A group of 26 real estate agents from the Waco Association of Realtors recently took the 10-hour concealed carry class needed to qualify for a Texas concealed handgun license (CHL).
“The group decided to take the class together this month to observe Realtor Safety Month, as declared by the National Association of Realtors,” said Tara DeLeon, executive assistant at the Waco Association of Realtors, as reported by the Waco Tribune. “All in the group passed the course, and many said they will be packing heat while pointing out the finer points of homes for sale.”
“I definitely will be carrying [a concealed handgun],” said Donna Sharp, an agent with Premiere Realty. “I would suggest anyone in a service profession like this to take this course. Things happen, and you never know when it could happen to you.”
As the Tribune noted, being a real estate agent can be quite risky. They meet complete strangers, often at empty houses, at various times of the day and night. In other cities, agents have been targeted by criminals for robbery and worse.
Parnell McNamara taught the concealed carry class to the Waco agents.
According to the Tribune, McNamara said he has taught concealed carry classes that feature members of the same profession, including a number of bank employees and one class with nine ministers. But the real estate association was the largest group he has taught from one profession.
“Real estate agents are very vulnerable,” McNamara said. “I think it is great that they want to learn how to protect themselves.”
Take a Concealed Carry Class from Massad Ayoob
Learn from concealed carry expert Massad Ayoob at your own pace with Gun Digest's Massad Ayoob Ultimate CCW Collection. It contains five books, a magazine, a DVD and an online video, all focused on concealed carry.
Metal mint boxes are a great way to keep a survival kit handy. They close securely, resist the elements and are the perfect pocket size.
In this video from Columbia River Knife & Tool (CRKT), Doug Ritter explains how to build a survival kit inside one. He incorporates one of his designs, the CRKT Ritter Survival Knife.
Here's a rundown of the kit in the video:
* Small metal box (similar to ones sold with mints inside)
Weighs less than 1 ounce 1.75″ wide-chord drop-point blade High-carbon steel Stonewashed finish for corrosion resistance Ergonomic handle Nylon cord adds length, grip Includes custom-fitted Zytel sheath Comes with the metal box shown in the video
* Aluminum foil
* Waterproof note paper
* Pencil
* Signaling mirror
* Duct tape
* Whistle
* Firestarting tool
* Tinder
* Needle
* Fishing hooks
* Fishing sinkers
* Heavy duty nylon thread
* Safety pins
* 170-pound test line
* Wire
* Compass
* Flashlight
That's quite a bit for just one small, metal box. Best of all, this survival kit is highly portable and affordable. Leave one in the car, at the office, in an ATV, in the pouch of a hunting stand or anywhere survival is a must.
Your mind is your greatest survival tool. Don't blunt it with panic. Exercise STOP (Sit, Think, Observe, Plan). [image via sxc.hu]When involved in any survival situation that separates you from where you want to be, no matter how slight, or when you realize you are lost, separated from your party or disoriented in the woods, panic is the first reaction most people encounter. It must be defeated before it brings on more harm.
How you handle the effects of the situation brought on by panic can determine your rate of success or failure in any outdoors-emergency situation.
To emphasize the effect that panic can have on an individual, let me use the principle of the “RULES OF 3”. Experience has shown that:
You can only expect to survive in a panic induced emergency situation for only about “3 seconds”,
You can only expect to survive without oxygen or from severe bleeding for up to “3 minutes”,
You can only expect to survive exposure to excesses of heat or frigid cold for up to “3 hours” and,
You can only expect to survive without any major intake of food and water for up to “3 days”.
Panic, as you can see is your major enemy. Panic is the one thing you must overcome, at once, because panic can cause you great harm.
To help you deal with the onset of panic lets look at a simple method of handling an emergency situation. Remember the acronym S.T.O.P. It stands for Sit, Think, Observe, Plan.
SIT
When you realize that you are lost or disoriented. Take the time to sit down and collect your thoughts. You are not lost, you are right where you are, your camp, vehicle and everyone else is just not where you thought they were.
THINK
What do I have at my disposal? Take an inventory of physical supplies and mental that will help me cope with this situation. Take an inventory of your survival kit items and how you will use them, if needed. Take an inventory of your skills within your mind, remember what you always thought you would do if you got lost or stranded. Most of all you must maintain a positive mental attitude; you will survive.
OBSERVE
Look around, is there shelter, water, high ground, and an open area so the searchers can see you. It will be easier for those searching to find you if you can stay in one selected location that will allow you to build a fire, provide shelter, set out signals and be in an area that can be seen at a distance or from aircraft.
PLAN
Now create your plan of action. Be positive and take care of yourself. If it is late in the day, build a fire for heat and signaling, find or make a shelter against the weather, and most of all remain positive, you do have the ability to survive. You have conquered the major danger of not allowing panic to cast your fate; you can now conquer anything else that confronts you.
As human beings we all have deep within us the necessary skills to survive when lost or stranded. What dampens these skills is the onset of panic. If you can keep yourself from allowing panic to rule, YOU WILL SURVIVE.
