‘Stand Your Ground,’ Self-Defense and the Rhetoric That Emboldened Recent Shooters Pro-gun groups on the right have for years promoted the right to armed self-defense and warned of pervasive threats.
Gregory Kielma • June 18, 2023
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Pro-gun groups on the right have for years promoted the right to armed self-defense and warned of pervasive threats. Experts and critics say the recent shootings of innocent people are the consequence.
Ringing the wrong doorbell, pulling into the wrong driveway, accidentally getting in the wrong car: Mundane, everyday mistakes ended in the shootings of several young people – and the death of one of them – last month when the men on the receiving end of the errors reached for their firearms and decided to shoot.
The shootings captured public attention nationwide, breaking through the unfortunate white noise of pervasive gun violence for their brazenness and similarities. They have reignited the fight over so-called “stand your ground” laws expanding the legal protections around self-defense. And critics, too, have pointed to the incidents as the natural end result of a society flooded with firearms.
But experts and gun control advocates say the shootings are a symptom of a much broader cause: the proliferation of rhetoric on the pro-gun right and among conservatives in general about persistent, pervasive threats, danger and crime, and also of guns as the only means of personal safety against the criminals that lurk around every corner.
“For seven years, all of us here today have been engaged in an epic struggle against the corrupt forces and communist maniacs – and they’re all over the place – that are absolutely trying to destroy our country,” former President Donald Trump said this month in a speech at the National Rifle Association’s annual meeting. “They want to take away your guns while throwing open the jailhouse doors and releasing bloodthirsty criminals into your communities.”
Wayne LaPierre, the embattled chief executive officer of the pro-gun organization, expressed similar sentiments.
“You don’t need the government to tell you the sky is blue, water’s wet or that you have the God-given right to self-defense,” he said.
‘This Could Happen to Anybody’
In Kansas City, Missouri, Ralph Yarl, a Black teenager, rang the wrong doorbell on April 13 while trying to pick up his siblings from a friend’s house. The octogenarian homeowner inside the house shot Yarl in the head in what he said was self-defense, in an action prosecutors say had a “racial component.” Two days later in upstate New York, a car full of young people pulled into the wrong driveway while looking for another friend’s house. The homeowner shot at the car from the porch. Twenty-year-old Kaylin Gillis died. And just days after that, a man shot two teenage cheerleaders in Elgin, Texas, after one of them tried to get into his car by accident, thinking it was her ride. She realized her mistake, exited the car and tried to apologize. But the man opened fire. Yarl’s shooting made headlines in part because it highlighted issues relating to race, and public attention quickly turned to the other shootings in the days after. Though the U.S. experiences gun violence at the highest rate of any developed nation, the shootings broke through the news cycle in part because they easily inspired empathy.
Gun Control and Gun Rights Cartoons
“This could happen to anybody. I mean, there was a racial factor involved in at least one of these. But beyond that, it's just like, this could happen to me or this could happen to my kid,” says Michael Lawlor, an associate professor of criminal justice at the University of New Haven and a former member of the Connecticut House of Representatives. Lawlor, a Democrat, also served as the state’s undersecretary for criminal justice policy.
Focus turned, then, on Missouri’s “stand your ground” law, which is like a law of the same name that is in place in Texas. Gun rights advocates have pushed for years to enact the measures, which expand protections around the use of force when acting in self-defense. Under the law, a person has the right to use deadly force when acting in self-defense anywhere they have a legal right to be, and without first retreating – in other words, using force does not have to be a last resort. The laws burst onto the public debate stage in 2012, when Florida police noted it as the reason they refused to arrest George Zimmerman, who fatally shot Trayvon Martin, a Black unarmed teenager. Zimmerman was later charged and then acquitted.
