Florida Tax Holiday Includes Guns, Ammo, Suppressors & Firearm Accessories

 

The Florida legislature has passed a bill including tax holidays for firearms accessories, and hunting, fishing and camping supplies. Firearms silencers/suppressors are included as firearms accessories. If Governor DeSantis signs the bill, it will go into effect on July 1, 2026. The tax holidays for firearms accessories are for the entire year.

The Florida Legislature passed HB 7031E, as amended by the Conference Committee Report, YEAS 29 to NAYS 6, on May 29, 2026. The bill passed the House a couple of hours earlier 88 YEAS to 11 NAYS. The bill is a major taxation bill for Florida.  The bill includes Section 46 (Exemption for firearm accessories) and Section 47 (Hunting, fishing, and camping sales tax holiday). Section 46 starts on page 62 of the 66 page bill.

The firearm accessories are for pistols, rifles and shotguns which fire projectiles using an explosive charge.  According to the NRA, whether suppressors/silencers would be included in the bill was uncertain until the vote on May 29. An amendment had included them in the bill, but those tax holidays could have been stripped from the bill before the final vote.  They were not. If Governor DeThe items will be exempt from taxes in Chapter 212 of Florida statues, which are primarily sales taxes.

The tax holiday for firearms accessories are scheduled to start on 1 July, 2026 and to continue through an entire year to June 30, 2027.  The accessories include:

• Firearm Barrels.
• Firearm cases or range bags.
• Firearm charging handles.
• Firearm grips.
• Firearm handguards.
• Firearm holsters.
• Internal firearm parts and components.
• Firearm magazines or other ammunition feeding devices or carriers.
• Firearm muzzle devices.
• Firearm shooting mats, rests, or bipods.
• Firearm shooting chronographs.
• Firearm sights or optics.
• Firearm slides or cylinders.
• Firearm slings.
• Firearm stocks or braces.
• Firearm cleaning kits.
• Firearm suppressors or silencers.
• Firearm triggers.

Alert readers may find some parts of firearms which are not covered.

The Hunting, fishing and camping sales tax holiday is not so generous. It only lasts from September 1 through December 31 of 2026.  This tax holiday covers complete firearms as well as ammunition for firearms, bows, crossbows, arrows, bolts, quarrels, quivers, releases, sights or optics, and wristguards.

Fishing and camping supplies are included in the tax holiday, but limited in the price of the items covered.  The price listed is the maximum cost of the item to qualify for the tax holiday:

• Rods and reels: individually, $75, as a set $150.
• Tackle boxes or bags: $30.
• Bait or fishing tackle: individually, $5 or $10 if sold as a group.
• Camping supplies: $200 for a tent
• Sleeping bags, portable hammocks, camping stoves and collapsable camping chairs: $50 or less.
• Camping lanterns and flashlights: $30.

Sales tax in Florida is generally 6%, with up to 2% added by cities or counties. The tax holidays apply to the entire sales tax, not just the state portion of the sales tax.

The Florida tax bill has to be sent to Governor DeSantis for signature. Major tax bills are seldom vetoed.

©2026 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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TX: Houston - Resident of Apartment Complex Shoots Assailant

A man was hospitalized in stable condition early Sunday morning after being shot during an argument at a west Houston apartment complex.

Investigators say the resident shot the victim once in the abdomen after the victim aggressively approached and shoved him at his apartment door.

The Harris County District Attorney’s Office declined to file charges against the resident at this time, and the cause of the initial argument remains unknown.

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NICS for May, 2026 Gun Sales up, Background Check Down

 

The May, 2026 National Instant background Check System (NICS) numbers are in. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) adjusted background check numbers show expanding firearm sales as the number of total background checks done through NICS continues to drop. In May, the drop was almost 11 percent from May of 2025. From NSSF:

The May 2026 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 1,105,758 is an increase of 3.2 percent compared to the May 2025 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 1,071,685. For comparison, the unadjusted May 2026 FBI NICS figure of 1,780,230 reflects a 10.9 percent decrease from the unadjusted FBI NICS figure of 1,998,440 in May 2025.

The 2026 adjusted background check numbers are designed to be highly correlated to actual sales numbers. They are not the same because the NICS checks are used for multiple purposes. The adjusted numbers take out the checks done specifically for firearms permits and permit renewals. They do not adjust for multiple firearms sold with one NICS check, or for firearms sold without a separate NICS check such as those in states where possession of a permit is allowed to be substituted for a NICS check. Most private sales do not involve a NICS check.

 

The NSSF Report over the last 12 months shows consistent increases in the adjusted NICS checks in 2026 since January.  This is four months of increases in the adjusted NICS checks over the same four months in 2025. The NSSF has started to track NICS checks done for Form 1 and Form 4 applications to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) by month. There are very large increasin in these numbers since the $200 tax has been remove by the Trump administration. In April, the numbers were up 130%. In May of 2026, the numbers were up over 100%. From the NSSF:

• The May 2026 NFA figure of 146,551 is an increase of 100.4 percent compared to the May 2025 figure of 73,138.

