Free Republic

Writing about firearm issues is fraught with peril. One’s experience, ability and knowledge matter little to at least some portion of the gun-interested public. No matter what an author writes, even if it’s non-controversial, someone will attack their man—or woman—hood, and suggest they’re less intelligent than an order of packed sardines. With that in mind, are shotguns the ideal home defense weapon? Ideally, in any armed confrontation, one should employ a weapon with ease of use, exceptional accuracy, overwhelming power and significant ammunition capacity—many home invaders these days run in packs—and excellent reliability. That means, in general, a rifle or...

The other recent development in Russian missile defenses is the first deployment of the S-500 missile system, which was delivered to the 1st Special Purpose Air and Missile Defense Army (tasked with the defense of the Moscow area) in 2021.41 The S-500 is Russia’s latest mobile air and missile defense system, and is designed to target IRBMs, early warning aircraft, and satellites in low-Earth orbit.42 In February of 2024, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that it had successfully tested the weapon against a hypersonic target representative of an ICBM reentry vehicle.43 The system was previously tested at a range...

24-117 Detectives Conduct Shooting Investigation in Unincorporated St. Petersburg Shooting InvestigationPinellas County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Operations Bureau Investigative Operations Bureau -Robbery/Homicide Unit Support Services Bureau -Forensic Science DivisionMatthew Weisner (Injured) DOB: 07/23/1985 Address: 2572 Ryland Falls Drive, LakelandAustin McMann DOB: 02/03/1994 Address: 5352 79th Street North, Unincorporated St. PetersburgMichael McMann DOB: 12/16/1987 Address: 5352 79th Street North, Unincorporated St. PetersburgAmber Souza DOB: 1/26/1986 Address: 4180 72nd Avenue North, Pinellas ParkPINELLAS COUNTY – Detectives assigned to the Robbery/Homicide Unit are conducting a shooting investigation in unincorporated St. Petersburg.According to detectives, on September 4, 2024, at approximately 8:37 p.m., deputies responded to...

TULSA, Okla. — FOX23 heard from the brother of a man who Tulsa Police said shot two people in self defense, killing one of them. Tulsa Police said the two people shot were part of a group that went after the man on Tuesday night in a north Tulsa neighborhood near Apache and M.L.K. The second person shot is in critical condition. FOX23 spoke with the brother of the shooter who said this has been an ongoing issue with this group that unfortunately escalated. ”I'm sorry for that family, and whatever is going on with them, but I told them...

Four people were killed and two others injured in a shooting at a home stemming from a dispute between neighbors on Saturday night in Hawaii, police said. An argument between neighbors led to a bloody shooting that left four dead and two others critically injured this weekend in Hawaii, police said. Witnesses reported that a man was using a front-end loader to ram cars into the home where a family gathering was happening, before the man opened fire at people gathered in the carport, fatally shooting three women at the residence in Wainanae, a community about 30 miles (48 kilometers)...

PADDOCK HILLS, Ohio (WKRC) -A man who allegedly attempted to rob a convenience store in Paddock Hills is dead after the clerk apparently shot him. The incident happened just before 3 a.m. at the BP station on the corner of Reading Road and Tennessee Avenue. Police are saying very little other than a man was shot there at about 2:50 a.m. Paramedics arrived and tried to save him, but were unsuccessful. The details that Local 12 dug up came from the people who work at the store, radio traffic, and court documents.The first call came in at 2:49 a.m. “Attention...

Here are all the cases that have been documented where calibers beyond .44 Magnum were used. There are 4 incidents where .454 Casull revolvers were fired. There was 1 incident where a .460 S&W Magnum revolver was fired. there were 2 incidents where a .500 S&W Magnum revolver was fired. These cases do not include incidents where handguns were used with other lethal means or a mix of handgun calibers were used. The incident is included if more than one handgun of the same caliber was used. Six incidents were against brown bears and one against a polar bear. All...

As wars in Ukraine and the Middle East continue to rage, Vertical Research Partners forecasts top weapon manufacturers will experience record cash flow during the coming years.The analysis, which was commissioned by the Financial Times, reports, "The leading 15 defense contractors are forecast to log free cash flow of $52 billion in 2026," with the "Five top US defense contractors are forecast to generate cash flow of $26 billion."The cash flow in 2026 will be double the 2021 numbers. The record numbers are part of an upward trend for weapons makers already benefiting from a surge in global military spending...

You may be familiar with the debate about aircraft carriers – that they are too expensive to buy and maintain. Perhaps the aircraft carrier is obsolete, and the Navy should focus on building more frigates and destroyers. Yet another debate is brewing up involving the DDG(X) program, in which the Navy wants to build a new class of guided missile destroyers by the 2030s. And, sadly for the Navy, this new warship class is getting its share of bad press and doubtful commentary.

