We are Living in a Golden Age. Thank God!

Public domain from Starlink
 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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NC: Wilson - Road Rage leads to Defensive Shooting

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

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

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

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Florida Bill Exempts Church Security from Private Security Regulations

The Florida Legislature is close to reforming the requirements for voluntary armed security in churches. The bill exempts voluntary church security members who have concealed carry permits from the requirements of Florida statutes which regulate the members of private security services. Private investigative,, security, and repossession services are regulated under Chapter 493 of Florida Statutes. Section 6102 spells out who the provisions of the chapter shall not apply to.

The Florida Legislature is posed to pass Bill HB 95/ SB 52. The wording in both bills is nearly identical in the operative parts. The Senate bill, SB 52 has passed the Senate committees and the Senate unanimously. The near identical House bill, HB 95 has unanimously passed the House committees and is ready to be presented to the whole House for a vote. A few members of the committees were absent during committee votes.

The bill makes a relatively minor change in the regulation of security for churches. Unarmed church security was exempt from regulation. This bill exempts volunteer church security who have concealed carry permits from the regulations of Florida statutes. The previous paragraph 13 of Section 493.6102 will not be changed:

 (13) Any individual employed as a security officer by a church or ecclesiastical or denominational organization having an established physical place of worship in this state at which nonprofit religious services and activities are regularly conducted or by a church cemetery to provide security on the property of the organization or cemetery, and who does not carry a firearm in the course of her or his duties.

The new paragraph will be paragraph 16 of Florida statutes 493.6102. From flhouse.gov:

 493.6102 Inapplicability of this chapter.—This chapter shall not apply to:

(16) Any person who on a voluntary basis provides armed security services on the premises of a church or ecclesiastical or denominational organization having an established physical place of worship in this state at which nonprofit religious services and activities are regularly conducted, if:

(a) The person providing the armed security services holds a valid license to carry a concealed weapon or firearm issued pursuant s. 790.06.24

(b) The security services are provided exclusively on the premises of a church or ecclesiastical or denominational organization, including any property owned or leased by the church or ecclesiastical or denominational organization for worship, education, or religious activities.

(c) The person providing the armed security services did not receive any compensation for such services. For purposes of this paragraph, the term "compensation" does not include reimbursement for reasonable expenses actually incurred and related to the cost of training or the cost of equipment necessary for providing the security services.

The reform bill appears popular, without opposition. It is expected to pass and be signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, and to become law as of  July 1, 2026. In 2021, Governor DeSantis signed HB 259, which allowed people with concealed carry permits to carry on church property unless the religious institution has a policy explicitly forbidding the carry of concealed firearms. The previous law restored the choice to religious institutions instead of preemptively forbidding the carry of concealed weapons on the grounds of churches, unless the administration of the religious institution specifically allowed it. Armed volunteers have served as church security since colonial days. During the colonial period, several colonies required members of the church to bring their weapons to church services. 

 

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

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FL: Miami - Man Fires Rounds to stop Mugging

Rasheed Hussien reported that he and his brothers were at Wawa when a group of men was “mugging them and saying things to them in Spanish,” and then outside Diaz-Caraballo shot at them, according to deputies.

Hussien said he ran to the parking lot at 13550 SW 120 St., grabbed a firearm from his brother’s parked black Infiniti, G375, and “in self-defense, he shot several rounds” at Diaz-Caraballo, records showed.

Deputies reported finding eight spent bullet casings.

A deputy detained Diaz-Caraballo shortly after 1:55 a.m. near Southwest 120 Street and 135 Court, and corrections booked him shortly after 11:50 p.m. at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

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NV: Las Vegas - Ex-Employee Confronts, Threatens, Current Employee, Is Shot by other Employee

Preliminary details showed that an ex-employee came to a business and started a confrontation with an employee. During the confrontation, the ex-employee began to chase the employee with a gun, Price said. 

Another employee then grabbed his firearm from his vehicle and shot the ex-employee who was chasing the employee with a gun.

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AZ: Gilbert - Intruder Shot, Wounded

Around 4:30 a.m., Gilbert police received reports of “unknown trouble” at an apartment off of the Loop 202 and San Tan Village Parkway. The 911 caller reported that an unknown man broke into their apartment and assaulted one person. Investigators say one tenant opened fire, striking the alleged intruder.

Once officers arrived, they found the suspect seriously hurt, and he was rushed to the hospital. He remains in critical condition, according to police. No residents inside the apartment were hurt.

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Fl: Jacksonville - Arguement at Lowe's leads to Gunfight, both Wounded

A man in his 20s was hit in the stomach and chest and taken to the hospital in life-threatening condition, JSO said. The other man, who was shot in the wrist, was in non-life-threatening.

Kaleb Tubman, a witness, described how he stepped in to help the man who was shot multiple times.

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HI: Mapunapuna - Gunfight at Gym - No injuries

Around 1:44 a.m. on Saturday, two men wearing black hoodies entered the gym while carrying AR-15 style rifles. They pointed the rifles at people inside the gym.

The 35-year-old gym owner grabbed his own firearm and confronted the suspects. The suspects were outside the building when gunfire was exchanged between them and the owner.