The increase in numbers shows how much the exercise of Second Amendment rights has been infringed in previous years. Although the tax has been removed, there are still numerous infringements. People who wish to comply with the National Firearms Act (NFA) are required to submit fingerprints, photographs, and to wait for approval by the ATF before making or purchasing a piece of safety equipment such as a suppressor / silencer / gun muffler. They are required to go through the same procedure for short barreled rifles or short barreled shotguns. Several lawsuits are in progress challenging the constitutional validity of the continued bureaucratic infringements. Some states are moving to protect silencer/ suppressor owners.

Analysis: Firearms sales thrive during times of uncertainty. The constant attacks on President Trump in the old media probably aid in keeping firearm sales high. The conflicts being waged overseas in Ukraine and the Persian Gulf are likely contributors. Removing the $200 tax on NFA has helped. If current lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the continued infringements in the NFA succeed, there will be a boom in the sales of suppressors / silencers / gun mufflers and in the sale of short barreled shotguns and short barreled rifles. The Second Amendment is a very popular part of the Bill of Rights. The economy is doing pretty well. If peace is reached in the Middle East, prosperity is likely.

©2026 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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AL: Birmingham - Gunfight in Parking Lot, 1 Killed, 1 Wounded

Birmingham Fire and Rescue took the victims to the hospital where one was pronounced dead. Police say the second victim was taken to UAB Hospital with life-threatening injuries.  

Officials say the incident began when the two men were involved in an altercation between the doorway of a hotel and a parking lot before gunfire erupted. 

Police say the victim with life-threatening injuries is also one of the suspects, and that the two men shot at each other. There is no threat to the public, police say.

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Armed Samaritans Stop Attempted Kidnapping in Florida

Link to video on YouTube. 

On May 31, 2026, before 11 a.m. a woman who had obtained a domestic violence injunction, escaped kidnapping in a church parking lot. Two armed Samaritans intervened and prevented an armed man from dragging the woman away. In a news conferenced Police Chief Leo Niemczyk identified the suspect as Jose Tsu Zamora, 64, who had been in a long term prior relationship with the victim.

Zamora is a convicted felon who is reported to have said to the victim, words to the effect: If I can't have you, nobody can. The suspect is reported as knowing the victim attended the church in Port St. Lucie, and intercepted the victim as she exited a vehicle.  From cbs12.com: 

Two male bystanders, who told police they were armed, intervened and confronted Zamora. Chief Leo Niemczyk with PSLPD credited the two bystanders for saving the woman's life.

Several people are reported as seeing the attempted kidnapping. One man is seen confronting the suspect, seconds later, another runs into the scene. The video appears to show what may be a holster on the second armed Samaritan. 

Before 1987, it would have been unlikely two people in a church parking lot in Florida would have been armed and able to respond to a kidnapping by an armed man. The suspect was reported to have held a handgun against the victim's side as the kidnapping was attempted. 

In 1987, Florida passed a shall issue concealed carry permit bill, which is credited with being the start of the shall issue revolution in the United States. Another change since 1987 is the increase in church security teams. News coverage has not mentioned if the armed Samaritans were part of a church security team.

As of 2025, over 20 million concealed carry permits were active in the United States. In 29 states no permit is needed for people to carry loaded handguns, either openly or concealed, in most public spaces.

John Lott and others have published peer reviewed papers which show an increase in concealed carry permits is correlated with a drop in violent crime. Other academics dispute this finding. Papers sometime claim to show a limited increase in very specific types of crime in particular states.  Most of the literature shows either a decrease in violent crime or no measurable change. 

©2026 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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CA: San Jacinto - Gunfight in Home, Homeowner Shoots, Kills Intruder

Details:

On Friday, June 5, 2026, at 10:23 p.m., deputies from the San Jacinto Sheriff’s Station were dispatched to the 1300 block of Heron Way in San Jacinto, regarding an assault with a deadly weapon. Upon arrival, deputies located evidence of a shooting and a subject with injuries consistent with a gunshot wound. The subject was pronounced deceased at the scene. The Riverside Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit responded to the scene and assumed the investigation.

During the investigation, deputies learned the homeowner was visiting a neighboring residence when he heard screaming and the sound of gunfire from his residence. The homeowner ran to his residence and saw an unknown male intruder inside his home, armed with a shotgun. The homeowner armed himself and confronted the suspect inside the residence. During the confrontation, the suspect fired multiple rounds at the homeowner. The homeowner returned fire, striking the suspect. There were no additional injuries reported.

The homeowner was transported to the San Jacinto Sheriff’s Station for further investigation. The suspect’s identity is being withheld pending notification to the next of kin. No arrests have been made at this time. The case will ultimately be submitted to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office for review. This is an ongoing investigation, and no further details will be released.

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SC: Bennettsville - Gunfight in Home, Homeowner Injured

A heated conversation between the victim and Miller escalated.

Miller and an unidentified black male co-defendant fired at the victim, and the victim returned fire, according to MCSO.

The shooting left the victim injured and caused damage to his home.

The sheriff’s office said that the homeowner reportedly overheard the suspects stating, “we need to take care of him as well”, but they had discharged all their ammunition before fleeing the location. 

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Concealed Carry Permit Holders are More Law Abiding than the General Population or Police officers

People who have concealed carry permits are one of the most law-abiding groups in the United States. Police officers have crime rates far below the general population. People with concealed carry permits are more law-abiding than police officers.

