year-old armed himself with a gun and shot at least one round that struck the 28-year-old, police said.

Police said an unknown person then shot the 37-year-old before fleeing from the area.

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AL: Huntsville - Armed Suspect Attempts Break-in, is Shot by Resident

Officers responded to the 6300 block of Sandia Boulevard on Saturday, Nov. 8, around 1 a.m. They found Justin Marlo Davis, 25, of Huntsville, who had been shot.

The Huntsville Police Department's Major Crimes Unit led the investigation. Authorities determined that Davis was armed and trying to enter the home when a resident shot him.

 

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CA: Montague - Suspect Unlawfully Enters Home, attacks Man, is Shot by Resident

Deputies from the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office and medical personnel arrived at the scene and found Hammons and several witnesses. The witnesses reported to deputies that Hammons had unlawfully entered their home and attacked 57-year-old Kevin Palmer with a wooden pole.

As the altercation between the two men escalated, Hammons allegedly threatened to kill the other residents at the home. Authorities say that 28-year-old Ryan Edens retrieved a .22 rifle and shot Hammons in self-defense as he feared for his safety.

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CA: Sherman Oaks - Former Laker, Chistian Wood, Repels Suspects with Gunfire

Police say the victim reported hearing a crashing sound at the rear of the property in the 14800 block of Otsego Street. Three men were seen trying to enter the home. That's when Wood allegedly fired three shots causing the suspects to flee, the Los Angeles Police Department said.

The incident was reported about 1 p.m., but the suspects fled before police arrived. There are no reports of any arrests. Police continue looking for the suspects.

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Al: Mobile - Gunfight Results in Two Wounded, Police Arrest Suspect

When officers arrived at the scene, they found that two males had been taken to the hospital in a personal vehicle.

During the investigation, officers learned that one of the males allegedly shot the other one, who then returned fire, hitting the alleged shooter.

Both had non-life-threatening injuries.

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PA: Philadelphia - Gunfight on Street, Bystander Wounded

The shooting happened after 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the corner of 18th and Huntingdon streets in North Philadelphia.

Moments earlier, surveillance footage obtained by Action News showed a man and woman arguing near the 2600 block of Bouvier Street. Police believe they were fighting over a parking spot. It escalated quickly into a shootout, which moved up the block. The man eventually fired towards the corner store.

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IL: Chicago: Domestic Defense? Woman Shoots Man

Police said a woman, 28, was in a fight with a known man, 38, inside her home.

At one point the woman, which police identify as the victim in the case, pulled out a gun and shot the man in the left arm.

The man was placed into police custody and was taken to an area hospital. He was expected to be OK.

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OR: Medford - Armed Neighbor Shoots, Kills Suspect During Confrontation

The incident occurred at an apartment building at 18 Hawthorne Street. According to the Medford Police Department (MPD), a neighbor reported hearing a loud commotion outside his unit. Through his window, he saw a man attempting to break into a nearby apartment.

The neighbor, who was armed, intervened and confronted the suspect. Police identified the suspect as 32-year-old Martin Jimenez of Medford. MPD says multiple rounds were fired during the encounter, resulting in Jimenez’s death.

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Laser Weapon: Iron Beam 450 Ready to Deploy in Israel

 

 Iron Beam 450 image from wikipediacommons 

The Israeli anti-drone and anti-missile laser weapon, the Iron Beam 450 is said to be ready to be deployed in Israel. From the timesofisrael.com:

 The Iron Beam is not meant to replace the Iron Dome or Israel’s other air defense systems, but to supplement and complement them, shooting down smaller projectiles and leaving larger ones for the more robust missile-based batteries such as the David’s Sling and Arrow systems.

As long as there is a constant source of energy for the laser, there is no risk of it ever running out of ammunition. Officials have hailed it as a potential “game-changer” in the battle against projectile attacks.

The Iron Beam 450 has an 450 millimeter aperture. It has a range of about 10 kilometers and a published beam power of 100 kilowatts. A significant amount of the funding for the development of the Iron Beam has come from the United States. The USA has been developing laser weapons for decades. This correspondent's team supported an early feasibility test about 1975. Much of Anti-Ballistic Missile laser technology, primarily to do with aiming and concentrating of the beam, was supported by my colleagues in the late 1980s- early 1990's. That technology, or very similar concepts, are used by the Iron Beam.  There are a couple of smaller brothers of the 450, about half and one tenth of its power. The least powerful the Lite Beam, can be mounted on a land vehicle.  The Lite Beam is said to have beam power of 10 kilowatts and a range of  a couple of kilometers.  The middle powered unit, on is said to be "mobile", with a power of 50 kilowatts.

From defense-update.com:

Designed to operate autonomously or in conjunction with the Iron Dome’s command and control systems, Iron Beam introduces a strategic shift by enabling low-cost intercepts without depleting expensive missile stockpiles. According to Brig. Gen. (Res.) Dr. Daniel Gold, head of DDR&D, “Combining laser and missile interceptors will significantly strengthen our defense envelope against rockets, missiles, UAVs, and emerging threats.”

