U.S. LawShield, Virginia Citizens Defense League File Suit Against City of Winchester, VA

Houston, TX – U.S. LawShield®, the leader in the Legal Defense for Self-Defense industry, has recently filed a joint lawsuit with the Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL) against the City of Winchester, Virginia for violating articles of the Constitution of Virginia.

“Our mission is based on preserving and protecting our members’ Constitutional right to bear arms—particularly in order to defend themselves and their loved ones,” says Randy Macchi, COO and General Counsel for U.S. LawShield. “We have filed this lawsuit to protect the rights of our 10,000+ members in Virginia and to stop the unconstitutional infringement of those rights. U.S. LawShield and the VCDL are requesting that temporary and permanent injunctions be filed against recent implementations of city and state codes.”

Currently, there is no Virginia statute that prohibits a person from openly carrying a firearm. Virginia code does state that a person is prohibited from carrying a concealed handgun in public unless that person is issued a Concealed Handgun Permit. Virginia, like many other states, has what is known as “preemption” laws, which prevent localities from creating a patchwork of gun laws across the Commonwealth that are difficult or burdensome for otherwise law-abiding gun owners to navigate. Recent city ordinances in Winchester and several other Virginia jurisdictions have begun to implement these types of firearms restrictions. Read more

Gun Control, Self Defense

Protect Your Big Game Meat with Koola Buck Anti-Microbial Game Bags and Spray

BROOKVILLE, Pa. (June 1, 2021) — Early season big game hunting means hot, often humid weather – the perfect time for flies and microbes to spoil your hard-earned game meat. That is, unless you’re prepared with Koola Buck Anti-Microbial Game Bags and Anti-Microbial Game Spray.

“We began Koola Buck with our portable walk-in coolers to help hunters from coast to coast keep their game meat pristine, both in camp and at home,” said Brad Lockwood, owner. “Taking the next step was the introduction of our unique anti-microbial game bags and game spray. Both are designed to reduce the ability of bacteria to grow on your game meat, keeping it as fresh as possible prior to the final aging and butchering process.”

Koola Buck Anti-Microbial Game Bags come in several sizes, from individual deer body bags, deer and antelope quarter bags, elk and caribou quarter bags, all the way up to XXL bags for moose and bison! Koola Buck also offers a Heavy Duty line of bags for deer, antelope, wild hogs and more. These Heavy Duty bags are two times thicker than standard bags for added tear resistance. Read more

Hunting

FOXPRO Releases New Coyote Brown Carry Bag

Lewistown, Pa – FOXPRO releases the NEW Coyote Brown Carry Bag with an all new design/size to better fit their modern units.

The FOXPRO Coyote Brown Carry Bag is specifically designed to fit the X1, X2s, and X24 (all with mounted X-Decoy). It will also fit all other FOXPRO game calls (except all Prairie Blaster models, Shockwave, XWAVE, and all Krakatoa models). Side pockets with molle webbing allow for more options to carry your gear. A padded divider inside the case allows you to safely stow your remote during transport.

For news and information, visit www.gofoxpro.com or follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/foxpro_inc/ and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Foxpro.Furtakers/. Stream FOXPRO TV on YouTube at www.youtube.com/foxproinc

Hunting

Be Safe on the Water

By Glen Wunderlich

Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)

With Memorial Day upon us, Michiganders will take to the waterways in numbers we may not have seen before.  Unprecedented boat sales fueled by consumer demand for new boats surged across the country in 2020.

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), representing North American recreational boat, engine and marine accessory manufacturers, reports that retail unit sales of new powerboats in the U.S. increased last year by an estimated 12 percent compared to 2019. More than 310,000 new powerboats were sold in 2020, levels the recreational boating industry has not seen since before the Great Recession in 2008.

“2020 was an extraordinary year for new powerboat sales as more Americans took to the water to escape pandemic stress and enjoy the outdoors safely,” said Frank Hugelmeyer, NMMA president. “For the first time in more than a decade, we saw an increase in first-time boat buyers, who helped spur growth of versatile, smaller boats – less than 26 feet – that are often towed to local waterways and provide a variety of boating experiences, from fishing to watersports.”

With all the added activity on our waterways comes the need for sanity.  Anxious boaters may have the requisite number of life jackets onboard, but they are of little use when sudden calamity strikes, if they are on the floors of boats.  Cold-water shock triggers a gasp reflex often leading to inhaling water.  However, actually wearing a life jacket significantly ups the odds of survival, because it can keep your head above water.  One steady and troubling trend indicates men between the ages of 20 and 60 are the most likely to drown while boating, and are the least likely to be wearing life jackets

A long time ago, when I had yet to reach the age of double digits, I was gleefully floating on a cheap inflatable raft atop Lake Orion; apparently, family members didn’t know that I had gone to the lake unattended.  Not knowing how to swim, I felt confident with the floatation device below me.  And then it happened, as I slipped off and began floundering about below the surface.  Gulping water in a frantic search for the raft, I was able to pull myself back on top of it.

