On Sunday, two firefighters were killed and a third was injured in an ambush in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The perpetrator — allegedly a 20-year-old man who had “Nazi tendencies” and an obsession with guns, per the suspect’s former classmates — reportedly lured them to a mountainous area by setting a wildfire and then shot at them when they responded. “This was a total ambush,” Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris said during a news conference. “These firefighters didn’t have a chance.”
Ambush-style attacks targeting first responders are rare, but are part of a disturbing pattern. A Trace analysis found that there have been at least 21 shootings over the past two decades in which a perpetrator targeted firefighters or police officers in a public place, or lured them to a location just to harm them. In her latest story, The Trace’s Jennifer Mascia breaks down the data about the shootings, the people who perpetrate them, and what may be contributing to the problem.
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Scheduling note: The Trace will be out of the office this week to celebrate the Fourth of July. To fully observe the break through the weekend, we will not send The Bulletin on Monday; it will return to inboxes on Wednesday, July 9. (If there is breaking news over our break, we will send a truncated version of the newsletter on Monday.)
From The Trace
White, Legally Armed, and Primed for Political Violence: Ian Rogers was convinced it was up to him to save America. The gun industry’s sales tactics — playing up paranoia and glorifying combat — may be creating a pipeline of extremists willing to open fire.
As Philly Faces an Uptick in Youth Violence, These Programs Are Trying to Keep Kids Safe: Youth advocates believe that young people need additional emotional support, career development, and safe spaces.
Ambush-Style Shootings Like the One in Idaho Are Rare, but Not Unheard Of: Armed perpetrators have targeted first responders at least 21 times in the past two decades, a Trace analysis found.
Major Gun Violence Research Hub Escapes Crippling Funding Cuts: New Jersey lawmakers decided against slashing the state research center’s budget, a move that provides stability to the field amid shaky federal support.
What to Know Today
The Senate passed the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Tuesday in 50 – 51 with Vice President JD Vance breaking the tie. The measure includes a provision eliminating the National Firearms Act’s $200 tax on short-barreled rifles and shotguns, silencers, and covert guns. It now heads back to the House, where it could face opposition from some Republicans. [CNBC]
The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond upheld the federal ban on commercial sales of handguns to people between the ages of 18 to 20. The decision conflicts with a January ruling by the Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, which found the ban unconstitutional. The dispute makes it more likely that the Supreme Court will intervene. [The Washington Post]
While collecting stories for “If I Don’t Make it, I Love You: Survivors in the Aftermath of School Shootings,” an anthology of voices from school shooting survivors and families left behind, co-editor Amye Archer was surprised by what survivors found hardest: waiting to find out if their family members made it out unscathed, sustained injuries, or lost their lives. [Salon]
A new study published in Frontiers in Public Health suggests that bystanders exposed to gun violence can help prevent future shootings. The researchers believe that if bystanders are empowered with the resources and skills to report violent behavior before a trigger is pulled, it could make gun violence less pervasive. [Rutgers]
The Wyoming State Building Commission will allow adults to carry concealed firearms in most state government buildings. The new rules were approved by Wyoming lawmakers this year over the objections of Governor Mark Gordon. [WyoFile]
Maryland’s Center for Firearm Violence Prevention and Intervention released its preliminary plan to use a public health approach to counter gun violence in the state. It is a milestone for the office, which state lawmakers established in early 2024. [CBS News]
This section was written by engagement editor Victoria Clark.
Data Point
27,300 — The number of people who died by gun suicide in 2023, a record high [Michigan Advance]
Non Sequitur
Denmark Is Fighting AI by Giving Citizens Copyright to Their Own Faces
“To tip the scales back in favor of those who wish to remain in firm control of their image, Denmark has put forth a proposal that would give every one of its citizens the legal ground to go after someone who uses their image without their consent.” [Vice]
