Weapons & Guns

Little person porn star Bridget Powers -- who goes by "Bridget the Midget" in her movies -- got in a nasty fight that ended with her in handcuffs and her BF with a stab wound ... in the leg.

Law enforcement sources tell us they were called to a home in Vegas early Wednesday after a neighbor heard screaming and breaking glass. When officers arrived, they made contact with Powers and discovered she and her boyfriend just finished a vicious spat.

Cops say Powers stabbed him in the leg during the fight ... and he was transported to a local hospital for non-life threatening injuries. Unclear if his injury is below or above the knee.

She appeared in her first adult film in 1999, and by her own account has appeared in more than 50 projects since then. She's also made appearances on "S.W.A.T." and "The Surreal Life."

Bridget now faces charges of domestic battery with the use of a deadly weapon, burglary while in possession of a deadly weapon and assault with a deadly weapon ... all felonies.

Aaron Carter is adamant he has a right and a need to have guns -- but he now says assault weapons are overkill so he's giving them up.

Aaron tells TMZ, he believed cops were going to come to his home Wednesday and seize his guns, because his brother, Nick, got a restraining order against him and Aaron thought that would trigger a gun seizure. So, he says he beat Nick to the punch and called the cops himself on Wednesday.

Aaron says cops came to his home and assured him they were not going to take his guns away just because there was a restraining order. Nevertheless, he gave L.A. County Sheriff's deputies his 2 assault rifles to hold for him, because he's just hit the road for some concerts and is worried someone might break into his home and steal them.

But, there's more ... Aaron tells us when he returns he's going to get rid of his assault rifles for good -- maybe sell them to the gun shop he bought them from.

Aaron says he wants protection and he's going to keep a pistol and a shotgun, but he says he's off assault rifles for good.

One other thing ... the reason he says he gave cops the assault weapons while he was on the road is because he doesn't have a proper safe, but he says he's getting one quickly to secure the weapons he keeps.

An org named after Sandy Hook and dedicated to fighting gun violence just sent a powerful message as kids head back to school ... depicting a school shooting on camera.

Sandy Hook Promise debuted a new PSA Wednesday called "Back-to-School Essentials," which starts out like your average back-to-school big box-style ad, plugging everyday products that kids use on campus.

As the PSA plays out, it spirals into a twisted scene of violence ... depicting a school shooting, with students touting their products and then using them to escape and survive.

Some of the images shown here are incredibly upsetting. You see kids being shot in the background and falling to the ground, kids bleeding from gunshot wounds ... and kids ready to stab a shooter with pencils and scissors. Perhaps the most powerful moment is when a girl hiding in a bathroom stall is texting, "I love you mom." As she plugs her excitement over having her "own phone to stay in touch," she cries in fear.

The PSA ends with a harrowing message about back-to-school season ... "It's back to school time and you know what that means. School shootings are preventable when you know the signs."

Aaron Carter's ex-girlfriend says he has a warped view of the world right now -- thinking his family is out to get him ... and that his toxic fans are his closest allies.

We got Lina Valentina Tuesday night outside the Dream Hotel in Hollywood, and asked if she was concerned about her ex-BF in the wake of concerns regarding Aaron's prescription medication, gun talk ... and his mental state.

She tells us she truly is, and explains exactly why. BTW, Lina and Aaron dated for about a year before splitting up a month ago -- so she has some interesting insights.

First off, Lina says Aaron's family is not the enemy here -- this, of course, after Aaron's older brother, Nick, obtained a temporary restraining order -- which got aired out all over social media, with Nick claiming Aaron threatened to kill his pregnant wife.

Aaron denied that ... and went on to say he wants nothing to do with Nick or his family. It's just the latest sign for worry in Aaron's life.

He came on "TMZ Live" over the past couple days defending his mental state, claiming he's more than stable ... and, more importantly, NOT going to surrender his firearms. He's had a couple police visits lately too -- with attempts to 5150 him, to no avail.

However, we've learned authorities are looking into a way to seize Aaron's guns for his own good through the use of an obscure California law. Unclear if it'll work.

