Two hundred and fifty years ago, 56 men, with God’s divine providence, changed the course of world history.The signing of the Declaration of Independence didn’t merely announce that America’s 13 colonies were rejecting King George III’s tyrannical rule. It established a representative government and made clear, in no uncertain terms, what no nation had declared before: that all men are created equal, endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, and that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. This week at Bearing Arms, we’re celebrating the 250th anniversary of the greatest…

If you are a USAA customer, you can actually get your money before payday. Here are the USAA military pay dates. While everyone in the military knows that paydays are on the 1st and 15th of every month, the actual payday doesn’t always land on those dates because of weekends and holidays. What many people are not aware of is the fact that if they have a bank account with USAA, their pay will be in the bank before payday. Related: Calculate your pay with the Military.com pay calculator. In fact, USAA makes military pay available as soon as two…

Shortly after taking office for his second term, President Trump laid off a quarter of the agency’s employees. Other austerity measures followed, including spending freezes, threats of further layoffs, and reduced worker protections. Labor unions for federal employees have been fighting back against many of these actions, accusing the administration of illegally firing park employees. This situation has motivated hundreds of park employees to join labor unions in recent months, according to union representatives. On June 17, the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) announced that about 650 workers at 87 park sites, including Glacier National Park, voted to join. That followed…

While Virginia has had more than a couple of setbacks on its way toward becoming an anti-gun state, the truth is that it’s still trying to accomplish all of it. So far, we’re just looking at a hiccup in the path toward anti-gun dystopia Governor Spanberger is dedicated to. You know, instead of the stuff she actually ran on.But, for a change, we have some good news from the ATF.It seems the agency most of us would curse with our dying breath is a completely different animal under Director Robert Cekada. It’s actually on our…

America’s 250th birthday is bringing out some of the best-looking commemorative firearms we’ve seen in years, and Ruger just made its lineup even bigger. The company announced six new additions to its 250th Anniversary Series, expanding the collection with limited-production rifles, pistols, and lever guns that celebrate the nation’s semiquincentennial while showcasing Ruger’s American manufacturing roots. Every firearm in the collection is marked with the inscription: “Made in the 250th Year of American Liberty.” The newest additions include the SR1911, two Hawkeye bolt-action rifles, the iconic No. 1 single-shot rifle, and two Marlin Model 1894 lever actions. The Crown Jewels…

The following are the Army height, weight and body fat requirements for enlistment. Below is the Army’s weight minimum and maximum allowable for recruits to enlist. It is broken down by height and then further into age groups. Height will be measured in stocking feet on a flat surface with the chin parallel to the floor. The body should be straight but not rigid, similar to the position of attention. The measurement will be rounded to the nearest inch with the following guidelines: if the height fraction is less than a half-inch, round down. If the height fraction is a…

A single case of Marburg virus is threatening to derail the current efforts to control the Ebola outbreak in Uganda. The bulk of Ebola is concentrated in the Democratic Republic of Congo; however, with the introduction of another hemorrhagic disease, complications are compounding. Current Ebola Outbreak Could Become The Largest on Record On Tuesday, Uganda formally reported to the World Health Organization that it had detected a single Marburg case as a disease outbreak in the western part of the country. A spokesperson for the Geneva-based global health agency told STAT News of the outbreak. This development could further complicate…

Standing at the top of the rope line, I waited excitedly for the ski patrol to flip the sign from closed to open. I was about to have the best day of my season catching the rope drop at the famous Teo 2 Bowl at Crested Butte Mountain Resort. Not every day is the best day of my season. I was stoked to be riding the Burton Custom Flying V, a snowboard that slings fun across the mountain without needing to be ridden at its limit to unlock its potential. Sure, for steep and deep performance, I want a hard-charging,…

Gun sales have been soaring in Virginia for months now. Ever since Democrats introduced legislation banning so-called assault firearms and large capacity magazines, residents have been stocking up. Two months ago, sales in the state were double what they were in May, 2025, and when the NSSF releases its adjusted NICS checks for June later today, I expect that the number will be even higher.  One last trip to the gun store today. The lines were ungodly. The AR section looked like a turkey carcass the day after Thanksgiving.But people were still picking over the…

The Department of Justice isn’t waiting around for someone else to defend the Second Amendment. On Wednesday, the DOJ filed two separate lawsuits against California and Virginia, arguing both states crossed the constitutional line by banning firearms that millions of Americans lawfully own. Taken together, the lawsuits send a clear message: the Trump administration intends to use the federal government not just to defend federal gun laws. But to challenge state gun restrictions it believes violate the Constitution. California: DOJ Targets Glock Ban The first lawsuit takes aim at California’s newly enacted “Glock Ban,” along with the state’s long-running Handgun…

Making the right car-buying decision can be tough, but we’ll help you figure it out. Buying a vehicle is a major decision for any household, but military families often have additional factors to consider. Frequent PCS moves, changing family needs, and the demands of military life can make choosing the right vehicle even more important. One of the first questions you’ll need to answer is whether to buy new, used, or certified pre-owned (CPO). Each option has its own advantages, from lower upfront costs to warranty coverage and the latest safety technology. Understanding the pros and cons of each can…

Recreational anglers in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina were supposed to start a 62-day Atlantic red snapper season today. But a May court order, followed by NOAA’s June 29 rescission of the state permits, kept the opener from happening. For now, recreational red snapper harvest in South Atlantic federal waters remains closed. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia halted Exempted Fishing Permits that NOAA Fisheries had issued to Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina on May 21. Those permits would have allowed participating private and for-hire anglers to keep red snapper during longer state-managed seasons…