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

“The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.”
(Federalist No. 47)

Constitutional carry bill clears NC legislature, sent to governor

The North Carolina House passed the Freedom to Carry NC Act on Wednesday afternoon along party lines, sending the permitless carry legislation to the governor’s desk.

In a 59-48 vote, the General Assembly moved one step closer to making North Carolina the 30th state to adopt constitutional carry. The bill allows individuals 18 and older to carry concealed handguns without a permit.

“This bill further ensures that Carolinians can exercise their Second Amendment rights, which include both owning and carrying firearms,” said Rep. Brian Echevarria, R-Cabarrus. “The absolute language of ‘shall not be infringed’ in our Constitution is the strongest prohibition on earth against any government action that would limit this right.”

All Democrats, as well as two Republicans, Reps. William Brisson, R-Bladen, and Ted Davis, R-New Hanover, voted against the bill.

 

Rep. Keith Kidwell, R-Beaufort, praised the bill, noting it mirrors his own bill proposal that was introduced in the House earlier this year. The Senate passed its own version and sent it to the House for approval.

“This is a very good bill,” said Kidwell. “Most of you run a bill and it goes over to the Senate and they make changes and send it back,” Kidwell said. “In this particular case, the Senate just took the bill right after I wrote it, took it over there, put their name on it, and sent it back. So I do appreciate that they enjoyed that bill that much.”

Kidwell explained that the bill would allow North Carolinians to constitutionally carry a firearm without obtaining a permit from the government to exercise their God-given right to defend themselves.

Representatives debated the bill for roughly an hour, with Democrats speaking out against the bill. Democrats pointed to various statistics, such as a Stanford study that shows permitless concealed carry states face a 13-15% violent crime increase over the next decade.

Rep. Phil Rubin, D-Wake, pointed to West Virginia as the worst example, where firearm deaths surged 26% and gun homicides rose about 48% in five years, compared to 17 prior years, after repealing permit requirements.

“I know that there are profound, strong feelings on both sides of the aisle about the best approach for guns, but we don’t have to go this far,” he said. “I think this bill does not help the people that we represent because it is dangerous. It is unnecessary and it is deeply unpopular.”

Rep. Clark shared her own story of a childhood friend dying by suicide with a legal gun and another friend who was murdered. She urged lawmakers vote down the bill, arguing that the “bill goes too far.”

Countering what he called “cherry-picked” statistics, Kidwell said 83% of states with permitless carry have homicide rates below the national average, while 84% of states have lower violent crime rates than they did prior to permitless carry.

“It’s interesting information,” Kidwell said. “Where does that come from? Not some cherry-picked group. Not some organization that was already against firearms. That comes from the FBI, the Federal Bureau of Investigation. To me, that’s pretty amazing. 84% of states have lower violent crime rates in 2022 than they did before they had permitless carry.”

While Senate Bill 50 now awaits Democratic Gov. Josh Stein’s signature, he has suggested a veto. With Stein’s expected veto, Republican leadership would need to secure a three-fifths majority in both chambers to override—a task that was easier during the last session when both chambers held supermajorities.

Senate Republicans hold a supermajority, but House Republicans are one seat short, meaning any override effort will require unified attendance and careful vote counting, as any veto override may hinge on attendance numbers.

ATF to Return Legal Gun Parts, Leaving 16 Blue State AGs to Suffer a Collective Meltdown

The whole “bump stock” hooraw has been settled, for the time being, following the Trump administration’s settling of a lawsuit brought by the National Association for Gun Rights. These devices, more properly called “forced-reset triggers,” allow for firing a semi-automatic rifle more quickly, at the cost of some accuracy. In the interests of complete reporting, we should note that the action of one of these devices can be duplicated with such readily available things as rubber bands or belt loops. Following the settlement, the ATD has been ordered to return some 100,000 seized devices to their rightful owners.

To summarize, 100,000 pieces of legally owned private property are being returned to their owners.