The two suspects then ran away on foot and have not been found.

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CPRC Study Examines Transgender Representation in Active Shooting Attacks

The Crime Prevention Research Center (CPRC), created by John Lott, has published research on the ratio of active shooting attacks by people who are mentally confused about their gender identity, commonly referred to as "transgender".  In 2024, according to the CRPC research, "trans" were 12 times as likely to commit an active shooting attack compared to the population as a whole.

In 2024, Politifact published an article claiming that mass shooting by "trans" people is a small number of all mass shootings. As the CPRC research points out, this does not tell us if people who identify as "trans" are more or less likely to engage in mass murder or attempted mass murder than the population at large. As is common in discussions of violence and statistics, the way you define the variables makes all the difference in how the numbers shake out.  Considering broad definitions of "terrorism" or "gun violence" will give a significantly different result than considering more precise definitions of active shooting attacks or mass killing. Another important variable is what time frame is considered.

The variables most important to determine if "trans" people are over-represented in active shooting attacks are the total number of active shooting attacks, the number committed by "trans" people, and the percentage of "trans" people in the population as a whole. The numbers can be refined by looking at particular population sub-groups if there is enough data. All of these numbers can be manipulated by changes in definition. When conducting statistical research, it is extremely important to use precise definitions.

The research published by the CRPC does a good job of carefully defining the numbers it uses, and the definitions which are used. The CRPC study examines both active shooting and mass killing with the traditional FBI definitions. It uses estimates of the percentage of "trans" people in the population from the Center for Disease Control, a Gallup survey in 2021, and the Census.  The numbers vary from .5% to 1% in the period studied. The numbers appear to be rising. The study only looks at the period from 2018 through 2024. The study does not speculate about the causes of the increase in the percentage of people who identify as "trans".

The CRPC study also looks at the age distribution of "trans", finding that most "trans" active shooters are concentrated in age groups younger than 30 years old. The CRPC study cites research showing "trans" people have much higher levels of suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts, about 10-20 times higher than the rest of the population. That is not 10-20%. It is about 10 times the percentage of people considering suicide than the general population. It is about 20 times the percentage of attempted suicides compared to the percentage attempting suicide in the general population.

The research by the CRPC is a welcome counterpoint to articles which work hard to show people who identify as "trans" as less violent than non-trans people.  The CRPC research does not examine the motives of "trans" people involved in active shooting incidents.

Analysis: It is not surprising that a population which takes significant amounts of powerful drugs, who are not happy with their bodies, who attempt suicide at 20 times the percentage of the population as a whole, could commit crimes against society at much higher levels than the general population.

 

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

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Ill: Bridgeview - Verbal Exchange leads to Gunfight, 1 Dead, Legal Gun Owner Wounded

When the first group left about 10 minutes later, the second group followed them outside and “words were exchanged,” Mancha said.

A man in the second group “brandished a handgun,” prompting a concealed-carry license holder in the first group to grab a gun from his vehicle, according to police.

They exchanged fire, and the man from the second group was hit multiple times. He was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead within the hour, police said.

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FL: Clearwater - Man Brandishes Knife, is Shot, Wounded

At 7:30 p.m., a suspect threatened a man and a woman with a knife outside of the Royal Breeze Apartments located at 21227 U.S. 19 N.

Clearwater Police identified the suspect as 37-year-old Josten Pack.

Police said that, fearing for his life and the life of his girlfriend, the man shot Pack, hitting and injuring him.

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GA: Macon - Domestic Defense, Man Shot at Estranged Wife's Home

40-year-old David Evans attempted to break into his estranged wife's home, where he was shot, per the Sheriff's Office.

Evans was transported to a medical facility with minor injuries.

Evans has an active warrant for property damage and will also be facing new charges for battery in this case.

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SC: Rock Hill - Robbery Attempt ends with Death of Suspect

Investigators said Heath and a 16-year-old girl conspired to rob a 15-year-old boy in the parking deck. During the robbery, the 15-year-old allegedly used a pistol to shoot and kill Heath.

The 16-year-old girl was charged with armed robbery and criminal conspiracy. Police also charged her with murder “due to her participation in a violent felony that resulted in the death of another.”

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AZ: Tempe - Man Attempts to Break-in, is Confronted, Shot, Dies. Two victims wounded

Tempe PD said Ruiz entered the apartment through a broken window and was confronted by 22-year-old Schon Nicholas Rhode, with the two exchanging gunfire.

Rhode and 21-year-old Gavin Scott Van Tassel were identified as the two men with injuries not expected to threaten their lives.

No other information was provided.

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TX: New Braunfels - Gunfight, Victim Killed, 1 Aggressor Critical Condition

Officers found a 16-year-old male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Police said officers provided immediate lifesaving measures, but the teen was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators were later notified that an 18-year-old male had been dropped off at Resolute Hospital with a gunshot wound to the chest. Police said he was transferred to University Hospital in San Antonio and remains in critical condition.

After what police described as an extensive investigation that included interviews, video review, and evidence collection, investigators identified two primary suspects.