The Iron Beam system is expected to reduce Israel’s cost per intercept for short-range threats significantly. While Iron Dome interceptors cost tens of thousands of dollars per shot, a single Iron Beam engagement may cost only a few dollars in electricity. This economic edge is especially vital during prolonged conflicts or saturation attacks, where traditional interceptor stocks could quickly run low.

The Iron Beam system has been under development since 2014. It utilizes two solid state laser units which run off of electricity. They are said to combine the beams for maximum range and effect. The AirBorne Laser (ABL) system, canceled in 2011, utilized a chemical laser. The storage and transport of the highly energetic, toxic chemicals used to power the ABL was always a significant problem. Solid state laser systems do not have that problem. Solid state lasers have been tested and employed by the United States military. In 2017, a Lockheed engineer claimed the lasers they were testing converted 43% of the electrical energy into beam power. It was an amazing claim. If true, the Iron Dome lasers are probably more efficient.

The cost to produce the system is not obvious. One correspondent put it at $60K per unit, not counting development costs. At a cost of electricity per engagement of a claimed $5, it appears to be cheap to operate.   If true, it is inexpensive compared to most anti-air defense systems.  The Iron Beam 450 is going to be deployed for all to see in action in Israel. Its capabilities will soon be demonstrated to the world.

Laser systems have problems with dust, rain, clouds, fog, smoke, essentially anything in the air. Israel has mostly clear air. Such a system seems potentially useful in the drone war in Ukraine, but Ukraine has clouds and precipitation much more frequently than does Israel.

A similar system may be under development in China. The LY-1 is the designation for a system supposedly designed for ship defense. It is unclear what the LY-1 capabilities are.

Laser systems for individual soldiers are already in use for range finding, as well as potentially blinding opponents. Buck Rodgers laser rifles may arrive this century, as lasers become smaller, lighter, and more efficient, and batteries continue to make gains in energy density.

 

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

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MI: Monroe Township - Roommate Gunfight, both Wounded, one Arrested

MONROE TWP., Mich. (FOX 2) - Police said that two men, who are thought to be roommates, suffered non-life-threatening injuries when they shot each other Sunday morning. 

Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodnough said that a shooting in the 3000 block of Albain Road in Monroe Township left one man in custody, but both the victim and suspect suffered gunshot wounds. 

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MN: St. Paul - Gunfight at Bar, Wounded Victim Returns Fire

The incident happened around 11:45 p.m. at the Saint Paul Saloon on Old Hudson Road in the east-side Dayton's Bluff neighborhood.

According to the St. Paul Police Department, investigators responded to the shooting and learned the injured victim chased the suspect outside of the bar and fired several shots back at the suspect as he ran away.

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TX: Houston - Domestic Defense Current Boyfriend Shoots Woman's Ex Who Attempted Break-in

Investigators learned the male had a previous relationship with a female at the home and he had caused a disturbance at the residence earlier in the night. He returned to the location and was involved in an argument with another male, 26. It escalated into a physical altercation as the first male tried to gain entry into the home through the garage. The second male produced a firearm and fired multiple shots, striking the first male. The female called 911 and the second male attempted first aid.

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Record Deaths by Bear Attacks in Japan in 2025

Image of American black bear by Dean Weingarten, American brown/grizzly bear by Troy Nemitz; Image of Asian Black Bear from wikimedia license 4.0; Wikimedia Ussuri Brown bear 2008 CC 2.0 

 

 

Japan has had ten people killed by bears in 2025. It is a record number, with than 172 people injured by October 22. In 2023, more than 200 were injured, but only six died.

Japan has more people killed by bears than are people killed by bears in the United States. Since Japan started keeping records in 2007, the number of people killed by wild (not captured) bears has been 50 in Japan, with one uncertain, as of October, 2025.  For the same time period, wild bears killed 35 people in the United States. From japantimes.co.jp:

Separate bear attacks in Japan killed one and injured four on Friday, officials said, days after the government vowed to toughen measures because of a record year of deadly assaults by the animals.

Before Friday's attacks, bears had killed a record nine people this year, surpassing the previous high of six in the fiscal year that ended in March 2024.

The animal has been increasingly encroaching into Japan's towns due to factors ranging from a declining human population to climate change.

During the same interval, 34 people were killed by wild bears in Canada.   Japan has bout 11,000 brown bears and about 30,000- 40,000 Asiatic black bears. Japan does not have any wild polar bears. The United States has about 35,000 brown/grizzly bears, 400,000 black bears (including Alaska), and about 3,000 to 4,000 polar bears, depending on the time of year. Canada has about 30,000 brown/grizzly bears, about 400,000 black bears and about 16,000 polar bears.

