Category: Self Defense

From the article, we again see confirmation that violence can be completely random and come from out of nowhere. Don’t let: “Oh, nothing like that happens here” influence your preparations.

Neighbors Speak Out After Gun Owner Kills Home Intruder

We’re learning more details about a defensive gun use in San Jacinto, California that happened last Friday night and resulted in the death of a home intruder.

According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, 45-year-old Israel Martinez was shot and killed after firing a shotgun at the homeowner, who was visiting with neighbors when he heard screams and the sound of a gunshot coming from his home. The sheriff’s department said that Martinez’s girlfriend was also found about a half-mile away from the armed citizen’s home shortly afterwards, suffering injuries she allegedly received after Martinez assaulted her.

Now neighbors are providing more information about the confrontation between the homeowner and Martinez.

“His goal was to get his daughter out safely, regardless of what happened to him,” neighbor Robert Dorame said. “I’m shattered for them because they’re good people.”

… The family who lives at the home isn’t ready to speak out, but neighbors told KTLA that they, too, were home, and the ordeal was terrifying.

Neighbors said the father was hanging out with neighbors outside when his wife went inside to charge her phone. When she did, she reportedly came face-to-face with a man who had armed himself with guns he found inside the home. He allegedly then started shooting.

“From what I understand, the guy tried shooting at her as she started running,” Dorame said. “Then when she goes into the garage, she yelled out, ‘There’s a stranger in the house with a gun.'”

Her husband then attempted to get inside to save their daughter, who was also inside.

“The guy started loading up again. He got in there and the guy shot at Chris,” Dorame recalled. “He dropped, got up and he unloaded at him and got the guy down.”

He was then able to get his daughter out of the house unharmed.

… “He did more than just save his own family,” Dorame said. “Because if he didn’t take that guy down and that guy took him down, his next step was probably to come to one of our houses and unload because, at that point, he had a death wish. He didn’t care.”

Authorities still have no idea how Martinez ended up in the home. According to investigators, Martinez assaulted his girlfriend with a knife while they were in a car less than a mile from the residence, but it’s unclear why Martinez then made his way to the armed citizen’s home. According to police, there was no connection between Martinez and the homeowner, and it appears that he just randomly chose the home and made his way inside.

While there’s no doubt that the homeowner was justified in using lethal force to defend his family against the home invader, it’s possible that the Riverside County District Attorney could bring charges against him if it’s determined that his firearms were not stored in accordance with California law.

The state requires that all firearms be kept locked up or disabled using a CalDOJ-certified firearm safety device or a gun safe. I think one-size-fits-all storage mandates are unconstitutional, but the California law is actively enforced, and depending on the results of the sheriff’s investigation the homeowner could still find himself the target of a district attorney who wants to make an example out of him.

The penalty for a first offense is only a fine, thankfully, so even if the D.A. decides to go after the homeowner for storing his guns in a way they could be accessed by Martinez, he won’t be facing any jail time or the loss of his Second Amendment rights.

Hazel Park after-prom party shooting suspect released after self-defense claim

Hazel Park police released a man in custody in a fatal shooting at an after-prom party at a short-term rental, saying the man who died allegedly pointed a gun and stole a watch from someone at the party, and the suspect fired his gun in self-defense.

Police said Monday, June 1, that the suspect was released pending further investigation after speaking with him, reviewing witness accounts and evidence at the scene and consulting with the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office.

A 20-year-old Detroit man was pronounced dead at a local hospital, and a 19-year-old Pontiac woman was being treated after the May 29 shooting at 23401 Powell, police said. A 21-year-old man had been in custody. Police did not name anyone.

What police say happened

Police said interviews of those at the party and evidence suggested an armed robbery occurred in the house, and the man who died allegedly pointed a gun and stole a watch from someone at the party.

Why the suspect was released

The man who was in custody has a valid permit to carry a firearm and was present in the home, police said. They said he saw the robbery when he claimed to have fired his gun in self-defense. A witness to the altercation provided supporting information to the robbery and self-defense claim, police said.