Police said Jayce Cooper, 18, was identified as the shooter of the deceased victim. Police also said Cooper is the person who was dropped off at Resolute Hospital and that he was shot by the victim during the altercation.

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TX: Fort Worth - Armed Victim Shoots Robbery Suspect

What we know:

Fort Worth police said they got a call around 11 p.m. on Wednesday about a man with a gunshot wound in the 6000 block of White Dove Drive.

After he was taken to the hospital, police determined that he was actually the suspect in a prior attempted robbery.

The victim told police a man approached him and attempted to rob him, so he pulled out a firearm and shot the would-be robber.

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Gun Owners Fight Back as New Mexico Gun Ban Falters

The New Mexico legislature is considering a combination gun ban and hyper-regulatory bill, SB17. It is covered at Ammoland in a previous article. The bill bans the future sale of most semi-automatic firearms and detachable magazines which hold more than ten rounds of ammunition. Those parts of the bill are almost certainly unconstitutional.

The bill also imposes costly regulatory measures likely to drive many small dealers out of business.  SB17 has passed the senate 21 to 17, with two senators not voting and two more senators absent. The bill is sponsored by six women Democratic party Senators and Senator Peter Wirth, the Senate Majority Floor leader.

The bill passed the New Mexico House Commerce & Economic Development Commitee. It is being heard, as of February 17, 2026, in the House Judiciary Committee. Firearms are popular in New Mexico. Second Amendment supporters are mounting a campaign to melt the phone lines to members of the Judiciary Committee and House members in general. On X, The National Association for Gun Rights, NAGR, is reporting the bill is stalled in the House Judiciary committe. From X:

@gunrights
·
Feb 17
We are receiving several reports from both people here and our members through the call center that angry staffers are slamming phones, yelling at callers, attempting and failing to shut down their lines, and generally losing their minds. 

Keep. Up. The. Heat!

The  Santa Fe New Mexican published an article saying SB17 was "all but dead":

After being riddled with a slew of proposed amendments in a late-night committee hearing, the most contentious gun control bill of New Mexico’s 30-day session is all but dead.

One of the lead sponsors of Senate Bill 17, Sen. Debbie O’Malley, D-Albuquerque, said Tuesday the measure is unlikely to get another hearing after the House Judiciary Committee delayed a vote early Tuesday morning.

“There’s not enough time to hear it again,” she said.

The sportsmensalliance.org continues to call for opposition to SB17:

February 18, 2026

Yesterday, the House Judiciary Committee heard SB 17, the Governor’s tyrannical “Stop Illegal Gun Trade Act,” a measure that serves not as a safety tool but as a calculated strike against the rights of every law-abiding firearm owner in the state. It did not receive a vote, but with the 2026 legislation session expected to end on the 19th, the committee could take a vote at any time.

Immediate Action Required

It is imperative that you use the Take Action button to send an immediate message to the committee to vote “NO” on SB 17. SB 17 isn’t about safety, it’s a calculated burden on law-abiding citizens that leaves actual criminals untouched.

As noted in the Los Alamos Daily Post, the executive director of New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence warned SB17 was vulnerable to court challenge, and might lead to undesired consequences. From the LADP:

“By passing a ban this broad, we are handing the U.S. Supreme Court a perfect opportunity to deliver a definitive, nationwide ruling against state-level firearm restrictions,” Viscoli told The New Mexican last week.

“Beyond the legal risk,” she added, “the bill’s immediate effect will likely be a surge in panic buying of the exact weapons this bill is trying to limit.”

There end date for the New Mexico legislative session is February 19, 2026. SB17 has an uphill climb to be passed before the end of the session. It could happen.

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

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PA: New Castle -Burglary Suspect Shot, Wounded

NEW CASTLE, Pa. —

An alleged burglar has been taken to a hospital after being shot by a homeowner Monday morning in New Castle.

Authorities were called to the home in the 1600 block of South Jefferson Street around 6:08 a.m. after someone reported a person had been shot after breaking into a home.

When the New Castle Police Department arrived, they found a suspect with a gunshot wound to the left leg.

 

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Nature Isn’t Gentle: Why Managed Bear Hunting is Beneficial for Ecosystems

Image of grizzly bear  by Troy Nemitz, used with permission. 

While studying the reality of people protecting themselves from increasing populations of bears, it is impossible to ignore the emotional arguments of those who oppose human killing of bears.

It is as if the opponents of human management believe bears to be immortal, never to die except at the hands of human hunters.  This is a false, emotional, irrational belief structure. All predators die. Death by human hunter is overwhelmingly less painful than death without human intervention.

Without human intervention, most bears die in one of three ways:

The most common is being killed and eaten by another bear. Mature males are overwhelmingly the greatest cause of mortality in bear cubs. Many boars learn to actively hunt denning females with cubs. Sometimes they only kill and eat the cubs. Often they kill and eat the female as well.  When hunters reduce the numbers of mature males, the number of cubs which survive to become adults increase. Death by predation from a bear is not quick and painless. Bears kill by tearing at and biting their prey to immobilize it. Bears often start eating before the prey is dead.

