12 defensive uses of guns that don’t fit Hollywood’s narrative

By Amy Swearer and Pierce Sandlin | The Daily Signal

Last month, the University of Southern California’s Hollywood, Health & Society Program published “Trigger Warning: Gun Guidelines for Media,” a series of recommendations for the entertainment industry on how it should portray firearms.

Although some of these guidelines offer helpful suggestions, particularly about how the media should deal with the topic of suicide, the publication is aimed largely at motivating Hollywood to stigmatize lawful gun ownership.

The guidelines are highly critical of any attempts to portray the benefits of gun ownership, particularly for victims of domestic violence. They include a section on the “myth” of “the good guy with a gun” and are awash with heavily disputed (and often easily dispelled) talking points manufactured by gun control advocates.

USC’s guidelines may push Hollywood to “change the narrative” on guns, but nothing can change the facts — the right to keep and bear arms is a critical component of the natural, unalienable right of self-defense. And peaceable citizens rely on it all the time.

Almost every major study has found that Americans use their firearms in self-defense between 500,000 and 3 million times annually, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has acknowledged. In 2021, the most comprehensive study ever conducted on the issue concluded that roughly 1.6 million defensive gun uses occur in the United States every year.

For this reason, The Daily Signal publishes a monthly article highlighting some of the previous month’s many news stories on defensive gun use that you may have missed—or that might not have made it to the national spotlight in the first place. (Read other accounts here from past months and years. You also may follow @DailyDGU on Twitter for daily highlights of recent defensive gun uses.)

The examples below represent only a small portion of the news stories on defensive gun use that we found in May. You may explore more using The Heritage Foundation’s interactive Defensive Gun Use Database. (The Daily Signal is Heritage’s multimedia news organization.)

  • May 1, Beaumont, Texas: Police said several would-be robbers assaulted a delivery driver, shooting and critically wounding him. The driver, however, returned fire with his own gun to fend off his attackers. Police arrested one suspect three weeks later on charges of aggravated robbery and deadly conduct.
  • May 5, Murfreesboro, Tennessee: Two armed intruders broke into a home, tasered the family’s dog, and held the homeowner’s son at gunpoint, police said. The homeowner retrieved a firearm and fired multiple rounds at both intruders, killing one and injuring the other. The surviving suspect is charged with a slew of felonies, including aggravated burglary and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
  • May 8, Coarsegold, California: Police said a  woman’s ex-boyfriend broke into her current residence and assaulted a male resident with a knife, stabbing him in the head and chest. The man retrieved his handgun and shot his assailant, wounding him. The ex-boyfriend is charged with attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon.
  • May 10, Las Vegas: A driver fatally shot an armed man who tried to carjack him while fleeing from police. Officers initially tried to stop the man based on reports that he was spray-painting graffiti, but he ran when confronted. Officers saw a gun in the man’s hand and pursued him, but briefly lost sight of him after he ran into traffic. The man pointed his gun at passing cars, stopping one driver’s vehicle at gunpoint before his intended victim shot him, police said.
  • May 11, Glendale, Arizona: A homeowner shot and wounded a knife-wielding burglar who tried to stab him after being confronted while breaking in, police said. The homeowner told reporters that he believes the same burglar previously broke into his garage and stole several items, including a bike. The injured suspect was hospitalized and expected to recover.
  • May 12, Nichols, South Carolina: Police said a homeowner exchanged gunfire with a drunk man who, angry at being asked to leave, threatened the homeowner with a gun. The homeowner punched the drunk man in the face, then ran behind his own truck for cover as the other man shot at him. He retrieved a loaded rifle from his truck and returned fire until the man drove away, police said. Officers later arrested the man for attempted murder.
  • May 15, Houston: A woman’s ex-boyfriend shot her as she arrived for work at a day care center, then began firing at a man with her, police said. Both the man and the woman returned fire, wounding the ex-boyfriend. The woman was hospitalized in stable condition; her companion wasn’t hurt. The ex-boyfriend faces several criminal charges, including being a felon in possession of a firearm.
  • May 20, Kirkland, Washington: When a father began physically assaulting his son, a family friend living on the property tried to intervene, police said. The father threatened to burn down the friend’s trailer, retrieved a firearm, and fired several shots into the ground near where his son stood. The friend, fearing for everyone’s safety, grabbed his own gun and shot the father in the arm, wounding him. The father faces several felony charges.
  • May 24, Philadelphia: A legally armed woman defended herself from a man who smashed her car window with a crowbar during a road rage incident, shooting the man once in the groin, police said. Critically injured, the attacker fled in his car, but officers found him several blocks away.
  • May 24, Chicago: A retired police officer intervened as his neighbor was being carjacked by an armed man, exchanging gunfire with the carjacker until he fled, police said. The 78-year-old retired officer, who fired 12 rounds during the exchange, told reporters that he intentionally kept two rounds unfired in case other assailants appeared. He sustained a minor wound; his neighbor wasn’t injured.
  • May 27, Memphis, Tennessee: Police said a store owner shot and wounded an armed man who tried to carjack a driver right outside the business, then threatened patrons and employees inside.
  • May 29, Little Rock, Arkansas: A pregnant woman shot and wounded a man who attacked her husband as he packed up their car after a Memorial Day family outing, then began punching the woman in the face, police said. The husband, who suffered a broken rib, told reporters that he is thankful his wife was armed and able to protect the family. Neither of their two children, present at the time, were harmed.

