In 2025, Senator Mike Lee, a Republican from Utah, proposed selling off 3 million acres of public land from 11 Western states. The move sparked widespread backlash from Democratic colleagues, outdoor enthusiasts, and conservation groups. The effort ultimately failed, but the memory of that almost sale lingered in the mind of Colorado Senator Michael Bennet. And now he’s taking action to prevent any similar plans in the future, with a new bill that would make public land sell-offs harder to pass. What the Bill Does On April 30, Bennet, a Democrat, introduced the Public Lands Integrity Act to the Senate.…
The Annunciation Catholic School shooting was terrible, but it could have been much worse. While 26 people were injured, most of them children, the fact that only two died is kind of amazing, in a way. You’d think the death toll would have been much worse, but I’m thankful it wasn’t. I just wish it weren’t as high as it is. But as Minnesota continues to debate gun control, the arguments continue to be bandied about, and I get where some people are coming from on this. They either had children injured or traumatized by…
A therapist with deep ties to the military community, this is Dr. Emma Smith’s final monthly advice column for Military.com. I’ve sat down to write this column several times, and each time I’ve found myself unable to do what I’ve always done here: translate complexity into something usable or hopeful. For me, this space has always been about that. About naming what often goes unspoken in military life. The invisible labor. The strategic and often geographic calculations. The emotional terrain that doesn’t make it into briefings or homecoming photos. And the fact that our grit and resilience allow us to…
Pennsylvania hunters could get a limited path to hunt deer over bait, but this isn’t a statewide green light to dump corn below your treestand. House Bill 2440, introduced April 27 by Rep. Thomas Mehaffie, would amend Title 34 of Pennsylvania law and allow licensed hunters to use bait for deer on private property in areas designated by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The bill would apply only under commission regulations, which means hunters wouldn’t get broad permission to bait deer wherever they choose. The bill is now in the House Game and Fisheries Committee, which has a voting meeting scheduled…
The Department of Justice is threatening to sue the city of Denver over its ban on so-called assault weapons, but city officials say they’re prepared to defend the ban in court if necessary. Last week Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon sent a letter to Mayor Mike Johnston and City Attorney Miko Brown warning that there would be legal consequences if the city doesn’t cease enforcement of its ban on “assault weapons”, which has been in place since 1989. Dhillon vowed to file a federal lawsuit if the city did not enter into a consent decree acknowledging…
What is it about job hunting that can chip away at your confidence and make you question your future? Whether you’re exploring a dream role, refining your federal resume, setting up informational interviews, or considering striking out on your own, that inner critic has a way of getting louder—casting doubt just when you need clarity the most. Because that is where the worst critics of veteran and spouse job hunters live: inside your own head. Recruiters and hiring managers are not the worst critics tearing you apart during the job hunt. It’s brutal, little you. In my work training nearly…
Thanks to the collaboration of two veterans’ organizations, a family in California received a Purple Heart that their uncle earned more than eight decades ago. Working with the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) and the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet), was able to deliver a Purple Heart to the family of World War II veteran John Van Doorne, killed in action while serving in Europe in 1944. “The MVAA is honored to have played a role in returning this Purple Heart to the veteran’s family,” said MVAA director Terry J. Sabo in a press release. “This return wouldn’t have…
Earlier this year the NRA filed a lawsuit against sister organization the NRA Foundation making multiple allegations. The NRA Foundation recently filed a motion to dismiss the NRA’s amended complaint. National Rifle Association v. NRA Foundation was filed in January. In the lawsuit the NRA alleges that the Foundation, a 501(c)(3) “which is a subsidiary of the NRA,” threatened to withhold funds, are in trademark violation, are engaging in “cybersquatting,” and made other allegations. The Foundation has maintained that they’re upholding their fiduciary duties, that the NRA’s claims are without merit, and the NRA is…
You won’t see most of them on magazine covers or making speeches on national stages. But behind every service member stands someone equally steadfast, someone who answers to no rank but still rises, day after day, with courage stitched into the fabric of their lives. This is a note for them. This is a note for you. You, who carry the weight of worry with grace. You, who find strength in every PCS, deployment and long silence. You, who know how to rebuild a life in a new ZIP code and still pack lunchboxes, manage bank accounts and whisper reassurance…
