Students for Concealed Carry “Empty Holster Protest” Coming Up
Group Seeks Social Media Users to Help Spread the Word via Thunderclap
Students for Concealed Carry, a student-run, national, non-partisan organization which advocates for legal concealed carry on college campuses is organizing an “empty holster protest” March 30 – April 3, 2015 and they need your help to spread the word.
The group describes the (school) week-long protest as a peaceful demonstration that involves students wearing empty holsters to protest college polices and/or state laws that disarm law-abiding citizens who are legally permitted to carry a concealed firearm in hundreds of other locations in their respective states. Participants will also be distributing literature, and holding debates or speaking events on the subject of on-campus carry.
They are using the Thunderclap tool to flood social media with a big announcement at March 30 at 9:00AM EDT. Participants who sign up will have the announcement (and only this one announcement) posted to their social media timeline at the specified time. Check it out and sign up here. Continue reading
N82 Tactical Introduces New Products, Including IWB Magazine Carriers
The 2015 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Nashville (open to all NRA members & family) are just around the corner and N8² Tactical (“Nate-Squared Tactical”) will be there in booth 957 to showcase their latest products, including additions to their line of comfortable single-clip IWB holsters and the all-new magazine carriers styled after the Pro model holsters.
Nate Beard and Nate Johnson (namesakes of the Nate² brand) have been making IWB holsters since they dreamed up the idea in 2009. Their suede backing, neoprene padding, and oil-tanned leather outer surface combine to protect your firearm while remaining imminently comfortable. The single-clip design allows them to be easily put on or taken off. The Original and Original Tuckable models, with their elastic firearm “pouches,” hold the firearm snugly while offering a degree of flexibility to carry other firearms of similar size. The Professional models are an upgrade that features a polycarbonate (PC) shell that offers a custom fit, additional protection, retention and an adjustable cant angle. The Pro model holsters are roughly the basis for one of their newest products which is sure to be a big hit. Continue reading
Official Announcement: GLOCK Releases Single Stack 9mm Concealed Carry – The New G43
After some media outlets jumped the gun (no pun intended) on today’s announcement of the G43 – Glock Inc. has issued their official announcement:
Today GLOCK, Inc. announced the release of the new GLOCK single stack slimline 9mm pistol, the GLOCK 43. The G43 is the most highly desired and anticipated pistol release in GLOCKs history. Designed to be the answer to everyday concealed carry needs, the G43 is ultra-concealable, accurate, and comfortable for all shooters, regardless of hand size.
“The G43 is the most exciting product release to date because it addresses a variety of issues that many shooters face with pistols in the concealed carry category,” stated GLOCK, Inc., VP Josh Dorsey. “It will be the pistol of choice for law enforcement and civilians. The G43 sets a new standard for concealed carry pistols.”
A true slimline pistol, the frame width of the G43 is just over one inch and the slide width measures only 0.87 inch. The overall length is 6.26 inches. For those who have smaller hands, the trigger distance is only 2.6 inches, making it ideal for functionality. Continue reading
How Many People Really Carry Concealed?
Estimated numbers compiled by NSSF indicate that more people than ever are carrying a concealed weapon these days. Not surprisingly (and despite anti-gun rhetoric to the contrary), crime has not increased commensurately with with the greater number of “guns on the street.”
While nationwide CCW is estimated to be around 4%, some states are estimated to have 10% or more of the population packing (good job, Iowa and South Dakota), with several others following closely. See the chart below for a full state-by-state breakdown.
Reasons for the increased number of concealed carriers are many and varied. As depicted in the map above, many states have moved from having no concealed carry or restrictive “may issue” CCW regulations to being “shall issue” states. Even unlikely states like Illinois have joined the concealed carry crowd. This relaxation of carry restrictions allows more people to get carry permits, which may help to remove the perceived stigma of carrying a firearm, which snowballs into even greater numbers as citizens view a firearm as a viable way to protect themselves and their loved ones. Greater reciprocity and even the ability to take CCW training online make it even easier for law abiding individuals to get a permit.
Do you or someone you know carry a concealed firearm? Share your story and experiences below in the comments section.
Fact: Total concealed carry permits in the U.S. increased approximately 29 percent from an estimated 6.9 million in 2010 to an estimated 9.0 million in 2012.
New Trio of Concealed Carry Resource Books are on Shelves
A new trio of concealed carry resources are available from the recently launched 2nd Amendment Media imprint of Whitman publishing. The trio includes a summary of firearms laws around the United States and two guides to carrying a concealed firearm.
Legally Armed: A Concealed Carry Gun Law Guide includes a state-by-state guide to the “law of the land” concerning various aspects of CCW with photo illustrations by firearms photographer Oleg Volk. The book covers basics like who can get a carry permit, whether open carry is allowed, how firearms can (and can not) be carried in vehicles. The guide also covers essentials like where you can and can not carry (for instance, in restaurants that serve alcohol or state parks), whether or not you have the “duty to inform” a law enforcement officer if they make contact with you, and more – including relevant excerpts from the state laws. Legally Armed also touches on other aspects of firearms ownership, such as NFA status.
Each state is also graded on an A+ (like Kentucky) through F (like Illinois) scale based on how much gun control. Additionally, contact information is given for the entity that regulates concealed carry such as the state police or state’s attorney general’s office.
In addition to an overview of the 50 states’ laws, Legally Armed also covers Continue reading
Heizer’s DoubleTap Pint Sized Pistol Packs a Punch
I first became intrigued with the Heizer Defense Double Tap when I saw an ad for it in the NRA’s American Rifleman magazine. For some reason, there is something I just can’t resist about this type of pint sized pistol.
The DoubleTap, available in both 9mm and .45ACP versions, comes in a package significantly smaller than other firearms in the same class. In fact, Heizer bills the DoubleTap as “the world’s smallest and lightest .45 ACP concealed carry pistol on the market today.” At just 5.5 inches long, 3.9 inches tall and less than 0.7 inches wide, the DoubleTap can easily disappear into a pocket or purse and be at the ready should you need it. With both aluminum and titanium models available (weighing in at 12 and 14 ounces, respectively), the pistol won’t weigh you down either.
With only two rounds chambered and another two stowed on a speed strip inside the grip, some people might feel a little under-gunned with that low of a round count. The DoubleTap might not be the right choice for someone who wants to be ready to take on a small army but it definitely looks like it would serve its intended purpose of offering .45ACP stopping power in an ultra-concealable package. This makes the DoubleTap perfect for a last-ditch backup gun or an EDC concealed carry piece for someone who wants to keep size and weight at a minimum.
Operating the DoubleTap is a breeze. The ten pound double action trigger pull is butter-smooth thanks to precision ball bearings and then breaks crisply. Each successive pull of the trigger drops the snag-free internal hammer on each Continue reading
