The Truth About Guns
Exploring the ethics, morality, business, politics, culture, technology, practice, strategy, dangers and fun of guns
Updated: 1 day 20 hours ago
Guns for Beginners: How to Find Quality Self-Defense Firearm Training
Carrying a gun lawfully for self-defense can make the difference between life and death in a critical situation. Yet at the same time it comes along with risks to the carrier thanks to laws and land sharks. Training can help reduce those risks dramatically.
In a perfect world (and most states), you wouldn’t need a license to carry or training in the effective use of a firearm for self-defense. Unfortunately, the world isn’t perfect and neither are we.
Council Meeting Grenade Attack Shows the Absence of Situational Awareness and the Danger of Denial
One thing I’ve read over and over in the accounts of mass shooting survivors is that they initially didn’t believe it was happening. When they hear gunshots, instead of believing their ears, people often think that something must’ve fallen or that there was construction work of some kind going on. This state of denial and confusion robs people of valuable time they could have spent running, hiding, or getting ready to fight.
But an even worse thing happens to many people: they don’t notice the danger at all, or notice it far too late.
SAF Sues California Over Requirement That All Firearm Transactions be Recorded on Video
From the Second Amendment Foundation . . .
The Second Amendment Foundation has filed a federal lawsuit in California challenging that state’s law requiring firearms dealers to video record all transactions, calling it a violation of First, Second, Fourth, Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment rights.
At issue is California Penal Code section 26806. SAF is joined by the California Rifle & Pistol Association, Gun Owners of America, Gun Owners of California, the Gun Owners Foundation, On Target Indoor Shooting Range, Gaalswyk Enterprises and three private citizens.
There Isn’t Any Mystery to Why More and More New Yorkers Are Buying Guns These Days
More than half of New Yorkers now believe their state is in decline and won’t get better soon. Go figure, crime is listed as the Number 2 reason for the reported despair – behind only the cripplingly high cost of living. Recent events have led to a surge in crime leaving countless New Yorkers feeling susceptible to the violent wills of criminals.
The feelings aren’t political either, as according to a new Siena College poll there’s wide agreement among each party affiliation – Republican, Democrat and Independent – that violent crime remains a serious issue.
City of Baltimore and Everytown Sue ATF in Effort to Overturn the Tiahrt Amendment
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott is suing the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for data about where guns used in city crimes originate, the latest move from city leaders to address the proliferation of firearms plaguing Baltimore.
Everytown for Gun Safety, a national nonprofit advocating for gun control, is providing legal assistance for the lawsuit that seeks five years of ATF “trace data,” which shows where a gun police recover was manufactured to where it was sold at retail.
Beretta’s New 92XI Squalo Race Gun
From Beretta . . .
Beretta is excited to unleash the 92XI Squalo – a pistol that embodies power, precision, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. “Squalo”, which means shark in Italian, served as inspiration to the design referencing the sleek and formidable nature of the shark, this firearm is designed to make you stand out in a sea of competition. We’ve harnessed cutting edge technology to bring you an extraordinary out-of-the box pistol to give you a competitive edge.
Continue reading Beretta’s New 92XI Squalo Race Gun at The Truth About Guns.
The Lewiston Shooting: Numerous Failures By Multiple Individuals in a Flawed System
As a Mainer, a law-abiding citizen and compassionate human, I know I speak for my Board and members when I say how sorry and sad, we are for those killed and wounded during the recent tragic shooting in Lewiston. To their families and loved ones, we send our sincere condolences and hope that this sad day will not be forgotten and that in the aftermath of this horrific event, positive changes will be made that will prevent such tragedies in the future.
Smith & Wesson Updates the Budget-Priced SD9 With the New S&W SD9 2.0
Most people don’t know that in addition to their popular M&P line of striker-fired pistols, Smith & Wesson also makes a budget 9mm handgun, the SD9. Our review of the SD9 from back in 2012 is one of the most-read reviews at TTAG.
Now Smith has updated the SD9 with the new S&W SD9 2.0. It’s a compact-sized 16+1 gun with an MSRP under $350. Here’s their press release . .
Ruger Introduces the American Rifle Generation II
Ruger just updated their popular American line of rifles with the American Rifle Generation II. Upgrades include a three position tang safety and a more rigid and ergonomic stock. The tang safety harkens back to the old Model 77 that I grew up with, being forward to fire, and all the way to the rear for safe. It adds a middle position though that allows you to work the bolt and load and unload the rifle with the safety on.
Continue reading Ruger Introduces the American Rifle Generation II at The Truth About Guns.
Things That Don’t Suck: Benchmade 585-03 Mini Barrage
Benchmade doesn’t make a lot of assisted folders and they’re generally not my cup of tea. Opening a knife with a flick of a flipper or thumb stud is plenty fast enough for me. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have their attraction for a lot of people and spending some time with the Benchmade Mini Barrage could make you a convert.
