CPL Digest: August 30, 2026
By Christine Barnes | Concealed Carry Training Company
Firearms Training & Education for Life
Michigan CPL holders and lawful gun owners had a quiet weekend in the legislature and courts, but three real-world incidents from Michigan and across the country are worth knowing. Here is what happened, and what it means for you.
1. Michigan CPL & Self-Defense News
Wayne County — Gas Station Clerk Charged with Murder (August 30)
Relevance: Low
A gas station clerk in Wayne County was charged with murder after shooting a customer through the safety glass at the counter. Prosecutors determined the shooting was unprovoked and that no self-defense basis existed.
What it means for you: This case is a reminder that self-defense is a legal standard, not a feeling. The physical setup — a secured counter, safety glass, no evidence of a threat — did not support a claim that force was necessary. Lawful self-defense requires a genuine, objectively reasonable belief that you or someone else faced imminent harm. Being behind a barrier generally undercuts that claim. Location and context matter.
South Bend, Indiana — Wayne Hubbard Cleared, No Charges (August 28)
Relevance: Medium
Wayne Hubbard was cleared of any wrongdoing after shooting an armed man who approached him while he was fishing with his family. Surveillance footage confirmed that the approaching man was armed and that Hubbard acted in response to a direct threat. Prosecutors declined to file charges.
What it means for you: This is a textbook self-defense outcome — a clear threat, a lawful response, and evidence that supported the account. Surveillance footage played a direct role in the decision not to charge. If you carry, being aware of your surroundings and having documentation of what occurred is not a legal technicality; it is what protects you after the fact. The outcome here was right, and the evidence made it possible to get there quickly.
2. National Self-Defense Cases
State v. Kelver — Rihanna Kelver Stand-Your-Ground Immunity Hearing, Wyoming (August 26-29)
Relevance: Medium
A stand-your-ground immunity hearing concluded in Wyoming on August 29. Rihanna Kelver pulled a firearm after being shoved to the ground. The judge is deliberating on whether to grant immunity from prosecution. No ruling has been issued.
What it means for you: Stand-your-ground immunity hearings happen before trial — they are a threshold question about whether the case should even go forward. The facts here are close: a physical attack occurred, a firearm was drawn in response, and a judge must now decide whether the force was justified under the law. The outcome, when it comes, will be a useful data point for understanding how courts apply stand-your-ground standards when the threat is physical but stops short of a weapon. Watch for the ruling.
Stay Current All Year
The law changes, courts rule, and real cases play out every week. Michigan CPL holders need to know what those changes mean before they end up in a situation where it matters.
The CPL Renewal Guide — available at $34.99 per year — gives subscribers ongoing access to legislative updates, Michigan and federal court decisions, government contacts, a 3-hour CPL renewal guide, news articles, and company recommendations, all curated and explained in plain English.
Christine Barnes has trained more than 15,000 students across Michigan over 12+ years. Concealed Carry Training Company offers CPL classes at multiple Michigan locations and digital resources for licensed carriers statewide.
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