Nick Carter says his brother, Aaron, has left him with no choice but to seek legal protection after he claims Aaron threatened to kill Nick's pregnant wife and unborn child ... though Aaron says he'd never harm family.

According to the temporary restraining order obtained by TMZ ... Aaron has to stay at least 100 feet away from Nick, Nick's wife, their kids and other family members, specifically their residence in Las Vegas.

Nick says both he and his sister were forced to seek the order against Aaron, "In light of Aaron's increasingly alarming behavior and his recent confession that he harbors thoughts and intentions of killing my pregnant wife and unborn child."

A rep for Aaron tells us, "I am astounded at the accusations being made against me and I do not wish harm to anyone, especially my family."

Aaron responded to Nick on social media after he filed the restraining order, saying he should send a cease and desist letter while he's at it. Aaron adds he hasn't seen Nick in 4 years, and they ain't planning on a reunion.

As we've reported ... Aaron's family has been super concerned with his mental state lately, and the singer has raised concerns over his own mental stability.

Nick says, "We love our brother and truly hope he gets the proper treatment he needs before any harm comes to himself or anyone else."

Aaron appeared on "The Doctors" and at least from the show, it seemed like he's suffering from anxiety, schizophrenia, multiple personality disorder and manic depression -- another term for bipolar.

L.A. County Sheriff's deputies recently went to Aaron's Lancaster, CA home for a welfare check ... and he claims they visited him again over the weekend and tried to place him on a 5150 psychiatric hold.

Aaron's been flaunting his gun collection -- he says he owns a 9mm handgun, 2 assault rifles and other firearms -- and we've learned cops are looking into an obscure law that could be used to take his guns away.

Aaron came on "TMZ Live" Tuesday disputing the notion he's struggling with his mental health, and telling his family to leave him alone.

Clearly, the feeling is mutual.

Aaron Carter's family is worried about his mental health, and so are cops. We've learned they're looking at an obscure law that could be used to take his guns away.

Aaron himself has raised concerns over his mental stability. He appeared on "The Doctors" and it seemed from the show Aaron was suffering from a multiple personality disorder, anxiety, schizophrenia and manic depression -- another term for bipolar. Aaron walked it back on "TMZ Live" Monday, saying "The Doctors" was edited to make it look like he had these conditions.

Fact is ... family members have been concerned enough that L.A. County Sheriff's deputies have gone to Aaron's home for a welfare check ... especially because he flaunts his gun collection.

Aaron says he owns a 9mm handgun, 2 assault rifles and other firearms as well.

As for the little-used California law ... it's called a Gun Violence Restraining Order. If someone owns guns and a family member or law enforcement believes the person could use a weapon to hurt themselves or another person, the family member or cop can go to court and ask for the restraining order.

A judge can take the person's guns away, and order them not to possess other guns or ammo.

Our law enforcement sources tell us ... cops are looking at the law right now and deciding whether they'll go to court. And, as for the order, a lot depends on nailing down Aaron's true mental state, which is a difficult proposition because Aaron shares only what he wants to publicly share so it's hard to paint a complete picture.

Aaron Carter's arsenal isn't going to be taken from him ... at least not yet, but that could change if authorities decide he's mentally unfit to own firearms.

Carter has been erratic lately ... friends and family have been so worried they've called police to do welfare checks.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... until a court, board, commission, judge or other lawful authority determines Aaron suffers from a mental illness or condition that causes him to be a danger to himself or others, he can keep his guns.

If this were to happen, we're told Carter would possibly be asked to voluntarily hand over his weapons first, but then if he failed to comply ... ATF could seize his collection.

That said, the L.A. County Sheriff's Dept. tells TMZ the Dept. is investigating the entire matter and dealing with Aaron's family members who have expressed concern and even alarm.

Aaron spoke with TMZ Monday, telling us cops responded to a call Sunday night and showed up at his home with the intent of taking him away on a 5150 psychiatric hold.

The singer says he warned deputies he had loaded weapons scattered around his home, but he also convinced them and a mental evaluator he was not a danger to himself or others.