So, of course, 16 blue state attorneys general are screeching and soiling themselves in terror. They are demanding that these people not be given back their property, and as is typical, they don’t even know what they’re talking about. Consider this, from Colorado’s AG, Phil Weiser:

“The law is clear: Machine guns, and devices that turn a semiautomatic weapon into a machine gun, are illegal,” Weiser said in a statement. “We’re suing to stop the ATF and the administration from making our communities more dangerous by distributing thousands of devices that turn firearms into weapons of war.”

Wrong, wrong, wrong, and wrong. These are not machine guns, and they cannot turn a semi-automatic weapon into a machine gun. With or without a forced-reset trigger, the weapon functions the same: One shot for each trigger pull. The device makes it easier to fire more quickly, but so can a thumb thrust through a belt loop.

Furthermore, machine guns are not illegal. The supply is restricted, they are very expensive, and one has to go through a defined process to own one, including a background check and payment of a “transfer tax.” But they are not illegal. Given money and patience, any law-abiding citizen can legally own one. Like this guy does.

Moving on: We’ve seen, time and again and in fact quite recently, that if you want to make your community less safe, the easiest way to do that is to elect Democrats to run that community. But the simple fact is that rifles, modified are not, are very rarely used in crime; you are about as likely to be killed by a falling vending machine as by a mass shooter with an AR-15.

And, finally, these are not weapons of war. Nitwits like AG Weiser, who know less than nothing about guns, can’t explain why an AR-15 is a weapon of war, but a functionally identical but less scary-looking Winchester 100 is not; and yet, the legislation they propose almost always prohibits the former while ignoring the latter.

It’s just stupid all the way down.

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)

Austrian School Shooting Shatters Gun Control Myths

School shootings aren’t the boogieman many make them out to be, as I noted just a couple of hours ago, but they’re far more common here than elsewhere.

However, they’re not “uniquely American” as some have said, and what happened in Graz, Austria yesterday kind of illustrates that point pretty well, as I noted on Tuesday morning.

I’m not the only one who noticed this, of course. Not by any stretch of the imagination.

The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms noticed it too, and they sent out a press release talking about it.

Tuesday’s tragic school shooting in Graz, Austria not only refutes long standing arguments by the U.S. gun prohibition lobby that such crimes only happen in this country, but also destroys other contentions made by American anti-gunners, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms said.

The attack, at the BORG Dreierschützengasse high school, claimed at least nine lives, and the alleged killer apparently took his own life, according to published reports. Details about the shooting, revealed by the BBC, place traditional gun control arguments in serious doubt, said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb.

“What we have ascertained from various reports,” Gottlieb stated, “is that the alleged shooter used two legally-obtained firearms, and gun ownership in Austria requires registration. Purchases involve a three-day waiting period, and handguns may be purchased only by people over age 21 who hold firearms licenses.

“This tells us that the gun prohibition lobby is absolutely wrong when it argues that waiting periods and gun registration will prevent such tragedies,” the veteran gun rights advocate observed. “The 21-year-old suspect reportedly used a handgun and a shotgun, and he had a firearms license, so the notion that a licensing requirement will deter such attacks is also now thoroughly debunked.”

A report from the BBC also explained that in Austria, anyone wanting to own a firearm must first provide a reason for the purchase, which can be “sports shooting or self-defense.” Gottlieb noted that in the U.S., with its Second Amendment protection of the right to keep and bear arms, citizens do not need to provide a reason for exercising a constitutionally protected right, especially after the 2022 Supreme Court Bruen ruling.

“What we do know,” Gottlieb said, “is that restrictions on gun ownership in Austria did not prevent this attack, and that calling for such restrictions on gun ownership in America as a means of stopping tragedies here amounts to a promise gun grabbers have no intention of keeping, and know they cannot guarantee. What they do know, but will never acknowledge, is that their efforts are designed to discourage gun ownership, with the ultimate goal of eliminating it altogether.”