The arrest rate for the overall adult population in the USA is about 2,100 - 2,200 per 100k in recent years.  The arrest rate for police officers has been about  170 per 100k. This may be low because no one tracks police arrests officially. Officials may be reluctant to charge police officers. The conviction rate for concealed permit holders is about 17.6 per 100k in Texas, according to an academic paper by John Lott, Moody, and Wang published in 2025. From the paper:

 Of the 43,932 total convictions in the Texas DPS 2023 report, only 284 — or 0.6 percent — were convictions of LTC holders, a conviction rate of
17.6 per 100,000.37

Convictions are not the same as arrests. Arrests for felonies tends to result in about 65% convictions. Arrests for misdemeanors results in about 45% convictions. A conviction rate is likely to be about half of the arrest rate.  If we double the conviction rate to approximate the arrest rate, concealed permit holders have less than one fifth the arrest rate for police officers. Concealed carry permit holders have 1.7% of the arrest rate for the general population.

The Crime Prevention Research Center (CPRC) sums up how law-abiding permit holders are for convictions of firearm related violations:

 Concealed handgun permit holders are extremely law-abiding. In Florida and Texas, permit holders are convicted of firearms related violations at one-twelfth of the rate at which police officers are convicted.

Minnesota tracks the number of carry permits which are revoked each year. A look at the Minnesota numbers shows revocations of permits are close to what concealed permit convictions are in Texas. The numbers and methodology may be significantly different in the two states. In 2024 the number of permit holders in Minnesota were about 400 thousand. The number of permit revocations was 47. That is a rate of revocation of 11.5 per 100k in 2024.

The crime rates of permit holders are much, much lower than that of the general population and much lower than that of police officers. In terms of other population groups, permit holders crime rates are about as law abiding as Asian Americans as a group.  Both groups show high levels of civic responsibility and respect for the rule of law.

Analysis:

Very few people believe disarming the police is a good idea. Police officers, even retired police officers have the legal right to carry in most places where most people are prevented from carrying weapons. Police officers have the legal right to carry in all states and territories of the United States. The Congress created the LEOSA act as a way to protect the public with more responsible armed people on the streets. They also created it as a way to protect police officers. The same logic applies to people with concealed carry permits. Those people are much less likely to break laws than even police officers are.

It is common sense to increase the number of such protectors by 15X. There are about 700 thousand sworn police officers.  There are about another 500 thousand retired officers. There are over 20 million Americans with concealed carry permits.

  

©2026 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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NC: Raleigh - Domestic Defense? Armed Samaritan Shoots Man who was Assalting anothe Man

Graham then continued to assault the man, police said.

“An uninvolved witness in the Summit Avenue area observed the incident and believed the male was in immediate danger. In response, the individual retrieved a handgun and shot Mr. Graham,” the news release said.

The person who shot Graham stayed at the scene and “complied with officers during the investigation,” police said.

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NV: Moss Point - Suspect Vandalizes Car, is Shot, Wounded

Police Chief Dennis Stevenson says a man reported firing his gun at another man, who was allegedly vandalizing his car. The suspect then ran off into the woods behind a nearby store and daycare.

The search took place just off Bowen Street. The daycare which police were searching near was unoccupied. Surveillance video from a nearby business showed the suspect limping with a wound to his right leg.

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CRPC Finds Murders Committed With Glock "Switches" are Very Rare

"Glock switch" images from ATF, public domain.  

Murders committed with handguns patterned after the extremely successful Glock line of pistols, equipped with "Glock switches", are extremely rare, according to research done by the Crime Prevention Research Center (CPRC). The research was published on May 27, 2026.

No database of cases where "Glock switches" are used to murder people is maintained by the federal government . The CPRC did what they characterize as "an exhaustive search" for incidents where such a "Glock switch" was used to murder people, from 2021 through most of May, 2026.  They found 20 incidents where 43 people were killed over the more than five years studied.

Every murder is a tragedy. However, the number of murders committed with "Glock switches" is a tiny blip in the overall number of murders in the USA, over the five years examined by the CPRC.  The CPRC carefully and correctly states they may have missed some murders committed with "Glock switches". It is the nature of crimes that some are not detected. It is the nature of the media that some events are not reported in a way which is easily found. The demonization of these devices works to insure most known events are reported.

Handguns do not make good automatic weapons. They are more difficult to master than rifles or shotguns, even  when one shot is fired for every trigger pull. The yare much more difficult to control on full auto, especially a full auto with a high cyclic rate of fire. With modifications, expert users can use them effectively, with practice. Machine pistols, as they are called, have not been a popular item with military services because of these limitations.

"Glock switches" take an excellent handgun design and transform it into a bad machine pistol. As noted by the CPRC, the "Glock switches" are dangerous to the user and to everyone near the user, including the user's allies and confederates. "Glock switches" override the handguns disconnector, allowing the handgun to fire before it is fully locked. The difficulty of controlling a handgun in full auto, with an extreme cyclic rate, makes the danger of shooting in a direction which is not desired, a real possibility. This may be a reason the "Glock switches" are not used more commonly.