The United States has the highest rate of privately owned firearms per person in the world (about 1.5). Japan has one of the lowest rates of privately owned firearms in the world (about .003). Canada's rate of private firearms ownership is in between that of the United States and that of Japan, (about .35). These are not the only differences. In the USA, firearms, including handguns, can be carried in nearly all the areas frequented by bears. In Japan it is nearly impossible to obtain a permit to carry a firearm, especially a handgun. In Canada, long guns can normally be carried in wild areas, but it is very difficult to obtain permission to carry a handgun. It is easier to obtain a permit to carry a handgun in wild areas in Canada than it is in Japan.

Japan is reacting to the increasing bear attacks by training government hunters. The government intends to manage the bear population. From japantimes.co.jp, October 22, 2025:

New Environment Minister Hirotaka Ishihara called the attacks "a big problem, a serious problem".

"We are committed to further strengthening various measures including securing and training government hunters and managing the bear population," he told a news conference Wednesday.

Ishihara was appointed to his post late Tuesday when new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi launched her government.

Japan could have a net income, turning the problem of overpopulation of bears into an opportunity, by licensing foreign hunters to harvest the surplus bears in Japan. This correspondent predicts such a scheme will not happen.

Japanese firearms law is much too restrictive to allow non-Japanese people to access firearms for short periods, even during highly supervised and guided hunts, on Japanese soil. The regulatory requirements for possessing a firearm take too long. The tests are conducted in Japanese. A foreigner living in Japan can take the time and expense to qualify, but few do.

Japan's Akita regional governor has called for the military to aid in culling the number of Asiatic black bears in the prefecture. With helicopters, modern weapons, and thermal imaging systems, Japan's military could do the job. Wild animals larger than humans cannot stand up to modern technology. Such use of the military would be expensive. Japan would not be the first country to use sophisticated technology to cull animal populations. Australia has been using helicopters to cull wild horses and camels for years.

 

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

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TN: Nashville - Shooting at Liquor Store, Shoplifting Suspect Wounded

According to Metro police, the victim was shot in the leg by a store employee after a physical altercation. The employee told investigators the fight began after the employee confronted the victim for stealing from the store.

The shooting victim was taken to an area hospital, but there is no word on that person’s condition at this time.

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CA: Lancaster - Burglary Suspect Shot at, Ran

Lancaster,ca: 459(burglary) 25th St e and Lancaster blvd, caller saw male in backyard and shot at it him. Male took off running and unknown where male went.

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TX: Atascocita - Off Duty Officer Shoots Man attempting to enter Vehicle

Authorities said that the deputy held the suspect at gunpoint and called 911 before firing his weapon, fearing for the child's life.

"He could be heard giving multiple commands to the subject before shots were fired," Maj. Ben Katrib with the sheriff's office said.

The suspect was found on the front lawn of the home next to a vehicle with multiple gunshot wounds, the sheriff's office said. He was taken to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

The suspect's mother identified him as 27-year-old Darrius Williams and said he was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder eight years ago.

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OK: Tulsa - Gunfight Home Invasion, Suspect Killed

According to police, the suspect was kicking in the door of a woman's apartment when a man inside the apartment grabbed a gun. After the suspect kicked open the door, gunfire was exchanged between them and the man inside.

The suspect, later indentified as 20-year-old Jamond Silas, was shot and killed.

When police arrived on scene, they said a gun was seen next to the suspect. No one in the house was injured.

Police say a man came forward saying he shot Silas in self-defense. He said he was inside the apartment when Silas kicked in the door. The man was questioned and released pending further investigation. 

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DOJ Considers Appeal in Montana GFSZ (Metcalf) Case

In the Billings Montana Gun Free School Zone (GFSZ) case of Gabriel Metcalf, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals three judge panel published a split decision which struck down the indictment of Gabriel Metcalf. Thomas K. Godfrey, the Assistant U.S. Attorney who has been prosecuting the case, has filed a petition asking for an additional 45 days to consider whether a petition for rehearing will be filed. A petition for rehearing would ask for the original three judge panel to rehear the case.

The United States of America moves the Court for an extension in which to file its petition for rehearing in this case. Rule 40 of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure specifies that a petition for rehearing must be filed within 14 days from the entry of judgment. Currently, the United States must submit any petition for rehearing on or before October 7, 2025.

The Solicitor General is still reviewing this matter and requires an additional 45 days to complete his review to determine whether a petition for rehearing will be sought.

If the Court grants this motion, the United States’ petition for rehearing would be due on or before November 21, 2025.

The United States has contacted Russell Hart, counsel for Metcalf. He advised that he does not oppose this motion.

Metcalf is currently in not in custody.

Metcalf has not opposed the petition. A rehearing could bring the issue of whether the Gun Free School Zone act violates the rights protected by the Second Amendment back to life in this case.  The reason given for the extension is to give the Solicitor General time to study the case and make a decision. The Solicitor General of the United States is D. John Sauer. Mark W. Smith, on his Youtube channel, the Four Boxes Diner, sings the praises of Solicitor General Sauer as a strong originalist and a proponent of the Second Amendment.

