‘Girls Just Wanna Have Guns’ coming to Coeur d’Alene
COEUR d’ALENE — It’s not uncommon for North Idaho women to have guns in their home — but many lack the skills needed to use one effectively in a self-defense situation.
Adelina Mae is looking to change that.
Mae began “Girls Just Wanna Have Guns,” a woman-owned and operated business, after realizing her own mother didn’t know how to use the guns her father kept in the home.
“My mom of all people, who has had guns in her house for a long time, did not know how to use the gun in her own nightstand,” Mae said.
Based in Arizona, “Girls Just Wanna Have Guns” holds events for women in cities across the country to teach them just about everything there is to know about owning and operating a gun, from holding it correctly to aiming, shooting and reloading.
“We go through everything as though you haven’t seen a gun in your life,” Mae said.
Mae said it’s common for women to have limited experience with shooting because they often receive help from their husbands, fathers or other men in their life out on the range.
“Most women, when they go to the range, their husband will load the gun and everything and they’ll just pull the trigger,” Mae said, “but it’s the same gun they would grab and need to operate if something happens at home.”
“Girls Just Wanna Have Guns” hosts events by women, for women, Mae added, because some women may have their reasons to not want to learn about guns from a man, such as survivors of domestic violence.
“It gives them a big sense of confidence and independence,” Mae said. “They know they are doing everything they can to protect themselves.”
Later this month, Mae is bringing “Girls Just Wanna Have Guns” to Coeur d’Alene — a homecoming of sorts, as Mae’s parents that inspired the business live in Athol.
The June 28 event will include about three hours of dry fire, hands-on learning at the Fernan Rod and Gun Club. Attendees also receive goody bags with essentials for a day on the range — all in pink and black.
Tickets to the event are $175 and can be purchased at girlsjustwannahavegunsevents.com. Info: @girlsjustwannahavegunss on Instagram.
Man shot, injured by North Portland homeowner after attempted break-in
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A man was hospitalized after police said he attempted to break into a North Portland home and was shot by the owner early Thursday morning.
Just before 1:30 a.m., officers responded to a home in the 700 block of North Baldwin Street on a report that a resident shot a man who was trying to break into his front door.
Arriving on the scene, officers found the man injured, applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding and he was taken the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police said the resident stayed at the scene and cooperated with officers.
While officials said no charges were immediately filed, the incident is still under investigation.
New Iberia store clerk shoots would-be armed robber
NEW IBERIA, La. (KLFY) — A New Iberia store clerk shot a person who was trying to rob the store Thursday night, authorities said.
New Iberia Police received a call at about 10:30 p.m. Thursday about a shooting at a convenience store located in the 200 block of Center Street.
Investigators said a person entered the store armed with a “cutting instrument,” walked around the counter and attempted to rob the store clerk. A struggle ensued and the robbery suspect was shot by the store clerk, authorities said.
The shooting victim was taken to a local hospital and later airlifted to a hospital in Lafayette, where he remains listed in critical condition.
The names of the individuals involved were not released.
The investigation remains ongoing, officials said.
Good advice
Birdshot…Birdshot? BUCKSHOT PEOPLE! B-U-C-K S-H-O-T!! #4 or bigger
Man breaks into Hendersonville store, gets injured in shootout with owner
HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A Hendersonville business owner and his wife survived a gun battle with an armed man inside the couple’s collectible shop early Wednesday morning. As for the suspect, he’s facing multiple charges — including attempted homicide — following his release from the hospital.
According to the Hendersonville Police Department, surveillance footage from The Cache on West Main Street shows a man — later identified as Dylan Bryan, 33, of East Tennessee — using a hammer and smashing the store’s glass doors around 4 a.m. on Wednesday, June 11.
“It sounds like explosions going off while he’s getting in, and then he tiptoes around like he’s the Hamburglar,” HPD Assistant Chief Scott Ryan told News 2.
Video shows the suspect going behind the counter. Then, authorities said he heard one of the owners in a back room, so he fled the store.
“We think everything’s over with,” Ryan said.