Benchmade makes a couple of versions of the Osborne design Model 585 Mini Barrage that gives you choices as to materials and colors.
Continue reading Things That Don’t Suck: Benchmade 585-03 Mini Barrage at The Truth About Guns.
Cohen: The Gun Debate is Increasingly Academic
The best part about the gun debate is that it’s increasingly just academic.
Our victory is assured.
Put aside Bruen, or Heller, or McDonald, or any of the other gun rights victories in courts. Put aside the massive increases in gun ownership, in every demographic.
Right now, there are more guns than people in the US. Tomorrow, that gun/people ratio will grow, as it has for years, and shows no sign of stopping.
Continue reading Cohen: The Gun Debate is Increasingly Academic at The Truth About Guns.
Beginner’s Guide to the Most Common Calibers and What They’re Good For
Yes, there are a lot of bullet sizes and it can be confusing. We call them “calibers,” except for shotguns, which are referred to as “gauge” or “bore.” Each is different and — just as with anything else — each has certain attributes that are beneficial for certain purposes…and its own drawbacks when the same caliber of cartridge is used for a different purpose.
How a round’s caliber is determined is usually from the diameter of the bullet (meaning the projectile at the end.
EDC: The Hidden Benefit of Open Carry
Not far behind the intensity generated by well-worn topics like 9mm vs. .45 ACP and GLOCK vs. 1911 is the always controversial question about the advisability of open carry. Lots of experienced gun gurus you know and respect advise against it. From a practical standpoint, aside from the loss of the element of surprise when you carry openly, they argue that any advantage in quick deployment that open carry may give you is minimal.
Others would argue that most people who carry a gun suck at deploying the firearm quickly and smoothly and there’s a huge difference between the two carry systems for the average armed self-defender.
Continue reading EDC: The Hidden Benefit of Open Carry at The Truth About Guns.
Glockswitchs dot com – Internet Scammer or ATF Sting Operation?
If you don’t know what a GLOCK switch is, you can catch up here, here, and here. Long story short, they’re illegal devices that convert a perfectly legal stock semi-automatic GLOCK pistol into a fully automatic bullet hose. They’re very popular with gang members these days and they’re getting easier to get on the street thanks to inexpensive 3D printing technology.
A reader sent us a link to the a web site called glockswitchs dot com.
Illinois Governor Takes a Premature Victory Lap After SCOTUS Declines to Block ‘Assault Weapons’ Ban
Last week, the Supreme Court declined to step in and block enforcement of Illinois’ “assault weapons” ban and magazine capacity limits while the full case works its way through the courts. This isn’t the bad news that many gun rights supporters think it is. More likely, a temporary delay of the inevitable. The high court is likely waiting until the case is fully heard on the merits before it weighs in on the subject of gun bans and ammunition restrictions.
Putting Kamala Harris in Charge of Federal Gun Control Shows How Far Down the Priority List the Issue Has Fallen
[T]he big push here is Harris asking state legislators to take up these proposals, not for the federal government. Even Harris, who adores the idea of the executive branch wielding monarchic power, sees that there is no avenue nor appetite for a grand federal gun control push. She wants to punt it to the states, where that power already belongs and where Democrats have already been talking about “assault weapons” bans and other gun control cliches for years before this.
Students Demand Action Self-Owns in Attacking Active Shooter Drills in Schools
A recent social media post by the smug hoplophobes at Michael Bloomberg’s Students Demand Action gun control group didn’t go the way they’d hoped. It went so badly, in fact, that they ended up closing comments to avoid the merciless heckling they were getting. The damaging and self-own, however, had already been done.
One the surface, it’s a typical anti-gun argument. The only thing that can save us from violence is more common-sense gun safety gun control laws.
Making the GLOCK 45 9mm Pistol the Perfect LE Gun
“When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.” So said my Grandma and yours, on down through the generations. When GLOCK, Inc. submitted their Model 19X in coyote tan color for the U.S. Army modular handgun system trials, they had high hopes. Unfortunately, rather than select a handgun design with a 35-year track record for success, the Army instead chose a new, more modular pistol design.
Rather than cry in their milk, GLOCK took the lemons that the Army handed them and made lemonade in the form of the G45.
Continue reading Making the GLOCK 45 9mm Pistol the Perfect LE Gun at The Truth About Guns.
Heritage Introduces the New Badlander Side-By-Side 12 Gauge Shotgun
Street Howitzer. Scattergun. Coach gun. All of these are synonymous with the iconic shotgun of the Old West: the 12-gauge side-by-side. Now, you can experience what it would have felt like to fire two barrels of buckshot with the new Heritage Badlander.
Based on the legendary western side-by-side, the new Badlander features two 18.5-inch barrels with a more modern, corrosion-resistant black oxide coating, while retaining the simplicity and durability of the old-school design.