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WHY YOU MAY WANT A LASER ON YOUR EDC PISTOL

By
The Armory Life
-

The fact you’ve chosen to carry a firearm means you want to be prepared to protect yourself. Being able to hit what you shoot at – that’s what it’s all about. However, simply having a gun isn’t enough. You need to, among other things, HIT what you aim at. Otherwise the resulting use of your firearm may create more problems than it solves.

Unfortunately, to be blunt, most concealed carriers are not skilled enough to hit what they shoot at. I know I sound pessimistic, but I have seen it for decades; shooters who do not prepare for the realities of when, where and how real world situations occur. 

Are You Ready?

If you want to do this right and have a chance of survival, you have to be as ready as you can be. Being ready is a byproduct of preparation. Here is the beginner’s list: 

  • First step – you need to have a concealable gun, like the Springfield Armory XD-S Mod.2 9mm.
  • Second step – you have to train and practice. And I mean doing it like it matters. You can’t just shoot 10 shots through the gun to see if it works and say you are good to go. The gun will work. You’ve picked the most reliable compact handgun possible. That’s why I carry one. I’m not worried about the gun working, I’m worried about you working.
  • Third Step – learn marksmanship. To train to protect your life, you need to look beyond just having the gun and knowing some tactics. You have to address the elements of marksmanship that lead to its effective use. If “IT” hits the fan and you have to shoot, you had better hit what you are shooting at. In regards to that, there are two points that standout as being the most important: Fire Control & Aiming.

In this article, I’m going to address aiming.

Front Sight Fiasco

The problem with aiming is that we have taught you all wrong. I apologize. We “shooting instructors” tend to focus on aiming in a clinical sense with little attention paid to how situations might really happen. Let me explain.

Scenario: You are in a fight for your life, things are happening around you fast and the distances are close. Too close. Like the really dangerous distances of contact and just out-of-contact range.

Action plan: You will likely need a better marksmanship goal than the old guidelines of, “Look for that crisp, clear front sight focus.” I have heard it explained far too often that you can’t hit anything if the front sight isn’t clearly in focus. This is absurd.

In a fight you will likely need to watch and monitor what is happening. Your gun may be in your hand. You likely will have it pointed at an imminent threat. You likely will be stressed and nervous. You likely will be scared. You will likely be reacting to events as they unwind. And, unfortunately, if national statistics are referenced, you will likely MISS when the time comes to shoot. Let’s try to avoid this by outfitting ourselves well.

Read On

The Inner Piece 2.0 From Desantis

By
Travis Pike
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The original Desantis Inner Piece was a leather appendix holster and was quite popular. I’m a fan of punny names and the Inner Piece is an inside the waistband style holster, so the name caught my eye. Desantis introduced an Inner Piece 2.0 at Shot 2019 and I was happy to get my hands on one.


The Inner Piece 2.0 is an all synthetic IWB holster designed for appendix carry. I’ve had the Inner Piece for some time now and it’s been a design I’ve come to enjoy. The Inner Piece 2.0 comes in multiple sizes and I purchased one that would fit my Walther PPS M1. It also houses the SIG P365 with an Icarus Metal frame. Without the Icarus frame the P365 tends to be too small to work. These holster sizes vary quite a bit, and you can even carry oddballs like the Polymer 80 Glock 26 models due to the flexibility of the holster.

The Desantis Inner Piece 2.0 is a holster designed to be adjustable. You can change the height of the holster and the clip rotates left and right.

Finding your Inner Piece

The Inner Piece setup also includes a magazine pouch that is angled to allow your off-hand to easily reach it. The Inner Piece 2.0 is made from a soft synthetic material that is water-resistant and soft. The rear portion has enough padding that you’ll never feel the gun against your body.


It’s also cut with a complete sweat guard to protect your weapon and keep things nice and dry. The holster has a flexible middle between the gun and the magazine. This allows for flexibility and for the holster to bend around your body.


All in all, the Inner Piece is a comfortable and easy wearing holster. I appreciate the ability to move the clip with the loosening of a screw. This allows it to function with any belt and with any pants. The ability to move the clip ensures my ability to use the holster with any belt and pants combo.

On the Draw

Drawing from the holster is easy but because the holster sits so flat against the body it is difficult to wrap your thumb around the grip. On the draw I rest the thumb on the rear of the slide and it finds its way around the gun after the gun clears leather. Well, not leather, but you know what I mean.

The Inner Piece magazine pouch holds the magazine facing outwards and is intuitive to draw from. It also works best with the SIG P365 15 round magazine due to it’s extra length.

Moving and Grooving


The holster is super comfortable and there is no chafing or rubbing. The Inner Piece moves as you move and has enough give to allow you to comfortably sit at a table and in a vehicle. Drawing from a seated position isn’t difficult either and I was surprised at how easy it was. It’s a bit easier than most appendix holsters I’ve used. This also goes for the magazine pouch in case you have to reload from a seated position.

When seated the holster isn’t uncomfortable, but you know it’s there. I went and saw “Once Upon A Time in Hollywood” and sat for 2 hours and 40 something minutes and was never uncomfortable.

The Desantis Inner Piece 2.0 is a very comfortable design made from a strong synthetic material. It’s rugged and sweat resistant as well. I live in steamy Florida and I sweat at 6 AM when I’m walking to the car. The rear of the holster has been soaking wet, but the gun is always dry. This is an awesome holster, well designed, durable, affordable and comfortable. Check it out here.