Then, just moments later, Bryan can be seen coming back to the door, pulling what law enforcement described as a 9mm from his backpack, ducking back through the broken glass into the store, and rushing toward the back of the shop.
“He’s looking to do harm at that point,” Ryan stated.
By this point, the co-owner of The Cache, Roger McCandless, was ready and armed with a shotgun loaded with birdshot.
From multiple cameras inside the store, you hear the gun battle as McCandless fired one round from his shotgun. Police said the birdshot, fired from about 30 feet away, struck Bryan in the stomach.
Video shows Bryan quickly retreating, but while doing so, officials said he opened fire. News 2 counted as many as many as five rounds fired by the suspect.
Authorities later learned that Bryan’s bullets hit the floor, the ceiling, and the wall, even passing through to the next business, according to The Cache’s co-owner, Shera McCandless.
News 2 documented the metal parts of the front door that were peppered with birdshot.
Despite all the gunfire, neither Roger nor his wife, Shera, were hurt.
“It happened so fast you don’t have time for emotions. The problem got resolved pretty quick. Right now, it’s good guys one, bad guys zero. We’re happy about that because it could have went the opposite very, very quickly,” Roger explained.
Bryan was reportedly unfamiliar with the area, so while he escaping in the darkness, he fell a great distance — which Ryan estimated was about a story high — and broke his pelvis.
Police dash camera footage shows the armed man limping into the street, falling to the ground, tossing his firearm, and surrendering to law enforcement.
Ryan credited the store owner for being ready to protect his family and his property: “This owner was prepared for the situation, and had he not been prepared, I’m afraid this would have been a complete slaughter. There was nothing good going to come from this.”
According to officials, Bryan was brought to a hospital, where he’s being treated for the shotgun wound to the stomach and the broken pelvis. Upon his release, he faces two counts of attempted homicide, attempted robbery, aggravated burglary, possession of a firearm during a dangerous felony, and possession of stolen property.
Meanwhile, the McCandless family wants everyone to know they are okay and The Cache is open for business.
Man shoots, kills man who tried to rob him near downtown
HOUSTON — A man claimed he shot and killed another man in self-defense Wednesday near downtown Houston, according to police.
The incident unfolded at a Midtown gas station parking lot along Main Street between Hadley Street and Webster Street around 5:30 p.m.
Investigators said the shooter told them the man he shot approached him and tried to rob him.
That’s when he said he pulled out a gun and shot the man.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene. It’s unclear if he was armed.
The shooter remained at the scene and turned himself in when police got there. Investigators were interviewing the man to get his side of the story.
Authorities said they’re working to get surveillance video of the shooting.
It’s unclear if charges will be filed in the case.
[Texas state law requires all cases of homicide be presented to a Grand Jury for them to indict or not. County prosecutors have no power to do so on their own]
Here’s the update police provided at the scene
We Must Protect the Right to Self-Defense Nationwide
For the past several years, America has been undergoing a self-defense awakening. From urban centers to rural towns, more Americans spanning all walks of life are making the personal decision to arm themselves for protection. The USCCA has seen firsthand this growing movement — a reflection of citizens taking responsibility for their own safety in an uncertain world.
As a former FBI Supervisory Special Agent, I have spent my 30 year career in law enforcement focused on keeping Americans safe. I understand the importance of preparation, awareness, and the right to self-defense. Today’s environment — marked by rising crime, strained law enforcement resources, and growing concerns about personal security — has prompted a renewed commitment among everyday Americans to take proactive steps in safeguarding themselves and their loved ones.
To put this into context, in 2024, there were over 15.2 million background checks processed through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), according to the NSSF, the Firearm Industry Trade Association, marking the 65th consecutive month with over 1million checks. This underscores a sustained commitment to responsible firearm ownership following pandemic-level highs.
Organizations like the USCCA are encouraged by the tremendous support from Americans across the country who are purchasing a firearm and seeking proper training. Yet right now, because of an antiquated patchwork of state laws, there are tremendous legal risks for law-abiding gun owners who simply want to protect themselves and their families. For example, if a gun owner carries a concealed weapon into a state that does not recognize their permit, they may be charged with a felony or misdemeanor, even if they’re otherwise following the law.
