There is an ongoing debate as to the severity of the decline in the modern attention span. However, in a world pervaded by 140 character messages and trivial clickbait articles, few would argue that many are now consuming information more rapidly and in smaller pieces. In this environment, an article’s headline has become increasingly important, taking an outsized role in conveying the information within.

Pizzagate gunman Edgar Maddison Welch gave himself up to police in Washington D.C. (Photo: AP)

A North Carolina man was sentenced Thursday to four years in prison on charges related to him assaulting a Washington, D.C. pizza restaurant with an AR-15 rifle and revolver, the Justice Department said in a news release.

Edgar Maddison Welch, 29, pleaded guilty on March 24 to the related charges of interstate transportation of a firearm and ammunition and assault with a dangerous weapon. In addition to the four year prison term, Welch was also sentenced to three years of supervised release.

The incident occurred on Dec. 4 after Welch transported three loaded firearms from North Carolina to Washington. The guns included a 9mm AR-15 rifle loaded with approximately 29 rounds of ammunition, a fully-loaded, six-shot, .38-caliber revolver, and a loaded shotgun with additional shotgun shells.

Welch drove to the Comet Ping Pong pizza restaurant in northwest D.C., armed himself with the AR-15 and revolver, and marched inside the restaurant. Employees and customers, including children, scattered and fled the building. Welch then tried to pry open a locked door with a butter knife and shot the door multiple times with his rifle.

Minutes later, an employee unaware of the attack came into the restaurant. Welch pointed the rifle at the employee but did not shoot. The worker fled and left Welch alone in the restaurant. Eventually, Welch exited the establishment as well, leaving his firearms behind. He was then arrested, and no one was injured in the attack.

Evidence presented by the government showed that Welch was in part motivated by a fake news story that claimed Comet Ping Pong housed a child sex ring visited by Washington elites, such as Hillary and Bill Clinton.

Welch learned of the “Pizzagate” conspiracy theory on Dec. 1, just days before the incident. Welch watched YouTube videos on the conspiracy and also read related articles on non-credible websites.

The “Pizzagate” conspiracy was created in early November 2016 after James Alefantis, the owner of Comet’s and a supporter of the Democratic party, was found in a Clinton Campaign email released by Wikileaks. The creators of the fake news story then took to social media and found photos of the restaurant’s interior, which showed innocent pictures of children and art lining the walls.

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The Stronghold Bipod series aims to tackle a variety of shooting situations with its versatile design. (Photo: FireField)

FireField introduced a set of Stronghold Bipods designed to help precision shooters, big hame hunters and range goers find a little stability while slinging lead.

The Stronghold Bipod series consists of three models — a 6-9-inch, 11-16-inch and 15-22.5-inch. The multiple lengths allow for customizable adjustments to fit an array of shooting situations.

All three models come equipped with a tensioning adjustment lever that allows for quick and easy adjustments. The bipod family offers a newly designed tilt and swivel function, giving shooters the ability to adjust the bipod based on terrain. The bipods are also outfitted with rubber feet for maximum shooting stability.

The Stronghold Bipod lineup ships with a Picatinny mount adapter for shooters with Picatinny rail equipped firearms. The mount adapter permits easier mounting of the bipod to the firearm using the rail.

Topping off the bipods’ features is a padded stock mount which funcinons to keep firearms’ scuff and scratch-free.

The Stronghold Bipod series starts at $59.99.

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A federal judge sentenced a 24-year-old Brooklyn man to spend more than two decades in prison for the broad daylight murder of man last year that prosecutors say was fueled by the defendant’s greed.

Rayshawn “Smooth” Demosthene pleaded guilty in December murdering Michael Morris on a Brooklyn street as well as being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced to 244 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release.

According to the indictment, Demosthene and co-defendant Jammar “Panama” Lipsett conspired to kill Morris in order to steal about $30,000 in cash, which was to be used to buy drugs.

“Murder, no matter what the circumstances, can never be tolerated in a civilized society,” said NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill.

Demosthene made arrangements to meet Morris, who lived in Virginia at the time of his murder, in New York for what Morris believed to be a $30,000 drug deal. However, Demosthene never intended to sell any drugs to Morris and the entire ordeal was nothing more than a ruse.

As Morris sat in a vehicle that was parked on a residential street in Brooklyn, waiting to engage in the transaction, Demosthene walked up to the vehicle and opened fire, fatally striking Morris in the head. Demosthene then took Morris’ money.

“The defendant and his co-conspirators committed a cold-blooded, ambush murder of the victim in order to steal money the victim intended to use to purchase narcotics. In the process, they turned the streets into a shooting gallery, endangering the lives of any number of innocent bystanders,” said ATF Special Agent-in-Charge Ashan M. Benedict. “This investigation highlights the ever-present danger of violence that goes along with the narcotics trade, and how invariably that violence plays out on the streets.”

