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Even Shotguns Use AR-15s for Self Defense

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From the ‘truth is stranger than fiction’ files comes this story out of Independence, Oregon, where a stolen shotgun apparently pulled the trigger of a stolen AR-15 and killed the man who had just stolen both firearms. The accused shotgun did not have an enlarged tactical charging handle like this one. If it had, the Dearly Departed would probably have lived to steal another day. From koinlocal6.com . . .

…Detectives say that 19 year-old Genaro Hernandez Mendoza of West Salem was going to visit family who lived on the farm when he entered and burglarized a home on Independence Highway.

Deputies say Mendoza took several items and fled from the home on foot. He returned to the farm and placed the stolen items behind a barn. They say he then stole a pickup truck belonging to the farm and returned to the home he burglarized stealing more items and a shotgun and AR-15 rifle.

Det. Williams with the Polk County Sheriff’s Department tells KOIN 6 News that they believe a piece of the shotgun was caught in the trigger area of the AR-15. While crossing the field the truck hit a bump causing the weapon to fire once striking and killing Mendoza.

Farm workers found the truck and Mendoza Sunday morning with the engine still running and the truck in drive.

Polk County Sheriff Bob Wolfe added that they would be reviewing the evidence to determine if anyone assisted Mendoza with the Burglary.

The report doesn’t specify that the shotgun’s bolt handle caught the AR’s trigger, but it’s the only part of a shotgun that conveniently fits inside the trigger guard. (A shotgun muzzle might fit, but not while the AR is upright.) This is possibly the first time that an unattended firearm used another firearm to kill a human being.

No word on whether Mr. Mendoza’s next of kin will sue the shotgun for wrongful death, its owners for negligence, or both.

0 thoughts on “Even Shotguns Use AR-15s for Self Defense”

  1. I’m surprised it took them this long to end up with some of them. When I worked in the defense industry there we had a training class about the heavy brigade combat teams (HBCT) makeup. The instructor basically said the army moving forward did not have a place the MRAP. As I heard it told the army more MRAP’s than it knew what to do with as every senator wanted to made sure they were seen to have been insuring that these “got to the troop”. The media picked up on the benefit of the MRAP in Iraq, spread it about, and it was the new thing to show your support forthe troops. I heard a lot of them would be “sold” to the Iraqis.

    Something else I learned of interest in that stint, there are a mess of vehicles sitting in storage, of various levels of operability, usually Bradleys and M113s ( I forget the defense industry language that describes the practice and conditions). Once they reach a certain classification they can be had free “where is, as is” to state and local gov’ts (also foreign ally gov’ts who then pay defense contractors to refirb and modify). After they get old enough I wouldn’t be surprised to see MRAPs start to replace the standard SWAT trucks.

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  2. “they’ve been in service since 2008” is misleading. While in Aberdeen for AIT these same variants of MRAP’s were being blown up for ballistics testing ( was there march to end of june 2007) I was then deployed to Iraq Nov. 28th 2007. By January these MRAPS showed up on the scene, we took delivery of some of the first MRAPS used in country due to our A.O. DHS has not had these for years, they’ve recently been given them because they’re older (now out of warranty) but still does not address the questions of why, would a domestic goon force need these?

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  3. Good. People should be getting angry.

    Being labeled as an enemy of the state in this day and age is a badge of honor.

    Reply
  4. So instead of “backup clamp” mounting a pistol to your rifle, You should mount a rifle to your shotgun. That way if you get go down the shotgun can keep fighting with the rifle, it might even drag your ass to cover.

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  5. Well, that’s all the proof I need that these inanimate objects aren’t inherently evil- first chance that AR got, it shot the bad guy!

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  6. yep, Tori and KC were badass. Jojo Vidanes was there too and kicked ass in Classic Division. those 3 were really cool with everybody doing autograph photos and hangin around. good times. seeing them in action in person was the best part.

    but just so ya’ll know, the delegation from the Philippines won majority of the medals to dominate the event. 30 gold medals in fact. we were the 2nd largest team at 125 shooters, next only to team Australia at 250 who were also celebrating their Nationals.

    huge cheers to Jethro Dionisio (6 time world shooting champion), Edward Rivera (previous Australasia Champion), and John Gotamco for taking gold, silver and bronze in the Standard Division!

    Jag Lejano took top spot in the Production division using the CZ75 SP-01 Shadow.

    Philipp Chua took 1st in Revolver Division.

    me? I did OK in the Standard Division, landed in the 30th-ish position. 🙂

    the stages were really challenging and we made lots of friends, especially the Aussies and local Kiwi shooters. the Rotorua Pistol club has a fantastic facility.

    cheers to all the participants and event organizers, the event was huge fun!