Those moments scarred me for many years until I learned how to swim.  If there is anything of value from my death-defying ignorance of the day, it is this:  Learn how to swim and always wear a life jacket.

Lt. Tom Wanless, state boating law administrator and recreational safety, education and enforcement supervisor with Michigan’s DNR, encourages everyone – before ever leaving shore – to get up to date on boating laws and regulations and ensure that boats and personal watercrafts (such as Jet Skis) – and life jackets and other safety gear – are shipshape.

“Taking time now can prevent potential problems later, because accidents can happen at any time and weather can quickly affect water conditions on inland waters and the Great Lakes,” Wanless said. “Familiarizing yourself and your fellow boaters with valuable safety tips and equipment can mean the difference between a great day on the water and a needlessly tragic outcome.”

Accident reports submitted to the DNR show that in 2020 there were 181 boating accidents reported in Michigan, including 33 fatalities. Additionally, the U.S. Coast Guard reports that drowning is the cause of death in 79% of all boating-related fatalities nationally.

Riding with an operator who has completed an approved boating safety course and wearing a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket are two ways to reduce the risk of recreational boating accidents and drowning.   Learn more about boating opportunities, safety information and other resources at Michigan.gov/Boating.  Stay safe!

Fishing, General

Michigan: Colfax Fire in Wexford County is now 78% contained

Department of Natural Resources fire crews are making headway as they work to contain the Colfax Fire that continues to burn in northern Wexford County, Michigan. The fire, which was reported shortly after 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 25, is currently estimated at 378 acres. The acreage of the fire area will continue to be updated as more accurate data is collected and confirmed.

This brief DNR drone video, captured this morning, provides a glimpse of conditions in the area.

A blackened, burned area of the forest is shown in an aerial view.The fire is located approximately 5 miles northwest of the city of Manton and 21 miles southeast of Traverse City. The fire is 78% contained, with a total fire perimeter estimated at 6.3 miles. Currently, 5.9 miles of the fire line has containment line completed, with work continuing on the remaining 0.4 miles of uncontained fire line. The fire area is located east of 31 Road, west of 33 Road, north of 12 Road and primarily south of 8 Road.

The cause of the Colfax Fire remains under investigation.

Fire crews today will focus on establishing containment lines on the uncontrolled fire edge, monitoring and patrolling the fire area, mop-up and continued work to fell hazard trees.

Firefighter and public safety remains the No. 1 priority as fire suppression efforts continue. The DNR asks that the public continues to stay clear of the fire area. For those who must enter the area, use caution and be alert to the presence of dead, standing trees (called snags) that could fall over and for other hazards. Snags can fall across roadways, creating a hazard for people driving through the area. Additionally, due to the cooler nighttime temperatures, low-lying smoke from the fire may affect visibility in the area.

As a result of the combined fire suppression efforts, both on the ground and in the air, a total of 151 structures (86 residences and 65 outbuildings) were protected from the fire. There is no reported structure loss or damage. The only reported loss due to the fire includes a travel trailer, utility trailer, backhoe tractor implement and a snowblower. Read more
Wildlife

Boone and Crockett Club Receives Funding from Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund

MISSOULA, Mont. – The Boone and Crockett Club announced today that it has received a $50,000 grant through the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund to support policy outreach, research on chronic wasting disease, and the Club’s Poach & Pay project to address wildlife crime. This year’s grant also included a new area of interest – a virtual education curriculum created at and distributed from the Rasmuson Wildlife Conservation Center located on the Boone and Crockett Club’s Theodore Roosevelt Memorial (TRM) Ranch in north central Montana. The new, multi-faceted virtual education approach brings the TRM Ranch and all of its Rocky Mountain ecosystem inhabitants into the lives of classroom teachers and students through a variety of formats including augmented reality applications, Facebook live events, and downloadable electronic trail-camera curriculum modules. The lesson plans adhere to “Next Generation Science Standards” utilized by educators.

“Thanks to the support of the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, we have made major strides on forest management policy, funding for conservation efforts, and improving access to federal lands and waters,” said Tony A. Schoonen, Boone and Crockett Club Chief Executive Officer. “Now with the additional support for our virtual education program, our nation’s youth will be able to learn about North American wildlife, including alpha predators like wolves and grizzlies, through the photos collected through our network of trail cameras and our live webcam.” Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Meprolight’s Advanced Mepro MOR Pro

Born out of necessity, red-dot optics revolutionized rifle aiming solutions for CQB—Close-Quarter Battle— engagements. From the beginning, Meprolight® was in the forefront of this category of optics. As a result of their required military service in the IDF, the Meprolight® team learned first-hand the need for an advanced red-dot optic. Out of their experience, the Mepro MOR family of advanced red-dot optics was designed. Whether you are LE, a defense-minded individual or a hunter, the Mepro MOR Pro warrants your consideration.

