Tuesday, January 31, 2017

MO: Gun Beats Knife in Home Invasion

Baxter Springs Police say early in the afternoon, a man entered a home on 6th Street armed with a knife. The homeowners were home and were assaulted and threatened. One of the homeowners fatally shot the suspect.

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VA: Armed Woman Shoots Robbery/kidnap Suspect



According to police, Kahlil Kirton, 33, of Winchester entered the store, displayed a gun and demanded money.

Police said Kirton then forced the victim outside at gunpoint, but she was able to retrieve her personal gun to defend herself.

Kirton was shot several times. He is being treated at the Winchester Medical Center.
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TX: Liquor Store Manager Shoots Robbery Suspect



BREAKING NEWS: Police confirm to KFDM that a manager of Gulf Street Liquor in Beaumont shot a man who tried to rob the store at 3020 Gulf at about 6:15 p.m. Thursday.
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The Rate of Fatal Firearm Accidents is at an All Time Low in the U.S.





Chart by David Scott.  The rate is number of fatalities per 100,000 population.

It is not simple to determine the rate of fatal firearm accidents in the United States over the long term.  In this article three sources were used.

Rates and numbers from 1933-1987 are  available from Kleck, Point Blank Page 306 Table 7.1.

Numbers of 1981-2000 were found in An Analysis of Firearm-Related Accidents in the United States(pdf). Rates were calculated using Census figures. 

From 1999-2015 numbers were available in WISQARS, population for per capital rates was taken from U.S. Census figures.

For the overlap cases, the later source was used.  The overlap from 1981 to 1987 only had one anomaly. In 1982, Kleck listed 1757 accidental firearm fatalities; the Analysis of Firearm-Related Accidents listed 1756.  The 1999 and 2000 numbers for the Analysis and WISQARS numbers were the same.

The 1967 data point stands out as slightly bucking the long term trend of lower and lower fatal firearm accident rates.  Curiously, it was the year before the Gun Control Act of 1968 went into effect.

The numbers are sparse in the early years. There are gaps in the data. The first number is from 1933, then 1935, 1940, 1945, 1950, 1955, 1960, and 1965.  After 1965 the data is available for each year.

Between 1945, (the earliest figure available for per capita firearms, Kleck) to 2014 ( the latest figure, using BATFE numbers and Kleck's methodology), the number of per capita firearms has risen from .351 to 1.176. That is more than a three-fold increase.

During the same period, the per capita rate of fatal firearm accidents has declined from 1.84 per 100,000 to .15 per 100,000, over a 91% drop.  Using the earliest number in 1933, the drop has been nearly 94%.

In comparison, fatal vehicular accident rates have dropped from 23.687 per 100,000 in 1933 to 11.324 per 100,000 in 2015, or a drop of 52%. That is a substantial drop, but not as impressive as the drop in fatal firearm accidents.

We know that the number of miles driven has increased significantly; we do not have similar figures for the amount of ammunition consumed.

The figure of 489 fatal firearm accidents in 2015 is the lowest undisputed number on record.  In 2014, the CDC record shows a coding error. The number is stated as 586, but John Lott, who detected the error and informed the CDC, says the number should be 486.

The rate of fatal firearms accidents in 2015 was .15 per 100,000. If the 486 figure for 2014 is correct, that would also be .15 fatal firearm accidents per 100,000.

For those who wish the individual numbers by year, to create your own graphics, the numbers for all three sources may be found at the link below.

Data for Rate of Fatal Firearm Accidents.


©2017 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

Gun Watch

Data used in Rate of Fatal Firearms Accidents


The data is listed by year, number of fatalities, and fatalities per 100,000 population.  For 1933 there were 3014 fatalites, which was 2.40 fatalities per 100,000 people in 1933.

1933-1987 available from Kleck, Point Blank Page 306 Table 7.1


1933    3014  2.40
1935    2799  2.20
1940    2390  1.80
1945    2454  1.84
1950    2174  1.43
1955    2120  1.28
1965    2344  1.21
1966    2558  1.30
1967    2896  1.47
1968    2394  1.20
1969    2309  1.15
1970    2406  1.18
1971    2360  1.14
1972    2442  1.17
1973    2618  1.24
1974    2513  1.18
1975    2380  1.10
1976    2059  .95
1977    1982  .90
1978    1806  .81
1979    2004  .89
1980    1955  .86
1981    1871  .82
1982    1757  .76
1983    1695  .72
1984    1668  .71
1985    1649  .69
1986    1452  .59
1987    1440  .57

1981-2000 from
From An Analysis of Firearm-Related Accidents in the United States(pdf)
  rates from Kleck or calculated from Census figures.

1981    1871  .82
1982    1756  .76
1983    1695  .72
1984    1668  .71
1985    1649  .69
1986    1452  .59
1987    1440  .57
1988    1501  .61
1989    1489  .60
1990    1416  .57
1991    1441  .57
1992    1409  .55
1993    1521  .59
1994    1356  .52
1995    1225  .47
1996    1134  .43
1997    891    .33
1998    866    .32
1999    824    .29
2000    776    .28


1999-2013 available in WISQARS, population for per capital rates from U.S. Census.

1999    824  .29
2000    776  .28
2001    802  .28
2002    762  .26
2003    730  .25
2004    649  .22
2005    789  .27
2006    642  .21
2007    613  .20
2008    592  .19
2009    554  .18
2010    606  .20
2011    591  .19
2012    548  .17
2013    505  .16
2014    486?  .15?  CDC says data has a coding error, John Lott says the number is 100 too high at 586
2014   461  .14 (corrected by the CDC)
2015   489  .15
2016   495  .15
2017   486  .15 


New data from injuryfacts.nsc.org:

1903 2500
1904 2800   82,166,000  3.4 per 100k
1905 2000   2.39 per 100k
1906 2100
1907 1700
1908 1900
1909 1600
1910 1900 2.06 per 100k
1911 2100
1912 2100
1913 2400
1914 2300
1915 2100 2.16 per 100k
1916 2200
1917 2300
1918 2500
1919 2800
1920 2700 2.53 per 100k
1921 2800
1922 2900
1923 2900
1924 2900
1925 2800 2.42 per 100k
1926 2800
1927 3000
1928 2900
1929 3200
1930 3200 2.60 per 100k
1931 3100
1932 3000
1933 3014
1934 3033
1935 2799

©2017 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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Monday, January 30, 2017

UT: Man Kills Mountan Lion Attacking Dog, no Charges



CEDAR FORT, Utah -- A family pet was attacked and killed by a mountain lion in Cedar Fort Thursday night, and a neighbor ended up shooting and killing the cougar.

"I've lived here all my life and that was the first cougar I've ever seen in town," said witness Ken Strickland.

Strickland is trying to get the image out of his mind: his neighbor's 10-year-old black lab, Teeankom, attacked by a mountain lion in their own front yard around 8 p.m.
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More OK: Domestic Defense, 76-Year-Old Shoots Stepson



TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — Police are investigating whether or not a deadly shooting involving a man and his stepson was a case of self-defense.

Police responded to a home near West Matthew Brady Street and North Yukon Avenue around 6:10 p.m. Thursday after a woman called police and told them her husband shot her son. When officers arrived, the 76-year-old shooter had blood on his face and told police his stepson had beaten him.

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CO: Gunfight, Business Owner Wounded

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Colorado Springs Police Department says the owner of a Colorado Springs business was shot while exchanging gunfire with a possible would-be robber Thursday night.

