Category: Self Defense

Tiananmen Square Anniversary: Chinese-American Warns U.S. to Protect Gun Rights

Today is the anniversary of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) troops storming Tiananmen Square to massacre the freedom protesters who had gathered there. A survivor of the CCP’s tyranny who now lives in the U.S. has a message for Americans this anniversary: Don’t give up your guns.

Lily Tang Williams is an American citizen now, an entrepreneur who is running for Congress in New Hampshire. But the self-described “Survivor of Mao’s Cultural Revolution” remembers all too well the nightmare of Communist rule in China, and on the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, she emphasized how vitally important the right to keep and bear arms is in preventing such massacres by dictatorial regimes.

Williams took to X to commemorate the anniversary and reaffirm the United States’ Second Amendment. She included a screenshot of her previous post, which warned that the “champion of all the mass killings in this world is always a tyrannical government.”

 

Her previous post referred to the slaughter by the CCP troops of thousands of students at Tiananmen Square, and expressed regret that the students in 1989 did not have guns like the ones she is able to own now in America. “I am a Chinese immigrant and an American citizen by choice. I once was a slave before and I will never be one again,” Williams wrote.

The U.S. State Department and Secretary Marco Rubio put out a statement, too, honoring the “bravery” of the Chinese freedom protesters and explaining:

In the spring of 1989, tens of thousands of students gathered in Beijing’s largest public square to mourn the passing of a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader who tried to steer China toward a more open and democratic system. Their actions inspired a national movement.

Hundreds of thousands of ordinary people in the capital and throughout China took to the streets for weeks to exercise their freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly by advocating for democracy, human rights, and an end to rampant corruption.

The CCP responded with a brutal crackdown, sending the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to open fire in an attempt to extinguish the pro-democracy sentiments of unarmed civilians gathered on Beijing’s streets and in Tiananmen Square.

The fact that the civilians were unarmed is precisely what Williams was warning about in her statements.

On her website, Williams says, “I grew up under Mao’s cultural revolution in China and fled communism for the freedom of the United States. Now, I fear the country I love is becoming the country I left.” It is a fear that many of us have experienced in recent years as we witnessed the attacks on our rights by the Biden administration, and now the increasing dictatorial activism of the judiciary. But one way to deter government tyranny is to exercise our Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms, to be ready always to stand up for ourselves and our liberties, as the Founding Fathers were.

In Dangerous Times, Train for Self-Defense
My wife and I built our defensive skills with six days of sweat, dust, and the right mindset.

If you’re going to own a tool, it’s best to know how to properly use it. That’s as true for firearms as it is for chainsaws. Given the rising temperature of American politics, including escalating violence against people and property, my wife Wendy and I decided it was time to up our game when it came to self-defense. To that end, we enrolled in Gunsite Academy’s Defensive Pistol class.

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Homeowner shoots, kills intruder in Riverside County,

An armed homeowner shot and killed an intruder in Riverside County late Thursday night, according to local authorities.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office says a caller reported a man trying to break into their home in Lake Mathews on the 16000 block of Hidden Peak Lane.

The homeowner told dispatchers that they were armed with a firearm. The suspect, officials said, eventually forced his way inside and was shot.

Deputies arrived at the scene around 11 p.m. where they found the suspect suffering from his wounds. Paramedics responded and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Homicide detectives responded to the scene, and the homeowner was transported to the Lake Mathews Sheriff’s Station for “further investigation.”

Neither the suspect or the homeowner have been identified.

The investigation remains ongoing and is currently described as a homicide investigation, although the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office will ultimately decide if those charges are pursued.

 

Just because they’re kids doesn’t mean they’re not thugs.

Shooting suspect killed after 2 hurt in downtown Seattle

SEATTLE — A 16-year-old boy accused of shooting two people in downtown Seattle was shot and killed by someone else Wednesday night.

The initial shooting happened around 10 p.m. near the Four Seasons Hotel on Union Street.

Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes said three people got in a fight. One took out a gun and shot two people, then ran from the scene.

Police said a private citizen who was licensed to carry intervened and shot the suspect, who was a 16-year-old boy.

Seattle fire crews said they treated an 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy. They were taken to the hospital in serious condition.

The suspect was also taken to Harborview Medical Center, where he died of his injuries.

The private citizen who shot the suspect cooperated with police, and was taken to Seattle Police Headquarters, where he was interviewed by detectives. Police said the citizen has not been arrested.

Police activity blocked all lanes of First Avenue from University Street to Pike Street, according to the Seattle Department of Transportation.

 

Unruly patron killed in shooting after being kicked out of Peoria sports bar

PEORIA, AZ (AZFamily) — A man who reportedly fired shots into a Peoria sports bar after he was kicked out late Tuesday night is dead following a shootout with two other armed men.

Peoria Police have identified the man as 46-year-old Mario Franco of El Mirage.

Investigators say the incident began just before midnight at the Deli Sports Bar near the Loop 101 Agua Fria Freeway and Peoria Avenue. There, an employee called 911 to request that police help with an intoxicated patron, Franco, who refused several requests to leave.

While officers were en route, police say Franco went to the parking lot, grabbed a handgun from inside his car and started firing shots in the air and into the bar. Dispatchers then received another call that someone in the bar had been shot in the leg by someone in the parking lot.

Two men on a nearby park bench saw what was happening and intervened. Police say Franco then pointed his weapon at the two men, who were also armed, and a gunfight ensued.

Franco was shot in the chest, while the two other men weren’t hurt.

Peoria Police Officer Kristopher Babros said that when officers arrived, the two men were still pointing their handguns toward Franco, who was inside the passenger side of his BMW sedan. Both men cooperated with police and were briefly detained.

Franco was pronounced dead at the scene.

The person inside the bar who was shot in the leg has since been treated and released from the hospital. Babros commended the men who intervened before any other innocent people were hurt.

Peoria PD said there is no further threat to the community.

Burglary suspect shot by homeowner in Aurora (Colorado)
The homeowner was notified of the attempted burglary through a home security camera, according to police.

AURORA, Colo. — A homeowner shot and injured an intruder in their detached garage early Monday in Aurora, police said.

Aurora Police interviewed the homeowner Monday morning and released him, saying they don’t expect any charges.

That does not mean the investigation is over, police said. Investigators will report their findings to the District Attorney’s Office, which is standard practice. The District Attorney’s Office determines what, if any, charges will be filed.

The shooting happened in the 1200 block of Moline Street. About 4:49 a.m., the homeowner confronted a man breaking into his detached garage and shot him. The suspect was taken to the hospital and remains there with life-threatening injuries, police said.

The homeowner reported a similar break-in on Saturday, where he said about $400 worth of items were stolen. After the break-in, the homeowner told police, he bought and installed cameras in his garage, which is what tipped him off to Monday’s break-in.

The homeowner told police that he confronted the person in his garage, which resulted in an altercation. That’s when the homeowner shot the intruder, police said.

Third Street Promenade shopkeeper fatally shoots man during attempted robbery

A shoe store owner shot and killed a man Sunday night during an attempted robbery on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, according to police.

The shooting unfolded around 9:30 p.m., the Santa Monica Police Department announced in a news release. The owner of the shoe store, Sole & Laces, was carrying out an after-hours sale with a customer when the attempted robbery took place, according to property manager John Alle.

A second person, who allegedly knew the customer taking part in the private sale, entered the store and pepper-sprayed the owner, according to police. There was a struggle and the store owner, who had a legally owned gun, shot the suspect, police said.

The suspect was taken to a local hospital and later died from his injuries, police said.

The customer who arranged for the private sale, later identified as Karen Melikyan , 41, was arrested on suspicion of being involved in the attempted robbery, according to authorities. He was booked on suspicion of murder, robbery and conspiracy, police said.

