Chicago...A Sad Story

What kind of weapon shoots rubber bullets? Gregg Kielma Guns! P lease read the following thoughts. In their simplest form a rubber bullet is just a regular bullet made of rubber. Sometimes with less gunpowder the bullet itself travels slower. First used in the 70s against Irish protestors, rubber bullets are a “less lethal weapon”, not to be confused with the nonexistent “non-lethal weapon”. These bullets can be fired from any normal gun that can hold them. A variation exists that can be fired from a shotgun. This is shotgun shell with either many small rubber balls or one solid puck of rubber. A related weapon is the riot gun, a grenade launcher that shoots large balls of rubber. As mentioned in the comments rubber bullets are still plenty dangerous. Not only can they kill a person if they hit the right part of the body, but they regularly cause injuries, including permanent ones. Hard statistics are hard to come by. But there are numerous instances of people getting shot in the head or neck and dying. As also mentioned in the comments, rubber bullets were originally intended to be shot at the ground in front of targets. The idea being that the bullet loses most of its velocity in the ricochet. I’ve heard conflicting claims about this. With some sources claiming that this is more dangerous because the bullet is more likely to hit some in the face that way. It’s something to consider.

Richard Jones Former PSO(Police Officer, Fire Fighter, EMS) 25 Years. If I use a gun to defend myself against a home intruder, will I have to go to trial or is it possible that police will deem it self-defense and not pursue it? Gregg Kielma Firearms Instructor- FFL- Gunsmith Ok, no question about it, you have just shot someone in self-defense. Call 911, immediately and tell them “I just shot a home invader at my house, my address is …” After that hang up the phone and contact an attorney. When the police arrive, they will see what happened, but will ask questions. Do not explain details to the police, a lawyer will explain it better than you can. Example, “he broke in, so I shot him” (possible jail time) vs “he broke in so out of fear for myself and family I stopped the threat" (possible no jail time). Here is what happens. You have seconds to decide during a home invasion. The police are going to ask you to make a statement. So if you do, which is not advised, how you articulate what happened will be written down. You may use a wrong word or forget an important detail, your screwed. Kielma advises, DO NOT say anything until you have a qualified lawyer present. Remain silent and invoke your 4th and 5th amendment rights. The report will be reviewed by the prosecutor’s office. Their job is to prosecute. They are going to read your statement, view other evidence for a few days or months to determine if you could have or should have done something differently. Believe it or not, some states still have a duty to flee (climb out your window or run out a door) before you can use deadly force. They will decide if they have a winning case, and if so, you are going to court. If not, it will end there. So that is why I say, do not explain details to the police, do not ask if you need an attorney or that you think you need an attorney, that is vague. Tell them “I want an attorney before and during questioning.” Straight to the point. An attorney knows what to say, what not to say, and how to say it. When you enter the criminal justice system, it is like being in quicksand, the longer you are in it, the harder it is to get out. The police do not determine whether it is self-defense or not. That is a call the prosecutor will make. Remember, the police will make a report; the prosecutor’s job is to read the police reports, statements and other evidence. Some prosecutors are biased when a gun is involved because of community and political pressure.

Heritage Rough Rider .22 Revolver What were gun laws like in 1940s America? How easily accessible was it to buy a gun and from where? Gregg Kielma Says Firearms Instructor, FFL, and Gunsmith Gregg Kielma, “my how times have changed”. Please read below. My friend’s father worked a paper route and by his 12th birthday had saved up enough money to go and buy his very first handgun, a blued steel Smith and Wesson .22LR caliber revolver with a 6″ inch barrel with leather holster that he bought and took home with him that day, no id, no parental note, no parent present, no background check, no funny looks, no terrified populace, from the local Taylor Drug Store pharmacy down the street from his house. He was born in 1936 so that would have been in December of 1948 in Hopkinsville, KY.

