Who's Under the Gun?
The FBI, That's Whom
(#462, 2/14/25)

Going after the FBI
for going after
the Capitol rioters

Point of View
(#461, 1/30/25)

Do scholars really “get”
the craft of policing?

All in the Family
(Part II)
(#460, 1/6/25)

A decade after Part I,
domestic killings
remain commomplace

Acting...or Re-acting?
(#459, 12/8/24)

An urgent response
proves tragically imprecise

Citizen Misbehavior
Breeds Voter
Discontent
(#458, 11/20/24)

Progressive agendas
face rebuke in even
the "Bluest" of places

A Matter of Facts
(#457, 11/3/24)

Did flawed science place
an innocent man
on death row?

Want Brotherly Love?
Don't be Poor!
(#456, 10/12/24)

Violence is down in Philly,
L.A. and D.C.
Have their poor noticed?

Prevention Through Preemption
(#455, 9/16/24)

Expanding the scope of
policing beyond
making arrests

Switching Sides
(#454, 8/30/24)

St. Louis’ D.A. argues that
a condemned man
is in fact innocent

"Distraction Strike"?
Angry Punch? Both?
(#453, 8/11/24)

When cops get rattled,
the distinction may
ring hollow

Bringing a Gun
To a Knife Fight
(#452, 7/30/24)

Cops carry guns.
Some citizens flaunt knives.
Are poor outcomes inevitable?

"Numbers" Rule –
Everywhere
(#451, 7/2/24)

Production pressures
degrade what's "produced" –
and not just in policing

Is Crime Really Down?
It Depends...
(#450, 6/20/24)

Even when citywide
numbers improve, place
really, really matters

Kids With Guns
(#449, 6/3/24)

Ready access
and permissive laws
create a daunting problem

De-Prosecution?
What's That?
(#448, 4/27/24)

Philadelphia's D.A.
eased up on lawbreakers.
Did it increase crime?

Ideology (Still)
Trumps Reason
(#447, 4/9/24)

When it comes to gun laws,
“Red” and “Blue” remain
in the driver’s seat

Shutting the Barn Door
(#446, 3/19/24)

Oregon moves to
re-criminalize hard drugs

Houston, We Have
(Another) Problem
(#445, 2/28/24)

Fueled by assault rifles, murders plague the land

Wrong Place, Wrong
Time, Wrong Cop
(#444, 2/8/24)

Recent exonerees set "records"
for wrongful imprisonment

America's Violence-
Beset Capital City
(#443, 1/20/24)

Our Nation's capital
is plagued by murder

Are Civilians Too Easy
on the Police? (II)
(#442, 12/18/23)

Exonerated of murder,
but not yet done

Warning: (Frail)
Humans at Work
(#441, 11/29/23)

The presence of a gun
can prove lethal

See No Evil - Hear No
Evil - Speak No Evil
(#440, 11/14/23)

Is the violent crime problem
really all in our heads?

Policing Can't Fix
What Really Ails
(#439, 10/18/23)

California's posturing
overlooks a chronic issue

Confirmation Bias
Can be Lethal
(#438, 9/21/23)

Why did a "routine" stop
cost a man's life?

When (Very) Hard
Heads Collide (II)
(#437, 9/5/23)

What should cops do when
miscreants refuse to comply?
Refuse to comply?

Keep going...

2/21/25 “It is unfortunate that the actions of a few have tarnished our city’s good name.‘’ That’s how Hanceville, Alabama (pop. 3,200) Mayor Jimmy Sawyer reacted to a recommendation by the county grand jury to abolish his small town’s police department. That suggestion came on the heels of the indictment of the town’s police chief and four of its cops for, among other things, pilfering items from the evidence room. Three of the officers were also charged with illegal drug sales. Related post

In a 51-49 vote along Party lines, the Senate confirmed Kash Patel as the new FBI Director. Patel has promised to make substantial changes in what the agency does and how it goes about it. He’s expressed deep skepticism about the FBI’s expansive use of electronic surveillance, and wishes to redirect its emphasis from intelligence to law enforcement. He’s also characterized those who investigated President Trump as “criminal gangsters,” insisted that some Capitol rioters were “political prisoners,” and suggested turning FBI headquarters into a museum of the “deep state.” Capitol updates   Related post

Nearly two decades ago America enacted a law against “narcoterrorism,” drug trafficking for the purpose of providing material support to terrorists. And the list of violators has now expanded. President Trump just issued an executive order labeling six Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations: Sinaloa, Jalisco New Generation, Gulf, Northeast, La Nueva Familia Michoacana, and United. Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum supports the move, but only if the U.S. refrains from crossing the border to enforce its edicts. Related post