The author believes ham radio is the most versatile and effective form of two-way radio for emergency communications. Here, he operates his home-based U.S. Amateur Radio Station, W9NSE. The station operates on all bands and modes, from local and state coverage on VHF/UHF FM, to national and international on HF shortwave using the SSB and AM modes.
The advantage of radio lies in its ability to send and receive a signal, with no help from others. Two-way radio has come a long way since the early days of Guglielmo Marconi’s historic transatlantic wireless transmission that must have struck people in those days as nothing short of magic.
Today, two-way radio transceivers (transmitter-receivers) are as technologically advanced as any other “tech gadget” — with amateur or ham radio leading the march toward integration with the Internet, GPS and exotic new data modes. But at its most basic level, radio is still radio. Like the basic Marconi set that transmitted the distress signal from the sinking Titanic, it works today for the same reason it worked then: It relies on no one else to get a message out. Thus it remains the best, most reliable form of communication for emergencies.
Another advantage of amateur radio is the option to run vintage equipment. These World War II-era radios use tubes, which allows them to keep working after an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP), unlike solid-state electronics.
Wireless two-way allows you to be a locally operated independent radio station. You are the network, in essence, and can take advantage of built-in network redundancy, communicating with other independent operators. If one operator loses capability, the network keeps chugging along. There is no middleman. And, other than initial equipment purchase and license fees, there is no cost, either.
Not so with commercial telecommunications systems. By their very nature, commercial communications are centralized. That means that all calls go through your service provider’s network.
If that system gets overloaded, which it will in the event of a widespread disaster, you’re out. These systems are designed to make private companies money, not to ensure you can communicate during times of uncertainty. So fickle are they that any event that gets people talking can spark telecomm gridlock.
Equally troublesome is the weather: An ice storm or a wind event such as tornado or straight-line winds can twist lines into high voltage pretzels — rendering your smartphone into nothing more than a fancy-looking paperweight.
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The video above shows the full pilot episode of Revolution, a TV show on NBC. It examines what happens after a catastrophic blackout. The characters have to confront a world without electricity. Watch the video, then read on and leave your comments.
Blackout: What Are the Odds?
How plausible is this blackout scenario? It depends on how the power would go out.
As Gun Digest reported earlier, a solar storm could cause problems for North America's power grid. Here's a quote from the Weather Channel about such an event:
Some U.S. experts estimate as much as a 7 percent chance of a superstorm in the next decade, which seems a slight risk, but the effects would be so wide-ranging — akin to a major meteorite strike — that it has drawn official concern.
Although the likelihood of this kind of geomagnetic storm, like a big hit from a space rock, is extremely low, its impact would be great. By comparison, the probability of a large meteorite hitting Earth is at some fraction of 1 percent.
It's a serious threat, but odds are still in humanity's favor. What about a man-made attack? Could an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) attack cause a continent-wide blackout?
First, understand how an EMP attack would work. The method commonly referred to is HEMP, or high-altitude electromagnetic pulse. Here's a good rundown on it from Discover magazine:
The idea of HEMP has been around probably since the 1950s, when scientists noticed that nuclear bomb blasts gave off intense bursts of gamma rays into the atmosphere. The latter collide with atoms in the atmosphere, knocking loose a whole lot of electrons, an effect known as Compton scattering. When they reach the upper atmosphere, the electrons don't have anything to hit, so they spiral around the Earth's magnetic field lines. The result is a very brief — about 10 nanoseconds — pulse of extremely high-voltage electromagnetic energy that's capable of damaging computers, landline telephone systems, power grids, radio transmitters and anything else on the ground that contains circuitry.
Back in the '50s, the EMP threat pertained mostly to the Soviet Union. Now it's terrorists using newer EMP technologies. The following quote is from a 2008 hearing at the Committee on Armed Services in the United States House of Representatives. It discussed in great detail the threat posed by an EMP attack. (You can download the transcript in its entirety here, courtesy of the from the Federation of American Scientists.)
Therefore, terrorists or state actors that possess one or a few relatively unsophisticated nuclear-armed missiles may well calculate that instead of, or in addition to, destroying a city or a military base, they could obtain the greatest economic-political-military utility from conducting an EMP attack, while experiencing the lowest risk of being intercepted or otherwise stopped before they are able to detonate the weapon.
How likely is this to occur? The transcript doesn't lay it out in clear terms. It presents a number of current events issues and scenarios. It also explores how relatively easy it'd be to protect against such an attack. Read the document for full details. Warning: You might not sleep well tonight.
What Would Happen in a Blackout
What would happen if a massive blackout hit? The most widespread blackout in history happened this year in India. Twice the population of the United States – 600 million – was affected. Here's a video report:
It only took a little more than a week for people to start to lose their rationality. It only gets worse as time passes. In fact, that EMP hearing from 2008 describes a loss of 90% of the United States population after one year of a blackout.