Fort McCoy Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Possession of Machine gun and Silencers Tuesday, June 11, 2024 U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida Ocala, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Robert Edward Smith (59, Fort McCoy) has pleaded guilty to possession of unregistered National Firearms Act (NFA) weapons—a machinegun and silencers. Smith faces up to 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to court documents, special agents searched Smith’s Marion County residence on February 15, 2024, pursuant to a federal search warrant. Inside Smith’s bedroom, agents located a Sten machinegun and two silencers. None of the items were registered to Smith in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, as required under federal law. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Belkis H. Crockett. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Ohio Man Pleads To Illegally Purchasing Firearms In Tampa And Transferring Them To Juveniles Thursday, June 13, 2024 U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Gabriel Gladman (23, Akron, OH) today pleaded guilty to a 14-count indictment charging him with 8 counts of providing a false statement to a federally licensed dealer to acquire a firearm and 6 counts of unlawfully transferring a handgun to a juvenile. Gladman faces a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment for each count of providing a false statement to acquire a firearm, and 1 year in federal prison for each count for unlawfully transferring a handgun to a juvenile. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to the plea agreement, Gladman, on several dates, purchased firearms from federally licensed dealers in Tampa, where he represented that he was the actual buyer of the firearms. On those same dates, however, Gladman transferred those firearms to juveniles. As part of the plea agreement, Gladman has agreed to forfeit 8 firearms, which are traceable to proceeds of the offense. Those firearms included a Glock .26 semi-automatic firearm, an FMK 9C1 semi-automatic firearm, a Taurus G3 semi-automatic firearm, two Tara TM-9X semi-automatic firearms, and a Taurus G3C semi-automatic firearm. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tampa Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria Guzman. Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky is responsible for the forfeiture of the firearms. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Tampa Man Sentenced To More Than 4 Years For Possession Of Firearm As A Convicted Felon Thursday, June 13, 2024 For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle has sentenced Gerard Eric Beasley (50, Tampa) to four years and nine months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Beasley was found guilty on March 12, 2024, following a bench trial. According to evidence presented at trial, Beasley was stopped by officers from the Tampa Police Department for driving without his headlights on and for a partially open trunk. During a search of Beasley’s vehicle, the officers located marijuana, crack cocaine, and a Taurus G2C 9mm pistol loaded with one round of ammunition. During an interview, Beasley admitted to possessing the firearm and the narcotics. At the time of the offense, Beasley had multiple prior felony convictions and therefore is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David W.A. Chee and Shauna Hale. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Why can’t the government create a free and simple yes/no background check for gun purchases, and make it mandatory for all gun sales? Gregg Kielma Such a system was proposed by Republicans in the demand for “universal background checks” (UBC) after the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012. It was shot down by Democrats as being insufficient despite meeting their stated desire of having such checks. Which tells you this is not about background checks. Democrats want universal gun and owner registration and want to use UBCs as a backdoor way to achieve it. Having universal checks means you will acquire a list of transfers and lists of ownership. Over time it would give a clear picture of a decent segment of gun ownership. Which has nothing to do with background checks. If the Democrats were honest, really Democrats honest, about UBCs in stating they wanted all gun sales to go through such a check to prevent criminals from getting guns, it would have been law seven years ago. No brainer. You don’t need gun or seller information to figure out if a buyer is prohibited. So, the government cannot create such a system because certain parties in government don’t want such a system of “Yes/No” only. They want more. Much more. Which has nothing to do with stopping prohibited people from buying guns.

Today is Flag Day…the day we celebrate the adoption of the flag of the United States. I’ve had mixed emotions recently about the flag, mainly because of the corruption we are seeing in our government. But today I really thought about it. This American Flag is OUR flag, the people’s flag. It doesn’t belong to the government; it belongs to US! Our ancestors created this flag after breaking away from a corrupt government and their overreach. They fought against everything our current government has become. I may be unhappy with the direction of the country currently, but I will always stand behind my/our flag and what it stands for. Happy Flag Day!! ERT Member: Gregg Kielma Sgt: Nick Rians

My son got an AR-15. How can I get it taken away? He doesn’t need an assault rifle. Unknow Author I ran into the same thing with my parents, over 40 years ago. They are staunch liberal, left Democrats. Since I was around 15 years old, very little of what my parents or their friends did with their political views ever made sense to me growing up. I bought my first semi-automatic rifle the morning of my 18th birthday. A pre-ban Norinco AK under folder. My parents thought it was an “assault rifle” and told me it was only used for killing people. Wouldn't be allowed in their house. My Dad tried to take it away with physical force. I had to put him on the floor before he let go. Mom screaming all the while. I called the police. The officer checked that I had bought the gun legally. They locked my Dad up for 24 hours for a domestic assault. I moved out less than an hour later. Enlisted in the Army that day. Put myself through the last half of my senior year of high school. No party at graduation, no family there. Shipped out two days after I got my diploma. Graduated Basic/AIT, Airborne School, RIP, Ranger School, saw combat on two separate continents and not once did my parents visit me. Got out and got an associate's degree in Fire Science along with a Paramedic license. I ran over 4000 calls in my career. No parents at my retirement. All simply for what my parent's beliefs were, they blame me for. I never really cared. It was never my fault. I've had a cool life. A note: It didn't take a village to raise their child. It took two mislead liberal left parents making the wrong choices based off bad information that spurred their kid to be a right conservative who successfully taught himself to do things for himself. I literally became their worst social nightmare. Looks like you could be doing the same thing to your kid.