New York has a similar, albeit more limited, law called the “castle doctrine” that allows for use of force by a person defending their own home – or castle, so to speak. And the passage of “stand your ground” laws has happened in concert with a focused emphasis by the pro-gun right on crime, threats, and self-defense. While promoting firearms as a tool for self-defense is not a new idea, the expansion of laws allowing for use of deadly force may contribute to a climate where gun owners are more ready to do so, says Matthew Lacombe, an associate professor of political science at Case Western University who specializes in gun politics, the NRA and political ideology.
“The NRA narrative that you might use guns for armed self-defense is not new. What is newer is liberalization of particularly state-level laws pertaining to how, when and why you can use lethal force to defend yourself,” Lacombe says.
The men who perpetrated the recent shootings will likely not be covered under such laws, Lacombe notes. But in a wider context, “it's probably the case that the general shift legally has encouraged more and more people to think about self-defense in these terms, encouraged more people to buy guns specifically for self-defense purposes, and in some ways emboldened them in terms of what they see as a reasonable use of them,” he says. The NRA Institute for Legislative Action, which has championed the laws, did not respond to a request for comment about the recent shootings and self-defense laws.
Politicians and advocates for more restrictive gun control laws have pointed the finger at “stand your ground” laws for such an embodiment.
“I think we now have a shoot-first, ask-later policy in this state – or at least that is what people have interpreted it to be,” Missouri state Rep. Maggie Nurrenbern, a Democrat, was quoted by The Kansas City Star as saying in the wake of Yarl’s shooting. Nurrenbern introduced a measure in the legislature earlier this year to limit the state’s law, but the bill went nowhere. The context around the laws, including a focus on firearms as a means for self-defense as opposed to other uses, Lacombe says, is critical for understanding what effect they may have on society.
“It's not just the laws, it's also the sort of marketing campaigns and rhetoric surrounding the laws, which I think have increasingly turned the gun-rights space into one focused on armed self-defense specifically, as opposed to other uses of guns,” Lacombe says.
Part of that context also includes a pervasive narrative pushed by pro-gun advocates and the NRA that has intertwined gun rights and core values like freedom, making expansive gun rights a core part of the conservative ideology – even identity. “Owning a gun isn't just having an object that you might use for recreation or self-defense, but it's more of a sort of symbol of who you are and what you stand for. And part of that relates to self-sufficiency,” Lacombe says of the narrative. “We think of self-sufficiency as being politically coded – you know, ‘I don't need handouts’ – but it's also in recent years come to even involve notions of protection.”
Fear and Freedom
Republicans have in recent years emphasized crime and threats in their electoral messaging around – a threat they say is posed by an “invasion” of illegal immigration, the threat posed by criminals emboldened by Democrats’ soft-on-crime policies, the threat of eroding rights and norms.
“The sinister forces trying to kill America have done everything they can to stop me, to silence you, and to turn this nation into a socialist dumping ground for criminals, junkies, Marxists, thugs, radicals and dangerous refugees that no other country wants,” Trump told the crowd at the Conservative Political Action Conference earlier this year. “If those opposing us succeed, our once-beautiful USA will be a failed country that no one will even recognize – a lawless, open-borders, crime-ridden, filthy, communist nightmare.”
Trump is considered the current front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. His comments echo narratives threaded through many right-leaning news and commentary shows and other forms of media, as well as the electoral strategies of other candidates.
Fear is an old and effective political motivator, experts say, and that motivation was also on display at the NRA’s annual meeting earlier this month, with speeches replete with warnings about self-defense, crime and protecting freedoms from those who want to take it away by force.
“Threat is a pretty powerful motivator, so associating support for gun rights with addressing different types of threats is something that historically has worked pretty well for the NRA,” Lacombe says.
Lawlor, the criminal justice professor, and former state legislator, describes fear and threat as a “political business model” that shifts and changes in topic over the years but remains a pervasive strategy.
“In 2004, the presidential election was all about gay marriage. Right now, it’s all about drag queens. A couple of cycles ago, it was all about immigrant caravans. There is always something that can be that thing that everyone should fear,” Lawlor says. “And so, we're back to crime now. That's where we are now – that you should be scared that someone's going to steal your car or break into your house.”