Kingslayer and Liberator Update: Swampfox Optics

By
Keith Finch
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Swampfox Optics announces that our Kingslayer and Liberator dot sights are now available in either red or green circle dot reticles, in addition to the original 3 MOA red dot variants.

  • Liberator
  • Kingslayer

The Optics:
The Kingslayer is an RMR-footprint open reflex sight, a proven tough little optic that stands up great on reciprocating pistol slides. It’s also easy to put on rifles or shotguns as a lightweight dot sight with almost no weight penalty– we include a low profile 1913 Picatinny base in the box. 

The Liberator is a closed tube micro dot that comes with a low Picatinny mount and an absolute co-witness mount both included in the box. Liberator’s scope body is compatible with T1-style aftermarket mounts for shooters who prefer lower 1/3rd co-witness or quick detach setups. 

Both the Kingslayer and the Liberator feature push-button controls, battery replacement without re-zeroing, and motion sensing auto shut-off after 4 hours without movement. 

The Reticles: 

Kingslayer and Liberator reticle selection from Swampfox Optics

Both sights are fine as simple 3 MOA red dots, but we wanted to step our game up. For the circle dot versions, the Liberator’s center dot shrinks down to 2 MOA while the Kingslayer’s center dot stays at 3 MOA, and both reticles feature a 65 MOA ring around them to grab the eye quickly and center it.

In testing, we found sight acquisition speed is boosted slightly with these reticles on long guns, but the biggest advantage of the circle dot comes in the Kingslayer pistol application, especially with new pistol dot shooters who haven’t perfected their presentation. If your alignment is off a little bit as you press out it’s easy to find a section of the 65 MOA ring and use that to start correcting your aim, instead of swirling your muzzle, looking through blank glass waiting for the dot to show up.

The Price:

We managed to keep our pricing the same as before, with an MSRP of just $219 for Kingslayer and $179 for Liberator. You can find them for less at places like Optics Planet and we like to throw sales during holidays too. (If you’ve made it this far, Labor Day is coming right up!) 

We’re damn proud of these optics, and all our products are covered by our 50,000 Round Guarantee. You can check out all the full specs and details at www.swampfoxoptics.com, and we’re pretty active on Facebook and the ‘Gram. Stand by for more new products coming from us soon. We’re working hard to make some bad ass optics that won’t break the bank.  –Swampfox Mike

WWW.SWAMPFOXOPTICS.COM

BORN ON THE 4th of JULY


SIG SAUER Selected by U.S. Army for Next Generation Weapons with New Ammunition Technology, Lightweight Machine Gun, Rifle, and Suppressors

By
Keith Finch
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NEWINGTON, N.H., (September 3, 2019) – SIG SAUER, Inc. is proud to announce the official award of a contract by the U.S. Army in the down-select process for the Next Generation Squad Weapons (NGSW).  The award encompasses the complete SIG SAUER system consisting of 6.8mm hybrid ammunition, a lightweight machine gun, rifle, and included suppressors.  SIG SAUER will provide single source manufacturing for ammunition, weapons, and suppressors allowing for less risk and increased capability for the U.S. Army.

“The U.S. Army is leading the world in the first significant upgrade to small arms in decades to meet the growing demands of soldiers on the battlefield.  We  are honored to have been selected for the Next Generation Squad Weapons program bringing increased lethality to the warfighter over the legacy weapons,” began Ron Cohen, President & CEO, SIG SAUER, Inc.  “At the core of our submission is our newly developed, high-pressure, 6.8mm hybrid ammunition that is utilized in both weapons, and is a significant leap forward in ammunition innovation,  design, and manufacturing.”   

The SIG SAUER 6.8mm hybrid ammunition is designed for increased penetration at greater distances.  Cohen continued, “using patent-pending technology the SIG SAUER Ammunition division has engineered a completely new cartridge resulting in a more compact round, with increased velocity and accuracy, while delivering a substantial reduction in the weight of the ammunition.”

The primary objectives set forth by the U.S. Army for the NGSW-AR was a weapon with the firepower and range of a machine gun, coupled with  the precision  and ergonomics of a rifle.  The SIG SAUER NGSW-AR submission is an ultra-light, medium caliber machine gun with AR ergonomics, and chambered in 6.8mm hybrid ammunition.  Features include quick detach magazines, side opening feed tray, increased available 1913 rail space for night vision and enablers, folding buttstock, and suppressor.  

Additionally, the Prototype Project Opportunity Notice (PPON) requirements were inclusive of an NGSW-Rifle.  The SIG SAUER NGSW-Rifle submission, also chambered in 6.8mm hybrid, is lightweight and features a free-floating reinforced M-LOK™ handguard, side-charging handle, full ambidextrous controls, folding buttstock, and suppressor.  

“The  U.S. Army challenged the industry to bring forward significant improvements to the legacy weapons.  The SIG SAUER NGSW-AR is lighter in weight, with dramatically less recoil than that currently in service, while our carbine for the NGSW-Rifle submission is built on the foundation of SIG SAUER weapons in service with the premier fighting forces across the globe.  Both weapons are designed with features that will increase the capabilities of the soldier,” commented Cohen.  “The final component of the SIG SAUER Next  Generation Weapons System is our suppressor, which through exhaustively researched design enhancements, reduces harmful backflow and signature.”  

As outlined in the recent award issued by the U.S. Army, SIG SAUER will deliver a complete SIG SAUER system inclusive of the SIG SAUER 6.8mm hybrid ammunition, lightweight machine gun, rifle, and suppressors. 

