Trump Warns ‘All Hell Will Break Out’ If Gaza Hostages Aren’t Released Before Inauguration

President-elect Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Hamas terrorists in Gaza, vowing that “all hell will break out” if the hostages held by them are not released before his inauguration on January 20. Trump made it clear that his administration would not tolerate the continued suffering of innocent Americans and other hostages, promising swift and decisive action once he is sworn in as the 47th president.

His remarks underscore the situation’s urgency and starkly contrast the Biden administration’s handling of the crisis, as Trump reiterated his commitment to ensuring the safety and security of American citizens abroad.
During an interview with conservative radio talk show host Hugh Hewitt, Trump was asked what exactly he meant when he said “all hell will break out” if Hamas doesn’t follow orders.

“Exactly what it says — if those hostages aren’t released by the time I get office, there will be hell to pay,” Trump reiterated. “I don’t think I have to get into it, but it won’t be the word ‘don’t.’” Trump was referring to the joke of a warning outgoing President Joe Biden made on October 10, 2023, in a speech vowing his support for Israel after Hamas initially attacked the Jewish state.

Trump cautioned that if Hamas terrorists don’t release the remaining hostages before he takes office, “it won’t be good for anyone.” The president-elect’s comments come after Steve Witkoff, Trump’s pick to serve as the special envoy to the Middle East, expressed optimism that a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is making “a lot of progress.” He appeared sure that by the time Trump was inaugurated, there would be “good things” to announce on behalf of the new administration.

“It’s the president, his reputation, the things that he has said that are driving this negotiation, and so hopefully, it’ll all work out, and we’ll save some lives,” Witkoff said, echoing the same stern warning to Hamas saying, “This better get done by the inaugural.”

SCOTUS Distributes 2A Cases for Friday Conference

The U.S. Supreme Court has distributed a couple of important Second Amendment cases for conference this Friday, and all eyes will be watching to see whether oral arguments are scheduled as a result.

According to SCOTUSblog, the cases of Snope v. Brown and Maryland Shall Issue v. Moore both challenge Maryland’s restrictive gun control laws.

Snope is a case brought by the Second Amendment Foundation, Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, the Firearms Policy Coalition, and private citizen, David Snope. It challenges Maryland’s ban on so-called “assault weapons” and this would be the third time the case has been brought to the high court for review.

SAF, CCRKBA and FPC contend the ban is unconstitutional on the grounds that the Second Amendment makes no distinction between the types of “arms” it protects. The modern semiautomatic rifle, epitomized by the AR-15 and its clones, is the most popular rifle in America. Millions are owned and used b y law-abiding citizens for hunting, competition, recreation, predator control and personal and home defense.

According to a SAF news release Tuesday, “SAF sought cert after the Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled en banc that the modern semiautomatic rifles banned by Maryland fall outside the protection of the Second Amendment because they are too similar to military arms. SAF and its partners contend this reasoning “is becoming a commonplace misapplication” of Supreme Court precedents established by the 2008 Heller ruling, 2010 McDonald decision and 2022 Bruen decision.

“Snope provides the Supreme Court with an excellent vehicle to correct the widespread misapplication of the Court’s precedent regarding these firearms and the Second Amendment, itself,” said SAF Executive Director Adam Kraut. “The case is on appeal from final judgment with an en banc decision of a circuit court. Moreover, the specific type of firearm in question is commonly owned across the country, placing it well within the scope and protection of the Second Amendment. By granting cert in Snope, the high court can help settle the matter once and for all.”

Moore challenges Maryland’s licensing requirement to even own a gun. As noted by SCOTUSblog, “Moreover, they contend that Justice Thomas’s footnote in Bruen was limited to licenses to carry guns in public and does not apply to laws, like Maryland’s, which require a license to own a gun at all. But in any event, the challengers argue that the state’s requirements are “abusive” because they collectively impose an excessive delay: up to a month for a background check to obtain a license, up to a week for a second background check to purchase a gun, and additional time to complete a firearm-safety course.”

This case should have the attention of gun rights activists and anti-gunners in Oregon and Washington, where the effort is ongoing to require people to get a permit to purchase from the police prior to being able to buy a gun.

If the Court grants certiorari in these cases, the outcome could have a devastating effect on gun control in the United States. Several states have banned so-called “assault weapons,” and a ruling that modern semi-autos are protected by the Second Amendment would almost certainly nullify those bans.

Another case up for consideration is Gray v. Jennings, involving SAF, FPC and others, challenges a ban on so-called “assault weapons” and “large-capacity magazines” in Delaware. There is no small irony in this case, as it seeks to undo a gun control law in the home state of departing President Joe Biden, a career gun control proponent who leaves the White House Jan. 20 as former President Donald Trump returns for a second term.

Americans Likely Bought More than 15 Millions Guns in 2024

Americans still really love guns, as highlighted by the latest statistics for over-the-counter retail firearm sales from last year.

The year-end data published by the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System show 28,097,205 checks were logged between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2024, with the busiest single week being that of Black Friday, which saw 613,380 checks.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation analyzed the figures for last year, and after removing checks and rechecks for firearms permits, found that no less than 15,239,011 checks were for likely retail gun sales. Further, 2024 continued a now 65-month trend of consumers purchasing over a million firearms monthly. 

“We are proud that NSSF member companies continue to serve the American public that chooses to exercise their Second Amendment rights by the millions each month,” said NSSF President and CEO Joe Bartozzi. “These background check figures show strong sales and that today’s firearm manufacturers are delivering high-quality products. We are proud that our member companies continue to exceed the high standards that law-abiding Americans demand when it comes to the products that allow them to exercise their Second Amendment rights.”

Going past the NICS data, the true number of guns sold nationwide is even higher.

This is because federal background check numbers don’t include private person-to-person gun transfers in most states or cases where a carry permit is used as an alternative to the background check requirements of the 1994 Brady Law, which allows the transfer of a firearm over the counter by a federal firearms license holder without first performing a NICS check. Further, it doesn’t capture homemade firearms unless assembled on serialized frames or receivers, or purposely registered by the builder with local authorities.

159 Democrats voted to value illegal aliens who commit crimes over you. Let that sink in.

Man shot, killed during attempted break-in; police say intruder’s behavior was bizarre

ENGLEWOOD — A man was shot and killed after reportedly trying to break into someone’s home early Friday.

As reported on News Center 7 at 6, the shooting happened around 2 a.m. in the 600 block of Overla Boulevard in Englewood.

A couple heard someone trying to break in, they prepared to defend themselves and gunfire happened while one of them was calling 911. A caller told dispatchers that her boyfriend heard someone trying to break in and he went to grab his gun.

On the call, you hear a confrontation and gunshots.

Englewood police crews pulled up during the call. They found the alleged intruder on the ground in the home’s side yard. The police said the man who lived at the home thought the intruder had left and checked his backyard shed. He then walked toward the street to see if his car had been broken into.

“He was confronted by the suspect. The suspect came toward him. He, in fear for his life, fired three shots from this firearm,” Englewood Police Chief Corey Follick said.

The man killed was identified as 43-year-old Matthew Culham. Follick said his actions were unusual for a burglar. “Most burglars, if they determine the home is occupied, once they’re detected they flee the area,” he said.

Follick said the evidence gathered at the scene did support the couple’s version of what happened. Police can’t explain Culham’s actions at this time. “That’s why we had to wait for toxicology reports to see if anything else is factored into that as well,” Follick said.

Englewood barely has one homicide a year over the last decade, making the shooting even more unusual.

We will continue to follow this story.