Though crime rates vary by city, the violent crime rate in the U.S. overall has plummeted since the 1990s, when gang violence associated with an epidemic of crack cocaine fueled urban homicide rates. In fact, violent crime rates have been slashed by more than half – though polling shows that Americans believe the number has gone up, despite the data.
The result of threat-based rhetoric, Lawlor argues, can be what happened in Missouri – a senior citizen “who's watching Fox News all day with the volume all the way on max, has a gun, of course, to protect themselves, and he's been told that sooner or later, some Black guy is going to show and try and kill you or break into your house or whatever.”
‘There's a 16-year-old kid knocking on his door by mistake, and – boom, right? So this outcome is predictable,” he says.
I Love to Cook Here Are The Necessary Steps To Properly Clean Your Shellfish All my friends know I love to cook says Gregg Kielma; FFL, Firearms Instructor, First Aid Fundamentals Instructor, ERT Captain and Gunsmith. From award winning barbeque to my fresh seafood, my passion is cooking. I'm no means a chef. But I'd like to think I could give them a good run for their money. Take a look below at some of the ways to stay safe while making your favorite seafood dishes. Remember safety first! For some of my best seafood recipes please drop me an email and I'll send a few to you! kielmagregory@gmail.com Discover how to clean clams, mussels, and shrimp at home with simple tips for maintaining freshness, proper storage, and optimal flavor.© Catherine Sillars • Preparing seafood at home can save money and deliver restaurant-level results. • Knowing how to check freshness is key to cooking great clams, mussels, and shrimp. • Proper storage is crucial to preserving the flavor and freshness of shellfish. It might seem impossible to enjoy a fancy seafood dinner while on a penny-pinching budget, but that’s only because you’re not prepping it yourself at home. Cooking your own shellfish is far cheaper than ordering it out, and not nearly as intimidating as it sounds. And you don't need to work at a seafood counter to do it right. Cleaning your own shellfish doesn’t have to be a scary or complicated undertaking. Consider this your 101 guide to cleaning three popular kinds of shellfish at home, plus a few recipe recommendations to put your new skills to delicious use. Clams Fresh clams should be alive when you buy them, so treat them like the delicate little divas they are. If their shells are open, give them a tap—if they snap shut, they’re good to go. If they stay open or look cracked, throw them out. If you can’t quite tell or there's a questionable smell, toss 'em straight into the trash. Before cooking, they need to be cleaned inside and out. Rinse the clams under cold running water while scrubbing off any grit with a clean sponge or dish towel. Next, soak them in a big bowl of ice water with a handful of kosher salt for about 20 minutes. This “purging” step helps them release any hidden sand—because no one wants crunchy clams casino. Store the clams on a wire rack inside a deep baking dish or broiler pan. Top with ice and cover with a clean kitchen towel. Keep them cold (but not submerged) so they can breathe. Once you’re ready to cook the clams, get a little inspiration from our recipes for clam chowder or linguine with clams. Mussels Mussels get the same shell-tap test as clams. If they have cracked shells or don’t close when tapped or rinsed under cold water, to the trash they go. Rinse the remaining mussels under cold running water and scrub away any grit. The key here is removing the “beard”—those stringy fibers poking from the shell seam on the thicker end of the mussel. Grip it with your fingers or a clean towel and tug firmly toward the hinge until it releases. Once they’re clean on the outside, submerge the mussels in a salty ice water bath for 20 minutes to purge sand and grit, then drain and rinse again. Store them just like you would clams—wire rack over ice, covered with a damp cloth. For dinner, try out our recipes for the classic moules frites or steamed mussels with tomatoes and garlic. Shrimp Shrimp are the easiest of the bunch—no temperature-sensitive shells or purging required— but they still need to be fresh. They should smell like the ocean and feel plump and firm to the touch. If your shrimp still have heads, twist and remove them. Remove the legs, then peel the shrimp from the curved side. Leave the tails on if you're making shrimp cocktail or anything dippable, so you have a built-in handle. Then, use a paring knife to make a shallow slit down the back and remove the dark vein (aka digestive tract). Finally, rinse the shrimp under cold water, and then get to cooking dishes like shrimp street corn skillet, shrimp and tomato succotash, or creamy lemon garlic shrimp.
