Carlsbad Man Barred From Guns After Shooter Contact

Alexander Paffendorf, a 20-year-old from Carlsbad, California, has been barred from owning or possessing firearms for three years after authorities found he exchanged Discord messages discussing gun and bomb attacks, weapons types, and bomb-making methods with Natalie Rupnow, the teenager behind a deadly Madison, Wisconsin school shooting in December. Paffendorf admitted the conversations were inappropriate but insisted they did not represent real plans for violence. No firearms were found in his possession, and he has not been criminally charged. The judge extended the restraining order to three years, one year longer than authorities initially requested, citing the severity and recent nature of the incident. In court, Paffendorf apologized and accepted the decision but argued the order has affected his employment prospects. The case highlights growing concerns over online conversations that could indicate threats to public safety.