2/20/25 Assistant L.A.D.A. Diana Teran is being prosecuted by the California A.G. for sneaking out personnel records of eleven troubled deputies during a prior stint in the Sheriff’s office. Her case is now in an appeals court. Sean Kennedy, a top civilian overseer for the Sheriff’s office, said that her prosecution was being used as an excuse to withhold records of deputy misconduct from his unit. But when he sought to file a brief with the appeals court, the D.A.’s office complained that was their territory. Kennedy helped file a brief anyways. And then resigned. Related post

Medical science has developed a “case fatality rate (CFR)” that precisely compares the lethality of various diseases. It’s 90 percent for untreated HIV, 99 percent for rabies and 30 percent for smallpox. Can firearms lethality be placed on a similar scale? Spurred by mass shootings, a research team led by emergency room physicians is at work to create a “wounding ballistics theoretical lethality index,” which would quantify the killing power of specific bullets when fired from an assortment of specific guns. Related post

2/19/25 An AP investigation revealed that  “at least 29” police recruits died during training in the last decade. Most of these deaths were associated with “intense exercise” and “unnecessarily harsh” drills. Dehydration and heat stroke also factored in. Some recruits perished during their first day. One, a 41-year old Haitian immigrant, seemed healthy when hired. But he suffered a fatal cardiac event less than two hours into training. It turns out that Ronald Donat had undiagnosed sickle cell trait, a condition that made him particularly vulnerable to the effects of highly vigorous physical activity. Related post

California is reportedly one of the few states where persons who were brought to the U.S. as children and received DACA approval to remain can be cops. That includes 13 current LAPD officers and seven in training, and 15 L.A. County sheriff’s deputies and eight in training. During his first term President Trump challenged DACA, but he was opposed in the courts, and permittees remain able to renew their status. But what if the new Administration’s challenge to DACA ultimately succeeds? Immigration updates   Related post

2/18/25 On January 20, 2015 Teresa Youngblut opened fire on Border Patrol agents who stopped her car on a Vermont highway. The ensuing shootout took the lives of her passenger and of Border Patrol agent David Maland. Youngblut was wounded. She and her passenger are “Zizians,” a cult of nerdy persons in their twenties and thirties led by San Francisco computer whiz Jack LaSota, aka “Ziz.” Favoring black robes, tactical gear, veganism and AI, the clan has been linked to five other killings in three States. LaSota and a companion were recently arrested in Maryland for trespass, obstruction and having a handgun in their vehicle. Related posts 1   2

Launched on YouTube, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced a “multimillion-dollar ad campaign” to discourage illegal immigration that will run on public and social media around the world. It will warn persons illegally in the U.S. to leave of their own free will or risk being arrested, deported, and be forever barred from returning. As for criminals who are considering sneaking into the U.S., “don’t even think about it. If you come here and break our laws, we will hunt you down.” Immigration updates  Related post

2/17/25 An alleged design flaw that lets ill-intentioned persons easily fit “auto sears” into Glock pistols, thus enabling fully automatic fire, led Chicago to sue the gun maker last year.  New Jersey and Minnesota followed up with their own actions. Baltimore City and Maryland have just joined the fray. Considered illegal machinegun conversion devices under Federal law, Glock auto sears can be obtained from online sources or made at home with a 3D printer. Related post

Protecting the American People Against Invasion,” a Presidential Executive Order signed on January 20, commands the A.G. and Secretary of Homeland Security to “ensure that so-called ‘sanctuary’ jurisdictions, which seek to interfere with the lawful exercise of Federal law enforcement operations, do not receive access to Federal funds.” DOJ has already sued several cities and States over their sanctuary laws. Firing back, Seattle is joining with King County, Portland, San Francisco and New Haven, Conn. in filing a lawsuit challenging the Administrations’ actions. Immigration updates  Related post

Installed by President Trump, Deputy A.G. Emil Bove had sought to identify, and possibly punish, the “core” FBI agents who went after the Capitol rioters. He’s now moved to quash a Federal indictment accusing New York City Mayor Eric Adams of corruption. It’s unfair, Bove says, because the Mayor soon faces a re- election campaign. But Mayor Adams was also being counted on to help implement the President’s mass deportation program. Bove’s moves have led to a flurry of resignations, including the lead Federal prosecutor in Manhattan and several lawyers in DOJ’s public integrity unit. Related post

Thirty-three million dollars. That’s what the IRS awarded Las Vegas woman Candies Goode-McCoy under the COVID-19 program as reimbursement for wages she and others supposedly paid employees who were on sick or family leave because of the pandemic. To support the claim - she actually sought “over $98 million” - Goode-McCoy submitted 1,227 false tax returns. Problem is, everything was  made up. McCoy pocketed “over $1.3 million” directly and “about $800,000” from her partners. And yes, she’s pled guilty. COVID-19 updates

