Self-Defense Blog Bracket: Round 4

News & True Stories

Luke Wirkkala’s life was turned upside down when a man he invited into his home to watch the Super Bowl brutally attacked him. Wirkkala dashed into his bedroom and retrieved a 12-gauge shotgun, blocking the hall to where his girlfriend and her two boys dreamed peacefully. The man charged him, forcing Wirkkala to take his life. While this might sound like a clear case of self-defense, a jury convicted Wirkkala and he spent eight years behind bars. Not until 2021 was he able to find justice.

Eight Years Behind Bars: The Luke Wirkkala Story

By 1857, the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company was bankrupt. Most of its investors pulled out, including Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson, who formed the company two years before. However, shirt manufacturer-turned-firearms investor Oliver F. Winchester saw an opportunity. He embarked on a mission to salvage the remnants of the foundering company. His decision would revolutionize the firearms world forever.

A Look Back: Oliver F. Winchester and Winchester Rifles

  • Eight Years Behind Bars: The Luke Wikkala Story
  • A Look Back: Oliver F. Winchester and Winchester Rifles

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