Book Review: Nunaga - Ten Years of Eskimo Life

Nunaga: Ten Years of Eskimo Life by Duncan Pryde 285 pages, 1971, Walker Publishing Company, Inc. New York, 1972 American edition. 

Nunaga is extremely well written, a riveting story of a young man from Scotland who goes to Canada. He answers an ad for fur traders by the Hudson Bay Company.

In 1955, an eighteen year old Duncan Pryde was seeking fortune and adventure. He found both, and earned a reputation for genius with the Eskimo language. He lived the Eskimo life for years, becoming adept at survival in the arctic with dogsled, snow knife, rifle and harpoon, using Eskimo techniques. He fathered children with Eskimo women as part of Eskimo nomadic wife culture. The original version of the book is said to have been cut back considerably because of too much sexuality.

This correspondent does not recall exactly when he first read Nunaga. It was decades ago.  The book includes an episode where Duncan Pryde shoots a polar bear, at very close quarters, in defense. He used a Savage model 99 in 250/3000 caliber, as I recall.  

Studies of defenses against bears have come to occupy this correspondent's time. A copy of Nunaga was obtained to evaluate the polar bear shooting. It was worth the time to determine if the event was included in the Polar Bear/Human Information Management System (PBHIMS), obtained by AmmoLand with a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. The PBHIMS was created with taxpayer dollars to gain understanding of polar bear and human interactions, including conflicts in the Arctic. This famous event, from a credible source in a very popular and widespread title, was somehow missed.

After nearly dying in a canoe trip along a icebound shoreline, Duncan and his companion find a narrow access to shore in a dense fog. With great risk, they mange to enter and find a safe, but small beach.  There is a steep, but climbable access to get off the beach. Duncan's companion goes up to see if he can observe  a Dew Line outpost they had spotted earlier. Duncan decided to stay on the beach in a tent.  Some time later, Duncan hears a sound. He thinks it is his companion. He speaks, then yells, expecting to be answered. He looks out of the tent, to see a large polar bear six feet away, next to the canoe. The polar bear sees him.  Here is how Duncan Pryde described the event p. 264: 

It pawed at the ground and I pawed at the inside of the tent, trying to locate my rifle.  Finally my hand closed over it and I eased my shoulder back inside the tent so I could get both hands on the gun. I levered a cartridge into the chamber, and in the silence between me and the bear, the click was the loudest sound in the world.

The bear turned toward me and reared up. I still wasn't sure what it would do, but it was so close if it decided to come my way, there would be little time for me to do anything. I swung the rifle up and fired. I shot it right through the heart with a .250/3000, and it flopped over against the canoe with a high pitched scream like a woman's.

Nunaga is an epic biography of real life high adventure in the arctic, as it transitioned from dogsled to snowmobile. Duncan eventually was elected to the Northwest Territories council, as representative for the Eskimo's in the area, from 1966 to 1970. Nunaga is full of Duncan Pryde's ten years in Eskimo culture. It is foundational reading for anyone attempting to understand what has happened in the Canadian arctic. He is remembered as the foremost expert on the Eskimo language, pronunciation, and grammar. 

One of the things this writer found of interest, is Duncan Pryde's evaluation of accounts by Farley Mowat, the widely debunked author of the fraudulent work: Never Cry Wolf. Pryde mentions Mowat on page 33: 

When Farley Mowat claims in his books and articles that he went to the Arctic and in a matter of a month or two was able to speak a basic form of Eskimo and discuss shamanism and religion, I just can't believe him.  I know that when he came to Baker Lake he didn't communicate at all in Eskimo.

It was another data point about the lack of credibility of Farley Mowat, who  said, "I never let facts get in the way of a good story."

Duncan Pryde has plenty of credibility. His credentials are legion. Pryde joins with numerous others who have impeccable reputations, to point out exaggerations and fabrications published by Mowat. 

If you are interested in fact and real life Arctic adventure, Nunaga is a fascinating read.

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

Gun Watch

CA: Grand Terrace Residence Shoots at Three Intruders, 1 Dead, 1 Wounded, 1 Arrested

SUMMARY: 
On Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at about 9:18 p.m., Grand Terrace deputies responded to a residence in the 23000 block of Grand Terrace Road, in Grand Terrace.  The victim reported approximately three suspects broke into his home and he armed himself with a firearm.  In fear for his safety and in self-defense, the victim fired rounds at the suspects and the suspects fled the location in a white sedan.

At approximately 9:28 p.m., Loma Linda deputies responded to the 76 Gas Station on Redlands Boulevard, in Loma Linda, for the report of a man who had been shot and was laying on the ground, accompanied by a 15-year-old male juvenile.  Deputies detained the juvenile, and the adult male was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced deceased.  Through investigation, deputies determined the decedent, and the juvenile were involved in the residential robbery.  

Later, at about 10:05 p.m., the San Bernardino Police Department responded to another hospital where the third suspect, identified as Marquez Jackson, was receiving treatment for a gunshot wound. Jackson underwent surgery for his injuries and remains hospitalized.  Jackson  will be booked for robbery and murder upon his discharge from the hospital.  

The Sheriff’s Specialized Investigations Division – Homicide Detail also responded and assumed the investigation.  The juvenile was also arrested for robbery and murder and booked in at Juvenile Hall.  

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MS: Jackson Gunfight with Car Burglars, Victim and Burglar Wounded

Detective Tommie Brown said the son of the 28-year-old resident went outside to walk his dog. The resident followed his son and noticed four individuals inside his vehicle.

Brown said gunfire was exchanged between the resident and the suspects. The resident was shot once and is expected to be okay.

According to Brown, an individual later arrived at the hospital with three gunshot wounds. The individual is believed to be one of the suspects.

 

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FL: Lake City Domestic Defense, Langston Sykes Breaks into Home, is Shot, Killed

Lake City Police Department officers say they found a 31-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound at a home on Southwest Leslie Glen around 11 p.m. Friends and family identified the man on social media as Langston Sykes, aka Lanko. He was an MMA fighter with the ring name “Blaze.”

Officers say he broke into the home while multiple people, including children, were inside. Friends and family say his ex-wife and children lived there.

When the man rushed toward the victims, officers say another adult fired multiple shots.

 

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Franklin Armory 2025 Shot Show: Binary 1022 Trigger, Pistol, Rifle

Image of 22-EZ 

At the 2025 Shot Show, the Franklin Armory booth was displaying new products. The 22-EZ binary trigger group for Ruger 10/22 type rifles, pistols, and the Franklin Armory 10/22 type pistol and rifle, with the trigger group installed, caught my attention. Binary triggers offer an interesting choice for a fire control system. They offer the selection of a controlled rate of fire above the ordinary pull or release trigger while retaining the usual mode.

Franklin Armory patented the binary trigger. The reasoning was simple: triggers which functioned by pulling the trigger for a single shot were clearly legal. Triggers which functioned as a release trigger, by releasing the trigger for a single shot were clearly legal. Therefore a trigger which fired once by pulling the trigger, and once by releasing the trigger had to be legal. A Franklin Armory employee at the booth said the ATF admitted binary triggers were legal.

The binary trigger group offered by Franklin Armory for 10/22 type firearms is a sophisticated example of engineering. The beauty of the product is very little or no fitting is required. All the critical areas are in the trigger group and have been done in the manufacturing process. The binary 22-EZ trigger group for 10/22 type firearms is listed at $369.99.

