SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — A Springfield man was recently given one of the top honors in the state from law enforcement. Jerry Pendergrass is a conceal carry owner who turned citizen cop in a life or death situation. Springfield police and the Missouri Police Chiefs Association awarded Pendergrass the President’s Citizen Award.

His quick action helped save an officer potentially from getting shot.

The incident happened on June 4, 2018. That night was life ending for one man and life changing for several others.

“That probably actually happened in ten seconds,” explained Pendergrass.

Those ten seconds play over and over again for Pendergrass.

“I still once a day go wow, that happened!”

His bullet met a man in his backyard– a man who had already fired shots at Officer Sean Kelly, and had taken off on foot.

“He just kind of rounded the corner, he drew his weapon at me, I drew my weapon at him and we both– he backed away to house, I backed away behind a tree,” said Officer Kelly.

It was a volatile situation to say the least. Then another officer, Officer Andy Zinke found himself face to face – and seemingly alone with a man who had already tried to kill an officer.

Read More

Read more: https://www.ammoland.com/2018/12/new-study-no-relationship-ccw-homicide-violent-crime/#ixzz5ZI9jqBzB
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution
Follow us: @Ammoland on Twitter | Ammoland on Facebook

A new study of violent crime and concealed carry law found no correlation between them.

The study compared homicide and violent crime at the state level with changes in concealed carry law over a 30 year period, from 1986 to 2015. During this period there were substantial changes in the laws regulating the carry of concealed weapons. From the study:

Results

During the study period, all states moved to adopt some form of concealed-carry legislation, with a trend toward less restrictive legislation. After adjusting for state and year, there was no significant association between shifts from restrictive to nonrestrictive carry legislation on violent crime and public health indicators. Adjusting further for poverty and unemployment did not significantly influence the results.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated no statistically significant association between the liberalization of state level firearm carry legislation over the last 30 years and the rates of homicides or other violent crime. Policy efforts aimed at injury prevention and the reduction of firearm-related violence should likely investigate other targets for potential intervention.

The study was published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.

This study confirms what a number of other studies have found: Having more people without criminal records, carrying concealed firearms, does not increase violent crime.

The study examined the levels of homicide and violent crime when states moved from “no carry” to “may carry” to “shall issue” to “unrestricted carry.”

It is a significant finding to be published in a medical journal, as most papers I have read about the subject, in health-related journals, make apparent errors in data selection and the scope of the study.

This study avoids the errors of scope by looking at the data over all the states for a 30 year period.   It avoids selection bias by considering all homicides and violent crime, not just those involving guns.

This study only looks at detail down to the state level.  The studies were done by Dr. John Lott. Lott looks at data down to the county level, not just the states. Lott examines concealed carry by looking at the number of actual permits issued, not only when the law changed. That level of examination is likely to find subtle differences.

Only a small number of studies claim that homicides or violent crime go up as more people carry concealed weapons legally. They suffer from limited scope and/or data selection bias.

Dr. Lott has debunked studies that claim more guns equal more crimes.

This study differs from studies done by Dr. Lott. It attempts to examine the effect of  “unrestricted carry” also known as Constitutional Carry.  Dr. Lott’s methods have difficulty with measuring the impact of Constitutional Carry. There are no permit numbers to track with Constitutional Carry.

This paper will be used to counter the claims of studies of limited scope, which suffer from data selection bias.

Limiting data to only “gun deaths” or “gun violence” is a clear data selection bias if prevents any consideration of a weapons substitution effect or deterrence from self-defense cases.

Limiting the scope of research to only one state, or just a few years, allows researchers to pick a state or years that agree with their favored thesis.

Public health journals have generally been willing to publish poorly researched studies if it validates preconceptions that “guns are bad.”

Perhaps public health researchers will read this paper, and see the effect of biased data selection and limited scope in the other studies.

An armed bystander with a concealed carry permit was able to subdue a suspect in a fatal domestic violence stabbing at Seattle Center, a building complex in Seattle, Washington.

What happened?

The suspect, identified as David Lee Morris, 30, was held at bay at gunpoint while another bystander pepper-sprayed him. When police arrived Morris was tazed and arrested, KCPQ-TV reported.

The victim, Gabrielle Garcia, 28, was stabbed multiple times and taken to Harborview Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. She later died, the TV station reported.

KOMO-TV reported that the couple’s 5-year-old son witnessed the attack.

Read More

LITTLEFIELD, Texas – Littlefield Police said a man with a gun and a concealed carry permit was able to stop a violent carjacking Thursday afternoon.

Police arrested Ruben Garcia Lopez, 25, for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, assault, terroristic threat and resisting arrest.

Littlefield Police were called to the 900 block of West 4th Street Thursday afternoon.

A police statement said, “A male subject was armed with a knife [and] was assaulting a female and trying to take her car.” Police said Lopez also assaulted the woman’s boyfriend. Her kids were in the car.

Police quoted Lopez as saying, “This was his (expletive) car”.

“Even though she was being assaulted; the woman was trying to get her kids out of the car,” police said.