USC’s “Trigger Warning” informs leaders in the entertainment industry that “your stories matter” because they can persuade [read: manipulate] viewers when it comes to their opinions on gun control.

Apparently, far less important are the types of real-life stories such as those highlighted above, where peaceable Americans successfully use their firearms to defend their lives and their livelihoods.

These stories don’t fit the gun control narrative, but they certainly matter, too.

And we will keep telling these stories, even if Hollywood won’t.

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/Cimmerian praetor

4 thoughts on “12 defensive uses of guns that don’t fit Hollywood’s narrative

  1. Police: Woman Took Carjacker’s Gun, Shot Him in Head (breitbart.com)

    Armed citizen shoots, kills attacker in McDonald’s parking lot – Bearing Arms

    Man Dead After Allegedly Attacking Armed Driver at McDonald’s (breitbart.com

    Alleged Armed Robber Shot Dead After Ambushing Tow Truck Driver (breitbart.com)

    WATCH: Customer Shoots, Kills Alleged Robber in Houston Restaurant (breitbart.com)

    79-year old man takes on Zoomer home invader and wins – Bearing Arms

    Mother Shoots, Kills Alleged Intruder to Save Her Children (breitbart.com)

    Armed bingo hall patrons halt shooting, hold suspect at gunpoint – Bearing Arms

    Louisiana mom shoots home invader armed with shovel – Bearing Arms

    Armed mom thwarts attempted child abduction – Bearing Arms

    Armed robber picks target full of armed citizens – Bearing Arms

    Armed patron stops attack on Applebee’s employee – Bearing Arms

    Ohio teen uses mom’s gun to defend against home invasion – Bearing Arms

    AR-15 Used To Repel Home Invasion, 30 Rounds Fired – Bearing Arms

    Chicago man shot by concealed carry holder on Green Line train has 32 arrests in last 10 years – Bearing Arms

    Nashville woman speaks out after using gun to defend against teen carjackers – Bearing Arms

    Philly carjacker shot by intended victim – Bearing Arms

    Police Shoot, Kill Man Who Allegedly Fired AR-15 in Target Store (breitbart.com)

    Clerk Opens Fire with Two Guns, Kills Alleged Masked Robber (breitbart.com)

    Suspect Dead After Allegedly Threatening Armed Homeowner (breitbart.com)

    Attempted robber finds himself looking at wrong end of gun – Bearing Arms

    Man Shot in Chest After Tasering Officer at Twin Peaks Restaurant (breitbart.com)