When the lever is pointing to the back, the selector is on safe.  When the lever is pointing straight down, the selector is in the normal, semi-auto pull trigger, one shot mode. When the lever is pointing forward, the trigger is in binary mode. It will fire one shot when pulled and one shot when released. An important point is: the user can exit binary mode or semi-auto mode when desired. If the trigger is pulled and a shot fired, but the trigger is not released, the selector can be moved to semi-auto and the trigger will not fire when released.

Image of FR 22 Pistol showing lever

A binary trigger can be used to attain a significant rate of fire. Extremely fast shooters, such as Jerry Miculek can fire eight shots from a revolver in under a second. Because the timers start with the first shot, that rate of fire is about 420 shots per minute. Most people, shooting as fast as they can, can shoot four shots from a semi-auto in a second. A binary trigger would double that rate to about eight shots per second, or 480 shots per minute. This is at the low end of most full auto firearms. Here is a video from Franklin Armory which shows the binary trigger in use.

Shooting firearms with a high rate of fire can be fun at the range. In practical matters, full auto is a specialized tool. A shooter can burn through a lot of ammunition and money very quickly. This is where a binary trigger on a .22 rimfire makes sense. .22 Rimfire is the cheapest and most common ammunition on the planet. At the 2025 Shot Show, Franklin Armory showed two rimfire .22 firearms which will be on the market soon. Both are 10/22 type firearms. Pistol and rifle versions will be available. Both were shown at the Shot Show. The  F22™ Pistol has an eight inch barrel and a pistol brace. It uses an SB Tactical Chassis and an SB Tactical 1913 brace.  The barrel is threaded 1/2-28, which is standard for .22 caliber firearms.

 

The F22™ Rifle has a Hogue® OverMolded™ stock, an extended magazine release, and an enhanced firing pin.

The price listed for the F22™ Rifle is $809.99.

Besides fun at the range, the binary trigger may offer practical self defense possibilities. Ammunition is inexpensive enough that considerable practice is affordable. Practice would be essential to become proficient with the binary trigger. Effective use of the binary trigger could be a difficult transition for those whose trigger finger reflexes have been ingrained with decades of experience. The easiest transition might be firing two shots together, with a simple pull and release of the trigger, instead of only one shot.

For indoor use, the .22 rimfire offers a much lower sound signature and muzzle flash than most centerfire cartridges. Using high grade .22 rimfire cartridges, such as the CCI Velocitor or the Aguilla Interceptor would give 2 shot energy close to the energy of a single shot standard 9mm out of a pistol.

For hundreds of years, flintlock ignition was considered adequate, with first round failures in the 10-25% range. The percussion ignition system was found to be 26 times as reliable in British Board of Ordinance trials in 1832.  The failure rate of percussion ignition was about .5% or one failure for two hundred shots. Repriming a percussion arm is  a bit faster and simpler than repriming a flintlock.

Quality .22 rimfire, in a quality rifle or pistol, has achieved failure rates of 1 for several thousand rounds. It may not be as reliable as centerfire, but quality ammunition is reasonably reliable. Most failures of .22 rimfire are ignition failures. A quick pull and release of the charging handle on a semi-auto usually clears the malfunction.

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

Gun Watch

VA: Newport News Armed Samaritan in Gunfight with Two Robbers

“Two males came inside the store and demanded money from my employee. They went behind the counter,” said the manager. 

The employees were held at gunpoint. The one in red runs behind the counter, and the man in black starts to fill his pockets and bags with cash. 

Suddenly, a third man comes from the drink refrigerators and starts shooting. 

“He saw both males were behind the counter, demanding the money [from] my clerk and not sure who started fighting first. But they start fighting each other,” said the manager. 

 

The manager says 10 to 20 shots went off. And the aftermath is shattered glass countertops and a bullet hole in a drink fridge. 

 

“And after that, just the other two persons left, and then the third person left,” said the manager. 

 

The man in black tried to leave, but the third man ran after him, punched him, and took his gun. Due to his injuries, the man in black is seen on footage lying outside the market’s front doors. He was found by officers and taken to a hospital in critical condition.

 

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LA:Shreveport Gunfight on Buckelew Street, No One Hit

Shots rang out on Tuesday and a man came out of his house to find his car riddled with bullet holes. While the man was trying to figure out what happened he saw Jackie Hightower come out of his house with a gun and started shooting again in the man's direction.

The unnamed man ran in to his house to get his gun. When he came back out he saw Hightower aim the gun at him and he demanded that Hightower stop shooting. The man then fired a single shot at Hightower and Hightower went back in his house.

Shreveport Police were called and were able to get Hightower out of the house with few issues and he was placed under arrest. Hightower is behind bars for these charges:

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TX: Laredo Gun and Knife Fight, Both Wounded, Both Arrested

Monday night, March 3, around 10:00 p.m., the Laredo Police Department responded to a call about a stabbing at the 3000 block of San Eduardo Ave.

When officers arrived, they found out that several people were involved in a fight, and shots had been fired. Police later identified one of the men as Jorge Diaz Jr., 21, who had gunshot wounds but his injuries were not life-threatening.

Police said the investigation revealed that Diaz Jr. tried to slash the tires of a car owned by Allias Alejandro Briones, 23. According to police, when Briones confronted Diaz Jr., he showed a knife. Briones then pulled out a gun. A third person stepped in between the two, but Diaz Jr. reached over and stabbed Briones twice in the shoulder and chest.

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80 Years of Wisconsin Deer Hunting

 

Bob Ringstad at his Wisconsin home since 1953. 

Bob Ringstad never missed hunting deer in Wisconsin for 80 consecutive deer seasons, from 1945 to 2024.

This correspondent became friends with Bob Ringstad a few years ago. At 92 he is intellectually very sharp. His knowledge of history and North American archeology is impressive. His knowledge of hunting and firearms, accumulated over eight decades, is marvelous.

This correspondent has talked with Bob a number of times and interviewed him about his long hunting experience in the Wisconsin deer habitat of the North Woods.

Bob's father was a veteran of WWI and the first state forester in the North District of Wisconsin. At a point in his career, he shared an office at the ranger station in Ladysmith, Wisconsin, with the district game warden. The game warden confiscated many guns. Accountability was less formal in those days. The Warden's boss in Madison told him he did not want inexpensive guns to be shipped to the headquarters in Madison. He told the Warden: If the gun is worth less than $15, just break off the stock and throw the rest in the trash. $15 in 1945 would be worth $250 - $1,800 today, depending on the method of calculation.

If you are a thrifty person, this would be a difficult assignment.  It might have been borderline illegal, as a waste of official resources. Guns tended to accumulate in the office. Bob's father asked the Warden what he was going to do with all the guns cluttering up the office they shared. Bob was with his father at the time. Bob was 12 years old.

The Warden said: How many do you want? You can have them all! Bob chimed in: I'll take them! His father said: No, no, and no! The Warden said a deal is a deal. The compromise was Bob took home a lever action model 94 Winchester in .30-30.

The year was 1945. Bob shot his first deer, a forkhorn buck, that deer season. His father beamed with pride.

A few years later, Bob wounded a buck in the morning and followed the blood trail for miles, nearly all day. As sundown approached, Bob came across a master hunter and woodsman, Louie Surley. Surley asked him: What are you doing, kid?

Bob replied: "Following a wounded buck."

Louie replied: You are late. The buck went through here about 3 p.m. Louie took him back to his camp and sent him home. He told Bob: Come back before 8 a.m.  I will show you where the deer went, and we will get him.

It snowed 8 inches that night. Louie knew the swampy area the buck was headed for. With 8 inches of fresh snow, they never found the deer. Louie became Bob's deer hunting mentor, as he had with several young hunters in the area.