The name of the person killed in the shooting was not released pending notification to the kin. The incident appears to be targeted and involved people who knew each other, police said. “There is no ongoing threat to the public,” the Santa Monica Police Department said in a news release.

Police said the shopkeeper, who was also not identified, is cooperating with the authorities.

The investigation remains ongoing.

New Oklahoma law changes how guns can be used to protect property: What ‘defensive display’ means

Oklahomans can now legally point a firearm or other weapon at someone if they are defending their home, private property or business under a new law signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt.

Existing state law allows people to point weapons in self defense, but House Bill 2818 expands the justified “defensive display of a firearm or other deadly weapon” to include defense of property.

The new law took effect immediately after Stitt signed it on Thursday, May 16.

During debate on the House floor, Democratic lawmakers questioned the law’s author, state Rep. Jay Steagall, on responsibilities of a gun owner and whether Oklahoma youths would interpret the law to allow flashing a weapon as an acceptable response to fear of confrontation.

“We don’t have any control over the way someone else perceives something. There’s not a way for me to legislate that,” Steagall said during a presentation in March. “But what we can do is provide a clear definition of what’s lawful and what’s not lawful when it comes to the display or the pointing of a firearm.”

What is considered ‘defensive display of a firearm’ under House Bill 2818

According to the new law, defensive display of a firearm includes the following:

    • Verbally informing another person that you possess a firearm or have one available – “I’ve got a gun”
    • Exposing or displaying the weapon in a manner where a reasonable person would understand that it’s meant to protect against unlawful force
    • Placing your hand on a firearm while it’s “in a pocket, purse, holster, sling scabbard, case or other means of containment or transport

This is the latest law to expand gun rights in Oklahoma, a state known for its permissive rules on the ownership, carrying and use of firearms. Another proposed law recently sent to the governor’s desk for his approval would allow elected municipal officials and judges with a valid firearm license to carry concealed guns in buildings leased or owned by their city, if a policy is approved by the city council.

In the United States, most states follow some version of the Castle Doctrine, which allows the use of deadly force in self defense. According to an analysis by FindLaw, however, state laws vary when it comes to which locations or specific situations allow someone to claim their use of force was justified.

The National Conference of State Legislatures notes that Oklahoma is one of 28 states where the person claiming self defense has no duty to attempt retreat before firing their weapon. It’s also one of just 10 states that allow that person to “stand their ground.”

In 2019, Stitt signed legislation on the “constitutional carry” of handguns. The measure loosened the state’s gun laws, allowing most adults to carry a loaded, concealed firearm without a permit.

Teen fatally shot in self-defense at Berkeley County apartments.

HANAHAN [South Carolina] — The person who shot and killed a teenager outside an area apartment complex will not be charged after police determined it was a case of self defense, authorities said.

Hanahan police responded to the parking lot area near the Bowen Village shopping plaza just before 9 p.m. May 12 to find 18-year-old Tra’sean White of Wadmalaw Island suffering from a gunshot wound, according to Police Chief Richard Gebhardt. White was pronounced dead on the scene.

The shooting occurred near a Domino’s Pizza restaurant at 9105 Bowen Pier Drive and several other stores and restaurants attached to the Channel Family Apartment Homes complex.

A day after the shooting, police arrested Deonte Calen Trevon Lancit, 18, of Charleston. He is charged with armed robbery.

An investigation revealed that Lancit and White had been in the area attempting to rob someone. During the robbery, the intended target shot and killed White, Gebhardt told The Post and Courier.

Authorities presented evidence to prosecutors at the Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Office who determined the shooting was an act of self-defense.

Lancit is in the Hill-Finklea Detention Center after being denied bail by a magistrate judge, according to a clerk at the Berkeley County jail.