“SIG SAUER has designed the most comprehensive solution to meet the requirements of the Next Generation  Squad Weapons to enhance mission effectiveness.  We are looking forward to partnering with the U.S. Army throughout this process and ensuring our soldiers are equipped for the demands of the modern battlefield,” concluded Cohen.  

About Sig Sauer, Inc.
SIG SAUER, Inc. is  a leading provider and manufacturer of firearms, electro-optics, ammunition, airguns, suppressors, and training.   For over 150 years SIG SAUER, Inc. has  evolved, and thrived, by blending American ingenuity, German engineering, and Swiss precision.   Today, SIG SAUER is synonymous with industry-leading quality  and innovation which has made it the brand of choice amongst the U.S. Military, the global defense community, law enforcement, competitive shooters, hunters, and responsible citizens.  Additionally, SIG SAUER is the premier provider of elite firearms instruction and tactical training at the SIG SAUER Academy.  Headquartered in Newington, New Hampshire, SIG SAUER has almost 2,000 employees across eight locations.  For more information about the company and product line visit: sigsauer.com.

NGSW

From the imagery it looks like a variant of the lightweight belt-fed that Sig has been showing off a few iterations of at the trade shows and a variant of the highly popular Virtus carbine that has been scaled up for the 6.8mm round that Sig’s ammunition division has likely put together at DoD request. Sig’s ammo has been highly impressive in my personal testing and I am certainly not surprised that, with the amount of contracts Sig Sauer has been scooping up and doing work on, that they are all guns blazing to win the NGSW, even just to develop the tech.

Meopta Optika6 Riflescopes Now Shipping

By
Keith Finch
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TAMPA, FL, September 3, 2019 – Meopta USA Sport Optics is now shipping its newest line of premium riflescopes – the Optika6 series. 

Available in hunting and shooting models, Optika6 riflescopes feature a 6x zoom, zero-reset turrets and advanced MeoBright lens coatings that deliver edge-to-edge clarity and exceptionally bright, sharp images.   The 3-18×50 and 3-18×56 FFP and SFP models are currently shipping along with the 5-30×56.  The other Optika6 models will continue to roll out throughout the month of September.

“The new Optika6 series marks a significant expansion in Meopta’s riflescope offerings, delivering new features, premium performance and exceptional value in a 30mm riflescope,” said Randy Garrison, Director of Meopta USA Sport Optics.

The Optika6 Shooting series is available with numerous illuminated and non-illuminated first focal plane reticle options, including new DichroTech reticles, which feature battery-free illumination in varying light conditions. The 30mm Shooting series is available in the following models: 1-6×24, 3-18×50, 3-18×56 and 4.5-27×50.  There is also a 34mm 5-30×56 model with ED glass to eliminate chromatic aberration at high magnification.  All Optika6 Shooting series riflescopes feature rubber-armored target turrets for a non-slip grip.

Optika6 SFP 3-18

The 30mm Optika6 Hunting series is available with numerous illuminated and non-illuminated reticle options in the second focal plane, including DichroTech, in the following models: 1-6×24, 2.5-15×44, 3-18×50, 3-18×56 and 4.5-27×50.  The turrets on most Optika6 Hunting models come with rubber-armored metal caps for the perfect combination of durability and functionality. 

All Meopta Optika6 riflescopes are made of aircraft-grade aluminum alloy and feature:

– One-piece tube design

–  Zero-Reset setting for quick return to zero

–  Zoom ring with a multi-position throw lever

–  Rear-facing zoom display for easy viewing of power setting from behind the scope

–  Locking turrets for exposed adjustments

Retail Pricing:  From $499 – $899

For more information on the Optika6 series, visit www.meoptasportsoptics.com.

Follow Meopta on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube for the latest news and product announcements.

About Meopta

Meopta has been producing high-end European optics for over 85 years. Meopta is a leading manufacturer & partner to many of the world’s finest optical brands. Meopta conceives, develops and manufactures precision optical and electro/optical systems for semiconductor, medical, aerospace and military industries as well as for consumer markets.

For more information regarding Meopta, please visit www.meoptasportsoptics.com.

Kangaroo Courts & PAWS

By
DRGO
-
(from returnofkings.com)

[Ed: Dr. Petrocelli’s testimony can be found here; click on “Archives”, then “Virginia Crime Commission, and begin at about 2 hours 6 minutes.]

On Tuesday, I joined my fellow Virginian defenders of the Second Amendment and testified before the Virginia Crime Commission.  Its legislators and official appointees will review the gun control bills advanced in response to the Virginia Beach mass murder and offer its recommendations to the General Assembly when it re-convenes this fall.

I focused on the “Red Flag” law for three reasons:

  • It infringes on a host of rights:  weapons are confiscated after a hearing where the respondents are not  present, and therefore do not know the evidence against them, nor have the opportunity to confront their accusers;
  • These laws have been mischaracterized as having supporting evidence of reducing suicide and homicide, when in fact there is none that withstands any scrutiny;
  • Such bills do the opposite of what I’ve been trained to do as a forensic psychiatrist:  respect fellow citizens by using scientifically rigorous methods of risk assessment.

I testified that none of the Red Flag bills being considered provide for treating respondents “with even a modicum of respect, which is to have a risk assessment method that passes some form of rules of evidence.  Only a kangaroo court would accept the ‘I know it when I see it’ standard of dangerousness to confiscate weapons.”