CRPC notes the total number of murders committed from 2021 - 2024 are about 80,657 murders in the USA, according the the FBI. The numbers for 2025 have not been officially released. Of those from 2021-2024, we know 29 were committed with "Glock switches".  It is impossible to know if more or fewer murders would have been committed without the "Glock switches" being used. It is plausible, perhaps likely, the use of the switches prevented some murders because of the difficulty and danger of use, and the inherent lack of accuracy with such devices. If the first shot is on target, it is likely the second and following shots are not on target.  The homicide rate in the USA has been falling since 2021. The murder rate in the USA is at an historic low, probably the lowest ever recorded in the USA.

As mentioned in the CPRC article, these devices are mostly used by criminal gangs. Most of the murders appear to be during gang wars. "Glock switches" are already illegal to produce or own for nearly all people in the United States. Only licensed machine gun manufacturers, law enforcement, and the military have the ability to legally possess them.

Analysis: The focus on "Glock switches" is another attempt at creating a crises where none exists. The purpose appears to be to pass legislation to make items which are already illegal to own, double or triple illegal. The desired effect seems to be to ban or make illegal ordinary Glock pistols. Glock type pistols may be the most popular pistol in American society, perhaps in the world.

Those who wish to disarm the population have never been worried about logic, facts, or cost/benefit ratios. Most people still value logic, facts, and cost/benefit ratios. The CPRC article sheds light on a subject primarily shrouded in myth and emotion. It is likely the emotion based laws against Glock pistols will run into difficulties as they are challenged in the courts. Commonly owned firearms which are used for legal purposes are protected by the Second Amendment. Glock pistols are common. They are overwhelmingly used for legal purposes.

 

©2026 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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NV: Las Vegas - Domestic Defense Woman's Brother Shoots her Boyfriend

Police said they believe Jordan was battering his girlfriend when the woman’s brother heard the assault, went upstairs and saw his sister being beaten.

“After several attempts to get the individual to stop, he produced a firearm and he shot the victim,” Price said.

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MS: Magee - Gunfight in Magee. Homeowner Returned Fire

No injuries were reported in the shooting. According to the police chief, a homeowner returned fire after allegedly being shot at. He said one individual was taken into custody. The suspect has not been identified.

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TN: Governor Bill Lee Signs Improved Self Defense Law

 Tennessee Capitol

Governor Bill Lee has signed Tennessee Bill SB1847 into law on May 22, 2026. The bill reforms the law on restrictions of the use of deadly force, allowing some uses of deadly force to protect property in certain circumstances.

Tennessee Bill SB1847 started out as a significant expansion of the legal use of deadly force in Tennessee. The bill would have made the use of deadly force in defense of property legal for a broad swath of issues, including trespass. In the Legislative process the bill was amended to specify the use of deadly force would be legally acceptable in fewer situations. From a previous AmmoLand article:

 The new language allows residents to use deadly force to prevent “the other’s imminent commission of arson, burglary, robbery, aggravated robbery, or aggravated cruelty to animals; “if the resident reasonably believes the property cannot otherwise be protected and the use of lesser force would expose the resident or a third party to “a risk of death, serious bodily injury, or grave sexual abuse.”

The bill passed both houses on April 23, 2026. The bill took a month to be signed by Governor Bill Lee. Legislatures have a sequence of events which are required before a governor signs a bill into law, vetoes the bill, or in Tennessee as in some other states, allows the bill to become law without the governor's signature.  Those sequences allow the leadership of a legislature to speed up or delay the sending of the bill to the governor. The governor can choose when to sign a bill after it is received, within limits.

Tennessee's process is fairly straightforward. The bill is made ready for the signatures of the Senate Speaker and the House Speaker, to certify the bill is what the legislature passed. This can happen very quickly, if the leadership insists on it. For SB1847 it took a week until April 30. The Senate Speaker signed on the same day, April 30. The House speaker did not sign for a week, on May 7th.  Sending the bill to the Governor for signature is said to be automatic.  May 7th was a Thursday. SB1847 was sent to Governor Bill Lee on the 11th, the next Monday. The Governor has ten days, not counting Sundays, in Tennessee to sign, veto, or allow the bill to become law without the governor's signature. Governor Lee waited the full 10 days, not counting the intervening Sunday, and signed the bill on the May 22.

The bill is now signed and will become effective as of July 1, 2026.

Analysis: This correspondent expected SB1847 to be signed a week or two sooner than it was. The votes for passage were supermajorities. In the House, 62-24; in the Senate 23-5. In Tennessee, only simple majorities in both houses are necessary to override a veto. The amended bill is not a radical change. It gives people who are protecting themselves, others, and their property a little more legal protection than they had before. SB1847 moves Tennessee law a little closer to Texas law about the use of deadly force in protecting property.

The reasons for the delay in signing the bill have become insignificant. The bill has been signed. It will take effect on July 1, 2026.

 

  ©2026 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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OK: Bartlesville - Armed Samaritan stops Assault with Scissors

Following interviews with witnesses and a review of evidence collected at the scene, investigators determined the shooter was not involved in the altercation that preceded the gunfire.

 

According to police, the armed individual observed a man allegedly attempting to assault another person with a pair of scissors. During the encounter, the armed bystander fired a weapon, striking the man who was allegedly carrying out the assault.

 

No arrests have been made.

 

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OK: Tulsa - Domestic Defense, 16-Year-Old Son Shoot Father who Attacked Him and His Mother

The caller said her husband, 49-year-old Aubrey Nears, attacked their 16-year-old son and then assaulted her.