Ninety percent.
However, there is some better news on the next page.
Cut from 1000 denier nylon, the Blackhawk Advanced Tactical Briefcase has a waterproof interior lining, external laptop access through a waterproof zipper.
Three external pockets for other devices like a phone or PDA and a clear map/document case inside the flap. This case would be great for anyone from construction contractor who uses the latest digital technology to a business executive who wants to make a statement about his attitude.
Full Specs of the Blackhawk Advanced Tactical Briefcase
13″ x 16″ x 5″
Constructed of 1000 denier nylon with reinforced stitching for durability
Waterproof interior lining
Two hook & loop patches (inside and out) and removable, vinyl ID window
External laptop access through waterproof zipper
Padded, hook & loop-configurable laptop pocket
Three external easy-access pockets for phone, PDA, etc.
Robust shoulder strap and carry handle
Rear slot for pull-handle access (compatible with all wheeled luggage)
Clear map case on inside of outer flap
Five additional interior compartments
Where to Get the Blackhawk Advanced Tactical Briefcase at the Best Price
Top Survival Tips #2: Be Informed of What's Happening
Monitor news and world events. Always have an emergency radio nearby. Gun Digest has an entire blog about emergency communication. Read it.
Top Survival Tips #3: The Government Won't Protect You
Protect yourself and those for whom you are responsible. The government isn't in charge of your well-being. That's up to you. If you need more convincing, read this article exploring why.
Top Survival Tips #4: Be Prepared to Handle Medical Emergencies
You may have to go beyond antiseptic spray and band-aids. Start thinking about this important topic with these First Aid tips for survival kits.
Top Survival Tips #5: You'll Need Light & Fire When the Power Grid Fails
Disasters make people panic. Protect what's yours within reason. Use your head. Some strangers can help, others can hurt. Just don't go overboard. It's not like there's a zombie apocalypse on the way.
Top Survival Tips #10: Whenever Legally Possible, Carry a Handgun You Know How to Use
Gun Digest‘s series on survival guns goes in-depth on this topic. Scott Wagner offers excellent tips. Take advantage of his expertise.
There is plenty to think about when choosing a backup gun, especially when cold weather comes into play.
Here's what to look for when choosing a concealed carry backup gun for use in cold weather.
As I write this in early December winter has arrived with heavy snows and blizzard-like conditions across the country. Police officers, who don’t have the luxury of staying indoors when the weather turns bad, begin wearing cold-weather clothing; they also start losing rapid access to their service pistol.
Wearing gloves can further compound the problem. Under these conditions a backup gun stashed in a coat pocket becomes a necessary tool, not another nice-to-have piece of gear.
There are three basic requirements for the police handgun: it must be reliable; it must be of sufficient power to stop the deadly actions of an assailant; and it must be quick into action.
Since a backup gun may be less powerful and will likely hold fewer rounds than a service pistol, these requirements are a bit flexible, but still important. A small handgun in a coat pocket give another option when the weather requires us to wear clothing that may hinder our access to our primary sidearm.
Depending on where we conceal it on our person, the backup gun can be a real lifesaver when seated in our patrol vehicle, on a traffic stop, in a contact and cover or arrest situation that suddenly goes bad.
Tests have shown that by establishing the firing grip on the handgun either in a pocket or in a holster prior to having to draw the weapon, an officer can very quickly present the handgun if the situation escalates or he can simply shoot through the coat pocket if runs out of time and distance.
While having the ability to shoot through the pocket of your winter duty jacket may give you the edge in a lethal force encounter, we need to understand that this technique will probably work best for us at arm’s length or less.
Michael DeBethencourt (more about him in a minute) told me that he runs several exercises in his snubby program that allow the students to shoot through a coat pocket.
Since they have neither a visual nor a tactile index to confirm where the gun is on the target they are routinely disappointed in the results. Consider also this will probably be a technique that we will not practice.
So, for the sake of this article we will not consider shooting through a pocket. Let’s get the gun out and on target.
On the other hand, in the Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry, Massad Ayoob tells us of a test he ran simulating an officer making a traffic stop, standing near the driver’s side door.
He started the test by establishing his grip on the revolver in his front pants pocket. When the PACT timer went off, Ayoob drew and fired a single shot on the target, which stopped the timer. The average time for him to react to the timer, draw and fire was 0.65 of one second.
This is probably something we are likely to practice and is especially useful info for those who carry the small pistol.
What are the handguns officers are most likely to choose as a backup gun, especially for cold weather? I checked with two friends of mine who I knew were likely to be up-to-date on this requirement, Michael DeBethencourt, a working police officer in Massachussetts, who also runs a very popular snubby revolver training program, and Rob Leahy, who makes superb custom holsters, and who was a resident of Alaska until last October.
They both told me the same thing, U.S. police officers have voted with their wallets and are buying the small .38 /.357 five-shot revolver as the backup gun of choice.
They tend to prefer the S&W 340 M&P, the Taurus CIA model and lately the new Ruger LCR, because these models have no exposed hammer to snag when drawing from concealment.