He also claims he doesn't know who sent the authorities to his house, but one thing he's clear about -- he's not going to give up his guns because he says he fears for his safety.

Aaron's been adamant with us recently that he's mentally stable, despite going on "The Doctors" and rattling off that he's been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. When he spoke to us Monday, he refuted that and claimed he's passed all the mental health checks to own a gun.

Sebastian Telfair is FREEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

... for now.

The ex-NBA star and former H.S. prodigy is out of prison just days after he was sentenced to 3.5 years in his gun case ... but there's a chance Telfair could end up back behind bars.

Here's the deal ... 34-year-old Telfair was convicted of possessing an illegal firearm stemming from a June 2017 incident where he was caught with an arsenal of weapons during a traffic stop.

He was facing up to 15 YEARS in prison for the crime ... but instead, on Aug. 12, a judge ordered him to serve 3.5 years.

Telfair and his legal team appealed the sentence ... and asked that while the process plays out, they let Telfair bail out of prison.

TMZ Sports has learned a judge agreed to those terms Thursday -- with an ankle monitor clearly a part of the deal -- and Telfair is now a free man.

Unclear how much Telfair's bail was -- we're working on it ... but we do know he was spotted with friends on Thursday.

Telfair -- who famously appeared on Sports Illustrated's cover as a high schooler -- played for several teams in the NBA from 2004 to 2015. He was a Trail Blazer's 1st-round pick in the '04 NBA Draft.

Beto O'Rourke got a rise out of an elected official from Texas when he said during Thursday's presidential debate that he wants to take assault weapons away from everyone who possesses them ... in the form of a not-so-veiled death threat.

O'Rourke gave a stirring answer to a question about assault rifles, saying, "Hell yes, we're going to take your AR-15, your AK-47," adding, "If the high-impact, high-velocity round, when it hits your body, shreds everything inside of your body because it was designed to do that so that you would bleed to death on the battlefield."

Well, that was enough for Texas Republican State Rep. Briscoe Cain, who fired back on Twitter, "My AR is ready for you Robert Francis."

O'Rourke stated the obvious on twitter, calling it a "death threat." What's more ... his team reported Briscoe to the FBI.

Jeremy Renner's ex-wife has filed legal docs to strip him of all child custody ... and even require a monitor for visits.

Sonni Pacheco filed legal docs seeking to change their previous agreement, which gives them joint custody over 6-year-old Ava. Pacheco does not say what triggered her move, but the 2 have had a long, difficult history.

Sonni has claimed in the past Jeremy's gun collection put their daughter at risk. She said one of the weapons was out in the open, behind a bar. Jeremy claimed at the time the guns were always under lock and key.

The lawyer who initially represented A$AP Rocky in his Swedish assault case was shot by someone who appears to have been lying in wait for him ... TMZ has learned.

We're told Henrik Olsson Lilja was leaving his apartment building early Friday morning in downtown Stockholm when a gunman walked up to him and shot him in the head and the chest. Cops tell us the lawyer was inside the building at the time of the attack.

The gunman jumped into a waiting SUV, which then sped off.

We don't know the lawyer's condition, but we're told he actually called the police. TMZ has seen a photo of him on the street and the head injury is too gruesome to post.

The lawyer repped A$AP when he was first taken into custody after assaulting a man who was harassing him on the streets of Stockholm. Olsson Lilja was replaced before the trial began.

So far we don't know if there's any connection to Olsson Lilja's representation of A$AP.

The shooter is still at large.

U.S. doubles tennis star Mike Bryan pretended to load his racket like a gun and shoot a line judge over an incorrect call ... and the guy was fined $10,000 for the gesture.

It all went down Sunday at the U.S. Open ... when Bryan challenged an "in" call during his doubles match against Federico Delbonis and Roberto Carballés Baena.

Turns out, Bryan was right to protest -- the replay showed the ball was out -- and as part of his celebration for the successful challenge, he pointed his racket at a line judge and pretended to shoot.

Bryan was immediately hit with a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct ... with chair umpire Mariana Alves telling him, "I don't think that was appropriate."