Meprolight’s engineers utilized the latest state-of-the-art technology to create a rugged multi-purpose reflex sight incorporating a red dot sight and lasers with multiple power sources that exceeded MIL-Standard requirements. The Mepro MOR Pro is unique in that it is an
all-in-one red dot reflex sight/ IR and choice of green or red Visible Laser in a single unit. Shooters can choose from one of the reticles – 2.2 Dot/4.3 MOA Bullseye or 2.2 MOA Dot. The Mepro MOR Pro’s incorporated co-witness sighting system allows you to zero in one of the systems—Reticle, Visible Laser or IR Laser—and the other systems automatically zero in at the same time. Reticle intensity is adjustable to the shooter’s preference.

Understanding that consistent power is vital to the operating system, the MEPRO MOR Pro has four independent power sources—Fiber Optic, Tritium and two independent, commonly available AA batteries—that back each other up in the unlikely event one system goes down. The AA batteries, operate as standalone sources and will power the system if one goes dead allowing you to stay in the action. The large, 30mm crystal viewing window provides a crisp clear point of aim with both eyes open for increased situational awareness. Read more

Optics

SIG AIR MCX Rattler Canebrake Air Rifle

NEWINGTON, N.H. – From the SIG AIR division, SIG SAUER is pleased to introduce the MCX Rattler Canebrake Airgun Rifle mirroring the same design cues as the original rifle.

“The SIG AIR line of products combines the unmatched reliability, performance, and exacting standards that the consumer expects of SIG SAUER firearms, and the MCX Rattler Canebrake Airgun Rifle is true to these standards,” said Tom Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President, SIG SAUER, Inc. “The SIG AIR Canebrake has the same look, weight, and balance of its traditional firearm counterpart, given the immense popularity of the MCX platform, and the Canebrake specifically, combined with the current realities of the consumer market, this SIG AIR release is the perfect training tool. The Rattler Canebrake is the first of many exciting new products soon to come from SIG AIR.”

The SIG AIR MCX Rattler Canebrake Airgun Rifle is a .177 Cal. CO2-powered pellet, semi-automatic action airgun that utilizes the SIG proprietary 30-round rapid pellet magazine (RPM). The MCX Canebrake .177 airgun features a metal receiver, paired to a synthetic handguard with integrated M-LOK™ modular locking accessory mounting system, flip-up sights on top of a full-length Picatinny rail, a shrouded barrel, and flat blade trigger. Read more

Firearms

NLCA Files Brief in Lawsuit Against ATF’s Bump Stock Final Rule

The New Civil Liberties Alliance has filed a reply brief in Cargill v. Garland, et al. in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. The lawsuit seeks to overturn the federal ban on bump stocks and halt its enforcement. NCLA contends that only Congress, not an administrative agency like the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), can write criminal laws such as the ban on bump stocks.

This case was the first challenge to ATF’s bump stock ban to go to trial, last September. Instead of shutting down an administrative shortcut and restoring constitutional lawmaking principles, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas turned a blind eye to numerous legal discrepancies caused by ATF’s unauthorized revision of a federal statute. Even though the Rule’s promulgation involved determining the scope of criminal liability, which is solely Congress’ responsibility, the district court concluded that bump stocks have always been prohibited by the statute—echoing ATF’s distorted claim that its rule is “interpretive” not “legislative” in nature. Read more

Firearms, Gun Control

Federal: Gould Brothers Break World Record

ANOKA, Minnesota – There is a new distance record for breaking a clay target with a shotgun load following an epic day at a rural Minnesota farm. Federal Ammunition sponsored shooters Steve and Aaron Gould, who make up the popular Gould Brothers exhibition team, broke their own record not once but twice outside Osakis, Minnesota on a cold and windy day this spring.

“We are always trying to push the limits of what is possible, and we knew that Federal’s TSS would be the round to make it possible to break a clay pigeon at further distances than we had in the past,” exclaimed Steve Gould.

The previous record was 160 yards set several years back by the duo of brothers. Now with Federal, and having the world’s leading shotshell manufacturer backing them, a new record was ready to be set. The Gould Brothers teamed up with Federal’s Adam Moser, lead shotshell engineer, to better understand the capabilities of Heavyweight TSS in both 7 and 9 shot sizes at extreme ranges.

“The #7 TSS has a significant advantage at 170 yards over the #5 lead at 160 yards. Three times the pellet energy and 100+ more pellets in the payload,” stated Moser, when explaining the differences between Heavyweight TSS and the previously lead load used to set the record. Read more

Ammunition
1 … 789 790 791 792 793 … 2,073