The son grabbed a gun kept in the apartment and shot Nears.

Police said officers arrived and found Nears dead with a gunshot wound to the head.

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FL: Gunfight in Park, Suspect Killed, Defender Wounded

Investigators said an adult male and an adult female had met at the park when they were approached by a male they did not know.

A disagreement ensued, during which the unknown individual allegedly brandished a firearm, DBPD said.

That's when police said the male victim obtained his own firearm and demanded the individual leave the area.

The unknown male began walking away but then turned and fired multiple rounds, striking the male victim. The male victim returned fire, striking the individual, DBPD said.

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UT: Armed Samaritan Holds Suspect for Police

A Park City resident says a tense Saturday outside the Canyon Creek apartments ended with him holding a man at gunpoint, after the man ran from deputies and threatened neighbors with a pair of scissors. The resident, John Santy, identified himself as a former EMT from a family of police officers and firefighters and said he stepped in because he believed people were in danger.

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NH: Campus Carry Bill Killed by Senate Amendments

 New Hampshire Emblem

The New Hampshire Campus Carry Bill, HB1793, appears to have been killed by Senate amendments and the unwillingness of the Senate to compromise with a conference committee. As reported on AmmoLand, the bill looked to have a bright future earlier this year.

HB 1793 had two major provisions: First, it removed the special power public institutions of higher learning, mostly colleges and universities, to infringe on the exercise of Second Amendment rights in New Hampshire. Second, the Bill made clear no special permit would be required to exercise those rights on campus. The legislature had the power to do this because the institutions of higher learning were public, not private institutions.

To enforce rights protected in the bill, individuals could sue institutions and individuals for violating the rights, as can be done for other constitutional rights. The bill had significant support. It passed the New Hampshire House on the fifth of February, 2026, 188 to 165 with 11 not voting and 30 absent. It was sent to the New Hampshire Senate.  On May 14, 2026, the Senate passed the bill with a "poison pill" amendment which eliminated the two provisions above, except for university professors. The House countered by not accepting the Senate amendment, but calling for a conference committee, to work out a compromise.  On May 21, the Senate rejected the request for a conference committee, on a voice vote, effectively killing the bill.

Analysis:

Through long observation, this correspondent has learned institutions of higher learning have influence with state legislatures far beyond what would be expected from the size of their staff and student bodies. Those institutions have moved further and further to the political left in the last 50 years. The logic of HB1793 was impeccable: Allow people on institutions of higher learning to exercise rights protected by the Second Amendment which they already could exercise when they stepped across the campus boundary line. The emotional arguments against the bill did not hold up against the facts. Considerable testimony and facts were presented in the legislative debates. New Hampshire already has Constitutional Carry.

Universities and colleges have long ago become centers of power of the political left and particularly, Progressive ideology. The rights protected by the Second Amendment are intensely rejected by Progressive ideology. Hostility to the Second Amendment is part of Progressive DNA. Progressives consider limits on governmental power to be irrational and evil.  A strong lobbying campaign was conducted against HB1793. It was enough to swing the votes to kill the Bill in the Senate. This will not be the end of efforts to restore constitutional rights to students on campus in New Hampshire. It is the end for a promising bill in the New Hampshire legislature this year.  Representative Samuel Farrington is the primary sponsor of the bill. He is one of the youngest members of the New Hampshire General Assembly. He showed himself to be energetic, capable, and strategic. The bill came very close to passage.  The fight for the bill accomplished a great deal of education about campus carry in New Hampshire. AmmoLand will continue to watch and report on the situation in New Hampshire and other states.

©2026 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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TN: - Jefferson County - Gun Beats Sword, Swordman Killed

DANDRIDGE, Tenn. — The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said a man armed with a sword was killed Thursday night and the person who shot him was released from custody. 

JCSO said dispatch received a call about the shooting on Riverfront Circle at 10:10 p.m. Deputies arrived, detained the shooter and despite life-saving measures, the victim died at the scene. 

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OK: Tulsa - Robbery Attempt Becomes Gunfight, 17-Year-Old Victim and 16-Year-Old Suspect both Wounded

Officers stated that earlier in the evening, the 16-year-old had approached the 17-year-old in the parking lot of the 89 East apartment complex, located near South 89th East Avenue and East 71st Street.

According to authorities, the 16-year-old had a gun and ordered the other teenager to hand over anything he had on him.

In response, police said the 17-year-old pulled out his own pistol, which led to the two teenagers both shooting and hitting each other as they exchanged fire.

Authorities said the two then ran away from the area, with the 17-year-old victim calling for help at the Five Below and the 16-year-old suspect receiving a ride to the house police eventually responded to.

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TX: Marshall - Domestic Defense, Brother Shoots Brother who Threatened with Handgun

Fletcher said witnesses told investigators Jamail Boer came into the bedroom accusing his brother, Isaiah Boer-Joyner, of stealing guns which belonged to Jamail.

“Witnesses reported that Jamail stated he was going to kill Isaiah and brandished a handgun in the direction of Isaiah and his daughter,” Fletcher said.

Witnesses said Isaiah grabbed a nearby rifle.

“An exchange of gunfire then occurred. Quite a bit of gunfire. Isaiah sustained an injury to his left hand. Jamail sustained multiple apparent gunshot wounds to the torso area,” Fletcher said.