Police said they received multiple 911 calls of a shooting in the area of Powell and Orchard. Officers found a crowd of people fleeing a home on Powell. They found the wounded man outside the home and the woman several houses south of the home.Preliminary information was that the house may have been hosting an after-prom party when a dispute occurred, and people exchanged gunfire inside and outside of the home.

Police said the after-prom party did not involve students from the Hazel Park School District.

Continue reading “”

Dropped Wallet Leads Tulsa Police Straight To Burglar Shot By Homeowner

TULSA, Okla. — A Tulsa homeowner did exactly what a law-abiding gun owner is supposed to do when a stranger broke into his house overnight, and the suspected burglar is now recovering from a gunshot wound because of it.

According to News On 6, the break-in happened just before midnight near 21st Street and Mingo Road. The homeowner spotted a man outside on his security cameras, watched him look through windows and then saw him come in through a back door.

This is the part that should stick with every one of us who keeps a firearm for protection. The homeowner came down from the second floor and met the intruder inside his own home. Police said the man turned aggressive, and the homeowner fired a single shot.

The suspect ran off after being shot but dropped his wallet on the way out. Investigators used the identification inside it to track him while officers set up a perimeter around the neighborhood.

When officers found him nearby, police said he fought them and bit one of the officers during the arrest. Tulsa Police Lt. JT Snoddy said the man appeared to be impaired, telling reporters that none of the force applications seemed to faze him at all.

Only after taking him into custody did officers realize he had been shot in the chest. He was taken to a hospital and underwent surgery. Authorities believe he is about 46 years old and have not released his name. The bitten officer was also treated and is expected to be fine.

A man who chose to break into an occupied home at midnight and then square up with the person living there found out why that is a bad idea. The homeowner walked away unharmed. That is the outcome the Second Amendment is built to protect.

Many Police agencies have never liked the idea that people can and will -legally- take matters into their own hands

Des Moines Police Issue Bizarre Warning After Self-Defense Shooting

It’s not uncommon for police or sheriffs to issue a warning after a defensive gun use in their communities, but generally they’re admonishing criminals to be aware of the fact that armed citizens have the right to protect themselves.

In a twist, the Des Moines, Iowa police department is warning legal gun carriers after a shooting near a park in Des Moines, Iowa last month that’s been deemed to be a justifiable use of force on the part of an armed citizen.

In that incident, a group of individuals tried to rob a 22-year-old of his belongings, including a gun he was carrying. Little did they know that the armed citizen, who was sitting in his car when he was confronted by the group, had a backup gun on him, and the armed citizen shot and killed one of his attackers in self-defense.

Though the 22-year-old isn’t facing any charges, the Des Moines police appears to be using this as an excuse to chastise those of us who exercise our right to bear arms on a regular basis.

Law enforcement officials explained that self-defense shootings, which are more commonly associated with police officers, are increasingly being seen among civilians.

“There’s been several changes in gun laws here in Iowa over the years. And the one thing that we’ve seen, the byproduct of that is there’s more guns out there,” said DMPD Sgt. Paul Parizek.

Since 2021, Iowa has been a constitutional carry state, allowing any law-abiding adult to carry a handgun without a permit.

Police emphasized that self-defense with a firearm is only justified under strict criteria. Deadly force can only be used if there is a reasonable assumption that one’s life or wellbeing is in immediate danger.

“Somebody can’t drive by and flip you off, and you can’t shoot them. That’s not a response for that. You can’t say I was scared they were going to get out of their car. There has to be a threat,” Parizek said.

Based on Parizek’s comments, folks might be left with the impression that gun owners carrying under Iowa’s permitless carry law are causing all kinds of problems, but that isn’t the case. Last year the city saw ten homicides, which was a 33% decrease compared to 2024. So far this year police have investigated at least eleven homicides, but we know that one of those cases has been deemed a justifiable use of deadly force, and there may be others as well.

We’re also now five years in to Iowa’s experience as a permitless carry state, so if the city does end up seeing a spike in homicides this year I doubt that the law will have anything to do with it. Crime analyst Jeff Asher’s Real Time Crime Index shows other cities in permitless carry states are seeing big declines in murders; with Houston, Fort Worth, Memphis, Kansas City, New Orleans, Birmingham, Cincinnati, and Jacksonville all down by more than 20% so far this year.