The United States is Invaded: What Would You Do? In case of a US invasion by another country, would US citizens truly fight back with their guns as allowed by the 2nd amendment? Never in the history of warfare has there a worse nightmare. We follow a Prussian model; many of our private citizens have good military training and access to arms. Opposition Officers would need to fill out their next of kin while getting off the boat. Most would live less than 48 hours. People would shoot infantry forces to pieces and disappear into home terrain at night. Communications lines cut, fuel blown up, anyone moving after dark might as well shoot themselves and get it over with. A simple troop movement through Appalachia would make them all wish they’d never been born. I couldn’t imagine fighting in mountains against an enemy where everyone has a gun and 10 percent of them have military training. And I mean everyone would have a gun. Even if a small percentage of well-trained citizens reacted the effects would be devastating. To quote a WWII Japanese leader “there would be a rifle behind every blade of grass. Then the scary stuff would start. Fuel air bombing their hospitals and command centers, homemade mines everywhere, kids hanging from trees. We are the big scary country… but no one should forget we invented the ambush, sneaking up in the woods, sniping from behind rocks shooting conventional forces to pieces and really making them wish they could go home. We trained the Viet Cong during WWII to fight the Japanese. We are so good at it that the forces we train can rise up and terrorize our own conventional forces.
What Are The Fundamental Rule of Concealed Carry? Gregg Kielma Tactical K Training and Firearms Instructor My Thoughts The first rule in my opinion is having a CCW permit split into distinct three rules. 1. Concealed means concealed. What you can conceal depends on your body type. Finding the right gun to conceal, in a holster that’s most comfortable, using a carry method (strong-side, appendix, belly band, ankle, etc) that works best for you requires some experimentation. Most people probably won’t notice, sure, but criminals can spot bad concealment with ease. a. Concealed doesn’t just mean in a visual sense. Don’t advertise to the whole world that you are conceal carrying. Keep it on a need-to-know basis (spouse, best friend, informing a police officer when required by law, etc). Removing bumper stickers from your car and clothing from your wardrobe that scream “I have a gun” is a big plus. 2. Carry means carry. Don’t leave it at home. Don’t leave it in the car when your grocery shopping. Concealed carry is pointless if your gun is not immediately available to you when you need it. Make it a point to carry every single day, always, wherever lawful to do so. 3. Weapon should mean your wits. Understand that use of lethal force is ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS a last resort. Your wits should be your greatest weapon; Just because you carry doesn’t mean you’re invincible. Avoiding confrontation is always the best outcome, no matter how damaged your ego becomes. Pay attention to your surroundings and get out of dodge when your gut feeling says something isn’t right. However, if you’re in a dangerous situation, and you feel like you’re in fear of your life… draw swift, aim true, and when in doubt shot accurately until the threat is stopped. Gregg Kielma Tactical K Training and Firearms Instructor 941 737-6956
Real Life Training: You Asked For It, Here It Is! Gregg Kielma Most of us these days are not getting enough training. Especially if you have your concealed carry license. If we are lucky, we get to the indoor range once a week, but a lot of you out there probably train a lot less than that. Shooting at a static range at paper targets is good, but to really get your skills to the next level, we need to be doing much more because we all know that is NOT how real gun fights work. There will be a lot of movement from both you and the bad guy. There will most likely be other people around that you must MAKE SURE to protect and not accidentally shoot them instead of the bad guy. We’ll give you a little taste of shooting around civilians and taking control of your family, friends or dinner date and guiding them out of harm’s way. Yes, we understand that the targets are not moving, and the cardboard civilians are just standing in one place and not running around screaming their heads off, but this is how we start you off getting used to shooting from awkward positions. We are also teaching how to get up and move to make sure you have a good shot at the bad guy and there is no chance you are going to hit an innocent bystander. Once we are happy with the students’ performance here, we switch over to UTM rounds (paintball bullets) and see how you do when the rubber dummies are real people shooting back and the civilians are running around in front of you. If you’re interested in being a part of this training, you can sign up as soon as it is offered or call