Now, I’ve had people try to point out that Austria has pretty liberal gun laws as European nations go, and that’s true. They have permit requirements, but they’re “shall issue” to anyone who qualifies, and they have concealed carry on a “shall issue” basis, which means Austria respected gun rights better than New York in some ways.

But they still have more extensive gun control laws than we have here, and much stricter than would likely be tolerated by the courts should anyone try to put them in place in the United States.

And they didn’t work.

It’s also not like we haven’t seen this in other places with even more restrictive gun control laws. We’ve seen far too many, unfortunately, and it’s a sign that there’s something wrong with society as a whole, not with the gun laws that may or may not be put in place.

Graz is a city I’ve wanted to visit for a long time. There’s an armory there with a lot of medieval armor there and since one of my passions is medieval armor, it’s something I desperately want to see. I actually feel better about going some day, knowing there is lawful concealed carry, even if I’m not allowed to be armed.

I feel much better, though, here in the United States, knowing I can deal with threats personally.

Mass shootings happen everywhere in the world. Anyone who calls them “uniquely American” is lying to you. They want you afraid, thinking that it’s only us.

Graz will fall out of the news cycle here very quickly, in part because they want you to forget it ever happened before the next tragedy strikes.

The truth, though, is that it’s not the guns.

What, sir, is the use of a militia? It is to prevent the establishment of a standing army, the bane of liberty … Whenever governments mean to invade the rights and liberties of the people, they always attempt to destroy the militia, in order to raise an army upon their ruins.
– Elbridge Gerry

Ammo Under Pressure: Why America Must Reinforce Domestic Ammunition Production Now!

The U.S. ammo industry is facing a perfect storm. From new tariffs to hostile foreign suppliers, and explosive global demand, one thing is clear: America needs to make more of its own ammunition—and fast.

Bosnia Primers In The Crosshairs

According to a recent NYTimes.com article, Bosnia’s ammo manufacturers, like Ginex in Gorazde, are on edge. The small Balkan town that once supplied ignition primers for countless U.S. cartridges is now paralyzed by uncertainty, thanks to new tariffs announced by President Trump. Rates have fluctuated wildly—35 % one week, then revised to 10%—but even the lower number is enough to make American customers think twice.

These much-needed and well-deserved tariffs, aimed at protecting American industry, may ironically cut off supplies that many U.S. ammo makers rely on, at least in the short term, to keep production rolling. Without primers, bullets don’t go bang. Period.

SAAMI WARNS: U.S. Commercial Capacity Is Critical

According to a detailed report from SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute), U.S. commercial producers already carry the bulk of the load when it comes to total output—eclipsing even the federal government’s own Lake City Army Ammunition Plant. However, unlike the military, which produces only a handful of calibers, America’s commercial plants crank out over 130 different rifle rounds and 40 handgun types. They’re running at full tilt.

That’s why any disruption—be it government-mandated tracking rules*, foreign material shortages, or international tariffs—hits hard. Ammunition facilities in the U.S. move millions of components daily, and trying to micromanage every bullet is like asking UPS to track each peanut in a 40-pound bag. *CHALLENGES TO MARKING: SAAMI Report Page 3

China Cuts Off Key Components

In late 2024, China slammed the door on exports of two critical ingredients: nitrocellulose and antimony. Without these, there’s no smokeless powder, no primer compound, no ammo. China supplies over 63% of U.S. antimony—a key hardening element in bullets. American mines for these materials were shut down decades ago. Now, we’re scrambling to reopen sites like Idaho’s Stibnite Gold Mine, but that’ll take years.

The Military Isn’t Waiting

The U.S. Army just broke ground on a massive new 6.8mm ammo plant in Missouri to support its Next Generation Squad Weapon program. That’s great news for defense readiness—but make no mistake, that plant won’t be making your 9mm range ammo or .308 hunting loads. Most handgun, shotgun, and rimfire ammo still comes from private companies, not Uncle Sam.