Bob married at 20. His wife, Joan, was 19. Bob was running raccoons at night on the weekends with a pack of dogs. They had rented a house in town. When the moon came up, the hounds would bark and howl. Bob was working in Minnesota. Joan got the complaints. Joan told Bob the dogs had to go. Bob said he would find a solution.

Bob mentioned the problem to a friend. The friend knew an older couple who were thinking about selling their farm and moving into town. After a 65 hour week's work in Minnesota, Bob knocked on the farmhouse door, about suppertime on a Friday night.

He purchased the 80 acres and farm, for $7000 in 1953. He borrowed the money from a credit union.  He could have had another 40 wooded acres for $200. He decided to take a tractor instead.  He lives in the farmhouse on the farm today.

Bob always took deer season off from work. He was a highly skilled large crane operator, in demand. In 1960, he was hired by the firm he was with for 20 years. When he was hired, the agreement was, with the owner, he would always take off deer season.

Several times, the owner's sons tried to push him to work during deer season. He always told them no. Once, he understood he was fired, so he applied for unemployment after deer season. The owner called him and said: What is going on?  When Bob explained the situation, the owner told him: Get back in here, and get back to work!

The evening before the start of the 2024 Wisconsin deer season, Bob was considering which rifle to use. His son suggested Bob use Bob's left handed Savage model 110 chambered in .243. Bob had used the rifle effectively for many years. Bob looked and looked for ammunition. He found ammunition for other rifles but not the .243. Bob went to his reloading set-up and reloaded five rounds of .243, using one of his favorite recipes for the rifle. He finished before midnight. In the morning, from a stand on his farm, he shot a buck between 300 and 325 yards away. It took one shot. This correspondent told him he has enough ammunition for another four deer seasons.

Bob estimates he shot 40-50 deer during his 80 Wisconsin deer seasons, all of them bucks. He says he could have shot many more deer, but limited himself to bucks with noticeable antlers.

Bob is a marvelous friend with a keen intellect. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of many subjects. He lives alone in his house, but actively mentors some of the neighbor children. He is an active supporter of the Second Amendment. He is often on the Internet, running a Linux system computer set-up, or talking to people on other continents with his HAM radio. He could easily shoot four more bucks in another four deer seasons, with the ever reliable and accurate Savage 110  chambered in .243.

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

Gun Watch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AL: Security Guard Shoots Bingo Hall Employee, no Arrest

The sheriff's office said preliminary investigation revealed that the verbal altercation between the two men led to the security guard firing at the employee, who was struck.

The sheriff's office said the security guard remained at the scene and was cooperative with deputies.

There have been no arrests or charges filed in the case and it is still under investigation.

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MN: Bill to legalize Eating Beaver

 

National Park Service image, public domain

 

According to the startribune.com, about five months ago, the Minnesota House-Senate conference committee inserted a ban on eating beaver into the 2024 omnibus environment and natural resources bill. The ban only applies to nuisance beavers which are taken because they are doing damage. Beaver which are taken as part of the normal trapping season may legally be consumed by humans.

Landowners who have beavers which are doing damage to their property do not need a permit to take beavers to stop the damage. From dnr.state.min.us:

You can take some animals which are normally protected by Minnesota Statute without a license or permit if they are doing damage. If you are the landowner, manager or occupant of the property where the animal is causing damage, you can take the following animals.

The list includes beavers. State Senator Grant Hauschild has introduced a bill to rectify the beaver eating ban, which has become the subject of considerable humor and jokes across the country. From kstp.com:

A bill introduced by DFL State Senator Grant Hauschild aims to answer at least one of those questions by once again allowing Minnesotans to eat any nuisance beavers they killed.

Here is the proposed legislation. The only change noticed by this correspondent is the proposed removal of the prohibition on human consumption of beaver at the end of the bill.

S.F. No. 811

From mn.gov (bold added):

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.667, subdivision 3, is amended to read: Subd. 3.  Permits and notice; requirements. (a) Before killing or arranging to kill a  beaver under this section, the road authority or government unit must contact a conservation  officer for a special beaver permit if the beaver will be killed within two weeks before or  after the trapping season for beaver, and the conservation officer must issue the permit for  any beaver subject to this section. A permit is not required:

(1) for a licensed trapper during the open trapping season for beaver; or

(2) when the trapping season for beaver is closed and it is not within two weeks before  or after the trapping season for beaver.

(b) A road authority or government unit that kills or arranges to have killed a beaver  under this section must notify a conservation officer or employee of the Fish and Wildlife  Division within ten days after the animal is killed.

(c) Unless otherwise directed by a conservation officer, the road authority, local  government unit, the landowner, or their agent may dispose of or retain beaver killed under  this section. Human consumption of a retained beaver is prohibited.

In the change proposed for 2025, the prohibition on eating beaver (bold lettering) would be removed.

Analysis:

This is another situation where language was slipped into a large bill without a good explanation. It doesn't seem any single person is willing to take responsibility for placing the offending language in the omnibus bill.  A similar case occurred in Wisconsin in 1999. An administrative change was put into the law, which made it illegal to possess a firearm on or near the waters of the state. It took 25 years for the absurd provision to be noted and removed from the Wisconsin administrative code.

 

 

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

Gun Watch

 

 

 

 

NC: Charlotte Gunfight with Security at Club

Around 2 a.m., officers responded to ‘Flirt’ on the 4800 block of Wilkinson Blvd about an assault with a deadly weapon. When they arrived, they found a man with a gunshot wound. He was taken to a local hospital where he died of his injuries.

Police say the victim got into an altercation with armed security when he was shot. According to the report, the shooting was justified.

 

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WI: Detailed Update on 2022 Bear Attack/Home Invasion

250 lb black bear where it was shot. Chad came around the corner nearest the bear's head.

 

On May 20, 2022, Chad and Lacey Liske were getting ready for bed in their home near Medford, Wisconsin. Part of their routine was to take down their bird feeder, to prevent damage by bears. Their home was invaded and they were attacked by a 250 lb black bear. The incident was initially reported about on AmmoLand on May 23, 2022. The Liske's contacted AmmoLand with a detailed account this year.  Their account is consistent with the AmmoLand report, but includes many interesting details not available at the time. The Liskes had three children at home during the fight. Their account, with a few editorial inclusions for clarity, including pictures from the Liskes, is presented below:

From Chad and Lacey Liske:

On Friday, May 20, 2022 at about 11:00 PM my wife and I were finishing watching a TV show and about to begin our routine before bed. That routine consisted of taking our two dogs out for one last potty break and bringing in the bird feeder for the night. The bird feeder is located about 14 feet away from our living room window. About two weeks prior to this incident our bird feeder was taken down by a bear sometime during the night. Because of that visit, we had been bringing the bird feeder in nightly.

This night was slightly different as we usually go to bed at about 10:00 – 10:30 PM but it was Friday and we were up a little later. After I turned the TV off and was just about to get up off the couch, I heard some metal clanking sounds that I believed to be the bird feeder. I looked out the front window but could not see anything. I went to the front door and turned on the outside light and opened the door to peek out toward the bird feeder location. At first, I could not see anything but then I saw the red colored feeder moving around. I assumed there was a bear at the feeder. I closed the door and started walking towards the living room where my wife said she saw the bear. She said, "I can scare it." She walked to the living window and slid the lower portion of the double hung window all the way up. She yelled at the bear to startle it away. At the same time, I was walking into the living room, I looked towards the front window, as I got closer, and as my wife yelled, I saw a flash of black run off towards the woods. Turns out the bear that ran off was a juvenile bear. The next thing I saw as I was standing next to the window near my wife was a bear head burst through the screen on the window. The window is four feet off the ground and about 24” x 30” at the open portion of the window. The bear did not stop at just poking its head through but instantly crawled its way into the living room. My wife had stepped back and I was instantly confronted by the bear. My wife had cleared away and I was in a fight with the bear as it stood up on its hind legs. I recall the bear being about the same height as, me as we were face to face during the battle. My wife was shouting out, “what do we do?” and I yelled out, “get a gun!"

