Free Republic

Virginia Delegate Tom Garrett Jr. delivered an extended statement arguing that efforts to restrict firearms represent a fundamental misunderstanding of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the historical basis of self-defense, asserting that the right to bear arms is inherent and not granted by government.Garrett framed his remarks around what he described as repeated misinterpretations of the Second Amendment and broader constitutional principles, opening by questioning the motivation behind gun control proposals.

A 23-year-old British woman who was shot dead by her father had argued with him about Donald Trump earlier that day, an inquest has heard. Lucy Harrison, a fashion buyer from Warrington, Cheshire, was staying with her father, Kris Harrison, and his family at their home in Prosper, Texas, in January last year. Ms Harrison's boyfriend, Sam Littler, who made the trip with her, told Cheshire Coroner's Court she would often become upset with her father when he spoke about his gun ownership. He said that on the morning of 10 January - when the couple were due to fly...

At the Governors’ Forum during the 2026 SHOT Show, the eight governors present answered questions about how they could counter attacks against rights protected by the Second Amendment and against the firearms and associated industry. After the introduction by NSSF Larry Keane and remarks by White House Counsel David Warrington, the moderator, Shermichael Singleton, directed questions to the governors. Nevada Governor Lombardo was asked about the Cyberattack that paralysed Nevada gun store sales for more than two weeks. Governor Lombardo gave a detailed explanation. It was the internal state systems that were hacked. No ransom was paid. The lesson learned...

The New Mexico legislature is considering what appears to be an unconstitutional bill, SB17. The bill creates considerable red tape and record-keeping requirements for gun dealers. It also bans the sale of numerous common firearms by simply requiring that dealers be forbidden to process background checks for those firearms. New Mexico requires dealers to run background checks for nearly all firearm sales.Excerpts of the bill from nmlegis.gov:A. Beginning on July 1, 2026, a dealer shall not sell or transfer any of the following firearms, ammunition or devices to a person who is not licensed pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 923,...

After a sometimes heated six-hour debate and a few failed amendments, the New Mexico Senate passed a gun bill that aims to stop firearms from getting into the wrong hands and ban the sale of certain types of weapons. With a 21-17 vote, Senate Bill 17 now heads to the House for approval. Sens. Joseph Cervantes of Las Cruces, Benny Shendo Jr. of Jemez Pueblo and Angel Charley of Acoma Pueblo were the lone "no" votes among Democratic lawmakers. All Republican senators voted in opposition. Senate Bill 17 would require licensed gun dealers to keep inventory records and implement security...

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) riots by Antifa and other activists since June 2025 may have now claimed what could be the first killing tied to this anti-ICE operation in Portland, following a Friday-night drive-by shooting. Instead of using an actual gun, however, the angry shooter, a woman, used a reported non-lethal BB-type gun and shot at least one right-wing livestreamer in the face and arm multiple times. Others may have been hit as well. Since June 2025, local police have, in effect, stood down as Antifa agitators threatened, rioted, and attacked anyone entering or leaving the Immigration and...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A man was sitting in his car late Tuesday in the 1000 block of Crestwood Street in Jacksonville’s North Shore neighborhood when he was approached by four people armed with guns. The incident occurred at about 11:40 p.m., according to a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office news release. The armed suspects commanded the victim to get out of the car. The man complied, exited the car, and then there was an exchange of gunfire between the victim and the suspects, the news release states. The victim shot two of the assailants; one in the leg, the other in the...

Report Highlights: • Republicans are 2.25 times more likely to own firearms than Democrats. • Independent voters reported 29% ownership rate in 2000 and 2023, lower than Republicans and higher than Democrats. • Republican women are 14% more likely to own guns than Democrat men. • Protection is the main reason for gun ownership across all political parties.

NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. — An attempted home burglary in Nassau County turned into a shooting Wednesday night. “If you break into somebody’s home, you should beg to get shot. And that’s exactly what happened,” said Sheriff Bill Leepe, with the Nassau County Sheriffs office. The sheriff’s office said the shooting was in self-defense. Investigators 18-year-old Anson Shawn Drew and a juvenile broke into a home on Clearwater Road in Nassauville. The report states the suspect pointed a flashlight at the homeowner, who then shot his revolver at the suspect in fear for his life. The juvenile suspect is recovering at...

“I approached this bastard and in my hands I had my old Remington Model 11 autoloader crammed with 00 buckshot. Frank Pachmayr had put an extension on the magazine which ran right out to the muzzle and this gave me a reserve of fire which sometimes proved quite advantageous.