What Smart Shooters Know

Dan Wolgin, CEO of Ammunition Depot, reminds shooters not to panic: “Most of our ammo is made right here in the USA.” But that doesn’t mean the risks aren’t real. Supply disruptions, material shortages, and panic buying can drive up prices or empty shelves faster than a Black Friday stampede. It’s not fearmongering—it’s math.

The Solution: Bring Ammunition Production Home

If COVID, Ukraine, and China taught us anything, it’s this: critical industries can’t be outsourced. America needs to:

  • Reopen domestic mines for critical materials like antimony.
  • Invest in smokeless powder production capacity.
  • Support the expansion of U.S.-based primer manufacturers.
  • Stop punishing American ammo makers with overregulation and unstable policies.
  • Encourage private capital and public-private partnerships to scale up ammo output.

Bottom Line

Tariffs, foreign restrictions, and global conflicts are squeezing the ammo industry from all sides. While big factories like Lake City are building new military stockpiles, everyday shooters could face shortages if commercial production doesn’t keep pace.

We can’t shoot our way to freedom if we don’t make our own ammo. It’s time to reinvest in American manufacturing and end our reliance on foreign powder, primers, and politics. The Second Amendment means nothing without the brass, powder, and lead to back it up.

Pro tip: Stock up now. Not because the world is ending—but because it’s smart to stay ready when everything else isn’t.

BLUF
Either Kinzinger knows all this and is willfully trying to deceive his audience, or he’s an ignorant buffoon who thinks he’s much smarter than he really is. I won’t hazard a guess about what’s more likely, but either way folks are better off tuning out what he has to say.

I don’t have to ‘guess’. From all his prior anti-civil rights rants, Kinzinger-precisely-fits a description of a domestic enemy.

Kinzinger Delivers What Might Be the Dumbest Take on the Second Amendment Ever

I lost whatever respect I might have had for former Congressman Adam Kinzinger when he said he was open a ban on so-called assault weapons in 2022. Since his departure from Congress, Kinzinger has embraced a number of anti-gun proposals, even telling a gathering in Chicago in 2023 that ““Second Amendment people should be on the front line of gun control.” Kinzinger didn’t mean on the front lines defending against gun control. No, he means we should be advocating for “reasonable solutions to gun violence” like banning young adults from keeping and bearing arms.

As dumb as those comments were, they pale in comparison to Kinzinger’s latest invocation of the Second Amendment, which he now insists is about “guaranteeing a state a right to a militia.”

I’m not sure why Gavin Newsome doesn’t activate the rest of his army guard to prevent the president from it or force him to overrule it…. Then fight on the second amendment guaranteeing a state a right to a militia. How can a state have a militia if the president can simply…

— Adam Kinzinger (Slava Ukraini) 🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@AdamKinzinger) June 10, 2025
Since that post Kinzinger has doubled down on his hare-brained theory, both on X (where he was quickly rebuked by Charles C.W. Cooke):

This is astonishingly illiterate. See, inter alia, Article I, Section 8, Clause 15 and Article II, Section 2. Moreover, as Scalia noted, it’s precisely *because* the federal government has plenary power here that the individual rights reading of the Second Amendment (the Standard… https://t.co/dSv2vG8oPt

— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) June 10, 2025
and in a post on his Substack, where he argues:

If we believe in the Second Amendment’s invocation of a state-based militia, we need to reconcile it with the uncomfortable truth that the National Guard, as currently structured, doesn’t really fit that mold. Either we redefine what we mean by “militia,” or we face the fact that state-controlled military forces don’t exist in a meaningful way when they can be federalized at will.

Kinzinger probably should have read through the Heller decision before declaring himself an expert on the intricacies of the Second Amendment. As the Supreme Court made clear, the amendment has nothing to do with guaranteeing a state a “right to a militia”. Nor does it require serving in a militia in order to keep and bear arms.

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