 

Window where bear busted the screen to break into house.

Right away my mind jumped to protecting my wife and kids at all costs. I made the decision to grab the lower jaw of the bear’s open mouth with my right hand. I believed that if I could control the head, I could control the body of the bear. I recall the bear biting down on my right hand and I could hear a crunching sound. I continued wrestling with the bear in the living room area of our house. 

My wife started to go and get a gun from the safe in our bedroom closet but stopped as she believed I had my concealed handgun on my hip and she needed to get it from me. She turned around and saw me on the floor with the bear on top of me and saw that I was in my blue colored pajamas already for the night, recognizing that my gun was not on my hip. My wife realized again she needed to head to the bedroom to get a gun and started heading that way. I do not recall how we fell to the floor or even how I got back up off the floor, but remembered thinking being on the ground for a fight was the worst place to be, especially when you are on the bottom. I recall being back up standing, struggling with the bear near our deck sliding door and my wife yelling out that she could not remember the code to get into the safe to get a gun. I yelled out the code to her over and over as I fought with the bear.

(The pistol was a Sig P320 X-Carry 9mm, loaded with Federal HST 147 grain cartridges, in a dedicated, small handgun safe, editor)

 Chad's right hand was damaged in the fight with the bear.

My wife came to the realization that in the panic of the moment she could not remember the code and as she recalls, she only heard part of the code I was shouting. She knew she would not be able to get a gun so she made the decision to grab what she knows best, her knives. She ran to the kitchen and grabbed out two knives from the knife block on the counter. Without even thinking about which knives she grabbed, she ended up with the 8” Wusthof chef’s knife and the large Wusthof carving knife.

 

Knives Lacy used to combat the bear.

Then my wife grabbed her knives she headed toward the bear and me. The bear had its left side toward the kitchen and my wife as we were standing, still in a struggle. My wife came up to the side of the bear and hesitated, saying, "I'm afraid if I stab it, it will hurt you worse". I remember yelling to her, “just do it!” My wife raised the chef’s knife that was in her left hand and forcefully struck the bear in the left side of its body. She sunk the knife about 3 – 4” into the bear’s side and must have struck bone as the tip of the knife was bent. 

My wife stabbing the bear caused the bear to release me and I instantly ran towards the bedroom closet to get my 9mm handgun from the safe. I panicked as I knew my wife was now alone in the room with an injured bear and I knew what I had just endured and I needed to get back in a hurry. 

Right after my wife stabbed the bear, the bear turned and made a quick, reactive bite to her right forearm. Fortunately, the bear released right away and started moving around the outer perimeter of the dining room and kitchen as it worked its way toward the hallway that I had just ran down. My wife stood in the middle of the room with both knives still in hand, ready, and watching as the bear kept its distance from her.

As I ran back towards the last spot I knew the bear to be, the dining/kitchen area, I rounded the corner of the hall and was met instantly by the bear as it was heading my way. Using my left hand, I was able to point the gun at the bears head and fire one round as the bear was about 1– 2 feet from me. The bullet hit its mark and the bear instantly dropped to the floor, dead.

Chad had the Sig in his left hand, because of the wound in his right hand. He has always been able to shoot well with either hand. Chad started shooting at a young age, hunting alone at the age of 12, in northern Wisconsin. He had 20 years experience in law enforcement at the time of this incident. (editor)

 

 

My wife was able to collect herself and called 9-1-1 to report what had just happened and request an ambulance for our injuries as well as law enforcement. While her call connected with the 9-1-1 Dispatch, she could hear them, but they could not hear anything she had reported. I called 9-1-1 from my cell phone and reported a shortened version of what happened as I thought they had more information from my wife’s call. I also asked for law enforcement and an ambulance.

 

Chad in hospital.

We were transported by ambulance and received treatment from our local hospital and were released in the morning to return home. 

We are grateful that our injuries are minor compared to what they could have been. My wife received a bite to her right forearm. I received bites to my right hand, right bicep, left forearm, left shoulder/back area and various scratches. I also received a minor laceration to the left side of my head at some point throughout the struggle.

We are also extremely grateful that 3 of our children were in bed sleeping at the time, while one was away for the night at a friend’s house. Our youngest child, whose bedroom was just down the hall from the gunshot, woke up and yelled for me after the incident. I went to her room and told her everything was alright and to go back to sleep, which she did. Our other two children that were home remained sleeping the entire time and did not awaken until family arrived to take them from the home for the night.

Even though we endured this terrifying incident, we feel that God was truly watching over our family and protecting us in many ways. We are so thankful for our family, friends, and coworkers who helped us with everything after the incident, for all the prayers from our community and for the EMS, hospital staff, Taylor County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources staff.

The bear was checked for rabies. It was not infected. The bullet fired by Chad appears to have gone through the brainstem and out the head into the neck, via the spinal column.  The head was removed to check for rabies. The body was sent to a taxidermist. When queried, neither was able to find the bullet. It may have fallen out of the neck after the head was separated from the body.

The Liskes fared better than Patrice Miller. Miller was killed in her California home by an invading black bear. Miller did not have a gun, even though the bear had attempted to break in many times previously.

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

Gun Watch

 

 

AL: Domestic Defense in Ohatchee, Gunfire and Vehicle Ramming

In an altercation that occurred on Six Foot Road on Saturday, Donald Nicholas Hughes, known as Nick, and Cassie King were arrested after a heated confrontation that involved ramming vehicles and gunfire. According to Moses, it was reported that the couple was involved in a significant disturbance where King is said to have rammed Hughes’ truck while he was inside.

The situation further intensified when Hughes reportedly pulled a firearm and fired multiple shots at King’s truck as she attempted to leave, with a passenger also present in the vehicle, Moses said.

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GA: Atlanta Gunfight, Disgruntled Employee Shoots Owner, Son Shoots Attacker

Late Thursday afternoon, Atlanta police said two victims were shot at J.M.R. New & Used Tires at 2995 Jonesboro Road SE.

Investigators said three people were involved in the incident: the owner of the tire shop, his son and a third person.

They confirmed the owner and the third person were killed in what appears to have been a disgruntled employee situation.

Police said an employee shot and killed the owner before the owner’s son fatally shot the employee.

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OH: Canton Man Wounded in Gunfight

Police officers applied two tourniquets to the victim's leg after he was found lying in the middle of the street in the 400 block of McGregor SW. A handgun was found next to him.

They were notified at 11:09 p.m. about the shooting, which reportedly occurred nearby in the 400 block of Collins Court NW.

Another man told police he fired at the victim after gunfire toward his sister.

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BLM Ranges near Phoenix: Steel Targets Only?

On January 4, 2025, President Joe Biden signed H.R. 6492, also known as the Explore Act. The Act contains H.R. 1614, the previous Range Access Act. The act, as passed, requires bureaucrats in the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the United States Forest Service (USFS) to consider the establishment of a target shooting range in each National Forest district or Bureau of Land Management (BLM) district.  This is not a difficult requirement. In Arizona, there are only four BLM districts. Each district is much larger than some of the smaller eastern states.  BLM recently constructed three shooting ranges north of Phoenix, Arizona.