The second most common death is by starvation. Food available to bears is limited in any area. When food is plentiful, the bear population booms. When the food supply becomes restricted, for any number of reasons, such as weather, fire, insect infestation, excessive predation, or cyclical reduction of production of nuts and berries, the maximum population cannot be supported. The weakest, because of age, injury, or size, die by starvation. It is a slow, painful death. The weakest are also killed and eaten by other bears.

The third most common is by accident.  Animals are not immune to accident. There is no department of animal accidents, so most animal accidents occur unnoticed, without numeration. Nature is not safe. Animals drown, fall off cliffs, freeze to death, are struck by lightning, fall into natural traps, are hit by human vehicles and are injured in fights so they cannot feed themselves.  Virtually no bears die of old age. As they get older, they lose the ability to defend themselves from other bears, lose the ability to defend food sources, and die by starvation or predation.

Managed human hunting has evolved an ethos where a prime value is the "clean kill" which minimizes the suffering of the animal. Compared to being torn apart by a bear, starvation, or lingering death by accident, death by bullet is quick and painless.

"Natural" is not synonymous with "good". Humans have been demonized for far too long. Humans can manage wildlife populations better than nature. Humans can produce far more biomass per area than nature.

There is no "balance" in nature. Natural "balance" has always been a myth. 

Ecosystems are not machines, but dynamic mixes of ever changing processes. Only 12,000 years ago, there were no bears, or any other animals in most of Canada and as far south as Iowa, Indiana, Illinois and Ohio. Michigan, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine were completely covered with ice thousands of feet thick. There were probably polar bears living on the edges of the permanent ice which extended to large areas of the ocean.

South of the ice in North America there were dire wolves, sabre-toothed tigers, short faced bears, the scimitar cat (about the size of an African lion), the North American lion (larger than African lions). All are extinct as the climate, landscape and species mix changed to include humans, grizzly bears, moose and grey wolves. Humans were the first to make it south of the Canadian border, followed by moose, grey wolves and then grizzly bears.

Humans can manage wildlife populations for greater productivity than when wildlife populations are not managed. Non-management results in horrific swings between environment destroying maximum populations and ghastly minimum population deserts devoid of most large mammals. Most of North America was managed by humans with varying degrees of success long before Europeans were able to establish and maintain a presence.  Human management aims for high, but not destructive, productivity.

Human management is better for the ecosystems and the animals involved. 

The more power humans have the better they can manage animal populations. Humans have more power now than at any other time. Humans are the only ones who can establish measurements and determine if a policy is increasing productivity or decreasing it, and then make adjustments. Conversely, humans have so much power they can destroy ecosystems. Fortunately, increasing awareness is making such destruction less likely.

Rich civilizations have the resources to afford the management of ecosystems. Good management is popular. No management is bad management. Predators are not immortal. Human management is beneficial for animals and humans.

The myth of immortal predators is part of the growing neo-paganism in the West. It is undermining Western Civilization.

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

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FL: Miami - Suspect Rob Security Guard, Gunfight follows, both Suspects and Guard Wounded

Deputies said they soon discovered that the suspects had been casing the apartment complex, looking for unlocked vehicles, when they tried to open the driver’s side door of the security guard’s personal vehicle.

According to the report, the security guard was sitting in the front passenger seat at the time and got out of the vehicle to ask the suspects what they were doing on the property.

Deputies said the suspects then robbed the victim at gunpoint and also searched his vehicle.

At one point, the suspects entered the victim’s vehicle and tried to drive away, but the victim was able to disarm Pickens and shoot him several times, authorities said.

Deputies said the victim then exchanged gunfire with Hernandez, who fled the scene on foot after being shot.

According to the report, during the exchange of gunfire, the victim was shot in the back of the head.

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AL: Mobile - Armed Victim Shoots, Kills, Assilant

Police responded at 11:09 p.m. to a shooting near the intersection of Dauphin and South Joachim streets. Mobile Police Chief William Jackson said at a news conference that five men and two women, ranging in age from 24 to 30, suffered gunshot wounds. One of the victims remains in critical condition, according to the chief.

Jackson said the second shooting took place minutes later, about a block away, in the parking lot at Joachim and Conti streets, across from the Saenger Theatre. He said investigators have determined that was a would-be robbery and that the victim shot the assailant to death in an exchange of gunfire.

“We thought at first that it was all one incident,” he said. “We learned throughout the night that it was not one incident. It was two that happened almost simultaneously.”

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TX: San Antonio - Man Points Gun at Security Guard is Shot

The incident occurred early Sunday morning, around 2:39 a.m. on the 700 block of East Sonterra Boulevard, when SAPD officers responded to a reported disturbance. Police said a 35-year-old man was disrupting the location and was asked to leave by three security guards.

The guards escorted the suspect toward his vehicle, and as they reached it, the man allegedly took out a gun and pointed it at the three other men. One of the security guards then fired at the man, striking him.

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NM: Albuquerque - Armed Samaritan Business Owner Shoots Burglary Suspect, Disarm

While officers investigated, they learned that the owner of a neighboring business heard the break-in at 5:30 AM and attempted to intervene. The business owner reported that one suspect ducked behind a counter, then suddenly stood up and pulled his hand from his pocket. Fearing for his life, the owner drew his handgun and shot the suspect. When the second suspect approached him, the owner fired a second round. The three men then struggled, and one suspect took the owner’s firearm before fleeing with the wounded suspect.