If the Des Moines PD wants to remind folks about when it’s appropriate and legally okay to use lethal force, so be it. Still, it’s bizarre to use a legally justified use of deadly force as the reason to do so. It would be far more appropriate to use this incident to warn would-be robbers in the city that they’re putting their lives at risk by engaging in violent crimes, but for some reason I can’t fathom, the DMPD seems more concerned about lawful gun owners than armed robbers.

Here’s Another Reason Cops Aren’t Checking to See If It’s a BB Gun Pointed at Them

[Which one is which? Can YOU tell?-Miles]

When a gun is pointed at you, even for a split second, the barrel seems a whole lot larger than it really is. I’ve been unfortunate enough to experience that due to someone’s unsafe gun handling, so I’m talking from first-hand experience. Because of that, I don’t get worked up when there’s an officer-involved shooting, and the person shot by the police has a BB gun. I hate that it happened, and I feel awful for the officer, because I know that’s got to screw with a person’s head.

They’re not going to measure the barrel diameter before acting because they can’t.

However, there’s another reason why officers shouldn’t be getting blasted by ignorant people when something like that happens. That reason is that BB guns aren’t harmless.

Initial information informed deputies that an adult male, later identified as 33-year-old Geovanni Malacara-Hernandez, had been injured from an accidental discharge of a pellet or BB gun involving a young child.

Once deputies, Othello EMS and Adams County Fire District 5 arrived on scene, they began performing life-saving efforts “for a prolonged period of time,” according to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office. Malacara-Hernandez was then transported to Othello Community Hospital where medical personnel continued performing life-saving measures.
Unfortunately, Malacara-Hernandez succumbed to his injuries and died.

Police are investigating.

Now, there’s not much more available in this story other than what I’ve just shared, so we don’t know the specifics of whether it was an actual BB gun, a pellet gun, or what the weapon was specifically. Pellet guns are useful for hunting small game, which means they’re capable of putting down things a bit larger than a squirrel or rabbit. BB guns typically aren’t, but there have been reports of fatal shootings with them.

These aren’t toys. Yes, we buy them for kids, but responsible parents tend to treat them like firearms, and for a very good reason. They can injure or kill someone.

No, they’re not as deadly as actual firearms, but that’s beside the point.

So, when you consider this, think about a police officer rolling up to a suspect, only for that suspect to produce a BB gun. Either the officer knows it’s a BB gun or he doesn’t. In most cases, he doesn’t, but let’s say he does this time. Should he just assume that he’ll be the rule rather than the exception who gets killed with an air pistol? Should he simply let himself get shot and pray that the odds are in his favor?

What about the armed citizen? We can find ourselves in the exact same position.

I’m not talking about the legality of anything, mind you. I’m not an attorney, and while I’m an opinionated cuss about all kinds of things I probably should remain silent on, I’m not trying to delve into what will happen in a court of law.

I’m talking about what should happen in that courtroom. What should happen is that, whether police officer or private citizen, anyone who points a BB gun at someone should be shot in self-defense, because it’s not a toy they were pointing at the good guy with a gun. It actually shouldn’t get to that courtroom, because like it or not, a BB gun is a lethal weapon, much like a skateboard or a baseball bat can be lethal weapons, even if we buy them for our kids.

Teenager hospitalized in downtown Des Moines shooting

DES MOINES, Iowa —
A teenager is in critical condition after a shooting near the Pappajohn Sculpture Park late Friday night.

Police were called to the area of 14th Street and Grand Avenue shortly after 11 p.m. Friday after multiple 911 callers reported hearing gunfire and said a person was down.

When officers arrived, they found a 17-year-old suffering from gunshot wounds on 14th Street just north of Grand Avenue, according to a news release from the Des Moines Police Department.

Officers began lifesaving measures, including CPR, before Des Moines Fire Department EMS crews arrived and transported the victim to UnityPoint Health – Methodist Medical Center. Police said the male remains hospitalized in critical condition.

Police say the 17-year-old was part of a group of people that committed an armed robbery of a 22-year-old man who was parked in his car. Investigators say the 17-year-old stole a handgun from the 22-year-old. The 22-year-old then grabbed a second handgun and shots were fired back and forth, which is when the 17-year-old was shot.