This correspondent has argued the Billings Montana GFSZ act case is an excellent vehicle to challenge the constitutionality of the GFSZ. The potential challenge has been complicated by considering the implications of the Rahaif decision in the case.

If the Solicitor General decides to petition the three judge panel to rehear the case, the path forward becomes a bit complicated. Here is link to a chart of the process for a rehearing petition provided by Michellawyers.com. The process can take considerable time. The three judge panel can decide to hear the case or not to hear the case. If they choose not to hear the case, the prosecution can ask for a hearing en banc. If the Ninth Circuit does not grant an en banc hearing, the prosecution can appeal the case to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has considerable discretion. They could decide to grant cert to hear the case; they could hear it on the narrow question of if the Rahaif decision applies; they might even be decide to hear it on the question of the constitutionality of the GFSZ act. If the Solicitor General asks the Supreme Court to hear a case, the possibility of the Supreme Court granting cert jumps up enormously. The Solicitor General reasonably has to consider all these implications before deciding whether or not to petition the three judge panel for a rehearing.

Unfortunately, Gabriel Metcalf and his mother, Vivian, will continue to be punished by process while this case is ongoing. One of the reasons Gabriel has undergone the many difficulties has been to challenge the Constitutionality of the GFSZ act. This correspondent has spoken to Gabriel. He is a strong proponent of Second Amendment rights.

Gabriel's mother, Vivian has set up a GiveSendGo site for donations to help the family. Gabriel Metcalf and his mother are poor as church mice. The hardship of continuing this case has been very difficult for them. If you are willing to help out, here is a link to the GiveSendGo site.

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

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GA: Covington - Man Shot While Breaking into Apt was Listed on the Lease for the Apt

Investigators have since interviewed both the person who fired the weapon and the third individual who was in the residence.

The person who fired a weapon was inside the unit with the third person, who was reportedly a co-signer on the lease. Digby noted that the person who fired the weapon has since told investigators that they were not aware that the person attempting to enter was a co-tenant. 

As of Thursday morning, no one has been taken into police custody. 

No verifiable information regarding the identities of those involved has been made publicly available at this time. Digby said that identities are being withheld as the investigators work with the Newton County District Attorney’s Office to weigh any potential criminal charges.

“It’s just a complex investigation,” Digby said.

 

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Argentina’s Milei Wins Big, Strengthens Push for Gun Rights

President Javier Milei of Argentina, from Wikipedia

President Javier Milei has won a landslide victory in the election of October 26, 2025. This election is a midterm election in Argentina. There are 257 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 72 seats in the Senate. Half of the Chamber of Deputies seats were up for election, and one third of the Senate. President Milei's party scored 41.5% of the vote, increasing its share of seats in the House of Deputies from 37 to 101. Milei's party increased its number of Senators from 6 to 20. This is a significant increase in power for President Milei. It is likely he will pursue his policy goals with continued vigor. President Milei admires the United States Constitution and the Second Amendment in the Bill of Rights.  From AmmoLand, 2022:

Newly elected President Javier Milei of Argentina is an admirer of the right to keep and bear arms, similar to the Second Amendment enshrined in the Constitution of the United States of America.  Argentina has a vibrant gun culture nurtured by strong rural farming and cattle ranching roots.

In 2024, President Miley reduced the minimum age for legal firearms ownership from 21 to 18. From thefinancialanalyst.net:

In a bold move that has ignited fervent debate across Argentina, President Javier Milei has lowered the legal age for gun ownership from 21 to 18. This decision arrives amid rising crime rates and a palpable sense of insecurity within urban centers, particularly Buenos Aires, where citizens feel increasingly vulnerable to violence. Supporters of Milei’s initiative argue that greater access to firearms is essential for self-defense, especially in a country grappling with high poverty levels and a deteriorating judicial system.

Argentina has suffered under extreme restrictions on firearm ownership for the last 30 years.  In 1995, semi-automatic firearms of greater than .22 rimfire were banned for nearly everyone but the military. On June 18, 2025, President Milei signed a presidential decree allowing ordinary citizens to possess such firearms using the exisiting permit process. From batimes.com.ar:

 It allows so-called “legitimate users of conditional civilian weapons” to “acquire and possess semi-automatic weapons with detachable magazines, similar to assault rifles, carbines or submachine guns derived from military-use firearms, in calibres above .22.”

President Milei has instituted reforms in the permiting process. In May of 2025, the process was streamlined. It is now entirely online. From resumenlatinoamericano.org, translated online from Spanish:

 It created a digital procedure under that name with the aim of reducing the time it takes for private individuals to acquire firearms. 

The government of Javier Milei moved forward on Tuesday with facilitating the purchase and possession of weapons through the creation of a digital express procedure, with the goal of reducing the time it takes for users to acquire firearms.

