When I was in high school, there was a girl I had a crush on, but who was dating someone else. She’d flirt with me, but I figured it was just playfulness on her part rather than a real interest. Still, she had a boyfriend, which means it was a no-go area for one and all. However, rumor said he was abusive to her. It was the first time I’d heard such a thing in person. I’d seen the news reports about it, obviously, and my father recounted some of that from his job as…

If you’ve ever wished you could own a real surplus M14 through the Civilian Marksmanship Program, your patience is finally paying off. In a surprise announcement, the CMP revealed it has been specially authorized to sell surplus U.S. military M14 rifles. It’ll be the first time the iconic rifle has ever been offered through the program. And it’s safe to say collectors are already counting the days. Before anyone gets too excited, there’s one catch: you can’t order one just yet. The CMP says it expects the first rifles to start shipping sometime between late 2026 and early 2027. Pricing,…

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza City (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that Israeli forces will not withdraw from their current lines in Gaza until Hamas has completely disarmed. In remarks on social media, Netanyahu suggested there were differences between Israel and the Trump administration over a recent deal announced to disarm the militant group. The agreement called for Hamas to begin disarming and for Israel to halt its strikes and begin withdrawing from Gaza. It was part of an October ceasefire agreement that ended major military operations but has stalled on other fronts. Netanyahu instead said disarmament should…

Twin Falls isn’t a huge city. It’s got a population of a little over 50,000 people, which means it’s not all that much smaller than my hometown. That means it’s not small enough that everyone knows everyone else, but it is small enough that there are a surprising number of connections. A mass shooting at a busy fast food restaurant was likely to be an ugly thing for such a community, where many people were touched by something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. But while there was an unfortunate loss of life, it…

Firearm demand stayed strong in July, with adjusted background checks topping the one-million mark for another month and suppressor-related activity continuing its explosive climb. According to the latest data from the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the July 2026 adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure reached 1,061,883, an 8.5% increase over July 2025. The FBI’s unadjusted NICS total also climbed, rising 6.3% to 2,057,967 checks. While NICS numbers don’t equal firearm sales one-for-one, they’re widely viewed as one of the best indicators of overall market activity. One of the biggest stories wasn’t the national total. It was…

The Army and the Navy have announced new bonus structures that could net some officers up to $210,000 over the next six years.The Army bonus, which the service announced on July 26, allows warrant officers with 12 to 14 years of active federal service to qualify for a $75,600 bonus for a three-year agreement. Those with more than 18 years of service can qualify for $120,000 for a four-year agreement, $162,300 for a five-year agreement, or $209,880 over six years. Meanwhile, naval aviators will be eligible to earn $37,000 over a two-year obligation or $129,000 over a three-year obligation under…