Officers detained the 22-year-old shooter, but later released him without criminal charges.

Police have not yet released the identities of those involved.

Missouri schools could hire armed ‘rangers’ under bill sent to governor

A bill to create a new faction of school protection officers with “physical fitness superior to a U.S. Marine” got final approval from Missouri lawmakers in the final days of the legislative session.

The legislation seeks to allow schools to hire volunteer or paid guards called “Missouri Rangers” who could carry a gun on school grounds.

The bill’s sponsor, Republican state Sen. David Gregory of Chesterfield, told senators he wanted to give schools “a choice to have a higher trained armed guard.”

He compared current protection-officer requirements to that of a “Walmart guard with a gun.” Currently, schools can appoint teachers and administrators as school protection officers, allowing them to carry a gun or “self-defense spray device” with training and a concealed carry permit.

School protection officers must undergo a minimum of 112 hours of training, according to a Department of Public Safety rule. The state also has school resource officers, which are law enforcement officers with an additional 40+ hours of training related to school safety.

Gregory’s legislation proposes a maximum of 160 hours of training, specifying that the program must include lessons on “close-quarter combat,” bomb and arson training, de-escalation and others.

Prior to training, rangers must pass a physical fitness test. For those 35 and younger, they must “complete a minimum of 40 pushups in less than one minute” and be able to run 1½ miles in less than 12½ minutes. The legislation asks the state’s Peace Office Standards and Training Commission to identify lower standards for older applicants.

The bill’s first pass through the Senate brought little opposition, garnering the support of groups like the St. Louis County Police Association in its first committee hearing. In early April, just two senators voted against the proposal, but Senate Democrats unanimously voted against it when it returned to the chamber last week with less than a day before session adjourned for the year.

House Democrats unanimously rejected the proposal, uncomfortable with the proposition of having more firearms in schools.

“The answer to guns in schools is not more guns in schools,” said state Rep. Elizabeth Fuchs, a St. Louis Democrat, advocating instead for mental health support for students.

Their arguments did not sway House Republicans, who unanimously voted in support of the bill.

State Rep. Burt Whaley, a Republican from Clever, has experience training school staff on what to do in case of a shooting. The key benefit of having a ranger, he said, was being able to quickly respond to threats.

In one school he trained, the local law enforcement estimated that it could take up to 45 minutes for them to arrive.

“It is typically another person with a gun that knows how to use it, that’s trained how to use it … they’re usually the ones that are able to subdue (a threat),” he said.

The bill follows other proposals passed last year addressing security concerns, like laws directing schools to share emergency operations plans with local law enforcement and report school safety incidents to the state’s education department.

Some of the provisions passed in last year’s legislation have yet to be implemented because of a lack of funding, such as a requirement to equip schools with bleeding control kits and train staff on how to apply a tourniquet.

Gov. Mike Kehoe has until mid-July to sign or veto bills before they become law.

Tennessee Legislation Expanding Castle Doctrine Protections Awaits Governor’s Approval

The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –

Legislation that lowers the standard for use of deadly force on private property, expanding Castle Doctrine protections, is awaiting Governor Bill Lee’s approval.

Tennessee lawmakers passed HB1802/SB1847, sponsored by Representative Kip Capley (R-Summertown-District 71) and Senator Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald-District 28), after intense debate.

The legislation allows for the use of deadly force if a person “reasonably believes deadly force is immediately necessary to prevent the other’s imminent commission of arson, burglary, robbery, aggravated robbery, or aggravated cruelty to animals” in the event the person using deadly force cannot protect their property any other way or if the use of force by other means would expose them or someone else to risk of death, serious bodily injury or grave sexual abuse.

Shooting someone in the back is not justified under the bill’s protections and Tennessee’s current self-defense standards are not erased by the legislation, still requiring a threat involving serious bodily injury or death.

To fall under self-defense statutes, an amendment clarified that in using deadly force, a person must not be engaged in conduct that would constitute a felony or Class A misdemeanor, such as inviting someone onto your property to sell you illegal drugs, and is present where they lawfully reside.