Of course, politicians (I’m pointing a finger at both the Texas House and Senate) can’t simply pass the same bill in both houses of their legislature.
It’s like they’ve never heard of email, text messages, or the telephone where they can coordinate things.

Texas House Lawmakers Pass Self-Defense, Pro-Second Amendment Measures

Texas House members have passed legislation that would strengthen Second Amendment rights and expand protections for individuals who lawfully exercise self-defense.

House Bill 170, filed by State Rep. Ryan Guillen (R–Rio Grande City), would prohibit civil actions against an individual who threatens or administers force or deadly force if a grand jury does not indict them, or if charges are dismissed or the person is acquitted.

In addition, if the person pursuing the civil action is found to be prohibited from seeking it, Guillen’s proposal would require them to pay court costs and the defendant’s attorney fees.

The measure is similar, but not identical, to Senate Bill 1730 by State Sen. Bob Hall (R–Edgewood), which senators passed 26-3-2 on Monday afternoon.

Like Guillen’s measure, Hall’s would extend civil immunity protections to those who exercised self-defense and never faced grand jury charges. However, unlike Hall’s measure, Guillen’s proposal would extend immunity to those who merely “threaten” the use of force.

“This strengthens the Texas castle doctrine by extending civil immunity to individuals who lawfully threaten to use force or deadly force in self-defense, without requiring the force to actually be used,” said Guillen.

HB 170 finally passed in a 118-20-3 vote by representatives on Tuesday.

Another proposal, HB 2458 by State Rep. Wes Virdell (R–Brady), would provide a defense to prosecution for aggravated assault when an individual threatens death or serious bodily injury by displaying a deadly weapon if they:

  1. Successfully demonstrate that their threat constituted legally justified self-defense.
  2. Reasonably believed that using the deadly weapon was immediately necessary to protect themselves from aggravated assault.

The legal term “defense to prosecution” is a type of total affirmative defense. These defenses, even if the prosecution proves the elements of the crime, present additional facts that could otherwise negate the defendant’s liability.

“This is just saying that if you have to unholster your weapon while you’re acting in self-defense, then it’s a defense to prosecution,” explained Virdell.

Lawmakers passed HB 2458 in a 119-18-2 vote.

Two proposals dealing with citizens’ gun rights were also approved by representatives on Tuesday, but they faced more pushback from Democrats than those related to self-defense, with both votes splitting largely along party lines.

HB 3053, filed by Virdell, would ban local municipalities from adopting or enforcing firearm buyback programs—government initiatives intended to remove guns from circulation by purchasing the firearms.

State Rep. Gene Wu (D–Houston) pushed back on the proposal, arguing that cities should be able to decide for themselves if they want a buyback program.

While Virdell contended that cities often ignore their citizens in passing the programs, Wu argued that the buyback program in Houston was widely supported by residents.

“I have been to multiple gun buyback programs in my districts that were overwhelmingly popular—that people lined up around the block for hours and hours and hours to trade in their weapons,” said Wu.

Virdell noted that most firearms bought through the programs are not destroyed entirely, with the government auctioning off parts of the weapons to private contractors who then resell them back to the public.

“At millions of dollars per city that’s doing this, and the estimate by The Trace over the time period this has been going on is over a billion dollars right now,” said Virdell.

The measure passed 85-56-2.

HB 1794, filed by State Rep. Carl Tepper (R–Lubbock), would permit those with a license to carry (LTC) to bear concealed handguns at certain polling locations, unless carrying at the location is otherwise prohibited by state law.

Primary or secondary schools are examples of polling locations at which Tepper’s proposal would not apply.

“I would also like to add here that private property owners get to keep their own policies,” said Tepper. “So, if the grocery store doesn’t allow handguns, the polling place will also not be allowed to have handguns.”

Tepper’s measure passed 83-50-2.

All four of the measures will now be sent to senators, who have increasingly limited time to read over and consider the hundreds of measures that representatives have stacked up for them.