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CA: Resident with Shotgun Holds Burglary Suspect for Police

A suspected burglar was arrested after his alleged victim caught him in the act and held him there with a shotgun on Wednesday night, according to Napa Police.

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FL: Armed Customer Shoots Armed Robbery Suspect



PASCO COUNTY, Fla. -- An armed suspect was shot in the leg by a customer with a concealed carry weapons permit during a robbery attempt at a Lutz gas station Thursday morning.
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TN: Domestic Defense, Woman Shoots, Kills Ex



Police said Laquentin Franklin kicked open the 31-year-old woman’s door and a physical struggle ensued, waking up her current boyfriend.

The boyfriend was able to separate the two when police say Franklin tried to get past the him and the woman fired one shot.
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GA: Neighbor Shoots Dog, ending Attack on two Children



“Just to endure what he endured, I’m just happy to know he’s still alive,” Shavers said.

A neighbor shot one of the dogs and Animal Control later euthanized it. They captured the other dog.

Officers also captured two dogs after the first attack
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Sunday, January 29, 2017

Knife Law Reforms Advance in Several States




Knife Rights is a small organization that is producing big results. The founder, Doug Ritter, has said that they have created a "second front" in the war to restore the Second Amendment. He is correct. In 2010, Doug convinced the NRA lobbyist in Arizona, Todd Rathner, to join the organization. The small but effective organization has produced astounding results, rolling back abusive, antiquated knife laws in 15 states.

They have accomplished complete knife law reform in Alaska, Arizona, Oklahoma, Kansas, Wisconsin, Tennessee, and New Hampshire. Adults in those states can now carry and use knives for legal purposes without fear of breaking the law.  They have been able to pass knife law preemption in Utah, Texas and Georgia.  This prevents a crazy quilt of knife laws that are easily broken simply by crossing the street from one local jurisdiction to another.  They have been able to repeal knife bans in Washington State, Nevada, Missouri, Indiana, and Maine. They have been involved in successful litigation to preserve rights in California.

In 2017, they have already put several states into play for knife law reform, and have been able to have federal knife law reform introduced into the House of Representatives.

On January 3rd, 2017, the Knife Owners Protection Act (KOPA) was introduced in the House of Representatives.  This act also repeals the silly ban on the interstate trade of switchblades.  The irrational law was passed in 1958, based on false assertions about the relationship of switchblades to gangs.  The switchblade law was a precursor to the anti-Second Amendment Gun laws of the 1960's.

On January 24th, in Virginia, House Bill 1432 was passed out of committee to go to the full House for a vote. The bill removes the prohibition on the carrying of switchblades, as long as they are carried for a "lawful profession" or "recreational activity".

On January 24th, in Colorado, SB 17-008 passed out of committee and heads to the Senate for a vote.  The bill removes "gravity knife" and "switchblade knife" from the category of prohibited weapons.

On January 25th, in Georgia, SB 49 was introduced to reform the knife law.  Currently, knives with blades longer than 5.5 inches are prohibited from being carried. The bill increases the acceptable blade length to 12 inches.  Knife Rights pushed for the state knife law preemption bill that was passed in 2012.

On January 25th, in Illinois, SB 607 was introduced.  A similar bill came very close to passage last year.  The bill would allow people with a Firearm Owner Identification Card (FOID), or people in the business of selling knives, to carry switchblade knives.  In Illinois, residents must have an FOID to be able to legally own or purchase firearms.

The year has barely begun. No one knows how many of these legislative initiatives will be successful. Given Knife Rights record, passage of more than one reform is likely.

Knives are clearly "arms" as protected by the Second Amendment.  As courts have upheld Second Amendment rights, antiquated knife bans and carry restrictions have become obvious and irrational artifacts of another age.

The "Second Front" in restoring the Second Amendment cuts into the soft underbelly of the the organizations opposed to an armed citizenry.

©2017 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

Gun Watch

VT: Man Shoots, Wounds Agressive Pit Bull



Police said the dog was on a neighbor’s property and did not leave when the man who lived there tried to scare him off. After he fired a warning shot, the situation escalated.

“It became aggressive towards him, he felt threatened, and he shot the dog,” Hull said.
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Followup: Man Recounts Shooting Assailant, Saving Trooper


An Arizona man who killed an assailant who shot a state trooper spoke out today for the first time since the incident earlier this month.

"I never would have dreamt that I was gonna save somebody's life, let alone take the life of another individual," Thomas Yoxall, 43, said today at a news conference.

Authorities in the state have credited Yoxall with saving the life of Arizona State Trooper Edward Andersson.



 More Here

MD: Guns Beats Statue of Virgin Mary and Knife


A man who police said used a lawn statue of the Virgin Mary to break into a Frederick home was thwarted at gunpoint by a woman who lives there.

The woman held the intruder — who had a knife — at bay inside her home in the 500 block of Goldspire Circle until police arrived late Saturday.
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MO: Three Home Invaders Charged, One Shot by Homeowner

PETTIS COUNTY, Mo. - Pettis County prosecutors filed charges Sunday night against three men who were allegedly involved in a home invasion Saturday.
The sheriff's department said a fourth suspect was shot by the resident inside the home.


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OH: Man Shoots Ex-Girlfriend's Girlfriend when She pulls Gun on Him



NORTH COLLEGE HILL, Ohio – A 24-year-old man says he shot and killed his former girlfriend's girlfriend after she pulled a gun on him Tuesday morning, police say.

Now North College Hill police are trying to determine if it was a case of self-defense as the man claims.
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MO: Man Charged for Shooting Robbery Suspect who Ran



COLUMBIA, Mo. - According to new court documents, a new Missouri gun law could be the reason Karl Henson shot a man attempting to rob him Monday night.

The incident happened on Riva Ridge Court in northeast Columbia. Henson called in a robbery at about 5 p.m. and stated he had shot at the alleged would-be thief six or seven times.




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TX: Neighbor Holds Shooter at Gunpoint for Police



Moments later, the woman's husband came out with his gun but simply kneeled and comforted his dying wife while another neighbor held the shooter at gun point.


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AR: Dominoes Pizza Employees Disarm, Shoot, Kill, Armed Robbery Suspect



The two assailants attempted to rob Carter of the money, but there was a brief struggle, and Drones dropped his firearm, police said. Carter picked up the gun and fired several times, striking Drones in the upper part of his body, the release said.

Drones then ran to the back of a nearby Edward’s Food Giant, got into a gray 2000 Toyota Camry and drove to a Love’s truck stop in the area where he got out of the vehicle and collapsed, McClanahan said.

Carter and Stricklin got into a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu and followed Drones to the truck stop, where Carter flagged down police, the report said.
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Saturday, January 28, 2017

Number Gun Background Checks more than Doubled Under Obama



 Chart by David Scott

We do not know precisely how many private guns were added the stock in the United States under President G. W. Bush compared to those added under President Barack Obama.  We will not know the precise number until a year from now, when the BATFE releases the information. But we have a pretty good substitute.  The number of National Instant Background Check System checks, or NICS, is highly correlated to the number of private guns sold.

I have been writing about NICS and the correlation with gun sales for a while. The numbers that were found in an article that compared the number of NICS under Bush to those under Obama were surprising. From mrctv.org:
According to data from the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System, widely considered to be the best metric in measuring firearms purchases in the United States, gun sales soared 60 percent under Obama's eight year stint in office compared to the number of firearms sold during President George W. Bush’s two-term presidency.
I could not find a way to torture the data to come up with the 60% figure that was quoted by mrctv.  Look at the numbers comparing the two eight year presidencies.  If you consider the years 2001-2008 as the years of the Bush administration, there were 77,410,008 background checks under the National Instant Check System.