When the bill passed in the Senate, it did not include the House amendment and had to be returned for concurrence, but the legislation is ready for Lee to take action on, and is slated to take effect July 1st, 2026.

When Self-Defense Shapes Probable Cause- Third Circuit Raises the Stakes in Kendig v. Stolar

In a significant Fourth Amendment decision, the Third Circuit held in Kendig v. Stolar, 2026 WL 1145264, that law enforcement may, in certain circumstances, be required to include known affirmative-defense evidence in probable cause affidavits submitted in support of arrest warrants.

Case Snapshot

This case arose after Corey Kendig shot and killed a man during a late-night altercation outside a Pennsylvania bar. Kendig claimed that he acted in self-defense after being outnumbered, attacked first, and placed in a chokehold during the confrontation. Surveillance footage and witness accounts supported portions of that account. Despite those facts, the affidavit of probable cause submitted by the investigating trooper did not include any information suggesting Kendig may have acted in self-defense.

Kendig was charged with homicide and related offenses but was ultimately acquitted by a jury. He later filed a Section 1983 action alleging false arrest, false imprisonment, and malicious prosecution, arguing that the investigating officer omitted material exculpatory information from the warrant affidavit.

The Holding and Its Limits

The Third Circuit agreed that affirmative-defense evidence can, in some cases, be relevant to probable cause. The Court adopted a middle-ground rule, holding that officers must disclose affirmative-defense evidence when a reasonable officer would “conclusively know” that the defense negates the mens rea of the offense or otherwise excuses the conduct. Applying Pennsylvania law, the Court emphasized that self-defense negated the mental-state elements of the crimes Kendig was charged with, homicide and aggravated assault.

The Court pointed to several allegedly omitted facts, including evidence that Kendig was outnumbered, that another individual initiated the confrontation, that Kendig was placed in a chokehold, and that witnesses described the decedent and his companions as violent and intoxicated.

Despite announcing the above rule, the Third Circuit affirmed summary judgment in favor of the trooper on qualified-immunity grounds. The panel concluded that, at the time of the arrest, neither the Third Circuit nor a robust consensus of other courts had clearly established a constitutional requirement that officers include affirmative-defense evidence in warrant affidavits.

Why This Matters

The practical takeaway is clear: officers and prosecutors should expect increased scrutiny of affidavits that omit known exculpatory information bearing on self-defense claims. While Kendig does not impose a blanket requirement to include every potentially favorable fact, it makes clear that law enforcement cannot ignore affirmative defenses that are plainly apparent from the evidence. The decision provides defendants with a potentially important roadmap for challenging arrests and prosecutions based on incomplete probable-cause affidavits.

“The Duty of Self‑Defence”, preached in Philadelphia in 1747 by Rev. Jonathan Dickinson:

He that suffers his life to be taken from him by one that hath no authority for that purpose, when he might preserve it by defence, incurs the Guilt of self murder since God hath enjoined him to seek the continuance of his life, and Nature itself teaches every creature to defend itself.

 

Homeowner shoots, kills suspected burglar in north Harris County
Precinct 4 Constable Deputies said the suspect was found shot to death behind the home near a bayou

A man is dead after investigators say a homeowner woke up to find him inside a house early Wednesday morning, leading to a confrontation that ended in a shooting.

According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, deputies with Precinct 4 responded around 5:45 a.m. to a home in the 16900 block of Spring Creek Oaks.

When they arrived, they found an unidentified man on a walking trail behind the home. Investigators say he had been shot and was pronounced dead at the scene.

What investigators say happened

Authorities say the homeowner told deputies he woke up and discovered a man inside his house wearing a mask and gloves.

Investigators say the two got into a physical fight inside the home that moved outside.

At some point, the homeowner went back inside, but officials say the suspect returned to the property, leading to a second confrontation in the backyard.

That’s when, according to investigators, the homeowner got a handgun and shot the man.

The suspect then ran, jumped over a fence, and was later found on a nearby walking trail.

Officials say there were three adults and two children, ages 12 and 13, inside the home at the time of the incident.

No one else was injured.

As part of the investigation, detectives are speaking with everyone who was inside the house to better understand what happened.