Little did I know that New Jersey is in fact setting up such “kangaroo courts.”  Its Red Flag bill will take effect next month. Two recently published memoranda, one from the Administrative Office of the Courts (1), and another from the Office of the Attorney General (2), have specifically clarified that “The rules governing admissibility of evidence at trial shall not apply to the presentation and consideration of information at the hearing,”

and, that

“The rules of evidence do not apply at the hearing.”

This means that the people bringing the complaint to the court will not have any restrictions placed on their testimony—truly a free-for-all.  How either entity, seemingly by fiat, can eliminate rules of evidence is a matter for attorneys.  The rest of us ought to note that there are forces at work that apparently see the foundational principles of American justice as mere speedbumps on the road towards disarmament.

No one wants dangerous people to have firearms, nor any other means of mayhem.  The challenge is how to remain a free people that respect the rule of law while providing for our safety.  Using the National Threat Assessment Center’s recent report Attacks in Public Spaces as a guide, concerned citizens can invoke mental health or criminal justice resources in response to behavior that signals risk.

After a proper hearing before a judge, with due process protections and by following rules of evidence, the person in question may be committed to a psychiatric hospital, or convicted of a barrier offense to firearms possession.  Then, and only then, should there be consideration of “post-adjudicative weapons safety,” or “PAWS”—a means of securing the firearms, preferably in the custody of family that may lawfully steward them.

In the rush to “do something,” let’s keep the focus on Constitutionality and efficacy, and not recklessly disarm ourselves in the process.

References:

(1) New Jersey Court Administrative Office of the Courts Directive # 19-19 dated August 12, 2019

(2) State of New Jersey Office of the Attorney General Law Enforcement Directive No. 2019-2 dated August 15, 2019

.

.

–Dennis Petrocelli, MD is a clinical and forensic psychiatrist who has practiced for nearly 20 years in Virginia. He took up shooting in 2019 for mind-body training and self-defense, and is joining the fight for Virginians’ gun rights.

Headlines: Texas

By
Keith Finch
-
Image via Forbes.com, economic article

Texas loosens firearm laws hours after the state’s latest mass shooting left 7 dead

Texas’ new gun laws go into effect hours after another mass shooting

9 New Gun Laws Now In Effect In Texas; Some In Response To Church And Mass Shootings

Those headlines and those like it are what I’ve seen crawl across my various news feed again, and again, and again since the rampage Sunday in Odessa and Midland, Texas. The media wants you to know and for everyone to feel that nothing could be more shocking than the fact that laws, passed earlier and set to take effect September 1st, would take effect that day and change the concealed carry laws of Texas and strengthen residents individual rights to bear arms in defense of themselves.

That isn’t what those headlines say is it… oh no, these headlines express the barely veiled moral outrage at the state for daring to loosen any gun law. In the wake of a man who went berserk after being fired from work and then stopped by police for failure to signal, how could Texas dare to enable self reliance and self defense. The state that has 4 of the United States 10 worst mass shootings (and a sizeable chunk of its population, but who’s looking at that) how dare they!?

Odessa & Midland, The Seth Arto Rampage

Seth Arto, 36, has been identified as the perpetrator of Sunday rampage. Arto was pulled over for failing to use his turn signal and then open fired on the two officers, wounding them. He then drove through Odessa and Midland firing randomly as he fled police. He abandoned his vehicle and jacked a US Postal service vehicle, killing the driver as she was on the phone with her sister. The chase and subsequent gun battle wound end at a movie theater where Arto was shot and killed by officers.

The spree would claim 7 lives and 22 injuries over multiple incident sites. Chicago, by the way, has 4 deaths and 25 injuries since Sunday.

Texas has had Sutherland Springs, Sante Fe, El Paso, and now Odessa/Midland in the last 3 years. The response to the first two shootings was the increase in the ability of Texans to defend themselves. The second two happened before the laws took effect.

Background

Did Arto have any flags? Convictions? Background that would set him apart as “Extreme Risk” or needing to be incarcerated?

A 2001 misdemeanor arrest for criminal trespass and evading arrest, adjudication deferred. Alto was 36, meaning in 2001 he was 18 when he caught the trespass charge. He also had a 2018 citation for an FMC safety violation. He had a trespass charge in his youth and a traffic safety citation last year.

John Wester, an agent with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, confirmed the gunman had previously failed a federal background check for a firearm. Wester did not say when or why the check was failed. So he was flagged… for something… we just do not know what. He got this firearm somehow anyway, illegally if he was a prohibited person.

Did the ATF or local LE follow up on the attempt to purchase? We don’t know.

Beto has given us the Democrat party answer loud and clear. They believe that confiscating property from millions of Americans with no criminal history or intent will curb crime and stop people from snapping, all evidence to the contrary be damned.

Will we have a motive for Arto? Like Las Vegas this one may never be confirmed, but is it to much of a stretch to believe this is a man who broke, gave up, and decided to let the world know violently? He knew he would make headlines nationally and even internationally, what louder way could he share his personally held grievances. He had just been fired and then pulled over. He may have been returning to attack his job for firing him and we could be reading about a different incident of “workplace violence” this morning if he hadn’t have been stopped for failure to use his turn signal.

The what if’s here are endless.

What we know

What we know is that there will always be a small minority of people who will snap to violence if they feel they’ve been wronged enough. The culture of outrage we have engendered has done nothing to cool this in the last decade plus.

