Police in Lafayette, Indiana, just dropped a bombshell: five individuals are in custody linked to the January 18, 2026, shooting of Tippecanoe County Judge Steven Meyer and his wife Kimberly. This isn’t some random street crime—details are still trickling out, but the arrests signal a deliberate plot that could involve everything from targeted retaliation to deeper criminal networks. For the 2A community, the real intrigue lies in the unknowns: Was this a defensive gun use gone wrong, a permitted carrier caught in the crossfire, or anti-gun zealots turning violent against a judicial figure? Early reports don’t specify firearms involved on the victims’ side, but in a state like Indiana with strong concealed carry laws, it’s a stark reminder that good guys with guns often prevent worse outcomes—did Meyer and his wife exercise their rights that night?

Diving deeper, this incident underscores the hypocrisy in the gun control narrative. Judges like Meyer preside over cases that can include 2A defenses, yet when violence strikes at their doorstep, it’s the armed citizenry—law-abiding permit holders—who serve as the first line of defense, not waiting for police who arrive after the fact. Indiana’s constitutional carry since 2022 empowers folks like judges and their families to protect themselves without red tape, potentially saving lives here. If this shooting stemmed from court-related grudges (as some whispers suggest), it exposes how criminals exploit soft targets, reinforcing why shall-issue permitting and training matter. The arrests are a win for justice, but expect gun-grabbers to spin this into more guns, more crime fodder—ignoring that the perps were likely prohibited persons flouting laws already on the books.

For 2A advocates, the implications are clear: Double down on vigilance, support judicial self-defense training, and push back against narratives that disarm the very people judges protect. This story could catalyze stronger pro-gun policies in Indiana courthouses and beyond—stay tuned as more facts emerge, because in the court of public opinion, the truth arms us all.