The suspect has not yet been identified.

Investigators say there were no signs of forced entry, but they believe the man got into the home through a back door.

Authorities are still working to determine exactly what led up to the encounter and why the suspect returned to the home after the first altercation.

No arrests have been made at this time.

The case will be reviewed by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office to determine whether any charges will be filed.

Well, of course, prosecutors wouldn’t like more restrictions on their prosecutorial powers. They’re paid to prosecute.

Missouri prosecutors warn of expanding self-defense law

ST. LOUIS – Missouri prosecutors are raising concerns about the state’s self-defense laws after a recent appeals court ruling which defense attorneys say could broaden when deadly force can legally be used.

[This section moved up by me]

Defense attorneys say a recent appeals court ruling in a Warren County case could further expand those protections.

The case involved Danielle Lechocki, who was charged with assault after pulling a knife during a verbal argument in which no one was injured. Her attorney, Matthew Mueller, argued she acted in self-defense.

“She testified that on the day in question the complaining witness threatened to Molly whop her, to physically assault her,” Mueller said.

A lower court initially rejected the self-defense claim, but an appeals court in February sent the case back after finding the jury was not instructed on self-defense.

“The opinion does greatly expand the use of self-defense, including the use of deadly force,” Mueller said.

Warren County Prosecuting Attorney Rodney McKinney said the decision could have major implications for prosecutors statewide.

“I believe in self-defense, but I don’t want to become the Old West,” McKinney said.

McKinney argued the wording of Missouri law could allow deadly force in relatively minor assault cases because the statute permits deadly force to defend against “death, serious injury or any forcible felony.”

“Part of the statute says you can use deadly force to defend yourself against what we call a forcible felony,” McKinney said.

In a court brief filed in the Lechocki appeals case, the president of the Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (MAPA) warned that “mere shoving matches could justifiably be escalated to gun battles” if the opinion becomes law.

The brief also argued prosecutors would face “an almost impossible burden” and that numerous homicide cases could go unfiled or be dismissed.

McKinney said lawmakers should consider revisiting the law.

“They could redefine forcible felony. They could define it by offense, or they could just make it a higher standard,” he said.

——————————————————–

The debate comes after two recent high-profile homicide cases in the St. Louis area were not prosecuted because of possible self-defense claims.

No charges were filed after Arrin Jones, 27, was stabbed and killed Monday while working as a third-party contractor outside Busch Stadium. Few details have been released about what led to the stabbing.

“Homicide investigations often involve complex legal questions, including issues related to self-defense,” St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore’s office said in a statement.

The case follows another fatal incident in February in which no charges were filed after local rapper Javaughn Ballard was shot and killed after knocking on a rival’s door. Officials have not publicly said if Ballard also had a weapon or what kind of threat existed for the shooter.

In March, Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney Melesa Johnson addressed the issue while discussing a plea agreement involving a suspect in the 2024 Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting.

“The state bears the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant did not act in self-defense, and that is an extraordinarily high burden,” Johnson said.

Missouri already has some of the nation’s strongest self-defense protections, including “stand your ground” laws, the castle doctrine, and no duty to retreat requirements.

FOX 2 reached out to lawmakers in Jefferson City to comment on whether changes to the law are needed but had not received responses as of Wednesday.

MAPA’s president-elect, Locke Thompson, sent FOX 2 a statement saying, “MAPA has not been approached to formally weigh in on Missouri’s self-defense or stand-your-ground laws as part of a policy discussion; however, our organization has vehemently opposed legislation designed to further expand Missouri’s self-defense laws over the past several years.”

Justice Scalia’s majority opinion in Heller had this to say about what arms meant:
The 18th-century meaning [of arms] is no different from the meaning today. The 1773 edition of Samuel Johnson’s dictionary defined ‘‘arms’’ as ‘‘[w]eapons of offence, or armour of defence.’’ Timothy Cunningham’s important 1771 legal dictionary defined ‘‘arms’’ as ‘‘any thing that a man wears for his defence…’’

NY AG Claims Body Armor Isn’t a Second Amendment Right

BUFFALO, NY — A legal battle is brewing in New York over whether law-abiding citizens have the right to purchase and own body armor for personal protection. Attorney General Letitia James has formally requested a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC), which challenges the state’s ban on the sale of this defensive gear to most civilians.

