North Carolina House Bill 1232 proposed extreme measures by equating the seeking of an abortion with attempted murder and granting individuals the right to use deadly force to prevent an abortion. While the bill is unlikely to pass due to its constitutional amendment requirement and lack of co-sponsors, its introduction highlights the radical stance some lawmakers hold on reproductive rights. This legislation, if it were to become law, would allow for the killing of individuals attempting to obtain an abortion, reflecting a dangerous escalation of the abortion debate. The bill’s intent signals a desire to criminalize abortion to the fullest extent, even by lethal means, mirroring real-world charges in other states.
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David S. Norman, owner of TruKinetics LLC, a company that trains Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Special Response Teams (SRTs), testified in a 2021 deposition that he was involved in at least four lethal shootings during his tenure as a Phoenix Police officer. Records reviewed by WIRED reveal Norman was involved in six on-duty shootings, resulting in four fatalities and two injuries, with police stating he fired on armed suspects and exchanged gunfire in multiple instances. TruKinetics has received government contracts to train hundreds of SRT agents annually, raising questions about the nature of the training provided by a contractor with Norman’s background. This comes as SRTs are increasingly deployed for civil immigration enforcement and crowd control, operations previously outside their scope.
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El Paso International Airport has grounded all flights due to “special security reasons,” as declared by the Federal Aviation Administration. This temporary flight restriction, encompassing El Paso and nearby Santa Teresa, New Mexico, commenced early Wednesday and is slated to conclude on February 21st. The restricted airspace is designated as national defense airspace, with protocols allowing for the use of deadly force against aircraft posing an imminent security threat.
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Responding to cell phone footage of a fatal shooting by a federal immigration agent, former FBI official Michael Feinberg criticized the agent’s actions and the use of deadly force. Feinberg stated that the video shows officers overreacting to “sarcastic” civilians. He highlighted that being heckled or videotaped is part of the job and does not justify the use of deadly force, citing the agent’s access to protective equipment. Feinberg also criticized comments made by politicians, and called out the unprofessionalism of the remark “fucking bitch” in the footage.
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Following the fatal shooting of Renée Good by an ICE agent, the question of whether the officer can be prosecuted has arisen. Despite the Trump administration’s assertion of absolute immunity for the officer, legal expert Robert Bennett argues that ICE agents do not have such immunity and can be subject to state investigations, as supported by case law. Bennett highlights that the state of Minnesota has the right to prosecute the agent, though the FBI’s interference might complicate matters. He emphasizes that the use of deadly force must be objectively reasonable, and the fact that other officers did not fire their weapons could be damaging to the agent’s case.
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A 37-year-old woman died after being shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in south Minneapolis. The shooting occurred near the intersection of 34th Street and Portland Avenue. Conflicting narratives exist regarding the events leading up to the shooting, with federal officials claiming an attempt to run over agents while videos show an alternate sequence of events. Local and state officials, including the Mayor and Governor, have responded, with calls for ICE to leave the city and investigations by the FBI and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension underway.
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The Idaho Attorney General’s Office has decided not to file criminal charges against four Pocatello police officers involved in the shooting of 17-year-old Victor Perez, who had developmental disabilities. The officers fired 14 shots, resulting in Perez’s death a week later, a decision that was made after an investigation into the incident. Deputy Attorney General Jeff Nye stated that the state could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the use of deadly force was unjustified, focusing solely on the officers’ perceptions at the time. This decision was made despite the tragic nature of the event and the community’s calls for accountability.
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In response to heightened security concerns stemming from Russia’s alleged “shadow war” against Ukraine’s Western allies, Germany’s cabinet authorized the army to shoot down drones posing threats near military sites and critical infrastructure. This decision reflects the increasing use of drones for malicious purposes, exceeding the capabilities of current police technology. The authorization comes amid concerns about potential attacks on infrastructure and other critical assets. Russia denies any involvement in such activities.
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A temporary drone ban affecting 22 New Jersey cities is in effect until January 17th, authorizing the use of deadly force against unmanned aircraft posing an imminent threat. This action follows weeks of unexplained drone sightings near critical infrastructure, prompting public concern and conspiracy theories. While the White House and Congress have downplayed the threat, the ban restricts drone operation below 400 feet, with exceptions for certain governmental and commercial operations. Investigations are ongoing, despite assertions that many sightings involved ordinary aircraft.
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John Q. Hosedrinker
ICE Firearms Trainer Involved in Four Deadly Shootings
David S. Norman, owner of TruKinetics LLC, a company that trains Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Special Response Teams (SRTs), testified in a 2021 deposition that he was involved in at least four lethal shootings during his tenure as a Phoenix Police officer. Records reviewed by WIRED reveal Norman was involved in six on-duty shootings, resulting in four fatalities and two injuries, with police stating he fired on armed suspects and exchanged gunfire in multiple instances. TruKinetics has received government contracts to train hundreds of SRT agents annually, raising questions about the nature of the training provided by a contractor with Norman’s background. This comes as SRTs are increasingly deployed for civil immigration enforcement and crowd control, operations previously outside their scope.
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