Opinion The American military-industrial complex, coined by President Eisenhower in 1961, has shaped US foreign policy and military strategy while perpetuating global conflicts The American military-industrial complex, a term popularized by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in his farewell address in 1961, refers to the synergistic relationship between a nation's armed forces, its defence industry, and its political establishment. This complex has played a pivotal role in shaping U.S. foreign policy and military strategy, leading to extensive global influence and numerous conflicts over the past century. While wars undoubtedly bring immense destruction and suffering, they have also generated substantial profits for...

Rochester, N.Y. — Teens in two vehicles drove toward a 46-year-old man, prompting him to open fire and shoot one of them Wednesday afternoon, according to police. Investigators said the man approached multiple teens occupying a Kia and Hyundai on Norton Village Lane to "inquire about their presence." The teens left the area in the vehicles, only to circle back and drive at the man, according to police. The man reportedly pulled a legally registered .45-caliber handgun and fired several rounds before the vehicles fled. Police received a call shortly after 3:30 p.m. for a 17-year-old boy shot on South...

BERLIN, Aug 19 (Reuters) - European defence stocks fell on Monday, after the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung (FAS) newspaper said on Saturday that the German finance ministry would not approve additional applications for Ukraine military aid due to budget constraints. A German government spokesperson reiterated Berlin's support for Ukraine for "as long as necessary" at a regular press conference on Monday, calling the FAS report "incorrect". Shares in arms manufacturer Rheinmetall (RHMG.DE), opens new tab slumped to the bottom of Germany's blue-chip DAX index (.GDAXI), opens new tab, falling by as much as 5% before paring their losses by 1222 GMT,...

Sublethal developed the non-lethal remote-control gun that fires standard .68 caliber paintballs with solid nylon bullets or pepper balls. "The remote gun will not autonomously shoot anyone. The gun is controlled either from a control center or from the user's cellphone. Either way, there is a human who decides when to shoot."

(August 15, 2024) — The Cape Coral Police Department hosted a press conference detailing a shooting that resulted in a fatality within the city of Cape Coral near NW 25th Place. On Tuesday, August 13, 2024, at 10:06 PM, a 9-1-1 call was received that a man had been shot. Officers arrived and found a man, identified as Norbert Mess Junior (DOB 5/24/1969), with gunshot wounds lying in the field next to the street. Officers provided aid. However, he was pronounced deceased on scene at 10:17 PM. The Violent Crimes Unit was notified, and during the investigation, detectives confirmed that...

Here are all the cases that have been documented where .44 Magnum caliber revolvers and one semi-automatic handgun were fired in defense against bears. The .44 Magnum has been used far more than any other caliber in defense against bears.These cases do not include incidents where handguns were used with other lethal means or a mix of handgun calibers were used. If more than one handgun of the same caliber was used, the incident is included. There are 44 incidents with a .44 Magnum caliber handgun was fired (9 black, 30 brown, 5 polar bears).One incident was a failure with...

The B-21 promises to be the culmination of those stealth refining efforts, with some claiming that the new stealth bomber will have the radar cross section (RCS) of an insect. While the claim – that a large, fuel-guzzling military aircraft could have the RCS of a honeybee – seems hyperbolic, one Washington thinktank is backing the claim, and urging the US to pursue large-scale acquisition of the B-21.

The MiG-35, also known as the “Fulcrum-F,” is a modernized version of the MiG-29 designed as a “4++ generation” fighter. First flown in 2016 and entering service in 2019, it features upgrades like an AESA radar, reduced radar signature, improved engines, and the ability to serve as a refueling tanker. Despite these enhancements, the MiG-35 has struggled to find success, both domestically and internationally.

In February, it was revealed that Russia has been developing a nuclear-armed anti-satellite weapon. The Biden administration's response has focused mainly on arms control efforts aimed at preventing Russia from acquiring a space-based nuclear weapon in the first place. These efforts are important, but they are also insufficient. Steps must be taken now to prepare for the possibility that diplomacy fails. Nuclear anti-satellite weapons have the potential to fundamentally alter existing nuclear paradigms, creating a much more destabilizing environment than exists today. The U.S. must take action now to ensure it is ready to deal with the challenges posed by...

Officers responding to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon found the man suffering from a gunshot wound inside the home, police spokesperson Heather Mitchell said. Police said the intruder was carrying a 3-foot wooden stake and a rock when he entered an open slider door in a back bedroom. A woman was inside the room. “The suspect threw a rock at a male resident of the home, striking him in the face,” Mitchell said in a statement. “The male resident retrieved a firearm and shot the suspect.” The homeowner, a 54-year-old man, fired his Glock handgun three...

In the summer of 2021, President Richard Nixon was put on trial nearly every day for six weeks. The trials came in the form of an off-Broadway play called "Trial on the Potomac," which imagined the president going through an impeachment trial in the U.S. Senate for his role in the Watergate scandal and subsequent cover-up. Nixon's defense in the play is based on documents uncovered by Geoff Shepard, who worked as deputy counsel for Nixon's Watergate defense team. The audience became members of the Senate who, at the end of every performance, had to vote on whether Nixon was...