The experience of long term desert shooters with the building of three ranges on BLM land north of Phoenix is a cautionary tale.  A significant amount of money was spent to build well designed ranges which have minimal utility. The only shooting allowed at the ranges is shooting at steel targets at fixed distances, mostly at long ranges.  No shooters are allowed to go down range.  The only targets which may be used are the steel targets provided, at the fixed ranges provided. The steel targets are painted once a week. This does not appear to be the original plan put forward by stakeholders when they met with BLM planners, prior to the construction of the ranges.

Here is a slide show/video supplied by Tony Urso showing what uses experienced desert shooters expect of a range open to the public. The show is about 11 minutes long. It is very well done.

 

The use of steel targets in fixed positions, along with the prohibition against shooters from going down range in front of the firing line at any time prevents many normal and expected uses of public ranges.  Chronographs are generally not usable, because most need to be placed ahead of the firing line. Shooting at close targets, under 25 yards is not possible. Shooting to test ammunition/firearms for accuracy is extremely limited, because a shooter cannot determine where they hit the target with precision.  Shooting to sight in a rifle or pistol is virtually impossible for the same reason. 

Steel targets were chosen as a method to prevent people from going downrange. From the blm.gov/blog: 

Because the sites are operated as self-service shooting facilities, they need special management to ensure public and staff safety. Each of the sites has steel targets installed to prevent visitors from going downrange to place their own targets.

Shooters are not allowed to paint the provided steel targets. 

Here is a video presentation from the Bureau of Land Management showing how the targets are made. It show a glimpse of the BLM ranges north of Phoenix.

 

Tony Urso noted that when these ranges were opened, about 4000 acres of land which was suitable for recreational shooting, adjacent to the now official ranges, were closed to the public as a "safety measure".  Local managers have the authority to regulate adjacent lands for reasons of safety.

The BLM blog states an estimated 71,000 visits were made in 2023 to the 4 BLM constructed ranges near Phoenix. There are three ranges to the north of Phoenix,  west of Lake Pleasant, in a rough north-south line about four miles long. The three sites are: 

Baldy Mountain Recreational Shooting Site

Church Camp Road Recreational Shooting Site

Saddleback Mountain Recreational Shooting Site

The Box Canyon Recreational Shooting Site is in Pinal County, southwest of the City of Maricopa. Reports from users of the Box Canyon site would be welcome.

Sites are available six days a week, or about 312 days a year.  The average estimated usage would be 71,000 divided by 4 X 312, or approximately 57 people per site per day. Some sites will be more popular than others. Weekends are probably more crowded than weekdays. 

The lack of suitable facilities for pistol shooters is obvious. Pistols are designed for close range use. Steel targets should not be shot at from close range because of the danger of back-splatter, bounce-back, and ricochet. Pistols are the most popular firearm being purchased by the public. 

All four sites ban shooters from going down range or from bringing their own targets. Those are site specific rules which were not published in the federal register.  The mandatory use of steel targets is a local rule which can be changed. It is a local prohibition arising from an over-abundance of caution, which precludes most traditional uses of ranges.  These are the only public ranges this correspondent is aware of, which limit use to steel targets only, to prevent shooters from going downrange. 

Analysis: The limitation to use only steel targets is an overreaction to potential dangers. The enabling legislation foresaw shooters would bring, set up and remove their own targets. From the BLM site, rule 6: 

You must only use authorized stationary targets as specified in the operating plan for each site. These targets may be made of cardboard, paper, self-healing, steel, and biodegradable clay (clay targets). All other items, such as aluminum cans, glass bottles, bowling pins, plastic bottles and other items which may leave debris, are not authorized to be used as targets. Exploding targets are prohibited. All user-supplied steel targets must be specifically designed for use with firearms and must be used at a distance of 100 yards or greater. Target frames must be designed to be reusable. The use of wooden pallets and other items not specifically designed as target frames are not authorized. All user-supplied targets, target frames, and debris must be removed from the site and disposed of properly after use and before leaving the site.

This correspondent's experience as a bureaucrat leads to the question: was the decision to limit targets to provided steel targets primarily for the protection of the BLM decision makers? The idea seems to be: if you prohibit people from going down range, the liability of the decision makers will be minimized.  This is a pernicious idea, which greatly diminishes the utility of the ranges. Thousands of people have been shooting on BLM land for decades.  Accidents and injuries are minimal. 

The idea of prohibiting people from going downrange to set up and remove targets is not a good innovation. The public BLM ranges should allow for users to go downrange and to use their own targets, especially for pistol shooting.  Shooters at public ranges normally self-regulate this conduct. Volunteers at public ranges could do the same. 

As a shooter, this correspondent would have preferred less money spent on the installation of expensive chain link fencing on rough terrain. The money could have been used to provide for shade structures on the line. Shade, in Arizona summers, has high utility. 

 

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

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Tony 

Presentation of needs of experienced Desert Shooters on Youtube.

Presentation by BLM Video showing the making of targets and a bit of the Church Camp Range.

Range Access Act statement

by BLM March 28, 2023 

H.R. 1614, Range Access Act
H.R. 1614 would require the BLM and USFS, after determining if allowable under law and management plan, to establish and manage a developed shooting range in each district managed by the agencies that does not already have a range, within five years of enactment and subject to available appropriations. The bill allows the agencies to enter into an agreement with another entity to establish and maintain the shooting range. The two agencies are also required to coordinate with several groups on the construction of the ranges, including Tribes, State and local agencies, and shooting clubs, and to consult with these groups on ways to maximize private funding for the construction. Additionally, under the bill, both BLM and the USFS are to cooperate with these stakeholders and partners to ensure that any shooting range constructed under the bill will not impact any nearby non-Federal shooting ranges. 

The bill further requires the agencies seek to ensure that there is a designated shooting range meeting the requirements of the bill or located adjacent to BLM- or Forest Service-managed lands and available for public use prior to closing an area to recreational shooting, except in emergency situations. The bill also specifies that agencies may not require a user to pay a fee to use the shooting ranges. Finally, H.R. 1614 requires submission of an annual report to Congress on progress toward meeting the requirements of the law.  

Analysis 
While the BLM recognizes the sponsors’ interest in increasing access to designated shooting ranges and the need to do so in some places to ensure public safety and minimize user conflicts, the BLM cannot support the bill at this time due to the significant challenges in developing and maintaining the proposed number of shooting ranges, which would also involve removal of lead ammunition, clean-up of hazardous materials, and berm management. The BLM notes in some locations, exercising BLM’s authority to charge a user fee may be warranted for the purposes in the bill, given the large number of designated shooting ranges envisioned. In addition, the bill does not acknowledge the importance of public input and assessing community interest in development of designated shooting ranges in its districts.

Important loophole:

From HR 6492:

(c) Restrictions

(1) Management

The management of a target shooting range shall be subject to such conditions as the Secretary concerned determines are necessary for the safe, responsible use of—

(A) the target shooting range; and

(B) the adjacent land and resources.

TX: Corpus Cristi Homeowner Confronts, Shoots, Aggressive Tresspasser

When officers arrived, they located a 41-year-old Hispanic male in the front yard with obvious gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital by medics. Last update on the male was non-life-threatening injuries.

Police were told by the homeowner that he located a male in the back yard and the male went to the front yard. The homeowner gave commands to the trespasser. During the confrontation the homeowner fired several times at the trespasser fearing for his own safety.

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FL: Armed Miami Beach Homeowner Confronts Intruder, In Runs Away

“The dog was barking. One of the alarms sounded. I checked the cameras. I saw him downstairs on the property. I got my gun, I gave my wife one of our guns,” he said.