At approximately 6:30 AM, officers responded to the University of New Mexico Hospital after receiving a report of a shooting victim. Montoya arrived at the hospital and told officers he had been shot while walking near Tramway and Manitoba NE, claiming the shooting was unintentional. Montoya had a gunshot wound to the upper left side of his abdomen according to the criminal complaint.

Detectives continued investigating throughout the day and determined that Montoya had been shot during the Nob Hill burglary and NOT on a nature walk in the foothills as he stated. They executed a search warrant at his residence, 5608 Eastern Ave. SE, where they recovered 10 bags of Pokémon and sports trading cards stolen from the Nob Hill store. The cards are valued at thousands of dollars. Detectives also recovered a blood-stained tan hooded sweatshirt, burglary tools and the .22 caliber handgun allegedly taken from the store owner during the altercation.

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CA: Stockton - Homeowner Shoots, Kills Man Attempting to Break In

STOCKTON, Calif. —

A homeowner fatally shot a man who the Stockton Police Department said was trying to break into his house.

Police said the shooting happened around 1:30 a.m. Saturday at the homeowner's residence in the 3600 block of Appleton Court, south of West Benjamin Holt Drive. Afterward, the 41-year-old man was taken to a hospital, where he later died of his injuries.

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FL: Jaccksonville - Gunfight, Both Men Injured

When officers arrived, Richardson said they learned that the two men, who were not identified, got into a "verbal altercation."

Afterwards, Richardson said one of the men was sitting inside his car with his girlfriend when the other man approached him and started firing multiple shots in his direction.

"The victim and his girlfriend returned fire, striking the suspect multiple times," Richardson said.

The victim was reportedly shot in the shoulder, while the suspect was shot in the abdomen and foot. JSO did not say the victim's girlfriend was injured.

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SC: Spartanburg - Domestic Defense, Male Friend Shoots Woman's Boyfriend

According to statements provided at the scene, the ex-boyfriend left his vehicle, approached the passenger side of the other car and tried to forcibly remove the woman from the car. Police say the woman told him to leave her alone.

During the altercation, the male friend produced a firearm and discharged one round, hitting the ex-boyfriend in the chest.

The ex-boyfriend tried to go back to his vehicle, but collapsed in the roadway. Shortly after, first responders arrived and provided aid until emergency personnel took over care.

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FL: - Gainseville - Man Attacked by Three Men, Fires Shot

Officer say a man and woman were shopping at Kay Jewelers when three men entered the store and attacked the other man. The victim pulled out a handgun and fired a shot.

Everyone then left the mall. The victim was found a few blocks away, and the gun was found in a nearby drain.

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Dangerous Grizzly Killed on Texada Island; Men Fined for Not Reporting

   Image from Mark Roberts, Texada Island, posted on Facebook May 25, 2025

During 2025, a saga unfolded where a dangerous, food habituated grizzly bear swam across three miles of salt water to Texada Island in British Columbia, Canada. The bear had been tagged in the left ear. It was a young boar about four years old which had been relocated twice because of conflicts with humans. The bear kept coming back. Just before the swim, the bear had been breaking into fishing boats and had stalked two teenagers on the beach. They had to take to the water to avoid the bear on May 22, 2025. COS is the acronym for the Conservation Officers Service in British Columbia.   From sportfishing.com:

 The COS cited additional encounters in May, including on May 22 in Powell River.

“The bear displayed aggressive behaviour by stalking two residents while walking on a trail,” stated COS.

Fortunately, the residents were able to escape, but it wasn’t easy.

“The people escaped by entering and remaining in the water for half an hour while the bear remained on shore circling back and forth. The grizzly bear tore up one of their jackets on shore before leaving,” COS said.

Another recent incident occurred on May 27 on Texada Island.

According to COS, “the grizzly bear stalked a resident walking home with her horse and dog for half a kilometer.”

On Texada Island, residents appeared to be united in opposition to a grizzly bear invasion of their Island. Opinions were divided about how to remove the bear. Some residents thought the bear should be killed. Others thought the bear should be trapped and relocated. The COS was not willing to apply either option. They would not issue a kill order for the bear, but stated it was too habituated to relocate, as it already came back to areas of dense human population after two relocation attempts. A resident of Texada posted this message to the facebook Texada message board:

I am the person who was charged by the grizzly bear while walking with my horse and dog on May 28. Without a doubt, the most frightening experience of my life. I am still recovering from that experience. 

 

I have read the posts regarding the bear for the past month. I agree that things need to change. I don’t think Texada is a good place for a grizzly bear. What is the answer to this problem? I don’t know.

Mark Robert, who first discovered and took video of the grizzly on Texada, said this about Texada Island:

 Biggest predator is a raccoon. Everyone has free roaming chickens and goats and sheep, no one is really prepared for a large predator. 