2/14/25 Kashyap Patel, a former DOJ terrorism prosecutor, served as a senior terrorism official at the National Security Council and, most recently, as Chief of Staff to to the Acting Secretary of Defense. Described by Reuters as a “fierce Trump loyalist,” he blasted the FBI's investigations of the President as the work of a “deep state.” As the President’s pick to head the FBI, Patel just squeaked through the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on a 12-10 “party-line” vote. It’s now left to the full Senate to decide. Related post

2/13/25 New York State’s Driver’s License Access and Privacy Act (“Green Light Law”) prohibits sharing driver license and vehicle registration information with immigration authorities. It also informs illegal aliens when such information is requested. These restrictions just led DOJ to sue New York and its Governor, Kathy Hochul. New York’s A.G. fired back. "Our state laws, including the Green Light law, protect the rights of all New Yorkers and keep our communities safe. I am prepared to defend our laws, just as I always have." Immigration updates  Related post

Ten million dollars. That’s the settlement reached by Sangamon County, Illinois with the family of Sonya Massey, a disturbed woman who was shot dead last July by then-sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson. Deputy Grayson was hired in 2023 despite concerns by other agencies about his skills and suitability for law enforcement. Captured on video, his shooting of Ms. Massey, who threatened him with a pot of  water, was deemed wholly unnecessary. He remains in custody pending trial for murder. Related post

2/12/25 In 2008 a homeless Colorado woman got probation after pleading guilty to writing a bad check. Under Federal law, that felony prohibits her possession of firearms. Years later, the single mom wanted a gun for protection. So she sued. But a Federal court repeatedly upheld the prohibition. As did the 10th. Circuit. But the Supreme Court ultimately ordered it to reconsider “in light of” its Rahimi decision. It just did. And once again it affirmed the prohibition’s constitutionality. Other Circuits, though, have disagreed. And the battle over Rahimi continues. Decision Related posts 1   2

In Sept. 2024 Colt Gray, 14, used an AR-15 style rifle given to him by his father, Colin, to murder two fellow students and two teachers at Apalachee High School, Winder, Georgia. Colin knew that his son was deeply troubled but nonetheless gave him the gun as a Christmas present. That led to his being charged with 29 counts, including two of murder and two of manslaughter. On November 21 the father pled not guilty to all charges. And although survivors objected, a judge just released him on $500,000 bond. He will  be staying at his sister’s home, 70 miles from Winder. Related post

2/11/25 Four years ago Fairfax County, Va. Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano helped free Elon Wilson, a Black firefighter who was imprisoned for gun and drug crimes on the word of an officer who chronically lied about his traffic stops. D.A. Descano has now partnered with the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project to create Virginia’s second “conviction integrity unit,” which will review claims by convicted persons, with preference for those still confined, that they are in fact innocent. Related post

A shooting at a New York City street parade last September killed one person and wounded four. NYPD promptly attributed blame to an unnamed teen whose photo it posted on social media. But after meeting with the person it depicts, 15-year old Camden Lee (and with his lawyer), the cops conceded he wasn’t the one. His photo, though, nonetheless resurfaced in the media. This incident caused Lee to miss “weeks of school” and has played havoc with his life. And that of his family. And yes, a lawsuit is in the works. Related post

2/10/25 Issued three days ago, Presidential Executive Order “Protecting Second Amendment Rights” orders DOJ to review Federal laws and rules enacted between 2021-2025 that “may have impinged on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.” That includes ATF regulations which tightened dealer oversight, banned pistol braces and addressed “ghost guns.” Also in the bull’s-eye is the “Bipartisan Safer Communities Act,” a law that, among other things, removed loopholes which allowed some gun buyers to bypass background checks. Related post

In March 2024 Chicago tactical officers pulled over a car driven by Dexter Reed. He opened fire and wounded an officer who approached. Reed was shot and killed in a hail of gunfire. But the reason for the stop is unclear. His survivors sued, and Chicago’s City Council is mulling over a proposed $1.25 million settlement. In a formal editorial, the Chicago Tribune strongly objects. “Surely, it’s possible to hold police accountable for wrongdoing or terrible mistakes while also supporting them when they act reasonably in the face of mortal danger...this case strikes us as about more than money. Sometimes a principled stand is in order.” Related post

In a departure from prior Administrations, which sought to insulate the Attorney General from politics, the Trump White House insists that it’s free to bring up civil and criminal cases with the Justice Department. Candidates for top intelligence and law enforcement positions are also being asked to answer “Yes” or “No” to two questions: Was January 6th. “an inside job”? Was the 2020 election “stolen”? It’s reported that two candidates who didn’t answer “yes” to both were passed over. Immigration updates  Related post