 

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LA: Lafayette - Homeowner Shot, Wounded while Confronting Suspects

A Lafayette man is recovering after police say he was shot while confronting suspects accused of attempting to burglarize his vehicle outside his home early Sunday morning.

According to the Lafayette Police Department, officers responded to a shooting around 1:49 a.m. on May 25 in the 200 block of West Butcher Switch Road.

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IN: Gunfight in Downtown Indianapolis, 1 Killed, 2 Wounded

"We've got multiple individuals detained on scene, and we have four firearms recovered from the scene, so it's possible that the individuals who were shot were also individuals shooting, but it's very early on in the investigation. We're looking to determine that," Foley said.

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Review of CPRC Count of Armed Citizens who Stop Active Shooter Attacks

 

On July 30, 2023, the Crime Prevention Research Center (CRPC) published a paper showing massive errors in the FBI Active Shooter Reports from 2014 through 2023.  This correspondent has been following the issue for the entire period. The first viral post this correspondent wrote about the subject of armed civilians stopping mass murders was published on December 15, 2012. It had 16 incidents documented from October, 1997 to 11 December 2012. All of these incidents occurred before the FBI started collecting data on "active shooter" incidents.

The CRPC paper, with a solid institution and organization behind it, does a better job than a single blogger did at the end of 2012.  The CRPC shows how badly the FBI has bungled the job of tracking these events. The first FBI report was published ten months later, during the Obama administration, in September of 2013. The CRPC covered the problems with the FBI report in October of 2014. 

The reason for the difference in the numbers reported by the FBI is not immediately obvious. It happens because of the way the FBI structured its approach to finding the incidents and deciding if they qualify for inclusion. 

According to the FBI, the FBI, under the  Obama administration, started to report "active shooter incidents", as part of the Investigative Assistance for Violent Crimes Act of 2012, 28 USC 530C(b)(1)(M)(1). The research for the report appears to have been done at Texas State University, with overview by FBI Agent Katherine W. Schweit. Later reports were also contracted to and researched at Texas State University. The FBI definition of an "active shooter is stated below: 

From the 2016-17 report 

"The FBI defines an active shooter as one or more individuals actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area. Implicit in this definition is the shooter’s use of one or more firearms." 

From the 2013 Study: 

 "Incidents identified in this study do not encompass all gun-related situations; therefore caution should be taken when using this information without placing it in context. Specifically, shootings that resulted from gang or drug violence—pervasive, long-tracked, criminal acts that could also affect the public—were not included in this study." 

Those definitions, together, create a system which is inherently subjective. It is a system which depends on a great deal of judgement on the part of the people grading the incidents. John Lott investigated the process, asking for answers from the FBI as to why certain incidents were included while others were excluded. Here is an answer he received from and FBI administrator. From email to John Lott in response to queries about incidents, by Shayne E. Buchwald of the FBI, dated May 16, 2018 7:36 AM: 

"The selection of cases for inclusion in these reports is the result of a consensus vote of analysts and Law Enforcement professionals using the methodology stated in the original 2013 study. In some cases, a level of interpretation is required with which all may not agree. The FBI notes your differing opinion in the stated cases."

This correspondent's understanding of consensus voting depends on the specific method used. In a small group, it usually means everyone agrees with the decision. If such is the approach, any member of the group has veto power over whether an incident is included. Any member may exclude incidents, but all members are necessary to include any incident.  Such a system minimizes the number of incidents which are included. 

The CRPC article gives example after example of incidents which were excluded, while others which are very similar are included. There is a high correlation with incidents stopped by armed "civilians" and incidents which are excluded. Incidents are also mislabeled. Volunteer church security action was labeled as defense by a "security guard", instead of an armed civilian, even though the defender was an unpaid volunteer, in the West Freeway Church incident. 

The CRPC shows a total of 515 active shooter incidents which they believe qualify for the FBI definition. This is 165 more incidents than the incidents judged to meet the definition by the FBI. The FBI shows only 14 incidents where "active shooters" were stopped by defensive gun use. The CRPC shows 180 incidents stopped by defensive gun uses, or 166 more than the FBI. 

Because of the subjective nature of finding and including incidents, and because of the nature of "consensus voting", the FBI can justify its selection of some incidents and its exclusion of others. The CRPC report shows how subjective and exclusionary this process is.  The selection of incidents to be voted on by consensus is subjective.  The grading of chosen incidents is subjective. It is not surprising those who value armed defense of self and others grade the incidents differently. 

Analysis:  

The FBI was created in the Progressive ideological era, where government was seen as the solution, and never as the problem. Progressive ideology believes restrains on government are bad. The earliest report of  justified homicide statistics found by this correspondent by the FBI is dated 1976. Clayton Cramer does an excellent job of showing how the FBI undercounts justifiable homicides by a factor of 5-1 in his 2016 academic paper. Only 15%-20% of justified homicide are recorded in the FBI Uniform Crime Reports. This correspondent wrote about the undercount problem in 2015.  The undercount of justified homicides is part of the institutional bias at the FBI. The undercount of armed defenders who stop active shooters appears to be an extension of such a bias. It is not hard to understand how people who believe the population is unable to govern itself, are reluctant to admit armed civilians are a significant part of an effective defense against mass murder.  It is not hard to understand how people with such an ideology are subject to confirmation bias by excluding such incidents from their reporting. 