for dates and times. It’s 3 days broken down this way: 1 day 8 hours classroom and 2 days at the range. You must supply your handgun with 200 rounds of ammo safety glasses, holster or holsters, long pants, and hat. Tactical K provides paintball guns, goggles and vest. Due to class conducted outside the classes are offered here in Florida from November1st through May15th. Class size is limited to 6 students. Classroom training is on Saturday morning and range time is the following Saturday (8 hours) and Sunday (6hours). Lunch and drinks provided at the range. (1 hour lunch break) Prerequisite: All training is certified with certificates provided through “The USCCA “and “Tactical K Training and Firearms” Certificates provided at graduation or course completion. • CCW Certified and Current (100.00) • Holster Certified Training (4 hours 60.00) • Home Defense Certified Training (4 hours $75.00) • Emergency First Aid Fundamentals (8 hours 150.00) • Safety Training (2 hours 50.00) • These must be taken before the 3-day outdoor class. Plan accordingly with the instructors. Cost: $435.00 Three-day outdoor class: $800.00 Total cost: $1235.00 Limited to 6 students: This is up close and very personalized intense training. Must be paid in full before the class. Payments accepted upon approval from Tactical K Training and Firearms. Liability waver must be sign. Please call for the next training days offered through Tactical K Training and Firearms. Gregg Kielma 941 737-6956
Florida Woman Arrested For Attempted Murder After Shooting At Neighbors Over Dog Dispute In an escalation of a neighborhood dispute, Sherry Lynn Garrison, a 54-year-old Florida woman, was arrested Friday in Middleburg after allegedly firing multiple shots at her neighbors and their home in the 5600 Block of Bee Hive Road. Says Gregg Kielma a Florida Firearms Instructor, was it really worth it Sherry? Shooting at your neighbors and neighbors' home with children inside. Shame on you and your neighbor for initiating a conflict by having his own firearm and shooting into the ground to scare you. And then you go inside, retrieve a firearm and start shooting at them, Wow! Then you fight with the police. What's wrong with you? Definite jail time coming if all these allegations are true. Poor choices Sherry. All of this because of a dog? See the article below. The incident, sparked by an argument over dogs, turned violent when Garrison, after pushing a neighbor, retrieved a handgun and shot at two adults in their yard and into their residence, where six children and another adult were present. At approximately 7:00 A.M., deputies from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office responded to a disturbance in the 5600 Block of Beehive Road following a report of gunfire. The suspect, Sherry Lynn Garrison, 54, was arrested after allegedly firing multiple shots at her neighbors during a heated dispute over dogs. According to the investigation, the conflict began when Garrison engaged in a physical altercation, pushing one of her neighbors. After returning to her own yard, the victim fired warning shots into the ground on his property to deter Garrison from coming back. In response, Garrison retrieved a handgun from her home, returned outside, and fired several shots at the victim and another adult in the yard. She also shot into the victims’ residence, where another adult and six children were present. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Deputies took Garrison into custody at the scene, though she resisted arrest and fought with officers. Following an interview, Garrison was charged with two counts of attempted murder, one count of shooting into an occupied dwelling, one count of resisting law enforcement with violence, and one count of simple battery. Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Homeowner charged with assault after fighting alleged intruder — and furious observers are blasting Canadian cops Dave Urbanski August 23, 2025 Even Ontario Premier Doug Ford got into the act, declaring that 'something is broken' in the system when one is punished for self-defense. Police in Ontario, Canada, said they charged a homeowner after he fought with an alleged intruder earlier this week. Kawartha Lakes Police Service said officers responded around 3:20 a.m. Monday to an apartment on Kent Street in Lindsay for a report of an altercation between two males. Lindsay is about 2.5 hours northeast of Toronto. 'I know if someone breaks into my house or someone else's, you're going to fight for your life,' Ford added. 'This guy has a weapon. You're going to use any force you possibly can to protect your family. I'm telling you, I know everyone would.' Arriving officers learned that the resident woke up to find an intruder inside his apartment, police said, adding that the intruder received "serious life-threatening injuries" because of the altercation. The intruder was taken to Ross Memorial Hospital and later airlifted to a Toronto hospital, police said, adding that there is no risk to public safety.