In a bathrobe with a flashlight and handgun, Yesharim faced the home invading burglar.

“The only thing that was going through my mind at the time was to protect myself and my family at all costs,” he said.

The security footage captured the pistol-toting homeowner as he greeted the intruder.

“I saw him in my courtyard by my front door. I pulled my gun on him, I told him, ‘Freeze. I’ve got a gun. I will shoot you,'” said Yesharim. “He looked at me and he started running away from me. And it looked like he went toward my neighbor’s house and hopped the wall there.”

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TN: Brentwood Domestic Defense, Son Shot by Neighbor

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (WSMV) - New details are emerging about the stabbing in Brentwood that left a man dead earlier this week.

WSMV4 has learned that the suspect, 26-year-old Julian Porter, allegedly stabbed his mother repeatedly before a neighbor intervened.

Witnesses say he was warned multiple times to drop the weapon by the neighbor, after refusing, that’s when shots were fired.

“When I saw her on the floor, being so beaten, I felt so bad for a woman that seemed so sad, and I was really sad for the other man because he really tried to help,” witness Lucile Haller recalled.

Despite the woman being injured, she is expected to recover. However, Porter succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday.

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Virgin Islands to Ease Draconian, Unconstitutional Gun Restrictions?

 

On January 30, 2025, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. stated a new policy of restoring Second Amendment rights should be attempted in the United States Virgin Islands. If it happens, it will be an extraordinary reversal in policy. The United States Virgin Islands have the most restrictive firearms laws in the United States. They are more restrictive than Hawaii or the District of Columbia. From the viconsortium.com:

“I think the Virgin Islands gun policy has totally failed,” said Governor Albert Bryan Jr., speaking during Wednesday's exclusive interview with the Consortium.

He was responding to a question about how the territory could possibly stem the influx of unlicensed, unregistered firearms into the territory.

“What happens is – when you tell somebody no, the temptation is more,” Governor Bryan argued, referring to the territory's strict gun ownership regulations. “The states with the toughest gun laws get the highest homicide rates,” he declared.

“I think we should move to a place where we open gun ranges that are legal and we make it easier for people to license and carry firearms,” Governor Bryan stated. He argued that the percentage of Virgin Islanders who carry unregistered weapons for reasons of ill-intent is very small, while the majority of residents carry firearms because “they're trying to protect themselves, or feel protected.”

The US Virgin Islands are in competition for the highest murder rate in the world. In the last 24 years it has varied from 16 to 56 per 100k population.  At times the District of Columbia has had a higher rate.  From 1989 to 1993 the DC murder rate never dropped below 70 per 100k population. The peak came in 1991 at 80.6. In 1999 the U.S. V.I. rate was about 16. The rate in DC was 46. Meanwhile, Hawaii, another Island U.S. jurisdiction, has low homicide rates in spite of highly restrictive firearms laws.

Governor Albert Bryan, Jr. is correct when he says the U.S. V.I. firearms laws have failed. The stated purpose of the law is to reduce violent crime, especially homicide. Governor Bryan says a new approach is needed for the U.S. V.I. The Supreme Court of the United States agrees with him. So does the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

The United States Virgin Islands federal court is the United States District Court of the Virgin Islands. The District Court is in the jurisdiction of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Third Circuit has held the Second Amendment applies to 18-20 year old people in the United States. This decision strongly upheld the Supreme Court in the Bruen decision, which ruled rights protected by the Second Amendment include the right to bear arms outside the home in case of confrontation.

Analysis: The U.S. Virgin Islands is ripe for a federal challenge to their extreme restrictions on gun ownership and carry. They do not have a clear method to obtain a permit to either apply to purchase a firearm or to carry a firearm. The U.S. V.I.  are supposed to have some reciprocity with some states for carry of a firearm by non-residents, but do not have any states listed as recognized.  This correspondent will not be surprised if a lawsuit is filed against the U.S. V.I. government for deprivation of civil rights under color of law on any one of these issues.

 

 

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

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KY: Louisville Woman Shot, Charged with Wanton Endangerment in Attack on Van

Police say Bain pulled onto Taylor Blvd. near Beecher Street and in front of a van carrying a man and three kids. That van was equipped with front and rear cameras which showed everything that happened next.

Investigators say Bain’s vehicle first break-checked the van causing the driver to go around. After that Bain allegedly began chasing after the van, continually trying to cut the van off. While on Taylor Blvd., Bain’s vehicle rammed into the van during this chase which ended on Carlisle Avenue when the van’s tires were flattened, disabling it.

The video shows Bain then allegedly rammed the disabled van with the man and three kids inside nearly flipping it over. The van’s driver had a gun and shot Bain once in the stomach.

With the help of the van’s dashcam video, police were able to charge Bain.

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GA: Augusta Man Faces Kidnapping Charges after being Shot

Officers then learned of a domestic violence call that occurred earlier on the 3100 block of Blackmon Court, the female victim's residence.

Armed with a gun, investigators say, Price tried to force his way into the woman's bedroom in which she locked herself. Finding her own gun, she fired through the closed door and hit Price in the upper arm before he fled.

Price has been charged with kidnapping; false imprisonment; terroristic threats and acts; possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime; and, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

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WA: Teen Robber and Barista Gun Fight: no One Wounded

Once the robber pointed the gun at her, she fired at the robber. The suspect fell to the floor while the barista ran out the back door unharmed.

The suspect, who was also not hurt, escaped to a waiting car, which was reported as stolen from Richland earlier in the day. The Pasco Police Department was already searching for the teen suspect, as he was allegedly involved in another robbery.

He was found and arrested, and now faces charges of first-degree robbery, assault and illegal possession of a firearm. His name has not been released.

The suspect is being held at a local juvenile center.

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NICS Numbers January 2025 Firearm Sales Holding Level

 

The National Instant background Check System (NICS) firearm sales for January of 2025 are nearly the same as for January of 2024. The total firearm sales are less than one percent different from January of last year, as calculated by this correspondent. Last January recorded about 1.15 million firearm sales. January of 2025 showed about 1.16 million firearm sales. This is an increase of about .8%. Given the inherent inaccuracies within the data collection systems, the numbers are too close to claim a significant difference. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) numbers for adjusted firearm sales in January of 2025 show a .9% increase in sales from January of 2024.

There are differences between the calculations done by this correspondent and the calculations used by NSSF.  From NSSF:

The adjusted NICS data were derived by subtracting out NICS purpose code permit checks and permit rechecks used by states for CCW permit application checks as well as checks on active CCW permit databases. NSSF started subtracting permit rechecks in February 2016.

This correspondent adds the firearm sales figures for handguns, long guns, other, and 2.5X the number of multiple firearm sales recorded to reach an approximation of gun sales which were performed through the NICS system. This correspondent's calculations are an approximation of total firearm sales performed through NICS.

The NSSF adjusted firearm sales are arrived at by subtracting background checks done for things other than firearm sales. NSSF numbers tend to be slightly higher than the calculations done by this correspondent. Some background checks are done to retrieve gun sales from pawn shops. Those are included in the NSSF numbers, but not in this correspondent's calculations.

The NICS numbers for firearm sales have built in uncertainties in determining total firearm sales. 24 states allow for some people with permits to purchase firearms without a NICS check. Multiple firearms can be purchased with a single NICS check. Private sales are not required to obtain government permission before a sale is done in most states. Because the NSSF and this correspondent's methods are both based on the numbers reported by the FBI NICS system, they are very close to each other.

Here are the numbers of the four types of firearms used by this correspondent to approximate total firearm sales for January of 2025. Bars show values for January of 2025.  The lines show values for all of 2024.