I realize that much of the buying in 2008 was in anticipation of the Obama administration, but to be scrupulous, President Bush was still in office.  For a clean comparison, I chose 2001-2008 for Bush, and 2009-2016 for Obama. Total NICS from 2009 through 2016 were 157,233,157. That is a 103% increase during the Obama years.

The error is shown later in the article. The author says there were 94.8 million background checks during the Bush years, ending in 2008.

I can see how that error was made. You have to include all the background checks made before President Bush was in office in his totals.  Include all the numbers from 1998-2008, instead of his actual 8 years in office, 2001-2008. With with an extra two years and two months in Bush's figures, you can say that the numbers of NICS under President Obama only increased 60%.

In the real world, the number of NICS under President Obama more than doubled the number of NICS under President Bush. It is quite an achievement, one that President Obama can be proud of.

©2017 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

Gun Watch

MT: AG makes Decision: Missoula Gun Control "Unconstitutional"



Last year, the City Council of Missoula voted to pass an ordinance that required that anyone wishing to transfer a privately owned firearm must do so through a Federal Firearms dealer.  There were a couple of exceptions for family members and at shooting ranges.

Many said at the time said the ordinance was a violation of Montana law, and was illegal.  The City Attorney claimed that the law was legal. The AG of the state, Tim Fox, stated a personal opinion, at the time the law passed, that the law was not legal or Constitutional.  Now AG Fox has issued an official opinion on the subject, dated 26 January, 2017. From crossroadstoday:
Fox had maintained all along Montana law didn't grant the city that authority -- and he confirmed that position in the new opinion.

Fox noted Missoula does have certain powers as a charter city, saying it does have the authority to regulate the use and carrying of firearms under state law. However, Fox says state law doesn't allow Missoula to have an ordinance "enforcing a local regulation or ordinance requiring background checks on firearm sales or transfers within its borders."
Montana passed a state pre-emption law thirty years ago, to prevent a patchwork of contradictory firearms laws from being enacted across the state. From the missoulian.com:
The state previously allowed cities to make their own laws regarding firearms sales, Fox wrote in his opinion, but a 1985 House bill repealed that section of the MCA and replaced it with new language that still is in place.

“The purpose of HB 643 was clear – only the state should decide how firearm purchases, sales and transfers should be regulated, if at all.”
Many people predicted the Attorney General would come to this official conclusion. Now he has done so.  It seems unlikely that the City of Missoula would attempt to take this decision to court, but it might.

©2017 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

Gun Watch

Rifle Used to Shoot World Record Whitetail: Knight Disc Extreme?




There have been many stories written about the likely new world record non-typical whitetail taken by Stephen Tucker in Tennessee.  It has been written about in The Tennessean, The New York Times, North American Whitetail, CNN, Fox News and Field and Stream.  Field and Stream is the only place I found a photograph of Stephen with his rifle.  The rifle part of the picture was rotated and cropped.  You see it above.

None of the articles I have read identify the rifle. Shooters are naturally curious about what hardware was used to take a world record trophy.


I believe the rifle used was a Knight Disc Extreme. It is likely a .50 caliber, which seems to be the most popular.  You can see a close up of a stainless version of the .50 caliber Knight Disc Extreme in the picture above.  On this rifle the scope is a Simmons, while Stephen Tucker's rifle appears to sport a Leupold, identified because of the gold ring. The stocks on the rifles are very close.  The "checkering" pattern is the same, even if the camo pattern is a bit different.

The action, trigger guard, trigger, and scope base placement all seem the same.

I am convinced the rifle is a Knight, but there have been some nomenclature changes over the years.  The action looks the same as on the Disc Extreme rifles.


©2017 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

Gun Watch

TN: Domestic Defense, Son Attacks Dad, Dad Shoots



Police were called to Fox Chase Drive around 3:20 p.m. Monday and the father told investigators he grabbed his handgun when his son rushed him with a hammer. The son was taken to Skyline Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.
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AL: Shotgun Shooting Likely Self Defense

A 37-year-old man was shot and killed inside a home during a confrontation that ended up being labeled as self-defense, according to the Mobile County Sheriff's Office.

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Followup PA: No Charges for Man Who Shot, Killed Teen Robbery Suspect



The man who fired a shot that killed a 16-year-old teen during a Penbrook robbery Thursday won't be charged, said the Dauphin County district attorney's office.

"It was a self-defense situation where he was entitled to defend himself," said Michael Sprow, chief Dauphin County deputy district attorney.
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PA: Wounded Pizza Man Shoots Back, Stops Attack



A pizza delivery man is in the hospital after being shot on the job during an attempted robbery in Philadelphia, but police say he managed to pull out his own gun and fire back.
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TX: Gunfight Stops Home Invasion

The male resident went out the back door to confront the suspects as they started to break the mobile home windows. One suspect shot at the mobile home several times, and the male resident returned fire. The suspects then got back into the car and drove away.

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NH: Clerk Shoots at Robbery Suspect


MANCHESTER - Police said a store clerk at Rodriguez Market on Amory Street fired a gun at a man who tried to rob the store Monday night.


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Friday, January 27, 2017

Gun Reform Bills Three of Top Ten for Congress Attention



As the Trump administration continues to exceed expectations and keep promises, Second Amendment supporters look to Congress to see what bills may be moving.  

The amount of interest is a rough gauge of public support for these bills.  In the Congressional web site that tracks the ten top most viewed bills, three are gun law reform bills.

The second most viewed bill is H.R. 367, To provide that silencers be treated the same as long guns. It has 40 co-sponsors. It is the reintroduced Hearing Protection Act. It is textually the same as the H.R. 3799, the Hearing Protection Act of 2015, that was introduced by Congressman Matt Salmon of Arizona.  He retired with the 114th Congress.

The fifth most viewed bill is the same Hearing Protection Act of 2015. In the top five most viewed bills, two are Hearing Protection Act bills that are textually the same. It had 10 co-sponsors.

The ninth most viewed bill is H.R. 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017. The NRA-ILA backs this bill. Gun Owners of America backs this bill. The Second Amendment Foundation's Alan Gottlieb has applauded the bill. The NSSF backs this bill. It currently has 67 co-sponsors. A similar bill in the last congress gathered 216 co-sponsors.

Representative Richard Hudson (R. N.C.), who introduced H.R. 38, says the bill would apply to permits issued to non-residents by some states.
“My legislative intent is to ensure a non-resident carry permit is recognized, and I’ve confirmed this with legislative counsel and Judiciary Committee staff,” Hudson said.
Text of the bill is not yet posted on the Congressional web site.  Here is a summation of the bill.  From freebeacon.com:
Hudson’s bill would require states to recognize the validity of every other state’s gun carry licenses, but it would require concealed carriers to follow the specific laws of whatever state in which they are carrying. The bill mostly mirrors national reciprocity bills introduced by Hudson in previous years but adds language designed to ensure that those in Constitutional Carry states, where no permit is required to concealed carry, are protected by the legislation. The bill would also allow concealed carry in the National Park System, the National Wildlife Refuge System, and on lands under the authority of the Bureau of Land Management, Army Corps of Engineers, and Bureau of Reclamation.
 Here is a screen shot of the most viewed bills web page.

Views on the Congressional web site are not votes in the House or Senate. The ratings and views are watched by members of Congress.  On gun law reform issues, the views are a pretty good indication of the intensity of voter support for the bills.