We already have that in Missouri

Texas Senators Approve Measure Strengthening Right to Self-Defense
While Texas is already a castle doctrine state, individuals whom a grand jury declines to prosecute may still face civil action after exercising self-defense.

Texas senators have approved a measure strengthening the state’s protections for justified use of force or deadly force in self-defense situations.

Senate Bill 1730, filed by State Sen. Bob Hall (R–Edgewood), passed 26-3-2 on Monday.

The measure would prevent a claimant from recovering civil damages for personal injury or death if a grand jury has declined to pursue, thrown out, or acquitted the defendant of criminal charges.

In addition, if the claimant is found to be prohibited from seeking civil action, the proposal would require them to pay court costs and the defendant’s attorney fees.

Hall explained when laying out the measure before lawmakers that Texas is a castle doctrine state, meaning individuals are permitted to use force or deadly force in order to defend themselves on their own property.

“However, under current Texas law, individuals may file civil lawsuits seeking damages for personal injury or death resulting from the use of force or deadly force, even in cases where the defendants’ actions have been deemed lawful in a criminal proceeding,” claimed Hall.

The senator further argued that the current system creates “a substantial financial and emotional burden” for defendants who are faced with lawsuits after having already been cleared of criminal charges.

State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt (D–Austin) pointed out that the standards for civil and criminal actions are different, with criminal action requiring proof “beyond a reasonable doubt” and civil action having lesser standards.

Hall said that, although he is not an attorney and could not speak on Eckhardt’s comments directly, the intent of his measure is to “protect someone who has acted lawfully in their home … from an arduous civil case.”

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Homeowner kills man with ax trying to break in

DUPLIN COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) – No charges have been filed after Duplin County deputies say a man was shot and killed while trying to break into a home Sunday morning.

It happened on Sheffield Road near Magnolia around 6:30 a.m.

Deputies were told David White was using an ax, trying to break in through the back door.

A news release says the homeowners fired multiple shots through the door, hitting White. Deputies say they found the man lying on his back at the bottom of the steps with multiple gunshot wounds.

They say a large ax and other weapons were near White’s body.

Deputies say after consulting with the D.A.’s office, no charges are being brought against the homeowners at this time.

Summerville home invasion leaves suspected intruder dead

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCSC) – Dorchester County deputies are investigating an apparent home invasion that ended with the suspect’s death.

The Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office responded early Wednesday, just after 1 a.m., to a call for an active home invasion in which one person was reported shot.

Upon their arrival to the 100 block of Hope Drive in Summerville, deputies found that the alleged intruder died at the scene.

It remains unclear who the shooter was or if they will face any charges, something that will be determined as the investigation continues.

The Dorchester County Coroner’s Office has not released the identity of the person who died.

Suspect who Greece Police say was shot during attempted robbery faces charges

GREECE, N.Y. — The 17-year-old who Greece police say was shot during an attempted robbery is facing charges.

The teen, a Rochester resident, is charged with the attempted robbery of Henry’s Convenience Store on Denise Road on Tuesday. He’s also charged with a robbery at the same store that happened on April 26.

Police say the store owner shot the suspect in self-defense after the suspect went into the store wearing a mask and pointing a gun. The teen underwent surgery for a gunshot wound to his leg and remains hospitalized under the watch of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.

Officers say they found the suspect injured on nearby Lake Avenue. A Greece police officer put a tourniquet on the suspect’s leg before he was taken to Strong Hospital.

Police got calls about the robbery and shooting around 7:30 a.m. The caller said the store owner and the suspect exchanged gunfire and the suspect ran away after being hit. Fifteen minutes later, officers got reports of a man shot.

Police say the suspect went into the store with a mask, and when asked to take it off, he pointed a gun at the store owner.

Greece Police say they recovered the suspect’s gun inside the store. Police say the store owner was a legal pistol permit holder and wasn’t injured.

“He used a legally registered handgun in what appears to be the defense of himself and the store,” Deputy Chief Naser Zenelovic said.