This was done by the National Agency for Controlled Materials (ANMaC), which approved, through Resolution 45/2025, the creation of the digital procedure called "Express Possession," designed to facilitate obtaining permits for the possession of firearms with a Unique Material Identification Code (CUIM), acquired through commercial dealers (gun shops) by individual (private) users and personnel from the Armed Forces, Security Forces, police, and the Penitentiary Service.

Argentina has relatively few legal firearms. According to the Small Arms Survey, Argentina has 7.36 civilian firearms per 100 people.  Brazil has a similar number of firearms per 100 people, at 8.29. Brazil's murder rate dropped to 19.83 per 100,000 in 2019 from 30.8 per 100,000 in 2017, during the Bolsonaro administration.  Argentina has a murder rate of 5.5 per 100,000, close to the murder rate of the United States at about 5 per 100,000 people.

Reforming firearms law and allowing people to defend themselves are part of President Milei's agenda. Milei may be termed a "practical libertarian" aimed at increasing efficiency in Argentina by reducing governmental restrictions, bureaucracy, red tape, and corruption.  Milei and his party do not have the political strength to create an Argentinian Second Amendment at this time.

 

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

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TN: Memphis - Domestic Defense, Husband Shoots Wife's Son

When officers arrived, they spoke with the mother of the victim, who informed them that her son, the victim, got into an altercation with her husband.

The mother told police that her son was asked to leave and was forcefully removed by her husband.

Police say that the son returned and broke the front glass window of the home; he then proceeded to grab his mother’s neck through the glass when the mother’s husband shot him once. 

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MS: Jackson - Man Breaks in Home, is Shot, Dies

JACKSON — A man who police say broke into a Jackson home and attacked a resident has died after being shot multiple times during the confrontation.

Jackson police said officers responded around 12:51 p.m. Monday to the 1200 block of Wooddell Drive for a report of an aggravated assault. When they arrived, they found 27-year-old Randall Harris suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

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Why Use a Handgun for Bear Defense — Because They Work

Grizzly bear downed at 10 feet by Jimmy Cox with a 10mm pistol. Sept. 18, 2018, AK

One of the major advantages of using handguns to defend against bear attacks is defense with a handgun is far more likely to result in a dead bear. This is a highly desirable result. Bears which attack humans should be killed. Killing aggressive bears is a significant way to condition the bear population to avoid humans.

The false premise implicit in the argument for non-lethal defenses against bears is, there are such small numbers of bears, killing a bear removes a valuable resource from the bear genetic pool. This view had some legitimacy about 1975-1980, when the population of grizzly bears in the lower 48 states was at its lowest level. This is no longer true. Bear populations are on the rise all over the world. None of the three bears which live in North America have ever been endangered. Even the populations of grizzly bears which lived in the lower 48 states were only listed as "threatened", not endangered. Today we have at least three times as many grizzly bears in the lower 48 than in 1977. The grizzly bear population in the lower 48 is increasing at a significant rate. It is well over 2,000 bears and is probably approaching 3,000 grizzly bears.

When grizzly bears were not protected in the United States, only those bears which learned to avoid humans survived. By 1900, grizzly bears ran from humans and from dogs. Once bears were given artificial protection from humans, they started to lose their fear of humans.  The grizzly bears in the lower 48 states kill humans at 30 times the rate per bear of grizzly bears in Alaska. The small population of grizzly bears in the lower 48 states kill more people than the large population of grizzly bears in Alaska. Yes, there are more people in the lower 48. But grizzly bears tend to be where the people are not in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. In Alaska, bears and people favor the same territories.

The number of bears killed when they attack people is too small to have much effect on the bear population, except to remove excessively aggressive bears. In the lower 48, there were 211 grizzly bears killed in defense of human life in the lower 48 states from 2003 to 2023. This averages about .64% of the bear population, or less than 10 bears per year. It is only 17% of the bear deaths recorded. During this period, the grizzly bear population has been steadily increasing.

Bear populations must be controlled or they become pests and threats to human lives and human property.  The most successful and common method to control bear populations is through regulated hunting. About 5-15% of bear populations need to be harvested each year to maintain a stable population. In Michigan, harvests are about 15% of the bear population from 1992 through 2023. During that period the bear population has increased about 10%.  In Alaska, about 6.7% to 10.2% of brown bears were harvested on Kodiak Island, without reducing bear populations.  The research paper suggested a harvest rate of 5.6-7.9%.

It is better to harvest bears which are hyper aggressive than to harvest random bears during the hunting season. The number of bears to be harvested remains the same. Bears which are killed attacking people mean there will be fewer bears to be killed by hunters. Bears which are unafraid of people should be taken out of the bear gene pool.

Stephen Herrero considered selective harvest of black bears to be a reason black bears seldom attack humans. From  Fatal Attacks by American Black Bear on People: 1900-2009, published 2011.

 Eighth, given the strength and opportunistic predation by black bears one can ask why bears do not prey on people more often. Part of the answer may be that bears that try to or do prey on people are usually killed and removed from a population’s gene pool, decreasing the frequency of any genes the individual might have had that could contribute to predatory attacks on people. It is well known among dog breeders that it is possible to selectively breed for or against aggression. It is highly likely that this selection would also be possible for bears.

