Free Republic

"Abe Lincoln may have freed all men, but Sam Colt made them equal." It's an interesting idea to ponder. President Lincoln is praised universally today, across the aisle, and around the world, but what of Samuel Colt? Who is Samuel Colt? ...The region reminds me of New York's former boomtowns like Kingston and Binghamton, and Connecticut's Waterbury and Hartford. These once vibrant communities and buildings were gutted by the twin blades of time and politicians, their facades decaying and cadaverous, lining streets and throughways like architectural tombstones. Where is everyone? Kingston and Binghamton were home to IBM and Singer Link....

On the afternoon of 31 January, 2016, some ATVs were getting gas at the intersection of Claiborne and Esplanade Avenues in New Orleans, Louisiana.  Richard Macklin pulled up in a white Volvo.  Macklin is believed to have been the aggressor in the incident.  He pulled out a firearm and opened fire on the ATV riders.  Three were wounded before anyone returned fire. One of the wounded was armed.  He drew his legally carried weapon and fired at Macklin, wounding him in the head and stopping the attack.  From  nola.gov/nopd: Based on the initial investigation, detectives learned that a group of...

Help! I'm doing research on improving our security at work. I'm trying to find an article posted here a couple of years ago. Someone put a lot of effort in to find out the difference in victim count when people waited for police to show up and end a mass shooting vs people on site taking action to end a shooting. I remember there being fewer victims when people didn't wait for the police. Thanks in advance!

At a barbershop in South Carolina on the 26th, of January, 2016, at about 7 p.m., two armed robbers assaulted the customers of the Next Up Barber and Beauty Shop.  The robbers appear to be career criminals, but they made fatal mistakes, as can be seen in the video.  It is very difficult to keep focused on everyone, the loot, and maintain control of the scene. When the robbers become complacent, the legal gun carriers make their move.The Pistol Robber in the light colored hoodie comes in first, from the left side of the screen, from the front entrance. ...

With record background checks being conducted on gun sales, the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) is becoming overwhelmed. It's got to the point where people filing petitions from would-be buyers who were denied transfers have been put on the backburner, possibly denying many citizens of their Second Amendment rights. There aren't enough NICS analysts, of which there are less than 100, and employees for the database have been denied annual leave since before Thanksgiving (via USA Today):

A pistol carrier in Connecticut was asked by a police officer to produce a permit.  He asked the officer what the reason was for the officer asking for the permit.  The officer replied with an expetive.  From fox61.com: Brown told FOX 61 what happened next: "Well, you have a gun. So then he said, 'do you have a permit?' And I'm like why? He said 'because I (expletive) said so." But, according to the newly written law, police may only request a permit if there is reasonable suspicion of a crime.The officer did not arrest or detain Brown.I did...

Almost everyone had something to say about Thursday's incident in which a gunman who said he supported ISIS attacked Philadelphia police officer Jesse Hartnett with a gun, shooting him 17 times. Everyone except resident Obama, that is, who over the course of his administration has shown a willingness to reply instantly and passionately when police are accused of a shooting. When Fox News host Megyn Kelly asked about the latest Islamic lone wolf to stage an attack on American soil, the White House had two words to say, according to Kelly: "No comment." She then discussed the implications of the...

John Davis, Creek County Sheriff in Oklahoma, is doing what he can to encourage armed citizens.  He recently lowered the fee for fingerprints from $25 to $10. He says he is not allowed to reduce it to zero.  From tulsaworld.com: In a letter from Sheriff John Davis posted on the Sheriff's Office's Facebook page, he wrote "As a result of the ever-increasing violence being committed upon the American citizen and the current state of our country, I encourage each citizen of Creek County who is legally able to fully utilize their Second Amendment right 'to keep and bear arms,'...

A Chicago T-Mobile clerk won a gunfight with two would be robbers on 13 January, 2016.  The gunfight happened on the far South side, after the robbers displayed handguns as they entered.  Neighbors said that the store had been robbed several times previously.  The armed clerk has not been named.  He hit both suspects multiple times.  The suspects are in the hospital.  The store is locally owned.  It has been reported that T-Mobile corporate has no legal influence on store policies about employees carrying firearms.  Neil Tadros is the district manager for T-Mobile. From chicagotribune.com: The employee shot both...

Last year I thought I had encountered an all-time high of people looking to buy their first gun or to get a concealed carry permit. World events and political developments have combined to make what I thought was the high water mark look like low tide. It has hit the point where gun sales breaking records is becoming a common phenomenon. In fact, in my email inbox right now there are a couple of emails from people looking to take me to lunch so they can get my input on their first firearm purchase.

