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Armed Citizen Helps Stop Terrifying Mass Stabbing in Michigan

Monday, August 4, 2025

Armed Citizen Helps Stop Terrifying Mass Stabbing in Michigan

Recent headlines continue to serve as important reminders that when seconds count, a lawfully armed citizen is often there in the interval before law enforcement can be. By now, much of the nation has seen video from a mass stabbing attack at a Walmart in northern Michigan where an armed citizen, along with other brave good Samaritans, contained the attacker before he could continue his violent spree or escape.

Eleven people were injured in a terrifying random attack by the knife-wielding man at a busy Walmart on a summer Saturday. As law enforcement arrived in response to 911 calls, multiple citizens, including Derrick Perry, a retired U.S. Marine, were detaining the attacker in the parking lot. Perry drew his firearm on the man to restrain him from further stabbing innocent people and to prevent him from fleeing. The veteran’s quick actions forced the assailant to drop the knife and allowed bystanders to restrain him until law enforcement took over. Perry recounted the heroic efforts in a recent interview with ABC News. He mentioned his personal call of duty to protect but also his focus on using his firearm as a tool for defensive de-escalation during the emergency.

The use of firearms for defensive measures rarely makes the news and is likely significantly underreported. Quantifying defensive uses of firearms is difficult due to varying methods of reporting and categorizing in the states. Yet research studies done on the subject, including a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study, have estimates ranging from 500,000 to 3 million occurrences per year. As in the Michigan example, most of these situations resolve without the firearm being discharged. This should cement the notion that a proper understanding of the dynamics of firearms in America must account for the ways in which they save innocent lives and preserve public safety. For snapshots of these frequent armed citizen responses, visit NRA’s Armed Citizen News.

Quantifying defensive uses of firearms is only a part of this consequential story. With over 855,000 active Concealed Pistol Licenses in the state of Michigan, along with the legal ability to openly carry a firearm, potential first responders abound, likely influencing the decision-making of violent criminals.  Violence is sudden and often unpredictable, so when a brave, level-headed armed citizen like Derrick Perry reacts in those critical early moments, potential disaster can often be averted.

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U.K. Police Target Gardening Tools, Salty Language

News  

Monday, August 18, 2025

U.K. Police Target Gardening Tools, Salty Language

Another week, another set of stories chronicling the sad demise of individual rights in the United Kingdom, where gardeners with pruning tools are treated like dangerous criminals and insulting crooks who plunder your store attracts more police attention ...

Supreme Court Review Sought in NRA-Backed Challenge to California’s Magazine Ban

Friday, August 15, 2025

Supreme Court Review Sought in NRA-Backed Challenge to California’s Magazine Ban

Today, a Petition for Certiorari was filed asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear Duncan v. Bonta, a case—backed by the National Rifle Association and California Rifle & Pistol Association—challenging California’s prohibition on magazines capable of holding ...

NRA Files Lawsuit Challenging Massachusetts’s “Assault-Style” Firearms Ban

Thursday, August 21, 2025

NRA Files Lawsuit Challenging Massachusetts’s “Assault-Style” Firearms Ban

Today, the National Rifle Association, Gun Owners’ Action League, Pioneer Valley Arms, three NRA members, and another individual filed a lawsuit challenging Massachusetts’s ban on “assault-style” firearms.

El Paso County to Host Gun Turn-in Before State Ban

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

El Paso County to Host Gun Turn-in Before State Ban

On September 1st, gun turn-in programs will become illegal in the Lone Star State. These programs, often funded by taxpayer dollars, to purchase firearms from individuals have repeatedly failed to improve public safety, and have ...

Tolerating Crime was a Choice for District of Columbia Officials

News  

Monday, August 18, 2025

Tolerating Crime was a Choice for District of Columbia Officials

On August 11, President Donald Trump declared a crime emergency in the nation’s capital. Fed up with a violent crime problem that has long been tolerated, and perhaps obfuscated, by D.C. officials, President Trump chose to exert his considerable ...

Tenth Circuit Holds New Mexico’s 7-Day Waiting Period Unconstitutional in NRA Case

Tuesday, August 19, 2025

Tenth Circuit Holds New Mexico’s 7-Day Waiting Period Unconstitutional in NRA Case

Today, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals held New Mexico’s seven-day waiting period for firearm purchases unconstitutional in Ortega v. Grisham, a case brought by the National Rifle Association and Mountain States Legal Foundation, with the ...

Florida: Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday Signed by Governor

Monday, July 7, 2025

Florida: Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday Signed by Governor

Governor Ron DeSantis recently signed the Florida Budget for Fiscal Year 2025–2026, which includes a Second Amendment sales tax holiday from September 8 through December 31, 2025. The NRA is thankful for Governor DeSantis’ strong ...

Washington Post Admits that Anti-gun Lawfare “Cannot be the Solution” to Crime

News  

Monday, March 17, 2025

Washington Post Admits that Anti-gun Lawfare “Cannot be the Solution” to Crime

In a turnabout worthy of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Washington Post (WAPO) published an editorial last Tuesday criticizing the gun control movement for ignoring the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) and pursuing its agenda in ...

Florida Urges SCOTUS to Grant Cert in NRA’s Challenge to its Young Adult Purchase Ban and to Rule its Own Law Unconstitutional

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Florida Urges SCOTUS to Grant Cert in NRA’s Challenge to its Young Adult Purchase Ban and to Rule its Own Law Unconstitutional

In May, the National Rifle Association petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to hear NRA v. Glass, our challenge to Florida’s ban on firearm purchases by adults under 21.

North Carolina: Pro-Gun Bills Advance in Veto Override Session

Tuesday, July 29, 2025

North Carolina: Pro-Gun Bills Advance in Veto Override Session

During a veto override session on Tuesday, July 29th, both chambers passed House Bill 193 (H193) and defeated Governor Josh Stein's veto.

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Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.