Lipsett’s trial is ongoing.

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James Robert Young, Jr. died from a single gunshot to the head Monday morning during a residential burglary. (Photo: Bibb County Sheriff’s Office)

A 41-year-old man was killed by his accomplice during a mishap as the two attempted to burglarize a home in Bibb County, Georgia, Monday morning.

The deceased man was identified by the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office as James Robert Young, Jr., of Macon. His accomplice, who remains at large, was identified as 16-year-old Aurie Mathis.

According to the sheriff’s office, Young and Mathis broke into the home just before 10 a.m., but they were interrupted by the homeowner, who yelled at them as they made their way to the front door.

Young was carrying a television that belonged to the homeowner but dropped it before he got to the door. At that point, Mathis, who was armed with a handgun, turned and fired a single shot, which struck Young in the head. It’s unclear if Mathis intended to fire a shot or if he was perhaps startled by the falling television.

Nonetheless, Mathis fled on foot, leaving Young behind.

Authorities are searching for 16-year-old Aurie Mathis, who is wanted for felony murder. (Photo: Bibb County Sheriff’s Office)

When deputies arrived a short time later, Young was lying in the doorway of the home. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The homeowner, although shaken up over the ordeal, was physically unharmed.

Mathis, who is now wanted for felony murder, remains at large. He is described as 16 years old, 5-foot-6 and weighing around 140 pounds. Authorities say he should be considered armed and dangerous.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about the break-in or Mathis’ whereabouts is asked to contact the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office at 478-751-7500 or Macon Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-877-68CRIME.

According to reports, at the time he was killed, Young had been out of prison for less than a year after serving a four-year sentence for burglary. He had been arrested a total of 35 times in Bibb County, six times for burglary.

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Riton’s RT-S Mod 7 Riflescopes are available in three models boasting various magnifications. (Photo: Riton USA)

Riton USA announced the addition of a new line of RT-S Mod 7 Riflescopes, kicking the series off with a set of three scopes available in 1-5, 4-20 and 5-25 magnification.

The scopes are engineered to help hunters and shooters tag their targets with features that include locking push/pull turrets and integrated illumine on/parallax controls built into one cohesive unit. Every feature has been designed and tested to meet the expectations of the veteran-owned, USA-based company.

“Whether our customers are using the Mod-7 on an AR for tactical competitions or on a long range rifle for precise, accurate repeatable shots, we are sure this new line is a perfect fit,” said Brady Speth, CEO of Riton USA, said in a press release. “Plus, these riflescopes are 100 perfect fog proof, shock proof and waterproof and come with Riton’s lifetime warranty.”

The RT-S Mod 7 with 1-5 magnification retails for $999, while the 4-20 version comes in a $1,219. Rounding out the pricing is the 5-25  magnification model which features a price tag of $1,429.

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Michigan currently bans knives “which can be opened by the flick of a button, pressure on a handle or other mechanical contrivance” (Photo: Benchmade)

A popular bipartisan Senate bill to scrap Michigan’s 1950s-era ban on “switchblades” cleared the House on Thursday and is headed to Gov. Rick Snyder.

The measure, SB 245, only picked up a single “nay” vote in each chamber of the Legislature and aims to repeal a law backers describe as dangerously antique.

“Michigan’s law on these types of knives is outdated and was written at a time when popular films portrayed spring-assisted knives as extremely dangerous weapons,” said the bill’s author state Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, in a statement. “These are spring-assisted knives, such as utility knives commonly carried by police officers and members of the National Guard.”

The language in Jones’ bill would strike the classification on knives that can be opened with a button, handle pressure or other “mechanical contrivance” which currently carry a misdemeanor punishment of up to 93 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $2,000.

The American Knife and Tool Institute, a trade organization for knife rights, says the current ban makes “law-abiding, well-intentioned Michiganders such as tradesmen, hunters, hikers, farmers, ranchers, and campers risk arrest simply by possessing an automatic knife.”

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The Slim-Tuk features a tuck-able IWB design. (Photo: DeSantis)

Holster maker DeSantis launched the Slim-Tuk design opening the minimalistic inside the waistband design up to laser/light equipped Glock 43s.

The ambidextrous IWB is fashioned from Kydex, a rigid plastic that boasts retention with its precision molded form. The Slim-Tuk utilizes a tuck-able 360-degree C-Clip, affording the concealed carrier an array of mounting options on the belt line. The hardware can be reversed, allowing the rig to move from the right side to the left. The C-Clip boasts adjustable tension and a rugged 1.75-inch design.