We know that the government and its agents are not a reliable means of personal protection, societal sure, but not personal. The two people shot at first in this attack were cops. The police response time on this one was 0 seconds and the circumstances still led where they led.

What we know are that headlines are what people see and they take most of their impression on the state of the world from the headline. So it does not matter if the article is technically true if the headline pushes the story they want.

WalMart to cease “Short-Barrel Rifle” Ammunition Sales

By
Keith Finch
-
Once it is gone it is gone

According to Reuters, WalMart is discontinuing ammunition sales as current supplies dry up on handgun and certain popular rifle calibers. They are also discontinuing handgun sales in Alaska, the only state they currently sell handguns, and pulling that ammunition as well.

WalMart is the single largest retailer of firearms in the United States under their nationwide corporate umbrella. This move is in response to the mass shootings that have taken place, specifically the one that took place in their store in El Paso. It is not known if the shooter bought ammo from WalMart for that particular atrocity.

walmart has decided to stop ammo sales and discourage people carrying at their stores

Walmart will stop selling short-barrel rifle ammunition such as the .223 caliber and 5.56 caliber after clearing current stock. While this type of ammunition is commonly used in some hunting rifles, they are also used in large capacity clips on military-style weapons, the company said.

It sounds like if the ammunition can be used in a modern semi-auto rifle and available in a short configuration it will not longer be available for sale at the mega-retailer. This cut will likely include 5.56/.223, .308/7.62N, 7.62×39, 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, .38 SPL, .357 Mag, .357 Sig, 10mm, .300 BLK, and several others. Basically every popular caliber purchased regularly. WalMart, Dick’s tried this… lost money.

Wal-mart tries to be a socially conscious company and they are clearly making this decision to send a message. Sadly, that message will be all noise and no substance. Not selling ammunition to millions of gun owners based upon the actions of a few deranged individuals will not remotely hinder the next terrible human. It will inconvenience millions of law abiding shoppers who will take those dollars, and probably non-ammo dollars, to other locations.

It’s their company… and they can do as they choose with it. But this is entirely about the perception of the company in an unfortunate era where we have had several very public attacks. In addition to the ammunition changes they will also be requesting people not open carry in their stores and they will remove “violent” video game advertisements from their electronics departments.

And since the powers that be of WalMart will no longer serve your ammunition needs.

Widener’s has you covered.

Woman Stabs 3 Year Old

By
Keith Finch
-

EDIT: The video appears to have been taken down due to graphic content.

A 51 year old woman stabbed a 3 year old in the face for no discernable reason. This random horrific attack happened in Georgia (the country, not the state) and just further illustrates that some people are just… wrong. Evil exists and it looks like this.

Woman in Georgia stabs a 3 year old boy in the face and attempts to attack his sister, mother, and father
Screen cap from the video footage. The boy is has been slashed twice. Mom and Dad are processing what’s happening. This took less than a second.

The woman then calmly tries to walk away. Turns around and tries to stab the boy again before going after his sister. Their father snatches her out of the way and uses his sunglasses as a defensive tool, something to give him a little more distance between him, his daughter, and this knife wielding shit beast.

He passes his daughter off to their mother and tries to chase down the woman who literally just stabbed his son in the face but she turns and menaces him with the knife before she flees. The young boy was stabbed through the cheek and nose, moderately severe facial injuries, but lucky for him his eyes and neck were not slashed.

She was later apprehended by authorities but no motive is known as to why she stabbed a strangers three year old in the face twice.

This is why we carry. The father and mother are both physically smaller than this monster, she’s already demonstrated she gives literally no shits because she brazenly stabbed a child in the face. Dad tried to pursue but had nothing to out class a big woman with a knife. She could have gone after him, his wife and kids, or anyone else on the street and he would have been at a potentially lethal disadvantage.

Carry for your and your family’s protection. Have a plan.

And if a woman stabs a 3 year old in the face on the street…

NGSW – MARS Inc and Cobalt Kinetics

By
Keith Finch
-

For those of you following the current contracts for US Military smalls arms development, NGSW is not a new acronym.

For those wondering, NGSW stands for Next Generation Squad Weapon. It is a program spurred on by the US Army to replace the M16, M4, and M249 with a pair of weapons that have greater effective range and incorporate the most modern current and near future technology for individual small arms and integrated warfighting.

MARS, Inc and Cobalt Kinetics have teamed up to chase the contract and these are their submissions for the NGSW-R and NGSW-AR.

Here is their announcement:

The Army has been soliciting design and manufacturing firms for a next-generation weapon platform. This NGSW program is expected to produce a replacement for the M16 battle-rifle and SAW machine gun. Along with the request for this all-new weapon, this project demands a new cartridge to be developed alongside and incorporated into these new battle rifles.

The initial call-out for the program seeks to dramatically increase the terminal power and effective distance of the 5.56 NATO and even the 7.62 NATO. The performance of the new cartridge will rival the exterior and terminal ballistics of some current commercial magnum hunting cartridges. It seems a worthwhile endeavor to outfit each soldier with an 8lb rifle that can hit a 1 MOA hardened target, and  penetrate that target up to and exceeding 1000 yards. If that’s not enough to impress, this new weapon will fulfill these requirements without compromising the control and handling characteristics currently accepted in the M16 and SAW light machine gun.