Local bear supporters found a tribe which was willing to have the bear transported to a remote salmon stream, where there was plenty of food and few humans. After refusals by the COS, followed by tribal negotiations, the COS agreed to allow the relocation by private parties. The bear enthusiasts were able to raise the twenty to thirty thousand dollars required for the relocation. A few days before the relocation trapping efforts were to start, the grizzly was shot and killed.

Investigation eventually determined two Island residents were involved. They were each fined $3,000 for failure to report the killing of a grizzly bear. They were not charged with illegal killing of the bear. It may be the killing was justified as self defense. The details of the shooting and killing have not been made public. From facebook:

 Texada Island residents Kody Bevan and Seneca Antony pleaded guilty and were sentenced in Powell River provincial court today for failing to promptly report the wounding or killing of a grizzly bear, a violation under section 75(2) of the Wildlife Act (WLA).

In July 2025, the BC Conservation Officer Service initiated an investigation into the killing of a tagged grizzly bear after receiving a report it had been shot and possibly wounded in the Van Anda area. The BCCOS conducted a thorough investigation into these allegations, which resulted in these charges being laid.

Bevan and Antony each received a $3,000 fine, with $2,000 from each fine directed to the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation.

Analysis: It seems unlikely those raising money to relocate the grizzly will use some of the funds to pay the fines for Kody and Seneca. The bear was habituated and dangerous. The bad habits are not erased by relocation. The COS should have euthanized the bear before it swam to Texada Island. Grizzly bears are not endangered in British Columbia. Their populations are increasing, which is why more bears are entering populated areas, becoming habituated to humans and becoming dangerous. Relocating habituated bears moves the problem from one place to another. The dangerous bear becomes like a landmine in the forest. Maybe no one will trigger it until it becomes inert. The potential is there for years in the future. British Columbia has banned most hunting of grizzly bears, thus eliminating one of the most effective ways of removing aggressive, dangerous bears from the bear population. As noted by Stephan Herrero,  bears which are not afraid of humans tend to be killed, either during aggressive behavior or when hunted. This tendency is accelerated when humans commonly carry effective weapons.

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

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GA: Atlanta - Man Impersonating a Police Officer Shot, Wounded

Police believe Jordan tried to get into the victim’s apartment by saying he was a police officer, trying to kick the door in several times. The victim shot at him through the door, hitting him, according to officers.

Jordan faces charges of impersonating a police officer, loitering and prowling and criminal trespass with damage to property.

 

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LA: Hammond - Gunfight in Front of Crowd, Suspect Wounded, 1 Victim Killed, 3 Wounded

That suspect has been identified as Marquanvius Jones, 30-years-old. He’s facing charges for second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon. His mugshot has not been released at this time. He too was shot and injured.

Three bystanders were also struck in the shooting: A 25-year-old man, who remains in serious condition; a 22-year-old woman and 4-year-old boy were treated and released, per TPSO.

TPSO says their investigation so far reveals Jones allegedly fired into the crowd and Myers fired back. Officials say the argument started over a request for a ride.

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WA: Seattle - Domestic Defense, New Boyfriend Shoots Girlfriend's Old Boyfriend

Police determined that the 33-year-old forced his way into his ex-girlfriend’s apartment and assaulted her new boyfriend, the armed 27-year-old. He then shot the ex-boyfriend, in “self-defense,” according to GVRU.

Once detectives completed their interview, they released the shooter from police custody.

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FL: Miami - Police Investigate Shooting Death as Self Defense

In a Thursday afternoon update, Sunrise police told CBS News Miami that the shooting stemmed from an argument between two men, during which one of them shot the other.

They are not releasing the name of either the shooter or the man who died. 

Police said the shooting is being investigated as an act of self-defense and appears to be an isolated incident.

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TN: Nashville - Gunfight From Armed Robbery, 2 Victims Wounded, 2 Suspects Arrested

According to investigators, Pointer entered the store wearing a ski mask and pointed a gun at a customer, who ran toward the door. Pointer then fired, striking Greer and his girlfriend.

Surveillance video showed Greer fall to the ground, draw a gun, and fire. Pointer fled the scene, discarding a pistol reported stolen, and left in a Toyota sedan.

Pointer was arrested Tuesday evening in Bellevue, while Greer is being treated for gunshot wounds to his knee and hand.

Greer’s 31-year-old girlfriend was also hospitalized with a gunshot wound to her buttocks.

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TX: Houston - Gunfight after Range Time, Armed Victim Wounds 1 of 3 Suspects

Investigators say a man had just left a nearby gun range and was driving home when he was followed by three suspects.

Police said the suspects attempted to rob the man and grabbed a bag containing guns. The victim was armed with two guns, and a shootout ensued involving multiple firearms. During the exchange, the victim shot one of the suspects in the chin area.

The suspect who was shot was transported to a hospital and is expected to survive. Police have not released details about the suspect’s condition or whether any weapons were recovered.

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January 2026 NICS Background Checks Dip Slightly While NFA Checks Surge

The National Instant background Check System (NICS) adjusted figures for January, 2026 show a slight drop from those of January, 2025. From the National Shooting Sports Foundation:

The January 2026 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 1,198,879 is a decrease of 0.7 percent compared to the January 2025 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 207,557. For comparison, the unadjusted January 2026 FBI NICS figure of 2,172,185 reflects a 5.6 percent decrease from the unadjusted FBI NICS figure of 2,299,989 in January 2025.