Two would-be robbers who were fatally shot at a liquor store in the Gresham neighborhood Saturday night have been identified as a 15-year-old boy and a 17-year-old boy, authorities said. Keshawn Marzette, 15, of the 8300 block of South Throop Street, and William Larson, 17, of the same address, were pronounced dead on the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. Autopsies Sunday determined both died of multiple gunshot wounds and their deaths were classified as homicides, the office said. The two were shot to death by a store employee about 8:30 p.m. when they tried to rob...

Voters are fickle and often don't pay much attention to races besides the top ones, like president and governor. That must be why Virginians narrowly elected Mark Herring state attorney general two years ago. A majority of people apparently didn't think it mattered a lot who held the office. Were they wrong! A couple weeks ago Herring decided he would no longer recognize concealed carry permits from 25 other states. Roughly 6.3 million people currently allowed to carry weapons--and thus protect themselves and others--will be disqualified. Half of the states in the union will see Virginia as an inconsistent partner...

Here's Why Shares of Gunmaker Smith & Wesson Are Jumping by Robert Hackett January 5, 2016, 8:58 AM EST The stock is up 6% premarket. Gunmaker Smith & Wesson SWHC 12.11% is projecting an incredible start to 2016, which sent shares up more than 6% in premarket trading. The company raised its revenue and earnings guidance for the current quarter and fiscal year, based on strong sales at recent gun shows as well as an uptick in year-end FBI background checks, an indicator that potential customers are looking to obtain gun licenses. Smith & Wesson now expects sales between $175...

Among Michigan's 10 million residents, almost a half-million had a concealed pistol license as of Dec. 1, according to data collected by the Michigan State Police. This database provides the number of active permits for all 83 counties, as well as the percentage of permits in relation to the adult population, age 21 and older. Under Michigan law, 21 is the minimum age for a concealed pistol license. Click on "details" for the number of permits issued annually over a five-year period between 2009-10 to 2013-14. (The annual numbers are based on reports that each cover a 12-month period from...

Virginia's radically anti-gun Governor and Attorney General were probably quite pleased with themselves when they spitefully severed concealed carry agreements with 25 states, including all but one of its neighbors. They probably didn't anticipate the backlash they’ve received, which includes calls to recall or impeach Attorney General Mark Herring, and pushes for legislation that will both strip elected officials of the ability to make such unilateral decisions, and get a little payback.

RICHMOND — Attorney General Mark R. Herring (D) announced Tuesday that Virginia will no longer recognize concealed carry handgun permits from 25 states that have reciprocity agreements with the commonwealth. Under the policy, Virginians with a history of stalking, drug dealing or inpatient mental-health treatment cannot obtain a permit in a state with comparatively lax laws and carry a handgun legally at home. Herring said severing the out-of-state agreements can prevent people who may be dangerous or irresponsible from carrying a concealed handgun. “While you are here, you are subject to the commonwealth’s gun laws,” Herring said in a news...

RICHMOND — Attorney General Mark R. Herring (D) plans to announce Tuesday that Virginia will no longer recognize concealed carry handgun permits from 25 states that have reciprocity agreements with the commonwealth. The move also means Virginians with a history of stalking, drug dealing or inpatient mental-health treatment cannot obtain a permit in a state with comparatively lax laws and carry a handgun legally at home. Herring said severing the out-of-state agreements can prevent people who may be dangerous or irresponsible from carrying a concealed weapon. “To me, this is a commonsense step that can help make Virginians and our...

A Wisconsin state lawmaker says the shooting at a Madison mall over the weekend shows that it's necessary to expand gun owners' rights so people can protect themselves. Republican Rep. Bob Gannon said in a statement Monday that there would be less crime if more people were trained to shoot at someone who threatened them, like a mall shooter.

A gun shop and shooting range in Kingston, Tennessee, listened and read the news of attacks on Christians in mass shootings in Oregon and in Charleston, South Carolina.  He read of Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey call for Christians to arm themselves and to get a carry permit.   Brant W. Williams is the owner of that shop, Frontier Firearms, and he decided to act.  He offered Christians a discount of 5% on buying firearms in his store for Christians who purchased selected handguns.   Frontier Firearms also has an on-site range and offers firearms training.  Thousands go through their courses each...

ABC NEWS Alleged robber in critical condition after victim shoots him in Houston NEWS Robbery suspect in critical condition after victim opens fire in Houston A suspected robbery was struck by gunfire after his alleged victim pulled a gun and started shooting. KTRK Monday, December 14, 2015 05:35AM HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A robbery suspect is in critical condition after his victims pull out a gun in Houston. The shooting happened at about 2am on Washington Street near Heights Boulevard, where police are still interviewing the victims. Officers say four people were leaving work at a nearby club this morning when...