“A neighbor arrived at his home, saw the attack in progress, and armed himself with his handgun. He has a concealed handgun permit,” police said. “He came to the aid of the victims and pointed his weapon at the attacker.”

Lopez then moved away from the car and went across the street.

When police arrived, “… the attacker dropped the knife and attacked the officer.”

The officer was able to arrest Lopez and there was no mention of injuries in the police statement.

Source

A man walked behind a counter and punched a worker in the face at a south side George Webb restaurant.

The attack happened early on June 29 at the restaurant at South 21st and Mitchell streets.

“It is sickening to see this unsuspecting worker assaulted so brutally by this individual,” Milwaukee Alderman Bob Donovan said.

The woman who was hit had a concussion but is back at the work.

Another worker, who pulled out a gun and pointed it at the man to get him away from the victim, has quit.

“I thank God that the one waitress had a concealed carry and pulled out her gun. I shudder to think what might have happened had she not been able to do that. What this guy would’ve done,” Donovan said.

Police know who the man is but are still looking for him.

Donovan looks at the attack as a symptom of a larger issue citywide. “It’s frustrating because I’ve been saying if we don’t pay attention to some of these neighborhoods that are on the fence, they’re gonna fall the wrong way. And that’s precisely what’s happening,” he said.

Anyone with information about the man’s whereabouts is asked to Milwaukee police at 414-935-7360.

Source

SPRINGVILLE, Utah — An armed good Samaritan scared off a suspect who was pummeling a Utah officer.

KSTU reports that on Friday, the officer noticed a pair of feet dangling from a donation bin and ordered the suspect out of it. When the suspect, Paul Douglas Anderson, exited the bin, he ignored commands and began punching the officer in the face.

The suspect repeatedly struck the officer until a passerby, Derek Meyer, witnessed the attack and intervened.

Meyer, who has a concealed-carry permit, drew his weapon and ordered Anderson to get off of the officer. The suspect ran off. Officers eventually found the suspect hiding under a trailer and arrested him.

Corporal Cory Waters praised Meyer’s actions and said it made a huge difference.

“Had he not been in the right place at the right time, who knows what would have happened,” Waters said. “But he definitely stopped the attack from continuing and becoming much worse. He might have even saved either one of their lives. It could have gone really bad, even for the suspect.”

Meyer said he did it “because of who I am.”

“I carry a gun to protect me and those around me, but primarily I carry a gun to protect my family first and foremost,” Meyer said. “Outside of that, if I were to use my gun to protect anyone it would be law enforcement or military personnel.”

Read More

Are you a gun owner?  Are you a gun owner with a concealed carry permit?  If you answered “yes” to either of these questions, the odds are you’ve been keeping your eye on the slow, steady, advancement of the National Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act.

The Bill, which is currently inching its way out of Committee and onto the House floor, would mean that the rights of a concealed weapons permit holder in one state would be recognized in other states that allow similar licenses.  It would make movement, and self-defense, less complicated for interstate travelers who are already qualified to carry on their home turf.

It also just makes sense. After all, if you have a concealed carry license in one state, you’ve obviously passed a federal background check.  You shouldn’t be penalized thanks to the labyrinthine firearms laws that come into play when moving about the country.

The official Congress.gov summary reads as follows:

This bill amends the federal criminal code to allow a qualified individual to carry a concealed handgun into or possess a concealed handgun in another state that allows individuals to carry concealed firearms.

A qualified individual must: (1) be eligible to possess, transport, or receive a firearm under federal law; (2) carry a valid photo identification document; and (3) carry a valid concealed carry permit issued by, or be eligible to carry a concealed firearm in, his or her state of residence.

Additionally, the bill specifies that a qualified individual who lawfully carries or possesses a concealed handgun in another state: (1) is not subject to the federal prohibition on possessing a firearm in a school zone, and (2) may carry or possess the concealed handgun in federally owned lands that are open to the public.

Read More

The U.S. House Judiciary Committee has scheduled a full committee mark-up of H.R. 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, this Wednesday! It’s therefore more important than ever to urge your member of Congress to support this crucial legislation.

Concealed carry reciprocity is the NRA’s highest legislative priority in Congress. It would ensure that states recognize the concealed carry credentials of other states. This would end abuses in anti-gun states like New York and New Jersey and allow law-abiding concealed carriers to exercise their rights nationwide with peace of mind. 

H.R. 38 would not, as some critics claim, affect how states issue their own concealed carry permits. It would also require those taking advantage of its protections to obey the laws for concealed carry in each state in which they travel. 

Concealed carry reciprocity is already the norm in most states.  This legislation is merely a commonsense follow-up to this successful initiative. 

The few states that target law-abiding concealed carriers from other jurisdictions for criminal prosecution consider the bearing of arms in public for self-defense a privilege reserved for the elite, rather than a constitutional right. When states trample on constitutional rights, Congress has the authority and responsibility to act. 

Passage is now closer than ever before, but it won’t happen without your support. Please contact your member of Congress today and respectfully urge him or her to support H.R. 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act. You can call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to speak to your representative or use the Write Your Federal Lawmakers feature of our website. 

However you choose to make your voice heard, don’t delay No gun owner can afford to sit out this fight!