Though the IWB holster claims 10 different manufacturers and a total of 46 pistol pairings, the baby Glock is the latest to slip into the lineup. As an added bonus, DeSantis has included a Streamlight TLR-6 equipped G43 version so that shooters with a mounted laser/light can achieve the same level of concealment with the holster.

The G43 Slim-Tuk version is available online from DeSantis with a price tag just under $40.

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The National Rifle Association has agreed to provide firearms training to House and Senate lawmakers and their staffs in the wake of this month's baseball gun attack.

If someone begins shooting at the students or staff at Fleming K-12 School in northeast Colorado, football coach and bus driver Scott Muller wants to be ready to shoot back.“Something like this is nothing you want to do,” Muller said during a break from the active-shooter training course he took this week. “But anybody who wants to protect kids, they will take something like this on.”

A local processing fee has been dropped in Washington County, Virginia, to give more residents an opportunity to obtain a concealed handgun carry permit.On Tuesday, Sheriff Fred Newman said all non-mandated fees associated with obtaining a Virginia concealed weapons permit in Washington County will be waived beginning July 1. Washington County citizens will no longer be charged the county’s $25 processing fee and will only be required to pay the $15 fee mandated by the state.

A Chinese food delivery driver shot at least one of three teens who police said set up the driver with the intent to rob him. Police said a group of three teens called in a Hot Wok Chinese order and had it delivered to a vacant home on Arancio Drive on the Westside. The delivery driver showed up to the home and was held at gunpoint, according to police. Neighbors told News4Jax that the driver threw the food at one of the teens and pulled his own gun, a Glock, from its holster. He fired four to five shots and hit at least one of the teens, according to police.

Seattle’s City Council promised their citizens they would raise $500 million for efforts to study and counter violence within the city. So what has happened?

A man is in the hospital after a failed robbery attempt at a store in St. Helena Parish. Authorities were called to the scene at the intersection of Highway 448 and Highway 10. There, they discovered a person shot a man in the leg after he attempted to rob them.  Authorities say the would-be robber was taken to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries. This is a developing story. We will update it with more information as it becomes available.

Police responded to the 200 block of Birch Street in Brentwood about 11:15 p.m. Wednesday after a shooting was reported, according to the Brentwood Police Department. A man was home alone and opened fire on the two intruders when they entered the house, said Lt. Walter O’Grodnick of the Brentwood Police Department. “We’ve determined the incident was a home invasion,” O’Grodnick said. “As a result of the suspects’ interaction with the victim resident, it forced the victim to fire at both suspects in self-defense.”

Rifles line a shelf in the gun library at the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms National Tracing Center in Martinsburg, West Virginia, December 15, 2015. (Photo: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)

Senate Republicans the week filed legislation to stop the controversial requirement for gun dealers along the U.S.-Mexico border to report multiple rifle sales to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Termed the Protecting the Second Amendment Act, the measure was introduced Wednesday by U.S. Sen. Luther Strange, R-Alabama, with Texas Republicans Ted Cruz and John Cornyn signed on as co-sponsors. It aims to repeal a 2011 rule that Federal Firearms License holders in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas report whenever, during a five-day period, the same buyer purchases two or more rifles.

“The Obama administration demonstrated time and again a disturbing willingness to bypass the separation of powers and disregard Congress as a Constitutional watchdog,” Strange said in a statement. “Had the restrictions faced by lawful gun dealers in border states been applied to Alabama, many sportsmen, myself included, would have a difficult time practicing our hobby, and exercising our Constitutional rights.”

The bill, filed as S.1397, would nullify the reporting practice that came after the controversial “Fast and Furious” gun-walking operation was exposed. The agency currently requires that multiple sales of certain rifles defined as semi-automatic rifles greater than .22 caliber capable of accepting a detachable magazine be reported if two or more are sold to the same individual during any five consecutive business days.

Gun industry trade groups opposed the extra data collection from the start, pointing out that in ATF inspections of more than 2,000 FFLs in Texas and Arizona in 2011, none were charged with violations.

Aimed at garnering intelligence to prevent gun trafficking into Mexico, the regulation was upheld by a federal court in 2014 after a group of FFL holders in New Mexico challenged the requirement, claiming that the ATF did not have the authority to require such reporting as the Gun Control Act of 1968 only required the tracking of multiple handgun sales.

The National Rifle Association welcomed Strange’s legislation, saying it would, “roll back the Obama administration’s de facto gun registration scheme.”

S.1397 has been referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.

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The R1 Ultralight Commander carries on the 1911 tradition, but with a lightweight design. (Photo: Remington)

Remington announced a new take on an old American favorite, introducing the new Remington Model 1911 R1 Ultralight Commander.