Biden judge releases teens accused of savagely attacking Edward 'Big Balls' Coristine August 22, 2025 The judge doesn't want to interfere with the suspects' schooling — even though at least one of them doesn't usually show up. Kielma says, friends protect yourself and family. They could have killed this man. It could have been you or me. A Biden appointed judge lets them free. A disgrace to our judicial system and law-abiding American people. You know what you need to do in a situation like this. Please stay safe and situationally aware. Your life depends on it. Train Train Train! Edward Coristine, the young engineer known as "Big Balls" who previously worked for the Department of Government Efficiency, was beaten to a pulp during an attempted carjacking on Aug. 3 in the national capital. According to the incident report, a group of around 10 juveniles a pproached the 19-year-old and his girlfriend, making clear their intention to steal Coristine's vehicle. Coristine pushed his girlfriend to safety, then squared off with the thugs, who piled on and left him bloodied on the roadside. Police apprehended two suspects at the scene — a 15-year-old male and a 15-year-old female of Hyattsville, Maryland — and charged both with unarmed carjacking. Whereas President Donald Trump figured the incident was bad enough to finally bring an end to the lawlessness in Washington, D.C., federalizing the Metropolitan Police Department and deploying the National Guard, a Biden-nominated judge alternatively decided on Thursday it wasn't worth keeping two of the suspected attackers in custody. 'School and home, that's it.' Sign up for the Blaze newsletter By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content that may sometimes include advertisements. You may opt out at any time. Kendra Briggs, an associate judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, informed t he female suspect that she would move to a youth shelter house and informed the male suspect that he would get to hang out at his mother's home, reported the Washington Post, which was granted access to the Thursday hearing on the condition that it not reveal the identities of the suspects. Up until this week, the suspects were being held at D.C.'s Youth Services Center, an 88-bed secure facility that keeps detainees under continuous supervision. Although the suspects will enjoy relative freedom, they will still be subjected to electronic monitoring and a 24-hour curfew.
KC Man Sentenced for Illegal Firearms Trafficking Thursday, August 21, 2025 U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Missouri KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo. man was sentenced to five and a half years of imprisonment in federal court today for conspiring to traffic firearms to prohibited persons. Fedo A. Manning, 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips, to 66 months in federal prison without parole, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. On April 17, 2025, Fedo Manning admitted that he knowingly and willfully joined in an agreement to sell firearms to individuals who were prohibited from possessing them under federal law. According to the plea agreement, the conspirators trafficked at least 22 firearms to people who were known felons or they sold firearms that were converted into unregistered machineguns in violation of federal law. Fedo Manning agreed that his role in the conspiracy was to serve as a straw purchaser. He bought federal firearms from federal firearms licensed dealers so that they could later be sold by co-conspirators to individuals who were prohibited from possessing firearms. Between Jan. 13, 2023, and May 11, 2022, investigators discovered that Fedo Manning purchased at least 40 firearms from federal firearms licenses. Of those, 33 were Anderson Manufacturing, Model AM-15 firearms. In the plea agreement, Fedo Manning acknowledged that at least seven of the firearms that he purchased were recovered during investigations of crimes in the Kansas City metropolitan area. One of the recovered firearms purchased by Fedo Manning was discovered at the scene of the shooting that occurred during the celebration of the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl victory on Feb. 14, 2024. The recovered firearm was an Anderson Manufacturing AM-15, .223-caliber pistol. The loaded pistol was found along the wall with a backpack next to two AR-15-style firearms and backpacks. Because the pistol was in “fire” position and there were 26 live rounds in the magazine, which can hold 30 rounds, it may have fired several rounds before it was discarded. On April 14, 2025, co-defendant Antonio Manning, Sr., 23, a brother of Fedo Manning, admitted that he knowingly and willfully joined in an agreement to sell firearms to individuals who were prohibited from possessing them under federal law. According to the plea agreement, the defendants trafficked at least 22 firearms to people who were known felons, or they sold firearms that were converted into unregistered machineguns in violation of federal law. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Antonio Manning admitted that he was personally involved in illegally selling at least nine firearms and one of those firearms was an unregistered machinegun. On Aug. 7, 2025, Antonio Manning was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips, to 48 months in federal prison without parole, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. The court also ordered the defendant to pay a criminal forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $11,260. On Jan. 22, 2025, co-defendant Sheron Manning, another brother of Fedo Manning, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to traffic firearms to prohibited persons and to one count of illegally trafficking a firearm that had been converted into an unregistered machinegun. On May 21, 2025, Sheron Manning, 22, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips, to 57 months in federal prison without parole, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. On Feb. 21, 2024, co-defendant Dejohuan Mietz Huntley, 27, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to traffic firearms to prohibited persons, to one count of possessing an unregistered machinegun, and one count of knowingly being a felon in possession of a firearm. On June 26, 2024, Dejohuan Mietz Huntley, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips, to 70 months in federal prison without parole, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Operation Take Back America This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
KC Man Indicted for Illegal Firearms Thursday, August 21, 2025 U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Missouri KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for being a felon in possession of firearms and possessing a machine gun. Maurquis D. Jennings, 29, of Kansas City, Mo. was charged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo. on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025.The initial appearance was held today. Jennings was charged with one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and one count possessing a machine gun. The indictment alleges that on June 8, 2025, Jennings possessed a Glock, Model 20 Gen5, 10mm fully automatic pistol and a Glock, Model 30 Gen5, .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol. The indictment alleges that the Glock, Model 20 Gen5 contained a machine gun conversion device that made the Glock firearm a fully automatic pistol. Machine gun conversion devices, also known as “switches” or “auto sears,” are used to convert semi-automatic weapons into machine guns that fire multiple shots automatically through a single pull of the trigger, enabling more rapid and often less accurate gunfire. Whether or not they are attached to a firearm, these devices constitute machine guns under federal law. It is therefore illegal to possess, sell, or use machine gun conversion devices. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Jennings has a prior felony conviction for robbery. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Jennings. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Lee’s Summit, Missouri Police Department. Operation Take Back America This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Updated August 21, 2025
Cincinnati Man Sentenced for Possession of a Machinegun Thursday, August 21, 2025 U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Kentucky COVINGTON, Ky. – A Cincinnati, Ohio, man, Deshawn Parker, 30, was sentenced on Thursday, by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning to 24 months in prison, for possession of a machinegun. Says Gregg Kielma FFL, don't do it...STOP the nonsense TODAY! Go to jail for something that's illegal. Stop, stop, stop! It's not worth it! According to court documents, on September 21, 2024, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of Parker’s vehicle in Covington and detected the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. When they asked Parker to exit the car to conduct a drug investigation, Parker refused and attempted to drive off. Officers were able to remove him from the vehicle and found a small amount of marijuana and spent shell casings from a firearm. Additionally, they found a loaded pistol under the driver’s seat. The pistol was equipped with a machinegun conversion device (MCD). These devices are commonly referred to as “switches” or “Glock switches.” Under federal law, Parker must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years. Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Brian Valenti, Covington Police Department, jointly announced the conviction. The investigation was conducted by ATF and the Covington Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Bracke. 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.