Source

Second Amendment Foundation founder Alan M. Gottlieb was rejoicing Friday after a federal appeals court ruled the Constitution does not give authority to officials in the District of Columbia to decide whether a gun owner has a “good” reason to obtain a concealed-carry permit.

Read more

A man in a mask opened fire at a church in Antioch, Tennessee on Sunday morning, injuring seven people and killing a woman who was walking to her car. Police say the gunman, whom they suspect is 25-year-old Emanuel Kidega Samson, entered Burnette Chapel Church of Christ and “began indiscriminately shooting” people inside the main sanctuary. Luckily, a brave church usher stopped the gunman in his tracks.

When 22-year-old Caleb Engle first confronted the gunman, the shooter pistol-whipped him, authorities say. During this initial struggle, the suspect shot himself in the chest, giving Engle — a licensed gun owner — time to get his gun from his car. Police say Engle used his gun to make sure the suspect didn’t try to make a move before help arrived.

“He’s the hero,” said Nashville Police Chief Steve Anderson, according to NBC News. “He’s the person who stopped this madness.”

Engle says police are the ones who deserve the credit for saving the day.

“The real heroes are the police, first responders and medical staff and doctors who have helped me and everyone affected,” Engle said.

Samson, who is believed to have come to the United States from Sudan in 1996, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder. He is being held without bond and police say he will be charged with additional crimes. Churchgoers said Samson used to attend Burnette Chapel Church of Christ more than a year ago, but officials are still piecing together what motivated the suspect to carry out this deadly rampage.

Read More

 Police say that a 79-year-old Stanton man thwarted a would-be robber after pulling out his concealed firearm.

Andrew Yanez, 24, has been charged and arrested for Attempted Robbery and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

According to the Stanton Police Department, the elderly man was leaving a convenience store Friday afternoon when he was approached by a suspect.

The suspect then demanded keys to his vehicle, stating “It would be best for you to give me the keys, I want your car” and implied violence would be used, according to police.

It was then that the victim who was licensed to carry a handgun drew his concealed firearm and pointed it towards the suspect, who fled the scene on foot.

A description of the suspect was provided to police, and he was located two blocks away from the scene and was identified as Yanez.

According to police, Yanez was found to have a semi-automatic handgun in his possession. He was then arrested and booked into the Martin County Jail.

Source

BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – Florida’s Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam announced Wednesday at the National Guard Armory in Panama City that the state has expedited concealed weapons permits for more than 80,000 active military and veterans.

With this in effect, members of the military automatically get taken care of first. This shortens the process of getting a concealed carry permit from a couple months to just a few days.

The change came after a shooting at a military reserve in Chattanooga, Tennessee two years ago where members of the military were killed.

Putnam and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis mentioned ISIS posted the names and addresses of men and women in the military on the internet. They say members of the military have become targets inside the United States.

“If they mail in their application, if they come to a regional office, they are processed first,” Commissioner Putnam said. “The use of that DD-214 [form] is a flag to move them to the top of the stack and make sure that active duty military and veterans are getting the protection they need.”

Source

RALEIGH

Source

Legislation filed Thursday would allow concealed-carry permit holders to carry their handguns on UNC system and North Carolina community college campuses.

Rep. Kyle Hall, a Republican from King just north of Winston-Salem, said House Bill 251 would make campuses safer by allowing trained firearms holders to carry their weapons. But the legislation is likely to draw complaints from gun control groups and from higher education officials.

“This is just another safeguard to make sure our campuses are safe,” said Hall, a 2012 UNC-Chapel Hill graduate and one of four bill sponsors. “Our students and faculty should feel safe when they go on campus.”

NEWTOWN, Conn.—U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC) introduced the NSSF-supported Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017 (H.R. 38)

On the first day of the 115th Congress. The proposed legislation, with 63 co-sponsors, would compel states to recognize concealed carry permits issued from other states that have concealed carry laws within their own borders – much in the same way a driver’s license is recognized. The bill aims to eliminate the confusion of varying state-by-state laws and provide protection for Second Amendment rights for permit holders.

“Our Second Amendment right doesn’t disappear when we cross state lines, and this legislation guarantees that,” Hudson said. “The Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017 is a common sense solution to a problem too many Americans face. It will provide law-abiding citizens the right to conceal carry and travel freely between states without worrying about conflicting state codes or onerous civil suits.”

In addition to interstate recognition of concealed carry permits, the bill  would also allow concealed carry in the National Park System, National Wildlife Refuge System, and on lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management, Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation, as well as provide greater legal protections in both civil and criminal cases for permit holders.

“This legislation provides an answer to the confusing patchwork of concealed carry permits, particularly with regard to states where laws make unwitting criminals out of legal permit holders for a simple mistake of a wrong traffic turn,” said Lawrence Keane, NSSF senior vice president and general counsel. “It safeguards a state’s right to determine their own laws while protecting the Second Amendment rights of all Americans. We thank Rep. Hudson for his leadership on behalf of America’s hunters and recreational shooters.”

In 2015, Rep. Hudson sponsored similar legislation with 216 co-sponsors.

Source