Whether such bias is justified can be determined by each reader. Go to the CRPC web site and look at the incidents which were excluded from the FBI report. Draw your own conclusions. 

The problem is larger than the FBI. The old media had/has a progressive ideological bias which minimizes coverage of such incidents. This correspondent had a naive belief that when a mass murder was stopped by an armed defender, it would be national news, a "man bites dog" story. It would go "viral". The opposite happened in 1999 when a gun store employee stopped a mass murder by shooting the would be murderer. The story was covered locally. With the internet in its infancy in 1999, the story quickly disappeared.  You can find an excerpt on freerepublic, where it was placed in 2012. How quickly the story disappeared convinced this correspondent to start keeping track. 

Today the CRPC does a better job. 

©2026 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

Gun Watch  

 

 

 

PA: Philadelphia - Gunfight in Convenience Store, CCW Holder Shoots, Kills Assailant

Officials said the 22-year-old victim walked into the store and approached the shooter. Surveillance footage shows them getting into a face-to-face altercation. Then, the 22-year-old pulls out a gun and points it at the man.

“This other individual, who we now know to be a 21-year-old Hispanic male, pulls out a gun himself and fires at least three times at the person who initially put a gun toward his head and neck area,” said Inspector D.F. Pace.

The victim tried to walk out of the store but collapsed. Officers took him to the hospital, where he died shortly thereafter.

Police said the shooter has a license to carry and is cooperating with the investigation.

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AZ: Sierra Vista Gunfight Update: Both Parties Claim Self Defense

According to Sierra Vista Police, Fire, and EMS, detectives continued investigating the shooting after officers initially responded Sunday night to reports of gunfire. During the course of the investigation, the individual accused of shooting another person contacted the Sierra Vista Police Department and voluntarily met with detectives for an interview.

 

Investigators stated that both individuals involved confirmed they had met for the purpose of a firearm sale. However, police say each account of what happened afterward differed significantly.

According to police:

 

• The individual who sustained gunshot wounds told detectives the seller had left the firearm inside his vehicle before the sale was completed, exited the vehicle, and then opened fire.

 

• The second individual told detectives he had been robbed at gunpoint during the transaction and alleged the other party fired shots first.

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MS: Biloxi - Naked Attacker Disarmed Investigating Neighbor after Being Shot

During the confrontation, the neighbor fired multiple shots, striking the individual. Despite being shot, police say the man continued to attack and was able to disarm the neighbor before walking away from the home and returning to the water.

Emergency responders initially had difficulty reaching the area due to heavy flooding. Officers were ultimately transported by boat. Upon arrival, officers located the neighbor, who was treated for facial lacerations and bruising. Investigators also reviewed video from the home’s security system, which recorded the incident.

A search of the area was conducted using rescue boats. The body of the individual was later found on shore in the general area of the incident around 2:00 a.m. Sunday, May 24, 2026.

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TX: Houston - Update on Garage Burglar Shooting

One neighbor previously told Hood News:

“After I wrote you I decided to go out into my neighborhood on foot and knock on doors to let people know that we had a problem and that’s when I found out that other people had things stolen from their garages. Then a week later this happens.”

Looks like the suspect did not make it very far after the shooting and hopefully he changes his line of work!

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PA: Philadelphia - Gunfight at Recording Studio, 1 Dead

Police Response and Possible Robbery Claim

As reported by WPVI, officers arrived just after 2:30 a.m. at an abandoned church that has been converted into a recording studio on the 5100 block of Bible Way and spoke with a man who described what he said was a would-be robbery and told police he fired a weapon. That report said one man died while being driven to the hospital in a private vehicle and that no arrests had been announced in either of two overnight triple shootings under investigation.

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IO: Des Moines - Stolen Handgun, Gunfight, Assailant Shot, Wounded

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.

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NC: Raleigh - Domestic Defense? Man Shot, Arrested

Deputies said the charges came after investigators determined the man who was shot had a firearm at the time of the incident.

The shooting happened around 10 p.m. Friday in the 2470 block of Bud Lipscomb Road.

When deputies arrived, they found Russell suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was taken to the hospital with injuries believed to be non-life-threatening.

Authorities have not released additional details about what led up to the shooting, but say it is believed to be domestic-related.

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TX: Marlin - Domestic Defense, Woman Shoots Relative Who Attack Childeren

MARLIN, Texas (KWTX) - A Marlin woman was forced to intervene when a relative attempted to stab three other underage relatives, fatally shooting the attacker, KWTX has learned.

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OK: - Midwest City - Neighbor Breaks in House, is Shot, Killed

When officers arrived at the scene, police say they learned Ronnie Goodson had broken into his neighbor's house.

The neighbor shot Goodson. He was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

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OR: Eugene - Gunfight with Intruder, 2 Wounded

At 1:07 a.m. on May 19, Eugene police responded to a report of shots fired at a home in the Churchill area in the 1600 block of Oak Patch.

Police say a man reported someone broke into his house and was shooting - and the caller said he was shooting back.

Officers responded and found two individuals had suffered gunshot wounds.