Second Amendment supporters consistently show 3-7 times as much support on the Internet as do gun haters.  On clearly worded issues, the support has gone as high as 20 to 1.  These bills are more clearly understood than many Internet polls.


©2017 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

Gun Watch








TN: Woman Shoots Assailant



A woman who shot and wounded a man trying to assault her Sunday morning was defending herself and others, Chattanooga police say.

Police were called to the 2700 block of Sixth Avenue Court shortly before 11 a.m., where they found Dieshunn Lindsey with a gunshot wound, according to a news release

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Thursday, January 26, 2017

NM: Homeowner Shoots, Kills Home Invader



“The homeowner challenged the subjects and fired his handgun at them when he observed them in a room of his home armed with blunt objects or edged weapons,” Drobik said.

Drobik said at least one of the reported masked intruders died at the scene.

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Fake News: Vilifying Good Guy With Gun


The editors at USA Today were caught disseminating a pejorative headline that readers, assuming they actually clicked through for the story, could determine almost immediately was fake news. The story was about a weekend shooting at a Texas mall, including the actions of a good guy with a gun. But that’s not the impression USA Today gave. Nor was it accidental.

The front-page headline incredulously declared, “Shopper who shot suspect did not have carry permit.” Once you clicked through for the details, the editors offered a slightly different, albeit still misleading, version: “Texas mall: Shopper who shot suspect not allowed to carry.” All but a few “constitutional carry” states require gun owners to obtain a license to pack heat outside the home. And the USA Today headline gives the impression that said shopper was not legally sanctioned by the state to carry a firearm in public. Except that’s not true at all.

The very first paragraph states, “The shopper at a Texas mall who had a concealed carry license and shot a robbery suspect should not have been carrying a gun inside the mall, according to the mall’s policy [emphasis added].” Suddenly, the narrative is flipped on its head. The story goes on to explain, “On Sunday, a man was shot and killed while trying to stop a jewelry store robber at Rolling Oaks Mall in San Antonio. Another man, with a concealed permit, shot one of the suspected robbers who police said stole from a Kay Jeweler’s store. Four others were injured. The San Antonio Police Department said the same robbery suspect fatally shot 42-year-old Jonathan Murphy. Police describe the man who shot the robbery suspect and Murphy as ‘Good Samaritans.’”

What’s really at issue here isn’t the lack of a concealed carry permit but the mall, which proudly markets itself as a gun-free zone. According to mall manager Dustin Christensen, “Although we respect the laws of the state and individual rights, we do, however, maintain a separate code of conduct that we visibly post at our entrances that includes the prohibition of any weapons on the property. Our top priority continues to be the safety of our shoppers as we strive to provide the best possible shopping experience for all.” First of all, the sign didn’t stop armed robbers from entering the complex. Secondly, the only thing providing safety to the shoppers was a good guy with a gun. No wonder the police call him a Good Samaritan.

With an intentionally distorted headline, the ignoramuses at USA Today gave thousands of people the impression that an armed citizen was just as felonious as the thugs he stopped. To say that he “did not have [a] carry permit,” as stated in the headline, which is the only thing many people see, is an outright lie. It’s true that he acted against the local mall’s policies, but that’s a constitutionally dubious thing to argue. Hopefully this will motivate Texas to stop allowing malls to pre-empt the carry law. Even San Antonio police spokesman Officer Doug Greene said, “We just ask people to use their best judgment when they get into situations like this.” Thanks to good judgement from a guy with a gun, lives may have been saved.

The Leftmedia has criticized the Trump administration for its ridiculous use of the term “alternative facts.” Yet earlier this week journalists were all over an erroneous report suggesting Trump, after returning Winston Churchill’s bust to the Oval Office, ousted MLK’s. That was fake news. So is USA Today’s misleading headline regarding a concealed carry permit holder. Those claiming to occupy the moral high ground in the press are clearly not interested in leading by example.

https://patriotpost.us/posts/47062


ND: Man Attempts Break-in, is Shot, Killed

Six people, including children, were inside the home 2 miles outside of Rolla when they heard someone trying break in. The intruder was then shot and killed.
Authorities say the intruder had a weapon, but it's unknown who fired the deadly shot.

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MI: Detroit Customer Shoots Subject who Threatened Girlfriend



One customer, only identified as Dennis, said the robber pointed a gun at his girlfriend, Latanya. "I would have given him money if he asked for money," Dennis tells WDIV's Jermont Terry.

The couple and another customer started throwing their money and wallets on the floor.

"When I saw he had the gun in her face, and I threw my wallet down and keys, he turned to look and get the money, that's when I lit him up," Dennis, who is licensed to carry a gun, tells the station. The robber was shot in the stomach and was listed Saturday night in critical condition.

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OH: Legally Armed Man Wounded, Kills Robbery Suspect



The injured man explained to police that he was shot in an attempted robbery and that he had fired back, hitting a 27-year-old man who had driven away in a silver SUV, Ciaccia said. The man had a handgun and showed his concealed-carry permit.

Police found the silver SUV crashed into a utility pole at the intersection of East 97th Street and Quebec Avenue, Ciaccia said. The driver, who suffered gunshot wounds to his chest and legs, was taken to University Hospitals by paramedics, where he was pronounced dead.
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TX: Gunfight, Homeowner Drives off Home Invaders



The robbers committed a home invasion style robbery about 4:45 a.m. in the 2400 block of Lea Crest Drive, near Overton Road and Sunnyvale Street, police said.

They fired multiple shots at the homeowner, who returned fire. They then ran and got into a getaway car, described as a dark-colored, newer model four-door sedan.
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Wednesday, January 25, 2017

NH: Democrats Propose Voter Suppression for Second Amendment Practitioners



A bill has been introduced into the New Hampshire legislature. It is designed to suppress the exercise of the Second Amendment and voting.

The bill to discourage Second Amendment practitioners from voting is HB350. It is unlikely to pass in Second Amendment friendly New Hampshire. It shows the Democrat mindset to suppress the votes of people they disagree with.

The bill requires that people who are going to vote divest themselves of their Second Amendment rights while they are voting.  In New Hampshire, no license is required to carry a firearm openly; it is fairly simple to obtain a license to carry a handgun concealed. The number of concealed carry licenses is unknown. Statewide records are only kept for out of state permits. 

The bill requires that people be unarmed while in the actual practice of voting.  It also requires that they not "control" any firearm while voting, thus forbidding that they leave their firearm locked in their car.  From the bill at legiscan .com:
I. No person shall knowingly carry a loaded or unloaded pistol, revolver, firearm, or other deadly weapon as defined in RSA 625:11, V, whether open or concealed, or whether licensed or unlicensed, upon the person or within any of the person's possessions owned or within the person's control at a polling place during a federal, state, or municipal election.

II. Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a class B felony.
According to an article from New Hampshire, it has never been illegal to carry weapons to polling places in New Hampshire. The article is in the left leaning Seacoast Online. If a single instance of abuse had occurred, it would have been mentioned at seacoastonline.com:
Additionally, he warned, some residents might carry weapons to the polls, which is legal under state law.

"We are going to follow the law," Selig said. "As long as nobody is being threatening toward anyone else with their weapons, it's a non-issue. We are just making sure everyone is safe."
None of the commenters at the site were able to find a single instance of abuse, either.

The safety of carrying weapons to the polls has never been an issue. The intent of the legislation seems clear: discourage people who exercise their Second Amendment rights from voting.  

