FLIR ThermoSight Pro PTS233

Thermal and night vision devices give would-be victims a clear advantage in defense of life and property
By Brent T. Wheat

It’s your worse nightmare. Something went “CRASH!” in the living room and now you’re lying in bed, shocked awake and quietly trying to hold your breath while straining for tendrils of sound. The sole focus of your existence at this moment is trying to classify the problem as routine or something far worse.

Is it the cat, a cat burglar or something more horrendous? Did one of the kids get up in the middle of the night and bump a table or is someone inside your home, preparing unthinkable horrors for you and, even worse, your family? As your feet silently hit the floor and you consider the options, your first wish is for some kind of superhuman vision that would give you a clear advantage in what could soon be a lethal-force encounter.

Fortunately, if you are among the growing group of truly prepared Americans, you have an extraordinary advantage that gives you the figurative high ground against any threat: thermal imaging and night vision devices (NVD). Read more

Optics

U.S. District Court Denies Mass. AG’s Motion to Dismiss Suit

U.S. District Court Denies Mass. A. G. Healey’s Motion to Dismiss Suit against Overreaching ‘Enforcement Notice’

NEWTOWN, Conn. – A U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts judge has denied state Attorney General Maura Healey’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit brought by four federally-licensed Massachusetts firearms retailers and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms and ammunition industry, challenging the overreaching “Enforcement Notice” issued by her office in 2016 that deprived the retailers of their due process protections. The suit, which seeks declaratory relief and a permanent injunction enjoining enforcement, can now move forward.

The retailers, all NSSF members, are Pullman Arms Inc. of Worcester, Guns and Gear, LLC of Agawam, Paper City Firearms of Holyoke, and Grrr Gear of Orange.

“Attorney General Healy overstepped her authority when she issued the ‘enforcement notice’ banning certain firearms that have been lawfully sold in the state since at least 1998. Firearms retailers in Massachusetts were left to determine the meaning or scope of the Attorney General’s Enforcement Notice and subsequent explanations,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF senior vice president and general counsel. “Because criminal penalties can result due to Attorney General Healey’s unilateral reinterpretation of a state statute done without administrative process or input from affected parties, her office exceeded its lawful authority and retailers were deprived of their due process protections under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments.” Read more

Firearms, Gun Control

NSSF Praises House Passage of STOP School Violence Act

NEWTOWN, Conn. – The National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®), the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industries, praised today’s passage of H.R. 4909, the STOP School Violence Act of 2018, introduced by U.S. Rep. John Rutherford (R-Fla.). The legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives in an overwhelming bipartisan majority. Identically–titled legislation, S. 2495, introduced by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) is being considered in the U.S. Senate.

“The passage of the STOP School Violence Act by the U.S. House of Representatives demonstrates that there are significant steps we can agree upon to make our schools and communities safer,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF senior vice president and general counsel. “This is just one of the key pieces of legislation called for in President Trump’s school safety initiative. We will continue to press our lawmakers to enact into law proposals that bolster school security and respect Constitutional rights including the right of due process and the rights of young adults to purchase firearms for hunting, sports shooting and their own self-defense.” Read more

Gun Control, Self Defense

Take Thermal on a Nature Walk


A nature walk with the latest thermal gear

I got to be a “Predator” for one night last month and it was really cool.

For those who don’t remember, Predator was a 1987 movie (and series of forgettable remakes) in which an alien creature hunted down various supporting actors for sport and killed them in gruesome fashion until Arnold Schwarzenegger saves the day. Among other assets, the Predator had thermal vision that allowed him to stalk the various players until the final battle wherein Arnold serves up a crushing defeat.

It was one of the first times that the general public saw the advantages of thermal imaging.

Fast-forward to our tree platform above the rolling sandhill prairie of a northern Indiana farm where I got to be a real-life version of The Predator. In a lifetime of incredible experiences, those few hours were some of the most memorable outdoor moments I’ve ever had. Read more

Optics

Century Arms Canik TP9SA Mod.2 Pistol

Delray Beach, Fla. –– Century Arms, the exclusive importer of Canik handguns and accessories, has released a new addition the Canik TP-series handgun line, the TP9SA Mod.2. The TP9SA Mod.2 contains several upgrades from the original TP9SA pistol inspired by the feedback of military, law enforcement, and recreational shooters.

The TP9SA Mod.2 is a striker-fired pistol with a smooth single action trigger delivering premium accuracy and faster than ever follow-up shots. Enhancements include a flat top slide allowing for better sight acquisition and a top-slide-mounted disassembly button. Like the rest of the TP-series family, the SA Mod.2 comes equipped with Warren Tactical sights, which are known for their patented design feature that directs the user’s eyes to the front sight and allows faster sight acquisition and target-to-target transitions. The grip has aggressive stippling patterns to fully engage the users hand under any adverse conditions and the grip design allows for a slimmer feel while still containing an impressive 18+1 9mm capacity. Read more

Firearms

RMEF Supports Inaugural Wisconsin Elk Hunt

MISSOULA, Mont.—The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation congratulates the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on its decision to institute Wisconsin’s first-ever managed elk hunt later this year.

“This is the culmination of more than two decades of elk-related conservation work,” said Blake Henning, RMEF chief conservation officer. “RMEF has been involved with reintroduction efforts in Wisconsin dating back to 1995 and continues to put funds on the ground to benefit the state’s elk herds and elk habitat.”

The DNR will provide ten bull-only tags for the fall of 2018 within the Clam Lake elk range in north-central Wisconsin. The state’s southern elk range in Jackson County will not be a part of the hunt.

One of the tags will go to a resident via a RMEF raffle designed to generate revenue for elk habitat management, research and monitoring. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Michigan: DNR Limiting Campsites at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park

Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is known for its remote backcountry experience.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will limit the number of designated backcountry campsites at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, to better protect park resources and help ensure a quality backcountry camping experience.

At roughly 60,000 acres, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is Michigan’s largest state park, home to towering old-growth hemlock-hardwood stands, roaring waterfalls and spectacular sweeping vistas.

Annual visitation to the park is estimated to have grown to over 300,000 people. Read more

General

Michigan: DNR to host job fair in Traverse City March 20

Are you interested in working with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources? The Traverse City DNR Job and Career Fair will take place Tuesday, March 20, noon to 3 p.m. at the Traverse City DNR Customer Service Center, 2122 M-37, in Traverse City.

Representatives from a variety of divisions (including parks, wildlife, law enforcement, fisheries and finance) will be on hand to talk with people and share  information on current job opportunities and potential careers with the department. Specific employment opportunities currently available in the area include summer jobs with local state parks, as well as non-career wildlife assistants. Read more

General

Iowa Sets Goal for Monarch Conservation

The Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium has set a goal of acres devoted to monarch butterfly habitat in the state by 2038.

“The consortium has worked collaboratively with diverse stakeholders to develop a comprehensive plan to expand habitat on our agricultural land, urban areas, roadsides, and other public land. We appreciate the many partners that have been involved and are encouraged by the work already underway,” said Mike Naig, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture.

The updated Iowa Monarch Conservation Strategy  seeks to establish approximately 480,000 to 830,000 acres of monarch habitat by 2038. Read more

Wildlife

CCI Adds Segmented Hollow Point to Mini-Mag Product Line

LEWISTON, Idaho – – CCI Ammunition is pleased to announce an addition to its popular Mini-Mag rimfire product line. New Mini-Mag Segmented Hollow Point combines all of what made the original a favorite with a bullet engineered to split into three equal-size parts on impact, creating three distinct wound channels that quickly take down small game and varmints. Shipments are being delivered to dealers. Read more

Ammunition
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