The FPC originally filed the lawsuit on behalf of New York residents who simply want the ability to protect themselves. In response, the state is arguing that body armor is a “dangerous and unusual” item that falls outside the protections of the Second Amendment. Attorney General James’s office claims that because modern body armor didn’t exist when the Constitution was written, it shouldn’t be covered.

However, this line of reasoning seems to ignore a key Supreme Court ruling. In the 2016 case Caetano v. Massachusetts, the court affirmed that the Second Amendment isn’t limited to 18th-century technology. Justice Samuel Alito pointed out that even firearms commonly used for self-defense today, like revolvers and semi-automatic pistols, did not exist back then. The court’s logic was clear: new technology doesn’t negate a constitutional right.

The True Purpose of Body Armor

New York’s argument portrays body armor as a tool for criminals, suggesting it turns a person into a “fortified threat” and is part of a “mass shooter’s toolkit.” This perspective overlooks the fundamental nature of body armor: it is purely defensive. Unlike a firearm, body armor cannot be used to inflict harm. Its sole purpose is to stop projectiles and protect the life of the person wearing it, which is the very essence of self-defense. Many everyday citizens, from late night convenience store clerks to people living in high crime neighborhoods, seek this protection for peace of mind.

The state’s ban was enacted following the tragic 2022 mass shooting at a Buffalo supermarket. Now, groups like the National Rifle Association are pushing back, stating that such laws only penalize law-abiding citizens. They argue that criminals, by their very definition, do not follow the law, so a ban on body armor only prevents good people from having another tool to ensure their own safety.

This case is being watched closely, as its outcome could set a precedent for whether states can prohibit citizens from owning defensive gear, raising critical questions about the modern application of the right to self-defense.

King Soopers Homicide Trial: Jury Clears Mansoor Ali of Second-Degree Murder

A Laramie County jury has found 22-year-old Mansoor Ali not guilty of second-degree murder and four counts of aggravated assault and battery. The verdict follows a high-profile trial where Ali’s defense successfully argued that he acted in self-defense when he fatally shot 19-year-old Benjamin Glenn, who had approached Ali with a firearm in a Cheyenne King Soopers parking lot.

CHEYENNE, WY — In a case that tested the limits of Wyoming’s self-defense laws, a Cheyenne man has been cleared of all charges related to a fatal September 2025 shooting. On April 29, 2026, a Laramie County jury returned “not guilty” verdicts for Mansoor Ali, who had been facing a life-altering sentence for second-degree murder.

The incident began as a “road rage” style confrontation on Dell Range Boulevard. Prosecutors alleged that Ali “lured” Benjamin Glenn and three friends into the King Soopers parking lot by flashing his high beams and engaging in aggressive driving. However, the defense team, led by attorney Thomas Fleener, presented a narrative of a man attempting to reach a well-lit, safe area to escape a car full of aggressive individuals.

The Point of Contention: The “Lure”

The prosecution’s case centered heavily on a phone call Ali made to his brother, in which he reportedly used the word “lure”. Police argued this proved Ali intended to provoke a confrontation.

The defense countered with video evidence showing that Glenn’s group had actually left the parking lot and returned moments later. It was during this second encounter that Glenn exited his vehicle while brandishing his own firearm. “My client was not out looking for trouble,” stated Ali’s previous attorney, Crystal Stewart, during earlier proceedings. “He goes to turn around to leave, and this car comes back… the decedent had a gun, and the situation unfolded”.

Immediate Surrender and Acquittal

Ali’s defense was bolstered by his behavior immediately following the shots. Records show he identified himself as the shooter as soon as officers arrived and fully cooperated with the investigation.

The jury’s decision to acquit on all five counts—including four counts of aggravated assault for the other occupants in Glenn’s car—indicates they found Ali’s fear of imminent bodily harm to be “reasonable” under Wyoming law.