When you make it more difficult for a group to vote, be it illegal aliens or Second Amendment activists, some of them will find the extra step to be the one that keeps them from voting that day.

Second Amendment supporters tend to be 3.7 times as likely to be Republicans as Democrats, 82% to 22%, according to Pew.  This legislation seems to be an attempt to suppress the Republican vote.

©2017 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

Gun Watch

Followup TX: Armed Robbery suspect Captured from Fatal Jewelry Store Robbery Attempt



The man, Jason Matthew Prieto, faces a charge of capital murder and two counts of aggravated robbery. He is being held on a $1.7 million bond.


In a news conference just after midnight, Greene said Converse police were called to the intersection of Loop 1604 and Coppergate at about 3:45 p.m. to check out a report of a wreck. When officers arrived, they found a stolen silver vehicle had crashed. There was no one with the vehicle.

More Here

NC: Woman Shoots Suspect armed with Knife

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Authorities say a woman has shot a man to death who broke into her Charlotte home and tried to attack her with a knife.

More Here

Followup LA: Second Suspect Arrested after Pizza Guy Shoots, Kills one


WEST MONROE, La. (KNOE 8 News) - UPDATE Saturday, January 21, 2017 at 3:12 P.M.- West Monroe police have arrested the second suspect involved in the attempted robbery of a pizza delivery driver.

Joshua Donson was booked into OCC early Saturday morning, charged with armed robbery, second degree kidnapping, second degree murder and criminal conspiracy.
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CA: Man Shoots Vandal who has Knife



Neighbor Jody Lawhon told FOX40 the man suspected of slashing tires was shot by another neighbor.

FOX40 also spoke to the man who said he pulled the trigger. He tells us it was self-defense and calls the situation terrible.

No one has yet been arrested. The shooter is being interviewed, but neighbors said he was protecting his family.
More Here

TX: Man Shoots at Aggressive Scam Artists



"He confronted them about the theft, they then threw some of the money out of the car door window and he felt like they were trying to run him over so he produced a fire arm and shot at the vehicle," Phillips said.

Police say several shots hit this car, but no one was hurt.

The victim is not facing charges.

"I was just scared, I was scared more for somebody being in the ditch hurt and needed help," Bradley said.
More Here

NC: Mistaken Identity Shooting (rare) Man Mistakes wife for Burglar


This event is being plastered all over the country by the establishment media.


According to authorities, Billy Williams said he got his handgun from a gun safe in his bedrooms and went to the front door, apparently unaware his wife - who worked a night shift and was not expected home until around 8 a.m. - had come home from work early.

Police said that the front porch light at the home was not turned on and Billy Williams was unaware that his wife was the one at the door when he fired one shot which hit her in the neck and killed her.

More Here

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Video of Motorcycle Hijacker being shot by Brazilian Police Officer








A quick search shows that it happened in October of 2013. The shooting is done by the police officer in the grey shirt. The helmet video clearly shows the officer shooting the hijacker. Note that the revolver used by the motorcycle jacker had been placed back in his pocket.  The person with the helmet video is out of the line of fire by a few feet.

The officer appears to be about 15 feet from the jacker when he shoots.

The revolver used by the jacker is likely a Taurus or Rossi .38 caliber.

Link to video

©2017 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.

Link to Gun Watch




Monday, January 23, 2017

WA: "Home Invasion" may have Been Attempt to Recover Property



King County prosecutors say a group of friends were determined to get back items stolen from a woman’s house near Auburn. One of them is now in jail, charged with breaking into a man’s trailer and shooting him.

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TX: Neighbor Shoots Man who Came to his House, Started Fighting


Police said the 28-year-old walked to his neighbor’s home in the 300 block of Latch Drive, and the pair began to fight.

The neighbor pulled out a gun and shot the man three times, police said.
More Here

Sunday, January 22, 2017

NH: Constitutional Carry Bill Passes Senate



The New Hampshire legislature has passed permitless "Constitutional carry" both of the last two years. Both times the bill was vetoed by Democrat governor Maggie Hassan. 

Now, early in the session, the New Hampshire Senate has passed SB 12-FN.  It had five Senators as sponsors, Senators Abard, Birdsell, Carson, Daniels, and Gannon. 

It passed the Senate with a healthy 13 to 10 margin, defeating two attempts at amendment, on January 19, 2017.

In 2016, the New Hampshire House passed the Constitutional carry bill 206 to 146. New Hampshire is bordered on the East by Maine and on the West by Vermont. Both of those states have Constitutional carry.  New Hampshire's requirement for a carry permit was passed about a hundred years ago as "progressive" ideas swept the nation.  Those laws are being repealed as evidence accumulates that they did more harm than good. 

Opponents say that they are an infringement on Second Amendment rights.  In January, 2016, the bill passed the House  206 to 146.  Republicans voted for the bill, Democrats against.

The new Republican Governor, Chris Sununu, said that he would sign the Constitutional carry bill. From concordmonitor.com:
Sununu is not a gun owner but said he would sign a bill doing away with the need for concealed carry permits.
It is likely that New Hampshire will become the first state to move to permitless or "Constitutional carry" in 2017.  As with the other 10 states that have moved to Constitutional carry, the state shall issue permit system will remain in place for the convenience of the armed public. 

Permits are useful for reciprocity with other states.  Half of the states in the Union allow carry permits as an alternate to the NICS instant check system. New Hampshire is not one of those states.


©2017 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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New Hearing Protection Act same as old HPA; Both in Top Ten for Attention



On January 9th, 2017, the new Hearing Protection Act (HPA), H.R. 367, was reintroduced into the 115th Congress (2017-2018).  It was introduced by Representative Jeff Duncan (R-SC-3).  It started with 40 co-sponsors. The HPA, unlike many bills, is short and concise. It takes silencers out of the National Firearms act, with its draconian regulation and $200 excise tax, and places them in the same category as rifles and shotguns.

Here is the text of the  Hearing Protection Act of 2017, H.R. 367:

A BILL
To provide that silencers be treated the same as long guns.

      Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. Short title.

       This Act may be cited as the “Hearing Protection Act of 2017”.

SEC. 2. Equal treatment of silencers and firearms.

     (a) In general.—Section 5845(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking “(7) any silencer” and all that follows through “; and (8)” and inserting “; and (7)”.
     (b) Effective date.—
          (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the amendment made by this section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.
          (2) TRANSFERS.—In the case of the tax imposed by section 5811 of such Code, the amendment made by this section shall apply with respect to transfers after October 22, 2015.

SEC. 3. Treatment of certain silencers.

      Section 5841 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following:
       “(f) Firearm silencers.—A person acquiring or possessing a firearm silencer in accordance with Chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, shall be treated as meeting any registration and licensing requirements of the National Firearms Act (as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this subsection) with respect to such silencer.”.

SEC. 4. Preemption of certain State laws in relation to firearm silencers.

      Section 927 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: “Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, a law of a State or a political subdivision of a State that, as a condition of lawfully making, transferring, using, possessing, or transporting a firearm silencer in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, imposes a tax on any such conduct, or a marking, recordkeeping or registration requirement with respect to the firearm silencer, shall have no force or effect.”.
 
H.R. 367 is the same as H.R. 3799, The Hearing Protection Act of 2015.

The 2017 bill has 40 co-sponsors, the 2015 bill had 10. Although the bills are textually identical, both are in the top ten bills that are being looked at on the Congressional web site. The current bill is at the number 3 slot, and the 2015 bill is at the number 6 slot.