 

You can see the numbers for January of 2024 and January of 2025 are extremely close for all four types of firearm sales.

The NSSF chart of adjusted NICS numbers for firearms sales of 26 years of the month of January shows a correlation with presidential elections. When Barack Obama or his vice president, Joseph Biden were elected, firearm sales soared in January of 2009, 2013, and 2021. When President Trump was elected, firearm sales in January of 2017 and 2025 stayed close to the number of firearm sales in the January of the year before the election .

The "firearm salesman of the year" moniker applied to President Barack Obama has been surpassed by his former vice president, President Joe Biden. Many consider the Biden Presidency to be the "third term" of President Barack Obama.

Analysis:

The United States of America and the world are in for major corrections. The insane spending set off by the obliteration of budget controls in "continuing resolutions", put in place during the Obama years, is coming to an end.

Government spending must be brought under control or the nation will be bankrupted. President Trump and his team have been saddled by enormous, unsustainable debt put in place by the corruption of decades of deficit spending.  Increasing productivity can lessen the difficulties by "growing" out of the problem. Much can be accomplished by a combination of allowing the private sector to innovate and economize through deregulation. The second potential is to fuel the economy by decreasing energy costs.

Government spending can always exceed production, because government spending can always be increased by printing/creating money by government fiat. Government spending must be cut to allow production to bring about a balance between deflation and inflation. Government spending cuts will be painful for some. Given the uncertainties involved, this correspondent believes firearm sales will remain similar to what they were in 2024.

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

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TX: Knotty Oaks Neighbor and Father Respond to Threat, Shoot Intruder

On February 24, 2025, at approximately 11:20 p.m., deputies from the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a shooting at a residence in the 15000 block of Knotty Oaks in Magnolia. Upon their arrival, deputies discovered that a male had been shot multiple times by the homeowner.

 

Investigations revealed that an unknown male had appeared at the residence and refused to leave. Feeling threatened, the homeowner contacted her father and a neighbor for help. The neighbor, an off-duty officer with the Houston Police Department, along with the homeowner’s father, a retired HPD officer, ultimately shot the suspect due to the ongoing threats.

 

Deputies and the homeowners provided life-saving measures, and the suspect was subsequently transported to a local hospital, where he is currently receiving treatment.

 

Detectives from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Homicide and Violent Crimes Unit, along with Crime Scene Investigators, the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, and representatives from the Houston Police Department responded to the scene and are conducting an investigation.

 

Link

CO: Grand Junction Intruder Driven off with Gunfire

Around 2 a.m., multiple gunshots were heard in the 500 block of 23 Road, according to the sheriff’s office. Dispatch got a call from residents saying the suspect broke into their house and fired rounds at the homeowners. The residents returned fire before the suspect fled the home.

Mesa County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team was deployed to the house and extricated the homeowners out of precaution, MCSO said. Another shelter-in-place was sent to homes within a mile of the 500 block of 23 Road.

Not long after, a homeowner – who woke up to the shelter-in-place notice – called dispatch, saying a male matching the suspect’s description was checking car door handles on the 2300 block of South Rim Drive.

 

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VA: Domestic Defense? Woman in Alachua County Shoots , Kills Attacker

ACSO spokesperson Capt. Chris Simms said deputies initially detained an adult female who was a resident at the home where the incident took place, in an email to Mainstreet Daily News.

“Detectives confirmed that the adult female was in fact the person responsible for the shooting,” Simms said in the email.

After detectives interviewed several witnesses, both inside the home and from neighboring homes, it was confirmed that the suspect acted in self-defense. Once consulting with the State Attorney’s Office, the on-call assistant state attorney agreed with the findings.

“Due to our detectives and the State Attorney’s Office having a preliminary finding that this act appears to be in self-defense, the subject who was originally detained has since been released,” Simms said. 

 

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VA: Home Invasion, Three Men Wounded

Responding officers located two males on scene who had sustained gunshot wounds, one of whom was a resident.  A third male who had been shot was transported to SOVAH Health Danville by private vehicle. 

The incident began when two armed men entered the residence, which was occupied by two other males, and made demands. An altercation ensued and gunfire was exchanged.

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GA: Atlanta, Gunfight, both participants and bystander wounded

Preliminary Information: On 2/15/25, around 1:47am, officers responded to multiple persons shot at the location of 420 14^th St NW. Upon arrival, officers located two male victims and one female victim. They were alert, conscious and breathing and transported to the hospital by EMS services. Preliminary investigation indicates two males got into a dispute over a parking spot. The dispute escalated to both men discharging firearms towards each other, which resulted in both men sustaining gunshot wounds, and also a nearby female who sustained a gunshot wound to the leg. Investigators were notified of the incident and are working to determine who the primary aggressor(s) is in this incident. The investigation continues.

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AL: Two Men Shot, Potential of Self Self-Defense

The men were taken to the hospital and are expected to survive.

Kennedy said the men who were shot had confronted a driver who was behind the wheel of one of several vehicles driving recklessly in the area. Their alleged instigation of the conflict has raised issues of self-defense and no charges have been filed at this time. Still, Kennedy said the investigation is ongoing, and charges are possible in the future.

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TX: Fort Worth Shop Clerk Shoots Robbery Suspect

The store clerk initially tried to interact with the men like they were customers and had pepper spray in his pocket, the store’s manager told the Star-Telegram. One of the men then pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the clerk’s head while the other began putting vapes into a pillowcase, the store manager said. At that point, the employee pulled out his own gun and shot at the men, wounding one of them, the store manager said.

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MO: Benton County, Mark S. Lomax, Armed with Edged Weapon Shot, Killed

The Sheriff’s Office said video footage reviewed on Friday revealed Lomax had been armed with an edged dagger as he assaulted multiple individuals. He confronted a vehicle that attempted to leave and tried to assault the driver as he stabbed the vehicle multiple times.

As the altercation continued, law enforcement officials said a woman emerged from Lomax’s home and screamed for help as she ran to a neighbor’s house. The neighbors came out as the altercation escalated and Lomax was shot.

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TX: Houston Area Man Arrested after Shot fired by Woman in Car

Deputies with Constable Mark Herman’s office have a male suspect in custody for Assault near Aldine Westfield Road and Old Cypresswood Drive following a road rage.

Investigation revealed the male suspect exited his vehicle and assaulted the female victim who was still in her car. While being assaulted, she grabbed her handgun and fired a shot and he released her.

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TN: Memphis Gunfight in Prescott Mart, Bystander Wounded

Witnesses say they were all inside the business when a person approached and tried to rob two people.

The suspect demanded their belongings when the teen, who had been at the register, noticed and was then shot.

After reviewing surveillance, police say the victim’s brother shot at the robber, who then fired back, injuring the teen.

The suspect ran from the business and was last seen running eastbound on Sharpe Avenue.

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IL: FOID Card Requirement found to be Unconstitutional for Third Time

An Illinois Circuit Court in White County has found portions of the Illinois Firearms Owner ID law to be unconstitutional under the Second Amendment, for the third time. From wmay.com February 10, 2025:

A White County Illinois judge has found the state’s Firearms Owner’s ID card unconstitutional when enforced against someone possessing their firearms in their home.

The case Illinois vs. Vivian Brown stems from a 2017 case where police found a rifle in her home and charged her with possessing a firearm without a FOID card.