It was of interest to me to learn that even though police agencies have adopted the pistol as their primary handgun, the faithful revolver remains the top choice of most in the role of backup gun.
Kel-Tec PF9 is slim, concealable and affordable. Perfect for a CCW backup gun.
I say “most” because I know that some officers, given the option, might prefer the small pistol over the small revolver.
And there are some agencies that do not authorize the small revolver. In this case officers are likely to select a handgun such as the Kahr P380, the Kel-Tec P-3AT or the little Ruger LCP.
A small, flat pistol has a long history with cops. I can remember officers who carried the “Baby Browning”, a .25 auto, in a spare cuff case. Next came the Seecamp in .32 ACP that was so popular it was often back ordered for up to a year.
Seecamp owners liked to brag that they could hide their pistol in a shirt pocket. And now we have similar offerings from Kahr, Kel-Tec and Ruger in .380. But the small pistol will always be suspect in the reliability area, especially when dealing with heavy winter clothing.
1- By definition, the backup gun will be carried concealed where it will attract lint and moisture. Over time this can cause a problem with the small pistol because it has tight tolerances which can quickly foul.
2- You may need to shoot in close proximity to clothing that could snag on the firearm. The pistol is not as reliable for repeat shots if needed.
3- The small revolver can shoot a heavier bullet which is more likely to punch through winter clothing and insulation than a lighter load.
4- In extreme close quarters situations such as weapon retention, grappling and ground fighting scenarios, a revolver will tend to be more reliable than a pistol.
While we are on the subject of ground fighting, consider this from an officer I know who is the firearms instructor for his agency. His officers may choose a backup gun from a list of department approved revolvers and pistols.
The backup gun is carried in the cargo pocket of their duty pants in a holster that stabilizes the handgun in this pocket. With an empty handgun they practice drawing from the pocket from a variety of positions to include from the ground, left side, on their back and right side.
They have had several instances where the magazine release was activated by the weight of the officer lying on his pistol (still in the cargo pocket) during this drill.
So where should you carry your winter backup gun? For years we have carried it in the jacket pocket, on the side of our non-dominant hand, in the cold, wet and snow of winter.
Some may favor a front pants pocket or the cargo pocket depending on uniform styles. Some may favor a holster in the pocket for the backup gun and some may not.
The importance of the holster is that it keeps the handgun, and most importantly the handgun grip, in the same position without shifting in the pocket. That way there are no surprises when we reach for it.
We need to remind ourselves that if we favor the jacket pocket for the backup gun, if we go into some place warm and take off our jacket, we want to transfer the handgun to a pants pocket. We then reverse the process when we leave. This simple procedure keeps the backup gun with us at all times, on the same side of our body and always available to our non-dominant hand, coat on or coat off.
The jacket pocket might be the most accessible, but this is a very subjective decision. Regardless of where you carry you will need to practice getting your backup gun into play. Repetition is the key to making this a smooth operation. Start slowly and pick up speed.
Make note of anything that causes you trouble during the draw and work to mitigate that trouble. Remember this gun won’t be used often, but when you need it, the need will be immediate and intense. Of all the time spent on the backup gun project, the majority should be spent on getting the gun into action and figuring the best way to complete the draw.
And finally we need to mention the importance of ammunition selection for the backup gun that will be carried and possibly used in cold weather. Heavy cold-weather clothing in combination with the various types of insulation materials that might be encountered can pose a real challenge to handgun bullets.
A jacketed hollow-point that works just fine against lightweight summer clothing may plug up with material in a cold weather scenario and act like a solid bullet. This seriously degrades the performance of the backup gun.
The law enforcement sales representative for the ammunition manufacturer of the brand of ammo you are issued or are interested in, should be able to tell you how the round performs against clothing and should be able to provide you copies of the test.
The current standard is the FBI ammunition testing protocol, which has a test specifically designed for heavy winter clothing. The goal is to get penetration and expansion from the ammo you choose.
Leatherwood Hi-Lux Optics “Wm. Malcom” USMC Sniper Scope Debuts at 2012 CMP Vintage Sniper Match
The Leatherwood-Hi-Lux “Wm. Malcolm” 8x USMC SNIPER scope – a faithful copy of the scope used by U.S. Marine Corps snipers during WWII – walked away with the 2nd, 3rd and 11th place awards, plus placed in several other top spots at this year's Camp Perry Vintage Sniper matches.
That's an impressive showing for the scope, given the fact that it's relatively new. If you're not familiar with optics of this type, the long-tube scope features 8X magnification and external micrometer-click adjustments. The scope tube slides to buffer for recoil, and comes with a recoil spring (which can be removed for competition).
For historical accuracy sake, the scope will ideally be mounted on the 1903 A1 Springfield, which was the variant commonly used with Unertl scopes from World War II through the Vietnam War. Those original optics can still be found at gun shows and online auctions, but prices have skyrocketed — some as high as $5,000-6,000. It would also be very much at home atop a pre-'64 Winchester Model 70 Target.