    Armed citizen stops shooting in Phoenix restaurant – Bearing Arms

    Florida woman defends self, 90-year-old mother from armed intruder – Bearing Arms
    REPORT: Good Samaritan Shoots Man Who Was Stabbing His Neighbor As She Screamed For Help | The Daily Caller

    73-year-old Chicago armed citizen fires shots after thief points gun at him – Bearing Arms

    Armed employees fight back in Seattle, Myrtle Beach robberies – Bearing Arms

    70-year-old South Carolina man shoots, wounds home invader – Bearing Arms

    Washington Homeowner Shoots Alleged Car Thief in Driveway (breitbart.com)

    California homeowner fights back, survives shootout with armed burglars – Bearing Arms

    71-year-old Philadelphia man shoots back at armed robbers, sends them fleeing – Bearing Arms

    Armed homeowner shoots naked stranger who attacked him with frying pan – Bearing Arms

    Detroit armed robber shot by his intended victim – Bearing Arms

    Baltimore robber fatally shot after targeting legally-armed victim – Bearing Arms

    Georgia man shoots, kills home invader – Bearing Arms

    Chicago robber shot and killed by store clerk at auto parts store – Bearing Arms

    Armed citizen puts down car thief who tried to shoot him – Bearing Arms

    Philadelphia concealed gun holder acted in self-defense, fatally shooting attacker at cemetery: DA (msn.com)

    Gas station customer takes on multiple armed robbers – Bearing Arms

    Burglary suspect shot by Chicago smoke shop owner was already on police radar – Bearing Arms

    Armed robber wanted for murder shot by passerby at Houston ATM – Bearing Arms

    Pennsylvania armed citizen shoots, wounds two home invaders – Bearing Arms

    Burglar with lengthy criminal record back behind bars after encounter with armed homeowner – Bearing Arms

    Man shoots sister’s ex-boyfriend after home invasion, assault – Bearing Arms

    Armed store clerk shoots robber, stops multi-state crime spree – Bearing Arms

    Alleged Catalytic Converter Thief Shot by Store Employee (breitbart.com)

    Tennessee dad shoots intruders who threatened son at gunpoint – Bearing Arms

    Target of carjacking turns tables on assailants at Dallas gas station – Bearing Arms

    Burglar armed with knife hospitalized after confronting homeowner armed with a gun – Bearing Arms

    Armed Homeowner Sends Alleged Knife-Wielding Intruder to Hospital (breitbart.com)

    Booty call was set-up for armed robbery, but intended victim had gun of his own – Bearing Arms

    Armed felon shot by clerk at New Orleans Dollar General store – Bearing Arms

    Road rage victim turns tables on assailant, holds him for police – Bearing Arms

    Philly woman shoots man after he smashes car window in road rage attack – Bearing Arms

    Septuagenarian shoots in self-defense after stranger breaks into home – Bearing Arms

    Man fatally shoots would-be robber in Queens – Bearing Arms

    Woman Shoots Alleged Carjacker After Being Punched (breitbart.com)

    Armed mom protects family, fends off carjacker in parking garage attack – Bearing Arms

    Texas Liquor Store Clerk Shoots, Fatally Wounds Alleged Thief (breitbart.com)

    Armed employee shoots woman who was pistol-whipping coworker – Bearing Arms

  2. I think Alex Baldwin showed us all we need to know about hollywood and guns. They are right up there with potato head biden on the use of guns. You really need to arm yourself as recent events have shown the cops will be protecting Anifa and the mentally ill trans, not supporting the freedom loving conservative citizen. Be armed, be aware and don’t be afraid to use it. It’s better to be judged by 12 then 1.

    • How the media handles stories about guns, if it’s a white or light color skin shooter it’s in the headlines for weeks on end. If it’s a black or trans shooter it’s a one story back page blurp with no photographs and then forgotten.

      • Unfortunately, our leftist media uses race to their supposed advantage EVERY time they have the opportunity.

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