Remington manufactured its first Model 1911 during World War I and, in 2012, launched the 1911 R1 model. The R1 Ultralight Commander continues the series, bringing a lightweight design to the famed 1911.

The pistol’s type III hard coat anodized aluminum frame reduces weight by 20-percent, brniging its overall measurements down to just 31-ounces. Though the gun touts a lightweight design, Remington says the pistol continues to offer the same quality performance 1911 shooters are accustomed to.

Chambered in the traditional .45 Auto, the semi-automatic handgun boasts a 4.25-inch stainless steel barrel and 8+1 magazine capacity. Remington’s newest addition also features an adjustable trigger, PVD finished slide and aggressively checkered laminate grip. Rounding out its attributes are adjustable rear sights paired with a fiber optic front sight.

The new 1911 by Remington is priced at $849.

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Video from a home security system was released this week and shows the moment a group of five suspects broke into a Houston home last month and terrorized the homeowner.

The homeowner, who wanted to remain anonymous, said he woke up from an afternoon nap to five people in his home.

The suspects tied up the homeowner and stepped on, kicked, and pistol whipped him in the head and even put scissors to his fingers while demanding money. The ordeal went on for 25 minutes and during that time, the homeowner thought he was going to die.

“They began to put a pillow over my head. They had a gun over my head… I made my peace,” said the homeowner, who survived but has since moved out of the home.

The suspects made off with jewelry, designer bags, guns, and other valuables.

Mike Knox, a Houston City Council member and gang expert, said the home was likely targeted and called the operation “sophisticated.”

[ ABC 13 ]

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Edward Jasper Hansen was charged with felony possession of marijuana. (Photo: Tooele County Sheriff’s Office)

A retired detective from Decatur, Georgia, who formerly worked robberies and sex crimes, was busted with more than 200 pounds of pot during a routine traffic stop in Utah last month, according to recently unsealed court documents.

Edward Jasper Hansen, 67, was charged with felony marijuana possession, in addition to manufacturing or delivering drug paraphernalia, which is a misdemeanor.

Hansen, who retired from the Atlanta Police Department in 1994, was driving through Tooele, about 35 miles southwest of Salt Lake City, on May 23 when he was stopped for a window tint violation. The officer – noting Hansen’s trembling hands, profuse sweating, and heavy breathing – called in a K-9 unit after observing that Hansen appeared to be “more nervous than the general motoring public.”

The K-9 alerted his handler to something in the covered bed of Hansen’s truck. There, officers found numerous duffel bags and trash bags containing 222 vacuumed-sealed bags, each containing a pound of pot. They also found a large amount of cash.

According to the arresting officer, “The driver did state the money was not going to get back to him anyway so to list his Costa Rica address on the asset seizure notice form. The driver then stated, ‘It’s a game,’ and, ‘Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. Today wasn’t my day.’ When I told him that was not a good game to play, he then alluded [sic] that due to life and kids that ‘sometimes it’s worth the risk.’”

Lt. Jared Garcia with the Georgia Bureau of Investigations said such attitudes are common in the drug trafficking trade, noting that the risk of loss is relatively low compared to the large profits they stand to gain.

[ Deseret News ]

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“Transit Policing Division deputies may have saved the lives of many people today when they arrested a man for urinating in public”– actual statement from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

According to the above press conference at the Hall of Justice and the accompanying release, Christopher Harrison Goodine, 28, of Union City, Georgia, was arrested Wednesday for a slew of charges including possession of a silencer (illegal in California except for law enforcement and licenced dealers), as well as possession of an “assault weapon” and of a “high-capacity magazine.”

Deputies apparently saw Goodine taking a leak at the Sierra Madre Gold Line Station, a light rail public transportation hub, and when they contacted him he refused to speak to the officers. This interaction led to an arrest after they found what officials describe as a “cache” of weapons in his duffle bag. These included a loaded AR-15 with a pair of 30-round mags, the first frowned upon without being featureless and the latter verboten in California after this year even if pre-ban.

There was also a really sweet $29 zombie killer/ninja mega knife katana (that’s how they are advertised), and– hold your breath this is the best part– a Hi-Point .40S&W that somehow had an ersatz suppressor device attached similar to those seen in the Walking Dead.

Police also found a rope and “a notebook with unidentified writing inside.”

As noted by the good folks over at The Firearm Blog, it’s farfetched that the Hi-Point flashlight suppressor would work for more than one shot in the likely absence of a recoil booster (Niesen Device), but hey, we can dream can’t we?

Goodline was booked at East Los Angeles Sheriff’s Station and is being held in lieu of $50,500 bail.

KTLA reports Goodine was previously arrested in 2015 in Key West, Florida and again at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel “wearing a bullet-proof vest, an empty gun holster, and a ski mask.”

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