An armed Florida homeowner fired shots in self-defense amid a burglary attempt Wednesday night, the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office said.Deputies responded just before 8 p.m. Wednesday after a homeowner reported two suspects attempted to break into a house on Clearwater Road, officials said.The homeowner fired a gun and struck a juvenile male suspect, who was later transported to a local hospital, where he was in stable condition, officials said. (snip) "Anyone who breaks into someone's home should expect to get shot," Sheriff Bill Leeper said. "This is a serious crime with real consequences."

A beloved business owner and mother was murdered 'execution style' in her bar after her cold-hearted killer demanded cash, according to police. Courtney Drysdale, 30, was shot dead on Monday at around 11 am while she was alone in her bar, The Line, in Momence, Illinois. Investigators say she was opening for the day when her suspected killer, Julius E Burkes Jr, 47, allegedly stormed inside and demanded money from the register. The terrified victim complied with his demands - but that did not stop him from fatally shooting her twice before fleeing the scene, Kankakee County Sheriff Mike Downey...

Roy E. Harrel, Jr. (Paul's brother): "Welcome into the studio. No, you haven't been clickbaited. A video with Paul is coming up shortly. But before we get there, we got a couple disclaimers and yeah-buts and all those things that Paul used to say. And the first one is that this video was filmed on a closed set under close supervision of safety personnel. Do not try anything that you're going to see in this video at home or on your own personal range." "With that little bit out of the way, this is a video that Paul made in...

On January 28, 2025, Harmeet K. Dhillon filed an amicus curiae brief on behalf of the Trump administration, detailing why the Massachusetts handgun roster is unconstitutional under the Second Amendment. Harmeet K. Dhillon is Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. The lawsuit timeline began almost 5 years ago.In 2021, a number of Massachusetts residents and the Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) filed suit against then AG Maura Healey in Massachusetts, contending the Massachusetts handgun roster violated the rights protected by the Second and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution.On May 19, 2022, the District Court granted a motion...

A female shooter has been convicted of attempted murder after she opened fire at a New Year’s Eve house party when she spotted her estranged husband and her boyfriend talking to each other. Olivia Clendenin, seen smirking in her mugshot, fired eight shots after she was unable to convince her ex-spouse to leave the shindig in Clearcreek Township, Ohio, according to Warren County prosecutors.Clendenin’s ex-hubby and new boyfriend mingled at the party, which was held to welcome in 2025, and both talked about their relationships with the shooter. Clendenin, 29, received word that both men had attended the bash, but...

A helicopter responding to assist officers in Arizona with an active shooter situation crashed, killing both the pilot and a trooper who was a paramedic on board, authorities said.

A sweeping gun control proposal that critics say represents one of the most extreme assaults on the Second Amendment in New Mexico history is now headed to the Senate floor. Senate Bill 17, which would ban the sale of a broad range of semi-automatic firearms and impose heavy new mandates on federally licensed gun dealers, advanced out of the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday night on a 6–3 party-line vote. An effort to strip out the bill’s semi-automatic firearm and standard-capacity magazine bans failed on a 4–5 vote, clearing the way for the legislation to move forward in largely intact form....

The New York City Police Department released body camera footage showing the moment an officer shot a mentally ill man who was allegedly charging him with a knife amid calls from Mayor Zohran Mamdani for mental health treatment instead of criminal charges. Jabez Chakraborty, 22, was holding a large kitchen knife and charged at officers who responded to an emergency call from his family in Queens on Jan. 26, according to the NYPD. The footage, released by the NYPD on Tuesday, shows an officer entering the living room of the home, where Chakraborty was allegedly brandishing a knife. Officers are...

The United States Constitution did not create the filibuster. The practice exists entirely because of Senate rules and precedents developed over time.From early in the Senate’s history, the ability of Senators to speak for unlimited amounts of time was used as a tool to slow down legislation, as a bargaining chip to gain concessions on bills, or to block bills altogether. This extended use of “debate” became known as a filibuster.For decades, there was talk about changing the Senate rules to limit debate, but nothing was done until 1917. During the administration of President Woodrow Wilson, the Senate adopted Rule...

KANKAKEE COUNTY (WGN) — A suspect is in custody after he allegedly shot and killed a bar owner in Kankakee County on Monday morning. According to the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office, a 47-year-old man was apprehended as he left his Hammond, Indiana, home in the 6400 block of Rhode Island Avenue. He is currently being held in Indiana, where he awaits extradition back to Illinois. The deadly shooting unfolded inside of “The Line,” a bar located in rural Momence, near the Illinois-Indiana state line along Illinois Route 14, just before 11 a.m. According to police, officers were first called to...