This is the third time an Illinois White County Circuit Court has found the requirement to have an FOID card, merely to possess a firearm in their home, to be unconstitutional. The same judge, T. Scott Webb, has heard the case all three times.  From the 2025 decision at saf.org:

Conversely, since the inception of this case, both parties have agreed that the Defendant was and is eligible to receive a FOID Card and, as such, is a law abiding, responsible citizen. Only now does the State seek to re-define the Defendant as a criminal and strip her of her Second Amendment rights. Despite the State's novel "law-abiding" argument, this Court has determined that the Defendant is a responsible, law-abiding citizen deserving of the protections guaranteed under the Second Amendment. Accordingly, the Defendant's possession of a .22 caliber rifle withing the confines of her home, even without a valid FOID card falls squarely within the protections afforded her by the Second Amendment.

The Illinois Supreme Court has been unwilling to make a decision in the case.

In a 2018 decision, the FOID card was found to be unconstitutional in the case. From Illinois vs Brown:

10. In this case, the facts show the defendant possessed a gun, in her house, for the purpose of self-defense without a FOID card. To require the defendant to fill out a form, provide a picture ID and pay a $10 fee to obtain a FOID card before she can exercise her constitutional right to self-defense with a firearm is a violation of the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution as applied to the states and a violation of Article I, Section 22, of the Constitution of the State of Illinois, as applied to this case only.

The Illinois Supreme Court sent the case back to the Circuit Court. The requirement for an FOID card to possess a firearm in the home was found to be unconstitutional a second time. From 2021 on AmmoLand, FOID card found unconstitutional:

Judge T. Scott Webb, of White County, Illinois, Found the requirement to obtain a (FOID) before owning a firearm in Illinois, to be unconstitutional. From the decision, Case 17-CM-60, 26 April 2021:

In 2022 the Illinois Supreme Court refused to rule on the issue again, and again sent the case back to the circuit court in White County.

In a split 4 to 3 decision, the Illinois Supreme Court has refused to rule on the constitutionality of the Firearms Owner’s IDentification card (FOID) requirements in Illinois. This is the second time the Court has refused to rule on the same case. 

The dissent in the June 16, 2022 decision stated:

JUSTICE MICHAEL J. BURKE, dissenting:

The last time this case was before the court, Justices Karmeier and Theis referred to this court’s remand as an “unexpected and pointless exercise” and a “meaningless and wasteful act.” People v. Brown, 2020 IL 124100, ¶¶ 39, 59 (Karmeier, J., dissenting, joined by Theis, J.) (Brown I). I cannot think of a better description for the remand that the court issues today.

Perhaps the third time, the Illinois Supreme Court will be willing to do their job and consider the merits of the case.

 

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

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TX: Harris County Domestic Defense, West Village Drive, Old Boyfriend of Mother Shot by Son

Once Harris County Sheriff's Office Homicide Detectives and Crime Investigators arrived, the scene was processed, witnesses were interviewed, and the front door security camera recordings were observed that recorded most of the incident. After watching the video and interviewing the shooter, detectives discovered the decedent was a long-time estranged boyfriend of the shooter's mother. Lately, his behavior had become aggressive and concerning. It concluded late on February 12th, 2025, when the shooter attempted to kick the front door in of the apartment where the shooter, his mother, and other family members were staying. Once the decedent kicked in the door, he entered the apartment and attempted to assault the shooter. The shooter had his pistol on or near his person and shot the decedent twice in self-defense.

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TX: Harris County Robbery Suspect Shot, Killed in Self Defense

Once Harris County Sheriff's Office Homicide Detectives and Crime Investigators arrived, the scene was processed, witnesses were interviewed, and the security camera recordings were observed that recorded the entire incident. After watching the video and interviewing the shooter, detectives determined the shooter had arrived in his vehicle and was immediately approached in an aggressive manner by the complainant once he had exited his vehicle. Video showed the shooter restrain himself and back away from the complainant all throughout the gas station parking lot. After getting his property taken from him, such as his wallet, he removed his handgun from his waistband and pointed it at the complainant. This did not deter the complainant, and when he approached the shooter again, he fired his weapon, striking the complainant. He immediately called 911 and put his weapon in his vehicle.

 

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Ill: Decatur Gunfight - Homeowner and 1 of 3 Home Invaders both Wounded

DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — Decatur Police arrested three people that they say shot a woman while breaking into her home earlier this week.

WCIA previously reported that Decatur Police responded early Monday morning to a shooting at Stone and Whitmer Streets; as they were on the scene, a 22-year-old woman arrived at St. Mary’s Hospital with a gunshot wound. Looking into the shooting, investigators were able to determine what happened leading up to the woman being hurt.

They said she was at home with her children when armed individuals broke in. Armed with a gun of her own, the woman announced her presence, which caused the suspects to fire upon her. She returned fire, police said, and one of the suspects was shot.

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WI: AG Sued over Denial of Second Amendment Rights

The Kenosha County Eye has noted a lawsuit filed by  Milwaukee man Kenneth Karwacki in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Division. The lawsuit is against Josh Kaul, the Attorney General of Wisconsin for denial of civil rights, 28 U.S.C.§§ 1331 and 1343.  The office of the AG  refused to issue a permit to conceal carry a concealed weapon because of a misdemeanor conviction of Karwacki for the delivery of peyote while in the U.S. military.

Records published online show a United States Air Force Criminal Court of Appeals convicted Airman First Class Kenneth J. Karwacki on 11 December, 2015 by a special Court Martial in Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. It is not completely certain this is the same Kenneth Karwacki.

The judge assigned in the case is Brett H Ludwick. Wisconsin is in the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. He was nominated by President Trump and confirmed by a vote of 91-5 in the Senate, in September of 2020.

The issue in the case is fairly clear: Does the State of Wisconsin have the authority to restrict the right to keep and bear arms, under the Second Amendment, for a misdemeanor under federal law, which, they claim, would be a felony under Wisconsin law?  In particular, is a non-violent misdemeanor under federal law sufficient to deny a fundamental, enumerated right, such as the Second Amendment from a citizen of the United States? The Wisconsin AG claims the delivery of peyote is a "violent" crime.

The AG office claims that the plaintiff, Kenneth Karwacki, is not considered a member of the "people" under the Second Amendment. To this correspondent, this is a very weak argument. The Supreme Court in the Rahimi case, still considered Rahimi to be "one of the people" covered by the Second Amendment. From the opinion in Rahimi, page 1:

Held: When an individual has been found by a court to pose a credible threat to the physical safety of another, that individual may be temporarily disarmed consistent with the Second Amendment. Pp. 5–17.

It is highly unlikely a federal court will find a United States Citizen, without any violent conviction, is not one of "the people" covered by the Second Amendment.

The AG office claims the states have the power to decide whether any conduct anywhere else is a felony or not.  Kenneth Karwacki was not convicted of a federal felony.

The essential argument is the State of Wisconsin can define who may exercise rights protected by the Second Amendment.  This claim seems unlikely to stand. It would give every state the power to decide who, within its jurisdiction, may exercise rights enumerated in the Bill of Rights, and who may not.  This appears to be directly contradictory to the Fourteenth Amendment. The Second Amendment has already been incorporated to the states via the Fourteenth Amendment, by the McDonald decision.

Analysis: The strong indication from the Supreme Court is the Second Amendment may not be infringed for non-violent behavior, especially for non-violent misdemeanors. Calling a delivery of peyote case a "violent crime" does not make it a violent crime.  No historical evidence or analysis was included in the AG brief to show delivery of a drug was ever a reason to infringe on a person's Second Amendment Rights. Instead, they claim because some other crimes were dealt with harshly in colonial times, any crime today can be determined by any state to be sufficient to invalidate any Constitutional right. This is an absurd proposal.

 

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

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