And while the originals are desirable for their collector value, you usually can't see much through them, plagued as they are with the effects of the unforgiving hand of Father Time. By contrast, the Hi-Lux USMC scope is as clear and crisp to look through as any other optic in this price range.
“It is very bright,” said one shooter who compared the optic to originals. “I had two vintage scopes with me, my Unertl 8X and a Wollensack 4X. The Wollensack is from 1930 and though it was state of the art then, it’s pretty dark. The Unertl looked pretty good until you compare it to the 8x USMC Sniper.”
Jun 1-2 GA, Jefferson. Gun Show. Civic Center, 63 Kissam St.. SH: Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 10am-5pm. T: 200. F: $75.. Eastman's Gun Shows, Inc, PO Box 409, Fitzgerald, GA, 31750. PH: 229- 423-4867 or PH: 229- 425-9881 or www.eastmangunshows.com.
Jun 1-2 LA, Lafayette. Gun & Knife Show. Event Center, 4607 Johnston St.. SH: Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 10am-5pm. A: $8.. F: $70.. Classic Arms Productions, PO Box 654, Mandeville, LA, 70470. PH: 985- 624-8577 or [email protected] or www.capgunshows.com.
Jun 1-2 MA, West Springfield. Gun & Knife Show. Eastern States Exposition, Better Living Ctr.. T: 700. Carole, PH: 914- 248-1000 or www.northeastgunshows.com.
Jun 1-2 NV, Las Vegas. Rocky Mountain Gun Show. South Point Casino. www.rockymountaingunshow.com
Jun 1-2 NC, Fayetteville. Gun Show. Crown Expo Ctr., I-95 to Bus. 95 (US Hwy. 301) 1960 Coliseum Dr.. SH: Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 10am-5pm. A: $8., under 12 free with adult. C&E Gun Shows, 4225 Fortress Dr., Blacksburg, VA, 24060. PH: 888- 715-0606 or www.cegunshows.com.
Jun 1-2 OK, Oklahoma City. Gun & Knife Show. State Fairgrounds, Transportation Bldg.. SH: Sat. 8am-6pm, Sun. 9am-5pm. T: 1200. F: $65.. Sooner Gun Shows, PO Box 96918, Oklahoma City, OK, 73143. PH: 405- 612-0223.
Jun 1-2 TX, Lewisville. Premier Gun Shows. Lewisville Event Center, 2460 S. Stemmons Fwy.. SH: Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 10am-5pm. F: $70.. , PO Box 34224, Fort Worth, TX, 76162. PH: 817- 732-1194 or [email protected] or www.premiergunshows.com.
Jun 1-2 TX, Pasadena. Gun & Knife Show. Conv. Ctr.. SH: Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 10am-4pm. T: 300. F: $80.. High Caliber Gun Shows, PO Box 2616, Alvin, TX, 77512. PH: 281- 331-5969 or www.texasgunshows.com.
Jun 7-9 VA, Chantilly. The Nation's Gun Show. Dulles Expo Ctr., 4368 Chantilly Ctr., I-66, Exit 53. SH: Fri. 3pm-8pm, Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 10am-5pm. SP: C&E Gun Shows & Showmasters. A: $12., 3 day pass $18., $6. ages 12-17. F: $110. aisle, $115. wall. , 4225 Fortress Dr., Blacksburg, VA, 24060. PH: 540- 951-1344 or PH: 540- 953-0016 or PH: 888- 715-0606 or www.showmasters.us or www.cegunshows.com.
Jun 7-9 WY, Rock Springs. Gun Show. Sweet Water Cty. Fairgrounds. SH: Fri. 3pm-7pm, Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 9am-3pm. A: $6., 12 & under free. F: $50. in adv 2 wks before the show, $55. thereafter. Up In Arms Gun Shows, PO Box 918, Soda Springs, ID, 83276. PH: 208- 547-4405 or PH: 208- 241-4005.
Jun 8-9 OK, Oklahoma City. Metcalf Gun Show. Fairgrounds. 3001 Pershing Blvd.. SH: Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 10am-4pm. T: 500. F: $40., 9 for $185. Metcalf Gun Show, PH: 918- 272-1119 or [email protected] or www.metcalfgunshows.com.
Jun 8-9 TX, Conroe. Gun & Knife Show. Lone Star Conv. Ctr. . SH: Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 10am-4pm. T: 300. F: $70.. High Caliber Gun Shows, PO Box 2616, Alvin, TX, 77512. PH: 281- 331-5969 or www.texasgunshows.com.
Jun 8-9 TX, Hereford. Gun Show. Community Ctr., 100 Avenue C. Bobby Sanders, PH: 806- 231-0336 or PH: 940- 585-8537.
Jun 14-16 WI, Waukesha. Gun Show. Expo Forum. 1000 Northview Rd.. SH: Fri. 3pm-8pm, Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 9am-3pm. The Bob & Rocco Shows, 1111 W Delavan Dr., Janesville, WI, 53546. PH: 608- 752-6677 or www.bobandrocco.com/events.html.