MARS, INC of Montana teamed up with Cobalt Kinetics of Utah early in 2019 to realize this seemingly-impossible task. The brain-trust of MARS approach the modern semi-auto rifle from a fresh perspective while Cobalt Kinetics’ skill and expertise at precision manufacturing made the idea a reality. The resulting weapon presents as an extra-large framed AR-patterned rifle- with a huge magazine well to accommodate the new cartridge. Inside the handguard one can identify a large recoil spring wrapped around the barrel- an essential part of any long-recoil operating system. For those unfamiliar with this type of mechanism, it’s not unlike your grandfather’s Browning Auto-5 shotgun. But make no mistake, this is not your grandfather’s battle rifle. The bolt and barrel, while locked, are allowed to travel freely within the action under the recoil impulse generated by the 6.8mm short magnum cartridge (the guns fire 140gr .270 caliber bullets at 3200FPS). This operating system causes a great deal of recoil energy to be spent and dissipated before the total recoiling mass delivers a blow to the shooter’s shoulder. Similar systems have been employed over the past few decades in some soviet rifle and machine-gun designs. This operation has been labeled as “shifted pulse recoil”. The recoil impulse is effectively distributed over time, while its speed is reduced by a spring and buffer system before the stroke is complete. The result is a slower and softer impulse to the shooter- more to the point- This rifle is as controllable and comfortable to shoot as the old low-impulse 5.56 platform, while doubling the effective distance and energy.

Besides reduced recoil, there are many other advantages of long-recoil semi-auto operation. No gas escapes the barrel into the action- this rifle, with full-auto capability, runs as clean as any bolt action. When operating with a suppressor, the long-recoil system actually runs more reliably and with less recoil that unsuppressed. Of course, the added mass slows down the barrel/bolt assembly but that extra mass and resultant momentum to the recoiling assembly help the system power through dirt and particulate that can foul other semi-auto mechanisms. And the addition of suppressor does not contribute to increases fouling in the action as the system operates so slowly (relative to DI or piston) the propellant gasses and powder-charge fallout have fully evacuated by the time the bolt unlocks and opens to eject and reload the weapon.

MARS and Cobalt have developed 2 versions of the “MARS” rifle. A 13” barreled lightweight carbine and an 18” barreled light machine gun have been supplied to the ARMY for testing and evaluation. Both are fed from proprietary 20 round box or 70 round drum magazines. Both are capable of semi and full-auto fire. The MARS rifles have been designed to incorporate the newest “smart” battlefield tech to keep the soldier connected and adaptable as battlefield tactics become more advanced. These technologies include a central power source to supply all peripheral accessories while tracking and displaying their performance and status. Light, illumination, direction of fire, total rounds fired between service intervals, ammunition supply in the magazine, and operating temperature can be tracked by a central command module on the gun. This information can be communicated to remote command to support the soldier of tomorrow.

NGSW MARS Inc Cobalt Kinetics Automatic Rifle
MARS NGSW-AR

Michael Merino, President and CEO of MARS Inc. adds: “I can’t think of a better collaboration in this industry. Our MARS rifle design, coupled with the innovative approach to rifle manufacturing of the Cobalt Kinetics team, has been incredible. We believe that we have a rifle design that meets the requirements of the Army’s ambitious NGSW program. We are excited to be part of evolution of military effectiveness. We also plan to release a commercially available version of this rifle, in the first few months of 2020.” 

More information on the MARS rifle can be found at https://www.marsrifle.com/

Space AK – Those Crazy Russians

By
Keith Finch
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This is the TKB-022P and it looks Sci-Fi as all get out. It’s a Russian AK-like prototype made by a man named German. German Korobov, a Russian, developed these Space AK rifles in order to… I don’t know, battle it out with the the Fallen maybe.

Space AK, Fiction, Zhalo Supercell
Zhalo Supercell from the SciFi video game Destiny
Space AK Fact TKB-022P
TKB-022P

I saw the video on these prototype rifles roll across my feed and dug into them a little bit. While they were never issued the TKB-022 series saw incredible ingenuity in parts placement and design. A variant even helped the Soviet Union update their small arms design and doctrine to focus around lighter and faster intermediate cartridges. The 5.6x39mm would help pave the way for the legendary 5.45x39mm that we know out of the AK74.

I was under the impression some of the SciFi games, like Destiny, had just mixed around the design models off of working rifles. Now I’m convinced that, despite the story arc of the first game being a dumpster fire, someone on the design team had to be a weird Soviet tech history buff and found that all their weird guns would be perfect to battle various variants of evil alien hordes.

I tend to agree.

The TKB-022P aka Space AK is still a piston operated 7.62x39mm assault rifle. The piston is around the barrel though, in a manner some shotguns utilize. The oddball “pistol grip” is the magwell, making this TKB bullpup esk but also reminiscent of pistol grip loaded subguns like the UZI.

It’s neat, different, and I want to go do Space Force things with it.

Mass Shootings in the United States, Placed in Perspective

By
DRGO
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(from haciendapub.com)

[Ed: Dr. Faria published this excerpt from his upcoming book America, Guns, and Freedom: A Journey Into Politics and the Public Health & Gun Control Movements on GOPUSA.com August 13 and HaciendaPub.com August 15. We are happy to share it.]

Mass shootings are a heinous crime, and for the victims and the rest of the population, a tragedy. That should not detract from the fact that many, if not most, of the culprits are deranged malcontents, who in many ways are aberrant products of the times in which we live. Nor should we abdicate our responsibility to report the facts surrounding these tragedies.