U.S. Central Command announced Sunday that the newest military strategy to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to broader commercial shipping is through what it calls “Project Freedom.” Project Freedom, according to CENTCOM, began Monday, May 4, in response to the blockade that has resulted in major shipping delays worldwide and had negative repercussions on oil markets. The mission, being given the green light by President Donald Trump, is supporting merchant vessels seeking to freely transit through the essential international trade corridor. The mission involves guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 land and sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned platforms, and roughly 15,000 service…
This article was originally published by George Ford Smith at The Mises Institute. In 1901, on far-away Balangiga—a village in Eastern Samar of the Philippines—an American general gave an order that stripped away any notion of “civilizing” or “Christianizing” a foreign people: “Make it a howling wilderness.” General Jacob H. Smith’s command—accompanied by the instruction to “kill everyone over ten”—was not an aberration. It was consistent with a decision made only a few years earlier about America becoming one of the “great” nations. The government would abandon its anti-imperial tradition and join the ranks of empire. The events at Balangiga were recorded…
When the wind rips across a ridgeline or funnels through a canyon, the best windbreakers help you keep moving. To finalize this year’s rankings, two expert testers — GearJunkie Editor Chris Kassar and wildlife guide Ryan Kempfer — pushed seven windbreakers through a 12-month testing cycle. From ski tours and hikes to climbs and bike rides in the Tetons and beyond, they tested them on exposed ridgelines, gusty trails, and in fast-changing mountain weather to find the layers truly worth carrying. We crowned the Patagonia Houdini as our best overall pick for its featherweight packability, dependable weather protection, and all-around…
CASABLANCA, Morocco (AP) — Two U.S. service members are missing in southwestern Morocco after taking part in annual multinational military exercises in the North African country, the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) said Sunday. The service members are U.S. Army soldiers who went missing while on a hike, a U.S. defense official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity as they were not allowed to speak publicly about the issue. “They were not actively taking part in any training. The day’s exercises had concluded, and, from our understanding, they were out on a recreational hike,” the official said. AFRICOM…
The U.S. will withdraw about 5,000 troops from Germany over the next six to 12 months, the Pentagon announced Friday, marking a significant shift in the American military presence in Europe. Pentagon officials said the decision followed a review of force posture and reflects current operational requirements. The reduction represents roughly 14% of the approximately 36,000 U.S. troops stationed in Germany, which has long served as a central hub for American military operations on the continent. Germany hosts key installations including Ramstein Air Base, a major logistics and command center that supports U.S. and NATO operations across Europe, Africa and…
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Military veterans have some of the best stories. Pair them with music and you have something truly powerful. Through Operation Song, a national program based out of Nashville, Tenn., veterans team with songwriters to illuminate their stories through music. Operation Song held a benefit concert on Saturday in Awendaw, South Carolina and for some veterans, hearing their story in the beauty of a song felt like therapy. That was certainly the case for Cody McGinnis. As a combat veteran, McGinnis was involved in 137 missions. After a while, war takes its toll. “It felt like maybe I was talking about…
Watch full video on YouTube
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Browse any prepper forum or scroll through enough survival gear content online, and it won’t be long before you’re looking at $3,000 generators, $500 water filtration systems, and pre-made bug out bags that cost more than a month’s rent. The prepping industry has a vested interest in making you feel completely helpless if you don’t have that one piece of survival gear, and that pressure pushes people to either spend way more than necessary or give up on preparedness altogether. The truth is that many of the scenarios most likely to affect everyday people — things like burst pipes, long…
On Saturday my colleague Tom Knighton covered the fight between the Dorr brothers’ Ohio Gun Owners and a Republican candidate who the group claims has taken money from gun control groups. As it turns out, Rep. Gary Click isn’t the only candidate who’s suddenly been accused of being a tool for the gun control lobby just days before voters head to the polls in Ohio’s primary. In a video posted to the group’s X account, Ohio Gun Owners levied a similar accusation against HD 86 candidate Ben Weber. 🚨BREAKING: We have stripped candidate Ben Weber of his…
Glock may still be the 800-pound polymer gorilla, but bans, lawsuits, and years of slow evolution have shooters looking hard at what else is out there. From Canik to Walther, these striker-fired Glock alternatives are not just second choices; they are serious contenders. The Glock pistol is likely one of, if not the most, popular firearms in the United States. However, has the gun’s design become stale, or is its pending litigation and bans putting an end to its reign? If so, what are the options for Americans who now find themselves “Glock Blocked”? How Glock Became King, And Why…