It is worth noting that the bill, as with the previous version, has been introduced into the House Ways and Means Committee.  It is a tax reform bill, as it eliminates the excise tax on silencers and moves them to the same category as long guns, on which the Pitmann-Robertson tax is imposed. Pitmann-Robertson funds are distributed to the states and used for conservation and game management. One reason for the change is to meet the requirements of many states for federal regulation of silencers.  The bill specifically states that it serves that purpose in section 3.

As a tax item, it could be included in a budget reconciliation bill, which is exempt from the 60 vote filibuster in the Senate.  Avoiding the Senate filibuster may not be necessary.  The bill is widely popular.  There are about 100 million firearms owners in the United States. A bill that positively affects the health and safety of 30% of the population should be popular. Even the partisan Washington Post article on the bill had a hard time finding serious opposition. They included information that silencers are mostly without regulation in England.

In a number of countries such as New Zealand, people can buy a silencer without any special tax or regulation.

It is uncertain how much opposition there will be to this reform of 1930's over-regulation. Second Amendment supporters are excited about the reform.  They have a lot of clout in Congress.


©2017 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

Gun Watch





Followup MO: Shooting of Rhonda Hood ruled Justified


After reviewing the information, it was determined that based on the facts, the shooting was justified by the person involved in defense of himself and the other household occupants. While no charges are expected in reference to the shooting, the person involved is still in custody because of unrelated circumstances that warranted his arrest.

More Here

CO: Homeowner Shoots, Kills Intruder


COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — Police in Colorado Springs are investigating after a homeowner reportedly shot and killed an intruder.

The victim, a transient, has not been identified.

More Here

IL: Domestic Defense, Woman with Kids Shoots Ex who Broke in



Investigators say Moody's ex-wife was in the house with her children and another person, Atlantis Jarmon. Police say Bruce Moody smashed out a window of the master bedroom then went around and kicked through the front door of the house. They believe Moody was armed with a box cutter.

Investigators say when Bruce Moody reached the master bedroom, Jarmon fired at him with a pistol, striking him. Moody died there.
More Here

NE: Domestic Defense Gunfight


Jeff Hayes and Cameron Hayes exchanged more gunfire. Investigators say Jeff fired several rounds, while Cameron fired perhaps just once, "stopping the threat posed by Jeff Haynes", according to a news release.

Hayes was found dead in the front yard of the home.

"You have a right to defend yourself. If somebody pulls a gun and shoots at you, obviously if you have a weapon available, you certainly have a right to protect yourself and any other family members and we believe that's probably what happened here," Davis said.

More Here

WV: Shooting Likely Self Defense


A 71-year-old St. Albans man told police he shot a 27-year-old man Tuesday when the younger man attacked him, according to a news release from the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office.

Kanawha County Metro 911 received a report about a shooting at about 11:15 a.m. at 421 Moses Street in St. Albans. Kanawha sheriff’s deputies responded and found a man who had been shot about a block away.

More Here

Saturday, January 21, 2017

NC: Home Invasion Gunfight, Homeowner and 2 Invaders Wounded



According to authorities, a 28-year-old resident said two men entered his home and shot him. He was apparently able to return fire and strike two men.

More Here

SC: Homeowner Shoots Fleeing Suspect



DARLINGTON COUNTY, SC (WMBF) – Two individuals breaking into a Hartsville home were surprised by the homeowner, who shot one of the suspects before law enforcement arrived and took the burglar into custody.
More Here

TX: Homeowner Fatally Shoots Intruder

The homeowner said he'd retrieved a gun and fired at the man who entered his home.

Paramedics declared the alleged intruder dead at the scene.
More Here

Followup LA: No Charges in Shooting of Seth Flores



According to Sheriff Randy Smith, Seth Flores showed up at the home of 24-year-old Shane Hicks and began jumping on and banging on Hicks’ vehicle. Hicks armed himself with a semi-automatic handgun and told Flores to leave his property.

(snip)

At this point in the investigation, no charges are being filed against Hicks. At the conclusion of the investigation, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office will turn their findings over the 22nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office for review.


More Here

Friday, January 20, 2017

"Brady" Urinal Screen at 2017 Shot Show




There is no a conspiracy to put Brady urinal filters in the urinals at gun culture events.  Just because they were at the Gun Rights Policy Conference held at the Sheraton Crescent Center in Glendale, Arizona in September, 2015, and at the Shot Show in Las Vegas in January, 2016, does not mean it is a conspiracy.  This year, in January, 2017, the Brady urinal screens were still in the bathrooms for the Shot Show.  The screens probably last for more than a year. It seems a bit ironic that the Brady brand is what the many thousands of Shot Show attendees are urinating on.

The urinal screens were all Bradys.  They do not seem to be associated with the gun hating Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, but with the legitimate Brady company that produces urinal bathroom products!

I am certain that some waggish member of the hotel staff did not order and place Brady urinal screens in the bathrooms merely to provoke smiles on the faces of Shot Show participants.  I am equally sure that no gun culture organization or individual did this as a subtle way of expressing disdain for those who wish ever more infringements on the Second Amendment.

It is highly likely that it is merely coincidence, statistical noise, nothing that actually means anything.  Really.  I am absolutely certain.

It is just one of those cosmic coincidences that make many smile and nod.


©2017 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.

Link to Gun Watch

AL: Elderly Father Shoots 38-Year-Old Son, Claims Self Defense

Police said Young was shot by his elderly father, who told investigators he was defending himself against a knife attack by his son.
The case will be presented to a grand jury, police said.

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TX:AR 15 type Rifle used to Defend Business, Wounded Person Appears at Hospital

olice say the employees detained two suspects, but two others drove off and fired shots at an employee.

That's when one of the employees fired back with an AR-15.

Police say that a man with a gunshot wound showed up at West Houston Medical Center 30 minutes after the attempted burglary.

It's not clear if that person was one of the suspects.
There were several shoes and electronics found in the vehicle at the gun range allegedly driven by one of the suspects, according to police.

More Here

GA: Gunfight with Homeowner, Vehicle Stolen, Gunfight with Deputies and Troopers



The GBI says the driver left the area, entered a home in Tyrone in neighboring Fayette County and was shot at by the homeowner. The man then stole the homeowner’s vehicle.

Fayette County deputies began chasing the man, and Coweta deputies and state troopers set up a roadblock at the Fayette/Coweta line, where the man wrecked the vehicle.

The GBI says the man got out of the vehicle and shot at officers, who returned fire. The man died from his injuries. No officers were injured.
More Here

GA: Alarm and Armed Neighbor Scare off Burglar

Dec. 29: Someone pried open the back door of a residence on Beecher Drive in the Guyton area. The thieves were scared off by a loud burglar alarm and by a neighbor who fired a shot into the air when he heard the alarm.

More Here

Taurus Spectrum .380 at Shot Show 2017


A pick for the "best" new product at the Shot Show is a highly subjective thing.  The item that most impressed me was at the Taurus booth.  It is the likely replacement for the Taurus 738 TCP, the Taurus Spectrum.

It seems that Taurus has not been able to keep up with demand for the 738. The 738 has an excellent reputation for reliability. It is small, easy to conceal, and
is in the popular .380 caliber.  I liked the ergonomics of the 738.  So why has Taurus introduced what appears to be a replacement for the 738?

First, a caution.  I have not shot the Spectrum. This is not a review, only my impressions from the Shot Show.  I only handled it and dry fired several specimens  on the Shot Show floor.  I am generally not impressed with multiple colors. However, it is easy to see how multiple color schemes can be a valuable marketing tool.