The same logic applies to ursus arctos (brown bears, grizzly bears and Kodiak bears). Grizzly bears became very wary of humans by 1900, after about 50 years of relentless killing of aggressive bears by humans. The Lewis and Clark expedition journals show the members of the expedition developed a healthy respect for the dangers of grizzly bears. Even with muzzle loading rifles and muskets, they killed 33 grizzly bears and wounded several others. None of the expedition members, which numbered about 50, were killed by a bear. There were several close encounters were men escaped from bears. None of the company were mauled. Muzzle loaders and horses doomed the grizzly in open areas.

With the common availability of cartridge arms after 1873, almost anyone could easily and effectively kill a grizzly bear, if the bear was seen within a hundred yards. Aggressive bears were quickly killed. Those which avoided humans had a chance of survival.

It is not difficult to understand how bears could learn to fear people. Bears have some of the most sensitive noses in the animal kingdom. If a human kills a bear, the remains of the dead bear are going to be intermingled with scent from the human or humans. Remains of a dead bear are highly attractive to other bears. An association of human scent with dead bears is well within the learning capacity of bears.

Another advantage of killing aggressive bears is the bear cannot attack again or attack other people. Several people have been attacked by a bear more than once. Todd Orr is a classic example. Once a bear has attacked a person, it is much more likely to attack another person. The chance of this happening is greatly reduced if the bear is shot with a firearm. If a projectile enters the thoracic or abdominal cavity, the bear will probably die. The time involved can vary from seconds to days. Even .22 rimfire bullets are likely to kill a bear if they penetrate either major body cavity.

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

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AL: Anniston - Gunfight in Little Caesars, Employee Wounded

The Oxford juvenile went behind the counter and attacked one of the employees, leading to a fistfight involving all four individuals. During the altercation, one employee was armed with a pistol. The Eastaboga juvenile pointed his weapon at his friend and the armed employee, resulting in an exchange of gunfire inside the lobby.

As the suspects and the armed employee exited the building, another shot was fired from the Draco. The armed employee, who sustained two non-life-threatening injuries, was transported to UAB for treatment. The other employee suffered minor injuries unrelated to gunfire.

Both suspects have been identified, and Anniston Police Department investigators are collaborating with the Calhoun County District Attorney’s Office and the Calhoun County Juvenile Court to determine appropriate charges.

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TN: Nashville - Gunfight/Roadrage, Four People Wounded

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Four people were injured in a drive-by shooting that turned into a shootout alongside an East Nashville road on Saturday night.

The Metro Nashville Police Department reports that officers responded to the Cleveland Street overpass near Ellington Parkway, where a 22-year-old man had been shot in the buttocks.

Police said he was found near a Chevrolet Malibu, which was disabled along the guardrail. Detectives learned that a second car involved, a Nissan Altima, had dropped off three victims following the incident:

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David: Jewish Marksman Extraordinare

 David by Bernini, public domain 

One of the most famous bible stories is the story of David as a young man, who slew Goliath, a gigantic Philistine warrior, champion of the Philistine army. The story is much debated. Was David known to Saul, the king before David killed Goliath? How old was David when he killed Goliath? Did someone else kill Goliath, and David was later given credit for it?

The most common assumption is that David killed Goliath and he used a sling and stone to triumph over the giant. Estimates of his age vary from 13 to 28. He is described as both a boy and a man, as "a youth" and as "a mighty man of valor, a man of war".

In every generation, there are people who are born who have a natural aptitude with one or another sort of weapons. People with an aptitude often hone this ability though practice, training, or both. David appears to have been a "natural" with the sling. He had plenty of time to practice while he was watching over his father's sheep. The evidence of his proficiency is from KJV bible, I Samuel:

³⁴ And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:

³⁵ And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.

³⁶ Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

Even a nine foot tall giant would be as vulnerable to a sling as an European brown bear, or a lion. Killing a bear and a lion with a sling (and probably a dagger or knife) would make David well known for his proficiency. It is not impossible to kill a bear or a lion with a sling, or at least to knock them out long enough to finish them off with another weapon such as a knife or short sword.

The bear which existed in Israel at the time of David would have been the European brown bear, essentially the same animal as the grizzly bear in North America. Not all grizzly bears are the same size. There are large males, smaller females, and sub-adults which are smaller yet. The most common to come in conflict with humans tend to be young males which have not established their own territory yet. It seems more likely the bear which David killed was under 300 lbs than over 500 lbs. Similarly, a lion could easily be 150 lbs instead of 300. The important thing with a slung stone would be to hit the animal on the head, at the right spot to knock it out or to stun it.  Pitchers who are good at throwing 5 ounce baseballs can hit speeds of 130 to 150 fps. Slings magnify the speed of the throw. Some modern users of the sling hit close to 200 fps and over 130 foot lbs of energy.  It is enough to knock out a bear. A Canadian man, Jesse Mengler, knocked out and probably killed a black bear in British Columbia, with a thrown rock, in 2010.