Jun 14-16 WY, Cheyenne. Gun Show. Fairgrounds, Archer. SH: Fri. 3pm-7pm, Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 9am-2pm. A: $6., 12 & under free. F: $50. in adv 2 wks before the show, $55. thereafter. Wyoming Sportsmans Gun Shows, 4389 N 3rd St., Laramie, WY, 82072. PH: 307- 742-5943 or PH: 307- 760-1841.
Jun 15-16 OH, Columbus. Gun Show. Westland Mall, 4273 Westland Mall. SH: Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 9am-4pm. SP: Showmasters & C&E Gun Shows. A: $8.. F: $60.. , 4225 Fortress Dr., Blacksburg, VA, 24060. PH: 540- 951-1344 or PH: 888- 715-0606 or www.cegunshows.com or www.showmasters.us.
Jun 15-16 OK, Tulsa. Metcalf Gun Show. Fairgrounds, 4145 E. 21 St.. Expo Square. SH: Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 10am-4pm. T: 900. F: $40., 9 for $185. Metcalf Gun Show, PH: 918- 272-1119 or [email protected] or www.metcalfgunshows.com.
Jun 15-16 TX, Lufkin. Gun & Knife Show. Civic Center. SH: Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 10am-4pm. T: 250. F: $70.. High Caliber Gun Shows, PO Box 2616, Alvin, TX, 77512. PH: 281- 331-5969 or www.texasgunshows.com.
Jun 15-16 UT, Sandy. Rocky Mountain Gun Show. South Towne Exposition Center. 9575 S. State St.. www.rockymountaingunshow.com
Jun 21-23 IN, Evansville. Gun & Knife Show. Nat'l. Guard Armory, 3300 Division St.. corner of Lloyd Expressway & Vann Ave.. SH: Fri. 1pm-5pm, Sat. 8am-4pm, Sun. 9am-3pm. A: $6. F: $45.. Tri-State Gun & Knife Shows, PO Box 536, Seymour, IN, 47274. PH: 812- 521-9367.
Jun 22-23 OH, Medina. Gun Show. Community Ctr., Co. Fairgrounds (SR 42) 735 Lafayette Rd.. SH: Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 9am-3pm. A: $6., under 12 free. F: $50.. Conrad & Dowdell Prods. Inc.. PH: 330- 948-4400 or www.conraddowdell.com.
Jun 22-23 TX, Ft. Worth. Premier Gun Shows, LLC. Amon Carter Exhibit Hall, Will Rogers Ctr., 3301 Burnett Tandy. SH: Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 10am-5pm. F: $70.. , PO Box 34224, Ft. Worth, TX, 76162. PH: 817- 732-1194 or [email protected] or www.ftworthgunshow.com.
Jun 22-23 TX, Houston. Gun & Knife Show. Brown Conv. Ctr.. SH: Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 10am-4pm. T: 600. F: $80.. High Caliber Gun Shows, PO Box 2616, Alvin, TX, 77512. PH: 281- 331-5969 or www.texasgunshows.com.
Marines with the Air Station's Special Reaction Team train with the M45 1911 A1 pistol. [Image courtesy dvidshub.net]As reported in an earlier post on GunDigest.com, Marine special operations units are set to phase in the use of Colt .45 Close Quarter Battle (CQB) Pistols. In a move toward that transition, the Marine Corps has now initiated the first rounds of training with the CQB firearms.
At Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in August, “The Provost Marshal's Office (PMO) Special Reaction Team familiarized themselves with the newest addition to their arsenal at the pistol range,” according to Marine Corps Public Affairs. “This exercise marks the beginning of the transition to the M45 1911 A1 pistol.
“We will be the first in PMO to carry them,” said Sgt. Daniel Sloniker, a team leader with the Special Reaction Team, of the CQB pistols. “We'll be training a lot with them, that's what we do-we shoot guns all the time.”
To help with the move to the M45 CQB Pistol, the Marine Corps recently awarded Colt Defense a five-year contract. Full implementation of the CQB Pistol is slated for fall 2012.
“Implementation of the weapon into the special reaction team is critical to their role as a response force. They respond to crisis situations such as: terrorist attacks, hostage situations and VIP protection. The unit has capabilities similar to civilian SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) teams.
“We're the ones who kick the doors in, save hostages and take out the suspect. We have to be able to employ our weapons and make sure if we shoot, we hit our target.”
Aug 6-7 NC, Fayetteville. Gun Show. Crown Expo Ctr., I-95 to Bus. 95 (US Hwy. 301) 1960 Coliseum Dr.. SH: Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 10am-5pm. A: $8., under 12 free with adult. C&E Gun Shows, 4225 Fortress Dr., Blacksburg, VA, 24060. PH: 888- 715-0606 or www.cegunshows.com.