For example, despite what you have been led to believe and contrary to sensationalized reporting, mass shootings are not more frequent today, only more publicized and propagandized. Northeastern University Criminal Justice Professor James Fox reported that the highest casualty rate for mass murders in the past three decades occurred in 1977! In that year, 38 criminals killed 141 victims. Compare this to 1994, which had the lowest number of mass murders: 31 criminals murdered 74 people.

In his latest article, Professor Fox reiterated:

According to a careful analysis of data on mass shootings (using the widely accepted definition of at least four killed), the Congressional Research Service found that there are, on average, just over 20 incidents annually. More important, the increase in cases, if there was one at all, is negligible. Indeed, the only genuine increase is in hype and hysteria.

From 2000 to 2013 the FBI, which tracks mass shootings as “active shooter incidents,” has found an even lower average of 11.4 incidents occurring per year. One problem is that the definition of what constitutes a mass-shooting incident varies from one publication or organization to the next.

What is clearly evident is that the incidents are not increasing, despite media hype and sensationalization. Yet, obfuscating for political purposes and obviously to increase their numbers, anti-gun activists have tried to label any incident with two or more casualties as a mass shooting, and public health officials have even attempted to lump murder-suicides as mass shootings!

A Washington Post report in a moment of clarity summarizes the problem as follows:

Similarly, Northeastern University Professor of Criminologist James Alan Fox has said that the inclusion of statistics from the FBI’s ‘active shooter’ report gives the false impression that incidents are rising when they are not. ‘A majority of active shooters are not mass shooters,’ Fox told Time. ‘A majority kills fewer than three.’ On Friday, Fox wrote in USA Today that ‘media folks reminded us of the unforgettable, high profile shootings that have taken place over the past few months, hinting of a problem that has grown out of control… as if there is a pattern emerging.’ 

imagery from las vegas mass shooting(from haciendapub.com)

Incidentally, mass killings are not unique to the United States because of wide gun availability. France, for example had more mass killings in one single year, 2015, then there were mass shootings in the United States in all of Obama’s two terms (eight years). And at home, California, one of the states with the strictest gun control laws, including background checks, has the highest number of mass-shooting incidents at 21 cases, counting from 1966 to 2017. We must keep in mind, though, that despite the tragic nature and sensationalism accompanying these heinous crimes, mass shootings represent a miniscule number, one percent or less of homicides, in the U.S.

In the aftermath of the tragic 2018 Valentine’s Day high school shooting in Parkland, Florida—where 17 students were massacred by criminal gunman Nikolas Cruz—dramatic calls for drastic gun control measures and exaggerated claims about the number of mass shootings in the U.S. were made. For instance, Democrat Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut made the mendacious claim, “This happens nowhere else other than the United States of America.” The colluding American media did not take Senator Murphy to task, as they do with President Trump’s every pronouncement.

In fact, America is not the worst country for mass shootings and does not even make it to the top ten, despite the record number of guns in the hands of Americans. France, Norway, Belgium, Finland and the Czech Republic, for example, all have more deaths from mass shootings than the U.S., and in fact, from 2009 to 2015, the European Union had 27 percent more casualties per mass shooting incidents than the U.S.

Let’s stop sensationalizing violence, turning deranged malcontents into celebrities, even in death, and using the tragedies for pushing, time and again, for more gun control that only disarms citizens and place them at the mercy of criminals, including rampage shooters!

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faria-13wmaz-sml

—  Miguel A. Faria, Jr., M.D. is a retired Clinical Professor of Neurosurgery and Adjunct Professor of Medical History at Mercer University School of Medicine. He is Associate Editor in Chief and World Affairs Editor of Surgical Neurology International. He served on the CDC’s Injury Research Grant Review Committee.

All DRGO articles by Miguel A. Faria, Jr., MD

My Assault Spork – From My Cold Dead Hands

By
Dr LateBloomer
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Anybody read about New York Governor Cuomo and his “undetectable knife” law?

Yeah, so I just bought a spork/knife combination on Amazon so I could have some type of eating utensil in my get home bag. The spork happens to have a serrated plastic knife in the handle. And it’s black. I guess that makes it an “Assault Spork”. Yeah, scary – woooooo.

Because the bag containing that spork resides in my car, I guess I’m now going have to worry about driving through New York State even if I’m NOT carrying firearms. What a pile of thoughtless feelgoodism the state legislature and governor have scraped off the barn floor. Banning the manufacture and possession of such items makes us all “safer” … or something.

“Undetectable knives are meant to be used by trained members of our police and military forces for covert operations — not regular civilians attempting to sneak weapons past metal detectors,” Cuomo said.”

… or by you know – picnickers and families on campouts – because you are a moron, Mr. Cuomo. Can you say “unintended consequences”? If these knives are “undetectable”, how do you propose to enforce this law? When you make inanimate objects illegal, people automatically give them up, right? Prison inmates do that ALL the time. Are you going to institute house-to-house searches? 

Have there really been that many people trying to slip knives past metal detectors? How would you know, exactly? Unless you resorted to pat-downs and random cavity searches besides the metal detectors, I mean.

What exactly do police need with “undetectable knives” anyway? If some random beat cop needs one, then  I should need one too, just on general principle, right?

There is just too much stupid here to even wrap my head around. I could sharpen my toothbrush into a prison shiv and it would be an “undetectable knife”, you morons. How sharp does a hunk of plastic have to be before it becomes an “undetectable knife”? How about a piece of bone or flint?