Monroe County Sheriffs and Rochester police assisted in setting up a perimeter. The number of shots fired during the exchange was not released.

Greece Police shared surveillance video of the first robbery at Henry’s Convenience Store. The video shows the suspect running away and police say the suspect had a gun and stole cash, along with other property.

The store has since reopened, but the owner declined to comment on camera before consulting with his attorney.

Greece resident Deborah Hofer expressed concern for her safety after the two incidents in 10 days. “I think that there should be more police in the area because this is kind of scary,” said Hofer.

As I understand it, the Israelis have these strict gun laws because they’re afraid the number of their citizens, who are actual Arabs, would more easily be armed to aid and assist their terrorist minded brethren when an opportunity presented itself.

Israeli National Security Minister Wants US Gun Laws at Home

Israel is a country in a tough spot. They have people who don’t just want to defeat them militarily all around them, and some inside their own borders, but who want them eliminated from the planet. They’re openly calling for genocide, and that includes voices all across the world, including within our own country, for some idiotic reason.

Because of that, there are certain laws in place that try to make the nation a tough target for anyone to take on.

You might be able to beat Israel in a war, but they’re damned sure going to make you pay for it first. They kind of take that “Never Again” thing seriously, and for good reason.

But they still have a lot of gun control. That’s not exactly conducive to being as hard a target as possible. Now, an Israeli minister has taken a look at the American gun culture and figures that Israel should adopt similar laws to the United States.

Israel’s controversial National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir recently visited the U.S., where he met with Jewish groups, law enforcement officials and politicians, as well as facing several clashes with protesters.

The shouting critics, however, did not appear to bother Ben-Gvir, who was a right-wing activist in his youth….

Prior to his meeting with Mast, Ben-Gvir had the chance to visit his home state where he saw something that he wanted to take back with him to Israel: gun culture.

Ben-Gvir has long been an advocate for wider distribution of firearms in Israel, and while he was visiting the U.S., he took time to see how America handles guns. He had the opportunity to visit both a shooting range and a gun store, which he said was “fascinating.”

“I was surprised by the quantity and types of weapons available. Even I haven’t reached that level,” Ben-Gvir told Fox News Digital.

He spoke about how critics have accused him of arming militias, which he denies. When speaking with Fox News Digital, Ben-Gvir said that the weapons he distributed in Israel “saved many lives.”

“I believe we need to learn a from the Americans. One of the important lessons is their policy on weapons,” Ben-Gvir told Fox News Digital. “I’m not sure I would distribute arms to the same extent, but I definitely believe in expanding access because citizens have the right to defend themselves.”

Gun culture in Israel has changed since the Oct. 7 massacre. Before the attacks, Israel was strict about who was eligible to obtain a firearm. Pre-Oct. 7, firearm licenses were restricted to those who live and work in high-risk areas, licensed tour guides and those who served with Israeli police or IDF security forces, among a few other specified categories, according to an Israeli government website from 2019.

Frankly, they should “distribute arms to the same extent” as the US, in part because then October 7th might have gone very differently. As it was, some Hamas fighters were killed by armed civilians who made the terrorists pay for all the Israeli blood they wanted to spill.

Yet more guns in more hands might have actually changed everything, up to and including potentially preventing that particular atrocity.

Less than a month before that attack, Hamas lashed out at armed Israelis.

*cough* *cough

They knew what they had planned and hoped to have more Israelis disarmed as a result, thus potentially making their vicious attack all the worse.

While not every Israeli would own a gun, even if they could do so easily, imagine what it would be like for the neighbors of the gun nuts who had a lot of AR-15s or AK-47-style rifles. Hamas is coming, but the neighborhood gun nut has put a fighting rifle in the hand of every man, woman, and child on the block with enough ammunition to beat back an army.

Or even just a few rifles among close friends.

Anything is better than being a sitting duck when so many people want you purged from humanity.