Safety Tip: This case is a stark reminder of the “Disparity of Force” and “Retreat” dynamics. Even if you are involved in a verbal dispute or a “road rage” incident (like flashing high beams), your right to self-defense remains intact if the other party escalates the situation to lethal force (brandishing a gun). However, the word “luring” almost cost this defendant his freedom.

As a concealed carry holder, your words—both during the incident and in recorded calls—will be scrutinized by a jury. If you are being followed, your best move is to drive to a police station rather than a commercial parking lot. If you are forced to stop, keep your doors locked and stay inside your vehicle as long as possible to maintain a “protective barrier” between you and the threat.

Armed Carjacking Suspect Shot by Off-Duty New York State Trooper in Yonkers

Armed Carjacking Suspect Shot by Off-Duty New York State Trooper in Yonkers
Yonkers Teen Armed with Knife During Carjacking; Apprehended by Yonkers Police After Fleeing
Yonkers, NY – At approximately 12:45 pm on Sunday, April 26, 2026, the Yonkers Police Department received a call from an off-duty New York State Trooper requesting assistance at the Mobil gas station at 838 Kimball Avenue. The Trooper reported that she had shot a male suspect who had attempted to stab her.

The investigation revealed that the off-duty New York State Trooper was refueling her vehicle at the gas station. When she finished fueling, the suspect approached her, brandished a knife, and entered the driver’s seat of her vehicle. The Trooper fired one shot from her off-duty firearm, striking the suspect in the left arm. The round continued into his torso. The suspect accelerated the vehicle toward the rear of the gas station, driving through a shed and fence at the end of the property before coming to rest in the parking lot of the adjacent apartment building at 1296 Midland Avenue.

The suspect then fled from the stolen vehicle, running toward Midland Avenue. Yonkers Police Officers quickly located the suspect at the entrance to 1328 Midland Avenue and placed him into custody without incident. A knife was recovered from the suspect at the time of arrest. Medical aid was rendered at the scene, and the suspect was transported to an area hospital where he was treated for non-life-threatening gunshot wounds and remains in stable condition.

Due to New York State law prohibiting the identification of minors charged with a crime, he can only be identified as a 17-year-old male resident of Yonkers. No further information will be released regarding his identity.

The suspect is still awaiting arraignment but will be charged with Robbery 1st Degree, Robbery 2nd Degree, Robbery 3rd Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon 4th Degree, and Menacing 2nd Degree. The criminal investigation is being led by the Yonkers Police Department’s Detective Division Major Case Squad, while an internal review is being conducted by the New York State Police, consistent with department protocol.

As the Trooper was the victim, no further identifying information will be released, consistent with the Yonkers Police Department’s policy of not identifying victims of crimes in news releases. The Trooper will only be identified as a female off-duty New York State Trooper assigned to Troop New York City.

Additional information may be released as it becomes available.

The neighbors not hearing gunfire from inside a home isn’t unusual.

Man shoots intruder during attempted home invasion robbery in Kent

KENT, Wash. — Police say an attempted home invasion robbery in Kent ended in a shooting Monday morning.

One suspect is now in the hospital and police say at least one other suspect is still on the run.

It all unfolded at a home on the corner of Cambridge and Hampton.

Police say five family members were inside – the two homeowners, their daughter and her husband, along with a young child.

The daughter woke up to a noise and called 911, according to Kent Police.

“Woke up her husband – he’s the one that went down after retrieving his firearm from the safe next to his bed… he went downstairs and that’s when she heard the shots and the suspect was shot and we responded,” said Kent Police Assistant Chief Jarod Kasner.

Officers found a man on the floor, shot multiple times, with a gun nearby.

No family members were hurt.

Police say the intruder was armed and was likely with at least one other person.

“We believe the suspect wasn’t alone. The caller believes that there were other people in the house,” said Kasner.

Efforts to track down another suspect came up empty. Investigators spent around 11 hours gathering evidence.

Neighbors told KIRO 7 they didn’t hear any gunfire.

“It’s kind of scary – all morning I was trying to figure out what was going on because it’s too close to home,” said Bobbi Wheeler, who lives across the street.

Investigators are now hoping the suspect recovers so he can answer some questions.

“Now we have to figure out what sequence of events got him to that point. We don’t know why they picked that home,” said Kasner.