As noted by the NSSF, the unadjusted NICS numbers, which include checks for various gun permits and re-checks for the same, are down 5.6%. This is likely a reflection of the increasing "permitless" or Constitutional Carry states.

On a positive note, the NSSF’s report on NFA items saw a massive increase compared to 2025. From the NSSF:

“The January 2026 NFA figure of 206,871 is an increase of 121.2 percent compared to the January 2025 figure of 93,518.”

 

 

 

Other than a slight jump up in 2006 - 2008, the rise in firearm sales reflected in the adjusted NICS figures, corresponds to both the Heller decision in 2008 and the election of Barack Obama as President in late 2008. The prominent spikes in sales occurred just after the re-election of President Obama in 2013, the run-up to the election of President Donald Trump in 2016, and the aftermath of the 2020 election during the first year of the Biden administration. 

By comparison, the years of the George W. Bush presidency, the first Trump term, the last three years of the Biden Administration and the first year of the second Trump term have been relatively flat.  The jump up from 2005 to 2025 has been enormous. 2000 - 2005 sales look flat and similar to 2022 - 2026.  When adjusted for population increase, estimated gun sales per capita have increased in January. 

The US population 2000-2005 averaged about 287 million, with adjusted NICs about 535,000 for those first of the year months. From 2022 - 2026 the population averaged about 337 million, with adjusted NICS about 1.20 million for those Januarys.

Analysis: Several factors are in play. Foremost are the enormous changes in the political structure since 2008. President Obama, elected to bring closure to race-division in the United State, did the opposite, exacerbating and escalating racial strife to levels not seen since the 1960s. He was able to form a new coalition of single white women, homosexuals, Asians, blacks, and others except white, straight men.  His policies were a weak USA, elevation of Iran, a weak NATO, and elevating the climate hoax for the benefit of China. The reaction to these destructive policies was President Donald Trump. President Joe Biden was President Obama's third term. It was disastrous. President Trump, in his Second term, is presiding over a counter revolution to the "fundamental change" President Obama forced on the nation.

Both the Republicans and the Democratic party have been unwilling to take the heat to step away from the crippling and suicidal debt inflicted on the USA. The only solution appears to be extraordinary growth. President Trump has been promoting this potential avenue to survival.

Part of the growth is an tremendous increase in productivity in the United States. It is one of the reasons for the rise in firearm sales. Excellent, practical firearms are historically cheap in the United States, when considered in constant dollars. The primary reason is the cost of making them has dropped due to superior technology. This correspondent grew up with the Savage 99. It is an excellent deer rifle. So are the Winchester 94 and the Marlin 336.  They are wonderful examples of the gun-makers art at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the smokeless powder, non-corrosive primer era.

The requirements to produce those rifles are not well suited to the more efficient technologies of the 21st century.  A new rifle in these models runs over $1200 and up. A new semi-auto based on the AR15 platform performs as well, with better accuracy, for 1/3 to 1/2 the cost.  Good centerfire defensive handguns are available, new, for less than the constant dollar cost of a surplus 1911A1 in 1960. A new, semi-auto .22 rimfire can be had for less than a quarter of the constant dollar cost of a semi-auto .22 in 1960. These prices are in spite of increasing, choking government regulation.

At the moment, sales appear to be leveling off. There may be some market saturation. Handguns have become more popular than rifles or shotguns. Serious innovation maybe rewarded, but is a gamble. Rising prosperity may bring more sales. Rising security may inhibit sales. The Trump Department of Justice has declared the ban on mailing handguns by the USPS  unconstitutional. How this may affect sales is unclear.

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

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PA: Philadelphia -Off Duty Officer and Family Member Wound Teen Car Burglary Suspect

A 17-year-old boy who was breaking into a vehicle in Southwest Philly overnight was shot after an off-duty officer with the Philadelphia Sheriff's Office and a family member fired at him, officials said.

According to Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small, the incident happened at about 3:30 a.m. along the 7300 block of Bunting Place, in Southwest Philadelphia, when an off-duty officer for the Philadelphia Sheriff's Office spotted someone breaking into his private vehicle.

Small said "for reasons unknown at this time," the officer fired his gun at the the individual inside the vehicle, a Honda Accord. Another member of the officer's family also fired his gun at the teen, Small said.

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TX: Gunfight, Wounded Victim Returns Fire, Kills Attacker

Navarro, who was known by at least one person at the party, arrived at the scene armed with a gun and started causing a disturbance, authorities said. During the disturbance, Navarro fired at least one round into the crowd inside the apartment, authorities said.

The man who was shot possibly returned fire, striking the shooter, police said. Detectives are continuing to interview multiple witnesses.

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TX: Arlington - Woman uses Knife to Threaten Couple, is Shot

Investigators found that the woman came to the gas station carrying a knife and approached a Jeep parked at one of the pumps, where a man was pumping gas, and his wife was inside the vehicle. The woman then began hitting the Jeep with the knife, police said. 