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  7. Don’t know if anyone noticed, but several of the CA laws are not actually bad. California law already allows CCW holders to carry in a school (and as far as CA law goes, one can carry without a CCW with permission of the superindendant or equivalent…not sure about federal law there). To actually encourage this and training school marshalls, not bad.

    AB 539 seems like it might be good. We have a list of misdemeanors and other conditions that create a temporary prohibition on firearms. Several years ago they required courts to inform people that they are prohibitted, but this often does not happen. So an ex files a restraining order, and ipso facto you are prohibited without a hearing or without being even notified. If you do know, and the cops get the guns, good luck getting them back. Even if the cops follow the law here (which is sadly often not the case…) it costs money and forms and fees. Even if a temp restraining order is lifted as soon as the hearing on it happens and it was baseless. By making it clear that one can transfer the firearms to an FFL for storage, it makes clear another option.

    Now some of the laws are just stupid. SB 567, banning the Judge or similar 410/45lc guns, for instance. Well I cannot legally buy a Judge in CA already, because it is defined by state law as a short barrelled shotgun. The only way to get one without getting the elusive dangerous weapons permit (maybe if you work for movies), is to spending more than the cost of the gun to have it converted to an AOW, and pay the fees on that

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  8. It was easy for the gun to shoot Mr. Mendoza, because they didn’t know each other. However, had the gun and Mr. Mendoza known each other, and had Mr. Mendoza been raping the gun, it would of been difficult for the gun to make the decision to take the life of the rapist. It’s tough to shoot someone you care about, even if they’re raping you.

    Sincerely,

    Zerlina Maxwell

    Reply
  9. Regarding the word “regulated”. The 22nd Infantry Regiment wore militia grey instead of Army blue in the Battle of Chippewa in 1814, and were mistaken by the opposing British general as militia. His exclamation upon learning the truth as they advanced under withering fire became the 22nd’s unofficial motto: “Those are regulars, by God!” The grey uniform also became the basis of West Points grey cadet uniforms.

    This is a roundabout way of saying that regulars are regulated (disciplined, trained, et al), and stand firm under fire. This is what the Second Amendment is all about.

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    • It no longer matters. It’s a moot point.
      .
      Since the government can’t keep track of the number of illegals, when you subtract one, the number is still somewhere around ??,???,??? give or take 1.

      Reply
  10. The crazy thing is that you could never get permission to do this kind of thing as a legitimate social science experiment, and if a scientist tried to do it anyway, he would be looking at jail time. But a bunch of idiots can get away with it without penalty.

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  11. I should point out to people here at TTAG to NEVER (yes, I’m standing on an upturned 5 gal bucket and shouting at y’all), NEVER store loaded long arms in a safe, especially when you have bolt guns mixed into your collection.

    More than once, I’ve pulled (or tried to pry) a long gun out of my safe, only to have the trigger bumped by a bolt rifle neighbor. Occasionally, when the long arm on which I’m tugging was put away with the action cocked, I hear the trigger snap. If it had been loaded, I would have been one of your headlines.

    Just a little tip for when folks have lots of iron in your safes.

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  12. She can FOAD.

    I typed those words with a smile on my face.

    Oh, I also breathed in and out slowly whilst counting to 10.

    Do I have to watch the movie “Anger Management” before I go to the store to buy ammo?

    Reply
  13. Proud owner of 4 hi points, 3 carbines, 1 pistol. 2 – 9 carbines, 1 -9 pistol, 1 45 carbine. I have high end guns (many), but when I go to range to blow up cans and veggies, you can’t beat hi points. Cant beat them. Quit looking and buy one already.

    Reply
  14. we should have laws before you get into a car (road rage) before you go into the bar for a drink ( possible drinking problem) befor you cut your stake (krazed slasher) ps. no butter knives either. On and On we go
    MUST PROTECT THE CHILDREN

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  15. So if this is no longer going to be a military weapon in the hands of soldiers on the battlefield, can we make it civillian legal?

    Reply
  16. These self-superior, condescending liberals all talk like this. Down to you.
    And they harbor a deep resentment towards anyone who does not agree
    with their point of view. It’s the same self-superior mentality that crafted
    the Final Solution. No, I’m not waxing hyperbolic! Statist’s are big fans of
    cultivating the power of myth, with inspiring talk of great and heroic deeds.
    In their mythical world, disarming us would be that great and heroic deed.

    Reply

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