Short-barreled rifles have been unfairly demonized as being particularly dangerous. Why? Because the National Firearms Act regulated them just the same as a machine gun. For many, that’s enough. Never mind that they were on the list because handguns were originally on there, too, and lawmakers figured some would use short-barreled rifles as a replacement. When handguns were removed from the bill, no one bothered to remove short-barreled long guns. That’s it. It’s on the NFA list because of an oversight.Not that an anti-gun state like New Jersey cares about such historical facts. They’ve banned…

While I’m the type who figures that if you’re too dangerous to exercise your gun rights responsibly, you’re too dangerous to be freed from prison, not everyone agrees with me. It’s cool. They have a right to be wrong. That said, while I have my views, and I recognize that not everyone shares them, I’m also realistic enough to know that I’m in the minority and will take what I can get with regard to gun rights restoration.In Tennessee, a bill takes a big step in that direction, though the usual suspects are already freaking…

Millions of people living in Somalia are struggling to find food as a severe hunger crisis grips the country. Six and a half million people are currently experiencing high levels of food insecurity, the United Nations’ (UN) World Food Program (WFP) reported on Tuesday. Officials from the UN and the Somali government have urged international humanitarian efforts in order to scale up life‑saving assistance to protect vulnerable communities. They warn that help is desperately needed before conditions deteriorate further. More than 1.8 million children under the age of five are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition in 2026, including nearly half…

I’m a big bib enthusiast for resort skiing, but big names charge a car payment for their high-end options. REI Co-op, luckily, is here to save the day with a GORE-TEX bib shell pant for a third of the price of most other options. The REI Co-op First Chair GTX Bibs for men are a simple, streamlined, and (relatively) affordable pair of ski bibs that’ll appeal to skiers on a budget and minimalists who don’t want a ton of pockets, zippers, and features all over their outerwear. This two-layer GORE-TEX build offers plenty of weather protection. But if you think you need more…

In less than a month, the Supreme Court is slated to consider Schoenthal v. Raoul in conference. The case involves a challenge to the ban on lawfully carried firearms on all public transportation in Illinois, as well as the Chicago Transit Authority’s prohibition on lawful carry.  Last week Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul submitted his reply brief to the Supreme Court, arguing that the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals was right to overturn a district court decision that found the prohibitions unconstitutional as they applied to the Schoenthal plaintiffs. The Seventh Circuit (and Raoul) contend that virtually…

Petzl is one of the leading manufacturers of climbing equipment and a major innovator in the industry, but this week, it took a hit. On Feb. 22, the brand issued a recall for two ice axes and three guide harnesses. Ice Axes The brand stated that customers have reported that certain batches of the NOMIC (U021AA00) and ERGONOMIC (U022AA00) ice axes have broken at the handles, posing a serious risk of injury or death. An example of a broken ice axe shaft; (photo/Petzl) “The durability of these ice axes does not meet our quality standards, especially for intensive ice climbing…

The problem with punishing dealers over straw buys is that, in a lot of cases, it’s not that easy to tell it was a straw buy. While some are pretty stupid about it, a lot are far more low-key. A few years ago, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison took aim at Fleet Farms, a chain of basically hardware stores throughout the state and neighboring states, which also sells guns.Ellison alleged that the store facilitated multiple straw buys, including one used in a supposed mass shooting. (I say “supposed” because it looks like a lot of…

The mayor of Grand Rapids, David LaGrand, just said the quiet part out loud. “I think if you’ve got a gun, you should be ashamed of yourself. I really do,” LaGrand said during a public discussion, comparing gun ownership to smoking and arguing communities should start “having some shaming around gun possession.” He doubled down, acknowledging the Second Amendment exists. “I get that we got a Second Amendment” — but insisting gun owners should still feel shame because, in his view, guns are “for killing human beings,” not everyday tasks like gardening or changing a tire. That didn’t sit well…

The United Kingdom and France have said that they will not deploy troops to Ukraine unless Russia consents to the move. Moscow has long claimed that it would not ever allow NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) troops to build any kind of military presence in Ukraine. Moscow views the Ukraine conflict as a NATO proxy war against Russia. After the 2022 escalation, Western nations sought to isolate Russia diplomatically, but the policy backfired on European NATO members after Washington shifted course under US President Donald Trump in order to pursue a negotiated resolution. –RT A senior diplomatic source told the…

Last month, the United States Forest Service announced the approval of class 1 pedal-assisted e-bikes on more than 100 miles of trails in the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU). The move is part of a growing trend in local outdoor communities around the country. E-bikes dramatically increase access when they’re allowed on trails, enabling more people to get out and enjoy them. That also means larger crowds and greater impact on the areas they are allowed to ride. (Photo/jmdgolfman via Flickr Creative Commons) Historically, e-bikes have been classified as “motorized vehicles,” severely limiting where they can be used on…

Recent cartel violence in Puerto Vallarta has once again highlighted the brutal realities of Mexico’s ongoing drug wars. Amid reports of clashes and instability in the popular tourist destination, gun control activist David Hogg took to social media to comment on the source of the firepower fueling such conflicts. In his post, Hogg claimed that “90% of the guns used by the cartel come from” America; attributing the violence, and even aspects of mass migration, to “weak gun laws” in the United States that supposedly arm these criminal organizations. This assertion, while provocative, relies on a heavily distorted interpretation of available…

Tailing loops are, hands down, the most common problem I see among intermediate to advanced fly casters. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, it’s when the top leg of your casting loop dips below the bottom leg of the loop. At best, the result is an inefficient cast that stifles distance and accuracy, and at worst, your fly catches the fly line, resulting in a botched cast entirely. And don’t forget wind knots. I hate to break it to you, but those pesky little buggers are the result of your poor casting. Wah, wah, wahh. Tailing loops can be maddening…