Aug 10-11 CO, Colorado Springs. Gun Show. Event Ctr. At Rustic Hills, 3960 Palmer Park Blvd.. SP: Prospectors Sertoma CO Springs Gun Show. www.prospectorssertomagunshows.org
Aug 10-11 LA, Lafayette. Gun & Knife Show. Event Center, 4607 Johnston St.. SH: Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 10am-5pm. A: $8.. F: $70.. Classic Arms Productions, PO Box 654, Mandeville, LA, 70470. PH: 985- 624-8577 or [email protected] or www.capgunshows.com.
Aug 10-11 NC, Winston-Salem. Gun Show. LJVM Coliseum, 2825 University Pkwy.. SH: Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 10am-5pm. A: $8., under 12 free with adult. C&E Gun Shows, 4225 Fortress Dr., Blacksburg, VA, 24060. PH: 888- 715-0606 or www.cegunshows.com.
Aug 16-18 WY, Cheyenne. Gun Show. Fairgrounds, Archer. SH: Fri. 3pm-7pm, Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 9am-2pm. A: $6., 12 & under free. F: $50. in adv 2 wks before the show, $55. thereafter. Wyoming Sportsmans Gun Shows, 4389 N 3rd St., Laramie, WY, 82072. PH: 307- 742-5943 or PH: 307- 760-1841.
Aug 17-18 IL, New Berlin. Guns, Ammo & Related Items. Fairgrounds, 12 mi. W. of Springfield, IL, on I-72. SH: Sat. 9am-4pm, Sun. 9am-3pm. SP: Central Illinois Gun Collectors Assoc.. A: $3.. F: $30.. , PO Box 462, Chatham, IL, 62629. PH: 217- 416-0618.
Aug 17-18 OK, Tulsa. Gun & Knife Show. Grand National, Upper Level Expo Bldg.. SH: Sat. 8am-6pm, Sun. 9am-5pm. T: 2200. F: $80.. Sooner Gun Shows, PO Box 96918, Oklahoma City, OK, 73143. PH: 405- 612-0223.
Aug 17-18 PA, Monroeville. Gun Show. Conv. Ctr., 101 Mall Blvd.. SH: Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 10am-4pm. SP: Showmasters & C&E Gun Shows. A: $8.. F: $50.. , 4225 Fortress Dr., Blacksburg, VA, 24060. PH: 540- 951-1344 or PH: 888- 715-0606 or www.cegunshows.com or www.showmasters.us.
Aug 17-18 TX, Stafford. Gun Show. ,. SP: Houston Gun Collectors Assn.. PH: 713- 981-6463 or www.hgca.org.
Aug 23-25 IN, Indianapolis. Gun Show. Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 E. 38th St.. SH: Fri. 2pm-8pm, Sat. 8am-6pm, Sun. 9am-4pm. World Class Gun Shows, PO Box 14194, Oklahoma City, OK, 73113. PH: 405- 340-1333 or www.indy1500.com.
Aug 23-25 WY, Rock Springs. Gun Show. Sweet Water Cty. Fairgrounds. SH: Fri. 3pm-7pm, Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 9am-3pm. A: $6., 12 & under free. F: $50. in adv 2 wks before the show, $55. thereafter. Up In Arms Gun Shows, PO Box 918, Soda Springs, ID, 83276. PH: 208- 547-4405 or PH: 208- 241-4005.
Aug 24-25 ME, Augusta. Gun Show. Civic Ctr., ME Tpke. Exit 112 S. or 112-A N.. 76 Community Dr.. SH: Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 9am-2pm. A: $8.. F: $65.. DiPrete Promotions Inc.. Patricia DiPrete, PH: 603- 225-3846 or [email protected] or www.dipromo.com.
Aug 24-25 VA, Richmond. Gun Show. Int'l. Raceway, State Fairgrounds, 600 E. Laburnum Ave.. I-295, Exit 38-B W. on Meadowbridge Rd.. SH: Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 9am-4pm. A: $8.. F: $60.. , 4225 Fortress Dr., Blacksburg, va, 24060. PH: 540- 951-1344 or www.showmasters.us.
Aug 31-Sep 1 NV, Las Vegas. Gun Show. The Sport Center. 121 E. Sunset Rd.. SH: Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 9am-4pm. PH: 405- 842-3277 or www.lasvegasgunshow.com.
Aug 31-Sep 1 NH, Concord. Gun Show. Everett Ice Arena, I-93, Exit 14 E. onto 15 Loudon Rd.. SH: Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 9am-2pm. A: $8.. F: $65.. DiPrete Promotions Inc.. Patricia DiPrete, PH: 603- 225-3846 or [email protected] or www.dipromo.com.
Aug 31-Sep 1 OH, Columbus. Gun Show. Westland Mall, 4273 Westland Mall. SH: Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 9am-4pm. SP: Showmasters & C&E Gun Shows. A: $8.. F: $60.. , 4225 Fortress Dr., Blacksburg, VA, 24060. PH: 540- 951-1344 or PH: 888- 715-0606 or www.cegunshows.com or www.showmasters.us.