2/7/25 Whether imported from China or grown on illicit domestic pot farms, Black-market marijuana, much of it replete with dangerous pesticides, is the trade in stock of unlicensed outlets. But it also often winds up on the shelves of licensed, ostensibly legitimate pot retailers. Customers are urged to ask about the “source and potency” of marijuana they purchase. Cities and States are moving to crack down on the illegal market; California seized $200 million of illegally grown weed in 2024. But the problem persists. Drug legalization updates   Related post

Just filed in Illinois Federal court, a lawsuit by the Trump administration alleges that Illinois, Cook County and Chicago, each a self-anointed “sanctuary” jurisdiction, are using State and local laws - the Way Forward Act, TRUST Act, Welcoming City Act, and Cook County Ord. 11-073 - to interfere with Federal immigration enforcement. These statutes, the suit claims, prohibit local officers from providing critical information and deny access to persons in custody, leading to “countless criminals being released into Chicago who should have been held for immigration removal from the United States.” Lawsuit Immigration updates  Related post

2/6/25 A Georgia judge threw out the criminal case against former D.A. Jackie Johnson, who was on trial for having obstructed the investigation of the notorious 2020 murder of Brunswick man Ahmaud Arbery. Johnson had allegedly told police to not investigate the killers, Greg McMichael and his son Travis McMichael, as the father was a retired county detective. But witnesses said she never told police to back off, and the judge found that compelling evidence to the contrary was lacking. Related post

Emil Bove, Trump’s acting Deputy Attorney General, issued a memo accusing top FBI officials of “insubordination” for resisting his attempts “to identify the core team” of agents that investigated the Capitol riot. But he also reassured that agents “who simply followed orders and carried out their duties in an ethical manner” would not be penalized. Capitol updates   Related post

“More than 29 billion views.” That’s how many times gun fanciers have turned to YouTube  channels hosted by firearms experts who provide detailed instructions for using and modifying guns so they’re as reliable and lethal as possible. Google and other carriers, though, have faced lawsuits for helping enable would-be killers (Payton Gendron is one example), so they’ve restricted the content. Special channels have popped up to fill the void. Say, T. Rex Arms, a major gun and accessories retailer that offers free online instruction, including a series on “how to shoot.” Related post

2/5/25 Highly lethal weapons produced by U.S. manufacturers have long been smuggled into Mexico, where Cartels use them to fuel an epidemic of violence. Mexico, which has only one licensed gun dealer, tightly regulates gun sales, but American guns have created an overwhelming problem. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is now linking her cooperation with the U.S. on other matters, including migration, to its willingness to control illegal gun exports. She has also turned to litigation; Mexico’s current lawsuit against U.S. gun makers is before the Supreme Court. Related post

DOJ asked the FBI to identify all agents who participated in the Capitol investigation to help it determine whether any crossed the line. “Thousands” of agents have also been instructed to complete a questionnaire about their roles. That’s now led to a pair of Federal lawsuits by unnamed FBI agents who object to the probes. One of the actions, filed by nine unnamed agents, claims that the inquiries are unlawful, violate their privacy rights, and place them and their families at personal risk. Capitol updates   Related post

Guantanamo. That’s where a U.S. millitary flight just landed with the first set of illegal migrants to be housed at the facility, technically a U.S. Naval base. Three-hundred U.S. troops were on hand to welcome the new arrivals. New Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was once assigned there while in the military, calls it a “perfect place” for its new duty, which will supplant holding a dwindled contingent of evildoers from 9/11 days. Gitmo, it’s claimed, can house up to 30,000 immigrants. A dodgy future seems assured. Related posts 1   2

2/4/25 Six days after a 14-year old opened fire at Georgia’s Apalachee High School, a 14-year old Florida girl posted a threat to blow up her school. That led to her prompt arrest, followed by three weeks in detention. Like consequences quickly befell several other youths in Volusia County. “This is absolutely out of control, and it ends now,” said its Sheriff. According to the Washington Post, “at least 477 people — 90 percent of them students” were arrested across the U.S. for making threats during the two weeks after Apalachee. Like spurts in threats and arrests have also followed other school shootings. Related post

“Dozens” of prosecutors hired by the Biden administration to prosecute January 6th. Capitol assault cases have been summarily dismissed. According to the new Administration, their firing is justified as their “career” status was improperly conferred. Agreeing with President Trump’s view of the January 6th. cases as a “grave national injustice,” Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove has called for their positions to be filled by “merit- based” hires. Capitol updates   Related post

Former L.A. County D.A. George Gascon’s progressive, go-easy approach led voters to replace him with Nathan Hochman. Gascon had endorsed resentencing the Menendez brothers to straight life terms, which could lead to their parole. His prosecutors on that motion, Brock Lunsford and Nancy Theberge, remained on staff. They are now suing current D.A. Hochman for defaming them and reassigning them to lesser roles. Like retaliation claims were once made against Gascon by prosecutors who said they were punished for opposing his progressive policies. Related post