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WV: Charleston - Road Rage Aggressor Shot, Killed

According to statements and evidence gathered at the scene, Hinerman allegedly made a U-turn, returned to the location, exited his vehicle, and approached the other driver. During the confrontation, Hinerman allegedly struck the other driver multiple times.

The second driver then pulled out a gun and shot Hinerman once in the abdomen. Hinerman was transported to a local hospital, where he died.

 Following the shooting, the driver immediately contacted 911, remained at the scene and cooperated fully with investigators.

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PA: Rhawnhurst - Resident Shoots, Kills Armed Intruder

A person sleeping in the first floor woke up and saw the intruder. That intruder was carrying a stick and refused to drop it when told to do so. The homeowner then shot him once in the chest when he refused. The suspect was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

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TX: San Antonio - Security Guards Shoot Man who was Shooting Handgun in Parking Lot

According to police, a man in his 30s was on foot in the parking lot, actively firing a handgun. Security guards moved in, treating the situation like an active shooter, and closed the distance.

Officers say the man then turned the gun toward the guards and fired at them. The chase ended when one of the security guards shot the suspect.

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CA: San Diego - Mosque Security Guard engaged Killers in Parking Lot

San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said the security guard, identified as Amin Abdullah, reached for his radio and put out the lockdown protocol, then engaged in a gun battle with the two suspects in the mosque’s parking lot. 

“Individuals that did this heinous act ran past the security guard, most likely not knowing he was there. He immediately observed the threat to everybody at the mosque. He began to engage them with gunfire, both suspects returned fire,” said Chief Wahl.

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NICS numbers for April, 2026, Sales Slightly up, 11.9% Drop in Background Checks

 

 

The April, 2026 National Instant background Check System (NICS) numbers are in. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) adjusted background check numbers show firearm sales are slightly higher than April of 2025. Firearm sales are holding steady. Contrary to firearm sales as measured by the adjusted numbers, the numbers of background checks themselves is almost 12% lower than the number in April, 2025. From NSSF:

The April 2026 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 1,193,428 is an increase of 1.6 percent compared to the April 2025 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 1,174,294. For comparison, the unadjusted April 2026 FBI NICS figure of 1,933,972 reflects an 11.9 percent decrease from the unadjusted FBI NICS figure of 2,194,006 in April 2025.

April has been a busy month. The conflict with Iran continued through the end of the month. National Firearms Act (NFA) applications NICs checks are up 130% over April of 2025. The massive increase in applications for NFA firearms is a measure of how much the insane, $200 excise taxes were infringing on the rights of Americans to own silencers, short barreled rifles, short barreled shotguns and any other weapons under the NFA. The removal of the tax infringements has unleashed a significant demand for these types of arms. From the NSSF:

• The April 2026 NFA figure of 190,086 is an increase of 130.3 percent compared to the April 2025 figure of 82,519.

To be sure, these are NFA  application background checks. Not all NFA application background checks result in an authorization to purchase an NFA regulated arm. Some are duplicates; some are rejected, some are told a mistake was made and they need to re-apply. It is not clear the precise number which are approved.  The 103k increase in NFA checks continues a massive increase in NFA applications in 2026. You can see in the NSSF graphic below, April 2026 is fairly close to a "new normal" for firearm sales, as measured by the adjusted background checks. Average the "Trump slump" years with the "Biden Jump" years, and you see a fairly steady amount in April.

 

 

Analysis:

The intense conflict in and around Iran, a response to an effective 47 year war with the United States, has dampened down as of this writing in early May. This correspondent predicted stability would return to world markets after April, firearm sales would continue to be up slightly in April, then decrease in May and June. The prediction still looks good for an uncertain future. The Trump administration's more aggressive stance on supporting the Second Amendment with the Civil Right Division of the Department of Justice is not likely to increase sales.  A role back of illicit laws and infringement bodes well. Such a roll back assures prospective purchasers the Constitutional Republic is being restored, in spite of the deranged rhetoric on the Left. Firearm sales thrive on domestic  and foreign instability. In the long term, a new "golden age" could increase firearm sales with increased wealth and recreational opportunities.

©2026 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

Gun Watch  

 

TN: Clarksville - Woman Shoots Intruder

Investigators said a female tenant was awakened by her dogs barking and believed someone was trying to break into her home.

She initially thought it could be her husband attempting to get inside.

However, investigators said after unlocking and opening the door, an unknown man entered the townhouse and a struggle began. The woman, who was armed, fired her weapon.

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MI:Detroit - Gunfight, Victim Wounded, Returned Fire

Shooting: #DetroitPolice 8th Precinct is investigating a non fatal shooting in the 19700 block of Burt. The shooting occurred around 2:13PM. The victim was struck at least once while inside a vehicle. The suspect was described as a B/M in his 20s, 20-25 wearing all black. The victim also stated he returned fire, unknown if the suspect was struck.

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GA: Lagrange - Armed Clerk Stops Robbery Attempt

Officers responded to Fuller’s Superette at 900 Hamilton Road around 10 a.m., according to investigators. A store clerk reported that a man entered the business and handed over a note that read, “Put all the money in a bag.”

The robbery was cut short, authorities said, when the clerk pulled a firearm from beneath the counter and pointed it at the suspect. Police say the man quickly grabbed his note and left the building.

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