Hornady Shows Off New Fast-Access Gun Safe at NRAAM
GunLink had a chance to stop by the Hornady booth at NRAAM 2014 and have a look at their new RAPiD Safe, an innovative solution that allows handgun owners to secure their firearm from children, intruders and other unauthorized persons while still allowing quick access by the owner when needed.
The RAPiD Safe offers three ways to access the contents within. The first method is the newest and most innovative of the three: radio frequency identification (RFID) chips are embedded in several types of “keys” that allow for fast, touch-free access. The user simply waves the RFID-tagged bracelet, key fob or card over the sensor and the safe pops open, presenting the enclosed pistol in a pop up sleeve that rises along with the swing-top lid. The company rep at the Hornady booth demonstrated how the pistol can be placed within the snug foam sleeve to allow for an immediate full grip on the pistol so that it is ready to use as soon as it is removed from the safe. The sleeve can also be removed to allow for larger firearms or other items to lay in the bottom of the safe’s 11x8x3″ interior. Continue reading
NH Democrat Pushes to Allow EBT Recipients to Purchase Firearms with Aid
New Hampshire’s 6th District Representative Timothy Horrigan argued before the house on Wednesday against a prohibition on public assistance recipients purchasing firearms using their EBT cards.
The proposed SB203 expands the prohibited uses of EBT funds as listed in NHRSA 167:7-b to forbid EBT cards from being used to purchase, among other things, firearms. Paragraph I-a of the legislation reads “[a]ny person who receives public assistance is prohibited from using an EBT card or cash obtained with an EBT card to gamble or to purchase tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, lottery tickets, firearms, or adult entertainment.” Continue reading
Out of This World Holsters from Alien Gear
Alien Gear Holsters has been generating considerable buzz since they flew their UFO full of holsters onto the scene last year. The Alien Gear business model is to “make and sell gun holsters directly to the public at below wholesale prices.” It all sounds too good to be true, but I want to believe so we probed around a bit to learn more. We already have a big Box o’ Holsters at GunLink HQ, so we were hesitant to order more but at this price point, resistance is futile. After all… It’s the only way to be sure, so we ordered a couple.
Hybrid Holsters
Alien Gear IWB holsters are of the hybrid type, which means that they have a Kydex shell attached to a leather backing. The wide leather backing allows the belt clips to be further apart than some other holster types, more evenly distributing the weight of the pistol and making carry more comfortable. The Kydex shell provides a completely custom, form fitting scabbard that securely holds the pistol. Being an IWB holster it, of course, rides inside the waistband of the wearer’s pants, attaching via the belt clips leaving only the clips and the grip of the pistol exposed above the waistband.
Price
The first thing CCW-ers will probably notice when comparing Alien Gear holsters to similar hybrid holsters is the price. Alien Gear holsters start out Continue reading
2013 International Firearms Trace Data Released by BATFE
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) released last week several international firearms trace data reports for the 2013 year. The reports include data for five Caribbean nations, Canada, Mexico and several Central American countries. Trace data in the reports is gathered from ATF’s National Tracing Center (NTC) and relates only to ATF-traced firearms recovered in these countries.
According to the release, firearms trace data provides information on the movement of a firearm from its first sale by a manufacturer or importer through the distribution chain in an attempt to identify the first retail purchaser. This information can tie a firearm in a criminal investigation to a suspect and identify potential traffickers (ironic, no?).
In 2013, ATF’s NTC traced over 4,500 firearms recovered in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, Belize and Costa Rica – the majority of which were handguns. Also in 2013, the NTC traced over 15,000 firearms recovered in Mexico, over 1,400 firearms recovered in Canada and over 1,000 in the Caribbean.
To view the 2013 international firearms trace data, as well as US trace statistics from 2006-2012, visit the ATF statistics page.
NRAAM Off to a Great Start
Day one of the 2014 NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits is in the can and the third of the big early-year firearms shows is off to a great start already. GunLink staff is on hand to cover the show with all of the new and exciting products, services and more being offered to the shooting, hunting and outdoors communities and the coverage starts here. Keep an eye on the GunLink Blog as well as the GunLink Forums for the latest guns, gadgets and more.
GunLink staff has been covering NSSF SHOT Show for several years now but the 2014 NRAAM marks our first visit to this show, so we weren’t sure what to expect. We spend day one roaming the sometimes-narrow and often-crowded aisles of the exhibit floor, visiting with companies and plotting out our agenda for the remainder of the show. We caught up with some familiar faces like Lola and Hank Strange, N82 Tactical, MyCaseBuilder.com, Sticky Holsters, the KelTec crew and others. 
We are also getting a chance to meet up with less familiar faces with new and exciting offerings for target shooters, hunters and defensive firearm owners. There is a strong presence of companies offering products catering to female shooters and, since we have one of our female editors here at the show, we will be able to provide a more useful perspective on those products.
The NRAAM exhibit hall floor is packed with show special pricing on various products and we are taking advantage of a number of them including some new Continue reading
US Gun Owners Rally in Support of Gun Rights
Carolyn Presutti – VOA News
Some came to the Washington D.C. area Monday to take out their guns in a show of support for gun rights. Others came for a rally in the shadow of the Washington monument “to support the right to keep and bear arms” and to protect the Second Amendment. They chose Monday since it is the anniversary of the 1775 battles that started America’s Revolutionary War.
Concentration. Judgment. Accuracy.
For Rob Weaver, those words point to his passion.
“It’s a really zen thing to do,” said Rob Weaver. “When you’re standing there. You have your handgun out. It’s you and the target and your trigger finger and that’s all there is.”
Such is the love affair between many Americans and their guns. The U.S. Bill of Rights, specifically the Second Amendment, guarantees Americans the right to keep and bear arms. States determine the laws regarding the storage or carrying of guns.
Weaver says he would die to protect the Second Amendment if it is threatened.
“I think you very well may see a revolution in this country and it will not be a revolution to overthrow the government,” he said. “It would be a revolution to restore government to its constitutional basis.”
Gun owners worry that the Democratic administration will target the Second Amendment. As a legislator, President Obama did not favor unlimited gun rights. So this year, shooters decided to take their fight to the nation’s capital. Before any changes could be made to those rights.
Gun owners say it’s an issue that affects the entire nation.
“The Second Amendment is not a white [race] thing, a redneck [poor, rural] thing. It’s an American thing,” said Pennsylvania gun rights supporter Tim Mohn.
Verna Long flew three hours here to attend the rally. She says her message will get across at the ballot box.
“We’ll just keep re-electing, re-electing and re-electing until we get people in there who understand what the constitution means to all of us,” she said.
Other gun owners openly showed their weapons as they stood at the border of Washington on Virginia ground. Virginia’s laws allow guns to be carried in public.
“If the government ever comes after the people in America, know that the people will fight back.”
Others are angered by such talk.
“This is America. Love it, or leave it, and take your assault weapons with you.”
Gun law advocates say they support the Second Amendment. Chad Ramsey with the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence says his group simply wants to strengthen the laws.
“What we are trying to do is make sure the wrong people don’t get their hands on guns,” said Chad Ramsey. “We think that you ought to have a background check at gun shows. We think you ought to have a background check so that people who are dangerously mentally ill aren’t getting their hands on guns.”
Back at the range, Weaver shares his secret to hitting the target.
“The last shot has nothing to do with the one you’re taking right now,” he said. “It never does. And if you get focused on the last shot, you just blow the next one.”
That could explain why many gun advocates keep alert year-after-year, analyzing the next administration.