Aug 31-Sep 1 VA, Fishersville. Gun Show. Augusta Expoland. SH: Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 10am-4pm. SP: Showmasters & C&E Gun Shows. A: $7.. F: $50.. Showmasters Gun Shows, 4225 Fortress Dr., Blacksburg, VA, 24060. PH: 540- 951-1344 or www.showmasters.us.
Aug 23-25 IN, Indianapolis. Gun Show. Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 E. 38th St.. SH: Fri. 2pm-8pm, Sat. 8am-6pm, Sun. 9am-4pm. World Class Gun Shows, PO Box 14194, Oklahoma City, OK, 73113. PH: 405- 340-1333 or www.indy1500.com.
Aug 24-25 ME, Augusta. Gun Show. Civic Ctr., ME Tpke. Exit 112 S. or 112-A N.. 76 Community Dr.. SH: Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 9am-2pm. A: $8.. F: $65.. DiPrete Promotions Inc.. Patricia DiPrete, PH: 603- 225-3846 or [email protected] or www.dipromo.com.
Aug 24-25 OK, Oklahoma City. Gun & Knife Show. State Fairgrounds, Transportation Bldg.. SH: Sat. 8am-6pm, Sun. 9am-5pm. T: 1200. F: $65.. Sooner Gun Shows, PO Box 96918, Oklahoma City, OK, 73143. PH: 405- 612-0223.
Sep 6-8 IN, Evansville. Gun & Knife Show. Nat'l. Guard Armory, 3300 Division St.. corner of Lloyd Expressway & Vann Ave.. SH: Fri. 1pm-5pm, Sat. 8am-4pm, Sun. 9am-3pm. A: $6. F: $45.. Tri-State Gun & Knife Shows, PO Box 536, Seymour, IN, 47274. PH: 812- 521-9367.
Sep 6-8 WY, Casper. Gun Show. Central WY Fairgrounds. SH: Fri. 3pm-7pm, Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 9am-2pm. A: $6., 12 & under free. F: $50. in adv 2 wks before the show, $55. thereafter. Up In Arms Gun Shows, PO Box 918, Soda Springs, ID, 83276. PH: 208- 547-4405 or PH: 208- 241-4005.
Sep 7-8 TX, Pampa. Gun Show. MK Brown Center, 1100 W Colorado. Bobby Sanders, PH: 806- 231-0336 or PH: 940- 585-8537.
Sep 13-14 MI, Iron Mountain. United Sportsman's Club Gun & Knife Show. W7689 Sportsmans Club Rd. A: $5.. T: 65. F: $20.. PH: 906- 774-3867 or [email protected] or www.unitedsportsmeninc.com.
Sep 13-15 WY, Gillette. Gun Show. Cam-Plex, 1635 Reata Dr.. SH: Fri. 3pm-7pm, Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 9am-2pm. A: $6., 12 & under free. F: $50. in adv 2 wks before the show, $55. thereafter. Up In Arms Gun Shows, PO Box 918, Soda Springs, ID, 83276. PH: 208- 547-4282 or PH: 208- 241-4005.
Sep 14-15 CO, Colorado Springs. Gun Show. Event Ctr. At Rustic Hills, 3960 Palmer Park Blvd.. SP: Prospectors Sertoma CO Springs Gun Show. www.prospectorssertomagunshows.org
Sep 14-15 IN, Salem. Gun & Knife Show. Nat'l. Guard Armory, 1100 N. Shelby St.. SH: Sat. 8:30am-4pm, Sun. 9am-3pm. A: $6. F: $40.. Tri-State Gun & Knife Shows, PO Box 536, Seymour, IN, 47274. PH: 812- 521-9367.
Sep 14-15 OH, Maumee. Gun Show. Lucas Cty. Rec. Ctr., 2901 Key St.. SP: Maumee Valley Gun Collectors Assn. Inc.. PH: 419- 893-1110 or www.mvgca.com.
Sep 14-15 OK, Tulsa. Metcalf Gun Show. Fairgrounds, 4145 E. 21 St.. Expo Square. SH: Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 10am-4pm. T: 900. F: $40., 9 for $185. Metcalf Gun Show, PH: 918- 272-1119 or [email protected] or www.metcalfgunshows.com.
Sep 14-15 TX, El Paso. Gun Show. 6331 Alabama St.. El Maida Shrine Auditorium. SH: Sat. 8am-5pm, Sun. 9am-5pm. SP: Paso Del Norte Gun Collectors. A: $5.. F: $40.-$50.. D. Wheeler, PH: 830- 367-2848.
Looking to go armed, but are stuck in the weeds as to what to arm yourself with? Here are 20 of the best concealed carry gun options that will keep you on the defensive.
Learn from concealed carry expert Massad Ayoob at your own pace with Gun Digest's Massad Ayoob Ultimate CCW Collection. It contains five books, a magazine, a DVD and an online video, all focused on concealed carry.