Yes, I know that the law was meant to include ceramics and other modern composite materials, rather than picnic cutlery or archeological artifacts, but no innocent person has EVER been caught up in a badly written law, now have they? My “assault spork” and I dare you to say that it won’t ever happen. Especially in New York.

This is just more impotent demonization of objects in place of controlling human behavior. We are NOT the Freaking UK, people!! We HAVE a Constitution. Get a Grip! Knives are bearable arms, too!

The spork portion of my new purchase is not terribly large or dangerous, but the knife portion IS a knife. It’s fairly rigid and serrated. I was able to slice off a hunk of homemade bread, slice a roma tomato, slice an orange peel, and stab an apple with it. It would hurt somebody if stabbed in the soft parts, but probably isn’t long enough to be deadly, and likely wouldn’t even penetrate heavy clothing. I don’t think your lawyer could argue a judge into believing that this isn’t really a knife. It’s just not a particularly scary one – even though it’s made of “undetectable” plastic.

Just a mild mannered butter knife.
deadly assault spork
Assault mode activated.

You know what the real kicker here is? This item is made in Olean, NY. I predict that this will soon be another manufacturing operation which abandons New York State for greener (and freer) pastures. If so, good riddance, and may they shake the dust from their sandals when they leave.

San Jose Mayor – Tax, Fine, or Buy Insurance

By
Keith Finch
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In an I wish it was stunning but it isn’t anymore lack of clarity, understanding, or comprehension, the mayor of San Jose, California has proposed the measure that will solve gun violence!

“It’s taxes isn’t it…”

Right you are there citizen. The genius and, dare I say, beyond benevolent Sam Liccardo has proposed an ordinance that would mandate liability insurance if you own a gun. The insurance would cover accidents by the insurance holder and acts of harm by third parties.

Let’s hold up and just think, just for a moment, about what insurance company is going to want to open that policy line. One where they are on the hook if someone outside of your control steals your weapon. Just think about those mandatory deductibles.

The ordinance also includes gun and ammo taxes. Taxing constitutional rights has never gone poorly right? You just have to pay the government more and the violence will go away. Apparently a constitutionally guaranteed freedom can now suddenly fall under “sin tax” criteria. Because guns.

“We don’t think that the requirement to have car insurance means that our ability to drive a car is being hampered by that regulation.”

It’s absolutely hampered by that regulation! And that one isn’t a right of every person, driving is a privilege. Insurance, IE extra costs make vehicle ownership and operation inaccessible to lower income persons. That’s why so many people drive without insurance, law be damned. I hate the “but cars are done this way..” No! Stop it. Stop comparing the privilege of driving on state built and funded road systems to the right of self preservation.

The proposed ordinance also includes other measures to help curb gun violence, including a proposal to explore imposing a gun and ammunition tax, and a consent-to-search program that, similar to red flag laws in some states around the country, would enable parents to allow law enforcement to search and seize for weapons owned by their dependents. The ordinance also proposes exploring the implementation of a bounty program that would offer cash rewards to people who tip off police to illegal guns.

Consent-to-search and “Gun Bounties” … I’m sure there are no issues at all with that whole protection from unlawful search and seizure and the rights of persons to be secure in themselves and their belongings or any such nonsense… None. At. All.

And the wonderful kick of the whole charade is that the only thing it will accomplish… is more money in government pockets for the privilege of discouraging of firearm ownership.

Liccardo says that if the San Jose city council approves the measure, he’s “very mindful” that it might be difficult for people to get liability insurance right away, which is why he developed the fee option “until the insurance industry evolves to a place where there are market entrants who want to offer coverage.”

How considerate of him. He’ll just take your money until an insurance company can find a way to legally offer policies and mandate you pay them for the privilege of gun ownership.

Just remember folks, they respect the 2nd Amendment.

The Mormon Church: No Guns, Period.

By
Keith Finch
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From Handbook 2 - Church Policies and Guidelines

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has firmly ruled that firearms and other deadly weapons are not permitted within their buildings by anyone who is not a current law enforcement officer. No guns, no lethal weapons for the congregates, period.

This seems to be in response to the recent Texas law change that allows carry in places of worship. The LDS Church sent out specific reminders to their leadership in Texas in order to guide them in spreading the new policy. The Mormon Church has chosen gun free.

Not everyone is happy with the decision out of Utah, but as a private entity it is within their rights to set their rules. I hope, as I assume many do, that if this is to remain their policy they will take other steps to safeguard their congregates as they have taken the best methods of the flock safeguarding itself out of the members hands.

As we well know from worldwide events, places of worship are a popular target for extremists. Weddings, funerals, worship services, and community events of various faiths have all been targeted for extremist violence because of a difference or a perceived difference in belief. The justification is nearly unilaterally that the targeted group are subhuman or nefarius evil.

Most of these places are, traditionally by law or internal practice, gun free zones as is. There are exceptions and many worship centers have organized formal security teams in the wake of public attacks. The LDS Church has elected for a public gun free policy. Enshrining their soft target status in their public policies is a bad idea, anyone who holds hostility towards the Mormon faith now has public confirmation of their firearms policy.

The Mormon Church leadership wants to have their church members and guests feel safe in their place of worship, a noble goal to be sure. But that safety, that serenity they want for their places of faith can be shattered by a single evil intentioned individual.

Gun free zone policy of the LDS Church. The Mormons go gun free.

It doesn’t quite work like that… I recommend shooting back.

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