What impressed me about the Spectrum was the ergonomics, most particularly, the trigger. The trigger is a true double action only. Taurus says that each pull of the trigger cocks and releases the striker, allowing for multiple primer hits. The relatively wide trigger makes the pull feel much lighter than the listed 7-9 pounds.  I was reminded of the excellent double action triggers on some of the older Smith and Wesson revolvers.  The trigger is the same every time.  I believe that with the fixed barrel, the pistol has potential for excellent accuracy.



Taurus includes two magazines with the pistol, a six round and a seven round with a magazine extension.  The magazine extension has an innovative rebated pinky finger spot slightly back from the grip. Most magazine extensions angle the extension forward and down in front. This extension goes down and back.  It fit the hand very well. The frame of the pistol has slightly softened areas to reduce felt recoil.  The engineer in me suspects it will work as designed.  Even a small ability to dampen recoil will likely be noticeable in the very small, light, pistols.

The sights are fixed and large enough to be used.  If they are correctly regulated, they will be serviceable.

The minority of people who actually shoot much, and like to make the most of each pistol, would be a little better served with a simple adjustable sight, perhaps drift adjustable.  Most people are not going to be taking coyote at 40 yards with this sort of pistol. I know a couple of expert shots who have done it. The capability is likely there, if the sights can be made to work. Small pistols are often very accurate. It takes an accomplished, practiced shooter to get the most out of them.

Maybe, in later runs, arrangements could be made for a simple adjustable rear sight.

The pistol weighs 10 ounces unloaded.  It is slightly bigger and wider (.07 inches) than a Ruger LCP. Both are extremely small, concealable pistols.

The proof, of course, will be in the shooting. That will have to wait until production runs become available, probably sometime later this year.


©2017 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.

Link to Gun Watch











Thursday, January 19, 2017

Followup IL: Shooting of Dog was legal



WASHINGTON - A man who shot and killed his neighbor's dog Saturday exercised lawful deadly force, according to police, but the incident left the Rottweiler's owners shaken and upset.

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LA: Homeowner Shoots Suspect who was Acting "erratically"



SLIDELL - A Slidell homeowner shot and killed a man who was acting 'erratically' in his front yard early Monday morning, according to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office.

According to a spokesperson with the sheriff's office, deputies were sent to a home in the Ozone Woods subdivision shortly after midnight.

More Here

TN: Homeowner holds Drunk at Gunpoint


CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – A man who was believed to be committing a home invasion and held at gunpoint turned out to be confused and intoxicated.
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CT: Intruder Shot by Homeowner



NEW HAVEN — Police in New Haven are investigating after they said an intruder was shot by a homeowner at 199 Pine Street.

Police said the suspect, Jorge Ortiz, 26, address unknown, is alive, and they said he was shot in the shoulder. He was taken to Yale New Haven Hospital.
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MS: Homeowner Shoots Suspect, Police Investigate


Forest Police Chief Will Jones says an active investigation is underway after a homeowner shot a man outside of his house. Officers say the homeowner told them he didn't know the man and that he was burglar.

Advertisement "The homeowner found someone outside and were trying to determine what happened next." Said Chief Jones
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CT: Man Shoots at Fleeing Thief, is Arrested



“The gun owner tried to hold the perpetrator at gunpoint, but he fled on foot,’’ Capt. Brian Fitzgerald said Monday morning. “The gun owner fired at the perpetrator and struck him in the arm.

“The perpetrator was transported to Bridgeport Hospital and was charged with larceny,’’ the Bridgeport police captain said. “The gun owner was charged with assault first due to the circumstances surrounding the shooting.’’
More Here

More OH: Victim Wounded Home Invader, Bail set at $250,000


Police say the suspect forced their way into the Robinson's apartment, cornered Jessica in the kitchen and demanded cash.

The robbers took $1,000 in the Robinson's safe and wanted to go to their back bedrooms.

Jessica said that's where her two and seven-year-old's were sleeping.

Fearing for her kids, Jessica Robinson said she went for her gun that she keeps in her kitchen cabinet."I know there's a damn good chance we'd be dead right now if I hadn't grabbed my gun like I did," Robinson said. "My immediate life was in danger so I shot."
More Here

OH: Cleveland Gunfight, Victim Grazed, Home Invader Killed



Cleveland police report that on January 13th at around 11 p.m., a man went outside to the driveway of a home on Coath Avenue to get a cell phone charger from his car. He was approached by the suspect, who told him, at gunpoint, to go back inside the house.

Another man inside the home saw the victim walking towards the house with his hands held up in the air and shot at the suspect. The suspect fired back, grazing the original victim but not seriously injuring him.
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Shot Show: Kel-Tec Still at Max Capacity for PMR 30



Making a reliable .22 magnum semi-auto has always been a challenge in the industry.  Doing so with a pistol is even more difficult.  Kel-Tec has had the most successful design with their PMR 30.  The PMR 30 has been a success for several years now.  Kel-Tec is running at top production capacity of a thousand a month out the door.  A lot of people like the idea of a 30 shot, lightweight, .22 magnum pistol.  Quite a few like the significant muzzle flash and blast.

Reports from industry insiders at the show are that most reliability problems with the PMR 30 are with magazines.  That is not surprising.  After ammunition, magazines are the most common source of problems with semi-auto pistols generally. Find a magazine or two that work with your PMR 30 and you are good to go.

The PMR 30 has a bigger sister, the CMR 30 carbine. It has been on the market a year.  It is popular, but Kel-Tec is still working up to producing a thousand a month. My understanding is that they have not hit that production point yet. Update: Toby Obermeit, Chief Engineer at Kel-Tec, says they are producing about 200 a week, and hope to double that number. The CMR 30 uses the same magazines that the PMR 30 does.

Kel-Tec also holds a patent for a short, pistol sized 33 round straight magazine for .22 long rifle.  .22 long rifle semi-auto design is well understood and simple compared to the .22 magnum.  If the market slows down with a Trump administration, and less angst about legislation, we may see a 33 rd .22 LR offered by Kel-Tec. 



©2017 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.

Link to Gun Watch

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

SC: Owner of Club Assaulted, Attacker Shot

 Another case of mistaken victim identity. The victim was the owner being assaulted.

Officials say that’s when the 28-year-old man tried to get back into the club and began assaulting the 76 year old club owner at the door.
According to a release from the York County Sheriff’s Office the owner “produced a weapons during the assault and fatally shot the victim.”

More Here

FL: Show Gun, Threaten to Shoot; Get Shot


Preliminary investigation revealed that Henderson became involved in a dispute with another male subject at that location. During the argument, Henderson threatened to “shoot” the male subject, identified as 33 year old Jerome Reese of Bartow and displayed a handgun. Reese who was carrying a concealed firearm, produced his handgun and fired at Henderson. Henderson was incapacitated as a result, at which time Reese summoned police for assistance.
More Here

ID: First two Violent Deaths in Year may have been Self Defense


The first violent death of the year also occurred on the Fort Hall reservation. Heath “Petey” Dixey, 40, was fatally shot at his Cemetery Road residence on New Year's Day.

Fort Hall police said a family member shot Dixey in what might be a case of self-defense. The shooter was questioned by police and released after the incident pending the outcome of the investigation by Fort Hall police and the FBI.

The second violent death occurred Jan. 8 in Idaho Falls. Police were called to a shooting at an apartment in the 200 block of Moonlite Drive. A 34-year-old man shot and killed a 26-year-old man in what police said could be another case of self-defense.