From the biblical text, it is clear Goliath underestimated the smaller David, who was not wearing any armor. His overconfidence contributed to his defeat. It is not difficult for this correspondent to believe Goliath turned his attention away from David at a critical moment. David closed the distance to optimum sling range and let fly with the deadly shot. Goliath was struck in the forehead with enough force to partly embed the stone. He fell unconscious to the ground.  David then used Goliath's sword to make certain he was dead. To show both armies he had triumphed, David cut off Goliath's head and held it up for them to see.

For most of history, slings have been used as military weapons. They were used by the Aztecs in opposition to the Conquistadors in the Conquest of Mexico. Steel armor and firearms made slings obsolete as military weapons.

In Barnett v. Raoul, Judge McGlynn references the David and Goliath story to illustrate the need for effective projectile arms for self defense. Judge McGlynn stated David had no choice but to use a projectile weapon in combat against the giant Goliath who outclassed David in sheer size and body strength.

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

SC: Charleston - Fight, Residents Disarm Invasion Suspects

CHARLESTON — Two suspects have been arrested in connection with an Oct. 26 attempted burglary at a downtown home, which was thwarted by residents who shot one of the men and stabbed the other, police say.

Shortly before noon on Oct. 26, Charleston police responded to a home on S. Enston Avenue. The residents reported that two men had broken into the home and attempted to rob them, according to information released by the police department.

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GA: Savannah - Domestic Defense, Woman Shoots Man

Savannah Police determined that 46-year-old Keith King was shot in apparent self-defense after an altercation with a woman who was living at the home. King was charged with simple assault and criminal trespass.

 

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CA: Bakersfield - Gunfight at Interuppted Burglary, no Injuries

The Kern County Sheriff’s Office said on Sunday, October 26, 2025, at 7:30 a.m., deputies were called to the 300 block of Industrial Street for a report of two people who shot at each other with guns.

KCSO said deputies spoke to a man involved in the shooting, and it is believed the exchange of gunfire happened during an interrupted burglary.

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Two Fatal Black Bear Attacks in Arkansas in 2025, First Time in Over a Century

Black bears in northern Wisconsin, courtesy Dean Weingarten
 

Two fatal bear attacks occurred in Akansas in 2025. The first attack occurred on September 3, 2025, near the Mulberry Mountain area of north west Arkansas. The second attack happened on October 1st or 2nd, near the Sam's Throne campground near Mount Judea. The two attacks happened in or on the edge of the Ozark National Forest, about 45 miles apart.

The last fatal bear attack recorded in Arkansas occurred in 1892, as reported from the May 10 edition of the Arkansas Democrat. From aktimes.com:

 Mountain Home, Ark., May 10 — Mrs. Mary Carter, a widow, with a small family of children, is a raving maniac, as the result of a raid upon her little cabin by a half-starved black bear, in which two of her children lost their lives and one [was] half devoured before assistance arrived. Her five children were playing in the yard while the mother was engaged in scrubbing. Suddenly the screams of the children startled her. She saw an enormous bear strike down her oldest boy, who had bravely attempted to defend the children in his charge. The beast seized the baby and ran rapidly away. The animal tore the little one to pieces before the mother’s eyes and escaped to the forest.

Black bears were reduced to a small remnant by 1927.  The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission prohibited bear hunting in that year. An active program of reintroducing black bears was but into effect from 1956 to 1968. in  No bear hunting season was allowed until 1980.

The first fatal bear attack in 2025 in Arkansas was covered on AmmoLand.

A 72-year-old man, Vernon Patton, was working on a gravel road with his tractor when a 70-pound juvenile male black bear attacked him. The attack happened on September 3, 2025, in the Mulberry Mountain area of Arkansas.  The attack occurred near Highway 23, just south of the Mulberry Mountain lodge. Vernon’s son came by to check on him. The son saw his father being attacked and drove off the bear by throwing rocks at it.

This is the smallest black bear to successfully kill a human in a predatory attack, of which this correspondent is aware.

The second fatal bear attack in Arkansas occurred on October 1st or Second near Sam's Throne campground. The campground is about 45 miles to the north east of the location of the Mulberry Mountain attack. The victim of the attack at the Sam's throne campground appears to have been sleeping on a cot, in the open, when the attack occurred. The Newton County Sherriff, Glenn Wheeler released several updates on the incident.  The bear in the Sam's Throne incident has been describes as male black bear about 150 to 170 lbs. Pictures of the suspected bear were sent by the victim, Max Thomas, 60, of Springfield Missouri, to his family, before the attack occurred. Max was dragged about 40 yards into the woods.

Searches on the Internet indicate a Max Thomas of the correct age was a successful businessman, husband and father. He was married to the now widowed Mrs. Thomas for 35 years.