Earlier this year, a bill that would create a federal standard allowing law-abiding gun owners with concealed carry permits to legally carry in other states, was introduced in the House of Representatives. H.R. 38, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, sponsored by Representative Richard Hudson (NC-09), has the potential to be one of the most significant pieces of self-defense legislation passed by Congress in recent years.
This critical framework will bring much-needed clarity to the current patchwork of state laws, which often leaves gun owners uncertain about when and where they can safely exercise their rights, ultimately compromising their safety and the security of their families. By recognizing concealed carry permits issued in any state, the bill empowers responsible gun owners to exercise their fundamental right to self-defense, regardless of state boundaries. If enacted, this crucial legislation will keep us all safer, safeguarding and bolstering Americans’ right to defend themselves and ensuring firearms are in the hands of responsible gun owners.
The bill’s momentum in the House of Representatives represents a move in the right direction, a resounding wave of support for ensuring that Second Amendment rights are respected from coast to coast. It appears now, more than any other point in recent history, there is the political will both in Congress and in the White House to safeguard the fundamental right to self-defense.
President Trump’s administration is already taking decisive action to protect the Second Amendment. Earlier this year, an Executive Order directing a review and rollback of unconstitutional, anti-gun policies from the previous administration represents a strong step toward restoring and strengthening Americans’ right to self-defense.
The message from Americans is clear: the right to self-defense must be protected, not punished. More than half a million citizens have already signed a USCCA-sponsored petition urging Congress to pass national concealed carry reciprocity—demonstrating broad, diverse support from across the country.
As communities continue to grapple with crime, Americans are standing up and saying enough is enough. No longer should responsible gun owners be criminalized for acting on their Constitutional right to protect themselves or their loved ones. There’s a growing national realization: self-defense is not just a right—it’s a necessity. Congress now has a historic opportunity to respond—to recognize that self-defense is not just a right, but a necessity—and enact national reciprocity to protect the Second Amendment for millions of gun owners nationwide.
Rob Chadwick is the Director of Education & Training for the United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA)
Another moron brought an axe to a gunfight. This time he survived though
Monroe County homeowner shoots home invader armed with an axe
UPDATE: Monroe County Sheriff Tom Boatwright said Justin Ray, the man who was allegedly shot by a homeowner as he attempted to break into a home armed with an axe, has been booked into the Monroe County Jail.
MONROE COUNTY, Ala. (WALA) – In the Eureka Landing community early this morning [May 3], a homeowner discharged a firearm in an act of self-defense against a home invader who was armed with an axe, according to the Monroe County sheriff.
Deputies responded to the home shortly after 2:30 a.m., Sheriff Tom Boatwright said. They found the wounded suspect behind the residence.
According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, a resident contacted law enforcement to report that an individual had broken into the home armed with an axe. The homeowner shot the invader, striking the suspect once in the torso, officials said.
The MCSO said emergency medical personnel provided immediate care to the suspect at the scene before transporting him to a nearby hospital. The suspect’s condition was not available.
According to the sheriff, the homeowner is not expected to face charges related to this incident.
“We commend the quick response of our deputies and the homeowner’s decision to defend themselves and their loved ones,” Boatwright stated. “Our investigation is ongoing, and we will release additional information as it becomes available.”
What you’re seeing in LA right now is the reason the communists use every opportunity to disarm you.
They dream of the day they can send the animals to your door to hurt you.
Your guns are the only thing that will stop them and they know this.
– Jesse Kelly
Canada – be sure there is a full tank of gas in the car too pic.twitter.com/1thMAmOWdL
— MERICA MEMED (@Mericamemed) June 5, 2025
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.
If you are willing to paint people who disagree with you as monsters who are “pro dead school children”, I can’t begin to imagine the state sponsored violence you could rationalize being used against them.
We’ll keep our guns, thanks.
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 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.