Author: Gunner Quinn

The American West fascinates people from around the world, but there are many different kinds of iconic western stories. Author Dan Flores has spent a career writing about what he calls the Natural West, stories about nature, animals, and people that span thousands of years of time in the western half of America. Although we reflexively think of history in America as new, this first episode emphasizes the West’s true age by focusing on the great Chacoan Empire of a thousand years ago and what happened among its refugees in the Southwest in the wake of Chaco’s collapse from environmental…

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Introduction SurvivalBlog is now in its 20th calendar year. I began posting the blog in August, 2005.  That was just a few weeks before Hurricane Katrina. Over the past two decades, I’ve had many opportunities to write about what I generally term The Survival Mindset. The following is a mashup and updates to four brief blog essays that I wrote and posted in SurvivalBlog in November, 2005 and in April, 2006: Prepper Angst Many of my recent consulting clients have mentioned the same feeling of unease about the coming years. Perhaps it is just the general predisposition of my consulting…

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Liborio Rogelio Valdez II, 29, is convicted of manslaughter and multiple firearm-related charges in connection with the 2023 shooting death of Kavonta Martin, 24. The incident occurred during an attempted robbery on April 4, 2023, when Valdez shot Martin inside Martin’s vehicle, subsequently fleeing the scene before the police arrived. Witnesses reported gunfire in the area, leading police to discover Martin unresponsive in a parking lot, despite lifesaving efforts. Valdez, already on parole for previous offenses including armed robbery, is scheduled for sentencing on June 10, 2025, after a trial that featured extensive testimony and evidence presentation. Read full story…

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May 6, 1527: Spanish and German Imperial troops sacked papal Rome, ending the Italian High Renaissance. Charles III, Duke of Bourbon had been killed in the assault. It was reported that his death removed any restraint for the victorious soldiers.  The 17th-Century rendering above, titled The Sack Of Rome was by Johannes Lingelbach, — May 6th is also the birthday of Tuvia Bielski. (Born 1906, died 1987.) You may remember that Daniel Craig portrayed him in the movie Defiance. — Today’s feature article is an essay by JWR. — We are in need of entries for Round 118 of the…

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The Albuquerque Police Department, in collaboration with New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence, is organizing a gun buyback event on Saturday, May 17, from 9 a.m. to noon at the APD’s University Substation. Participants can receive cash rewards of up to $250, depending on the type of firearm surrendered, encouraging community members to safely dispose of unwanted weapons that could pose safety risks. This initiative marks the third collaboration between APD and the advocacy group, aiming to enhance public safety while providing a creative solution for disposing of surrendered firearms—turning scrap metals into gardening tools and art pieces crafted by…

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A Rayne police officer has tragically lost his life following a shooting incident that occurred on East Harrop Street on May 5, 2025. Authorities from the Louisiana State Police (LSP) are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the officer’s death, which has raised serious concerns and questions within the local community. While the officer’s identity has not yet been disclosed, initial reports suggest the possibility of friendly fire, a detail that, if confirmed, would mark the second such incident resulting in an officer’s death within a year. The investigation continues as local law enforcement seeks to clarify the events that transpired…

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Jomar Henrique Souza-Santos, a 33-year-old Brazilian national and fugitive convicted of homicide, has been apprehended in Marlboro, Massachusetts, after evading justice in his home country. Arrested on March 20 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Souza-Santos was previously convicted of homicide and illegal firearm possession in Brazil and failed to serve his sentence following those convictions. ICE officials revealed that Souza-Santos’s arrest was the result of cross-agency collaboration, emphasizing the potential danger he posed to residents in New England. Having illegally entered the U.S. near El Paso in July 2022, he was initially released on an order of recognizance…

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A referee in North Carolina is arrested after discharging a concealed weapon during a youth sporting event, sparking panic among attendees. Ernest Davis, 49, was officiating a basketball game at an athletic facility when he fired the gun that had been stored in his gym bag, leading to immediate apprehension by deputies already present for security. Witnesses describe the moment of the shot, initially mistaking it for something else, as children and parents reacted in shock. Thankfully, no injuries occurred, but local authorities emphasize the importance of safe firearm ownership to prevent similar incidents. Davis now faces charges for carrying…

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The Trump administration’s recent decision to dismantle a memorial dedicated to victims of gun violence has sparked strong reactions from local advocates in New Mexico. The memorial, known as The Faces of Gun Violence, was in place for only a year and aimed to honor those affected by firearm-related tragedies across the nation. Angel Alire, a mother who lost her son to gun violence, articulates her distress, stating that removing such memorials undermines the memory of victims. Advocates like Miranda Viscoli emphasize that this action sends a negative message about the value of lives lost, noting that young people who…

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