More Here

AZ: One Homeowner Shoots, Another is Shot



The second shooting, an unrelated shooting to the first, police responded in the area of 31st Avenue and Buckeye Road at about 3 a.m.

Witnesses told police the victim heard a knock at his door and when he opened it, the suspect shot him.
More Here

Silencerco CEO Invited to Trump Inauguration


At the Shot Show Industry day at the range, I stopped at the busy Silencerco exhibit, range lanes.  I chatted with Matt Pinner, a public relations specialist for Silencerco.  I was working to obtain another interview with Josh Waldron, CEO of Silencerco and one of the founders of the American Suppressor Association (ASA). The ASA has had tremendous success in removing state legal barriers to Suppressor ownership and use in hunting.

Before the election, Josh had told me that Donald Trump's two oldest sons,Donald Jr., and Eric, had used Silencerco products. Silencerco was an early and vocal endorser of Donald Trump for President.  Matt was not sure if I would be able to obtain an interview with Josh Waldron.  The reason: on Friday, 13 January, Josh had received one of the coveted invitations to Donald Trump's inauguration as President of the United States. Josh had expected to spend more time at the Shot Show, but the Inauguration took precedence. From Silencerco's facebook page:
SilencerCo CEO Josh Waldron is honored to be a part of the momentous occasion of President-elect Donald J. Trump’s inauguration on January 20th. SilencerCo’s early and enthusiastic support of the incoming Republican administration is directly related to its ideological alignment with Josh’s and SilencerCo’s pro 2nd Amendment beliefs.
The Hearing Protection Act (HPA), which would remove the onerous provisions the the NFA from silencers, has been sponsored by the ASA.  Representative Matt Salmon from Arizona introduced it.  The act would change the status to silencers from an item treated much like a machine gun, to one treated as an ordinary rifle or shotgun.  The act is worded in a way to keep the status that much state legislation requires as being approved of by the federal government.  It is a smart move that is hard to argue against. Even the BATFE seems to approve, or at least, is unwilling to fight this legislation.

The HPA is getting a lot of attention.  For several weeks, it has been in the top ten of legislation that is being looked at over the Internet.

Does the invitation of Josh Waldron mean that the HPA will be a priority for the Trump administration?  At best, we can say that Silencerco is not being ignored.

The HPA could be a big win-win for a Trump administration.  It is highly popular legislation with virtually no down side. The only people who oppose it are ignorant Trump opponents, who would oppose him if he proposed cheap energy for all Americans, with scientific and engineering studies to back it up.

Josh Waldron.  Invited to the Trump inauguration.  Have a great time Josh.  I hope to interview you about it in the future.

©2017 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.

Link to Gun Watch



Tuesday, January 17, 2017

OH: Craigslist to Attempted Robbery to Gunfight to Hospital



Ronald Henderson, 18, went to a Brushmore Avenue Northwest home in Plain Township on Thursday afternoon to purchase a cellphone from a 57-year-old man who lived there.

Deputies reported that the two quarreled, Henderson grew agitated, assaulted the man and attempted to rob him at gunpoint.

The homeowner responded by drawing his own gun and shooting Henderson. The home­owner suffered wounds that were not life-threatening, authorities said.

More Here

More Folowup IA: Elmers Justified in Shooting Anthony



Eimers returned fire, killing Anthony. Eimers was shot multiple times during the encounter and was later treated and released from University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

Bremer County Sheriff Dan Pickett says Eimers appears to have been justified in self-defense in shooting Anthony, who lived in Davenport, and doesn’t anticipate any changes.
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OR: Woman Fires Shot after Man Breaks Door. Man Leaves



Sheriff's deputies were searching Saturday for the man, who is believed to be Louis Jarvis Jr., 40. A sheriff's news release says Jarvis is involved in a child custody dispute with the woman, who lives in an apartment complex at 12070 S.W. Fischer Road. Jarvis has never lived at the apartment, the release says.

Deputies, called to the apartment shortly after 2 a.m., found the front door had been kicked in.

The woman told deputies the man left after she fired a gunshot .

Deputies also found three windows of the woman's vehicle had been smashed.


More Here

AZ: Man Shoots Tresspasser who Attacked Him



Police said witnesses saw a fight involving three men before hearing a shot that was fired.

In their investigation, police learned the person who was shot, a man, had been asked to leave the property by the homeowner. The homeowner was then assaulted by the individual, and during the assault the homeowner opened fire.


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NY: Gun Beats Ice Pick in New York Taxi



Gates, N.Y. (WHAM) - A Rochester taxi driver says he was forced to pull a gun to protect him from a passenger who tried to attack him with an ice pick.

"I believe she would have killed me had if i had been close enough to her," said Collin Green, the man who drove the taxi.
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IN: Armed Woman Uses Gunfire to Scare off Burglary Suspects



EVANSVILLE, IN (WFIE) -

An Evansville homeowner fired her gun to scare off a pair of would-be burglars.

It happened around noon Thursday at a home on Burdette Ave.

Police told our crew at the scene that the homeowner caught two people trying to break into her garage and warned them that she was going to fire shots if they didn't leave.

When they didn't leave, the homeowner fired a warning shot and the suspects took off running.

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Shot Show Industry Day at the Range 2017



The Industry Day at the Range is only open to media by invitation. I have been fortunate to be able to attend the last three or four.  It seemed that attendance was down a bit this year from last.

The weather was nicer last year, warmer, but both years had a bit of a breeze.

It is always interesting to see the latest tech that is being offered.  I have found that taking the shuttle bus from the Palazzo is worth while.  Parking is limited at the Boulder Rifle and Pistol Club, which generously allows use of its facilities for the Industry Day at the Range.  There were several hundred attendees, but I did not do a count.

I bumped into Dave Workman, always a pleasure, and Brian Johnson from Ammoland in line, waiting for the shuttle.  Right behind us was a group of three Canadian media people who had to go through a few hoops because they were digitally oriented. That is, all their "paperwork" was digital. Fortunately, one of them had brought a business card.  The Shot Show is serious about who is allowed at their events.

I got into  a friendly conversation with the Canadians.  In my attempt to aid international relations, I allowed as how Prime Minister Trudeau must have some redeeming qualities.  I mentioned that he was generous to a fault; the Canadians noted that it was with other people's money. I mentioned that he was considered attractive; they countered that the women's vote was the only reason he was in office.

I said that he showed a great love for Cuba. They said that Canada had wonderful relations with Cuba, and that Cuba did not have anything they needed.

In spite of my ham-handed attempt to smooth U.S. Canadian relations, the Canadians attending the Industry Day at the range were friendly and positive. They seemed to prefer a loosening of some of the Canadian regulations. They did not think the Prime Minister Trudeau would be in office for an extended length of service.

I heard something about "hoping we do not get too deeply in debt" or some such.

I have been hearing similar things for the last eight years South of the Canadian border.

I suggested that a relaxation of border crossings, for Americans with firearms should be included in new NAFTA talks.  I would be glad to extend the favor to Canadians crossing to the South, or into Alaska. Surely something can be worked out for International reciprocity...

I stopped at the KRISS booth. They had a number of interesting product, including a full auto pistol caliber carbine.  It was interesting to shoot.


The placement of the selector switch is inches forward of the trigger finger, requiring a some shifting of position to work the switch.  The optical sight made hits easy to make. Even on full auto the recoil did not shift the sight picture very much.

Written from the Press Room at the Shot Show. The Show opens tomorrow. 



©2017 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.

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