The U.S. Open later fined 41-year-old Bryan $10k ... with U.S. Tennis Association spokesman, Brendan McIntyre, telling the New York Times, "We thought it warranted that amount."

When contacted about the gesture and the fine by the NY Times ... Bryan released a statement apologizing for the act.

"We won the point and the gesture was meant to be playful. But, given the recent news and political climate I understand how my gesture could be viewed as insensitive."

Bryan added, "I promise that I will never do anything like this again."

Ted Cruz says Alyssa Milano's part of a Hollywood machine hell-bent on spreading rage ... that being said, he hopes she can keep it civil if and when they meet to talk gun control.

We got the Texas Senator at Reagan National Airport and wanted to get his take on his recent feud with Alyssa and legendary singer Bette Midler. ICYMI ... Alyssa and Bette recently put Cruz on blast for offering "thoughts and prayers" after a gunman killed 7 and injured more than 25 others over the weekend in West Texas.

It was the third mass shooting in less than a month ... and second in the Lone Star State.

Alyssa challenged Ted to a face-to-face and offered to live stream it "so the American people can hear your bulls**t 1st hand." Bette called Ted fake ... saying he's not heartbroken over the lives lost in yet another mass shooting. She called him spineless.

Check out what Ted's got to say about all that ... he's adamant they proved his point -- Hollywood's bitter and angry. He also thinks he surprised the hell outta Alyssa by agreeing to meet with her.

Aaron Carter is adding to his home arsenal ... hitting up a pawn shop to purchase 2 guns and a bunch of ammunition.

The singer dropped by Rick's Pawn Shop Tuesday in Lancaster, CA ... and we're told Aaron bought a handgun and a rifle, plus 300 rounds of hollow tip bullets.

Looks like Aaron is dead set on starting his own gun collection after inheriting a massive cache of weapons from his father. Aaron got his gun license less than 2 weeks ago, and he immediately bought a 9mm handgun and 2 assault rifles.

After Tuesday's purchase, Aaron owns at least 5 firearms -- still a long way to go to catch up to the 500 guns he says his pops passed down to him.

We broke the story ... Aaron told us last week owning assault weapons is a necessity, because his dad taught him to protect himself and his family by any means necessary. Aaron also said his mental stability is "infinite" -- despite loved ones being concerned about his mental health.

BTW ... Aaron had his background check flagged two years ago when he tried to buy a gun in Florida, which was around the time he entered rehab.

Police in Texas say at least two active shooters in two separate vehicles -- one of which is a mail van -- are firing rounds at drivers on the road ... and 2 people are already dead.

The Midland Police Department are warning motorists between their city and neighboring Odessa to stay indoors, as someone in a gold and white Toyota truck and another person in a USPS postal van are shooting folks at random from within the vehicles. Authorities are saying the mail van was hijacked by at least one of the suspects.

The mayor of Midland, Jerry Morales, told the media that at least two people have already been killed and and possibly up to 20 others are injured, so far. The two suspects are said to have initially gone on a shooting spree at Home Depot near Odessa.

They are still at large, and clearly armed and dangerous.

One university has warned students to stay indoors as police deal with the situation.

Story developing ...

Sometimes ya just gotta have a beer and a smoke -- even when there's a psycho pointing an assault rifle at you!!! That's the bizarre scene that played out during an armed robbery.

Surveillance video inside Behrmann's Tavern in St. Louis captured the terrifying action early Wednesday morning. The armed robber enters the bar and a handful of customers and a bartender get their hands up and/or get down on the ground -- but you also see one man continue sipping his can of beer and using his phone.

Obviously, that drew the robber's attention, but even with the rifle barrel jammed into his side ... the defiant beer drinker kept scrolling on his phone! The robber eventually attempted to snatch the phone away and moved on to clear the cash register.

But, you gotta see how Captain Chill reacted -- the dude lights up a cigarette and even points and yells at the robber during the heist. His "ready to die" attitude must've been contagious because the guy next to him eventually got up off the ground and grabbed a ciggie too!

The good news is the robber never fired a single shot and everyone in the bar survived.