The man went to another vehicle parked nearby, and the woman followed him and began striking that vehicle with a knife, the release states. 

The man then retrieved a gun and warned the woman, who continued to move toward him, police said. The man then shot the woman in the leg, officials said. 

The man and his wife were uninjured and remained on the scene, the release states. No charges have been filed as a result of the incident. 

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PA: Dunmore - Domestic Defense, Son Shoots, Kills Father

Lackawanna County District Attorney Brian Gallagher said that Zantowsky, "who was showing signs of intoxication" at the time of the shooting, had "brandished a firearm and pointed it at his son and other members of the family, including an eight-year-old child."

Gallagher stated that Zantowsky's son fired his own weapon once, striking him.

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Governors' Forum at 2026 SHOT Show

From Left to Right Governor Pillen of Nebraska, Governor Gordon of Wyoming, Governor Lombardo of Nevada, Governor Sanders of Arkansas, Governor Rhoden of South Dakota, Governor Little of Idaho, and Governor  Gianforte of Montana. 

At the Governors' Forum during the 2026 SHOT Show, the eight governors present answered questions about how the could counter attacks against rights protected by the Second Amendment and against the firearms and associated industry. After the introduction by NSSF Larry Keane and remarks by White House Counsel David Warrington, the moderator, Shermichael Singleton, directed questions to the governors.

Nevada Governor Lombardo was asked about the Cyberattack which paralysed Nevada  gun store sales for more than two weeks. Governor Lombardo gave a detailed explanation. It was the internal state systems which were hacked. No ransom was paid. The lesson learned was: Do not silo all systems in one domain.

Governor Sanders of Arkansas praised the firearms and ammunition industry and mentioned her sons love of hunting and fishing vs staring at screens. She stated hunting and fishing are not the most important thing. Governor Sanders said:

If you do not have the right to bear arms, then all of the rights you enjoy can easily be taken away.

Governor Rhoden of South Dakota mentioned the passage of a bill last year to disallow the coding of firearms on credit card purchases and his support for deregulation of silencers. Governor Rhoden said:

Its the Left who, by any means possible, want to eliminate our Second Amendment rights. 

Governor Gianforte of Montana talked of his program to convince firearms and ammunition manufacturers to move from Colorado to Montana. From the Governor:

So I personally cold called all the major manufacturers in Colorado, and my message was simple: Do you want to move back to America?

Wyoming Governor Gordon spoke about the purpose of the commerce clause in the United State Constitution is to prevent individual states from impeding commerce between the states. This should apply to the firearms industry. From Governor Gordon:

 "That's one of the very few things the federal government is supposed to do is to make sure that  Arkansas can't cut off Wyoming.Not that you would..." (speaking to Governor Sanders of Arkansas)

Governor Pillen of Nebraska was asked about the unicameral legislative system in Nebraska. Governor Pillen spoke of how important it was to do the right thing instead of what was required to be re-elected. He spoke of the importance of reducing regulation:

 "We have to keep getting government out of our hair."  "I have not met a Nebraskan yet who wants to be told what to do."

Governor Little of Idaho talked about the need to educate a labor force for the recreational industry in rural Idaho.

"You don't over tax them, you don't over regulate them, if you give them the labor force they need, they will thrive." 

The moderator, Shermichael Singleton, did an excellent job of controlling the forum. The governors were all from Red (Republican) states. The forum was limited to an hour. The governors could have each taken up the whole hour, so distributing time among them was an important job.

There was friendly banter among the governors about who had the best business climate, the best hunting, the best parties and the best bourbon. A major theme of the forum was the necessity of limiting federal power and using state power to counter the attack on rights protected by the Second Amendment. As expected, there was little disagreement on the necessity of doing so.

Governor Gianforte of Montana reminded everyone to remember there have been difficult times in the United State before, and we have managed to keep the Republic. He used the term "chronological snobbery". Maintaining the Republic has always been a difficult task. From the Governor:

The availability of social media and the insincerity of our main stream media has amplified the divisions that exist between us. For my part I try not to exacerbate those differences and focus on those things we have in common. 

Governor  Rhoden of South Dakota said they are looking to find ways to roll back regulations by the federal government, and the current administration offers a window of opportunity to do so.

 

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

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IL: Alton - Home Invasion, Gunfight Through Doorway, Victim Wounded

Video from the scene showed Knight approach the home, knock on the door, “then immediately repeatedly fire into the dwelling” as he went through the door.

The suspect then fled, discarding the gun in nearby woods.

The weapon was recovered by the police.

Witnesses inside the residence reported hearing gunfire, then returned fire to repel the suspect. Police said nobody else was charged, and no additional charges against those returning fire are being considered as of late Monday.

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MS: Jackson - Apartment Resident Shoots, Kills 1 of 2 Invaders

"The investigation revealed that two unidentified Black males wearing ski masks broke into the apartment," authorities stated via a press release. "The owner, fearing for her life, fired a weapon striking at least one suspect who had entered the apartment. The suspect succumbed to his injuries."

Brown said authorities identified the deceased suspect as 15-year-old Kaden Young.

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