Bear populations and bear attacks have been increasing over the last several decades in North America, Asia, and Europe. There is good documentation in Japan, Europe, and North America. It is more difficult to find documentation for the area covered by the former Soviet Union and China.

Bear attack numbers have been increasing. They are not common. There are usually less than four fatal bear attacks per year in North America. Japan has more fatal bear attacks on average than does the United States. Japan has had seven fatal attacks so far in 2025. The United States has had three fatal bear attacks in 2025. Canada did not record any fatal bear attacks in 2025 so far.

The populations of both humans and bears are increasing. Bears have received more protection by governments than ever before in history. Bears learn to avoid humans by learning humans are dangerous to be near. The less bears fear humans, the more likely bears are to attack humans.

 

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

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UT: West Valley City - Gunfight at Party, Aggressor Shot, Killed

According to police, 18-year-old Allen Montelongo was driving a vehicle and shot at a group standing in the roadway outside the party, striking a 16-year-old boy.

Someone from the group fired back at Montelongo, causing him to crash into a fence down the road, where he was pronounced dead.

The 16-year-old boy was taken to the hospital with multiple gunshot wounds, but is expected to survive.

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NV: Carson City - Man Forces way into Home, is Shot, Wounded

That dispute led to one driver chasing the other to the area of the Star Way residence. Two separate vehicle accidents are suspected to be associated with this incident are being investigated. One crash was reported as a hit and run accident on Biltmore Street, and the second crash was reported at the Star Way address, just one block away from the first crash scene. No injuries were reported.

This investigation has centered on the motive of the shooting victim, who has no known affiliation or connection to the Star Way residence.

The residents of the home and female who shot the man did not know the victim of the shooting when he forced his way into their home. No other injuries were reported.

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Open Carry at GRPC in Salt Lake City, 2025

At the Gun Rights Policy Conference in Salt Lake City, in 2025, a number of people were openly carrying sidearms. They were uniformly willing to have pictures taken of the sidearms being carried. The sequence of images is about the sequence in which they were encountered at the Conference. There were probably people who were open carrying who this correspondent did not encounter.

The predominant type of handguns were variations of the popular 1911 style handguns. The handgun in the outside the waistband leather holster with a thumb break retention system was the first one encountered.

The 1911 style with CCDL on the grip is believed to be a representative of the Connecticut Citizens Defense League.  Connecticut banned open carry in 2023. Some CCDL members at the Gun Rights Policy Conference were open carrying because they legally could do so in Utah. As is often the case, the main purpose of the open carry at GRPC was to make a political statement. Self defense was a secondary purpose. There were few places where violent crime was less likely than at a Gun Rights Policy Conference in Salt Lake City.

As the attendees from Connecticut are not allowed to open carry in their home state, it is not surprising their carry gear may be more appropriate for concealed carry. The 1911 type handgun in an inside the waistband holster is a good example.

A particularly rare example is the Freedom Arms mini-revolver in an original Freedom Arms belt buckle/holster. Freedom Arms no longer makes the mini-revolvers. They command high prices. The number of Freedom Arms original belt buckle/holster manufactured was never very high. They are difficult to find and command prices bolstered by their rarity. Most people do not see them as real firearms. In a sense, that makes them a form of "concealed in plain sight".

The ubiquitous Glock semi-automatic pistol was represented by what appears to be a Glock 17 in an outside the waistband holster. It is unclear if the holster uses a paddle or belt loops.

 The pistol below is unidentified. The slide appears rather "Glockish". Polymer framed pistols have become common, with many variations.

 

 

Several people mentioned the open carry of a standard sized revolver in an outside the waistband belt rig with a thumb break retention system. The revolver appears to be a Smith & Wesson. I did not ask the owner to unholster the handgun. Removing a handgun from a holster in the crowded conditions of the Gun Rights Policy Conference would breach etiquette.

This correspondent believes considerably more people were carrying concealed at the GRPC in Salt Lake City than were carrying openly.

Great strides have been made in the restoration of rights protected by the Second Amendment. When concealed carry was banned for most people in most states, open carry was legal for most people in most states. Most people did not do so because propaganda against the carry of firearms created a stigma. It was common for those who did not want people to have the right to carry arms to call police and complain, thinking it had to be illegal to openly carry even when it was not.

This correspondent has had the opportunity to educate police on at least six occasions in three states while openly carrying holstered handguns. Open carry is strong, symbolic, protected political speech. It sends a message: The power of the state is limited. The Second Amendment means something. The people have the right to bear arms. Those who pushed back against infringement of Second Amendment rights by openly carrying firearms did so at some risk. Some were illegally arrested. Some had to endure long court cases to prevail. This correspondent believes one of the most effective purpose of open carry is education for political purposes. Open carry normalizes the carry of weapons. 

Once Constitutional Carry is achieved in a state, the number of people openly carrying seems to fall off. The political purpose was achieved. This correspondent has often openly carried at Gun Rights Policy Conferences. This year was different. Utah has Constitutional Carry.

 

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

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